Richmond vs Hawthorn @ the MCG --- Round 18, 2016

[one-eyed]

Match preview: Hawthorn v Richmond
AFL.com.au
18 July 2016

WHERE AND WHEN:

MCG, Sunday, July 24, 3.20pm AEST


SUMMARY

Sunday will be unusual for the Hawks; successive games in Launceston, Adelaide and Sydney, plus the bye, means it will be 37 days since their last game in Victoria and 50 since they played at their home ground. They return to the MCG triumphant, a game clear on top of the ladder but the closeness of the top eight, their relatively poor percentage and the occasion of Sam Mitchell's 300th game should ensure there is no let-up. The Hawks usually eschew the tag so Dustin Martin may have another big day, and even though the Tigers have troubled Hawthorn in the past, Damien Hardwick is now blooding the kids, making it doubtful he has the depth of talent to engineer an upset.

LAST FIVE MEETINGS:
R7, 2016, Hawthorn 21.10 (136) d Richmond 13.12 (90) at the MCG
R18, 2015, Richmond 10.11 (71) d Hawthorn 7.11 (53) at the MCG
R6, 2014, Hawthorn 18.10 (118) d Richmond 7.10 (52) at the MCG
R19, 2013, Richmond 16.11 (107) d Hawthorn 9.12 (66) at the MCG
R9, 2012, Richmond 21.11 (137) d Hawthorn 10.15 (75) at the MCG

THE SIX POINTS

1. It took the Hawks three quarters to overcome their recent nemesis when they met in round seven. They needed a nine-goal final term to establish their ascendancy en route to a 46-point win.

2. The Hawks and Tigers have met 45 times at the MCG with the Hawks holding a 27-18 edge. Remarkably, they have never met in a final.

3. Hawthorn is looking to beat Richmond twice in the same season for the first time since 1992. The first of those that year was the day at Waverley when Hawks superstar Jason Dunstall kicked 17 goals.

4. The Tigers enter this match ranked 10th for contested possessions, averaging 141.6 per game. The Hawks are 13th with 136.6.

5. Hawthorn leads the AFL in goalkicking accuracy with 55.1 per cent, while the Tigers rank eighth with 51.7.

6. Hawk magician Cyril Rioli has cracked the top 10 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings with 542.1 points. Dustin Martin is in 32nd with 471 points.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … 
Bradley Hill.
The Hawthorn speedster snapped out of his season-long funk with a great game against the Swans and he now returns to the MCG, which is tailor-made for his sweeping, gut-running up and down the wings.


PREDICTION: Hawthorn by 16 points


http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-18/match-preview-hawthorn-v-richmond

[🏅Dooks]

Prediction:- Hawthorn by 16 goals

[wayne]

16 points 

[YellowandBlackBlood]

Clarkson post game... it was good to get the percentage boost as ours was lagging behind the others in the 8. We focused on percentage during the week and had repeat drills for the players celebrating after kicking goals.

[crackertiger]

If our half forwards play as poorly as last week god help us it will be about 15 goals. The Hawks rebound very well. To be any chance in this game we have to win contested ball accross tmour half forward line. Really we cannot afford to play young Rioli or Menedue this week. If we do and they fail to compete again it will be ugly for us... It's looks good when they win the outside easy ball but they just don't win any contested ball yet. It was very obvious last week!

[YellowandBlackBlood]

If our half forwards play as poorly as last week god help us it will be about 15 goals. The Hawks rebound very well. To be any chance in this game we have to win contested ball accross tmour half forward line. Really we cannot afford to play young Rioli or Menedue this week. If we do and they fail to compete again it will be ugly for us... It's looks good when they win the outside easy ball but they just don't win any contested ball yet. It was very obvious last week!

I disagree. Rioli was fantastic with his pressure acts which led to at least 3 of our goals. The hawks love long bombs to talls in the forward line. They lack speed down back. I would bring in Butler and put him forward with Rioli and even Markov and George. Run them off their (old) legs I say....

[(•))(©™]

This match. Lol.

[Jonesracing82]

keep the kids in, Hawks are the best in the business so why not let them have a crack & see how they all go, they may not get up but they could learn a lot from the game this week.

