AFL 2024 round 11 LIVE updates: Bombers hold on to beat Tigers as Stringer, Martin fire

ESSENDON 12.14 (86) d RICHMOND 10.14 (74)

FIRST-CHOICE BACKLINE COMPLETE
Jordan Ridley’s successful return after a couple of false starts with a quadriceps injury finally gave Essendon a look at their new defence.
Recruit Ben McKay has been a quality addition after signing as a restricted free agent in the off-season, but the Bombers were yet to see how things would work with Ridley in the side alongside him.
The early signs were promising, with Ridley and Jayden Laverde amassing 27 intercept possessions between them, while Redman added nine himself in the 12-point victory over Richmond.
Nic Martin, Andy McGrath and Dyson Heppell racked up disposals at will at half-back, too.
McKay’s numbers were more modest but his presence should release the others to be even more dangerous as Essendon try to make their finals mark in September.

REPORTS OF DUSTY’S DEMISE GREATLY EXAGGERATED
Richmond champion Dustin Martin’s future beyond this year remains one of the AFL’s biggest storylines, but he still has plenty to give on Saturday night’s showing.
The triple Norm Smith medallist has nothing left to prove at this stage of his career, and no one would blame him for not wanting to keep playing as the Tigers go through a transitional period.
Everyone seems to have a take on Martin’s formline as he prepares to turn 33 next month.
But he bobbed up to kick three goals – two of them from the top shelf, including a snap that bent back beautifully in the opening term – and almost a fourth with a checkside attempt in the final quarter after a clean pick-up.
Martin also had the chance to be the match-winner in the final minute but he opted to pass rather than go for goal from outside 50m and Essendon cleared the ball.
His midfield minutes are fewer these days but write him off at your peril.

TIGER INJURY TOLL WORSENS
Adem Yze could hardly have suffered worse luck in his first season at Richmond’s helm, with a league-worst injury list making his task even tougher.
Defender Tylar Young suffered a suspected ACL rupture in the VFL earlier on Saturday, then star Shai Bolton was subbed out of the senior clash in the final quarter after some friendly fire from Mykelti Lefau in a marking contest.
The Tigers are due to head down the highway to face Geelong next Saturday night, so they may need to play without Bolton, too.

KEY STATS

Jordan Ridley has paid tribute to his fellow Essendon defenders for helping him adjust back to playing AFL football.

Ridley starred in his first game back from injury and he was best on ground after feeling pretty uncertain about himself in the first term.

“I was probably, to be honest, rattled for the first 10-15 minutes,” Ridley told Channel Seven.

“I settled in after that. I think, to be honest, the rest of the backs were really keen in setting me up.

“There was a few times I drifted, got lost a bit. They really helped me out.”

Ridley also kicked a rare goal.

“I think that was the first set shot I had in my career. It was a bit of a weird feeling,” Ridley told Seven.

“I don’t really have a routine. More of a kick and hope. Glad it worked out.”

ESSENDON 12.14 (86) d RICHMOND 10.14 (74)

FIRST-CHOICE BACKLINE COMPLETE
Jordan Ridley’s successful return after a couple of false starts with a quadriceps injury finally gave Essendon a look at their new defence.
Recruit Ben McKay has been a quality addition after signing as a restricted free agent in the off-season, but the Bombers were yet to see how things would work with Ridley in the side alongside him.
The early signs were promising, with Ridley and Jayden Laverde amassing 27 intercept possessions between them, while Redman added nine himself in the 12-point victory over Richmond.
Nic Martin, Andy McGrath and Dyson Heppell racked up disposals at will at half-back, too.
McKay’s numbers were more modest but his presence should release the others to be even more dangerous as Essendon try to make their finals mark in September.

REPORTS OF DUSTY’S DEMISE GREATLY EXAGGERATED
Richmond champion Dustin Martin’s future beyond this year remains one of the AFL’s biggest storylines, but he still has plenty to give on Saturday night’s showing.
The triple Norm Smith medallist has nothing left to prove at this stage of his career, and no one would blame him for not wanting to keep playing as the Tigers go through a transitional period.
Everyone seems to have a take on Martin’s formline as he prepares to turn 33 next month.
But he bobbed up to kick three goals – two of them from the top shelf, including a snap that bent back beautifully in the opening term – and almost a fourth with a checkside attempt in the final quarter after a clean pick-up.
Martin also had the chance to be the match-winner in the final minute but he opted to pass rather than go for goal from outside 50m and Essendon cleared the ball.
His midfield minutes are fewer these days but write him off at your peril.

TIGER INJURY TOLL WORSENS
Adem Yze could hardly have suffered worse luck in his first season at Richmond’s helm, with a league-worst injury list making his task even tougher.
Defender Tylar Young suffered a suspected ACL rupture in the VFL earlier on Saturday, then star Shai Bolton was subbed out of the senior clash in the final quarter after some friendly fire from Mykelti Lefau in a marking contest.
The Tigers are due to head down the highway to face Geelong next Saturday night, so they may need to play without Bolton, too.

KEY STATS

Jordan Ridley has claimed the Yiooken Award as best on ground in this match and been awarded a pretty awesome-looking boomerang as the trophy.

Ridley had 31 possessions, 12 marks and kicked a goal.

“How good is Jordan Ridley?” fellow Bombers defender Mason Redman told Channel Seven.

“His first game back and he gets the medal. It’s awesome to have him back in the side.

“It was a pretty tough night, so very slippery out here. Probably, to be honest, in the first half we fed into their game. We were feeding back, they were pressuring forward, doing it really well. Not sure what the numbers turned out like. It felt like they were pressuring really well.

“We got to work around the ball, started getting the ball forward. Thought one-on-one, the forwards fought really well. As you said, the back six held up. Just glad to walk away with the four points on this night.”

Essendon hung on for the win as Richmond showed they still have some fight in them despite their ongoing injury crisis.

Zach Merrett and Kyle Langford stepped up late to kick the goals that separated the two sides while Jake Stringer (four goals) and Dustin Martin (three goals) both found their exciting best.

Hugo Ralphsmith has run hard and taken his bumps tonight but he has come up with an excellent snap for goal to keep his side alive.

Dons 86, Tigers 74 with four mins to go.

Langford has marked on the lead and kicked his third goal.

It feels like this is the end of the Tigers but they have battled so manfully today that I still won’t rule them out.

There is still time enough, if they are good enough.

Dons 86, Tigers 68 with six mins to go.

Zach Merrett is such a consistent performer for the Bombers and he has stepped up again roving the ball off the pack and running into an open goal.

The Dons needed that desperately as the lead has been at five points for what feels like ages.

Now the margin is 11 points.

Dons 79, Tigers 68 with seven mins to go.

Another brilliant Dreamtime at the G has drawn a bumper crowd with 79,359 turning up tonight.

Bolton has been subbed out and Steely Green will enter the game at ay moment.

He is playing just his second game.

Dons 73, Tigers 67 with 13 mins to go.

Lefau is such a powerful leaper and he has, accidentally, gone through Shai Bolton at full speed and as he jumped up for the mark his knee cannoned into Bolton’s back and neck.

Bolton has jogged off gingerly. That could be it for Bolton tonight.

Dons 73, Tigers 65 with 14 mins to go.