GEELONG 3.3 7.8 8.10 11.15 (81)
RICHMOND 0.1 4.3 8.3 12.4 (76)
Goals: Geelong: J Murdoch 2 M Duncan 2 T Hunt 2 H McIntosh J Bartel J Selwood S Johnson T Varcoe. Richmond: S Lloyd 3 J Riewoldt 2 S Edwards 2 T Vickery 2 B Deledio D Martin T Cotchin.
Umpires: Scott Jeffery, Shane McInerney, Heath Ryan.
Official Crowd: 34,377 at MCG.
Big effort from the Tigers to get back in that game, after the Cats controlled much of the first half. In the second half, it was for the most part Richmond's show, but Geelong's experience and some brilliant efforts from players like Selwood and Harry Taylor kept the Cats in the lead. Both sides go into the bye now and after that game will probably be glad for the week off.
Geelong wins by 5 points.
That one hurts, the boys played the style of footy they know we are capable of. Rest up with the bye Tiger fans, we're back in 2 weeks.
— Richmond (@Richmond_FC) May 4, 2014
FT: Cats get win number six in a hard fought battle with the Tigers. Final score Cats 81 def 76. Bye next week then time to reload.
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) May 4, 2014
Q4 - 33.42
Lloyd marks with 13 seconds on the clock! He needs to go back and kick it quickly...he does! But As he kicks the goal, the siren sounds. Lloyd's celebration was cut short as he registered the siren sounding. A brace effort from the Tigers who end up falling short by 5 points.
It's inside 50 for the Tigers! Two chances go begging though.
Q4 - 30.52
Goal Tigers! Jack Riewoldt with the set shot conversion. Tigers now need two in a minute and half.
Q4 - 29.46
Behind to Stevie J. There were a couple of Cats lining up there for the sealer, but Johnson blazed away from about 50 metres out.
This follows a Selwood behind. Tigers need a miracle now.
Under four minutes remaining, and the margin is 14 points. But the Cats' defence is standing strong, and poor kicking by Richmond inside 50 isn't helping their case.
Ice on Chris Newman's calf now. Looks as though he's done for the day.
Q4 - 25.29
Tigers breaking down on the way out of defence at the moment. And if they can get it forward, their inside 50s are not great. The Cats have the advantage here - experience and the lead. They'll be looking to ice the clock.
Oh no! Newman is injured here! Looks like a hamstring injury as he was running down the wing out of defence. On the replay though, looks more like a lower leg problem - maybe a calf injury. He's trying to get off the ground now.
Q4 - 22.32
After a bunch of stoppages inside 50 the Cats work the ball free to Bartel. He has a snap from 35 out but the ball goes through off hands.
There's still 8 and half minutes left, so plenty of time for Richmond to take the lead. But the Cats have slowed things down and swung the momentum again.
Q4 - 17.10
But Ty Vickery gets the quick reply for the Tigers! Just when you thought the game might be over, the Tigers get one back to stay well and truly in it. Great composure by Vickery to duck around the Cats defender and steady and then finish from 40 metres out.
Q4 - 16.09
Goal Cats! They go back to back through Taylor Hunt who received a clever chip kick from Jimmy Bartel, steadied directly in front, about 30 metres out, and sent the ball sailing through the big sticks. It's a 19 point margin now.
Q4 - 14.06
GOAL CATS! Murdoch with a beautiful curving snap after some great pressure to dispossess Vlastuin. What a finish! There's still twelve minutes left, but could that have been the steadier that Geelong needed?
Q4 - 10.38
Kelly in acres of space, hits Murdoch, who finds Hawkins, who loops a kick to Varcoe in the square...but Morris flies over the top with a huge fist to rush a behind.
Q4 - 8.12
Goal Tigers! Speaking of big efforts from a skipper! Cotchin nails one from the pocket, one bounce through the big sticks. What an absolute gem of a pickup in wet conditions. Cats by 8 points.
And now Selwood has been ordered off the ground with the blood rule.
Q4 - 4.01
Rushed behind to the Tigers. Margin back to 12 points, and there's plenty of time left. But it seems the Tigers need one soon, just to get confidence and momentum back, if they are any chance.
