Younger ahead Jacob van Rooyen took a hovering mark and booted three clutch targets to interrupt the shackles for Melbourne of their 18-point comeback victory over Richmond.
Van Rooyen kicked two majors in a four-minute span early within the ultimate time period after which added the sealer in his aspect’s 15.6 (96) to 11.12 (78) win on the MCG on Monday evening.
Richmond, impressed by Noah Cumberland’s three-goal first quarter, led by 25 factors earlier than halftime in entrance of 83,985 followers.
However the Tigers coughed up 9 targets to 3 after the primary break in a fourth straight defeat that leaves their season hanging by a thread.
Making issues worse for Damien Hardwick’s aspect, Maurice Rioli Jr hobbled off within the ultimate couple of minutes with a hamstring harm.
Small ahead Kade Chandler kicked three targets — all after halftime — and put Melbourne in entrance early within the ultimate quarter.
In his fourth senior sport, 20-year-old van Rooyen took a towering seize with a journey on Noah Balta to arrange his first purpose and added a second quickly afterwards.
“He was just about coming off at his subsequent rotation,” coach Simon Goodwin mentioned of van Rooyen after the match, having had a quiet sport up till the final quarter.
“We have been about to sub him out.
“He took one mark and that was sufficient (to maintain him on).”
Richmond kicked 1.5 within the ultimate quarter and have been left ruing their missed probabilities.
Gun midfielders Clayton Oliver (32 disposals, six clearances), Jack Viney (30, 5) and Christian Petracca (26, three) all shone for the Demons.
Captain Max Gawn was influential on return from a knee harm, claiming six contested marks and kicking a late purpose.
Richmond was properly served by Jack Riewoldt (4 targets) whereas Tim Taranto (33 disposals, six clearances) was busy, as was speedster Jayden Brief (30 touches) on return from a calf harm.
Had they misplaced, Melbourne would have been out of the highest eight on the finish of the spherical, however as an alternative sit in second.
The Tigers fell to 1-1-4 for the season and look on shaky floor, sitting in sixteenth.
Riewoldt joins unique MCG membership
Earlier, Riewoldt joined Matthew Lloyd and Matthew Richardson as the one three gamers to kick 400 or extra targets on the MCG.
The Tigers spearhead booted two second quarter majors to notch the milestone, becoming a member of fellow Tiger Richardson (464) and former Essendon star Lloyd (461) within the unique membership.
Solely 9 gamers within the historical past of the VFL/AFL have kicked greater than 400 targets at one venue, together with Riewoldt’s cousin Nick, who kicked 452 at Docklands.
Gordon Coventry (679 at Victoria Park), Jason Dunstall (565 at Waverley Park), Doug Wade (413 at Kardinia Park), Matthew Pavlich (400 at Subiaco), and Jack Titus (471 at Punt Street) spherical out the record.
Questions over Cumberland 50m penalty
Within the first quarter, the Tigers registered their highest scoring opening time period of the yr of their now-traditional Anzac Day eve blockbuster towards Melbourne.
Tigers ahead Cumberland was the star of quarter, kicking three targets from 4 pictures, together with one main that got here after a 50m penalty that raised loads of questions.
Cumberland was on a tricky angle about 20m out when he took a shot at purpose, spraying it left and simply sneaking it in beside the behind submit.
However because the ball went by way of the behinds, the umpire referred to as a 50m penalty towards Demons defender Jake Lever, who had encroached on the protected zone behind the person on the mark.
Based on the foundations, a 5m buffer must be left behind the person on the mark always.
Take a look at the scores and stats under.
ABC/AAP
