2020 AFL season: Round 4 previewAvatar
theRoar.com.au
23 June 2020St Kilda versus RichmondAlthough no fans will be permitted to attend this match (a restriction which appears likely to extend well into July due to a recent spike in new coronavirus cases in Victoria), St Kilda and Richmond will press ahead with their annual Maddie’s Match this Saturday night.
The match was originally scheduled for Round 3, though after the original fixture past Round 1 was eventually binned, it was announced by the St Kilda Football Club that the new match-up will retain the moniker of Maddie’s Match.
Both the Saints and Tigers will want to lift for this match, with both sides having only won one game each this season.
After thrashing the Western Bulldogs by 39 points in Round 2, the Saints were sent crashing back down to earth against Collingwood last Saturday night, managing only five goals in a 44-point defeat.
Meantime, the Tigers’ struggles since the season resumption continued, being restricted to five goals for the second week in a row and, without Dustin Martin in tow, losing to Hawthorn by 32 points at the MCG last Thursday night.
It put an end to a 14-match undefeated streak which stretched over twelve months, and was also their first defeat at the MCG since their loss to the Geelong Cats in Round 12 last year.
Marlion Pickett’s struggles since his breakthrough grand final showing last year continued, being largely ineffective against the Hawks, while Tom Lynch’s embarrassing missed shot at goal from five metres out in the final quarter summed up the Tigers’ dismal night.
It’s only early days, but Richmond fans need not forget that their side were 1-2 and in 14th place after Round 3 last year before they went on to claim a second flag in three years.
Thus, if there’s ever a good time for the reigning premiers to bounce back, it’s this Saturday night.
Prediction: Richmond by 14 points.
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