Match Preview: Richmond v Collingwood
10:30:41 AM Tue 27 June, 2006
Andrew Wu
Exclusive to afl.com.au
RICHMOND v COLLINGWOODWHERE & WHEN: MCG, 2:10pm (AEST), Sunday, July 2
TV & RADIO: Channel 9 (Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane), Fox Footy (Perth), Triple M (Melbourne), 3AW, ABC
OUR COVERAGE: live scores, stats & audio, Game Day News Desk, match replay (24 hour delay)
HEAD TO HEAD: Richmond 82, Collingwood 108, 1 Draw.
LAST TIME: Richmond 13.15 (93) bt Collingwood 8.10 (58), MCG, Round 8, 2005.
TAB Sportsbet: Richmond $3.55, Collingwood $1.25
Centrebet: Richmond $3.70, Collingwood $1.28
THE MEDICAL ROOM: The Tigers have been dealt a cruel blow with midfielder Mark Coughlan joining fellow ACL victim Will Thursfield on the sidelines for the rest of the season. However, the Tigers could welcome back gun forward Matthew Richardson from a wrist injury, while ruckman Trent Knobel (ankle) also faces a fitness test. The Magpies are enjoying a much friendlier run with injury this year and could welcome back Brodie Holland (Achilles). Ben Johnson (leg soreness) is a chance of facing the Tigers, as is ruckman Guy Richards (Achilles), however Blake Caracella (neck) is on the long-term injury list and Nick Maxwell (leg) will return in three to five weeks time.
THE STORY SO FAR: After beginning 2006 in the worst possible way with a massive hiding at the hands of the Western Bulldogs, Tigers supporters would have been very happy if they were offered a 6-6 win-loss record after 12 rounds. The Tigers are one of two teams to have defeated Adelaide this season but were responsible for ending Hawthorn's run of outs last week in Tasmania. Had they won as they were expected to, the Tigers would have finished the split round in seventh position. The Magpies are firmly entrenched within the top four after disposing of reigning premier Sydney last week. The win was the Magpies' first against a genuine premiership contender and came after a shocking loss to Melbourne on Queen's Birthday.
THE WHITEBOARD: Terry Wallace has developed a reputation of being able to pick apart opposition game plans and devising strategies to counter them. He was responsible for ending Essendon's unbeaten run in 2000 and earlier this season asked his players avoid kicking to a contest to overcome Adelaide. What will Plough have in store for the Magpies? Mick Malthouse's men have a tremendous work ethic and bat deep. While not overly quick in the midfield, the Magpies have a very imposing forward line, where Anthony Rocca and Chris Tarrant loom large. Throw in two classy small forwards in Leon Davis and Alan Didak, and the occasional forward foray by champion skipper Nathan Buckley, and that equates to one outstanding attack.
Wallace is an astute tactician but he does not mind high scoring, as long as his team emerges on top. He was forced to adopt extraordinary tactics against the Crows, because his team's confidence was shot after a mauling by Sydney, but having enjoyed the week off, Wallace may ask his troops to run and attack. The loss of Coughlan will hurt his midfield, but that could be offset by the return of Richardson. Should the star Tiger still be unavailable, Wallace may employ a smaller forward line in the hope of exploiting a lack of pace in key defensive pair Simon Prestigiacomo and Shane Wakelin. If he does this, then Patrick Bowden and Kayne Pettifer will be crucial components.
THE VERDICT: The Pies downed the reigning premier last week and the Tigers were beaten by a side which many do not think will feature in September this year. Malthouse's men, apart from a failure against Melbourne, have been consistent in 2006, while Richmond wins unexpectedly but also has a habit of turning in some real stinkers. A victory is not beyond the Tigers' reach but the Magpies would have to put in a pretty poor effort to drop this one. Collingwood by 18 points.
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