Richmond fell short of its sixth win of the VFL season after it was pipped by the Sydney Swans by four points in a tight game where the margin was never greater than 12 points.
For much of the day it was the Swans who had control of the game as they had Richmond's defence under constant pressure with a barrage of inside 50 entries (39-72), but the Tigers held firm to give them a chance at three-quarter time as scores were tied 61-apiece.
A frenetic final quarter followed and neither side gave an inch. Judson Clarke had a chance to steal the game for the Tigers in the closing stages, but his shot went astray and the Swans were able to hold on to run out winners 9.19.73 to 10.9.69
Despite the loss, the Tigers can be proud of its fight to remain in the contest and its two VFL debutants in Lachlan Carrigan and Tom Brindley, who had a baptism of fire.
Additionally, the AFL Mid-Season Draft also makes a return this week for its third edition since its reintroduction in 2019, and a number of players from Richmond's VFL side have nominated in the hope of potentially kickstarting an AFL career.
Tylar Young, Lachlan Carrigan, Samuel Tucker and talented Western Jets prospect Massimo D'ambrosio will be hoping to join Richmond's other past mid-season recruits in two-time AFL Premiership player Marlion Pickett and former St Kilda forward Matt Parker, who were drafted in the 2019 and 2021 editions respectively.
The AFL Mid-Season Draft starts this evening.
Richmond Centrals women win out
Both Richmond Centrals Football Club men's teams tasted defeat in the Division Three Seniors and Reserves at the weekend, but each of its women's teams secured important wins in the Premier C and C Reserves.
In Division Three, the Senior Men's side went down to Parkside, 7.11.53 to 14.15.99. The 46-point defeat was Richmond's fifth loss this season, leaving it in sixth place at the halfway stage of the season.
After a strong defensive start, the Centrals were blown away in the second quarter as they conceded six goals to seize control of the game, but were able to keep the score respectable after an even second half.
Senior Men's coach George Koumantatakis was disappointed with another second quarter lapse but took solace in his side's fight in the second half to prevent a larger defeat.
"If you don't take your chances when you have the ball then the other team will certainly make you pay and they were good enough to do that in the end," he said.
"In the second half, our effort at the contest was a lot better and we were able to get our outside run going and we looked a lot more competitive. We registered four scoring shots in the first half to 14 in the second."
For the Centrals, Dane Roy carried on from last week's performance with another three goals and was ably supported by Jack Bilson who also kicked three.
Round 10 will see Richmond's Division 3 Seniors have the bye and will return to the field on June 18, when the side takes on North Brunswick at Kevin Bartlett Reserve in a bid to keep its finals hopes alive.
"It has come at a good time for us and we feel like we will be able to roll out our strongest team in the second half of the season," Koumantatakis said.
The Reserves were outclassed in their game, going down by 56 points while the Women's C and C Reserves both won by 15 and 47 points respectively, with only inaccuracy preventing bigger victories for each side.
Kew in seventh win of the season
In Division One, the Kew Bears Men's Senior team continued its winning way after defeating Whitefriars by 27 points, 11.12.78 to 8.3.51 at Whitefriars College Oval.
The win was Kew's seventh of the season and kept the pressure on PEGS, which remains in first place. With only percentage separating the top three sides in Division One, any slip up could prove costly in the race for a home final.
For the Bears, Michael Hannan impressed once again as he kicked four goals in the win.
Kew's Reserves had a 163-point win against Whitefriars Reserves, 26.14.170 to 1.1.7. After six goals last round, George Smart backed it up with another 11 against the Whitefriars Reserves while in the William Bucks Premier Women's, Kew defeated West Brunswick by 18 points, 2.8.20 to 0.2.2.