Q4 - 2.42
Goal Selwood! The Cats skipper stands up in a big way. He shrugs a tackle or two and bangs one home from outside 50!! Selwood is bleeding a little from a cut on his head. But i don't know that that's ever stopped him before. However the umpire should probably have some say in it at this point.
OK, last quarter under way. Cats by 7 points.
What do you think, Richmond fans? Is this supporter right? Would it be "healthier" to support the Cats?
Steven Morris and Matthew Stokes clash during a melee #AFLCatsTigers @theage_photo @theagesport pic.twitter.com/cc6PNLBSgA
— Pat Scala (@scalamania) May 4, 2014
It's three-quarter time, and the Cats are hanging in there. It was all Richmond in that third time, and it was a huge effort. But they couldn't take the lead form the Cats, and in the last few minutes of the quarter, although they didn't score, Geelong managed to swing the momentum slightly back in its own favour. At the very least, they stemmed the flow a little.
Richmond will go into the last quarter with confidence, but the Cats have experience and for the majority of this game, have had the better skills. SHould be a tight finish!
The Tigers manage to clear it, and there's the siren!
31 seconds left, and it's a throw-in in the Cats forward pocket.
...But Corey Enright has no sense of theatre. He marks in defence to stop the Tigers' burst forward.
Three minutes left in the quarter and here go the Tigers once more!
Umpires missed a sliding free kick earlier in the quarter.
Sliding in is out. Except when it's in. #aflTigersCats
— Greg Baum (@GregBaum) May 4, 2014
Q3 - 23.11
Mark to Vickery. Cats fans very unhappy, because the ball hit the deck as he slid along the ground. But the mark stands. Vickery goes back from 45 out and he absolutely nails the goal! Cats' lead is cut to just seven points! Game on.
Q3 - 20.24
It's a tight contest at the moment! Huge defensive efforts by both sides to keep each other out.
Q3 - 15.11
GOAL TIGERS! Sam Lloyd with the reply, a ripper snap from 30 metres out! Harry Taylor looked to have the better of Vickery, reading the bounce better, but he lost control of the ball and Lloyd swooped. 13 points the margin!
Q3 - 14.36
Crowd is seriously unhappy with a free kick awarded to Tom Hawkins, and they have a strong argument here. Rance made a pretty good spoil, I thought, and was pinged for high contact. Rance never took his eyes off the ball, and came in from side on. Hawkins goes back and just misses to the left. Richmond crowd bronxes that one.
Reece Conca is wrapped up by @Steviejohnson20 #AFLCatsTigers @theage_photo @theagesport pic.twitter.com/ImUaeudRKO
— Pat Scala (@scalamania) May 4, 2014
Q3 - 10.57
But Edwards gets redemption! Great effort by Cotchin to turn the ball over and Edwards marks in the square! This time he does not play on! He goes back and from point-blank range, fires the Tigers back to within 18 points.
Q3 - 10.58
Oh dear! Edwards takes a mark at the edge of the goal square after a great build-up by Richmond. But he's played on and is pinged for holding the ball!
Q3 - 8.46
A Mitch Duncan set shot from 45 metres out on the tight angle goes across the face of goal and is punched through for a behind.
And...the rain is back.
Q3 - 5.47
Goal Cats! Some less than impressive skills from Richmond there, and Mitch Duncan ended up with the set shot. He converted to extend the lead again.
Q3 - 2.04
Goal Tigers! Mitch Duncan gets caught holding the ball, and Richmond's activated sub, Shane Edwards, converts the goal. Margin back to 17 points in favour of the Cats. (It's Nathan Gordon who made way for Edwards)
Q3 - 0.00
Second half under way here. Looks like the rain is not far away after a dry second quarter.
The second quarter opened this game right up, and though the Tigers were goalless for a quarter and a half, their efforts were for the most part, good. Once they got one goal on the board, they were able to open the floodgates just a crack, and peg the Cats' lead back. A late Geelong goal put a damper on things, from a Richmond perspective, but the game is back to a contest. The Cats' superior skills were what got them into a commanding position at the start of this game. and Richmond will need to step up a gear yet again if they are to stay in it.
Cats by 23 points.
