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2013 AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON
ROUND FOUR
COLLINGWOOD VS RICHMOND
MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND
SATURDAY 20TH APRIL 2.10PM
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For the first time in a long time, Richmond look like a serious football side, and this week the new and improved Tigers will face off against a perennial premiership contender, Collingwood, at the MCG in what has become a massive round four match up for both teams. The Yellow and Black army probably hasn't had a chance to believe in a team this much since the 2001 version of the Tigers that made the preliminary final. For years Richmond has been the butt of jokes for opposition fans, with the most common title being “Ninthmond”, a reference to the club's inability to make the eight but yet come so close. But this team seems different, it has been built up over the last few seasons by senior coach Damien Hardwick and his assistants, to a point where a solid best 22 has now become apparent. The Tigers have started the season with three impressive wins, and while the level of their opposition hasn't been of the absolute highest, the old “you can only beat who is put in front of you” line rings true in this case. Meanwhile, down at Collingwood they've been trying to overcome yet another injury crisis, as the Magpies opened the season with a large injury list, and it hasn't got any better in recent times. Despite this, the Pies have notched up two wins in three games, but last week reality hit as the Magpies came crashing back to earth against the rampaging Hawks.PREVIOUS FORM
The Tigers have started their season with three straight wins for the first time since 1995, yet it seems the club itself isn't get too ahead of itself, with no finals promises being made yet. Richmond began their season against Carlton and broke another long streak when they defeated the Blues by 5 points, and despite a second half collapse they were happy just to win over one of their arch rivals to open the year. Richmond then followed that up with a scrappy but rightfully deserved win over St Kilda, and last week they disposed of the Western Bulldogs in a manner which has really got the town, and AFL world starting to believe that the Tigers may be the real thing this year. The Tigers midfield last week was brutally efficient, with Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio and captain Trent Cotchin leading the way. Yes, some might say a 67 point win over the Dogs doesn't prove anything, but it was more the way they won, more than the margin that showed a new Richmond may be here, and here to stay.
While the Tigers have been winning, so were the Magpies, well that was until last weekend. Collingwood ran into a red hot Hawthorn, and while the scores were close for three quarters, it got ugly for the Pies in the last quarter as the Hawks booted 7 goals to 2 to run away with a 55 point victory, and for the first time in 2013 the length and depth of the Collingwood injury list came back to bite them on the arse. The Collingwood forward line showed some positive signs once again though, with 8 goals between Elliott and Cloke, but beyond that there weren't a lot of positives to come out of the loss, although some were impressed with Ben Hudson's debut game for his fourth club. The 34 year old was finished the game with 22 possessions and 25 hitouts, but the Pies still lost easily so it's hard to judge just how effective any of the Pies best possession winners were on the day.
COLLINGWOOD PREVIEW.
The Magpies are limping into round 4 with the longest and most talented injury list in the AFL at the moment. It ultimately proved their undoing last weekend against the Hawks, as the usually gutsy and determined Magpies all but gave up late and allowed themselves to be beaten in a nasty manner. If you look at the Pies injury list in detail, it really doesn't make for good reading, with the reigning best and fairest (Beams) listed as still being 2-3 weeks away from making his season debut, and inspirational club captain Nick Maxwell probably 2 months away from returning, it really is a sad sight for Magpie fans indeed.
But there is hope leading into this weekend, because as this group showed against the Blues and Kangaroos in the first two rounds they are a resilient and proud lot, who believe they are good enough to beat anyone, even with the players they currently are missing. Last week saw the return of Dale Thomas and Alex Fasolo for the first time this season, and they showed glimpses of the talent they have and will be better for the run. At the selection table the Pies went with inside midfielder Josh Thomas to assist their midfield with clearances, and Paul Seedsman was recalled after one week in the VFL where he performed well. Ben Johnson unfortunately hurt his calf during last weeks lost and will miss, while Jack Frost was omitted. Collingwood does have a good recent record against the Tigers, and they will be hoping to bounce back in what is three time club champion Dane Swan's 200th AFL game.
OPPOSITION ANALYSIS.
Richmond come into this round four fixture as one of five undefeated teams and they look to be a much improved outfit than the 2012 version of the Tigers. Their first three wins have all come in different fashion, with one being a game where they were impressive early before fading late and just hanging on, another being a gritty, maybe even ugly win and then last weeks easy and dominant win over the hapless Dogs on Sunday afternoon. It's been 18 years since the Tigers started a season with three consecutive wins and while the players and staff at the club won't be getting too carried away, it is easy to see why this side may be the one to break the finals drought and become a serious contender over the coming seasons.
