Editor
A lot of pride is on the line as the Richmond Tigers host the Collingwood Magpies on a Friday night at the MCG. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEST).
It’s been a season to forget for Richmond, but the last fortnight has proven particularly unforgettable.
Their shaky win against Essendon beforehand should have raised a red flag, but the footy world looked on in horror at the Tigers copped a 70-point flogging from Hawthorn and an 88-point shellacking from Greater Western Sydney in successive weeks.
With Geelong, St Kilda and Sydney to close out the year, there’s every chance the club finishes 2016 on a six-game slide.
Damien Hardwick is coaching for his job.
Collingwood, on the other hand, have made good progress since their horror start to the season.
A wretched first two months saw them crash out of finals contention early and lump enormous pressure on coach Nathan Buckley, but the club have turned it around of late.
Wins against Fremantle, Carlton, GWS and West Coast – with a gallant loss to Adelaide thrown in – make a very impressive run of form since they hit the bye 4-8.
With the injury-plagued Bulldogs and Suns to follow, the Magpies are a real chance of finishing the season on 11 wins.
The Tigers’ recent record against the Pies is appalling, dropping ten of the past 12 contests between these sides. Earlier this year it was a capitulation, with the Tigers conceding three goals in the last five minutes of the game to lose by one point in unthinkable fashion.
Prediction
A catastrophic fortnight should have the Richmond boys fired up for this clash against their arch-enemy.
But while passion counts for something, form counts for more. Collingwood have won four of six since the bye, and their late-season renaissance should continue tonight.
Magpies by 25 points