Round 15, 1996 - Melbourne vs Richmond

Richmond have recorded a strong win against co-MCG tenants Melbourne, blowing them out late to win by 46 points.

The match was in the balance for the first three quarters, but a seven goal to three final term by the Tigers allowed them to cruise to a 18.19 (127) to 12.9 (81) victory.

Wayne Campbell in action against the Demons.

The win kept the Tigers in the eight, albeit barely, as the run home stretch to the 1996 season began.

The game featured the return of Tigers skipper Matthew Knights, who had been missing since Round 2 after badly injuring his ankle.

While Knights started on the bench, he was greeted to a great roar from the Richmond faithful when he came onto the field for the first time, and had some key moments, albeit still a little hobbled, throughout the contest.

Shaun Smith continued his stint in defence playing on Matthew Richardson, which made for a tantalising matchup between the two high flyers.

Jamie Tape also started forward, a position he slowly began to spend more time on as Robert Walls continued to tinker with the side.

The game would also see the debut of zippy half-forward Robert Powell, a late inclusion for Chris Bond, who had crossed from Collingwood in the off-season.

Dees ruckman Jim Stynes had been in great form coming into the match, so the Tigers deployed a strategic move to try and curtail his influence, with the springheeled Justin Charles tasking him on at the centre bounce, while John Howat would go to him around the ground.

While it perhaps didn't have the complete desired impact throughout the game, as Stynes was one of Melbourne's better players, it was good to see the tactical side of Walls coming to the fore as the Tigers desperately tried to preserve a chance at a finals berth.

In what was a see-sawing opening, Richmond managed to get the upper hand towards the end of the first quarter with a two goal lead, although that was quickly soured as Nathan Bower came from the ground in the hands of trainers, which would ultimately be his last game for the season as a result.

The aforementioned Powell was mightily close to having one of the all-time great debuts, getting involved in everything and causing havoc across the half-forward line, however his inability to finish in front of goal took a shine off what was otherwise a very impressive debut.

Powell kicked 0.4 in the first half (and finished with 0.5 for the game), but showed that he was going to provide a bit of zip and excitement for Richmond fans moving forward.

The Tigers held onto a two-goal lead at halftime, but with Melbourne running out of fit interchange players during the third term, Richmond began slowly pulling away as they ran over the top of their opponents at the final siren to record a 46-point win.

For the Tigers, Matthew Richardson had one of the better games of his career with a stunning all round display, and if not for some inaccurate kicking, could have made an even bigger mess of the Dees.

He finished with 6.4, 16 disposals and 10 marks, and was well helped by fellow tall timber Justin Charles, who competed well in the ruck and around the ground, managing a couple of goals as well.

Nick Daffy was also electric across half forward, kicking four goals to go with his 22 disposals.

The match would also be Michael Gale's 50th in the yellow and black since crossing from Fitzroy.

Stats for the game courtesy of AFL Tables

A Fighting Fury player ratings - click here for explanation

Matthew Richardson	13
Justin Charles	10
Nick Daffy	8
Paul Broderick	8
Jamie Tape	6
Robbie Powell	6
Ashley Prescott	6
Chris Naish	6
Duncan Kellaway	5
Matthew Knights	5
Brendon Gale	5
Matthew Rogers	3
Wayne Campbell	3
John Howat	3
Darren Gaspar	3
David Bourke	2
Mark Merenda	2
Michael Gale	1
Nathan Bower	1
Ben Holland	1
Damien Ryan	1