TonyK
CibbuanoRound five preview: North Melbourne v Richmond
April 24th 2009 15:12
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Saturday 25 April, 7.20pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 145, North Melbourne 64, Richmond 80, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: North Melbourne 20.7 (127) def Richmond 13.8 (86), Round 2 2008 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: North Melbourne has won seven of its past ten against Richmond with five of those wins coming at Etihad Stadium.
FORM: North Melbourne snapped a two-game losing streak with a hard-fought 12-point win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium last Sunday and now has two wins from its four matches this season. Richmond is winless in 2009 and sunk to a new low last Sunday with an eight-point loss to last year’s wooden spooners at the MCG.
MEDICAL ROOM: North Melbourne will be without classy midfielder Daniel Wells (hip) for at least another week while Matt Campbell is expected to return in round eight after injuring his hamstring in the win over the Bombers. Liam Anthony (foot) will miss another two weeks while Jesse Smith is sidelined indefinitely with a hamstring injury. For the Tigers, Mark Coughlan will play his first AFL match in almost three years after two knee reconstructions and ongoing hamstring problems. Veteran forward Nathan Brown will miss the clash against the Kangaroos with a groin injury which is expected to sideline him for two weeks. Boom recruit Ben Cousins (hamstring) is at least two weeks away from being considered for selection. Andrew Raines (knee) and Trent Cotchin (Achilles) will return via the VFL this weekend while former skipper Kane Johnson remains on the long-term injury list with a knee injury.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Daniel Jackson vs. Brent Harvey
Harvey returned to form against the Bombers, helping himself to a game-high 33 possessions, two goals and six inside 50’s.
The North Melbourne skipper has averaged 26 disposals per game in his last four matches against Richmond and looms as the main man the Tigers must contain if they are going to open their account for 2009.
Jackson often gets the job of tagging the opposition’s best midfielder and will most likely be given the task of running with Harvey on Saturday night in what shapes as being a crucial match-up.
The 23-year-old will need to pay close attention to Harvey and not give him any time or space at the stoppages otherwise the North Melbourne veteran will punish the Tigers with his ability to break the lines, kick goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Brady Rawlings vs. Brett Deledio
The last time these two sides met in round two last year Deledio was his side’s best with 27 possessions and one goal.
Deledio has struggled to find his best form so far this season and the Tigers will need him to lift and have an impact on the contest as a goal-kicking midfielder that breaks the lines.
The 21-year-old has been particularly quiet when the game has been at its hottest - averaging just 3.5 possessions per game in the first quarter.
Deledio has struggled to break a tag in 2009 and his task won’t get any easier on Saturday night with Rawlings, who has claimed several big scalps during his 185-game career, expected to follow the Richmond midfielder all night.
If the Tigers are going to be any chance of securing a much-needed win they need Deledio to impose himself on the contest early.
Lachlan Hansen vs. Matthew Richardson
Richardson was one of the few Richmond players that had an impact against the Demons, finishing the match with 19 possessions, 15 marks and 4.5.
Hansen has the height and the tank to match Richardson and will most likely be given the task of matching up on the Tigers veteran.
The 34-year-old received very little support last weekend with first-gamer Andrew Collins and Nathan Brown the only other multiple goal kickers.
If the Tigers are going to secure a rare win against the Kangaroos they need the likes of Mitch Morton and Jack Riewoldt to step up as Richardson can’t be expected to do it all on his own.
It is also vital for the Tigers that they move the football quickly into the forward line to give Richardson and co. the best chance of having an impact as they simply don’t have the skills to play a possession brand of football.
Luke McGuane vs. David Hale
Hale was his side’s most productive forward in the win over Essendon, booting four goals.
McGuane has been Richmond’s best defender so far this season and looms as the obvious candidate to match-up on the Kangaroos big man.
The 22-year-old is giving away 10cms to Hale so if the Roos can get the football quickly into the forward line Hale is a chance to kick a bag.
