Round 23 - Richmond vs St Kilda @ MCG; Sunday, Aug 27 @ 3.20pm

[one-eyed]

Match preview: Richmond v St Kilda

afl.com.au
22 August 2017

SUMMARY

The red-hot Tigers are playing to lock down a top-four spot and potentially secure a home final by default if other results go their way in round 23. Richmond could find itself facing Geelong in a qualifying final at the MCG as the lower-placed team if they beat the Saints comfortably and the Cats beat Greater Western Sydney. There is a lot on the line, while a flagging St Kilda could run out knowing its season is over, and only pride is at stake in champion forward Nick Riewoldt's last match. The intriguing element is how convincingly the Saints wiped the floor with the Tigers only seven weeks ago. Alan Richardson's team played the most exciting football of its season in that match. Could it possibly rediscover that edge for one last hoorah on Sunday?

WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Sunday, August 27, 3.20pm AEST

LAST FIVE TIMES
R16, 2017, St Kilda 21.12 (138) d Richmond 10.11 (71) at Etihad Stadium
R22, 2016, St Kilda 7.13 (55) d Richmond 6.10 (46) at the MCG
R16, 2015, Richmond 13.11 (89) d St Kilda 10.13 (73) at Etihad Stadium
R22, 2014, Richmond 15.8 (98) d St Kilda 10.12 (72) at the MCG
R15, 2014, Richmond 18.9 (117) d St Kilda 11.7 (73) at Etihad Stadium

THE SIX POINTS

1. St Kilda had the match wrapped up at half time when these sides met in round 16 at Etihad Stadium, kicking 14 goals to one to lead by 82 points. The Saints had 110 more disposals and 19 more inside 50s for the match.

2. The Tigers remain one of the best defensive sides this season, conceding just 76 points a game (No.2 in the AFL). St Kilda is mid-table, allowing 88 points a game.

3. St Kilda has won the past two clashes between these sides, ending Richmond’s run of six consecutive wins in 2012-15. The Saints will be aiming for three-straight wins over the Tigers for the first time since 2009-10.

4. One advantage for the Saints could be in uncontested possessions. They rank No.4 in the AFL, averaging 256.3 a game, while the Tigers are last with an average of 219.4.

5. St Kilda will be visiting the MCG for just the second time this season and hasn’t won at the venue since round 22 last season when they defeated Richmond. In contrast, the Tigers have won eight of 10 games this season at the venue.

6. Kane Lambert has been the most improved player at Tigerland, climbing from No.310 overall in the Schick AFL Player Ratings to No.171. He is rated No.8 at the club.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Nick Riewoldt
The Saints will know if their season is alive when they run out on Sunday, but it is unlikely to be. That means the clash against Richmond will be their champion forward's last appearance. Riewoldt has given everything he has to the Saints, and he won't leave anything on the MCG on Sunday. He deserves a memorable send-off from his teammates, his club, and the supporters who have cheered him on for 17 seasons.       


PREDICTION: Richmond by 24 points.


http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-22/match-preview-richmond-v-st-kilda

[one-eyed]

The MCG website is saying they are expecting 75,000 on Sunday  .

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Opening times

Gates
Public            1.30pm
AFL Reserve   1.30pm
MCC Reserve  1.00pm

Parking

Gate 3: 11.00am
Gate 5: 12.00pm
Gate 6: 12.00pm
Gate 7: 9.00am


Estimated attendance
75,000

Tickets - buy in advance
Public tickets are selling quickly.  We encourage fans to pre-purchase tickets at Ticketek.  Note: Children under 15 are admitted free.

General admission seating
(As at Monday August 21 at 1.00pm)

Great Southern Stand
Q1-Q15

Ponsford Stand
M29-M34
Q29-Q36

Olympic Stand
Q49-Q54 (Rows K-MM)
Q56-Q57

Kick-to-kick
Weather permitting, fans will be able to head out onto the MCG turf after the match.


Special offer: MCG says thank you to fans
In support of the AFL's Round 23 initiative, and in a thank you to fans, the MCG will be offering Four N' Twenty meat pies for just $2 (normally $4.30) from gate opening time until the first bounce at 3.20pm.

CAR PARKING
With some areas of Yarra Park too wet to accommodate vehicles, car parking in Yarra Park will be severely limited.

Drivers should arrive as early as possible, or seek an alternative transport method, as space will fill before match time.

Special offer: Footy fans can also park at Le Garage (114 Flinders St) at a discounted rate of $8 by scanning your event ticket at the pay station.

Bicycle parking
Patrons are asked to refrain from locking their bicycle up on the MCG concourse, or in an area that is likely to cause an obstruction or is too close to congested queues or crowds of people.

Any bicycle deemed to meet the above criteria will be removed and stored inside the MCG for a patron to collect after the match.

There are approximately 80 bike hoops in Yarra Park, with most of those close to the concourse. We ask cyclists to use these hoops when riding to the MCG.

Cheer squad seating
Richmond: Bays M3 and M4 (Rows A-K)
St Kilda: Bay M33 (Rows A-N)

http://www.mcg.org.au/whats-on/events-calendar/2017/august/richmond-v-st-kilda-august-27

[one-eyed]

NO LATE CHANGES

FINAL INTERCHANGES

Richmond: Oleg Markov, Jack Graham, Nathan Broad, Jason Castagna

St Kilda: Blake Acres, Jack Newnes, Koby Stevens, Maverick Weller

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-27/final-teams-sunday-round-23   

[one-eyed]

Bombers up by 32 pts on Freo at 3/4 time. So unless the Bombers do some massive choke in the last qtr, the Saints now know going into the game they can't make the finals.

[Lozza]

Bombers up by 32 pts on Freo at 3/4 time. So unless the Bombers do some massive choke in the last qtr, the Saints now know going into the game they can't make the finals.

Now 20pts

[🏅Dooks]

Essendon lead cut to 20 points. Early 4th quarter

[🏅Dooks]

Butler point. Sound the siren!

[mightytiges]

Grrrr. Butler you should have drilled that.

1 - 0.

[🏅Dooks]

Freo another goal. Ess by 14

[mightytiges]

Nice pass Grigg  . Jack wouldn't have had his arm crunched if the ball didn't bounce 10m in front of him.

[mightytiges]

Goalkicking back to status quo so far 

[🏅Dooks]

Cotchin shoots at goal and OOTF 

[mightytiges]

Great running by Houli. Clever by Jack to Butler who finds Townsend on an angle 30m out. Goal 

That's better!

Rich  7
StK  0

[mightytiges]

Shedder out of traffic to Georgie who finds Grigg 40m out. Goal! 

Rich 13
StK   0

[mightytiges]

Was that Broad who punched when he could have marked it?

Slack defending Tiges  . Lucky it only cost a point.