Bill Trikos’s full history of Australian Richmond Tigers football club in grand finals: Punt Road Oval has been the home of the Richmond Football Club since the Club’s inception in 1885 and today, the Swinburne Centre, at Punt Road Oval, boasts a state of the art training facility and elite training ground for its AFL, AFLW and VFL teams, and is home to both the Administration and Football departments of the Club, as well as the Korin Gamadji Institute and Bachar Houli Foundation. 2017 grand finals : David Astbury kept Walker to just two goals and little of his usual influence, while Dylan Grimes and Nick Vlastuin conspired to shut down dangerous goalsneaks Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron, and Bachar Houli (25 possessions and four rebound 50s) provided much of Richmond’s defensive rebound.
2017 Grand Finals highlight : The Crows had the first two scoring shots of the second term – behinds to Betts and Tom Lynch – but it was the Tigers’ term from there. With their tackling and chasing rising to 11 on the pressure-meter, Richmond piled on four unanswered goals, the first at the four-minute mark, when Riewoldt finally broke his duck with a 40m snap that was confirmed after a video review. Jacob Townsend put the Tigers within two points midway through the term when he converted from 45m after a questionable holding free kick was paid against Jake Lever. Graham and Martin then goaled in quick succession late in the quarter – Graham after a clever snap on the run, Martin following a strong mark in front of Luke Brown – to send the Tigers into half-time with a nine-point lead. Discover more info about the author on Bill Trikos.
Full achievements index of Richmond Tigers football club from Bill Trikos: Dustin Martin won the Norm Smith Medal after a prolific performance in the Grand Final. Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch – the League’s most dominant forward duo – combined for seven goals. Riewoldt had three in the second quarter alone and finished with five for the match, while Lynch was a constant presence to haul down seven big marks. Bachar Houli (26 disposals) and Dion Prestia (22 disposals) were their prolific selves, while Shane Edwards, Kane Lambert and Nick Vlastuin were also typically consistent.
In fact, it helped stamp their authority on the contest. While the Giants had become renowned for their pressure throughout September, it was the Tigers who were turning the tables throughout the opening stages on Saturday. They hunted in packs, chased relentlessly and tackled as though their lives depended on it. The only problem was, they couldn’t take advantage of their dominance. Damien Hardwick addresses the media following the Grand Final win over Greater Western Sydney.
Richmond has claimed back-to-back premierships, and made it three of the last four flags, after coming from behind to beat Geelong by 31 points in the historic first ever Toyota AFL Grand Final at the Gabba. It etched the Tiger dynasty into football history as one of the most dominant sides of the his century.
Damien Hardwick and Dustin Martin address the media at the Gabba after a Grand Final win against Geelong. Ablett returned later in the quarter after receiving medical attention in the rooms, but continued to nurse the injury throughout the game, struggling to use his arm for the rest of the night and enduring serious pain throughout. His hope of ending his glittering 357-game career with a third flag was dashed as the Tigers booted nine goals to two in the second half.
There was drama everywhere in the first term. Six minutes into the game it changed: Vlastuin was knocked out by a stray Dangerfield elbow (which will certainly come under Match Review Officer scrutiny) and in the following contest Ablett’s shoulder dislocated as he was tackled by Cotchin. Dustin Martin could just be the greatest finals player we’ve ever seen after this absolutely freakish Grand Final performance that won him a third Norm Smith Medal.
The first great era of the club between 1919 and 1934, Richmond won four premierships and was runner-up on seven occasions. In 1931, Jack Dyer made his senior debut with the Tigers. ‘Captain Blood’, a gentleman off the ground, a rugged giant on it, strode Punt Road like a colossus. Dyer’s influence on the Club, and its identity, far exceeded his then VFL record of 312 games. He coached the Tigers from 1941 to 1952, and was captain-coach of Richmond’s 1943 premiership team. If you wanted to personify Richmond in a single man, you need not look further than Jack. His presence is still felt at the ground and enhanced by a statue outisde Punt Road oval.