Tigers underdogs for MCG clash with CatsShayne Hope
AAP
July 23, 2021Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has been quick to claim underdog status for an MCG heavyweight clash with Geelong he concedes "probably" should be being played down the highway.
The Tigers will be without superstar Dustin Martin after a serious kidney injury sidelined the match-winner for the rest of the AFL season.
But the ninth-placed Tigers are clinging to hopes they can spread Martin's workload across the team and remain in the finals hunt as they pursue a fourth premiership in five years.
Geelong thrashed Richmond by 63 points in their most recent meeting - at the MCG in round eight - and have held opponents to just 44 points a game on a current three-match winning streak that has put them within half a win of top spot.
"They've been playing a very consistent brand of footy," Hardwick said.
"We've got a challenge, there's no doubt about it, but we've been in these situations before and we've come out on top.
"It's very much an underdog status for us but we're looking forward to an enormous challenge versus a very good Geelong."
Once a crowd was ruled out because of Victoria's latest COVID-19 lockdown, Geelong sought to have Sunday's home game moved from the MCG to their regular base at GMHBA Stadium.
But the move was rebuffed by the AFL, which cited contractual obligations at the MCG.
"We're always happy to play at the 'G; for me, that's where the big games get played," Hardwick said.
"But we can understand Geelong requesting the game (be played) down there.
"It probably made sense to us, as well, with no crowd and it is their home game."
Hardwick conceded Martin was a “hard player to replace”, but the return of veteran Shane Edwards for Sunday’s clash with Geelong could help offset that.
“We’ve got some players we think can fulfil that role in a different manner that we are excited to be given an opportunity to and see how that pans out,” he said.
“But if we’re looking for one player to replace Dustin Martin, we are going to be found short in that regard. It will certainly be a team effort. It will give us a different look.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-underdogs-for-mcg-clash-with-cats-c-3483925