McGuane will need his teammates to apply relentless pressure all over the ground and deny the Kangaroos the use of the corridor otherwise Hale will lead his side to victory with a match-winning haul.
VERDICT: North Melbourne will go into this match with plenty of confidence given their record against Richmond in recent times. Expect them to maintain their dominance over Terry Wallace’s men on Saturday night with the Tigers simply lacking the foot skills and the ability to play four quarters of consistent football to get over a Kangaroos side that knows how to win even when it isn’t playing to the best of its capabilities. Roos by 28 points.
NORTH MELBOURNE v RICHMOND
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Josh Gibson, Scott Thompson, Daniel Pratt
HB: Levi Greenwood, Lachlan Hansen, Scott McMahon
C: Leigh Harding, Michael Firrito, Gavin Urquhart
HF: Ben Warren, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
F: Lindsay Thomas, Aaron Edwards, David Hale
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Jack Ziebell, Andrew Swallow
I/C: Ed Lower, Brady Rawlings, Sam Power, Adam Simpson
Emg: Josh Smith, Daniel Harris, Ben Ross
In: Greenwood, Edwards
Out: Josh Smith, Matt Campbell (hamstring)
New: Levi Greenwood (Port Adelaide Magpies)
RICHMOND
B: Chris Newman, Kelvin Moore, Alex Rance
HB: Jordan McMahon, Luke McGuane, Dean Polo
C: Matthew Richardson, Shane Tuck, Andrew Collins
HF: Richard Tambling, Jack Riewoldt, Joel Bowden
F: Adam Pattison, Mitch Morton, Brett Deledio
Foll: Angus Graham, Daniel Jackson, Nathan Foley
I/C: Mark Coughlan, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Robin Nahas, Matt White
Emg: Shane Edwards, Jay Schulz, Will Thursfield
In: Coughlan, Pattison, Tambling, Oakley-Nicholls
Out: Nathan Brown (groin), Tom Hislop, Troy Simmonds, Daniel Connors
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 145, North Melbourne 64, Richmond 80, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: North Melbourne 20.7 (127) def Richmond 13.8 (86), Round 2 2008 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: North Melbourne has won seven of its past ten against Richmond with five of those wins coming at Etihad Stadium.
FORM: North Melbourne snapped a two-game losing streak with a hard-fought 12-point win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium last Sunday and now has two wins from its four matches this season. Richmond is winless in 2009 and sunk to a new low last Sunday with an eight-point loss to last year’s wooden spooners at the MCG.
MEDICAL ROOM: North Melbourne will be without classy midfielder Daniel Wells (hip) for at least another week while Matt Campbell is expected to return in round eight after injuring his hamstring in the win over the Bombers. Liam Anthony (foot) will miss another two weeks while Jesse Smith is sidelined indefinitely with a hamstring injury. For the Tigers, Mark Coughlan will play his first AFL match in almost three years after two knee reconstructions and ongoing hamstring problems. Veteran forward Nathan Brown will miss the clash against the Kangaroos with a groin injury which is expected to sideline him for two weeks. Boom recruit Ben Cousins (hamstring) is at least two weeks away from being considered for selection. Andrew Raines (knee) and Trent Cotchin (Achilles) will return via the VFL this weekend while former skipper Kane Johnson remains on the long-term injury list with a knee injury.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Daniel Jackson vs. Brent Harvey
Harvey returned to form against the Bombers, helping himself to a game-high 33 possessions, two goals and six inside 50’s.
The North Melbourne skipper has averaged 26 disposals per game in his last four matches against Richmond and looms as the main man the Tigers must contain if they are going to open their account for 2009.
Jackson often gets the job of tagging the opposition’s best midfielder and will most likely be given the task of running with Harvey on Saturday night in what shapes as being a crucial match-up.
