North Melbourne v Richmond PreviewLuke Mathews
SEN
15 Aug 2025Both North Melbourne and Richmond will be looking to close out their season with one final win and avoid a dreaded bottom two finish.
The Kangaroos have been one of the most disappointing sides in 2025 with just four wins and are currently 17th. Despite bringing in plenty of experience during the off-season, the Shinboners thought this would be the year they would finally start to climb the ladder. It has proved to be anything but.
They were never really in the game last week against the Giants, going down by 54 points. Luke Parker had one of his better games in royal blue and white by collecting 29 disposals and kicking a goal while Colby McKercher’s excellent end to 2025 continued with 27 disposals and one goal.
Sunday’s match is the Roos’ best chance to claim four points for a while, with their last win coming against Carlton in Round 15. Richmond is one of the only teams that North has a reasonable record against in recent times, having won three of their last four dating back to 2022.
Despite having very low expectations entering the season, the Tigers have had a promising year, winning five matches and losing three by under a goal to currently sit 16th. Although a loss to the Kangaroos would drop them down to 17th, it wouldn’t change their draft hand with the Tigers currently holding North’s first-round pick.
The Tigers, amid some massive defeats, continue to show plenty of fight to end the season, highlighted by a four-point loss to St Kilda at the MCG last weekend. Jack Ross and Rhyan Mansell stood up in a side littered with kids, with Ross finishing with 26 touches while Mansell booted two goals from his 17 disposals.
Adem Yze will be hoping to see more improvement from his budding stars Taj Hotton and Harry Armstrong which the club can build on in 2026.
While a win will mean a lot more to North Melbourne, Richmond’s form has been much better in recent weeks and looks like they could hand the Kangaroos their eighth defeat in a row.
Prediction: Richmond by 15 points.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/08/13/who-will-win-and-why-tips-and-predictions-for-afl-round-23