Adem Yze’s Richmond are back off the bottom of the ladder with three rounds remaining, after one of the league’s more outlandish home-and-away wins this year over a faulty West Coast outfit on Sunday afternoon.
But the victory has come at a cost, with a young gun set to be unavailable next week due to suspension.
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Round 22
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The Tigers held their nerve despite a late mini-charge from the visitors, with a Sam Lalor goal in the final minute sealing their third victory of the season with a 12.12 (84) score over the Eagles’ 9.19 (73).
The hosts deserve their flowers for making the most of their opportunities in front of goal, however it was West Coast’s horrific inaccuracy in front of goal that stole all the headlines.
Andrew McQualter’s side were at one stage 3.16 in front of the big sticks, as the yips plagued the visitors inside 50 all afternoon.
“This would be an excruciating watch for both coaches,” Fox Footy commentator Corbin Middlemas said in the last quarter.
Richmond’s victory takes them off the bottom of the ladder, ahead of Essendon, simultaneously snapping an eight-game losing streak.
The loss looked to be taken heavily by the No.1 pick of the 2025 Draft in Willem Duursma, with the Eagles young gun seen teary-eyed alongside star teammate Harley Reid post-game.
But the Tigers’ win didn’t come without a sour note, as young defender Luke Trainor was on Monday dealt a one-match suspension for gut-punching Jack Williams in the second quarter.
The Match Review Officer assessed the incident as intentional conduct, medium impact and body contact, resulting in the one-match sentence. He’ll miss against the Crows on Saturday.
Richmond goalkickers: Lalor 3, Ralphsmith, Lynch 2, Short, Ross, Taranto, Nankervis
West Coast goalkickers: Waterman, J.Williams 2, Cole, Shanahan, Duggan, Johnston, Duursma
THE 3-2-1…
3. MINI DUSTY STARS TO RISE TIGERS OFF THE CANVAS… BUT MRO DATE LOOMS FOR TEAMMATE
A career-high three-goal haul from Sam Lalor proved a massive catalyst for Richmond’s 11-point win on Sunday afternoon, and Tigers fans will feel like they’ve seen this all before.
There’s more than just the iconic No. 4 guernsey that he and Dustin Martin share, with Lalor producing arguably his most dynamic display of football this year after a frustrating mid-season lay-off through injury.
From the opening bounce, the 19-year-old went toe-to-toe with West Coast’s Harley Reid, commanding the attention of all 33,737 fans at the MCG in a fascinating duel.
“The intrigue coming into this game was the midfield battle, particularly the young guns in there,” dual AFLW All-Australian Ruby Schleicher told Fox Footy at quarter-time.
“The first centre bounce, we got what everyone wanted — Sammy Lalor standing next to Harley Reid. But it is the Tigers who did the most damage out of the midfield that (first) quarter.
“Two of their goals had come from centre bounce. Toby Nankervis has been getting involved early in that ruck battle with Bailey Williams.”
Yze proud of young Tigers in tight win | 09:10
Former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon added: “Richmond have been really good with their pressure between the arcs.”
At the nucleus alongside Lalor was seasoned campaigner Tim Taranto, who was outstanding at the contest all afternoon, particularly in the first half.
The inside bull racked up 16 disposals, seven clearances, six tackles, two goal assists and a goal before half-time, before finishing with 32 disposals and 11 clearances.
While Adem Yze’s side finished with eight less clearances and seven less inside 50s, they were able to win contested ball — and crucially — be 5.9% more effective inside their attacking arc.
However, in an annoying blow, second-year teammate Luke Trainor looks likely to receive a suspension after an off-the-ball hit on Eagle Jack Williams behind play in the second quarter.
“That’s a week off,” three-time premiership player Cameron Mooney said on Fox Footy.
Former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon cheekily added: “I was just about to say, might want to paint the house this week!”
2. ‘WASTEFUL’ EAGLES SHOOT ‘SELVES IN FOOT DESPITE SIX-GAMER’S RED-HOT START
Having barely been on an AFL list for two months, West Coast’s Marcus Herbert has already imposed himself as one of the most impressive new faces at the top level in 2026.
Off the back of a 36-disposal match last week in his maiden Western Derby, the 23-year-old filled his boots in his first-ever senior game at the MCG to rack up 11 disposals and three score involvements inside the first 14 (!) minutes of the opening term.
“He’s followed up his strong run of form from last week (which) was just his fifth game,” Ruby Schleicher said at quarter time.
“You can really feel it down here when he has the footy. He’s so calm and composed with ball-in-hand. He really has been an incredible mid-season pick-up.”
The Geelong VFL product led the charge for Andrew McQualter side coming out of the back half, while Harley Reid, Tim Kelly and Elliot Yeo were among the other regular ball-winners for the visitors.
The high-pressure contest saw both sides make plenty of mistakes in sunny Melbourne conditions, but ultimately the Eagles’ horrific accuracy in front of goal cost them the four points — evidently the more controlling of the two sides in general play.
“They’re too teams trying to play with high pressure, but they can’t actually absorb that pressure very well themselves,” Schleicher added at half time.
“It has felt intense down here, but you can’t question the effort that’s coming out from both sides.
“The Eagles are just wasting so many opportunities at the moment, although they have looked more composed going inside — and they’re getting a few more looks at it as well.”
1. SIX TO ONE: ‘MATURE’ HARLEY LETS ANTAGONISTIC TIGERS GO
No player in the AFL has conceded more free kicks than Harley Reid in 2026, but on Sunday afternoon, you would’ve been forgiven for assuming the complete inverse.
West Coast’s emerging star was awarded a whopping six free kicks before the main break, in the days after the club’s informal discussion with the AFL regarding how he is being officiated by umpires.
It was a narrative Richmond tried to play into from the first siren, but he didn’t let it phase him as he had another stellar game.
“The way they’re going about it, they’ve clearly got a plan to go after Harley — knowing he’s previously been a bit of a hot head … and try to make him react,” Collingwood AFLW star Ruby Schleicher told Fox Footy at half time.
“Usually his teammates are trying to drag him away … but I think we’re seeing a really calm version of Harley. He’s letting it come out in his football, and he’s playing really good football.”
Former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon added: “He’s not going to react, because a year ago he would’ve bitten the lure. But now, he knows it’s fake.
“He’s matured a little bit in that space. Six free kicks to one against (at half time). When you ring the AFL, you can get the job done.
McQualter laments Eagles errors | 04:35
“I like the fact he has matured. He’s rolling his sleeves up. It’s not going his way, but he’s not reacting … today we’re seeing a different Harley.”
The 21-year-old racked up 19 disposals and six clearances before half time, but failed to make the absolute most with the Sherrin-in-hand in the first half, registering two behinds.
“There’s always a bit of energy when Harley’s around the footy,” Dixon said at the first break.
“One thing he’s done really well this year is his ability to shape at clearance and bring everyone else into the game.
“For his first couple of years, he felt like he had to be ‘the band’. But, he’s starting to work it out and he’s got some good support around him.”
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