Richmond vs Sydney @ Adelaide Oval --- Round 5, 2023

[Willy]

Rampe out for the Swans.

[lamington]

MUST WIN GAME

[one-eyed]

They just said on the Seven coverage that our game is close to being sold out.

[Willy]

Huge game tonight. With the Dees likely to beat us next week this is a must win. Sydney’s backline has been decimated so our forwards have an opportunity to capitalize if we can give them enough looks. Carn.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

MUST WIN GAME

Understatement much?
 

[Tigeritis™©®]

Expecting a big game from Tim Taranto this week.

[TigerLand]

What Adelaide pubs are Tiger fans going to today/tonight??

[one-eyed]

Game is now sold out.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/903457/all-nine-gather-round-games-sold-out

[one-eyed]

Five burning questions: How do Tigers, Swans cover key injuries?

Damien Ractliffe
The Age
April 14, 2023

Are the Tigers all but finished for 2023?

It’s too early to write off Richmond given they made the finals last year and appear to have a more talented list this season. But recent injuries to Tom Lynch and Toby Nankervis put a lot more emphasis on winning games in this half of the season, so it doesn’t feel like the Tigers have to play catch up in the second half of the year. This week is a big one, given the Demons are next for them, before matches against the Gold Coast and West Coast that the Tigers must win. If they win three of their next four, they’ll have 18 points from eight rounds which will see them keep in touch with the top eight.

What can the Tigers do in the ruck with so many injuries?

Damien Hardwick said on Thursday that Ben Miller will be tasked with the ruck duties in Nankervis’ absence. He played as Richmond’s second ruckman in the elimination final loss to Brisbane, and also played in round one against Carlton, but hasn’t played since. It will be a tall order for the 23-year-old who stands at just 195cm and was drafted as a key defender.

Samson Ryan is expected to play as a permanent key forward, alongside the returning Jack Riewoldt, but the Tigers are more than comfortable having a mostly small forward line around those two. Ivan Soldo remains sidelined for the short term with a foot injury.

Who needs to lift?

The Tigers really just need a five per cent lift from every player across the board. Daniel Rioli has been terrific, while Liam Baker’s last two weeks have been very good. But apart from those two, there’s a lot of room for growth. Dion Prestia is averaging his lowest number of kicks since his debut season in 2011, and he’s a barometer for the side when up and going.

Shai Bolton is on par with his past few seasons, barring a drop in clearances which correlates with Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto coming into the side. Taranto is having his worst season from a scoring perspective, so there’s an option there for him to spend more time forward and get Bolton up around the ball a bit more. Dustin Martin has also had just four clearances from three games, well below his career average of four a game.

Is there something wrong with the Swans?

It’s not panic stations for Sydney after two losses, given one of those was against a rampant Demons outfit and the other came in a nail biting loss to Port Adelaide when both of their key defenders - Paddy and Tom McCartin - were concussed. Like the Tigers, the Swans also have a difficult next four weeks, with Geelong, GWS Giants and Collingwood over the next month. If they win two of their next four, they’ll be 4-4 after eight rounds and in a position to strike through the middle of the season. A worrying trend for the Swans is their contested possession numbers. They’ve lost the count on that measure in three of their four games this year, and their pressure appears shy of 2022. That was their one wood last year, so they must find that again.

Are the Swans better off without Buddy?

A fit Lance Franklin must be selected in the Swans line-up every single time. The real question is whether they’re too reliant on him. He’s kicked four goals from three matches this season. Last year he averaged better than two a game, while Isaac Heeney also averaged just shy of two a game and has kicked just four goals in four games. It’s a small sample size, but the Swans are definitely going through a transition period, with Logan McDonald (10 goals) taking greater responsibility and Joel Amartey warranting senior selection.

Could Buddy play as a winger, like Matthew Richardson did late in his career, or as a higher half-forward, to make the Swans less predictable going inside-50? That’s something the Swans coaches will have to look at when Franklin returns after knee soreness.

Tip:

Swans to bounce back. Sydney by 16 points.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/five-burning-questions-how-do-tigers-swans-cover-key-injuries-20230413-p5d0at.html

[one-eyed]

THE CERTAINTIES FOR FRIDAY NIGHT GATHER ROUND - Richmond v Sydney

Andrew Slevison & Charles Goodsire
SEN
14 April 2023

Riewoldt to kick 2+ goals

Jack Riewoldt simply has to step up for Richmond on Friday night.

The veteran forward is back in the side after being managed last week and it couldn’t come at a better time with Tom Lynch (fractured foot) set for an extended stint on the sidelines.

While Riewoldt doesn’t have an overly flash record against Sydney in recent years, kicking three goals in his last three outings, the opportunity is there to improve that output given the Swans will be without defensive trio Tom and Paddy McCartin and Dane Rampe.

As one of Richmond’s main avenues to goal, the stage is set for Riewoldt to have a decent night out at the Adelaide Oval where he returned 2.2 against the Crows just a few weeks ago.

Martin to have 20+ disposals and kick 1+ goal

Dustin Martin has been playing an important role so far in 2023.

He is spending the majority of his time as a high forward, often used as the linkman between defence and attack, but did go through the middle at stages against the Bulldogs last week.

