NUFC Tiger
Brownlow Medallist
- Apr 25, 2011
- 18,678
- 16,987
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- NUFC, Socceroos, FGR, NewcastleJets
Oh and being the only undefeated member of the big 4 - how does 6 wins over Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon feel eh?
The moment you realise we are the undisputed kings of the big 4!
) is wrong...size matters!
To the half dozen or so north fans, don't be upset - technically every club is a minnow next to the Yellow and Black behemoth that is the Richmond Footy Club! umad rodstroker?
On closer inspection, it looks like someone has put too much Richmond one-eyed fanaticism in my coffee...please excuse me while I go find the lid. Last I saw it was floating somewhere in the stratosphere.
But I digress, the fact is Richmond WILL PLAY FINALS for the third successive year! Gee whiz! And to top it off, barring an absolute disaster of results panning out, the final is almost certainly to be a Melbourne affair. If that isn't reason to get excited, I don't know what is!
A Tiger fan finds out the club will play finals again.
This final round of games, and in particular, this match will shape up who we play in the first week of finals. High stakes stuff! Given what's on the line and the fact that most of the other fixtures are either dead rubbers or have clear favourites, this is looming as the match of the round. It's therefore fitting this one will be played on Friday night.
Past Encounters:
There is something about North that unsettles us. Maybe its we feel sorry for them? Maybe its the lack of crowds when we play them? Maybe its as simple as they just rise to the occasion when they play the greatest club in all the land?
Whatever the case, you need to go back to round 5 2011 to find our last win over them. That day, a young lad called Dustin Martin collected 33 disposals and kicked 4 goals to lead the young cubs to a pulsating 9 point win. Since then though, its been 5-0 to the Kangas (with a few blowouts along the way).
Given its a possibility we could play North twice (this week and in the finals again), Richmond will want to end this run of losses pretty quickly and banish some mental demons in the possible case a replay (with more on the line) occurs the following week!
Last time the teams met
In what was arguably our worst performance this season, the Tigers lost to Dad's Army down in Tassie in round 6. While the losing margin was only 35 points it was the manner of the defeat which left the most bitter taste in the mouths of tiger fans. An insipid third quarter collapse proving costly where North were able to kick clear kicking 7 goals to Richmond's 1 goal for the quarter.
On the day, 92 of North Melbourne's winning score of 109 were a direct result from Richmond turnovers.
Perhaps this result was the kick up the backside the team needed as the boys have since gone on to record 12 wins in the last 15. While our form and style of play was uncertain and shakey early on, it's largely been quite good since this dark day in Tasmania and so hopefully a different Richmond will appear on Friday to the one who's multiple mistakes were lethally punished by an efficient North team.
Recent form Tigers:
Last 5:
- Won away to Hawks 18 points.
- Lost away to Crows 36 points.
- Won home to GC 83 points.
- Won away to Pies 91 points.
- Won away to Bombers 27 points.
Richmond's form has been quite good of late, with 12 wins from 15 since the North game down in Tasmania. Those 3 losses being against top 2 side West Coast (who caught us coming off the bye), a last minute loss to Freo (where the boys had more than enough chances to comfortably put away the minor premiers) and a comprehensive defeat away to Adelaide (who were perhaps unlucky not to win by more).
In the last 5, Richmond has perhaps answered some critics by showing that with the right combination of forward players, they are capable of kicking big scores while maintaining a resolute and stubborn defence. Big wins over Gold Coast and Collingwood in particular have been pleasing with others stepping up and showcasing their value to the side. With Riewoldt kicking a modest 4 goals in his last 3 games, it has been Dean Cox's favourite sparring partner Tyrone Vickery leading the charge with an impressive 12 goals and (0 behinds) from his last 3. Other valuable lesser light contributors in the front half have been Lennon, Lambert and Lloyd who have all put their hands up as capable options for goals.
