- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Richmond defeated Collingwood by 28 points at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the much-anticipated clash between two premiership heavyweights.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Richmond Tigers 16.9.105
Collingwood Magpies 12.5.77
The Richmond Tigers and the Collingwood Magpies meet in the most anticipated clash of season 2018. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:45pm (AEST).
If AFL fans aren’t smacking their lips and salivating at the thought of two of the premiership front runners meeting at the home of football, then I’m not sure they should be called fans at all.
With only a game separating them on the ladder and Collingwood with a chance to join the Tigers on the top rung, the stakes are high.
The Pies continue to roll, with only the result loss to the equally impressive West Coast blotting the copybook and the Tigers were back in winning form last week against St Kilda, after a shock two-point loss to the Giants in Round 17.
Collingwood have battled through a significant injury toll throughout the season yet held firm in the face of adversity.
To beat Richmond, they will need another masterclass from Scott Pendlebury in midfield and goal production up front will also be key, especially considering the loss of Jordan De Goey for this match.
Richmond will do what they do so well. Their manic pressure on the ball and ability to turn over possession and move forward at lightning speed, will test a Collingwood defence that has met all challenges to this point in the season.
The Pies have reinvented their forward half pressure this year and will look to rattle the Tigers with a little of their own medicine.
The battle of defensive pressure will probably be the deciding factor in this one. Both teams will look to have multiple goal scorers, with neither relying on large bags from a key forward.
They are both teams in the true sense of the word, with around the ground pressure and victory in the one percent contests key to their overall success.
Prediction
The Pies have defied logic many times this season, with their depth tested at times yet they have answered every question put to them.
Richmond are still the barometer and will provide the acid test for Collingwood; a test they are capable of passing.
In a cracking encounter, Richmond will be forced to use all their gears for this one and that could spell danger for Collingwood.
I’m tipping the most complete Richmond performance of the year so far and a three-goal win.
Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 1:45pm (AEST).