@Steviejohnson20 evades a diving Alex Rance #aflcatstigers @theage_photo @theagesport pic.twitter.com/P0ZO1gNsBd
— Pat Scala (@scalamania) May 4, 2014
There's the siren! And Jack Riewoldt has a bit to say here. Some pushing and shoving in the middle of the ground, and the umpires have to escort the players off. Bit of feeling in this one!
Q2 - 31.50
Goal Cats! Duncan snaps after a great clearance from the pack in front of goal. With six seconds left on the clock, Damien Hardwick look sseriously displeased in the box. Just what the Tigers didn't need.
Q2 - 30.50
Vickery wins the free kick for an arm chop, deep in the right pocket. With a minute to go in the half, Vickery slides the set shot across the face of goal. Just a behind.
Q2 - 29.27
Bartel! A long-range effort from the Cat bounces into the post. That one would've brought the house down!! Sounds a bit silly, but despite the margin, the Cats needed that one.
Q2 - 28.30
Free kick Martin! Richmond wins a free kick in the square for a hold on his jumper. He goes back and slots it from point-blank range. And the Tigers are right back in this!
Hamish McIntosh has gone to the bench and is being checked by the doctors. Could be concussion or a head injury of some sort.
Q2 - 26.00
Goal Lloyd! After a disappointing effort to concede that last one, Sam Lloyd has kicked a great goal to peg one back for the Tigers.
Q2 - 24.54
Goal Cats. Turnover by Richmond and Murdoch swoops on the loose ball in the goal square and send it through off the deck.
Q2 -23.25
Goal Richmond! What they lack in number, they're making up for in quality. Deledio has let rip with a huge goal from outside 50 off a couple of steps. Cats by 23 points.
Q2 - 21.46
Riewoldt in the pocket! He takes a chest mark pressed right up against the boundary line, and goes back to attempt to convert the Tigers' frst major.
And has he converted! Beautiful snap from Riewoldt, with a handful of Cats guarding the mark. He opened the angle and slid it home.
Q2 - 20.06
Behind to the Cats through Motlop. His curling snap from the left pocket came off hands, but it was a pretty good effort.
Bartel is off getting teatment for a cut around this left eye. It doesn't look too serious though, he's getting patched up and should be back on shortly.
Q2 - 13.41
Oh dear. The Tigers work it to Jack Riewoldt deep in the left pocket, about 45 metres out. Riewoldt goes back to take the shot on goal but his kick was not a good one and goes directly out of bounds on the full. Looks like after a strong early effort, the Tigers are slipping away here.
Q2 - 12.40
Great play by Nick Vlastuin on the wing, one on one with Varcoe, who had half a metre on him and acres of space ahead. Vlastuin managed to contain the Cat and then go back and win the next contest, too.
Q2 - 10.15
Motlop flattened by a high bump/Shepherd on defensive 50. Cats take the advantage from the free kick and go forward fast. Stevie J runs into space, the ball and an open goal. Cats by 34 points.
Q2 - 8.12
And yet another behind to the Cats, this one rushed. Richmond just cannot clear from defence at the minute.
Q2 - 7.43
Turnover! the kick to clear on 50 goes directly to the man on the mark in Duncan. His long-range shot bounces through for a behind.
Q1 - 7.11
Motlop finds Tom Hawkins on the lead with a low short kick. Hawkins goes back from about 30 metres out and lets himself down with the kick, tugging the ball well right for a behind.
But as the weather is clearing, things are looking a bit ominous for Richmond.
And it seems that Dustin Martin's knee is fine. Good news for Richmond.
Replay of the little dust up shows that the free may have been to Deledio, against Duncan. Deledio was sat on his backside by the Cat.
Q2 - 3.00
So Taylor Hunt snaps from the stoppage in a lot of traffic - great goal. But the Tigers have one a free from the resulting mini-melee. Not sure exactly what for, I'm afraid. So no centre bounce - the Tigers go forward.
Taylor Hunt goals for the Cats, but it is on here!
Q2 - 0.43
Behind to start the quarter for the Tigers. A shaky chip kick across the face of goal by Kelly was spoiled by Vickery. Riewoldt swopped on the crumb but had to rush his kick and the snap on goal from almost directly in front drifted left.
Second quarter under way at the MCG.
