I was watching the Rich v Hawthorn triumph tonight, in particular the latter stages of the 2nd quarter when Richmond kicked the last 4 goals to turn a 51 point deficit into a manageable 27 point deficit.
The second of these group of goals was kicked with an easy snap by Greg Stafford from a boundary throw-in near the Richmond behind post. But how did Stafford get an uncontested goal from a boundary throw-in?
The ball was thrown in and the ball deflected front and square from the ruckman towards Andrew Krakouer and his opponent, Chance Bateman. Krakouer knew if he took possesion he would be set upon by Bateman and others so instead - in the blink of an eye - he did a double-fisted punch that went up in the air towards the central corridor. Three Hawthorn players had set upon Krakouer, not realising that he'd punched the ball away. As a result, Stafford grabs the ball from the air and, with all the opposition players on Krakouer, kicks an easy goal and Richmond's momentum surges.
It was such a brillant piece of work that it has gone unnoticed - the commentator said that it just fell into Stafford's lap, as if it was luck. But it wasn't - it was a brillant piece of play by Andrew Krakouer.
In my opinion, its the play of the year so far.
The second of these group of goals was kicked with an easy snap by Greg Stafford from a boundary throw-in near the Richmond behind post. But how did Stafford get an uncontested goal from a boundary throw-in?
The ball was thrown in and the ball deflected front and square from the ruckman towards Andrew Krakouer and his opponent, Chance Bateman. Krakouer knew if he took possesion he would be set upon by Bateman and others so instead - in the blink of an eye - he did a double-fisted punch that went up in the air towards the central corridor. Three Hawthorn players had set upon Krakouer, not realising that he'd punched the ball away. As a result, Stafford grabs the ball from the air and, with all the opposition players on Krakouer, kicks an easy goal and Richmond's momentum surges.
It was such a brillant piece of work that it has gone unnoticed - the commentator said that it just fell into Stafford's lap, as if it was luck. But it wasn't - it was a brillant piece of play by Andrew Krakouer.
In my opinion, its the play of the year so far.