Richmond
37
25
Geelong Cats
104
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| J. Castagna |  | 24:02 | ||
| 16:55 | | T. Hawkins | ||
| D. Butler | | 15:03 | ||
| L. Baker |  | 6:47 | ||
| 3.6 (24) | Third Quarter [+] | 15.8 (98) | ||
| 32:23 | | R. Stanley | ||
| 27:03 | | G. Ablett | ||
| 25:54 | | M. Duncan | ||
| 24:43 | | T. Kelly | ||
| T. J. Lynch | | 22:13 | ||
| T. J. Lynch | | 18:15 | ||
| 16:24 | | M. Duncan | ||
| 14:18 | | G. Ablett | ||
| 13:30 | | Rushed | ||
| 11:03 | | G. Miers | ||
| 9:50 | | L. Dahlhaus | ||
| 8:03 | | E. Ratugolea | ||
| 6:14 | | T. Hawkins | ||
| J. Caddy | | 4:27 | ||
| 2:43 | | G. Ablett | ||
| 2.4 (16) | Second Quarter [+] | 7.4 (46) | ||
| 32:18 | | P. Dangerfield | ||
| 25:31 | | T. Hawkins | ||
| D. Martin | | 23:17 | ||
| Rushed | | 21:50 | ||
| J. Higgins | | 19:43 | ||
| 17:13 | | G. Miers | ||
| 12:42 | | G. Miers | ||
| 11:28 | | T. Hawkins | ||
| 8:37 | | G. Rohan | ||
| 6:33 | | T. Hawkins | ||
| 2:22 | | E. Ratugolea | ||
| 0:55 | | Rushed | ||
| 2.1 (13) | First Quarter [+] | 0.2 (2) | ||
| P. Naish | | 17:59 | ||
| T. J. Lynch | | 15:47 | ||
| D. Martin | | 14:14 | ||
| 5:52 | | Rushed | ||
| 2:51 | | T. Kelly | ||
It is a marquee matchup in the first of the bye rounds, with the might of the black and yellow Richmond Tigers army taking on the giant that is the Geelong Cats, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) for live scores and blog of the game.
Say what you like about the AFL Commission this season, but they have nailed scheduling this fixture on the Friday night that kicks off the three bye rounds.
Talk about kicking things off with a bang going into the June long weekend.
Now, let’s all take a step back for a moment, and remember something: Richmond remain without their star defensive player Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt is still some time away, and the list of injuries at Punt Road is as long as you can imagine.
Yet here they stand, toe to toe with the contenders this season, still making noise and creating waves.
Last week’s loss aside, the Tigers are still bringing their A-game, and that they are doing it with an injury list that would cripple most teams,
How do they continue to do it?
It would be easy to say that Richmond are simply a good systems team, but given their reliance on chaos ball, and just running amok, that style of play relies as much on individual brilliance as it does any system.
And speaking of individual brilliance, the Tigers welcome back Daniel Rioli, Jacob Townsend, and Jack Graham into their line up for tonight’s clash.
And speaking of welcoming back individual brilliance, that is also exactly what Geelong do, with the return of Gary Ablett from his MRP-enforced one-week holiday.
What is it about Geelong that just continues to deliver?
Chris Scott just seems to have the blend right at the moment for his charges to make that premiership tilt, even this early on in the season.
As Tim Kelly continues to tear up the opposition in the middle, more than ably assisted by one Patrick Dangerfield, the Cats go into this contest with both the best attack and defence in the league this season.
What that says is that the Cats are doing it better than the rest in all facets of the game, in particular noting the fixture they’ve had to date.
The simple truth is that the Cats right now are the benchmark, and it is upon the Tigers to respond as to whether they can met that standard.
Richmond come into this match on a three-game winning streak over their opponent, but you get the feeling that the Cats come into this contest with all the confidence.
Prediction
The No.1 defensive and offensive team in the comp is hard to tip against, and with the return of Gary Ablett, the Cats are looking set to explode.
Cats by 15
Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) for live scores and blog of the game, and please leave a comment in the comment section below.
When: Friday, 7 June 2019, 7:50 pm
Where: MCG, Melbourne
TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy, AFL Game pass, Kayo
Betting: Tigers $2.70, Cats $1.47
Richmond Tigers
B Ryan Garthwaite, Nick Vlastuin, Dylan Grimes
HB Noah Balta, Shane Edwards, Bachar Houli
C Liam Baker, Dion Prestia, Kamdyn McIntosh
HF Daniel Rioli, Jason Castagna, Dan Butler
F Dustin Martin, Tom J. Lynch, Jacob Townsend
FOL Ivan Soldo, Trent Cotchin, Josh Caddy
I/C Sydney Stack, Jack Higgins, Jack Graham, Patrick Naish
Geelong Cats
B Zach Tuohy, Jake Kolodjashnij, Mark O’Connor
HB Mark Blicavs, Harry Taylor, Tom Stewart
C Patrick Dangerfield, Tim Kelly, Mitch Duncan
HF Luke Dahlhaus, Esava Ratugolea, Tom Hawkins
F Gary Ablett, Gary Rohan, Jordan Clark
FOL Rhys Stanley, Cameron Guthrie, Joel Selwood
I/C Jack Henry, Gryan Miers, Tom Atkins, Brandan Parfitt
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Absolute thumping as I predicted and as I predicted Port to beat Eagles and hate to say it but Sydney might get one up on us too tomorrow. I still find it bizarre Richmond is constantly given this big up all the time. Without their key playmakers as with any other team and exactly what everyone said last year if injuries kick in they are a pretty average side at best. Dustin Martin so overrated too. Oh well they will still make finals as they will get some key players back. Geelong are smashing it at present good luck to them.
Cat
Roar Guru
I agree, it isn't but there is no debate where it would be played.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I saw a crumpled heap on the side of platform 9 at Richmond Station with a few empty Aldi liquor bottles around Col. No surprise it was the Frankston line.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Have you found BillyBob yet?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Blues by a point Col? Kick start your 2020?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Yeah because that was 68 points difference for sure. The umpires.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
It is not fair in any way. Cats earn home final and it would be playing Pies on our home ground.
Cat
Roar Guru
There is no doubting where it would be played. The debate is whether is should be or whether it is fair.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Well, the Tigers won't be finishing 4th if that makes it any easier for the Elephant.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
They will be on a 10 game winning streak and need to beat the Cats to make finals.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
no elelephant, no doubt, at the Gee. Good practice anyway.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Can’t see GWS or WCE beating Geelong at the Gee. In finals or not.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
New coach, half a season, might turn it around.
Grand-Dag
Guest
You don't get a free kick for tackling somebody. You get a free awarded against your opponent for holding the ball or incorrect disposal. Most tackles do not result in free kicks - and neither should they
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
They have a tough game round 23 Pete.
marine boy
Guest
Elephant in the room. What happens if Cats are minor premiers and Pies or Tigers finish 4th. Where will that final be played?
Cat
Roar Guru
I’ll give you credit for the first quarter but the last was full cue in the rack stuff. Did you notice Harry Taylor moves to ruck, Tom Hawkins to full back and Blicavs to CHF during the fourth?
Cat
Roar Guru
Here we go ... blaming the umpires. Mistakes made both ways. Overall not a badly umpired game
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
15.6 to 1.5 in two quarters is reminiscent of what the Cats did to Fremantle last year. Tigers % may make it tough for a top four run now but they would still be dangerous from the lower 8 with some players back.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Tom Lynch is overrated. There, I’ve said it.