The 23-year-old will need to pay close attention to Harvey and not give him any time or space at the stoppages otherwise the North Melbourne veteran will punish the Tigers with his ability to break the lines, kick goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Brady Rawlings vs. Brett Deledio
The last time these two sides met in round two last year Deledio was his side’s best with 27 possessions and one goal.
Deledio has struggled to find his best form so far this season and the Tigers will need him to lift and have an impact on the contest as a goal-kicking midfielder that breaks the lines.
The 21-year-old has been particularly quiet when the game has been at its hottest - averaging just 3.5 possessions per game in the first quarter.
Deledio has struggled to break a tag in 2009 and his task won’t get any easier on Saturday night with Rawlings, who has claimed several big scalps during his 185-game career, expected to follow the Richmond midfielder all night.
If the Tigers are going to be any chance of securing a much-needed win they need Deledio to impose himself on the contest early.
Lachlan Hansen vs. Matthew Richardson
Richardson was one of the few Richmond players that had an impact against the Demons, finishing the match with 19 possessions, 15 marks and 4.5.
Hansen has the height and the tank to match Richardson and will most likely be given the task of matching up on the Tigers veteran.
The 34-year-old received very little support last weekend with first-gamer Andrew Collins and Nathan Brown the only other multiple goal kickers.
If the Tigers are going to secure a rare win against the Kangaroos they need the likes of Mitch Morton and Jack Riewoldt to step up as Richardson can’t be expected to do it all on his own.
It is also vital for the Tigers that they move the football quickly into the forward line to give Richardson and co. the best chance of having an impact as they simply don’t have the skills to play a possession brand of football.
Luke McGuane vs. David Hale
Hale was his side’s most productive forward in the win over Essendon, booting four goals.
McGuane has been Richmond’s best defender so far this season and looms as the obvious candidate to match-up on the Kangaroos big man.
The 22-year-old is giving away 10cms to Hale so if the Roos can get the football quickly into the forward line Hale is a chance to kick a bag.
McGuane will need his teammates to apply relentless pressure all over the ground and deny the Kangaroos the use of the corridor otherwise Hale will lead his side to victory with a match-winning haul.
VERDICT: North Melbourne will go into this match with plenty of confidence given their record against Richmond in recent times. Expect them to maintain their dominance over Terry Wallace’s men on Saturday night with the Tigers simply lacking the foot skills and the ability to play four quarters of consistent football to get over a Kangaroos side that knows how to win even when it isn’t playing to the best of its capabilities. Roos by 28 points.
NORTH MELBOURNE v RICHMOND
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Josh Gibson, Scott Thompson, Daniel Pratt
HB: Levi Greenwood, Lachlan Hansen, Scott McMahon
C: Leigh Harding, Michael Firrito, Gavin Urquhart
HF: Ben Warren, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
F: Lindsay Thomas, Aaron Edwards, David Hale
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Jack Ziebell, Andrew Swallow
I/C: Ed Lower, Brady Rawlings, Sam Power, Adam Simpson
Emg: Josh Smith, Daniel Harris, Ben Ross
In: Greenwood, Edwards
Out: Josh Smith, Matt Campbell (hamstring)
New: Levi Greenwood (Port Adelaide Magpies)
RICHMOND
B: Chris Newman, Kelvin Moore, Alex Rance
HB: Jordan McMahon, Luke McGuane, Dean Polo
C: Matthew Richardson, Shane Tuck, Andrew Collins
HF: Richard Tambling, Jack Riewoldt, Joel Bowden
F: Adam Pattison, Mitch Morton, Brett Deledio
Foll: Angus Graham, Daniel Jackson, Nathan Foley
I/C: Mark Coughlan, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Robin Nahas, Matt White
Emg: Shane Edwards, Jay Schulz, Will Thursfield
In: Coughlan, Pattison, Tambling, Oakley-Nicholls
Out: Nathan Brown (groin), Tom Hislop, Troy Simmonds, Daniel Connors
| 18 |
| Vote |
