GWS Giants vs Richmond Tigers: AFL live scores, blog

After suffering eight-goal losses last weekend, both the GWS Giants and the Richmond Tigers will be looking to bounce back in Sydney on Saturday. Join our coverage on The Roar for live scores and comments from 4:35pm AEDT.

It was a disappointing trip west for the Giants in Round 2, the reigning premiers West Coast were too good in front of a home crowd.

The depth and class of GWS was challenged, defender Nick Haynes was sent forward in the second half to stop the influence of Jeremy McGovern, and Lachie Whitfield was a lone wolf working hard in the middle.

Richmond also failed to fire in a preliminary final rematch with Collingwood; the Magpies again came away major winners by 44-points.

After a fairly even start to the match, the Tigers defence was dominated by Jordan De Goey, costly turnovers continued and another injury to a star player soured the loss further.

The Tigers are still looking for defensive solutions without All-Australian Alex Rance and now must find options forward without tall Jack Riewoldt.

It should be, and will be, Tom Lynch who needs a big competitive, goal-kicking game.

The Giants will welcome the return of midfielder Josh Kelly, cleared to play his first game in 2019 after off-season hip and knee surgeries.

Shane Mumford also joins the Giants after 18-months out of the game, Lachlan Keeffe and Dawson Simpson have been omitted.

Tommy Sheridan will line up for his first AFL game in the orange and charcoal after moving across from Fremantle, he replaces Brett Deledio in the side (calf strain).

The big news for Richmond this week is that they’ll be without star forward Jack Riewoldt who has a wrist injury. They also lose another defender in Dylan Grimes to suspension.

Maverick Weller is the third out for the Tigers, with a leg injury.

It’s an exciting week for surprise debutant Sydney Stack, a West Australian 18-year-old who came to Richmond as part of the AFL’s Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period.

He’ll start on the interchange, while Noah Balta and Ryan Garthwaite have been named in the forward and defensive lines, respectively.

The last time these two teams met was late last season in Round 17; the Giants defeated the Tigers by two-points, holding on in a tough encounter up at GIANTS Stadium.

Toby Nankervis up against Shane Mumford in the ruck is one of the matchups to watch for me. Mumford will be fired up when he returns to the field on Saturday afternoon, while Nankervis must give his midfielders first use of the footy if they want to get any flow moving up the ground.

Prediction
With the Giants inclusions this week and the Tigers exclusions, it will be the home side who get up in a close one.

GWS by eight points.

Catch all the action on The Roar, with a live blog from 4:35pm AEDT.

Where: GIANTS Stadium, Sydney
When: 4:35pm AEDT
TV: Fox Footy, 7Mate (Sydney), AFL app, Kayo Sports
Betting: GWS Giants $1.50, Richmond $2.50

GWS Giants
B: Adam Kennedy, Phil Davis, Zac Williams
HB: Nick Haynes, Sam Taylor, Matt Buntine
C: Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Adam Tomlinson, Jeremy Cameron, Matt de Boer
F: Brent Daniels, Harry Himmelberg, Sam Reid
Foll: Shane Mumford, Jacob Hopper Tim Taranto
I/C: Heath Shaw, Tommy Sheridan, Daniel Lloyd, Jeremy Finlayson

Richmond Tigers
B: Nathan Broad, David Astbury, Ryan Garthwaite
HB: Nick Vlastuin, Shane Edwards, Jayden Short
C: Kamdyn McIntosh, Brandon Ellis, Trent Cotchin
HF: Daniel Rioli, Daniel Butler, Jason Castagna
F: Oleg Markov, Noah Balta, Tom Lynch
Foll: Toby Nankervis, Kane Lambert, Dustin Martin
I/C: Dion Prestia, Sydney Stack, Jack Graham, Jack Higgins