New Richmond coach Adem Yze has declared “it’s not about me” after his pressure-charged Tigers shocked Sydney in a five-point upset at the MCG on Sunday night.
But the Tigers’ joy has been short-lived with more disastrous injury news emerging from the clash.
Superstar forward Tom Lynch will need hamstring tendon surgery on his left knee and will miss around 2-3 months, while fellow tall Noah Balta will miss 3-5 weeks with a moderate MCL injury suffered in the final seconds of the win.
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“It is rotten luck for Tom, who worked extremely diligently to prepare his body for the season after what was a tough season for him last year,” Richmond GM of Football Performance Tim Livingstone said.
“Unfortunately for Tom, he landed in a motion that has caused this injury.
“He will consult a surgeon in the coming days, which will give us a clearer picture of the injuries timeline, but we are expecting he will be out for the longer term.”
Yze praised the Tigers’ ferocious attack on the ball that blew their pressure rating “through the roof” in the final term.
He also said the club would give Liam Baker “the world if he wants to stay at our footy club” as he weighs up the lure of a potential return to Western Australia.
“We’ll give him the world if he wants to stay at our footy club,” Yze said.
“If he decides to go, that’s the nature of the game,” Yze said. “But while he’s here, we want him to play free and just enjoy his footy and make the decision when the time comes.
“That’s the only thing I have been talking to him about … I just want his effort to be high and to enjoy walking into the club. We love him. He knows that.
“He’s a leader of our club. What he does bring to our footy club is spirit.”
Yze was quick to deflect the win to the club’s leaders, while also highlighting the ability of some Tiger cubs to step up, and the fans.
“They (Tiger Army) helped us in that last quarter with their noise,” Yze said of the tidal wave of momentum from the roaring fans.
“(Sydney) kicked the first couple of goals and we could have rolled over but our leaders stood up and our fans did as well.”
In a further boost for the Tigers, Dustin Martin (calf), Jack Graham (quad) and Dylan Grimes (wrist) are all a chance to return in Gather Round against St Kilda.
Nick Vlaustin was a brick wall at the back of stoppage.
Tim Taranto, Shai Bolton, Tom Lynch and Baker were all pivotal in the second-half comeback after the Swans piled on six unanswered goals.
“We know what our older players will be able to do in those moments,” Yze said.
“For our younger players to respond and the effort they were putting on, like Maurice Rioli’s chase down (tackle) in the last quarter, the pressure that Seth Campbell is putting on with Rhyan Mansell in the forward line, that’s the future of our footy club. For them to be able to do that in those moments against a quality team in Sydney, we were really proud of.”
Yze has adopted his predecessor Damien Hardwick’s trait of talking about a “Richmond style” – a tough, contested game where they pile on the pressure. Now it’s being done with a younger brigade who Yze accepts will have “fluctuations” from week to week, but offers excitement.
TIGERS DEFEAT SWANS IN PRESSURE-COOKER CLASH
Adem Yze tasted victory for the first time as Richmond coach as his spirited Tigers overcame the absence of Dustin Martin and other premiership heroes to defeat Sydney by five points in a thrilling finish at the MCG.
Yze has a long way to go to endear himself to the Richmond faithful like Damien Hardwick but he can take solace in the fact that he put on a win on the board quicker than his predecessor did in his first year.
The Tigers out-hunted the previously unbeaten Swans from the outset and their ferocious pressure and attack on the ball held them in good stead as they hung on for dear life after leading by 16 points at three quarter time.
Tim Taranto and Shai Bolton lead the way in the middle as Nick Vlaustin saved the day on countless occasions down back.
Maintaining the rage was their issue in losses to Port Adelaide and Carlton but much to the delight of the roaring Tiger Army, their side was able to respond from six unanswered goals by the Swans with five unanswered third quarter goals of their own.
Tom Lynch willed the Tigers back into the contest by nailing back-to-back goals in the third term to stop the rut while Liam Baker was inspirational with relentless pressure, putting himself in dangerous positions forward of centre and putting his side back in front with his second goal.
They would not surrender the lead again but their three quarter time lead quickly whittled away and the Swans could sniff victory when Tom Papley snapped their second goal of the term and charged off with a trademark celebration.
Shai Bolton snapped truly to steady the nerves not long after and the Tigers’s wave of momentum ensured they hung on despite not kicking another goal.
Vlaustin’s enormous second half
Nick Vlaustin was a brick wall in defence as he collected 15 intercept possessions and then propelled the Tigers into attack by operating at a disposal efficiency of 100%.
Vlaustin was mighty in the goal keeper role and executed many desperate defensive efforts to perfection to repel the Swans attack late in the game.
Teammate Daniel Rioli was the only other player on the ground to reach double figures for intercept possessions.
YOUNG TIGERS STAND UP
Thomson Dow produced one of the best performances of his career with six clearances, second only to Tim Taranto, while Seth Campbell matched Shai Bolton as the leading players on the ground for inside 50s with eight.
The tackling pressure of Rhyan Mansell and Maurice Rioli Jr in the forward half was also immense with six apiece.
Former Melbourne Storm development squad member Mykelti Lefeau showed poise beyond his experience to nail two important goals.
The New Zealand born 26-year-old debuted last week and he received thunderous applause in the first quarter when he perfectly executed a right foot banana from the City End pocket to kick his first AFL goal.
The noise was deafening for his second career goal however as he slotted a set shot from 45m on a roughly 45 degree angle as part of the Tigers’ third quarter onslaught before he was later subbed off.
MELICAN ESCAPED HEAVY HIT UNSCATHED
Spot fires were breaking out during the second quarter and tempers flared when Liam Baker crashed into Swans defender Lewis Melican late in a marking contest.
Baker charged back with the flight to try and spoil Melican but braced late and appeared to make contact with Melican’s chest and head prompting his Swans teammates to remonstrate immediately with Baker and his teammate Tom Lynch.
Melican left the ground after taking his kick but there seemed to be little concern as no concussion test was administered on the bench and he played out the game.
WOUNDED TIGERS’ INJURIES MOUNT UP
As Richmond welcomed back Nathan Broad, Maurice Rioli Jr and Tylar Young from their respective injuries, they were hit by further injury pain with Dustin Martin and Dylan Grimes withdrawn from the side during the week.
Martin battled through the calf issue he sustained via a knock prior to Richmond’s opening game against Gold Coast – which he missed as a result – in their two most recent starts against Port Adelaide and Carlton but has re-aggravated the concern.
Grimes meanwhile has a wrist issue and the Tiger’s backline is already undermanned after Josh Gibcus did his ACL in Round 1.
Their midfield was also light on with Dion Prestia (hamstring), Jacob Hopper (knee) and Jack Graham (quad) on the sidelines.
Tom Lynch also ducked off with a sore knee during the last quarter.
RICHMOND 4.3 5.9 10.13
SYDNEY 2.1 7.5 8.9
BEST
Tigers: Taranto, Bolton, Baker, Lynch, Vlaustin, D. Rioli
Swans: Heeney, Lloyd, Rowbottom, Blakey, Grundy, Gulden
GOALS
Tigers: Lynch 3, Baker 2, Lefau 2, Bolton 2, Mansell, Taranto
Swans: McDonald 3, Amartey 2, Heeney 2, Blakey, Fox, Papley, Gulden
INJURIES
Tigers: Lynch (hamstring)
Swans: Rampe (hamstring tightness)
CROWD
45,122 at MCG
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DANE HEVERIN’S VOTES
3 Nick Vlaustin (RICH)
2 Tim Taranto (RICH)
1 Liam Baker (RICH)
Source Agencies
