ROUND 7 - RICHMOND vs SYDNEY - S.C.G. (AWAY) 06.05.04 SUMMARY: After their narrow win last weekend, Richmond this week makes it first interstate trip of three in the next four weeks when the team travels north to Habourside to face the Swans at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Although the Tigers still made plenty of errors last Friday especially in the second half, they will be encouraged by the work ethic and teamwork they displayed to beat Sydney on its home turf. It is that type of hard work and discipline that will go along way on the smallish S.C.G. to pull off what the experts would consider an upset win. On the other side of the ledger, the Swans have had a mixed first six rounds as their 3-3 record would suggest. Never really dominating but never been out of it at the same time. The vast majority of their matches have resulted in close games in all but one but unlike last year when they made it to a prelimary final they have basically lost as many as the have won this time around. As the match is played on Sunday there's a squad of 25 named. Richmond have some "big names" coming back into the side this week with Richo (back after a hamstring), Stafford (suspension), Zantuck and Bowden all named. The only exclusion so far is an obvious one with back-up ruckman Ben Marsh making way for Stafford's return.Sydney have lost little goalsneak Schneider to a hamstring injury and have included O'Loughlin (under an injury cloud), Powell, Buchanan and Ablett. PAST ENCOUNTERS: Overall: 98-73-1 In the 00's: 3-3 At this venue: 9-9 Last Time: Round 10, 31.5.03. Home at the M.C.G. Richmond 2.4 4.8 9.9 10.12-72 Sydney 2.2 6.4 11.4 16.8-104 Attendance: 34,569 KEY MATCH-UPS: DEFENCE: The Tigers' defence held up well last week with all of Hawthorn's big forwards well held although another smallish forward in Mark Williams was able to nip in with five. This week the Richmond defence may find their task a bit tougher with in-form Sydney full-forward Barry Hall, Brownlow Medalist Adam Goodes and small forwards such as Davis, Williams and O'Loughlin all able to do some scoreboard damage if given plenty of quick and quality ball. In terms of match-ups I would bring in Zantuck as IMO he would be the best match-up for Barry Hall in terms of strength and pace on the lead. I believe Barry Hall would be far too strong for either the struggling Gas, AK or Razor. I would give Razor the big task of a run with roll on Goodes and put AK on Nick Davis. What helped last weekend was the scenic route the Hawks were forced to take due to the pressure upfield. A similar effort is required on Sunday especially on the tiny S.C.G. as it only takes 2-3 direct kicks to move the footy from end of the ground to the other. MIDFIELD: When it comes to playing the S.C.G. more than ever the team that controls and wins in the middle wins the game. What was positive for the Tiges last week was the intent from the whole team to move the ball on quickly at all times. We succeeded mostly early when we had players streaming past teammates with the ball to accept the handball and then kick to a leading, and as a result of the quick movement, a free or at worst one-on-one target. As we tired in the second half this dropped away. We need to keep that style going for most of the match on Sunday. FORWARDS: With Stafford and Richo likely back our structure this week will take on a more conventional look. What makes the way you play footy different on the S.C.G. different is that you don't use your CHF in the conventional fashion as most forays forward bypass the traditional CHF position. On the S.C.G. you normally either push the CHF further up to provide a tall marking target when coming out of defence or push him back to the goalsquare as a decoy or alternative leading forward. I hope Danny and the coaching are awake to this as we haven't played on the S.C.G. for four years. THIS WEEK'S TEAMS: RICHMOND B: C. Newman D. Gaspar R. Hall HB: B. Hartigan A. Kellaway W. Campbell C: M. Chaffey K. Johnson R. Hilton HF: A. Krakouer J. Schulz A. Fiora F: N. Brown M. Richardson T. Fleming R: G. Tivendale, B. Ottens, C. Hyde I/C: T. Roach, L. Weller, S. Fletcher, D. Rodan, G. Stafford, J. Bowden, T. Zantuck IN: Richo, Stafford, Zantuck, Bowden OUT: Marsh SYDNEY B: Mathews, James, Bevan HB: Barry, C.Bolton, Kennelly C: Maxfield, Kirk, Crouch HF: OKeefe, Hall, Williams F: Goodes, OLoughlin, Davis R: Ball, Fosdike, Bolton I/C (from): Ablett, Buchanan, Doyle, Rogers, McVeigh, Powell, Saddington IN: Ablett, Buchanan, OLoughlin, Powell OUT: Schneider (hamstring) < BACK >