AFL Round 18: St Kilda v Richmond Friday 7:50pm AEST @ES

[Gralin]

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SUMMARY
This Richmond side isn't accustomed to losing and after a tight contest with Greater Western Sydney last week, it will be confident about beating St Kilda. That's fair, considering the Saints' struggles this season, but they have looked better in recent weeks. Jack Steven is in impressive form, Seb Ross will return from gastro while Jade Gresham will be hoping to repeat his feats from last time he faced the Tigers, when he bagged six goals. Richmond is a proud team though and its ultra-impressive backline will be determined to ensure that Gresham doesn’t get loose again. The midfield battle should give Damien Hardwick's outfit an edge. Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and Shane Edwards headline the onball division, with plenty of other reinforcements running through there. Meanwhile, St Kilda big man Tom Hickey will face a tough challenge when he comes up against Toby Nankervis. The Saints have chopped and changed their ruckmen this year, so Hickey will want to make the spot his own.

WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday, July 20, 7.50PM AEST

LAST FIVE TIMES
R10, 2018, Richmond 15.15 (105) d St Kilda 12.5 (77) at the MCG
R23, 2017, Richmond 19.8 (122) d St Kilda 12.9 (81) at the MCG
R16, 2017, St Kilda 21.12 (138) d Richmond 10.11 (71) at Etihad Stadium
R22, 2016, St Kilda 7.13 (55) d Richmond 6.10 (46) at the MCG
R16, 2015, Richmond 13.11 (89) d St Kilda 10.13 (73) at Etihad Stadium

THE SIX POINTS
1. The Saints led by 12 points midway through the third term earlier this season before Richmond kicked nine of the last 13 goals. Josh Caddy booted six for the Tigers.

2. St Kilda is ranked third for disposals per game with 389.4. In contrast, Richmond is ranked 14th, averaging 367.9.

3. The Tigers have dominated St Kilda recently, winning eight of the past 10 contests. That came after the Saints had 10 wins from 11 games in 2005-11.

4. Richmond is one of the best defensive teams this season, conceding only 71 points per match, and have given up 100 in a game only twice. St Kilda has given up 94 points per match.

5. Richmond hasn't lost consecutive games since rounds eight and nine last season, while St Kilda will be looking for successive wins for just the second time this year.

6. Shane Edwards has been a big riser for the Tigers in the Schick AFL Player Ratings, going up from No.57 at the start of the season to No.27 ahead of the clash with the Saints.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR… Jack Steele.
He's been playing the run-with role in recent weeks and an assignment on Dustin Martin could be coming his way.

PREDICTION: Richmond by 37 points.
http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2018/18/stk-v-rich

 

[mick500]

Finally. The match we have all been waiting for.. Match of the round. Match of the year potentially.

But seriously, Richmond by 110. Goals.

 

[tigertigertiger]

Membrey kicks 10 goals, Richmond win by 10 goals

Drioli makes bruce climax

 

[mick500]

Drioli makes bruce climax

Love ya work Bruce.

 

[Power Raid]

richmond by plenty but the saints' best is good enough for an upset

good luck to both sides

 

[noicccegaryyyyy]

yeah narrr, i reckon the saint are gonna be in a bit of a pickle

 

[noicccegaryyyyy]

yeah narrr, i reckon the saint are gonna be in a bit of a pickle

yeah i would agree with this guy, hes probably right

 

[gavaniacono]

Finally. The match we have all been waiting for.. Match of the round. Match of the year potentially.

But seriously, Richmond by 110. Goals.

That's a pretty hefty mozz youve placed on the tiges.

 

[Unique Name]

Saints have turned it around in these last few rounds. Thrashed Carlton and probably would have beaten Port if they kicked straight in the opening qtr. Richmond will probably still win but it shouldn't be a huge margin.

Tigers by 21pts.

 

[Magpie Monopoly]

In any normal circumstance you'd go Richmond by 10 goals, but Etihad.

St Kilda by 28.

 

[smasha]

In any normal circumstance you'd go Richmond by 10 goals, but Etihad.

St Kilda by 28.

#

With the Collingwood supportin’ umpires,who knows.

Richmond by 10 Razor Ray yells at Richmond players.

 

[smasha]

#

#

 

[Coaster2012]

I'm calling the upset of the year. You heard it here first. Tigers officially to become the home/away form bogey team.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Richmond will win but the line is ridiculous. Saints have had a great month.