The Tigers star has had 23 touches in two of his three appearances so far this season, while he was on target for at least 20 before he was subbed out against Adelaide in Round 2 with hamstring awareness.

An undermanned Richmond team will need Martin to have a massive impact in the Friday night clash with the Swans.

Dusty has also kicked at least one goal in 18 of his last 19 games, so we’ll throw in one major for good measure.

Chad Warner to have 25+ disposals and a goal

Chad Warner has remarkably become the most important cog to the Sydney Swans machine.

Warner dined out against Port Adelaide when his teammates largely struggled. He ended the night with 30 touches and two sensational goals including one on the run.

Expect him to deliver again on the Friday night stage at the Adelaide Oval.

Sydney's inside 50 scoring efficiency to be over 55%

The Swans were deplorable moving the ball forward against Port Adelaide in Round 4. The three-pronged attack of Lance Franklin, Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey struggled to work together with McDonald the only member to kick a major.

The Swans 67 inside 50s for just 19 scoring shots which equates to an efficiency of 40.3%. Sydney was well below the league average for 2023 at 48.1% and below their season average of 51.5%.

You can bet the Swans have learnt their lesson and will be more methodical against Richmond when entering their attacking 50 and make the most of their opportunities.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/04/14/the-8-certainties-for-friday-night-gather-round/

[one-eyed]

“HE COULD KICK SIX”: WHY DEPLETED SWANS COULD BE IN TROUBLE AGAINST TIGER FORWARDS

By Lachlan Geleit
SEN
14 April 2023

Sydney coach John Longmire faces some matchup headaches ahead of Friday night’s Gather Round clash against Richmond at the Adelaide Oval.

With the likes of Tom McCartin, Dane Rampe and Paddy McCartin all out injured, the Swans head into the big game with a makeshift defence.

Currently in their named backline, Nick Blakey is the tallest player at 196cm, but the 23-year-old isn’t expected to play on a key Tiger and instead fill a running half-back role.

With Blakey on a flank, Robbie Fox is the second-tallest Sydney defender at 185cm.

This lack of height prompted Kane Cornes and David King to discuss what if anything the Swans could do when it comes to containing Richmond’s talls inside 50 on SEN Breakfast.

Cornes: “I look at Sydney’s outs, (Dane) Rampe, (Paddy) McCartin, (Tom) McCartin and (Lance) Franklin, but I want to focus on the defensive set-up, who do they play?

“I’m looking at their named team … this gives you an indication.

“They’ve got (Braeden) Campbell, Robbie Fox who might be 190 (cm) at a stretch, (Harry) Cunningham who is smaller than Campbell, (Ollie) Florent who is smaller than that, (Jake) Lloyd is tiny and (Nick) Blakey is a skinny, running player.

“Who are Sydney going to play in defence, is it (Joel) Amartey? Is it (Hayden) McLean?”

King: “Amartey has to go back.”

Cornes: “He has to. Has he ever done it?”

King: “They’ll find a way to score, won’t they, it’ll just be going back.

“You’re going to have ask Robbie Fox to play as a key post, he can do that.”

Cornes: “You’ll probably have to ask Blakey.”

King: “No, you can’t play Blakey (as a key defender), his role is perfect (for him).

“I’m looking at it from the other angle, if I’m Jack Riewoldt and I’m desperate for a big performance I’m saying, ‘Hey, they’ve got no one, I could really fill my boots tonight’.

“He could get his season back on track, kick five or six goals.”

Cornes: “The other one as well, Dustin Martin, he has got that glint in his eye.”

King: “Who do they play on Dusty?”

Cornes: “He could kick six, it could be Lloyd it could be Cunningham.

“Like the other game (between Fremantle and Gold Coast), it’s not as significant for the loser, but if Richmond goes one win from their first five games with Melbourne at the MCG next week and their best player (Tom Lynch) out for an extended period, they’re in all sorts of trouble.”

Sydney may hope that Friday night’s weather in Adelaide quells the effect of Richmond’s talls in the air with a high chance of showers set for the evening.

The Swans enter the clash with a 2-2 record while the Tigers come in with one win, one draw and two losses to their name.

The bounce for Friday’s clash is set for 8:10pm (AEST) at the Adelaide Oval.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/04/14/he-could-kick-six-why-depleted-swans-could-be-in-trouble-against-tiger/

[one-eyed]

What Adelaide pubs are Tiger fans going to today/tonight??

Not sure TL but the bold part below was mentioned on the SA Tigers supporter group's facebook page.

ps. The SA Tigers pregame function at the British Hotel is sold out.

Hi Tigers, are there any other functions/ get togethers happening over the w/e? I'm over from WA. I missed out on ticket for pre-game function.
Cheers

Roz Burge Hi Roz. Welcome to SA firstly. Unfortunately there are no other official Tiger partys. I would suggest you could try the AFL live site or there will be plenty of Tiger supporters at the Cathedral Hotel or Strathmore Hotel. Enjoy the game!

https://www.facebook.com/SArichmondsupportersgroup

[one-eyed]

It's going to be a little bit wet tonight especially in the second half again .




https://twitter.com/rfcswallace/status/1646766610970193920

[lamington]

God if it gets wet I hope to dear god they remember what happened when they were handball happy

[one-eyed]

Goal Mansell 

6 all.