Richmond has got its first win under new coach Adam Yze and ended Sydney’s undefeated run in a five-point thriller at the MCG.
In a see-sawing affair on Easter Sunday, the Tigers held off a late Swans charge to win, 11.15 (82) to 11.11 (77), but will be sweating on an injury concern to Tom Lynch (hamstring) and MRO scrutiny on Liam Baker for a bump on Lewis Melican.
With it, Richmond improved to 1-3 on the season, while the Swans fell to 3-1.
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The match gets underway at Marvel Stadium from 4pm. Watch it live on Fox Footy (Channel 504).
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There were no late changes, with Sam Banks (Richmond) and Corey Warner (Sydney) named the starting subs.
The Tigers got the early jump at the MCG including Rhyan Mansell kicking the first goal of the game within a minute and a half.
Shai Bolton and Tom Lynch were both up and about early for the yellow and black with first-quarter goals.
Mykelti Lefau kicked his first career goal with a tough set shot as the New Zealand native was warmed by teammates – giving the Tigers an early 13-point lead nearing quarter time.
“Certainly the start they wanted,” Fox Footy commentator Matt Hill noted.
Richmond led 4.3 (27) to 2.1 (12) at quarter-time.
Adem Yze’s side came out hot again in the second term, with Liam Baker kicking the first goal of the period.
“Belief growing for the Tigers at the moment,” Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell highlighted.
Sydney fought its way back into the contest though, with Nick Blakey kicking a long-range bomb followed by Joel Amartey’s second for the day.
A huge hit from Liam Baker to Lewis Melican could be probed by the Match Review Officer.
Logan McDonald and Isaac Heeney added two more for the Swans – making it four consecutive Sydney goals in a row – to give the visitors the lead.
Robbie Fox unloaded from distance on the half-time siren to give Sydney an eight-point lead, 7.5 (47) to 5.9 (39).
After Heeney kicked the opener of the third, Richmond hit back with the next three goals – including two to Tom Lynch – to suddenly give the Tigers back the lead at the MCG.
The Tigers continued their surge, on top in general play with their trademark run and carry across half back in full flight.
Yze’s side ran the full length of the ground from a kick in to set up a Tim Taranto goal – making five-straight Tigers majors to open up a 15-point advantage.
“They’ve hijacked Sydney’s game plan,” Demons legend Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
“Their ability to go the length of the ground and stretch Sydney. They can’t lay a hand on them … it’s impressive.”
The Tigers led 10.13 (73) to 8.9 (57) at the last change.
Just like it had all game, momentum swung back the other way as Sydney started to charge.
The Swans kicked the first two goals over the period, while Errol Gulden missed a shot that could’ve put the visitors ahead.
Bolton stepped up for Richmond when momentum was slipping, kicking a crafty snap goal from a tight angle to push its lead back out to nine points.
“They’ve steadied a bit here, which is impressive,” Lyon said of Richmond.
In a concern for the Tigers, Lynch came from the ground late in the fourth quarter with an injury concern.
Richmond missed multiple chances to add to its lead, while Gulden made the Tigers pay at the other end with a goal to make it a six-point game, leading to a frenetic finish.
But the Tigers would hold their nerve late in a famous win – their first under Yze.
The 3-2-1 (with Will Faulkner) …
3. TIGERS CLINCH ‘WIN FOR THE AGES’, BREAK YZE DROUGHT
Up against an undefeated flag contender and without several stars, the new-look Tigers clinched a “win for the ages” – new coach Adam Yze’s first in charge – on Easter Sunday.
In an epic see-sawing affair at the MCG, Yze’s men edged out the Swans in a shock upset not many could’ve seen comin.
With the likes of Dustin Martin, Dylan Grimes, Jacob Hopper, Dion Prestia and Josh Gibcus on the sidelines due to injury, the Tigers overcame the odds and then some.
Noting in the second half Richmond looked “tougher than Sydney”, three-time All-Australian Garry Lyon declared it was the sort of win that would remembered for a long time.
“Richmond has won some big premierships, but I tell you what, there’s some excited fans,” he said on Fox Footy.
“All wins are different, this one will be remembered for a long, long time.
