ROUND 8 - RICHMOND vs WESTERN BULLDOGS - M.C.G. (HOME) 14.05.04 SUMMARY: Us Tiger supporters get to experience "traditional" Saturday afternoon footy this week as the rejuvenated Richmond, after a hard but well fought win over the Swans in Sydney, face off against the Dogs at our real home ground, the M.C.G. to make it three wins on the trot. The Tigers seem to have rediscovered what teamwork and hardwork are again and although we still make far too many, what I would call using a tennis analogy, unforced errors in either execution of skills or decision making, we are putting in the second efforts and getting numbers to the ball and unlike a few weeks ago not dropping our heads when there's a mistake or something in the match doesn't go our way. In other words we're having a dip! The Dogs on the other hand have had some good performances this year in parts but have mostly failed to deliver four quarter efforts particularly dropping away badly for some period of their matches. As a result they have only won two games yet been a chance in most of their games. The arrival of Jay Rawlings from Hawthorn, the return of Chris Grant and the good form of Brian Harris (who'll miss through suspension) down back have added some formal tall structure to their line-up this year whereas last year they of course struggled to match the height of most sides in the competition. This has made them a far more competitive side to date compared to 2003. Richmond has decided to stick with the same 22 that knocked over Sydney last Sunday. The Age reported that Cambo may be in some doubt as he missed training yesterday with a "unspecified leg injury". We will have to wait until tomorrow morning to see if he passes a fitness test. Rodan or ruckman Marsh have been put on stand-by. The Dogs have made three changes with one forced through the suspension of Harris. His full-back position will be taken up by the veteran Croft. The other two changes are Hargrave and McGuinness in for the youngsters Power and Ray. PAST ENCOUNTERS: Overall: 73-61-1 In the 00's: 3-3 At this venue: 4-2 Last Time: Round 17, 26.7.03. Away at Docklands (Telstra Dome). Richmond 3.1 7.3 14.7 24.11-155 W.Bulldogs 4.4 5.6 9.8 14.11-95 Attendance: 25,204 KEY MATCH-UPS: DEFENCE: The Tiger backline has taken on a significant transformation the past couple of weeks with Ray "Razor" Hall being given the main defensive job each week alongside AK, Gas starting on the bench and Cambo taking on a "marshalling of the troops" role as he spends more time down back. The Dogs this year set-up with a more traditional forward line with Rawlings and either Darcy/Street as tall options surrounded by smaller options who rotate in and out of the midfield. The media "experts" are claiming our backline is still suspect but any backline than can hold Barry Hall, Adam Goodes and Nick Davis for four quarters can't be too shabby. As Hall is the stronger of he and AK I would start AK on Rawlings (AK has done well in the past on the likes of Tarrant who is of similar size and plays a similar role to Rawlings) and leave Hall for the bulkier Darcy or Street.IMO we are evenly matched here and as is the norm in footy these days it will be up to those upfield to apply the necessary pressure as they have done the past two weeks to slow and even better thwart the Bulldogs movement of the ball and enable us to get numbers back to clog the Dogs forward 50. MIDFIELD: As has been the case since Terry Wallace was first coach at the Doggies, their strength is in the midfield. Darcy is one of the premier ruckman in the competition and the likes of ballgetters West (who has been in scintillating form) and Hahn and runners Brad Johnson, Giansiracusa, Murphy, Eagleton and Smith can all be quick dangerous players if given plenty of time and space. On the other hand, the Tiges' form reversal the past two weeks has been two-fold: firstly we've seen a major step-up in intensity and workrate at the footy and for each other and secondly our younger-types such as Hyde, Newman, Krakouer and Hartigan have provided a added presence to take the burden off our more senior blokes Kane Johnson, Cambo, Brown and Tivas. This has been particularly important with Cogs out injured and will need to continue on Saturday. In terms of match-ups Otto and Stafford should combine well against Darcy and Street in the ruck. I would give either Hyde or Newman the task on West. The other to get the gig on Brad Johnson. Apart from that go head-to-head in the midfield. FORWARDS: The question this week will be can Richo back up his brilliant game against the Swans this week? In the recent past that has not always been the case. Obviously, he along with Brown, the rejuvinated Rory Hilton and either Otto/Stafford will rely on the quality and quantity of the delivery upfield. The smaller S.C.G. last week enabled us to stick within the corridor and with one long kick get the ball deep inside 50 to often one-out forwards (in particular the stronger Richo). With the wider expanses of the 'G we mustn't fall-back into going wide and slow and allow the Dogs to easily get numbers back. This would particularly play into Chris Grant's hands at CHB. If we can continue to play mostly direct and run-on footy we should have the advantage over the Doggies here and this hopefully will prove to be the difference between the sides. THIS WEEK'S TEAMS: RICHMOND B: Hartigan, Hall, Gaspar HB: Chaffey, A Kellaway, Campbell C: Roach, Johnson, Tivendale HF: Hyde, Ottens, Fiora F: Brown, Richardson, Weller R: Stafford, Newman, Krakouer I/C: Schulz, Bowden, Fletcher, Hilton NO CHANGE WESTERN BULLDOGS B: Hargrave, Croft, Gilbee HB: Murphy, Grant, Smith C: Giansiracusa, West, Hahn HF: Bowden, Rawlings, Cooney F: Boyd, Darcy, Robbins R: Street, Johnson, Eagleton I/C: Bassett, Faulkner, Harrison, McGuinness IN: Croft, Hargrave, McGuinness OUT: Harris (suspended), Power, Ray < BACK >