Footy fans are in for a treat on Thursday night with Richmond and Sydney going head-to-head at Etihad Stadium in what may prove to be a grand final preview.
2018 has been a bumper year for both the Tigers and Swans so far.
After 14 rounds, Richmond sits clear on top of the ladder with ten wins and a percentage of 135 on the dot. Right behind them in second place is Sydney with ten wins and a percentage of 125.7.
Richmond’s place on top of the ladder is all but locked in at this stage. Following the match with the Swans, the Tigers face a cruisey run home – taking on just two current top eight sides (Collingwood and Geelong) in the run towards finals.
Although said run is peppered with potential finalists Greater Western Sydney and Adelaide – it really is an easy jog towards the big show in September.
For the Swans, the hike home isn’t too bad either. The Swans face four current top eight sides (Geelong, North Melbourne, Melbourne, Collingwood) and two hopeful finalists in Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney. But given their current form and the runs already on the board, this fixture shouldn’t worry them too much.
In recent seasons, the Tigers and Swans have offered audiences some cracking clashes.
The most recent was in June of 2017 – with the Swans getting up over the eventual premiers in Richmond by nine points at the MCG.
Richmond led all day until the Swans seized the upper hand with just minutes remaining on the clock.
In a picture of universal duality, the 2016 May match-up between these two teams unfolded in reverse. Sydney, flushed with firepower and clearly the better side ahead of the luckless Tigers, dominated the match until literally the dying seconds of the match.
Richmond small forward Sam Lloyd sunk a set shot from 50 after the siren, claiming an incredible win and sending commentator Brian Taylor into a complete fit of hysteria. Who could forget?
To those paying close attention, I am leaving out one match between the two. Round 23 of 2016.
The Swans defeated the Tigers by 113 points at the SCG, putting the final nail in the coffin in a season Richmond was in a hurry to forget.
But let’s take ourselves back to 2017. The Swans by nine points. The Tigers led by five goals at one stage but let it all slip away.
It was a day to forget for Trent Cotchin’s side last time these teams met. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Following the match, Sydney senior coach John Longmire gave us plenty to think about.
“We didn’t win enough of those 50/50 balls (in the first half), not just ground balls but also in the air, we just got beaten too many times,” Longmire said.
“It started to turn in the third quarter and it was the young boys that led the way which was good.
“The players are able to turn it around on their own and the main message (at halftime) was to start winning those 50/50 balls.
“The intent, from the players to start winning those 50/50 balls, was at a really high standard.”
It’s going to be interesting to see if the two teams offer up a similar tango this time around.
Richmond and Sydney are side-by-side this season when it comes to contested possessions, with the Swans seventh with 1920 (147.7 per game) and the Tigers eighth with 1915 (147.3).
It wouldn’t be a shock to see the sides remain close in the first half, before one team manages to peel away in the third and finish with a bang.
In other areas, the sides match up differently. Richmond are the star side when it comes to tackles inside 50 (169 – first), pure inside 50s (754 -second) and intercept possessions (1078 – first).
Sydney’s big strength continues to be rebound 50s with 569 in 2018 so far – second for the league.
Players to watch? Take your pick – there’s plenty.
The biggest matchup will be Sydney’s Lance Franklin and Richmond’s Alex Rance. The two have a tremendous history against one another, and with tall defender ‘Mr. No. 2′ David Astbury expected to return from injury, it’s going to be interesting to see how much time Rance and Franklin actually spend side by side.
The midfield battle should be a ripper too. Dion Prestia is expected to make his return which, as a result, will free up Richmond duo Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin to do even more damage on the outside as the inside responsibilities are further accounted for.
Sitting as second and third favourites for the Brownlow Medal respectively, Martin and Cotchin should have plenty of time to shine – unless Sydney’s well-oiled on-baller machine is able to get in the way.
Against West Coast, Josh Kennedy was red hot, picking up 28 touches and booting an important goal, while Dan Hannebery, Zak Jones and Isaac Heeney all managed to tick the right boxes.
There’s next to no doubt Richmond and Sydney will have some role to play come finals footy.
In a few months’ time, this Thursday night rumble at Etihad Stadium might just be the most combed over match of the home-and-away campaign as the Swans and Tigers prepare for the big dance.
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