 

[AFLOnline]

Who goes to Gresham?
He's kicked 13 goals in his last 3 games against the Tigers and 11 in the last 2.

Probably giving Tigers fans recurring nightmares of Stephen Milne terrorizing them for more than a decade.

 

[Sterge]

Saints have turned it around in these last few rounds. Thrashed Carlton and probably would have beaten Port if they kicked straight in the opening qtr. Richmond will probably still win but it shouldn't be a huge margin.

Tigers by 21pts.

Richmond will win but the line is ridiculous. Saints have had a great month.

Have they though, they beat up on Carlton and Gold coast who are both terrible and just piped Melbourne who are overrated West Coast Sydney and Port all comfortably accounted for them.

Etihad will make it closer but the inclusion of Broad to strengthen our back 6 should hopefully stop any repeats of last year

 

[Xtreme]

Finally. The match we have all been waiting for.. Match of the round. Match of the year potentially.

But seriously, Richmond by 110. Goals.

Friday night is missing the usual Carlton appearance

Richmond should win by St Kilda could shock the world (or just Bruce and Roaming Brian) and score an upset win.

 

[mr bagcroft]

Even I'm not interested in this game, but Ill probably watch it anyway. What a campaigner of a year.
Bunch of hacks.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Have they though, they beat up on Carlton and Gold coast who are both terrible and just piped Melbourne who are overrated West Coast Sydney and Port all comfortably accounted for them.

Etihad will make it closer but the inclusion of Broad to strengthen our back 6 should hopefully stop any repeats of last year

Our game against West Coast was highly competitive for most of the night and we also around that time led you guys by 2 goals half way through the 3rd, at the MCG, and in those two games we were playing extremely young/inexperienced teams that were miles off full strength, so all things considered they were excellent efforts.

The Sydney game was a shocker, but that was also basically just the one diabolical quarter.

We've been a bit closer to full strength since then though and that has helped our improved performances to be reflected with wins. Last week could have been 100 points or more had we not hit the post 5 times and missed so many other very gettable shots, and that was despite missing as many as 10 through injury who would have played that game, if available and in form.

We're still a long way from full strength (probably missing about 7 who would be best 22 tonight, so a 3rd of a team), so to win 3 of 4 against anyone (including 2 away) is good going under those circumstances, I would have thought.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Friday night massacre.

 

[projectv]

We might just sneak this one.

 

[HTT]

Certainly expect to win, but St Kilda have been mostly competitive for the last couple of months so I don’t expect anything like a demolition.

 

[gavaniacono]

Our game against West Coast was highly competitive for most of the night and we also around that time led you guys by 2 goals half way through the 3rd, at the MCG, and in those two games we were playing extremely young/inexperienced teams that were miles off full strength, so all things considered they were excellent efforts.

The Sydney game was a shocker, but that was also basically just the one diabolical quarter.

We've been a bit closer to full strength since then though and that has helped our improved performances to be reflected with wins. Last week could have been 100 points or more had we not hit the post 5 times and missed so many other very gettable shots, and that was despite missing as many as 10 through injury who would have played that game, if available and in form.

We're still a long way from full strength (probably missing about 7 who would be best 22 tonight, so a 3rd of a team), so to win 3 of 4 against anyone (including 2 away) is good going under those circumstances, I would have thought.

Tonights game will be close with tiges not great at etihad, 1 less day prep, and saints having a real crack last couple if weeks and looking pretty good.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Tonights game will be close with tiges not great at etihad, 1 less day prep, and saints having a real crack last couple if weeks and looking pretty good.

Yeah I'd be surprised if this is a blowout, unless we either don't show up, or as we've done so many times in the last two years, start really competitively, but kick a whole lot of points, while the other side kicks goals, and then eventually drop our heads and effort, as a result of getting so little return from our effort.

We've generally been playing much better footy of late despite being so far off full strength, so I'm looking forward to seeing how we go against the best again tonight.

 

[Royce Hafey]

I'm hoping the boys are stung from last week (not to mention last year's first game against this mob) to put in a decent effort. When Jack manages not to be concussed, he usually puts in a good effort against the Saints, and it's Maddy's match after all. I'm worried that we've gone in with one less small forward than normal, not replacing Bolton with Stengle as expected. Also worried that, still missing the defensive midfield input of Graham and Conca, the Saints midfield might have a field day, which is dangerous on such a small ground.