‘End this now': Footy world slams Richmond vs Essendon game

News.com.au

2 days ago

Essendon and Richmond are two proud AFL clubs fighting desperately to get back among the top teams in the competition.
On Saturday night, sadly, they were both a laughing stock in the Tigers' nine-point win, 6.10 (46) to 4.13 (37).
Huge numbers of fans watching on were calling the MCG clash the worst game of the year, while Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson was left asking if umpires had 'ever decided not to give any (Brownlow Medal) votes'.
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In a reasonable opening quarter, the teams kicked three goals apiece, including a popular first goal from debutant and No. 12 draft pick Taj Hotton after his return from an ACL injury.
And that was basically it in terms of highlights from this game.
The two teams produced 53 minutes of painful, goal free football from the start of the second quarter until more than 15 minutes into the third, when 12 behinds were kicked.
The Bombers kicked six behinds in the second quarter to Richmond's solitary point and the commentators were left blaming a 'vortex' in the Ponsford Stand pocket as players repeatedly butchered possession and sent shots on goal out on the full.
In one passage of play, Hotton produced a neat handball that resulted in Luke Trainor kicking out on the full when he had an open target in the forward line.
'Little bit of magic there. But we just can't get a goal, that's the problem,' Garry Lyon said.
A short time later, Tim Taranto kicked to Jacob Kotschitzke inside 50m and the forward managed to juggle the ball off his own face and over the line when under zero pressure.
'Oh no. It strikes again, the vortex. He's falconed himself,' Hudson said.
Brad Johnson asked: 'What is going on in that forward pocket tonight?'
Lyon chimed in: 'There's just this uneasy murmur going around the ground right now.
'We don't want to talk the game down.'
When Hudson suggested you couldn't take your eyes off the game, perhaps a similar vein to watching a car accident, Lyon replied: 'No, you can. You can.'
At halftime, with the Bombers leading by a point, Hudson declared: 'What we can promise you is that the third quarter will be better than the second.'
It was a bold call from the commentator after what everyone had witnessed in that first half.
Lyon said: 'There was a lot of junk, let's be honest. So let's see if we can clear the decks here.'
The Tigers are at least rebuilding and have a host of top young talent following premiership victories in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
It's more dire for the once-mighty Bombers, who are stuck on one of the most famous modern 'records' in the AFL, having not won a final since way back in 2004.
The behinds kept coming in the third quarter, with five more being kicked before Archer May finally kicked Essendon's fourth goal, ended that dreadful 53 minute stretch.
The commentators were left trying to make jokes to amuse themselves, bereft of any highlights to discuss.
'I look forward to seeing how the umpires vote this on Brownlow night,' Johnson said.
Hudson swiftly replied: 'They may not give any votes. Have they ever decided not to give any votes in a game?'
Former Giant Taranto then finally stood up for the Tigers in the final term, taking a mark inside 50m and kicking the goal for Richmond's first since late in the first quarter.
'I don't think (the kick) was 15 metres in the end, but goals have been that hard to come by, I think the umpires were feeling sorry for the crowd,' Lyon quipped.
'Tim Taranto is a senior player in this group, this is his opportunity to get them back level, massive chance for a rare victory here for Richmond.'
He did just that as Hudson screamed: 'Tim Taranto's kick goes the line and beyond!
'And the arms are raised in triumph and scores are level again at the MCG.
'For all that we've endured, we could be set for a grandstand finish.'
Full credit to Hudson for managing to find his voice in such a low standard contest.
Fans online were far less forgiving, with many saying the same thing, particularly in that first half.
Nick McFarlane tweeted: 'If there's been a worse half of footy for the year, I'm sure we were involved in that too.'
Amie wrote: 'This is genuinely one of the worst games played this year.'
Milan said: 'Cancel culture should do their thing & end this game right now.'
Komo offered: 'Arguably the worst quarter of footy I've witnessed live in my 53 years on the planet.'
Gurtofen wrote: 'One of the worst halves of AFL football I have ever seen. It's a lottery as to which team is worse.'
Harry Taylor appeared to be at the ground, tweeting: 'That was the worst quarter of football I have ever seen. Definitely in person.'
Essendon fan Andrew wrote: 'On behalf of footy, I'm sorry.'
Account @valleyflaxman declared: 'Watching Richmond and Essendon after the first two games today is like drinking paint as the main course at a Michelin star restaurant.'
Footy fans had been treated to two high quality matches prior to this one, the Crows' victory over the Bulldogs and GWS' triumph over Geelong.
We might leave the last word to X user Max Allen, who was reminded of a traumatic story while watching the game at the MCG.
As a kid I saw Dad run over our cat,' Allen wrote. 'Poor thing was asleep on the Land Cruiser tyre but didn't realise til it flung out the back half way up to the shed & nearly hit me on the motorbike.
'Was incredibly traumatic but nothing compared to that first half of footy.'