Full time
A NEAR full-strength Richmond proved too strong for Hawthorn at Beaconsfield, recording a 71-point win.
The Tigers kicked seven goals to two in the final term to overcome a Hawks’ line-up without the likes of Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jack Gunston.
Tim O’Brien produced a smart finish from the boundary early in the final term, following a goal to Tiger Kane Lambert.
But the Tigers then kicked six of the final seven goals.
Captain Liam Shiels (20 disposals, nine tackles) led from the front, but the Hawks had few standouts. Shiels was the only Hawk to pick up 20 disposals.
Draftees Blake Hardwick and Kieran Lovell showed some promising signs, while ruckman Marc Pittonet entered the game in the final term.
Hardwick kicked the final goal of the match, making no mistake with a set shot from 20 metres out.
Recruit Jack Fitzpatrick left the ground early in the term, with what appeared to be a left knee concern.
SCORES
RICHMOND 0.2.1 (13) 1.5.3 (42) 1.8.4 (61) 1.15.5 (104)
HAWTHORN 0.1.2 (8) 0.2.3 (15) 0.2.6 (17) 0.4.9 (33)
Goals
Richmond super-goal: Riewoldt
Richmond: Edwards 4, Lennon 3, Menadue 2, Cotchin 2, Rioli, Riewoldt, Lambert, Moore
Hawthorn: O’Rourke, Sicily, O’Brien, Hardwick
Three-Quarter Time
RICHMOND extended its advantage beyond seven goals at the final change.
The Tigers kicked three goals to none for the term to increase their lead to 43 points.
The Hawks had the better of the contest early, but Richmond kicked the first goal of the term after eight minutes.
A generous free kick helped Andrew Moore kick his first from 30 metres out.
Ben Lennon then followed up with a goal-line toe-poke, before bobbing up again at the top of the goal square to add his second soon after.
Draftee Kieran Lovell entered the game, having an immediate impact. Lovell laid a big tackle at half back, before hitting the post with a shot on goal.
Liam Shiels (14 disposals), Shaun Burgoyne (14 disposals) and Josh Gibson (13 disposals) were the Hawks’ leading ball winners at the final change.
SCORES
RICHMOND 0.2.1 (13) 1.5.3 (42) 1.8.4 (61)
HAWTHORN 0.1.2 (8) 0.2.3 (15) 0.2.6 (17)
Goals
Richmond super-goal: Riewoldt
Richmond: Menadue 2, Edwards 2, Lennon 2, Riewoldt, Moore
Hawthorn: O’Rourke, Sicily
Half Time
RICHMOND has opened up a 27-point advantage at half time at Beaconsfield.
The Hawks struggled for momentum in the second term, as the Tigers added three majors plus a super-goal.
A goal in the dying moments of the term from James Sicily stopped a streak of five consecutive Tiger goals.
Shane Edwards got the Tigers on the board immediately in the second term, before Jack Riewoldt unleashed from outside 50 for nine points half way through the term.
Connor Menadue added his second with five minutes to go before half time, before Edwards snapped from a tight angle for his second soon after.
Josh Gibson (11 disposals) and Jordan Lewis (10 disposals) found plenty of the ball, while Shaun Burgoyne also had a strong impact in the second term.
Draftee Blake Hardwick got his first run midway through the term.
SCORES
RICHMOND 0.2.1 (13) 1.5.3 (42)
HAWTHORN 0.1.2 (8) 0.2.3 (15)
Goals
Richmond super-goal: Riewoldt
Richmond: Menadue 2, Edwards 2, Riewoldt
Hawthorn: O’Rourke, Sicily
Quarter Time
AFTER a scrappy opening quarter, the Hawks trail the Tigers by five points in their second NAB Challenge match at Holm Park Recreation Reserve in Beaconsfield.
Both sides took a while to get going, with no shots on goal inside the first five minutes.
Bradley Hill had the Hawks’ first opportunity with a set shot from 40 metres out, but missed to the right.
Soon after, Tiger Connor Menadue slotted the first of the match from point blank range, courtesy of a Jack Riewoldt pass.
Jack Fitzpatrick and Cyril Rioli combined to set up Jonathan O’Rourke for the Hawks’ first, with O’Rourke running into an open goal after Fitzpatrick and Rioli created a turnover at half forward.
Riewoldt proved a handful for the Hawks, taking six marks for the quarter, before kicking his first to return the lead to the Tigers two minutes before quarter time.
Josh Gibson regularly cut out Richmond attacks across half back, while Jordan Lewis found plenty of the ball through the midfield for the Hawks.
SCORES
RICHMOND 2.1 (13)
HAWTHORN 1.2 (8)
Goals
Richmond: Menadue, Riewoldt
Hawthorn: O’Rourke
