Dwell
Richmond is about to lose co-captain Toby Nankervis to suspension after boosting its AFL finals hopes with a nail-biting 13-point win over Sydney.
Jack Graham kicked two essential final-quarter objectives because the Tigers posted a 12.16 (88) to 11.9 (75) victory on the MCG on Thursday night time to maneuver inside touching distance of the highest eight.
However debutant Jacob Bauer limped off with a hamstring damage within the opening two minutes and there was one other bitter be aware when Nankervis caught Swans defender Jake Lloyd with a excessive bump.
Lloyd was substituted out with concussion throughout the second quarter after an incident that can entice scrutiny from the league’s match overview officer.
Replays confirmed Nankervis’ shoulder making contact with Lloyd’s head, leaving Swans coach John Longmire seething.
Nankervis (18 disposals, six clearances, 32 hitouts) went on to be one in every of Richmond’s most influential gamers as the house aspect loved a 47-31 clearance differential and overwhelmed their opponents after half-time.
“He had a giant position and sadly Jakey Lloyd didn’t have any position within the recreation, which was disappointing,” Longmire mentioned.
“However he bought on high within the ruck and actually gave them momentum out of there.”
Richmond stars Dustin Martin (29 disposals, six clearances) and Dion Prestia (22, six) had been excellent on return alongside Shai Bolton (31, 9) and Tim Taranto (29, 9).
Graham and substitute Jack Ross kicked two objectives apiece, whereas younger defender Tylar Younger had some large moments against Sydney celebrity Lance Franklin.
Richmond trailed by as a lot as 26 factors throughout the second quarter however dominated the second half and kicked 4 objectives to at least one within the ultimate time period.
The end result hung within the steadiness till Graham and Martin popped up with objectives deep into time-on of the final quarter.
It means the Tigers might finish the spherical simply two factors outdoors the highest eight.
“We’ve had some challenges late in video games over the previous couple of years so we’ve put a good bit of labor into that house,” interim coach Andrew McQualter mentioned.
“In the end it’s about leaders and other people standing up within the ultimate moments and our guys had been actually ready to try this tonight.
“The fantastic thing about a win like that, notably within the second half, was we had a number of contributors.”
Franklin kicked two objectives on return from damage in what was probably his ultimate look on the MCG, with retirement looming on the finish of the season.
However the 36-year-old champion squandered the prospect to place his aspect again in entrance with a missed set shot throughout the ultimate time period.
Isaac Heeney (three), Justin McInerney and Will Hayward (two every) additionally kicked a number of objectives for Sydney.
Errol Gulden (31 disposals), Oliver Florent (30) and Luke Parker (28) had been busy for the Swans, who had been left to rue a second-half fade-out in a loss that leaves them battling to remain in finals competition.