Richmond was able to see off the aptly named bummers in their most recent match in wet and miserable conditions and without the captain Cotchin. The win made it 6 wins in 6 over the traditional big 4 rivals (whoop whoop).
Recent form North:
Last 5:
- Won away to Carlton 64 points
- Won away to Melbourne 35 points.
- Won home to St Kilda 37 points
- Won home to Freo 11 points.
- Lost home to Dogs 23 points.
North, despite their form, will probably be disappointed to have lost to fellow top 8 side the bulldogs by 23 points on the weekend past, ending their winning run. In a battle of the young and the old, it was the young of Footscray who took the honours. Leading for most of the first half and being within 5 points midway through the final quarter, North were well within their grasp of seizing victory, however only managed to fade and allow the young pups to skip out to a 23 point win.
Despite the loss, it may be a timely reminder for the North players on the eve of finals and may prove to be a valuable touch up - especially given finals footy was secured prior to this match taking place.
In a losing effort, North's better players were Tarrant and the AA contender Goldstein, while they had a nice spread of goal kickers from their older hands with Higgins, Petrie and Waite all bobbing up with 3 a piece.
Boomer and Waite celebrate a goal on the weekend.
Richmond team:
Following our scrappy 27 point win over Essendon on Saturday night, its likely the coaches will use this game as a dress rehearsal of sorts for finals. Expect training to have a finals' like intensity and the team chosen for Friday night's game to be our likely team for the finals. The coaches will want to try and have a settled team for the finals campaigns, and while clubs like Freo may have the benefit of fielding a B team this weekend, don't expect Richmond to flirt with their form resting a large chunk of their team.
Outs:
- The only likely change at this stage will be the inclusion of the skipper Cotchin with Matt Thomas almost certain to make way for him. Cotchin missed the Essendon game through a back injury but its perhaps also a way to freshen him up for the final phase of the season. Thomas has been in fine form for the VFL team this season and has performed admirably when called upon in the seniors so he might consider himself a bit unlucky to be dropped.
- A potential (though unlikely) out could be vice captain Deledio who was the recipient of a heavy sling tackle in the late stages of the Essendon game. Given his importance to the team as a player and a leader, you'd expect he'd put himself in the frame to play.
- In recent weeks, we've seen a few of the younger players be the sub so perhaps this trend will continue to help try and keep them fresh for the next few games. McIntosh, Lennon and Lloyd have donned the vest in recent weeks and so perhaps the coaches may rest a key player who is feeling fatigue or battling a niggling injury.
Possible ins:
- Cotchin will definitely return as confirmed by Dimma.
- Hampson could be deployed to help combat Goldstein - though given how ineffective this was against Jacobs' in the Adelaide game, this is unlikely to happen.
- Conca is nearing full fitness again and could be fit for selection after recovering from a hamstring injury. He will undergo a test. Could he be a handy option as sub?
- McBean has just finished joint winner in the VFL's goal kicking competition, finishing the season with 42 goals. Is it time to wipe (lol)norf clean with a heavy dosage of McBean?
NUFC Tiger’s changes:
Outs: Thomas (omitted).
Ins: Cotchin.
NUFC Tiger’s team:
FB Grimes, Chaplin, Vlastuin
HB Houli, Rance, Batchelor
C Ellis, Miles, McIntosh
HF Lennon, Riewoldt, Deledio
FF Lloyd, Vickery, Edwards
F Maric, Cotchin, Martin
I/C Grigg, Hunt, Lambert, Newman (sub)
North:
This is the North team who played on the weekend.
FB Atley, Tarrant, Firrito
HB Dal Santo, Thompson, Wright
C Macmillan, Ziebell, Jacobs
HF Higgins, Petrie, Garner
FF Nahas (LOL), Waite (LOL) Hansen (LOL WTF)
F Goldstein, Swallow, Cunnington (aka poor man's Dusty).
I/C Harvey, Bastinac, Brown, Gibson (sub)
For possible changes:
- Wells (who played in the VFL) is unlikely to get a recall injuring a calf on the weekend.
