This is what the afl think of the match
Match Preview: Richmond v Adelaide
Tuesday 20 April 2004
Matt Burgan
Sportal/exclusive to afl.com.au
MATCH: Richmond v Adelaide
WHEN & WHERE: Friday, 7.45pm, Telstra Dome
COVERAGE: Channel 9 (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney & Brisbane)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 18, Richmond 7, Adelaide 11.
LAST TIME: Adelaide 10.12 (72) d Richmond 6.8 (44), round 14, 2003, at AAMI Stadium. The Crows extended the Tigers’ losing streak to six after prevailing in a scrappy, low-scoring affair. Adelaide held a slender 11-point lead at the last change, but goals to Wayne Carey and Mark Ricciuto in the first six minutes of the final term effectively sealed the game for the Crows. Mark Ricciuto’s fine season continued as he racked up 29 touches in a best-on-ground performance.
WORRIES: After an impressive 40-point victory over Collingwood in the opening round of the home-and-away season, Richmond has lost its past three matches by an average of 51 points. Although there is still a long to go in the marathon, the Tigers will have to act quickly to get back on track in 2004 as the signs are already ominous for another long season. Richmond’s structure will again suffer without key tall-timber duo Matthew Richardson (hamstring) and Greg Stafford (suspension). Adelaide also has its own worries, having yet to chalk up a win thus far in the home-and-away season. After copping a 75-point shellacking first-up by the Kangaroos, the Crows have lost their past three games by an average of 15 points. The past two matches were missed opportunities for the Crows as both games were winnable.
THE WHITEBOARD: The midfield battle will be crucial. Starting in the ruck, Richmond’s Brad Ottens and new teammate – and former Crow – Ben Marsh will be pitted against Adelaide’s Matthew Clarke and mature-age recruit Ben Hudson. But the ball-winning ability of the Tigers’ Nathan Brown, Wayne Campbell and Mark Coughlan up against the Crows’ Ricciuto, Andrew McLeod and Brett Burton will no doubt decide the outcome of the game.
AND THE WINNER IS…..Adelaide: With just one win between the two teams, the match looms as a vital fixture for both clubs. Richmond looked the goods in round one, but has since been hammered in its following three outings, while the winless Adelaide has succumbed to quality opposition – Fremantle and St Kilda – in the past two weeks. Both teams will be desperate for the four points, but with the Crows in slightly better form in the past two weeks, the pride of South Australia looks to have the edge. Adelaide also has a superior record over Richmond – having not lost to the Tigers since round nine, 1999 – and should continue that trend, despite the fact the match will be played across the border. Adelaide by 36 points