Garry Lyon has listed his takeaways from Thursday night’s AFL opener between Richmond and Carlton.
The Tigers, led by superstar Dustin Martin, finished the stronger to see off the Blues by 25 points in an entertaining contest at the MCG.
Martin was at his damaging best for the reigning premiers with 31 disposals, two goals and four goal assists in an ominous warning to the rest of the competition.
Despite another Round 1 loss, Carlton can take plenty of positives into next week’s blockbuster against Collingwood.
Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Lyon went through his key observations from the Tigers-Blues clash:
End-to-end footy
“End-to-end footy is back. That was what I saw.
“This is why the rules have been introduced, to get it going up and back.
“75 inside 50s … that was my first takeaway.
“In the first quarter between the two 50-metre arcs, there was more handball than kicking, which is unheard of.
“It was all running and sharing through the middle of the ground.”
Noah Balta
“Noah Balta’s scary good.
“He’s a scary good talent this kid.
“Harry McKay’s super talented and they had a great battle but every time I watch him, I think ‘Wow’.”
Adam Saad and Carlton’s physicality
“He (Saad) attacks and defends really well.
“Carlton’s physicality was the best I’ve seen.”
Dustin Martin
Lyon: “No one’s worked out how to play ‘Dusty’."
Watson: “The first five minutes of the game the ball goes into Richmond’s forward line … no one went near him at a stoppage.
“He was free as a bird.”
Lyon: “At one stage he drifted back from the midfield, which everyone in the world knows he’s going to do, and no one went near him. He marked the ball in the forward pocket.”
Sam Walsh
“I couldn’t be more impressed with that kid.
“His toughness was on display.
“He was a mid last night, and this is the evolution of him as a footballer - he was tough, he was courageous, he was clean below his knees.
“Him and (Patrick) Cripps led together, ‘Crippa’ got tired, he just kept going and going.”