“We’re celebrating a win for the ages … you don’t get to dwell on wins for too long. Right now, it’s about as good as footy gets.”
Three-time premiership player Jack Riewoldt was stoked for his old club post-game, highlighting the significance of the win for Yze.
“One you’ll never forget, the first win for your new coach – we can see the scenes in the box, how much it means to him to get the monkey off the back,” Riewoldt beamed.
“It’s a great win for Richmond today.”
Lyon applauded the way the Tigers’ young brigade including Seth Campbell, Thomson Dow, Maurice Rioli and Rhyan Mansell stood up in the absence of their senior stalwarts.
“These young Richmond players are growing before our eyes; there’s no greater pressure they’ve ever confronted than this right now – trying to open their account against the league leaders,” he said.
“It’s big from the Richmond youngsters – this is worth 20 games of experience if they can get away with this.”
Next up? A showdown with St Kilda in Gather Round.
2. … BUT LYNCH INJURY CONCERN DAMPENS WIN
A potential hamstring injury to Richmond star forward Tom Lynch has somewhat dampened the spirits at Punt Road.
After missing the majority of 2023 with a foot injury, the two-time premiership player got back to some of his best form with an equal game three goals.
However, Lynch left the ground in discomfort with six and a half minutes to go in the last quarter in worrying scenes for the Tigers faithful.
“The Tigers have just made their sub, but it’s Tom Lynch that’s limping from the ground from that previous incident … he’s not in a good way,” Fox Footy’s Nick Dal Santo initially said on commentary.
Speaking to Fox Footy post-match, Lynch suggested he’d suffered a hamstring injury.
“I think I’ve done a hammy, I’m not sure though – it’s pretty low (on the leg) … fingers crossed I was just carrying on a little bit,” Lynch said.
Given his importance to the Tigers, the club will be sweating on scans to determine the severity of the setback.
Despite the niggle, the 31-year-old was positive when asked about his form.
“I felt like I was moving like Jack (Riewoldt) today… to get the third game under my belt, and the boys played really well – the all movement was great,” he added.
Former teammate Jack Riewoldt was full of praise for Lynch at the start of the second half, speaking highly of him after kicking his third goal.
“This big fella is the pivotal forward; the man that can kick multiple goals and keep a side in a game,” Riewoldt exclaimed.
Former Melbourne Demons captain Garry Lyon was also complimentary of the Richmond star, highlighting his rise back to form in today’s match against Sydney.
“(There’s) been some fantastic signs that he’s been getting back to his very best, big Tommy Lynch,” Lyon exclaimed.
“He’s missed that year (2023), he’s had a couple games under his belt where he’s probably had to blow the cobwebs out.
“But when he’s marked as well as he has today and then you’re banging them from outside 50, it suggests you’re not too far away,” Lyon added.
Lynch will have just seven days to recover for his side’s Gather Round clash with St Kilda at Norwood Oval, with both sides looking to find their second win of the 2024 season.
1. SWANS’ MCG ‘HOODOO’ QUESTIONED
While it was joyous scenes for the yellow and black, there’s suddenly an important question to ask of the Swans: Can they be trusted at the MCG?
The loss to Richmond saw John Longmire’s side fall to 1-6 in its last seven games at the venue, dating back to that disaster 81-point grand final defeat to Geelong.
That bleak run at the MCG also includes a loss to Carlton in last year’s finals series in the Swans’ two most recent post-season games at the ‘home of football.’
And sure, while Sydney arguably exorcised its demons by smashing Collingwood at the ‘G in Round 1, it’s simply a ground the club doesn’t have a great recent track record in a legitimate query around its premiership prospects.
“There is a question to ask on the other side of this. We spoke about the Sydney hoodoo (at the MCG) … this is a game most of us thought Sydney would win – and comfortably. They go away now and they’re 1-6,” Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy.
“That demon of expectation starts to build on this particular ground for the Sydney Football Club.”
The Swans will return to the MCG only one more time in the home and away when they face Hawthorn in Round 7.
“We all suspect they are going to go really deep. It points to the sort of season we’re having, no one can get too comfortable,” ex-Demons skipper Garry Lyon added.
“Because you can get one popped right on your nose and they popped one on Sydney’s nose today.”
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