VENUE & TIME: MCG, Saturday 14 August, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 204, Carlton 118, Richmond 84, Draws: 2
LAST TIME: Carlton 18.12 (120) def Richmond 9.10 (64), Round 1, 2010 at the MCG
WALKING WOUNDED: Jordan McMahon (ankle) will struggle to play again in 2010, though several of his Richmond team-mates including Nathan Foley (ankle), Richard Tambling (leg), Adam Thompson (groin) and Ben Griffiths (shoulder) have already been ruled out for the season. For the Blues, Brock McLean is a chance to return through the VFL this week after being sidelined since Round 10 because of issues with his knee and hip. The rest of the players on Carlton's injury list - Simon White (hip), Matthew Kreuzer (knee), Kane Lucas (hamstring) and Rhys O'Keeffe (back) - are out indefinitely or for the season,
FORM:
Carlton's Past Five:
Round 19: Win, 23.11 (149) - 9.19 (73) v Essendon, MCG
Round 18: Loss, 9.3 (57) - 15.15 (105) v Collingwood, MCG
Round 17: Win, 15.19 (109) - 11.17 (83) v West Coast, Subiaco Oval
Round 16: Loss, 10.8 (68) - 16.11 (107) v Sydney, Etihad Stadium
Round 15: Loss, 8.10 (58) - 20.6 (126) v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium
Richmond's Past Five:
Round 19: Loss, 11.14 (80) - 16.13 (109) v Melbourne, MCG
Round 18: Win, 15.10 (100) - 11.14 (80) v Adelaide, MCG
Round 17: Loss, 6.9 (45) - 19.13 (127) v Collingwood, MCG
Round 16: Loss, 7.11 (53) - 15.13 (103) v North Melbourne, MCG
Round 15: Win, 15.10 (100) - 11.15 (81) v Fremantle, Etihad Stadium
WHO'S HOT: Daniel Jackson was back to his best for the Tigers against Melbourne last Sunday. The 24-year-old picked up 32 touches - a PB for 2010 - and even managed to avoid being reported. His likely target on Saturday, Chris Judd, was simply magnificent for Carlton last Friday night. Playing under duress with a damaged pectoral muscle, Judd gathered 28 disposals and laid five tackles in the Blues' 76-point win over the Bombers.
WE THINK: The Blues have won their past four against Richmond by an average of 47 points. That run includes two opening-round poundings this year and last from which the Tigers struggled to recover. They're hungry for revenge. If they can recapture their form from mid-June to mid-July when their 2010 revival was in full swing, the Tigers might be a chance. But they've lost three of their last four and may just be off the boil, a bit like their talisman Jack Reiwoldt whose charge to the Coleman Medal appears to be faltering. Carlton bounced back to their best against Essendon last Friday, but there's no guarantee they'll keep it going this week. The Blues have a settled line-up and the incentive of securing a place in the top eight to spur them on. That should be enough, but they'll need to keep Riewoldt quiet. It's Carlton by 26 points.