Tigerland
Cancelled
Match Preview: Brisbane Lions v Richmond
9:18:06 PM Tue 17 May, 2005
Paul Gough
Exclusive to afl.com.au
BRISBANE LIONS V RICHMOND
WHERE & WHEN: Gabba, 7.10pm, Saturday (AEST). Television coverage: Fox Footy Channel -- Melbourne (7pm), Adelaide (6.30pm), Perth (5pm), Sydney (7pm).
Channel 10 -- Brisbane (7.30pm). Radio coverage: 3AW, NIRS, MMM, afl.com.au
HEAD TO HEAD: Brisbane Lions 15, Richmond 13.
LAST TIME: Brisbane Lions 17.12 (114) d Richmond 14.12 (96) at the Gabba, round 14, 2005.
THE MEDICAL ROOM: The Lions suffered a devastating blow following the win over Adelaide with news that star onballer Luke Power will miss several weeks with a broken hand at a time when the four time grand finalists badly need all their stars up and firing. The Lions are also still without Jared Brennan (quad) and Darryl White (ribs) while Richard Hadley is out for the season following knee surgery. But on a positive note key forward Daniel Bradshaw and number one ruckman Clark Keating are likely to return from a back-related hamstring problem and concussion respectively. The Tigers could regain Chris Hyde, who has missed the past two matches with severe concussion, while big forward Greg Stafford is also likely to return after missing last week's win over Collingwood with a minor foot strain.
THE STORY SO FAR: The Tigers are flying - sitting in third place with six wins from eight matches and with big wins over reigning premiers Port Adelaide and arch-rivals Carlton and Collingwood in the past fortnight. The arrival of Terry Wallace as coach has transformed Punt Road and the biggest difference he has made has been to the Tigers' attack with the club having kicked the fourth most number of points so far this year after being the competition's second lowest scorers in 2004. The Lions are just a game outside the top eight but the four time grand finalists have been one of the most inconsistent sides in the competition this year. In the past month alone they have firstly lost to West Coast at home by 12 goals, followed by a mauling of Essendon in Melbourne, then a shock home loss to the Bulldogs before last week's gallant win in Adelaide.
THE WHITEBOARD: The Tigers, like so many teams in recent years, have had trouble coping with the Lions' midfield but finally they might be able to match the triple premiers in that area this time around. The loss of the brilliant Power is a huge blow for the Lions and comes at a time when the Tigers' midfield is really on the improve with Mark Coughlan right back to his 2003 best and fairest form after missing most of last season with groin problems while the improvement of Shane Tuck and the inclusion of number one draft pick Brett Deledio has also bolstered the Tigers' on-ball division this year.
THE VERDICT: The Tigers have been sensational so far in 2005 but those still not yet convinced by the improvement of Terry Wallace's side believe this match could be the start of a Richmond slide. After all, the Tigers' fade-outs of the past three years have all begun in round nine with the club only having won four of 42 matches after round eight in the past three seasons. And their record interstate has been woeful with the Tigers having lost their last four matches at the Gabba - where they have not won since 2000 - as well six of their past eight in Sydney, their past nine in Adelaide and their past four in Perth. But under Wallace the Tigers' appear to be made of much sterner stuff and there is little doubt their overall team structure, particularly in attack where Nathan Brown and Matthew Richardson are lying in second and third place in the race for the Coleman Medal, is much stronger now than it was during the Danny Frawley era. And the Lions are nowhere near the force they once were and have lost their past three games at the Gabba. So while the temptation is there to tip against the Tigers based solely on their past history both interstate and beyond round eight, just maybe Richmond can go a long way towards proving they are the real deal in 2005 by winning on their first road trip for season 2005. Richmond by 11 points.
9:18:06 PM Tue 17 May, 2005
Paul Gough
Exclusive to afl.com.au
BRISBANE LIONS V RICHMOND
WHERE & WHEN: Gabba, 7.10pm, Saturday (AEST). Television coverage: Fox Footy Channel -- Melbourne (7pm), Adelaide (6.30pm), Perth (5pm), Sydney (7pm).
Channel 10 -- Brisbane (7.30pm). Radio coverage: 3AW, NIRS, MMM, afl.com.au
HEAD TO HEAD: Brisbane Lions 15, Richmond 13.
LAST TIME: Brisbane Lions 17.12 (114) d Richmond 14.12 (96) at the Gabba, round 14, 2005.
THE MEDICAL ROOM: The Lions suffered a devastating blow following the win over Adelaide with news that star onballer Luke Power will miss several weeks with a broken hand at a time when the four time grand finalists badly need all their stars up and firing. The Lions are also still without Jared Brennan (quad) and Darryl White (ribs) while Richard Hadley is out for the season following knee surgery. But on a positive note key forward Daniel Bradshaw and number one ruckman Clark Keating are likely to return from a back-related hamstring problem and concussion respectively. The Tigers could regain Chris Hyde, who has missed the past two matches with severe concussion, while big forward Greg Stafford is also likely to return after missing last week's win over Collingwood with a minor foot strain.
THE STORY SO FAR: The Tigers are flying - sitting in third place with six wins from eight matches and with big wins over reigning premiers Port Adelaide and arch-rivals Carlton and Collingwood in the past fortnight. The arrival of Terry Wallace as coach has transformed Punt Road and the biggest difference he has made has been to the Tigers' attack with the club having kicked the fourth most number of points so far this year after being the competition's second lowest scorers in 2004. The Lions are just a game outside the top eight but the four time grand finalists have been one of the most inconsistent sides in the competition this year. In the past month alone they have firstly lost to West Coast at home by 12 goals, followed by a mauling of Essendon in Melbourne, then a shock home loss to the Bulldogs before last week's gallant win in Adelaide.
THE WHITEBOARD: The Tigers, like so many teams in recent years, have had trouble coping with the Lions' midfield but finally they might be able to match the triple premiers in that area this time around. The loss of the brilliant Power is a huge blow for the Lions and comes at a time when the Tigers' midfield is really on the improve with Mark Coughlan right back to his 2003 best and fairest form after missing most of last season with groin problems while the improvement of Shane Tuck and the inclusion of number one draft pick Brett Deledio has also bolstered the Tigers' on-ball division this year.
THE VERDICT: The Tigers have been sensational so far in 2005 but those still not yet convinced by the improvement of Terry Wallace's side believe this match could be the start of a Richmond slide. After all, the Tigers' fade-outs of the past three years have all begun in round nine with the club only having won four of 42 matches after round eight in the past three seasons. And their record interstate has been woeful with the Tigers having lost their last four matches at the Gabba - where they have not won since 2000 - as well six of their past eight in Sydney, their past nine in Adelaide and their past four in Perth. But under Wallace the Tigers' appear to be made of much sterner stuff and there is little doubt their overall team structure, particularly in attack where Nathan Brown and Matthew Richardson are lying in second and third place in the race for the Coleman Medal, is much stronger now than it was during the Danny Frawley era. And the Lions are nowhere near the force they once were and have lost their past three games at the Gabba. So while the temptation is there to tip against the Tigers based solely on their past history both interstate and beyond round eight, just maybe Richmond can go a long way towards proving they are the real deal in 2005 by winning on their first road trip for season 2005. Richmond by 11 points.