For a long time the Richmond backline has been much maligned, but this season the Tigers seemed to have finally found a defensive grouping that can at least hold their own against dangerous forward lines. Richmond recruited the experienced Troy Chaplin to the club from Port Adelaide to bolster their defensive tall stocks, and with the developing Grimes, Batchelor and Rance all improving as each season has endured, the Tigers now have a group of tall and medium defenders who can be relied upon week in, week out. Richmond also has a few very promising small defenders in Morris and Ellis, with Ellis likely to matchup on the exciting Jamie Elliott in one of the key matchups of this match. Who takes Travis Cloke is probably up for debate though, as any of the four named could start, or end up on the best contested mark in the AFL. The return of Didak and/or Krakouer may also test the Tigers backline, but you get the feeling this game won't be won or lost in this area.
The Tigers midfield is full of talent and potential elite players, with Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio leading the way. Richmond's depth in this are is also building as time goes on, with young Reece Conca, and the hard working duo of Shane Tuck and Daniel Jackson adding to a central core that is now becoming one of the best in the AFL. Standing tall in this group is the Tigers ruckman Ivan Maric, who although he hasn't matched his 2012 form just yet in 2013, is still a top class ruckman and should be able to dominate with the absence of Darren Jolly this week. It is interesting to note though that these two teams are lowly ranked in clearances, with a tied for 13rd ranking currently a major concern for both coaching staffs. Collingwood's long term solution to this is simple, get Beams and Ball back, but it's this area that even this week the Magpies may look to exploit, maybe with the inclusion of tough inside midfielder Josh Thomas. Richmond have one of the more dangerous midfield’s though if they get first touch of the ball at a stoppage, and that also has been a weakness of Collingwood over the past few seasons, to contain the spread from stoppages, especially in regards to top class midfielders. This is where the game will be won or lost I reckon, just like most games are in the AFL these days.
Richmond's forward line is really built around one man, maybe the second best goal kicking forward in the game, Jack Riewoldt. For the past few seasons though, that has been a problem for the Tigers, as if their opposition was able to contain Jack, then they struggled to get the score on the board from other contributors. But this season that seems to have changed just a little, and it the major contributor has come from in the rather surprising form of Luke McGuane, who has kicked 7 majors so far this season to sit second behind Riewoldt on the club goal kicking tally. Tyrone Vickery is another than seems to have become more dangerous so far in 2013, and although he's only managed to kick 4 majors, he is playing that secondary ruck and forward role that has become so popular in the AFL, and playing it well. Richmond do rely on their midfielders to contribute, and Deledio, Martin and Cotchin usually can be relied upon to add a few goals a game, which is always important in the current AFL climate. Collingwood's defense struggled late last week, with Ben Reid limping through the game after hyper extending his knee yet again, but it was the absence of Nick Maxwell that was felt the most, and the Tigers will be looking to exploit the absence of the Pies skipper this week as well. Collingwood will probably get more inside forward 50's than the Tigers, so the Richmond forward line will have to be at it's most efficient to help it's team over the line here.
Richmond come into this game with a heap of confidence and belief, and rightfully so after three impressive wins to the start the season, and that belief can take them a long way this week against Collingwood. The Tigers will have to do just about everything right though, as Collingwood punish teams who turn the ball over, which has been a trait of their sides over the past few seasons, but you get the feeling this Richmond team is better than those versions, so the Tigers for the first time in a few years will put up a real fight against a Collingwood outfit still struggling to get anywhere near it's best team on the park.
TEAMS.
TIP.
This a vitally important game for both teams, with the Tigers having a massive chance to go 4-0 and give them a head start on making the finals, and Collingwood needing to win to avoid falling back to a 2-2 record after four games, and risk losing touch with the top four teams even this early in the season. Richmond will enter the game with the more optimised list, with very few players not in contention to play, while it's obvious to all that the Magpies are still weeks away from fielding a team that is even close to their strongest line up, and that gives the Tigers a chance for sure.
Selection hasn't changed the make up of both sides too much, with the Tigers making no changes and the Pies only making two minor changes, meaning we pretty much know what the two sides will look and play like on the day. What isn't so predictable is how their respective game styles match up and effect the opposition. Richmond's pace on the outside and long kicking ability might worry the Magpies at stages, but with Nathan Brown and Ben Reid both in top form, you would think Jack Riewoldt up forward will have a tough time impacting the game this week, while Travis Cloke at the other end should be able to notch up at least a few goals to help his teams cause. There were concerns with Cloke at this morning's practice session as he dislocated a finger, but all reports are that he will be fine to line up against the Tigers on Saturday.
Ultimately Collingwood are still the better side, even with several key outs but this game will be close, and it may come down to the last quarter where both teams have struggled just a little bit this season. I see the Pies experience and ability to fight it out in big games as an advantage that will just tip the scales their way, the Magpies will win this one.
PIES BY 11 POINTS.
MILESTONE
This weekend, three time club champion, 2010 premiership player and 2011 Brownlow medallist Dane Swan will be play his 200th game. It's been a remarkable journey for the champ, after struggling on and off the field early in his career, he has now become one of the best players in the AFL. Congratulations Dane Swan.
GO PIES.
