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AFL 2025 Round 4 Preview: Richmond Tigers vs Brisbane Lions
Premiers versus the Wooden Spoon
Last years premiers playing against the worst team in the competition last year is generally a game that a lot neutrals would be looking forward to. It’s the sort of game either the strong team makes a statement and looks to build a lot of % or where they operate in second gear for most of the match and just put the foot down enough to make sure of the win. Im really hoping for the first option this time round. The last time we had a big win at the MCG was such a fun time I’d love to repeat it a little.
Head to Head: Recent history
For way too long a time Richmond had the absolute wood over us. From 2010 to 2020 they won 15 straight games against us. That is actually third on their all time streaks against any team. One of those game in 2018 where we lost 110-17, was one of the worst games (and crowd experiences) Ive ever had. Seriously don’t sit next to the Richmond cheersquad, they suck.
Luckily we have turned that around just a little over the last couple of years. After a thriller 2 point win in the first week of finals in 2022, the winning margin has just grown and grown (long may it continue).
Richmond this year
Honestly to start the year I thought they would struggle to win a game (only for Carlton to serve up one of the funnier highlights of Round 1). They were a bad team last year who saw the writing on the wall for their rebuild (and the coming extra compromised Tassie drafts) and traded out their few bright lights for honestly way too high a price. They scored massively at the draft and if they stick with the plan will be down the bottom for a few years before they climb again on the back of Lalor, Smillie, Trainor and co.
The last few weeks against Port and St Kilda have probably shown what will mostly happen this year. A reasonably competitive game for the first half until the kids get tired and then teams will run all over them. They still have a few solid veterans trying to hold things together but it drops away fast after that.
The Richmon backline is solid. Broad, Vlaustin and Short have been good players for a long time and Trainer shows some real talent. The starting midfield is actually good (no matter how Kane rates Taranto). Nank, Taranto, Hopper will actually compete well at the contest, but it drops away once the ball moves away from them. And up forward its Lynch and youthful enthusiasm. He will be a big dickhead and you cant give the kids too much room, but I have full confidence our backline will have no issues with them.
Tactically its hard to know what will happen. From what I can see Yze is using the season as a teaching experience. He has started games with McIntosh doing surprisingly well as a tagger, but has also pulled the tag at half time and let Macrae run around racking up a thousand touches. Otherwise he seems to be moving the magnets a bit and seeing what works where. The kids obviously will struggle against any team that takes them seriously.
Changes
The obvious change is Lohman out. After playing well in his first game Will “Shagga” McLachlan was tough to be dropped and should be a straight in for me.
Oscar was out ill and will be straight back in for someone. Fort was good in the ruck, while Day was probably less impressive but did exactly the job that was asked in the wet. I’d probably prefer to stick with Day for another couple of games to see how he clicks with the team – but I don’t want him to be Gunston 2.0. Definitely a watch and see
Starc is another tricky decision. He’s a straight in if fit. Answerth has done a good job, Fletcher has been fantastic in a new role and no one else deserves to be dropped. Options would be to put Fletcher back to the wing (actually think we have missed his run there) and drop Levi to sub. Or drop Answerth (which seems rough). Reville is a great impact player but I don’t see him staying in the team if Stac is fit.
Otherwise no other unforced changes please.
Prediction
Lets be blunt. We need a big win with a full four quarter performance sooner than later and we need to actually turn up for a first quarter. Carlton showed what can happen if they don’t take the kids seriously and I hope Fagan rams that message home hard this week. We need to give a lot of chances to test out our forward line connection and this is the week to do it.
We should be pushing hard for at least a 10 goal win.
Also I still miss Joe
Premiers versus the Wooden Spoon
Last years premiers playing against the worst team in the competition last year is generally a game that a lot neutrals would be looking forward to. It’s the sort of game either the strong team makes a statement and looks to build a lot of % or where they operate in second gear for most of the match and just put the foot down enough to make sure of the win. Im really hoping for the first option this time round. The last time we had a big win at the MCG was such a fun time I’d love to repeat it a little.
Head to Head: Recent history
For way too long a time Richmond had the absolute wood over us. From 2010 to 2020 they won 15 straight games against us. That is actually third on their all time streaks against any team. One of those game in 2018 where we lost 110-17, was one of the worst games (and crowd experiences) Ive ever had. Seriously don’t sit next to the Richmond cheersquad, they suck.
Luckily we have turned that around just a little over the last couple of years. After a thriller 2 point win in the first week of finals in 2022, the winning margin has just grown and grown (long may it continue).
| Year | Round | Winner | Score | Venue |
| 2024 | 10 | Brisbane | 26.7 (163) – 6.8 (44) | GABBA |
| 2023 | 16 | Brisbane | 20.14 (134) – 7.11 (53) | GABBA |
| 2022 | EF | Brisbane | 16.10 (106) – 16.8 (104) | GABBA |
| 2022 | 20 | Richmond | 15.14 (104) – 14.13 (97) | MCG |
Richmond this year
Honestly to start the year I thought they would struggle to win a game (only for Carlton to serve up one of the funnier highlights of Round 1). They were a bad team last year who saw the writing on the wall for their rebuild (and the coming extra compromised Tassie drafts) and traded out their few bright lights for honestly way too high a price. They scored massively at the draft and if they stick with the plan will be down the bottom for a few years before they climb again on the back of Lalor, Smillie, Trainor and co.
The last few weeks against Port and St Kilda have probably shown what will mostly happen this year. A reasonably competitive game for the first half until the kids get tired and then teams will run all over them. They still have a few solid veterans trying to hold things together but it drops away fast after that.
The Richmon backline is solid. Broad, Vlaustin and Short have been good players for a long time and Trainer shows some real talent. The starting midfield is actually good (no matter how Kane rates Taranto). Nank, Taranto, Hopper will actually compete well at the contest, but it drops away once the ball moves away from them. And up forward its Lynch and youthful enthusiasm. He will be a big dickhead and you cant give the kids too much room, but I have full confidence our backline will have no issues with them.
Tactically its hard to know what will happen. From what I can see Yze is using the season as a teaching experience. He has started games with McIntosh doing surprisingly well as a tagger, but has also pulled the tag at half time and let Macrae run around racking up a thousand touches. Otherwise he seems to be moving the magnets a bit and seeing what works where. The kids obviously will struggle against any team that takes them seriously.
Changes
The obvious change is Lohman out. After playing well in his first game Will “Shagga” McLachlan was tough to be dropped and should be a straight in for me.
Oscar was out ill and will be straight back in for someone. Fort was good in the ruck, while Day was probably less impressive but did exactly the job that was asked in the wet. I’d probably prefer to stick with Day for another couple of games to see how he clicks with the team – but I don’t want him to be Gunston 2.0. Definitely a watch and see
Starc is another tricky decision. He’s a straight in if fit. Answerth has done a good job, Fletcher has been fantastic in a new role and no one else deserves to be dropped. Options would be to put Fletcher back to the wing (actually think we have missed his run there) and drop Levi to sub. Or drop Answerth (which seems rough). Reville is a great impact player but I don’t see him staying in the team if Stac is fit.
Otherwise no other unforced changes please.
Prediction
Lets be blunt. We need a big win with a full four quarter performance sooner than later and we need to actually turn up for a first quarter. Carlton showed what can happen if they don’t take the kids seriously and I hope Fagan rams that message home hard this week. We need to give a lot of chances to test out our forward line connection and this is the week to do it.
We should be pushing hard for at least a 10 goal win.
Also I still miss Joe
