There’s only one match left on the calendar now, and it’s the biggest one of all – the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers in the 2017 AFL Grand Final.
First off, congrats to Cam for decisively winning our tipping game this year. He’s not only the only expert to beat The Crowd, but he’s done it by a lengthy margin.
Is he going to get one more tip right this year by picking Richmond (come on Cam, you know you want to)?
If he does then that’ll mean I’ve missed out, because personally, I’m tipping the Crows to win on Saturday and it might not even be that interesting.
Richmond arguably has the best two players on the ground in this match in Dustin Martin and Alex Rance.
But, the lower half of their team just doesn’t compare to Adelaide’s. The Crows have a great mix of depth and star power, their only true weakness being perhaps one more genuinely elite midfielder.
What has made Richmond a great team this year is their intensity and defensive pressure. We saw this at its peak in the game against Geelong three weeks ago.
I expected Richmond to bring this again in their preliminary final but to be honest, they didn’t quite live up to that expectation and had some periods where their intensity lapsed.
Luckily for them, GWS weren’t on the ball enough to take advantage of it – but a better team will, and Adelaide certainly are that better team.
Perhaps Richmond can rise to a new level this week, perhaps they’re saving their best for last – if so they’re in with a genuine chance.
Personally though I reckon the Crows have much more left in the tank than the Tigers and will win by six goals.
Cameron Rose
Richmond
Grand final day, and how fitting that the two clubs competing have embodied a sense of team better than any other throughout the year.
Yes, Richmond has Dustin Martin and Alex Rance, and Adelaide has Eddie Betts and Rory Sloane, who give us regular superstar moments, but football is a team sport that relies on 22 moving parts, working together and sacrificing for each other.
The Tigers and Crows have given us this all year, and particularly as they have cut a swathe through the finals series.
Adelaide have shown themselves to be the better side through the course of the year, but is there that much between them at this time of the season?
Both teams beat GWS by 36 points this finals series. The Crows beat Geelong by 61, the Tigers beat them by 51.
The difference is that Adelaide’s wins were at Adelaide Oval, while Richmond’s were at the MCG, and we know where the grand final is played.
In order to win, the Tigers need to shut down Tom Lynch and Rory Laird. I think they can. Richmond by 14 points.
| Grand final | Josh Elliott | Maddy Friend | Tim Lane | Cam Rose | The Crowd |
| ADE vs RIC | ADE | ADE | ADE | RIC | ADE |
| Last week | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 120 | 123 | 126 | 132 | 128 |
guttsy
Guest
Haven't you heard, the Tigers are turning up at 3pm. If this is the case the game could be over by quarter time!
Basil
Guest
Would you rather play it in Adelaide since it doesn't really matter?
Leanne
Guest
Good luck to the tigers on Saturday can't wait to see all you boys holding that cup.have a great game boys just enjoy the day so proud to be a Richmond supporter
Sammy
Guest
When the tigers intensity inevitibly drops a bit, the crows will cut them apart with footskills and they will set up victory by using the ball far better than GWS did in the prelim
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Brilliant. So bloody accurate.
Craig Delaney
Guest
You have to bring your best. If the other team does and you don't, you lose, they win. If both do, the Crows win by a smallish margin. And then luck, and the umpires' mistakes can be crucial. If it's even at quarter time, the Crows should win, because whatever storm the MCG and the Tigers can supply will have done its worst. If the Tigers have jumped early, the Crows know from the Collingwood chase that they have it in them to win. If the Crows are up at quarter time the Tigers will try to bring desperate pressure to bear, but that is very hard to maintain long enough to get ahead. Danger for Crows is speed in the Tiger forwards. Danger for Tigers is Adelaide's superior team organisation. Go Crows.
Jon boy
Guest
Adelaide will not get the rub of the green,but are clearly the best side but any thing can happen on the day hopefully no one loses early players through injury.
Kurt
Guest
Richmond to win by 4 goals. Adelaide fans to collectively melt down about a questionable free kick paid to Richmond on the wing at the 13 minute mark of the second quarter and claim that this was the definitive moment that momentum shifted in the game and clearly evidence of a Victorian conspiracy. Anon to claim that the ground was packed with 90K Richmond supporters and that's why the Crows lost. Multiple posters who actually attended the game to point out to Anon that this is wrong at that the crowd was roughly evenly split in terms of support. Anon to ignore them.
Kurt
Guest
So according to Anon home ground advantage in the AFL is now worth 10+ goals, even when the game is played in front of a largely even crowd. Really pathetic attempt to get his excuses in early.
Sammy
Guest
The first 1/4 will be a hard fought affair with both sides smashing in. The crows will then start to hurt richmond with their precision kicking when their intensity drops by a few % in the second 1/4 and lead by 20- 25 points. Again in 3rd 1/4 the crows kicking game sees them extend their lead out to 40 points at 3/4 time and they then trade goals in the last. Jacobs will be a huge factor and norm smith medalist as he will dominate the ruck and give the crouches and sloane first look all day it will be a fitting tribute to his departed brother
guttsy
Guest
Adelaide are going to have to overcome some very average umpiring decisions against them. Just look how biased the umpires were against GWS and in particular at key moments in the game. Adelaide will need to go into the game understanding they need to beat Richmond AND the umpires.
Angela
Guest
Glenn Of course, that too...
Glenn
Guest
And because the Crows have the best song.
Glenn
Guest
Yeah, if that's what it comes down to, Adelaide's attacking and pressure games trump Richmond's pressure game.
Marcopaulo
Guest
Adelaide have played eight outstanding quarters in it's two finals wins. Richmond have been so starters in their two finals. The Tigers have been better after half time. That must be a huge concern for the yellow and black. Adelaide Crows Will be far too good winning by 74 points. Rory Sloane will be awarded the Norm Smith Medalist.
Steve
Guest
I keep having a vision of jack reiwoldts stupid grin as he holds the cup ,tigers to win through sheer bloody mindedness and tenacity
Birdman
Guest
Crows. Gee it helps your tipping when your team's doing well, eh Cam?
Swannies
Guest
Will be a perfect year for Richmond when they end the 37 year drought. Congratulations to Hardwick and Cotchin. Hopefully Swans can stop Richmond next year from going back-to-back.
Angela
Guest
I agree with everything Anon says but he says it better than me so I won't say it all again. Richmond have huge advantages that have nothing to do with them (maybe) being the best team. I'm a Swans supporter but because I'm over the Richmond 'fairy tale' and associated hysteria, and because this year's GF should have been held in Adelaide, and because a very old and dear friend of mine is a fervent Crow's supporter, and because of the way the Crows have played this year, and because their colours are really cool, and because Eddie Betts is also very cool, and because I'd love to see a non-Victorian team smash a Victorian team...and for any other illogical reasons I can think of...(oh, yes because Waleed Aly supports Richmond), I hope the Crows rain all over the Richmond Parade in buckets. So there
truetigerfan
Guest
So you can't lose either way, anon. Man up ya' sniveller! Tigers . . . easily.