Saturday Afternoon footy at Etihad Stadium sees the 1-1 Tigers go up against the winless Bulldogs. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:45pm (AEDT).
Richmond find themselves in ninth on the AFL ladder, while the Bulldogs are propping it up from position 17.
The Tigers began their season with a poor showing at Metricon against the an improving Suns outfit, but backed that up with a spirited win over Carlton in Round 2.
The Bulldogs have had a very disappointing start to season 2014, losing big to the Eagles at Patersons Stadium before suffering a fourth quarter capitulation against the Roos in Round 2.
The Tigers have made 3 changes from their Round 2 squad, with Shaun Hampson and Brett Deledio both missing with injury, and Nathan Foley copping the boot. They’re replaced by Daniel Jackson, Orren Stephenson and Nathan Gordon.
The Bulldogs have named an unchanged squad.
This matchup was dominated by the Tigers last year, who won the two meetings by 67 and 60 points, with both clashes coming at Etihad Stadium.
Throw the 70 point win the Tigers achieved in 2012, and the average margin between these two sides over the past three meetings is 66 points. The Tigers hold a 3-2 advantage in the last 5 clashes between these two sides.
Prediction:
The Bulldogs have built one of the most talented young midfields in the competition, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they outplayed their Richmond counterparts, particularly with the loss of Deledio.
However, the Dogs forward and back lines are amongst the worst in the competition, and the Tigers have enough class at both ends of the ground to take advantage of this.
Tigers by 24.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:45pm (AEDT).
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Bulldogs survive a furious rally from the Tigers to post a 2 point win. Giansiracusa the hero with two very important goals in the fourth quarter. This is the performance that the Bulldogs fans were expecting coming into season 2014, and it's come against a quality opposition in the Tigers. This was a very big win for the Dogs. The Tigers on the other hand fall to 1-2, and look to be stuck in that mediocre land they've been in for the past few years. Great game from Etihad here this afternoon. Join me for Saturday Evening Rugby League between the Panthers and the Raiders at 5:30
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
0' Matt Thomas is run down as the final siren sounds. Bulldogs win!!!!! Game of the year so far for mine Bulldogs 15.10 100 Tigers 15.8 98
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
0' Exciting stuff!! Richmond have the ball deep in attack, but the Bulldogs manage to survive and get the ball over the boundary line next to the point post. Now the Bulldogs win the clearance, and come streaming out via the wing. The Dogs should win here, just can't have a turnover. Now a long kick down the wing is punched out of bounds with 7 seconds left. Dogs will hold on here Bulldogs 15.10 100 Tigers 15.8 98
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Under 2 minutes left now, but the Bulldogs have the ball going forward. Now the Dogs manage to pin the ball in on the wing. There's still a lot of story to be told here this afternoon Bulldogs 15.10 100 Tigers 15.8 98
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL BULLDOGS Free kick to Daniel Giansiracusa in the pocket now for the Bulldogs. Gia has no trouble putting the biggest kick of the match through!!! Bulldogs 15.10 100 Tigers 15.8 98
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL BULLDOGS Free kick to Daniel Giansiracusa in the pocket now for the Bulldogs. Gia has no trouble putting the biggest kick of the match through!! Bulldogs 15.10 100 Tigers 15.8 98
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Bulldogs need something special now with just over 3 to go in this match. Another clearance for the Tigers finds some messy football inside 50. Bulldogs 14.10 94 Tigers 15.8 98
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL TIGERS Riewoldt nails it!!!! Tigers hit the lead!!! Bulldogs 14.10 94 Tigers 15.8 98
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
4' Tigers burst through here, and Reece Conca hits Jack Riewoldt on the chest 45 out. Tigers can hit the front here!!! Bulldogs 14.10 94 Tigers 14.8 92
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
4' Tom Liberatore wins a brilliant clearance in the centre. Now Crameri is tackled inside 50, where the umpire will ball it up. Minson wins the tap uncontested, but the ball is tied up again. Bulldogs 14.10 94 Tigers 14.8 92
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL TIGERS Big clearance for the Tigers, as they use the hands to find Shaun Grigg running to 30 to kick the goal!!!! This is edge of your seat stuff here Bulldogs 14.10 94 Tigers 14.8 92
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND TIGERS Jack Riewoldt's kick is to the right, and Will Minson punches it through for a behind Bulldogs 14.10 94 Tigers 13.8 86
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
6' Orren STephenson catches the ball from the centre bounce and breaks away. He finds Jack Riewoldt on the lead. This game has everything at the moment Bulldogs 14.10 94 Tigers 13.7 85
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL BULLDOGS Crameri with a huge goal!!! Bulldogs back up by 9 Bulldogs 14.10 94 Tigers 13.7 85
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
7' Two Tigers collide in defense which leaves the door open for the Bulldogs but Jackson Macrae has a fumble!!! Now a free kick to the Bulldogs, but Liberatore takes advantage and finds Stewart Crameri about 40 metres out. This game is like a see-saw at the moment Bulldogs 13.10 88 Tigers 13.7 85
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL TIGERS Ben Griffiths has kicked a massive goal from 55 metres out. There was also a Tigers behind in there somewhere. Bulldogs 13.10 88 Tigers 13.7 85
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
8' Bachar Houli wins a free kick for high contact. He kicks long to the top of the square, where the ball is brought to ground and trapped. Ball up is won by the Tigers, but is quickly bottled up again. Bulldogs 13.10 88 Tigers 12.6 78
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
9' A free for the Tigers in the centre square sees Dustin Martin take a mark on the wing. He finds Nathan Gordon in the pocket, but his set shot goes out of bounds on the full Bulldogs 13.10 88 Tigers 12.6 78
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Might be true, but he's had a good second half, that's for sure.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL TIGERS Still plenty of time for the Tigers here, as Will Minson is done for holding the ball. Ben Griffiths free kick is marked by Tyrone Vickery in the pocket. This is a very important kick for the Tigers. He got it!!!! Bulldogs 13.10 88 Tigers 12.6 78