Aurora clash vital for TigersBy Alex Fair
The Examiner
March 6, 2013, 11:13 p.m.FORGET about it being a meaningless preseason game, Saturday's Aurora Stadium NAB Cup engagement with last year's grand finalist Hawthorn has plenty attached to it for Richmond.
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Taking on the runners-up at their home away from home will form a huge part the Tigers' preparation for round one and beyond, as the success-starved club looks to climb back up the AFL ladder.
Those are the thoughts of Richmond's Tasmanian great Matthew Richardson.
The Tigers are looking to return to September for the first time since 2001 after edging closer and closer over the past two seasons. This includes 10 losses last year by 22 points or fewer and one draw.
`Sometimes it's hard to gauge during a preseason, but any opportunity you get to beat a team that has played in a grand final you can always gain confidence from,'' said the former Devonport forward who played 282 games and kicked 800 goals in the yellow and black.
``I'm sure Richmond would like to put in a good account of itself and it's a good preparation (for the season) to play a team like Hawthorn,'' Richardson said.
``I expect Hawthorn will ramp up their preparation and I'd expect they'd have a better team in, so it will be a good opportunity to see where they're at.''
The contest will also give the Tigers another opportunity to take Hawthorn's scalp following its 62-point win in round nine last season.
``There's no doubt if they beat them twice in a row, that will give them some confidence against them heading into the season,'' Richardson, who is now a Channel Seven football commentator, said.
The Tigers will enter the game with a 2-1 preseason record after a last-gasp win against Essendon in Wangaratta, with a team missing plenty of experienced types including including captain Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio and Ivan Maric.
Hawthorn is yet to win a match this preseason after falling to the Western Bulldogs by a point last week.
It will be the third meeting between the two sides in Launceston.
The Hawks have won both clashes, a 41-point win in round 12, 2006, and by 73 points in the 2010 NAB Cup.
Hawthorn Tasmanian operations manager Shayne Stevenson said yesterday about 7000 tickets had been sold for Saturday's match, with a crowd between 10,000 and 12,000 expected.
Tasmanian Richmond greats Matthew Richardson and Michael Roach will feature at a pre-match function tomorrow night at The Boathouse in Launceston.
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The event will be hosted by Tigers premiership player Dale Weightman and will also feature an assistant coach.
The night will cost $50 and will start at 7.30pm.
To book call Richmond's membership department on 1300 742 466.
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