I’m going to to attempt the impossible here; to talk about Dusty’s 300th just in terms of a home and away game with 4 points at stake. I love Dusty and what he’s done for Richmond. Others have spoken eloquently about his special qualities and where he ranks in football history. The club handled his week very well and the mini-doco they put out says all that needs to be said.
Dustin Martin kicked the first goal on Saturday afternoon, and it may well have registered on any seismographs in the East Melbourne / Richmond area. The vast bulk of the 92,000 crowd were Tigers, and this was a dream start for a special occasion.
We started watching on Marcus’s phone until it crapped out. I had planned to renew Kayo but they are now owned by Streamotion who are owned by Hubbl? Or something? Anyway, it didn’t happen. So at quarter time Marcus and Michael and I trotted down to the pub.
Taranto had a massive first quarter capped wth an audacious goal from the pocket. But Hawthorn were flowing smoothly, like a team on a winning streak. They kept us in it for a while by hitting the post repeatedly. Mabior is not a better forward than Tom Lynch, but the ball was being delivered beautifully to him, and he had a real day out. I was genuinely happy to see it. Tom would have been a bit frustrated up the other end.
Embed from Getty ImagesScrimshaw and Sicily took 25 marks between them; a few good ones but mostly just catching aimless bombs. It was a grim afternoon; as the seamless connection we used to take for granted just stuttered and the ball hit the ground again and again. Dusty was so quiet after his goal. Noah Cumberland seemed reluctant to contest aerially. Shai kicked one goal but seemed to saving his magic for another day.
Hawthorn’s Nick Watson kept popping up in dangerous areas but kicked 1.4, so they’ll need to sharpen up that part of the curriculum at his private school. His vibe was “even shorter Tom Papley, plus mullet” so I expect to be annoyed by him for many years.
Embed from Getty ImagesDan Rioli continues to stand up every week, his break out of the middle and pass to Kosi was a highlight. Kosi goaled from right in front 40 out; it would be really great to see this 20 more times this season. Great process / great result.
Apart from injuries, this is my vote for low point of the year so far. Balta & Broad muck it up.
The Hawks just galloped away in the last term. Cumberland was hooked for Kane McAuliffe; probably should have happened sooner. Nank, Vlossy, Hugo, Bakes and Ben Miller all tried hard, Shorty seemed to back in form and the Tasmanians Campbell and Mansell chipped in valuable goals.
I loathe Hawthorn, and I confess I was pretty blue by the final siren. I didn’t consciously turn my back on Dusty’s celebration; but we’d come for a game of football, and it was over. I hope he plays out the season and gets to sing the song a few more times, it’s been a little while.
Embed from Getty Images
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