By Will Jeffares
A seven-goal-to-none final term for Frankston has seen them charge past Richmond in a Good Friday epic at Kinetic Stadium on Friday night, with the Club recording their first win against the yellow and black in nine years.
In what were perfect conditions for football in front of a whopping 4,217 spectators, the Tigers held a 15-point advantage at the final break, before the Dolphins came out firing in the fourth quarter, with a Trent Mynott hat-trick of goals securing the 15.8 (98) to 11.7 (73) result in front of a boisterous home crowd.
It wasn’t an ideal start for the home side, with Richmond opening the scoring within the first minute of the contest, before adding two more majors to open up an early lead for the visitors.
It wasn’t until the 22nd minute of the first term that Jackson Kornberg’s side were able to finally break the deadlock, with Tarkyn O’Leary putting one through from the goal square.
The Tigers would quickly respond to extend their lead, before Bailey Lambert hit straight back, kicking truly from the set shot after Lochie Reidy found him just inside 50, as the visitors entered the quarter-time huddle with a two-goal lead.
It would again be a quick start for Richmond in the second term, extending their lead to 18 points courtesy of an early major in the opening minutes.
Some crafty work from Blake O’Leary set up Corey Ellison, who slotted his set shot to get Frankston back within two goals as he continued his fine form in front of the big sticks.
A fantastic finish from a tough angle from Tarkyn O’Leary gave him his second of the night, as the Dolphins clawed back to be within a kick of the Tigers.
However, two consecutive Richmond goals to end the half pushed their lead to 16 points at the main break. An apparent serious lower leg injury for Bailey Lambert late in the quarter added to the Frankston pain, ending his night early.
It was Frankston who came out of the blocks early in the third term, with Darby Hipwell finding the chest of Noah Gown inside 50, who made no mistake in front of goal to bring the margin back to nine points.
The Dolphins continued to apply plenty of pressure early in the second half and began to assert their dominance on proceedings, despite a Richmond goal against the run of play cancelling out Gown’s major.
Frankston would go on to kick three quick majors, courtesy of a Blake O’Leary double and a superb Tom Blamires set shot deep in the pocket, to snatch the lead halfway through the quarter, much to the delight of the home faithful.
Despite the Dolphins leading for the first time on the night, Richmond’s own run of three consecutive goals to end the term swung the pendulum back in the Tigers’ favour as they regained a 15-point advantage heading into the final break.
But it would be all Frankston in the final term, as they withstood pressure from the Tigers to pile on seven unanswered goals to surge past the visitors in an exhilarating period of play for the Dolphins.
Blake O’Leary kicked things off early, putting through his third of the night, before a second for Corey Ellison cut Richmond’s lead to under a goal.
Tarkyn O’Leary kicked a stunner on the run from deep in the pocket, the same as where he converted his second, to put Frankston ahead by the slimmest of margins. Ruckman Angus Grant would continue the goal-fest, extending the Dolphins’ lead to seven points
With the game still in the balance, Trent Mynott stood up with a proverbial captain’s goal, as he slotted a crucial major on the run to give his side a healthy 14-point buffer.
But it wouldn’t end there for Mynott, who got on the end of some clever ruck work from Ellison deep inside 50 before snapping it through on his left to get the Frankston lead out to 20 points.
Mynott would complete the hat-trick late with a great dribble goal to put the cherry on top of what was a brilliant win for Frankston as they ran out 25-point victors.
New recruit Tom Blamires was superb in what was his best game in Frankston colours so far, being moved around the ground to finish with a team-high 33 disposals, 13 intercept possessions, and a goal.
Seb Quirk was great in his return to the side, applying plenty of pressure and toughness in the midfield as he tallied 29 disposals (17 contested), eight tackles (team-high) and eight clearances (team-high) to stake his claim to stay in the side. With Darby Hipwell (27 disposals, eight score involvements, six inside 50s) and Tom Murphy (25 disposals, seven clearances) also strong contributors on the night.
The O’Leary brothers ran riot throughout the contest, with the duo kicking three goals apiece in what were crucial performances for the Dolphins. Blake (three goals, 23 disposals, five marks) continues to impress, as Tarkyn (three goals, 13 disposals) gets better with each game.
Lochie Reidy (27 disposals, four clearances), Tyson Milne (23 disposals, eight marks) and Ollie Moran (22 disposals, nine intercept possessions) were also important for Frankston.
The Dolphins will be back under the lights at Kinetic Stadium on Thursday night, looking to go 3-1, as they face the Northern Bullants on ANZAC Eve at 7:35 PM (AEST).
FRANKSTON 2.3 4.6 8.7 15.8 (98)
RICHMOND 4.3 7.4 11.4 11.7 (73)
GOALS
T. O’Leary 3, B. O’Leary 3, Mynott 3, Ellison 2, Lambert, Grant, Gown, Blamires
BEST
Blamires, Quirk, Mynott, B.O’Leary, Hipwell
