[VIDEO] Richmond Tigers vs GWS Giants Highlights: AFL scores, blog

MATCH RESULT:

A five-goals-to-two final quarter has seen Richmond come from behind to record a win over Greater Western Sydney at the MCG.

>> MATCH REPORT: Tigers escape Giants scare at MCG
>> VIDEO: Cotchin, Maric in hot water over high contact

A late goal from Shaun Edwards, one of two for the day, sealed the win for the Tigers in the final minutes.

However, the win may come at a cost, with captain Trent Cotchin and ruckman Ivan Maric both likely to attract Match Review Panel scrutiny for incidents during the game.

Richmond 10.18.78 def. Greater Western Sydney 10.9.69

MATCH PREVIEW:

The Richmond Tigers have been on an absolute tear in the AFL, but they’ll still need to bring their best if they’re to avoid an upset loss to the Greater Western Sydney Giants. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:40pm (AEST).

They may only be in sixth place with a record of 7-5, but Richmond’s 2015 résumé is seriously impressive stuff.

At 2-4 to start the season, the Tigers looked like a rudderless ship. Their nine-game winning run to end the 2014 season looked like a yellow and black flash in the pan and their absolute demolition in their elimination final looked like a truer assessment of where they were at.

Since then, however, they’ve been nearly unstoppable.

They fought off Collingwood in a Sunday afternoon epic, ruined Kane Cornes’ final match at the Adelaide Oval with a comprehensive win over the Power, brushed aside the Bombers on Dreamtime at the ‘G before strolling into Subi and handing the Dockers a big, fat ‘L’.

But the most impressive result of late was without a doubt last Friday night’s win over the Swans. Not many teams knock off Sydney at the SCG, and even fewer come back from 30 points at half-time to do it.

On the form Richmond are on, they’re genuine contenders. Nothing less than a routine victory over the Giants will satisfy them in their quest to let the AFL world know about it.

Greater Westen Sydney on the other hand looked on track for a similarly memorable run of form, before a ridiculous run of bad luck saw them lose Shane Mumford, Phil Davis and Joel Patfull for a stretch of time they simply couldn’t afford.

The Giants have improved out of sight this season, so if the Tigers are expecting to brush aside a young team once again then they’re in for a shock.

But that said, the gaping holes in their best 22 will make it very hard to challenge the competition’s top teams – and right now Richmond is most certainly in that category.

Given Richmond knocked off the Swans at the SCG last week and finished the game with no injuries, it’s very difficult to see them making any changes to their team.

The only potential inclusion would have to be the omitted Steven Morris, as Corey Ellis’ hip injury is likely to keep him out of the Tigers team for the next fortnight.

None of GWS’ big name players on the injured list look to be returning any time soon, although Tom Scully was a late withdrawal with illness last time out and should slot right back into the team.

Rory Lobb had the all-time hitouts record broken on him last week, so the youngster may look to regain some confidence in the reserves. Andrew Phillips missed the Giants’ last match with a back injury, but should be right to take the youngster’s place.

Prediction
A few weeks ago, this was shaping up to be one of the matches of the season. There was every chance these two sides would be duking it out for one of the final spots in this season’s top eight.

But of late these teams have been on very different trajectories. GWS will throw everything at the Tigers, but with a healthy team to choose from this is Richmond’s game to lose.

Tigers by 28 points.

Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:10pm (AEST).