BIB Match Preview: Richmond Vs Carlton

[BlueDW]

"The uglier it is, the better for us"

You were referring to the possible Judd/Jacko match up but I have been thinking that this would be better for us as a theme for the whole game!

Now I don't mean any crap over use of zones or an ultra defensive flood (there you go parrot!) but I would love to see a tough, hard man on man battle with our guys taking every opportunity to create a contest for the footy.

Sure Judd will be the best clearance player on the park on Thursday night but IMO, we would have the next best 2 or 3. (Or 4 or 5)

If we get sucked in to an end-to-end, fast-break style of game played at manic pace I am not confident that The Tigers won't end up just chasing bums around for most of the night.

The Blues have good pace and skills and with Judd & Fev as their 2 elite's, a frenzy of fast paced footy may well play into their hands.

I seriously don't mind it when The Tigers go one-on-one, we have a good record creating chances from stopages and I wouldn't mind seeing us beat them up that way... (more chances to bust a few heads as well!)

Not a bad summation I reckon. Richmond will try to beat the Blue Boys with their rolling zone. The problem for Richmond how I see it is they are still very suspect bringing the ball out of defence, in terms of turnovers. if the Tigers dont significantly improve on their game against the Pies in the Who Cares Cup, we will get them on the rebound.

In terms of clearance players on the park, I would back Judd, Murph, Gibbs and Hadley against your boys. Although I expect you to have the goods in the ruck.

I also think that Richmond need a good start, looking at depth in the Tigers midfield, it appears that we have them covered in that area, reckon the longer the match goes the easier it will be for our boys in the middle of the ground. Cousins in particular might struggle to see a game out, for no other reason than he has been out of the game for 18 months.

Blues by a couple of goals in a cracker.

 

[UpTheGuts]

3 votes - S Tuck

I am now very nervous.... would hate to get spanked.

I'm thinking we might get beat. Bloody close call

 

[hyperfuzz]

seemed like last season, both tigers vs blues results went against the favourites...

 

[hyperfuzz]

preview from the age...



RICHMOND V CARLTON
MCG, Thursday 26 March, 7.40pm

Head to head:
Carlton 115, Richmond 84, Draws 2

Head to head, last five games:
Carlton 2, Richmond 3

Recent history:
Rnd 14, 2008
Carlton 1.5 5.9 10.12 17.16. (118) d
Richmond 2.7 7.9 10.13 12.16 (88)
M.C.G. Crowd: 73503

Rnd 1, 2008
Carlton 4.3 9.6 10.10 11.13 (79)
Richmond 4.3 8.5 11.5 17.7 (109)
M.C.G. Crowd: 72552

Betting
TAB Sportsbet Carlton 1.62, Richmond 2.20
Centrebet Carlton 1.67 Richmond 2.20

Possible line-ups:

Richmond
Raines Thursfield Moore
McMahon McGuane Newman
Foley Cousins Richardson
N Brown Schulz Bowden
Morton Riewoldt Tambling
Simmonds Tuck Deledio
Jackson Graham Edwards White
Emerg: Polo Coughlan Thomson

Missing from best 22: Trent Cotchin

Carlton
Jamison Thornton Bower
Simpson Waite Walker
Hadley Gibbs Grigg
Robinson Fisher Houlihan
Cloke Fevola Betts
Kreuzer Murphy Judd
Garlett Scotland Johnson Jacobs
Emerg: Russell Wiggins Armfield

Missing from best 22: Nick Stevens, Robert Warnock, Andrew Carazzzo

Summary: These teams swapped wins last season, and appear closely matched again. The fitness cloud over Blues superstar spearhead Brendan Fevola tips the odds in favour of the Tigers. In the round one loss last year, he was off-key, kicked two goals, and Carlton lost. In round 14, he booted four, and the Blues prevailed. Both teams have strong midfields, and young, developing backlines, but Richmond has the edge in the ruck thanks to the mobile, big-bodied Troy Simmonds, and if Fevola is not at the top of its game, the Tigers defence, led by Moore and Thursfield, should be able to limit the Blues to a manageable total. Richmond's spread of potential goalkickers looks wider, with Brett Deledio a force when not scorching around the midfield, Nathan Brown back to full fitness and Morton and Riewoldt fast becoming potent targets. The absence of Stevens and Carazzo will take the edge off Carlton's blue chip midfield, and they could be playing as many as three first-gamers. In what should be a memorable start to the season, the Tigers could again prove good value first-up.

Key:
Brendan Fevola. Simply put, if he plays, fully fit, Carlton are favourites. If not, Richmond should win.

Tip:
Richmond by 18 points

 

[Blueinblood]

Pfft mine was so much better hahahah

 

[hyperfuzz]

Pfft mine was so much better hahahah

heheh... i think i like that one better, but i can't quite tell why...

 

[strategy]

Garlett is playing AFL this week

Yarran is playing VFL this week

 

[rfctigerarmy]

I hope we see Thomson play his first game in the Yellow and Black. Sort of bloke we need out there for a physical encounter like this one.

GO TIGERS!