ROUND 10 - RICHMOND vs MELBOURNE at Telstra Dome (Away) 26.05.05 SUMMARY: Richmond's new ear under Terry Wallace just keeps on building momentum after sneaking home by 4 points against 2001-2004 grand finalists Brisbane up at the 'Gabba. Once again Nathan Brown was the matchwinner with two late goals. This week the Tigers face off against fellow top 4 placed Melbourne at the Telstra Dome in the Friday night match of the round. Richmond suffered two further casualities last Saturday night with reigning best and fairest Joel Bowden copping a fractured cheekbone while young speedster Richard Tambling pulled another hamstring. Tambling has been replaced by rookie listed player Nathan Foley for his first AFL game while Bowden is making a remarkable late run to play this week despite having a plate inserted into his face on Monday and has been named. The Tiges have made one further change naming Stafford once again at the expense of impressive youngster Danny Meyer sent back to Coburg to get a full game under his belt. The side won't be completely finalised until just before the first bounce. Our opponents Melbourne seem to have finally broken their odd/even year hoodoo to be 6-3 and one game and spot behind the Tigers. On the back of some brilliant early form from Cameron Bruce through the midfield, the Demons began the year with some impressive wins including one over high-flying Geelong. However since Bruce injured his shoulder Melbourne's results have been mixed illustrated by a LWLWLW record in their past six matches including upset defeats to Hawthorn and Fremantle at the M.C.G. Last week they smashed Carlton for three quarters before going to sleep and conceding the last 6 goals to "only" win by 18 points for which they copped a public aftermatch spray from coach Neil Daniher. The Demons have made only one change with key tall Brad Miller coming in for the injured Phil Read. Full forward David Neitz and Daniel Bell have been named despite both being under an injury cloud during the week. Both sides playing ducks and drakes at the selection table. PAST ENCOUNTERS: Overall: 95-73 (2 draws) In the 00's: 6-3 At the Dome: First meeting. Last Time: Round 17, 25.07.04. Home at the M.C.G. Richmond 4.4 7.7 9.8 10.10-70 Melbourne 5.3 11.7 15.10 19.12-126 Multiple Goalkickers: Richmond - Pettifer 4, Richardson 2, Ottens 2; Melbourne - Neitz 6, Miller 4, Holland 3, Robertson 2. Attendance: 25,211 KEY STATS AND MATCH-UPS: DEFENCE: Neil Daniher has made the Melbourne forward line more versatile over hte past two years with the inclusions of Miller at CHF and the speedy Davey in a forward pocket. This year he has also played Adam Yze more as permanent forward. This has taken the pressure somewhat off Neitz and Robertson as opposition backlines need to mind other the avenues. In someways it's very simialr to what has happened with Richmond's forward line this year. The Demons have had a good spread of goalkickers in 2005 - Robertson (25), Neitz (23), Yze (17), Davey (15), Green (13), Bruce (9 from 5 matches) and former Tiger Holland (8 from 4). When the Dees' midfield is allowed plenty of space and run to provide good supply, Melbourne has the ammunition to kick a big score as their points for column attests (106 points per game - 2nd in the AFL). After conceding 6 first quarter goals Richmond's defence held up brilliantly last week conceding only the same amount in the final three terms without CHB Razor Hall and for the last 40 minutes without the springboard raids of Joel Bowden (top 10 in rebounds) off the half-back line. Mark Graham and Darren Gaspar were the stars closing down Jonathan Brown and Bradshaw. With Hall and Bowden out again they will need to do a similar job this week. Thankfully with Rivers out of the Demon line-up their task should be made slightly easier with Brad Miller needing to go down back to stand Richo. The Tigers defence is ranked 5th in thr AFL so provided our midfielder can hinder supply to the Melbourne forwards we can hold them. Gas will take Nietz, Kellaway - Robertson, Graham - Holland, Newman - Davey, Tivs - Green with Chaffey following Yze around. A bit nervous about Davey as one thing our defence has struggled at in 2005 is holding down speedy small opposition forwards. MIDFIELD: Basically