The West Coast Eagles have suffered another heartbreaking defeat, going down to Richmond by two points in a thriller at the MCG on Sunday.
In a see-sawing contest where the lead changed 15 times, the Eagles found themselves on the wrong side of the ledger at the final siren despite some desperate efforts in a tense fourth quarter.
Neither side was able to break free, but two behinds in the last ten minutes to Tom Lynch and Kane McAuliffe put the home side in front to win 11.15 (81) to West Coast’s 11.13 (79) on Mother’s Day in front of a crowd of 29,539 at the MCG.
With fewer than 30 seconds remaining, Eagles youngster Tom Gross ran inside 50 looking to launch a shot on goal, but Tom Brown executed the perfect tackle to stop Gross in his tracks and ensure the Tigers won their third match of the season.
It was the second time in the past four games West Coast has fallen two points short, after another heartstopper against Essendon in round six, and left Andrew McQualter's side still searching for a breakthrough victory in 2025.
Both sides entered the game making late changes before the opening bounce. For West Coast, captain Oscar Allen was withdrawn with knee soreness, as was the Tigers’ defender Jayden Short. Allen was replaced by Harry Edwards, whilst Short’s absence created a spot for James Tresize who started as the Tigers’ sub.
The Tigers started strongly, kicking the first three goals of the game through experienced duo Lynch and Taranto as well as young forward Seth Campbell. In contrast, West Coast’s experienced players, former Blue Matt Owies, former Tiger Jack Graham and premiership player Jamie Cripps all missed gettable shots at the other end.
Richmond coach Adem Yze would have been pulling his hair out when the Eagles kicked their first two goals 90 seconds out from the quarter-time siren. After controlling the majority of the quarter, the Tigers let West Coast back in the contest when the Eagles kicked goals through Cripps and winger Jayden Hunt to keep their team within reach.
The Eagles came out in the second quarter in the same manner they finished the first, kicking two further goals to make it four unanswered majors for the away team and shifting the momentum the Eagles’ way.
Richmond fans would have been relieved when first-gamer Thomas Sims took a strong contested mark and converted for his first AFL goal to break the Eagles run. Sims, who is a carbon-copy of Tom Lynch, was called up for his first game after joining Richmond with pick No.28 in last year’s draft.
It was goal-for-goal with the lead changing several times before the main break with Richmond heading into halftime with a meagre one-point lead.
The pressure lifted in the second half, slowing scoring for both teams. Former No.1 draft pick Harley Reid copped a big hit when he was bumped after releasing a kick, but the youngster shook off the Eagles medical staff and remained on the ground.
Crafty veteran forward Cripps kicked his third to put the Eagles in front, but the Eagles missed their next three opportunities allowing the Tigers to stay in the game.
Two late goals to Richmond, one through Rhyan Mansell and one from skipper Toby Nankervis gave the Tigers back the lead at the three-quarter-time break. Nankervis, who looked to be playing sore after copping a knock earlier in the quarter, made no mistake, kicking a captain’s goal to put his side back in front to set the game up for a big final term.
The Tigers’ lead was short-lived as Harley Reid opened scoring for the final term with a superb goal on the run from outside 50. But as Reid often does, an outstanding patch of play is often followed by a brain fade, as it was when he then gave away a 50 metre free kick after knocking the ball out of Hugo Ralphsmith’s hands after he took a mark, gifting the Tigers a goal.
Scores were level with five minutes remaining, when Lynch took a huge pack mark at the top of the goal square, but the veteran went back and missed the simple shot, but though he kicked a point, it importantly put his side in front. McAuliffe added a second point, to put the Tigers two points up with less than three minutes remaining.
It looked as though the Eagles were going to break the hearts of the home crowd when Gross ran towards goal from 50, but the Brown tackle led to cheers from the grandstands when he saved the day and got his side over the line.
West Coast returns home to take on St Kilda in round 10 at Optus Stadium.
RICHMOND 3.4 7.7 10.9 11.15 (81)
WEST COAST 2.3 7.6 9.11 11.13 (79)
GOALS
Richmond: Lynch 2, Campbell 2, Mansell 2, Taranto, Sims, Brown, Nankervis, Raphsmith
West Coast: Cripps 3, Owies 2, Williams 2, Hunt, Waterman, Brockman, H. Reid
BEST
Richmond: Taranto, Lynch, Hopper, Nankervis, McIntosh, Banks
West Coast: Baker, Hunt, Ryan, H. Reid, Graham
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
West Coast: Nil
LATE CHANGES
Richmond: Jayden Short (knee) replaced in selected side by James Trezise.
West Coast: Oscar Allen (knee) replaced in selected side by Harry Edwards
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: James Trezise (replaced Thomson Dow in the fourth quarter)
West Coast: Tom Gross (replaced Archer Reid in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 29,539 at the MCG
