A makeshift Sydney outfit has proven too strong for Richmond at the Adelaide Oval, claiming the win by 44 points and keeping Damien Hardwick’s side winless from its last three outings.
Missing more than half a dozen of their best players, the Swans stepped up late when challenged as a number of Sydney stars made their presence felt.
"It feels like an end of an era tonight"
— AFL Nation (@AFLNation) April 14, 2023
- Kane Cornes#AFLTigersSwans
None were bigger than Tom Papley, who finished with a career-high six goals and lit up Adelaide Oval with multiple huge celebrations in the last term as Sydney pulled away.
That came alongside 25 possessions (12 contested), a clear best afield 13 score involvements, 693 metres gained and another five clearances to please.
A goal from Tom Papley is just the entree for the main event: his celebration #AFLTigersSwans pic.twitter.com/5NrJgungrd
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 14, 2023
Nick Blakey played a career game in a new role and finished with 29 touches, while everything Isaac Heeney touched turned to gold.
Both the Swans and Tigers entered Adelaide Oval on Friday night after a fortnight of losses respectively and the stakes were high for one of the games of the round.
The Tigers weren’t far off the pace early, but poor kicking had the margin in favour of the Swans bigger than perhaps it should have been.
Sydney led by as much as 28 points early in the third, but Richmond finally started to take advantage of their opportunities and hit back with seven goals in the premiership quarter.
Young Tigers forward Samson Ryan was emblematic of his side’s opening three quarters, having an ‘almost’ night before clunking a contested mark and converting to continue Richmond’s march.
Four of the last five goals to Richmond 👀 #AFLTigersSwans pic.twitter.com/aLFBE5M2ZS
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 14, 2023
Veteran Jack Riewoldt also played a key role in getting the Tigers back on track, booting two goals in the third term to set up the thrilling final quarter.
Yet tired legs took their toll on the Tigers, who were missing at least six of their best 22.
Hardwick would have been thankful to get the clash unscathed, but John Longmire couldn’t hold the same appreciation when Joel Amartey hobbled off early on.
Amartey pinged a hamstring off the footy early in the second term and was almost immediately subbed off.
The 23-year-old key forward, playing just his 17th game, was consoled on the bench by teammates after what’s understood to be at least his fourth hamstring injury at the Swans. But upstairs, Longmire would have been just as upset at his dwindling tall stocks.
Amartey joins Tom McCartin, Paddy McCartin, Tom Hickey, Sam Reid and Lewis Melican in the injury room, while Lance Franklin and Dane Rampe joined that list when this week’s teams were dropped.
In Amartey’s absence, the forward line was led solely by Logan McDonald, who went on to boot a goal from 10 touches.
Down the other end, the setup was equally as bizarre. Nick Blakey and Robbie Fox were forced into the unnatural positions of Sydney’s key defenders, yet the duo handled their new jobs with aplomb.
Another question left to ask for Richmond is what’s next for Trent Cotchin. After being listed as an out last week before becoming Damien Hardwick’s substitute, Cotchin was subbed off with seven touches to his name in the third term.
Maurice Rioli has been activated as our substitute, replacing Trent Cotchin.#gotiges | #GatherRound pic.twitter.com/qrDf0cFWyl
— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) April 14, 2023
His role ahead of the football is looking far less dangerous than the Tigers would have envisioned in the pre-season and even with fresher legs this week, Cotchin still couldn’t have an impact. That storyline and how it’s handled by Hardwick is set to be a big watch in the coming weeks
And with just one win through the first five rounds, no doubt there’s plenty on the mind of the three-time premiership coach.
FULL SCORE
Richmond: 2.2, 3.8, 10.9, 11.12. (78)
Sydney Swans: 4.4, 7.5, 11.10, 18.14. (122)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Cumberland 2, Baker, Mansell, Ryan, Clarke, Pickett
Sydney Swans: Papley 4, Heeney 2, Amartey 2, Mills, McInerey, McDonald
BEST
Richmond: Hopper, D. Rioli, Baker, Taranto, Riewoldt
Sydney Swans: Blakey, Papley, Heeney, Lloyd, Mills
INJURIES
Richmond:
Sydney Swans: Amartey (Hamstring)
CROWD: TBC at Adelaide Oval