TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy, 7 mate (northern states)
WHY WATCH
The AFL's mollycoddling over clash jumpers has overshadowed the build up to what looms as a classic finals encounter.
But it doesn’t get bigger than this for South Australian football – a home Elimination Final at Adelaide Oval on a perfect Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers enter this year's finals series on the back of nine straight wins. They face a Port Adelaide side that spent the first half of the season on top of the ladder, hit the wall, and now appear ready to push deep into the finals.
One winner will be one step closer to a premiership dream, the other will be shattered.
Both clubs are pretty much at full strength. This promises to be a drama-filled afternoon.
MATCH NOTES
- The winner will play an away semi-final against the loser of the Sydney v Fremantle clash. The loser is eliminated from the finals
- Last time they met, the Tigers beat the Power by 20 points at Etihad Stadium in Round 17
- Richmond is aiming to win its first final since 2001 and third since 1982
- It's a big day for Richmond senior assistant coach Mark Williams - who coached Port's 2004 flag and is entrenched in the club's history. Tigers senior coach Damien Hardwick and forwards coach Brendon Lade played in that premiership, while Richmond players Troy Chaplin and Matt Thomas were recruited from the Power
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is not worried about Richmond's links to the Power.
"They have got plenty of knowledge. But the competition says you have got knowledge on every team you play against."
"It doesn't count for much. On game day, it will come down to the 22 (players) that take on their 22 and the best side will come out on top."
LAST FIVE GAMES
Port Adelaide
L 6 Collingwood
L 26 Sydney
W 9 Gold Coast
W 103 Carlton
L 8 Fremantle
Richmond
W 27 Greater Western Sydney
W 18 Essendon
W 10 Adelaide
W 26 St Kilda
W 3 Sydney
LAST FIVE BETWEEN TEAMS
Rich, Rich, draw, Rich, Port
KEY INJURIES
Port Adelaide
Sam Colquhoun (Knee) Season
Jarrad Redden (Knee) Season
Brent Renouf (Knee) Season
Aaron Young (Foot) Test
Richmond
Ben Darrou (Hip) Season
Brett O'Hanlon (Hip) Season
Matt Thomas (Knee) Season
COLD HARD FACT
Since 2007 the fifth placed team has been upset by eighth only twice: Adelaide lost to Collingwood in 2008 and Richmond lost to Carlton in 2013.
FINAL WORD
All the hype has been about Richmond this week. They have made the finals in consecutive season for the first time since 1975.
The tremendous win over Sydney was its ninth in a row, and that proves the Tigers deserve to be playing in September.
It's been an emotional roller coaster ride for Richmond, which didn't know whether it even make the eight until last Saturday evening.
On the other hand, Port Adelaide has had its finals berth assured for months, and that must hold some sort of advantage.
The battle of the key forwards will be intriguing, and could well decide the game.
Jay Schulz has enjoyed a consistent season, and the Power can rely on him to kick at least a couple of goals.
At the other end, Jack Riewoldt has had a patchy season but loves to stand up and kick a bag when it matters. He has booted 10 goals in the last two games and is a real threat to the Power.
It's been a laudable surge from the Tigers, but we think the home team will have too much run, and the sheer effort Richmond has spent on getting to eighth spot will suddenly take its toll on Sunday.
For the first time in a long, Damien Hardwick's team will confront an opponent whose motivation is as great as its own.
Chad Wingard, Ollie Wines and Robbie Gray are examples of Port Adelaide players ready and waiting to rip a finals game apart.
We think it will be tight in the first half, before Port go on a scoring blitz and win by 35 points.