Richmond’s VFL side enjoyed a strong opening to the 2021 season with an emphatic win over Sandringham on Friday afternoon.
The Tigers unfurled their 2019 VFL flag, following the cancelled 2020 season, seeing off the Zebras by 40 points at the Swinburne Centre - 13.17.(95) to 7.13.(55).
It was Xavier Clarke’s first triumph as head coach of the VFL program.
First-round draft pick Riley Collier-Dawkins, who is still chasing his AFL debut, was one of the best players on the ground with while fellow midfielders Jack Ross and Patrick Naish were also busy.
Collier-Dawkins finished with 30 disposals, eight tackles and six clearances, Ross picked up 32 touches and had nine clearances (five centre clearances) and Naish had six rebound 50s and four inside 50s among his 32 disposals.
The match marked the return to competitive footy of Sydney Stack who endured a difficult off-season back home in Western Australia. Stack started the game brightly in the forward line and kicked a goal in the third term.
Also amongst the goals were 2020 draftee Maurice Rioli Jnr, who finished with two majors and 17 touches. Samson Ryan kicked booted three goals and Callum Coleman-Jones kicked two along with 22 possessions and 13 hitouts.
Couple of exciting goals from Maurice Rioli Jnr 🙌 pic.twitter.com/LqDH7WbH79
— Richmond VFL (@RichmondVFL) April 16, 2021
Sandringham, who are coached by former Tiger Jake Batchelor, had kicked just two goals to half-time but improved in the second half to avoid being blown away.
The win comes after the AFL Tigers demolished St Kilda by 86 points at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night to kick off Round 5.
🎥 Watch all the highlights from our 40-point win over Sandringham. https://t.co/fGmYWp37P0
— Richmond VFL (@RichmondVFL) April 18, 2021