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A big time Friday night clash awaits us as heavyweights the Hawthorn Hawks look to continue their outstanding mid-season form when they host the Richmond Tigers under lights at the MCG. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7:40pm (AEST).
The Tigers suffered a heartbreaking loss to Fremantle last week with David Mundy securing the win for Ross Lyon’s men with under a minute to go in the game. This was following Richmond leading for much of the game and having multiple chances to seal the win in the final quarter.
If they believe they are a legitimate chance this year they will need to push Hawthorn all the way in this game. There should be some confidence there, with the Tigers winning two games against the Hawks in the last three seasons.
But this Hawks team has taken their game to the next level, not just by beating sides but by giving them an absolute thrashing. Games against Fremantle and Sydney were expected to be close but the Hawks thumped two teams considered to be their closest rivals at the start of this month.
Then went on to give Carlton their worst loss in history, sending a shiver down all other 17 teams’ spines.
This is a scary Hawthorn team, having improved on last year. In the last month have booted 67 goals to their opponents’ 17 and winning by an average margin of 100 points.
Hawthorn will be eyeing a top-two spot, and it’s important that they don’t drop this game ahead of their trip to Perth against West Coast. If they are successful tonight and next week they would be odds-on to host a final at the MCG in the first week of the finals.
One big difference in the stats of the two sides is their accuracy when kicking for goals. Richmond are are ranked 16th for goal kicking accuracy this season at 46.8 per cent (191.194), while Hawthorn is second, at 54.2 per cent.
It could be a tale of the two Jacks tonight, with Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston finding form at the right time of the season, while Jack Riewoldt struggled for form last week and seemed to explode after the final siren. Both players will go a long way to helping their side win.
The midfield match-up is also mouth-watering, with Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio and Dustin Martin going head-to-head with Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge.
Prediction
Hawthorn is going way too good at the moment to tip against, however this game will be close for much of the night.
Hawks by 25.
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