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Thursday night footy takes us to Melbourne for a top of the table clash between the Richmond Tigers and the Sydney Swans. Join The Roar for live commentary and scores from 7:20pm AEST.
Oh my. What a clash this is: the reigning premiers taking on possibly the most consistent team of the past few years.
This season, they’re one and two on the ladder as it stands, and this clash should be a great one. Oh, did I mention it’s at Eithad Stadium?
Ignoring the confines of the much maligned AFL-regulated game at Docklands, this game could go a long way towards dictating who becomes the minor premier at the end of the season.
There’s a few similarities between these two. Both teams are fresh out of the week off, and both were victorious against final aspirants in their games before then: Sydney against a resurgent West Coast, and Richmond against Geelong.
Both are also 10-3, but it’s Sydney who have the five straight wins before today, whereas Richmond have dropped two recent games.
I’m of the thinking that this will be a reasonably high scoring clash. Offensively, it’s the Tigers who pack the bigger punch, given they’ve second in total and average goals scored this season and have the likes of an in-form Jack Riewoldt, Josh Caddy and Jason Castanga slamming home goals left, right and centre.
Then again, Sydney are more than comfortable with a forward set-up headlined by Lance Franklin, and youngsters Ollie Florent, Will Hayward and, of course, Ben Ronke doing a heap in their early careers.
Those youngsters will be important for the Swans, as will Tigers rookie Jack Higgins and his side’s defensive mainstay, Alex Rance – who’ll be up against Franklin.
Teams wise, both squads have gained a few vital players after the bye. Sydney’s made two changes – they’ve lost Tom Papley to injury, whilst Harry Marsh has been omitted. Veteran Jarryd McVeigh is in, as is James Rose.
Richmond’s omitted Ryan Garthwaite and Kamdyn McIntosh, whilst adding a big duo in Dion Prestia and David Astbury to their squad.
Prediction
This’ll be a very good match, any way you look at it. Sydney’s in the arguably better form, but we’ve seen Richmond – time and time again – win, and win by plenty.
The Swans will not be easybeats, and will be taking plenty of encouragement from last year’s meeting wherein Richmond dominated early but substantially faltered late to allow the Swans a win.
This will be a close one, befitting it’s (somewhat) primetime slot. It feels like a game for a last gasp goal to win it. I’ll back the premiers to sneak a win here, but I won’t be surprised if the four points head the other way.
Richmond by 4 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:20pm AEST.
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