RICHMOND’S season is already on life support less than a month into the season, while Essendon has made it three from three after a gritty 15-point win in the second edition of Dreamtime in Darwin.
The Tigers were far better than last week’s performance in the 21-point loss to Western Bulldogs, but 10 behinds for the match – including three crucial misses in the last term – put paid to any idea of a come-from-behind victory, despite recording 15-4 inside 50s in the last quarter.
Essendon defended grimly throughout, and set up its win through strong contest work and taking its opportunities in front of goal, with Sophie Alexander and Georgia Gee each booting their second in the final stanza of the game to secure the 6.7 (43) to 3.10 (28) victory.
Richmond skipper Katie Brennan, who shook off a hand injury to play out the game, had earlier made quick work of the team’s unwelcome record of zero marks inside 50 last week, locking one down in the opening minute, while Paige Scott slotted Richmond’s first, coming against their former club.
At the other end of the field, Essendon key back Georgia Clarke – who featured up forward in another life at Geelong – showed off some sharp footwork in front of goal with a curling effort while running towards the boundary.
It was a hot start from the Bombers, until Richmond reasserted some control on the match, but Scott and Poppy Kelly blew crucial shots in the second term from directly in front to leave the margin at 13 points at half-time.
The Tigers had 21 more disposals in the third quarter, which was bookended by goals from Brennan and Emelia Yassir, the small coincidentally having requested a trade to the Bombers in the off-season that never eventuated.
It left the margin hovering at just six points at the major break - with last year’s Dreamtime draw on everyone’s mind - but the Bombers were far more efficient in attack in the final term, despite the absence of suspended co-captain Bonnie Toogood.
Essendon was able to overcome Kelly’s dominance in the middle against winger-turned ruck Matilda Dyke, winning the clearance count by three despite a differential of 17 in the hit-outs.
Richmond youngster Sierra Grieves (18 disposals and 406m gained) starred on debut, having bafflingly slid to pick No.11 in the draft last year, while Georgia Nanscawen was the Bombers’ best, laying 12 tackles in the long sleeves despite Darwin’s heat.
Tigers’ season on life support
Last year’s 11-round season required 7.5 wins to make finals, so it’s fair to say this year’s 12-round season will need a similar number of victories in order to make the eight. And Richmond is now 0-3, with Narrm, Brisbane, Kuwarna and North Melbourne still to come in its fixture. The Tigers’ hopes of a finals return already appear slim to none, and I told youse all so.
Dreamtime in Darwin
The second edition of Dreamtime in Darwin was held in the much cooler late August, compared to last year’s stifling October, but the temperature still hovered just shy of 30 degrees at the first siren, with conditions a little slippery underfoot. Ice rooms behind the benches were in effect at every break, with team meetings held in the cool spaces, and half time was three minutes longer than normal. A healthy crowd just shy of 6000 attended the game, putting it in the top handful of crowd attendances so far this year.
RICHMOND 1.0 1.3 3.6 3.10 (28)
ESSENDON 2.2 3.4 4.6 6.7 (43)
GOALS
Richmond: Scott, Brennan, Yassir
Essendon: Alexander 2, Gee 2, McLachlan, Clarke
BEST
Richmond: McKenzie, Conti, Grieves, Shevlin, Scott
Essendon: Nanscawen, Cain, Prespakis, Gaylor, Alexander
INJURIES
Richmond: Brennan (wrist/hand)
Essendon: Nil
Crowd: 5,892 at TIO Stadium
