Richmond beat Carlton in AFL 2021 season opener – as it happened
Carlton #Carlton
7.21am EDT 07:21
“Humble and hungry” was how Dustin Martin described Richmond after the final siren following their breathless opening round victory over Carlton. The Blues made the Tigers work, but despite three flags in four years they remain hungrier than anyone, and their unselfish forward play continues to maximise opportunities.
Despite the final scoreline, Carlton were in this until the closing stages, and could have led by wider margins at different passages but lacked composure in crucial areas. Harry McKay in particular will rue a couple of poor decisions.
That should take nothing away from the industry of the Blues though. Sam Walsh was outstanding, Adam Saad shone on debut, and Patrick Cripps showed he’s set for another big campaign.
Richmond were just better when it mattered. Aren’t they always? Dustin Martin (2.2 from 31 disposals) was best on ground. Isn’t he always? Jack Riewoldt (4.2) kicked crucial goals when they were most needed. You know the script.
Nick Graham and Kane Lambert’s endurance was important, as was Noah Balta’s ability to be in the right place at the right time.
The rule changes will be picked over by wiser heads than mine, but at first glance, the game was much more open, much faster (possibly too fast), and the interchange cap really brought fatigue into play. The medical substitutions were both taken with Carlton’s looking unambiguous, Richmond’s a little more opaque. It remains to be seen how that will be policed.
But overall, in front of 50,000 fans at the MCG, it was a pulsating return for footy in front of Victorian spectators. Here’s to another six months of it.
Dustin Martin. The best. Photograph: Daniel Pockett/AAP
Updated at 7.33am EDT
7.08am EDT 07:08
Q4: 1 mins remaining: Richmond 15.14 (104) v 11.14 (80) Carlton – Then he takes a chest mark inside 50 under enormous pressure. What a footballer. This time he offloads to Riewoldt, who does take some time off the clock, and slots his fourth goal of the night – three of which have been absolutely superb finishes.
7.06am EDT 07:06
Q4: 2 mins remaining: Richmond 14.14 (98) v 11.14 (80) Carlton – Dustin Martin doesn’t do settling down. The ball ventures near him inside 50 and he just barges Blues into tomorrow before handing off to Bolton to ice the game.
7.05am EDT 07:05
Q4: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 13.14 (92) v 11.14 (80) Carlton – Edwards shows his class, weaving in and out of trouble then finding Graham for some kick-marking to settle things down.
7.04am EDT 07:04
Q4: 4 mins remaining: Richmond 13.14 (92) v 11.14 (80) Carlton – It’s Keystone Cops stuff out there now with exhausted bodies staggering their way around the MCG. The skill level has plummeted, it’s now all about commitment and desperation.
7.02am EDT 07:02
Q4: 5 mins remaining: Richmond 13.13 (91) v 11.14 (80) Carlton – Cripps and McDonald do well in individual battles but they can’t convert territory into a chance, conceding a turnover for kicking out of bounds on the full. The long punt forward is in Martin’s direction, and he takes over, muscling his way down the boundary. He slips, but he retains composure, sending the ball towards the goalsquare where Docherty fumbles and hands Aarts a gift from point blank range.
6.59am EDT 06:59
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Richmond 12.13 (85) v 11.14 (80) Carlton – Deary me, this is exhausting to watch. Both teams look punch drunk but the pace of this clash refuses to slow down. Richmond assert themselves in the forward line, Lynch pinballs off tacklers, but he’s so knackered he can barely swing his boot through the ball to kick for goal.
6.58am EDT 06:58
Q4: 7 mins remaining: Richmond 12.12 (84) v 11.14 (80) Carlton – Gibbons kicks another! Richmond win the centre clearance but can’t capitalise. Carlton force the ball the other way through the corridor and after a bold kick from Williamson the ball bobbles favourably for McKay and Gibbons feeds off the scraps.
