Richmond have survived a late scare from a determined Carlton, edging the Blues by 26 points in a scrappy AFL contest.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Richmond Tigers 11.18.84
Carlton Blues 8.10.58
The Richmond Tigers are looking to break into the top four when they take on a firing Carlton Blues side trying to climb back up the ladder. Catch all the live scores, highlights and blog on The Roar from 3:20pm (AEST).
The Tigers fell apart late last week, giving up a six-goal lead at one point to lose by nine against the Swans at home.
While they did drop down to sixth, they won their last two games before that and are really shaping up as a premiership dark horse midway through the season.
A big win today could mathematically see them jump as high as third spot, but that would have to be a huge, huge win.
For Carlton, they’ve picked up a couple of wins on the trot after starting their season with just three victories and eight losses, leaving them at the wrong end of the standings.
After a thrilling one-point win over the Giants in Round 12, they held out the Suns last week for a ten-point win, jumping up off the base of the ladder.
While they don’t have the percentage to get there at this stage, there is just one game between ninth and 16th on the table, such is the heat of the competition for finals spots in 2017.
A win today would at the very least put them up from 15th to 12th, closing in on the finals equation.
These two have already clashed this season with the Tigers coming away with a dominant 43-point win back in Round 1.
Richmond has now won their last five in a row against the Blues.
Things only go from bad to worse for Carlton. Not only do they have the worst attack in the league, averaging just 73 points per game, Richmond also happen to have the best defence in the league, letting in 79 points a game.
That combination doesn’t bode well for Brendon Bolton’s men this afternoon for a team that has been struggling to get points on the board as of late.
Team News
For the Tigers, Ben Lennon was ruled out during the week with a hamstring strain and while Anthony Miles was brought up from the VFL as a replacement, he won’t make the final line-up.
The Blues have been hit with injury and forced into three changes.
Young gun Tom Williamson has pulled up after a back injury suffered last week against the Suns and is expected to miss two weeks.
Zac Fisher and David Cunningham have also succumbed to injury, being ruled out with achilles and thigh problems respectively.
Billie Smedts, Nick Graham and Jarrod Pickett have all been named as replacements to come into the side.
Prediction
Carlton really needs this one to keep themselves running towards the top eight but the Tigers have looked a much better side this season and could be too strong for the Blues this afternoon.
Richmond to win by 14
Macca
Guest
Philby - that isn't how it works, high impact, high contact either reckless or careless (probably reckless) add up the points and bobs your uncle
Philby
Guest
Houli's penalty should be reduced by one match as his action was only retaliation for Jed Lamb trying to pull him back even though the ball was 30 metres away. Lamb's part in the incident should be recognised. If you don't want to get whacked, don't grab an opponent behind the play.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report FULLTIME The final siren sounds and the Tigers have their eighth win of the season and continue to knock on the door of the top four, even equalling their wins total from last season and we're only in Round 14. For the Blues, it's a big blow for their hopes of climbing up towards final contention as they languish down at the wrong end of the standings and continue to really struggle to put points on the board with just 58 today. In contrast, the Tigers continue to show why they're the best defensive side in the comp at the moment, conceding another low total to hold the best average of points per game of any team in the league. The Blues continued to hang around throughout the afternoon despite the Tigers dominating for the most part, but the better side came through at the end of the day and Richmond take a deserved win. Richmond 11.18 (84) Carlton 8.10 (58)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' GOAL RICHMOND!! And that's the final nail in the coffin. Toby Nankervis takes the lead out beyond four goals and that will be all she wrote with 60 seconds on the clock. Richmond 11.17 (83) Carlton 8.10 (58)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Inside the final two minutes now, surely there's not enough time for the Blues now. Richmond 10.17 (77) Carlton 8.10 (58)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Riewoldt now marking above the pack with a sea of arms reaching up for it!! He made a mess of a set shot on goal a minute ago, let's see if he can get it this time... not quite from the right boundary line, finding the right gate for a behind. Richmond 10.16 (76) Carlton 8.10 (58)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' RIOLI!! Takes a stunning mark over the shoulders there... oh no he's been pinned for a push in the back. That's unlucky. Richmond 10.15 (75) Carlton 8.10 (58)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Oh no Riewoldt makes a real mess of the set shot, falling short and wide of goal as the Tigers find a behind from it. A real miskick that one. Richmond 10.15 (75) Carlton 8.10 (58)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Menadue going for a gallop now and he has plenty of room here down the right wing. Bounces once... putting on the pace as he bounces twice up towards forward 50. And he finds Riewoldt 30 metres out from goal!! Richmond 10.14 (74) Carlton 8.10 (58)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Quick clearance from the Blues... and in about 10 seconds they have another set shot set up for goal from the restart!! It's a long kick from 50 metres... and the shot doesn't have the legs, falling short but snagging a rush behind for one point off the lead. Richmond 10.14 (74) Carlton 8.10 (58)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Patty Cripps marks over the top of Martin just 15 metres from goal and he should go back and slot this one. GOAL CARLTON!! Easy as you like from Cripps and the Blues just refuse to die in the final quarter here. Still a long way to go but every goal counts. Richmond 10.14 (74) Carlton 8.9 (57)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Carlton kicking it around the back, looking to switch sides but also kill some time with a 23-point lead here. Richmond 10.14 (74) Carlton 7.9 (51)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Carlton are finding space up front but they really need to start hitting the target. The clock is working against them now as well as the Tigers. Richmond 10.14 (74) Carlton 7.9 (51)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Gibbs on the run looking for Picken in the middle... but the later overruns his line and the Tigers are able to recover in front of their own goal. Off down the right boundary line now and they have all the space in the world to work with here with numners in hand. Up into the forward 50 now!! Carlton are scrambling... and Butler is there to mark right in front of goal!! GOAL RICHMOND!! What a play from the Tigers, going end to end off the turnover in front of their own goal, before sinking it at the other end of the park with Butler at the top of the goal square and these are heavy shots for the Blues comeback. Richmond 10.14 (74) Carlton 7.9 (51)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Carlton get the quick clearance up front now off the centre bounce and the ball gets caught up in traffic for a ball up just 25 metres out from goal. Richmond 9.14 (68) Carlton 7.9 (51)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Charlie Curnow marks inside 50... and hits a huge goal for the Blues!! GOAL CARLTON!! A mistake at the other end of the park from Dustin Martin and the Blues capitalised, taking it end to end and sinking a crucial six points to stay in the contest. Richmond 9.14 (68) Carlton 7.9 (51)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Dustin Martin takes the one on one mark inside forward 50 and he makes it look so easy under pressure. He turns down the set shot, instead looking for a better-positioned player. Oh but he hits it into traffic and the Blues are able to recover and the Tigers get nothing out of it in the end. Richmond 9.14 (68) Carlton 6.9 (45)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Kade Simpson with a chance to return serve for the Blues off the quick transition from the centre bounce... but he hooks it through for a behind and accuracy continues to hurt them. Richmond 9.13 (67) Carlton 6.9 (45)
Connor Bennett
Editor
Q4' Richmond quick out of the centre bounce... and Riewoldt is all over it inside forward 50!! GOAL RICHMOND!! Back to back within 60 seconds and the game is really starting to slip away now for the Blues as Riewoldt sinks his third goal of the afternoon. Richmond 9.13 (67) Carlton 6.8 (44)