There was not a lot of news about this game during the week. That was odd, because it's a big game against two traditional rivals. Generally it provokes a slew of reports. This time what there was involved the injuries to both sides, Richmond was without Cambo and Richo, Essendon lost Fletcher and Rioli and there were injury clouds over James Hird, Damian Cupido and Paul Barnard. Sheeds played his usual game of ducks and drakes by insisting that all players, except for Rioli would be selected and would play. Danny Frawley kept his head down and his mouth shut. This in my opinion was a wise move. In the recent past when we've played Essendon he's made some unintentionally inflammatory comments, we've been smashed and it's been revealed that Kevin Sheedy used Spud's comments to fire the Bombers up. This time Danny gave him NO ammunition. Still looking at the 'no name' list in Friday's paper I worried. We had problems with Essendon when we were all fit. How could these guys knock them over? The Bombers named Hird, Barnard and Cupido, but no Dustin Fletcher. Things got worse for Richmond; Ray Hall was a late withdrawal and was replaced by young draftee Jay Schulz. That left Greg Stafford as the only Tiger with any height worth mentioning and no backup in the ruck. Essendon took Cupido out before the game so that evened it up a little.

The first quarter began at a frenetic pace with Richmond getting the ball more often and players like Chaffey, Tivendale, Johnson, Coughlan, Bowden and Rodan pumping it forward. Chaff fell on James Hird's calf and that was the end of Hirdy for the day. Personally I thought that just made up for us not having Campbell. The big surprise was that at the end of the quarter Richmond were 4 goals 2 to the Bombers 2 points! I could never remember keeping Essendon goalless for a quarter. Richmond gained the early ascendancy early in the 2nd quarter until the Bombers clawed back with a couple of late goals. Twenty points up at half time and looking the goods. Rodan was in the mid field and providing a good conduit for our forwards. Third quarter, the premiership quarter. Richmond tore out of the blocks and ripped the guts out of Essendon. Andy Krakouer caught fire, kicked 3 goals and blew the game wide open. A little bit of Rodan magic was him going after the ball, bouncing it once, losing his grip, staying with the ball, tearing out of a tackle, bouncing off a player, going after the ball again and getting a free for a high tackle. I love this kid! Richmond 41 points up going into the last quarter. After Krakouer kicked his 5th goal the Tigers went into cruise mode and we started singing Yellow and Black with 10 minutes on the clock. 42-point winners in what will go down as one of our greatest games in recent history. Johnson was best on ground, making up for his poor showing against the Power, Coughlan, Stafford, Vardy, Biddiscombe and Rodan were also very good. Special mention has to go to Andy Krakouer, he came of age this afternoon with 5 goals.

Next week Melbourne. They're feeling better after a win against Port Adelaide, but we're playing the better football, we should get Richo back and maybe even Campbell. Watch out Demons, because the Tigers are on the prowl!