this is where the game tonight will be won or lost. Melbourne's midfield is one of the quickest in the competition with guys like Johnstone, Bruce and the underrated MacDonald (4th highest tackler) while McLean and Sylvia are up and coming youngsters. If they are given space they can cut opposition sides to ribbons with their speed and clean skills. Former Cat Moloney is ranked 2nd in the AFL for inside 50s. However they are not reknown for their contested footy credentials so they will attempt to get the ball into space as much as possible. The Tigers on the other hand showed last week they can outlast a dogfight with Tuck and Cogs in the top 10 at winning contested footy. So much so we are ranked 2nd in winning contested footy. The Dees are ranked 15th. Richmond averages a staggering 50 more possessions each week (332 - 3rd in the AFL) than the Demons who are ranked 14th (282). The Tigers have 5 players who average over 20 possessions per game - Cogs (23), Tuck (22), Johnson (21) and Brown (20) with the doubtful Bowden at 22. Add to that Cambo (19), Tivs (18) and Hyde (17) also get their hands on the footy in the midfield. The Demons on their part have no-one above 20 possessions with Green (19), Moloney (18), Johnstone (18), Bruce (18), McDonald (17), Brown (16), McLean (15) and Bizzell (15) their main ballgetters. Melbourne relies instead on speed and efficiency through the corridor. This is illustrated in the fact that they are ranked 2nd and 3rd in the league in scoring from centre bounces and ball-ups respectively (last at throw-ins though) and 2nd in inside 50s with 55 per game (Tigers are 3rd with 54). They also link-up mainly through footpassing being 16th in the AFL in handball usage. The Richmond midfielders will need to continue using their strength at and around the stoppages (number one in clearances from ball-ups and throw-ins) to deny the Demon midfielders soft possessions and the open space they need to run. In terms of targeting we need to try and shutdown Moloney, Bruce and Johnstone IMO. The rucking duels will be interesting. With White and Jamar up against Knobel and Simmonds (Stafford a late out). The Tigers should have an advantage in terms of consistently having a good ruckman as part of their rotation. Jeff White has been the dominant winner at hitouts for the Demons (3rd in the AFL). Knobel is ranked 6th. FORWARDS: Like Melbourne we've had a dangerous and versatile forward line this year. Brown with 32 goals, Richo (27), Pettifer (14), Krakouer (11), the absent again Stafford (10 from 6 games) and Simmonds (7 from 9 but has been in the goals in recent weeks). If we can continue to give our forwards the supply of previous weeks then we should have then advantage. Our forward line is ranked 4th (102 points per game) while the Dees defence is ranked 10th (96). Richo will have Miller on him, Simmonds - Nicholson or Ferguson, Brown - Whelan. We may even throw Cambo or Schulz forward to take advantage of our height. OVERALL: In past encounters say over the past 5 to 6 years this clash typically was a battle between our talls versus their quick and skillful running midfield. Whichever team got on top in respect to their natural advantage typically won the match comfortably. However both sides have strengthened their weak points in recent times - Melbourne added to their tall stockes in 2004 while Rihmond have improved their ballwinning capabilities in the midfield this year. The result of this game will therefore come down to which side can win enough quality ball through the midfield to supply their strong forward lines with enough decent opportunities to kick a higher score than the opposition. If both teams play to their maximum then expect a close encounter. THIS WEEK'S TEAMS: RICHMOND B: Newman, Gaspar, Graham HB: Tivendale, Kellaway, Chaffey C: K.Johnson, Coughlan, Deledio HF: N.G.Brown, Simmonds, Pettifer F: Stafford, Richardson, Krakouer R: Knobel, Tuck, Hyde Int: Bowden, Campbell, Schulz, Foley In: Stafford, Foley (debut) Out: Tambling (hamstring), Meyer (omitted) MELBOURNE B: Whelan, Nicholson, Ferguson HB: Bizzell, Miller, Wheatley C: Moloney, Bruce, McLean HF: Yze, Robertson, Sylvia F: Holland, Nietz, Green R: White, Johnstone, McDonald Int: Bell, N.D.Brown, Davey, Jamar < BACK >