6.55am EDT 06:55
Q4: 8 mins remaining: Richmond 12.11 (83) v 10.13 (73) Carlton – Good dash and kick from Docherty finds Gibbons in space at half-forward. McKay leads and gets one-out, can the Blues find him? They can! The mark is strong overhead, and this time, he takes a breath and nails the set shot. Carlton clinging on resolutely.
6.53am EDT 06:53
Q4: 9 mins remaining: Richmond 12.11 (83) v 9.13 (67) Carlton – Again, Carlton try to play too quickly and lack the execution. Richmond reply with poise, slicing their way upfield with precision. The move ends with Rioli on the lead, marking, then calmly taking his full complement of seconds and slotting home the steadying goal.
6.52am EDT 06:52
Q4: 10 mins remaining: Richmond 11.11 (77) v 9.13 (67) Carlton – Brilliant chase from Saad, running down Aarts from behind after the Tiger had taken a bounce entering 50. It is ragged unstructured footy on the MCG right now. Both sides achingly tired.
6.50am EDT 06:50
Q4: 11 mins remaining: Richmond 11.11 (77) v 9.13 (67) Carlton – Slower ball movement from the Blues – and it works – chipping the ball down the left flank until it reaches McDonald on the apex of the boundary and 50m arc. It’s all pedestrian and nobody looks particularly fussed, so the former Dee wheels around and smashes through a monster goal! McDonald has made a major impact since his introduction.
6.47am EDT 06:47
Q4: 13 mins remaining: Richmond 11.10 (76) v 8.13 (61) Carlton – Could that be a lifeline? No. McDonald gets a soft looking free-kick in a marking contest – but he misses on the near side.
6.46am EDT 06:46
Q4: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 11.10 (76) v 8.12 (60) Carlton – Cripps has just five second-half possessions so far, and his lack of drive through midfield is becoming telling with that Richmond wave beginning to swell and roll over the Blues repeatedly.
6.44am EDT 06:44
Q4: 15 mins remaining: Richmond 11.9 (75) v 8.12 (60) Carlton – Finally some composure. O’Brien butchers the ball in midfield. Richmond calmly hit their targets in response until the ball reaches Martin one out against Saad. He marks then snaps the goal, of course he does. That feels decisive.
6.43am EDT 06:43
Q4: 16 mins remaining: Richmond 10.9 (69) v 8.12 (60) Carlton – 90 seconds of chaos footy has both sides hunting goals like seagulls fighting over chips. The skill level is noticeably declining as the pace of this frenetic game catches up with everyone.
6.41am EDT 06:41
Q4: 17 mins remaining: Richmond 10.9 (69) v 8.12 (60) Carlton – Richmond look destined for a goal but Castagna declines the set shot from range, offloading instead for Lynch, who fails to make the distance for the second time tonight. At the drop of the ball Riewoldt is involved in a fierce marking contest, the whistle blows, and… free-kick Carlton! Riewoldt cannot believe it.
6.39am EDT 06:39
Q4: 19 mins remaining: Richmond 10.9 (69) v 8.12 (60) Carlton – Richmond start the final quarter on the front foot. From a clearing kick Edwards finds Ross who feeds Martin, but his long set shot fades behind.
6.37am EDT 06:37
Still not a lot to report on the stats sheet, although Carlton leading the free-kick count 20-12 might be worth a mention considering how a couple of big calls have gone against them.
Jack Riewoldt is now the leading goalkicker with 3.2, and Sam Walsh is the clear disposal winner with 26.
On the subs, Vlastuin’s injury does not sound serious and will likely be the subject of plenty of talkback calls. Silvagni however sounds like he might have put his shoulder out. Hopefully he’s not out of the game for long.
Updated at 6.39am EDT
6.32am EDT 06:32
3QT: Richmond 10.8 (68) v 8.12 (60) Carlton
It’s still breathless, it’s still fiercely contested, and Richmond still have their noses in front.