- Given North are coming off a loss, expect a few changes here.
Key players:
Richmond - Key 3.
Everyone's favourite mullet wearing cult hero Ivan Maric will be sure to have a battle this Friday when he comes up against Brownlow smokey Todd Goldstein. The big Kanga has been in fine form this season and established himself as arguably the premier ruckman in the competition. If Richmond want to win this game, then Ivan will will need to go with Goldstein and try to break even.
While some argued his AA selection last year wasn't justified, Rance is backing up his stellar 2014 form with a brilliant season yet again where he is starting to win acclaim as the best defender in the game. Historically, he's struggled against Petrie but in their last duel, Rance pantsed the campaigner and restricted him to 1 goal (not worth mentioning old man Petrie was impressive around the ground...for an old man). If Richmond wants to win, Rance will need to take the honours in this contest as Petrie has kicked a few bags over the years.
Deledio I feel could be a pivotal player. North looked a tad slow on the weekend and the young pups exposed their lack of speed. Given the pace Deledio possess, his ability to score goals and create run, expect the VC to be a major feature in any Tiger win on Friday.
North - Key 3.
Todd Goldstein is likely to pose the biggest (literally and metaphorically speaking) challenge for Richmond on Friday night. Goldstein leads the comp for hitouts and ranks 6th for score involvements. Nullifying him is the key to victory, and for North, a large chunk of their chances to win this rest on his shoulders.
Ben Cunnington, the Dustin Martin lite if you will, ranks 5th for contested possessions in the league. His impressive form will mean the likes of Cotchin and Miles have a battle at the coalface to give their respective teams possession and control in the middle.
Another Kangaroo having a fine season is Ben Jacobs who has arguably become the best tagger in the business in 2015. With scalps including Rockliff, Heppell, Jones and Shiel to name a few. Expect him to go to one of our prime midfielders - Cotchin, Martin or Deledio, and expect him to make it a tough day at the office for whoever cops his attention.
How Richmond can win:
As simple as it sounds, if Richmond can win the midfield battle and quell the influence of Goldstein, they will have 1 foot in the door on the way to victory. If the team can play to their normal output, following the structures set by Dimma and the coaches, I'd be reasonably confident in their chances of getting a win. If the likes of Vickery, Lennon, Lambert and Lloyd can keep kicking 2-3 goals a piece, it will go a long way to getting the win.
If there is one lesson they can take from the first encounter this season - don't turn the ball over so frequently!
The concern for Richmond is we don't typically play our best at Etihad and North, coming off a loss, will want to bounce back and prove a point. Expect a fired up North outfit on Friday night.
How North can win:
If Goldstein can give his midfield silver service and North capitalise on that possession by providing Petrie and co plenty of supply, expect our defence to struggle with the onslaught. Richmond's defence has shown it is capable of soaking up sustain pressure at times but with a final's like atmosphere, against a bogey side on the big stage of Friday night AND not to mention on a ground we are not proficient at playing on, it might only take a few things to go against us to open the floodgates.
North need to come out red hot and put Richmond on the ropes early by gaining control of the contest. That will allow them to play the game on their terms and force Richmond to take more risks to try and find space on the tigher Etihad surface. This could subsequently cause turnovers which North have previously demonstrated, they are more than capable of punishing.
Final verdict:
Richmond will break a run of 5 losses to the VFL-ers from Arden Street. Vickery will continue his resurgence as Wayne Carey x 10 and kick a bag of 8 in a dominant display. Dustin Martin will don't argue Firrito through the roof and Nahas (if he plays) will justify his distinct lack of footballing ability by amassing a record 35 clangers in 1 quarter.
Brad Scott will spew salty tears of frustration on Friday night.
For any concerned North fans reading this, don't be hating. Only 2 north fans were hurt in the making of this preview.
Carn the tigesssss!!!
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