Inside 50's 14-5 in Cats favour. Should be further ahead.
— Michael Gleeson (@mickgleeson) May 4, 2014
Back at the MCG, it's quarter time. The scoreboard makes it look like a bit of a disappointing first term for the Tigers, but wet weather played a part and the Tigers' efforts were tough and pretty good against a top side in Geelong. However, the Cats, though held up at times by Richmond, were able to find options inside 50 and their skills, particularly in the rain, have been better.
Cats by 20 points.
Q1 - 24.30
Jimmy Bartel attempts the goal of his life, with his back to the behind post. His snap flies across the face though - just a behind. But Bartel is looking dangerous today.
With under two minutes left, we can call it. The Suns will go fifth on the ladder at 5 and 2, and enjoy their first ever win at Etihad Stadium.
Q1 - 21.21
Hamish McINtosh wins a free for a hold and will go back to take the set shot on goal. on a 45 degree angle. From about 40 metres out, he makes no mistake with the kick. Cats starting to get the upper hand here, despite some tough Tiger efforts. Cats by 19.
Q1 - 18.21
Goal Cats! Some great work by Varcoe in the wet to control the ball (it was tapped on to him) and finish from 30 out with a snap. Not bad work in the set-up by Jimmy Bartel, too.
Bad news, Tiger fans: Dustin Martin with a knee problem from a tackle has gone down the race.
With under five minutes left, the Suns look home and they think one man in particular has done a pretty good job.
Boo him all you like North fans, @GaryAblettJnr is putting on a clinic for you here at Etihad Stadium today! #AFLNorthSuns
— GC SUNS (@GoldCoastSUNS) May 4, 2014
Q1 - 14.04
Behind to the Tigers. They win a free on half forward for in the back, and Aaron Edwards takes the advantage. He runs inside 50 and has a shot from about 35 metres out, but bounces the ball into the post. Cats by 7 points.
Q1 - 13.01
Back at the MCG, Bartel has a snap on goal for Geelong but misses. It's not a pretty game.
Over at Etihad, Gary Ablett may have decided to make a play for the Coleman... he's kicked another goal in the last quarter. With about 8 minutes left the margin is back to 31 points.
Q1 - 10.36
Cats turn it over on the wing and bang the ball forward...but there's no one home. Tigers look to clear from defence. But they have very few options, and the ball is still in Richmond possession but stuck on half back.
Q1 - 9.35
Scrappy end-to-end stuff at the moment with neither team really able to go deep inside 50.
Roos have pegged one back at Etihad, with just under ten minutes remaining in the last quarter. Margin is 25 points in favour of the Suns.
Q1 - 6.57
Vlastuin wins a free for holding the ball after a great tackle on the wing. He sends it inside 50 but no scoring opportunity comes from it for the Tiges.
And here's the rain.
Q1 - 5.11
Richmond unable to clear from the kickout and the Cats win the ball back. Bartel takes a grab in space, goes back, and slots the goal from the set shot, about 50 metres out. Cats get the first major of the day.
Q1 - 3.49
Cats work the ball forward quickly and find Tom Hawkins on a tight angle in the left pocket. Not even the recent good form of Hawkins could see that kick go through. Just a behind.
Meanwhile at Etihad... two in a row to Gary Ablett and the Suns look home! 31 points the lead.
With about 13 minutes left, the Suns lead the Roos now by 25 points at Etihad Stadium.
Gaaaaaaaazzzzzaaaaa!!!! You star...
— Cam Mooney (@cam_mooney) May 4, 2014
Q1 - 1.00
Tigers have kept it locked inside 50, but no score from the pressure.
Here we go! Umpire bounces and the Tigers start with a clearance and a quick inside 50.
It's not raining at the 'G yet, but by the looks of the clouds, rain can't be far away.
No such trouble for the Roos and the Suns at Etihad, where the lid is on and the Suns lead by 19 points with about 15 minutes left in the last quarter.
Cue the ominous music… JB3 has brought out the sleeves! #aflcatstigers
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) May 4, 2014
Welcome to our coverage of Geelong and Richmond.
Shane Edwards will start as sub for the Tigers and Mark Blicavs will be the sub for the Cats.