[WilliamPowell]

Reckon it will be lot closer than people think

For reasons I cannot explain we always play well against the Hawks. Don't expect this to be any different

And all the kids should play, we learn alot about them this week 

[Hard Roar Tiger]

If our half forwards play as poorly as last week god help us it will be about 15 goals. The Hawks rebound very well. To be any chance in this game we have to win contested ball accross tmour half forward line. Really we cannot afford to play young Rioli or Menedue this week. If we do and they fail to compete again it will be ugly for us... It's looks good when they win the outside easy ball but they just don't win any contested ball yet. It was very obvious last week!

I disagree. Rioli was fantastic with his pressure acts which led to at least 3 of our goals. The hawks love long bombs to talls in the forward line. They lack speed down back. I would bring in Butler and put him forward with Rioli and even Markov and George. Run them off their (old) legs I say....

I still don't understand why Dan Butler deserves a game in the seniors. He should earn it like the other young fellas who are currently in the senior team.

[YellowandBlackBlood]

If our half forwards play as poorly as last week god help us it will be about 15 goals. The Hawks rebound very well. To be any chance in this game we have to win contested ball accross tmour half forward line. Really we cannot afford to play young Rioli or Menedue this week. If we do and they fail to compete again it will be ugly for us... It's looks good when they win the outside easy ball but they just don't win any contested ball yet. It was very obvious last week!

I disagree. Rioli was fantastic with his pressure acts which led to at least 3 of our goals. The hawks love long bombs to talls in the forward line. They lack speed down back. I would bring in Butler and put him forward with Rioli and even Markov and George. Run them off their (old) legs I say....

I still don't understand why Dan Butler deserves a game in the seniors. He should earn it like the other young fellas who are currently in the senior team.

Comments from his last game from the coach - "played at a level above".

Add to the point that some players play better with better players around them and that playing your youngsters often gives you a glimpse of the talent you have in waiting, and you have your answer. Or would you continue to play Edwards, who after 10 years, is still inconsistent?

[one-eyed]

Opposition milestone alert: Sam Mitchell will be playing his 300th.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-360-richmond-star-jack-riewoldt-reflects-on-first-meeting-with-hawthorns-sam-mitchell/news-story/3d2987676a7b8d731812c54881eb8172

[eliminator]

keep the kids in, Hawks are the best in the business so why not let them have a crack & see how they all go, they may not get up but they could learn a lot from the game this week.

Agree. A game such as this will provide good experience for the younger players.

[one-eyed]

Tigers up for Hawks challenge: Cotchin

AFL.com.au
22 July 2016

WHILE finals might be a stretch, knocking off flag favourites Hawthorn on Sunday would still be a feather in Richmond's cap.

Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin said his team felt they could challenge the defending champions and ladder leaders when they met on Sunday afternoon at the MCG.

History backs his claims, with the Tigers winning three of their past five head-to-head clashes with the Hawks. In round seven, Hawthorn only put Richmond to the sword in the final term of a 46-point win.

"We get excited about the challenge of beating the greatest team in a number of years who are obviously in fantastic form and on top of the ladder," said Cotchin after teaching Juventus stars Paulo Dybala and Hernanes, in Melbourne for the International Champions Cup, a few tricks with the Sherrin.

"We've obviously had a disappointing year in comparison to what we wanted to achieve out of the year, so it's an opportunity for us to set a standard and compete against the best."

Richmond goes into the match in 13th position on the ladder after overcoming a dogged Essendon last round, with finals only a mathematical possibility.

"It's obviously a real challenge to get there, but the reality is we need to be in control of what we can and that's our performances," Cotchin said.

He said the team had been given a buzz from contributions by some of the younger players.

"No doubt, it's exciting; the speed that the majority of the guys we've brought in have shown, the composure, they've won the footy and it's great for our club."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-20/cotchin-says-tigers-excited-by-hawks-challenge

[one-eyed]

Clarkson wary of improved Tiger challenge

AFL.com.au
24 July 2016

A VASTLY different Richmond line-up awaits Hawthorn on Sunday compared to the team the Hawks played in round seven, and Alastair Clarkson is wary of the challenge.

The Hawks finished 46-point winners on that Friday night to leave the Tigers with a 1-6 record.

However the Tigers' backline will be seriously boosted this time, with Alex Rance, David Astbury and Dylan Grimes all absent in that clash.

"Richmond's whole defence is different to the round seven game. There's fair difference in personnel," Clarkson said at training on Saturday.

"At that point in time, Richmond was in a little bit of a trough. Over the last nine weeks, they've won six and lost three.

"Everyone thinks Richmond's not going so well, but their last eight or nine weeks have been pretty good in terms of win-loss."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-07-23/clarkson-wary-of-improved-tiger-challenge