Thursday only AFL Round 2 match is between Richmond Tigers and Carlton Blues with the game to be played at MCG. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7.45pm with home team Richmond Tigers currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Richmond Tigers and Carlton Blues.

Round: Round 2, Thursday March 27, 7.45pm
Stadium: MCG
Weather: 23° Rain at times

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Odds Comparison:

Richmond Tigers	1.62	1.62	1.61	1.62	1.62	1.60
Carlton Blues	2.35	2.35	2.35	2.35	2.35	2.35

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

The match that traditionally opened the season between 2007-13 has finally arrived and it will have an extra edge after last year’s elimination final. A bumper crowd is expected at the MCG as both teams look to respond to poor round one performances. Richmond fell to Gold Coast by 18 points at Metricon Stadium in round one, wasting the ball going inside 50 and missing chances. This week the use of key forward Jack Riewoldt will be under the microscope after a lack of entries were directed to the dual Coleman medallist against the Suns. Carlton wasted a 22-point lead against Port Adelaide and was overrun in its season opener, eventually going down by 33 points at Etihad Stadium. Coach Mick Malthouse has complained of a lack of match hardness from a host of Blues who had interrupted pre-seasons.

6. In round 19 last season, Jack Riewoldt was ranked No.48 in the AFL Official Player Ratings. He ended the season ranked No.57 but slipped to No.68 after the Tigers’ season-opener against Gold Coast. The highest ranked Carlton player is Chris Judd (No.23 overall).

Teams:

Richmond Tigers
B: Troy Chaplin, David Astbury, Dylan Grimes
HB: Bachar Houli, Nick Vlastuin, Steven Morris
C: Shaun Grigg, Brett Deledio, Brandon Ellis
HF: Ricky Petterd, Dustin Martin, Jake King
F: Shane Edwards, Jack Riewoldt, Ty Vickery
FOLL: Shaun Hampson, Matt Thomas, Trent Cotchin
I/C: Nathan Foley, Reece Conca, Ben Griffiths, Chris Newman
EMG: Aaron Edwards, Matt McDonough, Sam Lloyd
IN: Dylan Grimes, Jake King
OUT: Matt McDonough (omitted), Alex Rance (omitted)

Carlton Blues

B: Matthew Watson, Michael Jamison, Andrejs Everitt
HB: Chris Yarran, Zach Tuohy, Kade Simpson
C: Ed Curnow, Brock McLean, Bryce Gibbs
HF: Tom Bell, Lachie Henderson, Jeff Garlett
F: David Ellard, Jarrad Waite, Mitch Robinson
FOLL: Robert Warnock, Marc Murphy, Dale Thomas
I/C: Matthew Kreuzer, Kane Lucas, Troy Menzel, Simon White
Emg: Dylan Buckley, Sam Rowe, Jaryd Cachia
In: Kane Lucas, Simon White
Out: Andrew Walker (suspension), Andrew McInnes (omitted)

News:

Richmond have ruled out injured defender Alex Rance ahead of Thursday night’s AFL round-two blockbuster clash with Carlton.

Rance, who has a foot problem, was sixth in last year’s club best-and-fairest award.

Carlton also have an injury concern, with ruck/forward Matt Kreuzer failing to train at full pace on Wednesday.

The Blues have named ruck/forward Sam Rowe as an emergency.

Dylan Grimes comes into the Richmond side for the MCG game, while small forward Jake King has been recalled for Matt McDonough, who has been dropped.

Club champion Daniel Jackson has failed to prove his fitness for a second successive week as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

Carlton have named Kane Lucas and Simon White to replace Andrew McInnes and suspended defender Andrew Walker.

Richmond and Carlton were both losers in round one.

Tigers pair Reece Conca and Brandon Ellis, who were publicly criticised by coach Damien Hardwick after last week’s loss to Gold Coast, have kept their places in the side.

Thursday’s clash is a re-match of last year’s elimination final, which Carlton won in an upset.