Richmond AFL Finals: Preliminary final opponent GWS Giants or West Coast, who would fans prefer?Al Paton,
Herald Sun
16 September 2017SOME Victorian footy fans might find it hard to get too excited about tonight’s semi-final between GWS Giants and West Coast. Not Richmond fans.
They will be glued to the action knowing the winning team will face the Tigers next week for a spot in the Grand Final.
Who should they be barracking for?
Richmond has beaten both teams at the MCG this year and will start favourite against whoever wins tonight; TAB has Richmond $1.50 to make the Grand Final, the Giants at $3.25 and West Coast $8.
But this is Richmond we’re talking about, and both opponents could present potential pitfalls for the Tiger juggernaut.
Giants star Toby Greene has a difference of opinion with David Astbury. Picture: Michael Klein
THE CASE FOR GWSRichmond has played the Giants twice this year for a 1-1 record.
That should have been 2-0, with Jeremy Cameron stealing victory in the final minute at Spotless Stadium in Round 9 after a Shai Bolton goal was overturned.
In Round 17 GWS was all over the Tigers early and led 3.4 to 0.2 at quarter-time. But Dustin Martin lifted in the second term to lead a Richmond fightback. By halftime the Tigers were seven points in front, they steamed away in the third term then held on as the heavens opened.
Dusty finished with 31 disposals, Trent Cotchin had 27 and Nick Vlastuin took 11 marks.
Callan Ward (37 disposals) and Zac Williams (28) were best for the Giants.
That was their only visit to the MCG this season. In their short history the Giants have played at the ’G 11 times for just one win, against Melbourne in 2014. Their overall record against Richmond is 2-6, but they have two of the past three clashes between the two teams.
Injuries have hit GWS at the wrong time with Cameron and Shane Mumford out for the year, allowing Toby Nankervis to breathe a big sigh of relief.
Toby Greene lost his cool, and his focus, against the Tigers last time and Richmond fans wouldn’t be too upset if the Eagles get under his skin tonight.
The extra spice in this one would be a first match-up against Brett Deledio, who left Richmond to win a premiership.
Daniel Rioli has the ball on a string against the Eagles. Picture: George Salpigtidis
THE CASE FOR WEST COASTIt will be a remarkable story if the Eagles make it to a prelim after scraping into the eight by 0.2 per cent in the last game of the home-and-away season.
Will playing what could he three successive heart-stoppers take their toll?
The Tigers won the only meeting between these teams at the MCG in Round 3, again coming from behind after a slow start.
Dustin Martin and Andrew Gaff each had 33 touches that day and Daniel Rioli produced some moments of magic including a banana goal that is one of three finalists for goal of the year.
The Eagles’ struggles at the MCG are well documented. They are 0-2 there this year and have won four times from 14 attempts since 2012, although one of those wins was against the Tigers in 2015.
Nic Naitanui dominated against Ivan Maric that night. Could Adam Simpson roll the dice on his fitness in the hope of repeating the dose against Nankervis?
Richmond would be a hot favourite against the Eagles, who are coming from eighth and would have played three tough matches in a row, including an extra 10 minutes of extra-time against Port Adelaide.
The Tigers should also have an edge against GWS, with the MCG providing a huge advantage in a genuine home game.
Players should be fresh after a week off, but no one really knows what the effect of playing one match in 26 days will be. Last year both qualifying final winners were knocked out in the prelim after the “double bye”.
It’s also noteworthy that the latter stages of Richmond’s matches against GWS and West Coast this year were both played in heavy rain, with the Tigers overpowering both opponents late. Heavy conditions didn’t hurt against the Cats last week, either.
Tiger fans could do worse than save their energy to barrack for a downpour about 5pm next Saturday.
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