Preview: Richmond v Adelaide
VENUE & TIME: MCG, Sunday 1 August, 1.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 27: Richmond 8, Adelaide 19
LAST TIME: Adelaide 15.14 (104) d Richmond 7.12 (54) at AAMI Stadium, Round 7, 2010
LAST TIME AT VENUE: Adelaide 22.14 (146) d Richmond 14.12 (96), Round 11, 2008
WALKING WOUNDED: The Tigers hope to regain key defenders Will Thursfield (concussion) and Kelvin Moore (leg) for this clash while Matt White could also return after missing last week's loss to Collingwood with a leg injury. However young gun midfielder Trent Cotchin remains suspended while vice-captain Nathan Foley is out for the rest of the season with his on-going ankle problems. The Crows could again be without injured skipper Simon Goodwin (ankle) while Andrew McLeod is definitely out for another fortnight with knee problems. However Trent Hentschel is available again after a hamstring strain while Brett Burton (ankle) and Chris Knights (side strain) could return.
FORM:
Tigers past five:
Round 13: Richmond 15.15 (105) d Brisbane 12.14 (86) at Gabba
Round 14: Richmond 14.5 (89) d Sydney 12.13 (85) at MCG
Round 15: Richmond 15.10 (100) d Fremantle 11.15 (81) at Etihad Stadium
Round 16: Richmond 7.11 (53) lost to North Melbourne 15.13 (103) at MCG
Round 17: Richmond 6.9 (45) lost to Collingwood 19.13 (127) at MCG
Crows past five:
Round 13: Adelaide 16.21 (117) d Melbourne 11.7 (73) at AAMI Stadium
Round 14: Adelaide 19.10 (124) d Essendon 5.10 (40) at AAMI Stadium
Round 15: Adelaide 17.15 (117) d West Coast 14.11 (95) at Subiaco
Round 16: Adelaide 11.8 (74) d Geelong 9.9 (63) at AAMI Stadium
Round 17: Adelaide 9.15 (69) lost to Port Adelaide 13.10 (88) at AAMI Stadium
The Tigers great run of form when they won five of six matches between Rounds 10 and 15 after losing the first nine games of the season has come to a shuddering halt after heavy losses to North Melbourne and Collingwood in the past fortnight. And the Crows' winning run also came to an end last week. After four straight wins to revive their finals hopes, the Crows went down to arch rivals Port Adelaide in the showdown and now find themselves two games adrift of the top eight in tenth spot and needing to win all five remaining matches to have any chance of making the finals for a sixth straight season.
WHO'S HOT: Richmond youngster Daniel Connors has resurrected his AFL career in spectacular fashion since returning to the senior line-up in Round 12 following his eight-match suspension for drunken behaviour following the Round 3 loss to Sydney. Playing as a sweeper across half-back Connors has averaged 25 disposals in his six matches since then and played a key role in the Tigers' four match winning streak between Rounds 12 to 15 in what were his first four games after serving his suspension.
Adelaide youngster Rory Sloane has also really begun to establish himself in the line-up in recent weeks. After playing just one game in his debut season last year, Sloane has played the past eight games for the Crows with the 20-year-old having kicked five goals in the past three weeks.
WE THINK: Much will depend on how Adelaide recovers both physically and mentally from last week's devastating loss to Port Adelaide when it comes to assessing this game. At their best the Crows should be able to beat the young Tigers given that Richmond has beaten Adelaide just once - the infamous Terry Wallace 'basketball crap' game in 2006 - from their past 14 matches dating back to 2000. But that loss to Port has all but ended the Crows' slim finals hopes leaving them two games adrift of eighth spot and with a tough run home. As a result there is a distinct possibility the Crows, who are missing some of their most experienced players, may well experience a drop-off in intensity this week which would open the door for the young and improving Tigers. And although Richmond has gone down heavily in the past fortnight, the Tigers have enjoyed a great record against non-Victorian sides this year with all five of their wins for the season having come against such opposition, including recent home wins over Sydney and Fremantle - two sides that are travelling much better than Adelaide. Richmond by 10 points.