AFL 2019 Round 2: Richmond v Collingwood, 7:20pm AEDT MCG

[Gralin]

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Where and when: MCG, Thursday March 28, 7.20pm AEDT

Melbourne Forecast

Mostly clear. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the late evening

Last time they met: MCG, preliminary final, 2018: Richmond 8.10 (58) lost to Collingwood 15.7 (97)
The Collingwood train left a shell-shocked Richmond in its wake, with Mason Cox dominating up forward in a second-term burst that resulted in a 53-point lead. Richmond rallied on the back of Jack Riewoldt's five goals, but it was too little, too late.

What it means for Richmond: Redemption. The Tigers were wounded after the Magpies overran them in the preliminary final. The two sides match up well, with Collingwood regularly causing Richmond trouble over the past few years.

What it means for Collingwood: The Magpies are under the pump after a sluggish seven-point loss to Geelong in round one. A big win over last year's minor premiers would be a strong statement.

How Richmond wins: Geelong's new-look speedy forward line poked holes in Collingwood's defence, and Richmond has the personnel to do the same. Big forwards Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt need to bring their smaller teammates into the game.

How Collingwood wins: Exploit Richmond's ruck division. Collingwood has the best midfield in the competition and will greatly benefit from Brodie Grundy going head-to-head with Toby Nankervis and, possibly, Lynch.

The stat: Richmond star defender Alex Rance has missed two games since round nine, 2014. He is now expected to be sidelined for the year after tearing his right ACL last week.

The match-up: Jordan De Goey v Dylan Grimes
Grimes (ranked 210th overall in the Schick AFL Player Ratings) will be hurting after De Goey (90th) kicked four last time they met. With De Goey capable of turning a match on its head, Grimes is set for a big task once again.

It's a big week for: Nick Vlastuin
It will be the first time we will have a look at life at Richmond without defensive general Rance. David Astbury's role taking the No.1 forward (Mason Cox) isn't expected to change, but Vlastuin may be forced to take greater responsibility.

A lot of responsibility will fall on Nick Vlastuin's shoulders in Alex Rance's absence. Picture: AFL Photos

Big call: After a quieter game by his lofty standards (23 disposals), expect Dayne Beams to dominate out of the middle in his second match back in the black and white and even kick two goals.

Prediction: Magpies by seven points

Source: AFL Website

 

[kaiserchief13]

50 50 game. Important game for Collingwood

 

[gavaniacono]

Tiges have been vulnerable in their last 7 or 8 games going back to end of 2018. They take quarters off. Their game style is no longer a surprise. No variety if things go awry, susceptible to surprise tactics and dont adapt well on game day. Pies by 81 points, revenge for the 80 GF!

 

[Cold Sober]

Right now I can't select a winner. Close game. I shall go have a dozen beers and come back with a more definitive answer. I did however just have $200 on De Goey for the first goal, with a saver on Higgins and Butler. Expect a big game from Markov. This kid moves like a young Cold Sober. Agile type, plenty of dash!

 

[juss]

Heart hopes Richmond.
Head is tipping Pies by 16.

 

[gavaniacono]

This kid moves like a young Cold Sober.

Nice. I hope he doesnt drink a truckload before the game but.

 

[Xtreme]

Can see a positive for both teams winning and losing

Hoping for no acts of violence in the crowd pre, during or post match

Tipping a draw

 

[boltsbabyblues]

surprised to see Collingwood as favourites, Richmond easily for me

 

[Cotchins Hair Piece]

Match of the round. Capacity should be upwards of 90k too.

Anyone know the attendance prediction?

Upwards of 90k is what I’ve heard.

 

[captain blood 17]

Gotta say, if the way we are going about it in the reserves is an indication of how Richmond will play tonight, Pies are in for a tough one. Pressure has been off the charts.


Sent from my iPad using righteous Bhodi manpower

 

[Bazza97]

Hard game to tip, but I'll say Pies by 2-3 goals.

 

[projectv]

This has the build up of a grand final replay.

Really looking forward to this one.

I reckon Rance out will hurt. Pies by a few goals.

 

[funk44]

Richmond's mental weakness will be on full display tonight

Pies by 34

 

[kozi]

In recent times it’s rare the Tigers go into a game as underdogs.

When it does happens I like it.

 

[Smartest Brain]

Collingwood to destroy richmond. 10 - 50 pts depending upon accuracy .

Richmond looked really fragile last week and now are missing their best player in Rance.

 

[telsor]

Collingwood to destroy richmond. 10 - 50 pts depending upon accuracy .

Richmond looked really fragile last week and now are missing their best player in Rance.

10 pts is a 'destruction'? wow (even 50 points isn't really).

 

[Smartest Brain]

10 pts is a 'destruction'? wow (even 50 points isn't really).

You can destroy a team everywhere but the scoreboard. Are you new to AFL?

 

[telsor]

Tight game, could go either way. I want to say Richmond, but given our strengths in this matchup would normally be our forward and back lines, and both will be compromised due to restructuring (fitting Lynch in up forward, and losing Rance down back), I'd say Collingwood would have to be the favorites.

To repeat what I said in the other thread (and also when we played Adelaide last year), I don't consider games in the following year to be 'redemption' (or 'revenge', or whatever) from the previous year. Too many changes to both teams to really compare, and at the end of the day, it's not like anything from last year changes as a result of this. New season, start from scratch. Tabula rasa.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

I think Houli is about the last guy you'd want to lose after the injury to Rance.

Still can't predict this game though.

I look forward to watching the game, but geez it's overhyped in terms if significance to the competition.

Fair enough it's a great spectacle between two big clubs.The reality is these two clubs dont own the 2019 GF though, far from it.

 

[telsor]

You can destroy a team everywhere but the scoreboard. Are you new to AFL?

You're really not the 'smartest brain', are you?

 

[telsor]

I think Houli is about the last guy you'd want to lose after the injury to Rance.

Still can't predict this game though.

I look forward to watching the game, but geez it's overhyped in terms if significance to the competition.

Fair enough it's a great spectacle between two big clubs.The reality is these two clubs dont own the 2019 GF though, far from it.

2 team from the preseason 'short list' of expected grand finalists is always pretty big, even without the hstory and size of the club fan bases to add to it.

 

[telsor]

Upwards of 90k is what I’ve heard.

If it was Friday night, sure, but a lot has to go right to get those numbers (filling the MCC & AFL reserves particularly) so on a Thursday night I think it'll drop below that. Mid 80s

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

2 team from the preseason 'short list' of expected grand finalists is always pretty big, even without the hstory and size of the club fan bases to add to it.

It's not insignificant, although pre-season shortlists are arguably less relevant recently. It's how the size if the clubs gets conflated with the games importance that annoys me.

Anyway enjoy the game and good luck.

 

[TigerTime_89]

Match of the round. Capacity should be upwards of 90k too.

Anyone know the attendance prediction?

MCG is only predicting 75K.

 

[HBF]

Collingwood for me.
Just think the loss of Rance and now Houli will be enough to tip the contest Collingwoods way.