6.29am EDT 06:29
Q3: 1 min remaining: Richmond 10.8 (68) v 8.12 (60) Carlton – Saad has impressed on debut tonight, neat and tidy mopping up across halfback and offering plenty of dash on the rebound. Carlton cannot get past Balta though, this time the man mountain repelling Cripps with the Blues threatening. His desperation sets Richmond forward and in three kicks Riewoldt again finds space in that same spot he goaled from earlier. And he repeats the trick! Superb goal kicking from the veteran, threading the needle from 50m out in the shadow of the Members Stand. Clutch.
6.26am EDT 06:26
Q3: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 9.8 (62) v 8.12 (60) Carlton – Both teams are playing ragged footy now nearing the end of the quarter. Carlton look the likelier though and again target McKay one out, but again Balta does magnificently to contest and spoil.
6.24am EDT 06:24
Q3: 5.00 mins remaining: Richmond 9.8 (62) v 8.12 (60) Carlton – Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Harry McKay needs some lessons in decision making. Not for the first time tonight he’s had a shocker. After marking one-out 20m from goal instead of taking a breath and kicking the goal he plays on and is run down by Short.
Ross does now come on for Vlastuin.
Updated at 6.33am EDT
6.20am EDT 06:20
Q3: 7 mins remaining: Richmond 9.8 (62) v 8.11 (59) Carlton – Good hands from Curnow at half-forward makes Petrevski-Seton’s kick look superb. The Blues play on and head inside-50 but they can only earn a boundary throw. From the stoppage Cripps dominates Martin-like, but as he wheels around onto his right he can’t get enough purchase on his snap.
6.18am EDT 06:18
SUB KLAXON
Jack Ross is warming up. Josh Caddy’s knee looks proppy.
6.18am EDT 06:18
Q3: 8 mins remaining: Richmond 9.7 (61) v 8.10 (58) Carlton – Riewoldt finds some rare separation to mark just inside 50, 5m from the boundary on the left. He goes back and kicks a belting set shot. Yet another lead change.
6.16am EDT 06:16
Q3: 8.30 mins remaining: Richmond 8.7 (55) v 8.10 (58) Carlton -This has been a superb effort from the Blues. They could easily have faded away after half-time, but they have continued in the manner they started the game. How will fatigue influence things?
6.15am EDT 06:15
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Richmond 8.6 (54) v 8.10 (58) Carlton – Those minutes of momentum give way briefly to some loose moments in midfield, ended by a crunching McDonald tackle (he’s been outstanding since his entry). Carlton hit the post. But they retain the pressure and from a stoppage near 50 a free to Richmond is reversed after Astbury makes contact with Plowman’s face. From the arc he swings out onto his right and larrups a massive goal! The Blues are back in front!
6.12am EDT 06:12
Q3: 11 mins remaining: Richmond 8.6 (54) v 7.9 (51) Carlton – Richmond haven’t put together too many attacking chains this half, but they possess nicely down the right until Caddy lets fire from 50m in the pocket. Jones mops up nicely and a free-kick allows the pressure to release. The Blues go from end to end before Richmond pick them off – and dutifully head back 100m the other way themselves. This is wild slingshot footy. Both teams must be knackered.
6.10am EDT 06:10
Q3: 13 mins remaining: Richmond 8.6 (54) v 7.9 (51) Carlton – A rare spell of footy played at less than a million miles an hour. Both sides try to finesse the ball in midfield but Carlton execute better, until the pass before the final pass, which is underhit and hits the deck. They’re fortunate though, once the ball goes to ground Richmond go in high and the Blues win a free-kick, that goes straight to McKay on the lead. And then, for reasons best known to him, instead of going back and lumping a set shot, he tries to play on and kick around his body. Poor choice.
6.08am EDT 06:08
Q3: 15 mins remaining: Richmond 8.6 (54) v 7.8 (50) Carlton – Fisher takes on, and beats, two tacklers on the right wing. The ball inside 50 is a wobbler and as Richmond try to come out McDonald wins a free for holding the ball. His delivery is to a pack and it’s carried behind by Nankervis. Carlton fans go berko. That was way more intentional than Jones’ earlier on, but the Tiger had convention on his side.
Cameras pan to Scotty from Canberra sinking a pot. Never misses a PR opportunity that bloke.