Friday only AFL Round 4 match is between Richmond Tigers and Collingwood Magpies with the game to be played at MCG. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7.50pm with away team Collingwood Magpies currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Richmond Tigers and Collingwood Magpies.
Round: Round 4, Friday April 11, 7.50pm AEST
Stadium: MCG
Weather: 19° Rain.
Preview:
Round 4 of the AFL is here already, with Richmond taking on Collingwood in the first clash of the weekend. Kicking off at 7.50PM on Friday night, the MCG will come alive as these traditional rivals take the field. The Magpies will be favourites to take the points here, with lots of people starting to doubt the Tigers after an average start to the 2014 season.
Collingwood are not travelling much better this season, however, with only a single win to their name. In fact, with the Tigers in 12th ladder position and the Magpies in 13th, both teams have a lot to prove heading into this match. Collingwood definitely have recent history on their side, however, having beaten the Tigers on the last six occasions. It will take a mammoth effort by Richmond to turn this tide around, especially after losing to the Western Bulldogs in Round 3.
Teams:
Richmond Tigers:
B: T.Chaplin, D.Astbury, D.Grimes
HB: B.Houli, N.Vlastuin, S.Morris
C: S.Grigg, D.Jackson, R.Conca
HF: D.Martin, T.Vickery, S.Lloyd
F: S.Edwards, J.Riewoldt, B.Griffiths
FOLL: S.Hampson, M.Thomas, T.Cotchin
I/C: M.Arnot, B.Ellis, N.Gordon, C.Newman
EMG: M.McDonough, N.Foley, O.Stephenson
IN: S.Hampson, S.Lloyd, M.Arnot
OUT: R.Petterd, O.Stephenson, J.King
Collingwood Magpies:
B: A.Toovey, L.Keeffe, N.Maxwell
HB: H.Lumumba, J.Frost, A.Fasolo
C: S.Sidebottom, S.Pendlebury, C.Young
HF: B.Macaffer, T.Cloke, J.Blair
F: J.Elliott, J.White, T.Goldsack
FOLL: B.Grundy, D.Swan, D.Beams
I/C: J.Thomas, T.Langdon, J.Witts, L.Ball
EMG: M.Clarke, Q.Lynch, B.Kennedy
IN: J.Thomas, J.Witts
News:
Glamour forwards aren’t what they used to be, according to Richmond AFL coach Damien Hardwick.
That hasn’t stopped them being the focus of fans’ attention.
Friday night’s round-four clash between Richmond (1-2 win-loss) and Collingwood (1-2) at the MCG will feature two of the game’s classic star forwards.
Richmond’s two-time Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt has kicked six goals in three games. Hardwick has attracted heat from AFL greats in the media over his decision to play the 2010 All-Australian in various roles rather than staying deep in the goalsquare.
Collingwood’s Travis Cloke, the league’s leading contested-mark player in 2013, has taken only two contested grabs and kicked two goals in the first three rounds.
Hardwick says key forwards have to play various roles and fans and media alike need to get used to it.
“I’ll name him full forward in the paper so it makes everyone happy,” Hardwick told a media conference on Thursday.
“Unfortunately these days the way the game’s played there’s six forwards. Where those guys fall is generally where they are.
“We don’t chain them to the goalsquare any more.
“It’s a giant bubble as such.
“Jack plays deep. He’s leading the marks inside-50 in the competition.
“He kicked goals last week so we’re pretty pleased with the way he’s going.
“He’s only played three games. He didn’t have a pre-season as such so he’s going to get better as the season goes on.”
Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott is confident the same applies to Cloke, as long as his teammates help out.
Elliott, who booted five goals in last week’s loss to Geelong, says poor delivery has been a handicap for Cloke.
Small forward Elliott says the Magpies need to make it harder for defenders to double-team the two-time All-Australian.
“We’ve just got to engage our defenders,” Elliott said on Thursday.
“If we let defenders drop off and then go to Trav and then he’s competing two or three on one, he’s not going to take any marks so we’ve got to help him out and he has to help us out as well.
“The delivery has been bad. I’m guessing on his behalf that he hasn’t competed as well as he could have.
“If we can deliver the footy to him without a two-on-one then he should get more shots on goal.”
The Tigers plan to play David Astbury on Cloke, with Troy Chaplin as another option.
“If we have enough pressure on the ball the delivery’s not going to be good, because if that entry level ball is good, Cloke’s going to beat the majority of his opponents,” Hardwick warned.
Hardwick denies the Tigers lack hunger after last year’s breakthrough finals appearance, their first since 2001.
“We’re going six out of 10,” Hardwick said.
“It’s an enormous game. Every Richmond-Collingwood game is.”
Richmond have lost their past six matches against Collingwood. Cloke kicked seven goals in last year’s win by the Magpies in round four.
