Richmond

No fairytale ending for Essendon veteran with Richmond running into dangerous finals form.

For the last time, Michael Hurley was the last Bomber to enter the field at the start of the game. Bombers players huddled around Rutten at three-quarter time, but there was to be no late charge in a tough end to a torrid week for the club. A late goal to Peter Wright, who had his opportunities in the half, steadied the Bombers back to a 19-point deficit at the main break. The Bombers continued to hang in there in the second term. The Tigers got off to a strong opening, with Noah Cumberland's pair of goals in the opening minutes setting up a convincing first term. This time it was Richmond who breezed through the Bombers' defence particularly in the second half as the Tigers kicked 11 goals to four after half-time.

Richmond has thumped Essendon by 66 points in Ben Rutten's likely last AFL match as Bombers coach, but the Tigers will sweat on a groin injury to Tom Lynch ...

And after leading by 28 points at three quarter-time, the Power ran amok in the last term with seven goals to two as the Crows' season ended with barely a whimper. It was the Suns' 10th victory, matching the season-best of 2014, but again coming up short of finishing in the top-eight to play in the finals. But the Dockers had the final say, with the last three goals of the day capped by Michael Walters snapping his third major in his 200th AFL match. But the Power — after leading 5.7 to 4.6 at half-time — accelerated in the third stanza. They kicked five straight goals either side of half-time to hit the front early in the second half and looked home in the last when Andrew Brayshaw slotted his second running major, only for two quick Jacob Hopper efforts to turn the match on its head. The Power led by one-point at quarter-time, 2.4 to 2.3, with Gray having a hand in both his side's goals — handballs in the scoring chains. But the Crows, after trailing by seven points at half-time, were swamped in the second half when the Power kicked 11 goals to three. The Bombers kicked the first two goals of the second term but were unable really get a foothold in the game. Winger Karl Amon was another standout with 31 disposals and a goal in what is expected to be his last match for the Power before requesting a trade to a Melbourne-based club, while Todd Marshall slotted four goals. Richmond maintained their 19-point lead at the main break and booted the first six goals of the second half to effectively lock up the four points midway through the third term. Defender Ben Miller drifted forward and goaled after the siren to give the Tigers a 19-point lead at the first change. Lynch was substituted for Jason Castagna in the final quarter, after booting five second-half goals, to sour the Tigers' otherwise impressive 21.15 (141) to 11.9 (75) victory at the MCG.

Tigers win soured by late injury scare; Bombers' horror week ends in thumping: 3-2-1.

His workrate, his pressure on the opposition and he just loves the moment, he seems to be a young kid that thrives with the big moments.” “Once again, this probably shows to me the folly of trying to protect the head. That is as hard a head knock as you will see on the field. We’ve made decisions around laws, but you are going to have incidental contact. “(Jack) Ross has played one of his career-best halves. Tom Lynch began to fire and threatened to take command of the match, kicking two goals and a behind in a four-minute passage. Lynch kicked the first two goals of the final quarter but was then subbed out of the game with groin soreness in a worrying sign given his all-conquering form in the backend of the season. There were no late changes for either side. The Bombers missed a couple of chances in front of goal before Richmond scored via Dion Prestia to make it three goals to one. Cumberland crumbed a pack shortly after to make it three goals in the space of two minutes to start the match. The Tigers were barely troubled by Essendon for most of the night, with the only genuine concern a potential injury to Tom Lynch, with the spearhead subbed off in the final term with groin soreness. It marks an end to the career of Michael Hurley - who announced his retirement during the week - while Richmond will now prepare for an elimination final in a fortnight.

Richmond have thumped Essendon by 66 points, in Ben Rutten's likely last AFL game as Bombers coach, but will sweat on a groin injury to superstar forward ...

"There's no other way. Rutten was emotional in Essendon's rooms post-match and credited his players for "the way they have fronted up and stood up for what they believe in." But we'll confirm that tomorrow.

Lynch had booted five goals from 19 disposals and nine marks before coming off in the final quarter, replaced by Jason Castagna. The two-time premiership Tiger ...

The week off definitely helps. “I think I’ll be fine. “It got worse and worse throughout the game, it was pretty sore in that last quarter,” he said.

As the Tigers gear up for finals, the Bombers wave goodbye to 2022... but it's not over yet. Richmond were far too good in the second half.

I kind of like it, actually – it pays for the site and host and all that stuff. As a matter of fact, I cannot remember a game this season where the centre breaks were more telling than this one. Would they match the emotion and the ferocity of the Bombers?

The Tigers took care of business against the Bombers at the MCG on Saturday night, rubber-stamping seventh spot on the ladder, but they have a major injury ...

It was hard not to think the Bombers made a statement by starting Darcy Parish on the bench and leaving him there for more than 13 minutes. Parish soon found plenty of the ball and finished with 28 touches, including a left-foot goal in heavy traffic in the second term. [Jon Pierik](/by/jon-pierik-hveju)is a sports journalist at The Age. The good were the goals, the frustrating – to coach Damien Hardwick – was when Liam Baker needlessly shoved Jye Menzie, the medical sub replacing Stringer, in the back after the Bomber had marked, conceding a 50-metre penalty which took him to the goal-line. Hurley, 32, had not played a senior match since contracting a hip infection that led to his hospitalisation in 2021. Zach Reid, typically a defender, was sent forward against the Tigers but struggled. Ruckman Sam Draper, however, has had a strong year, and was superb in the season finale. After a week when Essendon dominated the headlines, it was easy to forget the Tigers also had plenty on their mind. Peter Wright was wayward early, but the Bombers’ biggest issue remained a year-long inability to defend the ground. Whether that be the Tigers scoring from turnovers or on a chain from defence, the Bombers were too often opened up. While Lynch was goalless to half-time, veteran Shane Edwards and the emerging Noah Cumberland combined for six. Lynch said after the match he would have scans on Sunday.