Tigers or Roos? Richmond vs North Melbourne predictionsThe Tigers and Roos clash at the ‘G on Saturday: can the Tigers send their legends out on a high?
Liam McAllion
Codebet
August 18, 2023 The Richmond Tigers’ finals hopes have faded but they are looking to bounce back against a North Melbourne team who are desperate for their first win since Round 2 at the MCG here.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING AT* North Melbourne have lost their last 19 matches.
* Richmond have failed to cover the line in their last five matches.
* 10 of the last 11 matches at the MCG have gone over the total points line.
North Melbourne haven’t won since Round 2 and although they have looked strong in games, they seem to run out of gas in the last quarter, losing five games this season by nine points or less.
Richmond have lost its last three matches, meaning the Tigers finals hopes are pretty much dead in the water, but the club will be looking to send off triple premiership stars Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin out on a high, with the pair retiring after the game.
The Roos won this matchup this time last year by four points in a thriller at Marvel Stadium, but this game is at the MCG, where North haven’t won a game since 2017.
The Tigers love to use their pace off halfback and space to lead into at the MCG, scoring 90 or more points in seven of the last eight matches there and will take advantage of a weak Roos backline here.
POUNCING TIGERSRichmond’s Shai Bolton has been a star for a number of years now, with his ability to hurt you in so many ways, whether that be with his pace to burst out of packs or his leaping ability to take a specky.
The speedy Tiger has had at least 20+ disposals and two goals in five games this season and will be licking his lips to face the Roos this week who simply don’t have a quick or agile enough backline matchup for him.
Jayden Short has been an absolute multi lock for the past few years with his ability to win the ball off half back and also build clearances in the midfield.
The versatile Tiger also loves playing against North Melbourne, averaging 24 disposals across the past four meetings. Much like Bolton, Short can use his speed and fitness to build disposals at both ends of the ground and frustrate the opposition here.
SHINBONER STRONGEven after 278 games, Jack Ziebell continues to put his body on the line for his club, building his disposals in multiple ways In the process he’s also become a go-to multi choice for 25+ disposals across the past few years.
The former North skipper has cleared the 25+ disposal mark nine times this season, had 32 against Melbourne two weeks ago and much like the amazing final game from Ben Cunnington last week, Ziebell will want to end on a high and his teammates will be looking for him out of defence.
Luke Davies-Uniacke has put this young North side on his back and although they continue to lose, it isn’t because of his efforts in the midfield, averaging 28 disposals, 13 contested, seven clearances and has five goals across his last six matches.
LDU has become the complete midfielder for this side and this has helped his AFL Fantasy score to rocket. LDU’s averaging 113 points across the last six games and will use his bursts of speed to get through packs once again here.
THE PICKTwo of Richmond’s greatest players of all time, Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt, have declared this is their last game and the side will want to do everything they can to help the three-time premiership stars finish on a high.
North very rarely play the MCG and have looked lost in recent years there, not winning at the ‘G since 2017 and the Tigers have beaten St Kilda, Geelong, Sydney and the Bulldogs there this season, who are all top eight contenders.
https://www.codesports.com.au/bet/afl/tips/richmond-vs-north-melbourne-afl-round-23-betting-tips-odds-picks-predictions/
