Fremantle’s miserable week has continued with a 77-point thrashing from Richmond at the MCG despite a heroic effort from skipper Nat Fyfe.
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Final score
Richmond Tigers 15.20.110
Fremantle Dockers 4.9.33
The best team in the competition on current form, the Richmond Tigers, welcome the Fremantle Dockers to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1:10pm (AEST).
Richmond’s win against the Collingwood Magpies was really impressive. They came up against a side that was full of belief, but it proved irrelevant in the end.
As good as the Pies were, the Tigers still came away 43-point winners. They just seem to run out games better than most opposition sides. The energy they play with in the first quarter is at the exact same level in the last.
Toby Nankervis has been brilliant since arriving at the Tigers, and he was pivotal last weekend gaining 29 disposals. Josh Caddy is another who has played his role in the Tiger rise, and he showed his worth again also on the weekend kicking four majors.
If those two can have performances like that again, it will go a long way to gaining four points against the Dockers.
In team news for the Tigers, Jacob Townsend comes back into the side for the injured Shaun Grigg.
As for the Dockers, they have had a solid start to the season with three wins. They only just lost to the West Coast Eagles on the weekend, so things are looking better than what was expected at the beginning of the season for the Dockers.
Lachie Neale was impressive last week reeling in 35 touches. Nat Fyfe has been solid to start the season and starting to look back to his absolute best, whilst youngster Ed Langdon had 26 touches to announce himself on the big stage.
Fremantle actually did defeat the Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last season, but it will be a tougher challenge this time around. Fyfe will be massive in the outcome.
In team news for the Dockers, Michael Johnson (managed) and Michael Walters (injured) come out of the side. Brennan Cox and Ethan Hughes are the replacements.
Prediction
I’m not sure how any side is supposed to stop Richmond and their form at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. They simply look unstoppable, as Fremantle will find out.
Tigers by 42.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1:10pm (AEST).
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
It was terrible, but c'mon, it wasn't even the worst all round. :P
Murph
Guest
You know it doesn’t always have to be the case of Richmond players all over their opponents causing the pressure. However the way they apply it relentlessly all game creates panic in opposition players where on rare occasions where there are no richmond players around, the opposition still think they are under pressure.
BigAl
Guest
You are right, if the AFL considers itself a professional and entertaining league it just doesn't stack up - for whatever reason
Lroy
Guest
..''we've played way worse than that!!'' ah comedy gold!!
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Fyfe was probably best on ground in an absolute thrashing. Imagine where they’d be without him. Sandilands won the ruck easily, but it amounted to next to nothing. One goal in three quarters. This “mythical” Richmond pressure, as one delusional Roar pundit put it, must be quite something. Imagine if were real pressure!
Haydos
Guest
Hardly splitting hairs just correcting a statement that simply isn't true. Freo's lowest ever score was almost 10 years ago, so no they haven't just kicked their lowest ever score in the history of the club - quite a declaration to make!
User
Roar Rookie
Not shocked at result, many factors at play in this result
Brian
Guest
Any ASADA monitors at the game? Match fixing? Ross Lyon bad language claim fallout?(lol).8 goal 4 to one point last quarter just doesn't stack up. (a little bit Rich!)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Sorry if I was wrong. Don't let that distract you from the fact that the performance Fremantle put together today was the worst we've seen all season.
XI
Roar Guru
You want to split hairs over that? "That's not our worst performance! We've played way worse plenty of times!"
Haydos
Guest
Freo knew they were going to lose, let Richmond have a run around and jump the Eagles on the ladder with ease, kept Richmond goaless in the third for a laugh and to the absolute disgust of tigers fans then put the cue in the rack in the fourth before the flight back to prepare for a win at home next round.?
Jonboy
Guest
Fyfe is about the only positive out of that effort.
BigAl
Guest
No - no positives here (not for Freo, not for the AFL). Richmond knew this game was theirs before quarter time was over so they wisely decided to spend the 3rd quarter having a breather, sorting a few things (iphone messages etc...) - then used the last quarter to amuse themselves...
Haydos
Guest
Not sure where you pulled that "lowest score ever in the history of the club" stat from but it's wrong. It's Freo's lowest score at the MCG. #fakenews.
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
Ouch
Kangajets
Guest
Bad luck mate Freo won’t be the only team beat up by Richmond this season
Haydos
Guest
Freo kept Richmond goaless in the 3rd. That's the only positive. ?
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Cheers for joining me today everyone. I hope you enjoyed the call!
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Thoughts on that Roarers?
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Full Time Richmond are thumping winners. In fact, that was Fremantle's lowest ever score in the history of the club. Brilliant performance. Richmond Tigers: 15.20 (110) Fremantle Dockers: 4.9 (33)