RICHMOND’S recent dominance over the Brisbane Lions has continued with the Tigers scoring a comfortable 79-point win in a scrappy affair at the Gabba on Saturday night.
In the battle of the big cats, the Tigers won 21.11 (137) to 8.10 (58) for their eighth-straight victory over the Lions, a record stretching back to round seven, 2009.
Looking to atone for their 82-point loss to North Melbourne last weekend, the Lions never looked in the contest, and despite both sides having similar numbers in contested possessions, inside 50s, handballs and clearances, a lack of disposal efficiency and marks inside 50 cost the Lions dearly.
Trent Cotchin (37 disposals) and Bachar Houli (32 disposals) led the way for the Tigers with the Lions assisted by the two Daynes - with Beams and Zorko earning 35 and 27 disposals respectively.
There were seven multiple goal-scorers for the Tigers - with Jack Riewoldt booting four majors - while Zorko booted two goals for the Lions.
Leading by 24 points at halftime, two goals to Riewoldt and one to Nathan Gordon stretched Richmond's advantage to 41 points midway through the third term - the visitors kicking six unanswered goals since Michael Paparone's major inside the opening minute of the second term.
Goals to Zorko and debutant Harris Andrews briefly stopped the rot, until two goals inside five minutes to Shaun Grigg extended the Tigers' lead to 42 points at three-quarter time.
Dustin Martin opened Richmond's account in the final term before goals to Brisbane Lions James Aish and Josh Green were cancelled out by Gordon and Kamdyn McIntosh's second goals.
The Tigers eventually kicked away with further goals to Riewoldt, Ben Griffiths, Shane Edwards and substitute Sam Lloyd, to see the visitors roar back into the top-eight in front of a crowd of 22,441.
Lions boss Justin Leppitsch said his young side faded badly during the second half as the Tigers kicked eight goals to two in the final term.
"The last quarter was probably the most disappointing where our players lost hope. You could sense [that] a little bit in the third [quarter], so that was probably the most non-competitive component of the game that last quarter," he said.
BRISBANE LIONS 3.1 4.5 6.7 8.10 (58)
RICHMOND 4.4 8.5 13.7 21.11 (137)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Zorko 2, Andrews, McStay, Green, Christensen, Paparone, Aish
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Newman 2, McIntosh 2, Martin 2, Grigg 2, Griffiths 2, Gordon 2, Morris, Lloyd, Knights, Edwards, Cotchin
BEST
Brisbane Lions: D.Beams, Zorko, Rich, Martin, Redden
Richmond: Cotchin, Houli, Riewoldt, Miles, Griffiths, Gordon
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions:
Richmond: Knights (leg)
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane Lions: Lewy Taylor replaced Darcy Gardiner in the third quarter
Richmond: Sam Lloyd replaced Chris Knights in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Hay, Pannell
Official crowd: 22,441 at the Gabba
