Football returns to Etihad Stadium tonight for the first time in 2016 as the Richmond Tigers host the Port Adelaide Power to kick off the final week of the NAB Challenge. Join The Roar for a live blog of the match, starting at 7:10pm AEDT.
After three weeks of travelling around the country and bringing AFL-quality players to places where they are rarely seen, the league will make use of its main grounds in this final round of the pre-season competition, starting with tonight’s game at Etihad.
The Tigers, by no means regular tennants of Melbourne’s smaller stadium, have named a strong side in the hopes of claiming a second pre-season win, but despite travelling interstate for the match the Power have also named a talented team.
Anthony Miles, Ivan Maric, Troy Chaplin and Taylor Hunt are the Richmond regulars who won’t be seen tonight. The absence of Maric – far and away Richmond’s best ruckman – and Miles – one of their best inside the contest – may see Port boast a significant advantage at the stoppages.
Andrew Moore – playing against his old side – and Jacob Townsend will be the players looking to see if they can fill that gap for the Tigers and possibly earn themselves Round 1 club debuts. Shaun Hampson, Mabior Chol, and perhaps Tyrone Vickery and Ben Griffiths will be the players looking to cover Maric’s absence in the ruck.
Port have a nearly complete team on the field with Jared Polec the only likely best 22 player not to take the field. The headline act for them will be the inclusion of Charlie Dixon who after an interrupted pre-season has recovered in time to take part in this match.
The Power are one of only two teams to have played at least two NAB Challenge matches and lost them both, against Sydney in the first week and against Melbourne in the second. Pre-season results count for a little, but no doubt the players will be keen to get at least one win on the board heading into the real thing.
It’ll be a big night for Matthew Lobbe too who is looking to take on full-time ruck duties but was dominated by Max Gawn when the Power played the Demons. He has an easy go tonight against Richmond’s B-level rucks, so expect him to prove his worth.
Prediction
Port’s side seems just a little stronger and I think they’ll want the win more.
Port Adelaide by 24 points.
Join The Roar for a live blog of the match, starting at 7:10pm AEDT.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
The umpires where on the whistle way to much last night. I don't want to see that in the season proper, a couple of dangerous tackle balls that weren't there, deliberates that went 90 meters, holding the ball calls after no time at all. Reckon they blew the whistle 20 times to many.
Franko
Guest
How’s that for deliberate out of bounds, it’s going to be a frustrating year if that interpretation carries on.
TomC
Roar Guru
Both teams must be on pretty heavy training loads right now.
Josh
Expert
FULL TIME RICHMOND 1.4.12 45 PORT ADELAIDE 0.13.15 93 One last behind from Hamish Hartlett is the final score of the game.
Josh
Expert
BEHIND PORT ADELAIDE Matthew Lobbe kicks a behind. For a team with three extra players, Port are really failing to take advantage. RICHMOND 1.4.12 45 PORT ADELAIDE 0.13.14 92
Rob McHugh
Roar Guru
Better than this!
Josh
Expert
BEHIND PORT ADELAIDE Jay Schulz kicks a behind. RICHMOND 1.4.12 45 PORT ADELAIDE 0.13.13 91
Josh
Expert
I'd watch that.
Josh
Expert
BEHIND PORT ADELAIDE Brendon Ah Chee with a set shot misses to the right. RICHMOND 1.4.12 45 PORT ADELAIDE 0.13.12 90
Rob McHugh
Roar Guru
Finish the game with a bit of T20?
Josh
Expert
BEHIND PORT ADELAIDE Brandon Ellis rushes one over. RICHMOND 1.4.12 45 PORT ADELAIDE 0.13.11 89
Josh
Expert
Damian Hardwick just pulling players off now and not letting this night get any worse. Only 15 players left on the field for Richmond at this point.
Josh
Expert
GOAL PORT ADELAIDE Port piling them on. Matthew Broadbent has a set shot and has no trouble sinking it. RICHMOND 1.4.12 45 PORT ADELAIDE 0.13.10 88
Josh
Expert
GOAL PORT ADELAIDE Port put on another goal through Robbie Gray. The Tigers begging for this game to be over. RICHMOND 1.4.12 45 PORT ADELAIDE 0.12.10 82
TomC
Roar Guru
Huh. Nice.
Josh
Expert
GOAL PORT ADELAIDE Charlie Dixon slots a goal for the Power, they go 30 up. RICHMOND 1.4.12 45 PORT ADELAIDE 0.11.9 75
Josh
Expert
GOAL PORT ADELAIDE Port find Chad Wingard loose in the forward line and, well, you know the rest. RICHMOND 1.4.12 45 PORT ADELAIDE 0.10.9 69
Josh
Expert
BEHIND RICHMOND Mabior Chol goes for one off the ground but the Port defenders chase it down and rush it over. RICHMOND 1.4.12 45 PORT ADELAIDE 0.9.9 63
Josh
Expert
BEHIND PORT ADELAIDE Brendon Ah Chee adds a behind. RICHMOND 1.4.11 44 PORT ADELAIDE 0.9.8 62
Josh
Expert
Final term underway.