The third of Saturday’s AFL Round 16 matches is between Richmond Tigers and Gold Coast Suns. The game is set to commence at 4:40pm local time with the game to be played at Cazaly Stadium. home team Richmond Tigers go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Richmond Tigers and Gold Coast Suns.

Round: Round 16 4:40 PM July 13, 2013
Stadium: Cazaly’s Stadium
Weather: 25° Overcast

Featured Bookmakers:

Richmond Tigers $1.26 vs Gold Coast Suns $3.85 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Richmond Tigers $1.23 vs Gold Coast Suns $4.10 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:

Richmond Tigers	1.26	1.24	1.23	1.24	1.26	1.27
Gold Coast Suns	3.85	4.00	4.10	4.00	3.85	3.90

Preview:

Having had won their previous four matches in comprehensive style against teams placed toward the bottom of the competition ladder, the Tigers started solid favourites last week against North Melbourne.

After the first break however, North dominated and registered a 62 point win.

Poor kicking by the Tigers, particularly in the second and third quarters where they booted 2.13 didn’t help their cause and is something they’ll have to remedy this week.

Their opponents this week have lost their past three games since a surprise win over North in Round 11.

Last week they lost to arch rivals Brisbane 116 – 83 but it was only the second half of the final quarter that the Lions were able to put the decision beyond doubt.

Whilst the Suns sorely missed Gary Ablett last week, especially late in game it should give confidence to the rest of their roster that they can compete without him.

Surprisingly, Richmond has never beaten the Gold Coast, losing both clashes to date by 15 and 2 points.

Richmond, who sit sixth on the ladder, need to win this game as their next three rounds consist of Fremantle, Sydney and Hawthorn and, with Collingwood, Port, West Coast and North breathing down their neck, this is a must win match.

Teams:

Richmond Tigers:
B: Steven Morris, Alex Rance, Ricky Petterd
HB: Chris Newman, Troy Chaplin, Reece Conca
C: Shaun Grigg, Trent Cotchin, Daniel Jackson
HF: Aaron Edwards, Shane Edwards, Jake King
F: Ty Vickery, Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin
Foll: Ivan Maric, Brett Deledio, Nathan Foley
Int: Matt White, Matthew Arnot, Brandon Ellis, Nick Vlastuin
Emerg: Liam McBean, Matt Dea, Sam Lonergan

In: I.Maric, R.Petterd, M.Arnot
Out: O.Stephenson, J.Batchelor, M.Dea

Gold Coast Suns:
B: Trent McKenzie, Sam Day, Sebastian Tape
HB: Greg Broughton, Rory Thompson, Tom Murphy
C: Matt Shaw, Gary Ablett, Danny Stanley
HF: Jarrod Harbrow, Steven May, Aaron Hall
F: Campbell Brown, Josh Hall, Luke Russell
Foll: Tom Nicholls, David Swallow, Jaeger O’Meara
Int: Jared Brennan, Harley Bennell, Andrew Boston, Dion Prestia
Emerg: Alex Sexton, Maverick Weller, Joel Wilkinson

In: G.Ablett, S.Tape, J.Hall
Out: J.Wilkinson, D.Gorringe (shoulder), T.Sumner

Tigers face up to Cairns AFL hoodoo

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin wants his men to proceed with caution in Saturday’s AFL clash with Gold Coast, instead of bombing away like they did against North Melbourne.

The Tigers were being talked about as top-four contenders going into last week’s clash, but Richmond’s pride took a hit with a 62-point loss to the 10th-placed Kangaroos.

Sixth-placed Richmond have suffered embarrassing losses in home games in Cairns against the Suns in the past two years and face another challenge on Saturday with the game’s best player Gary Ablett set to return to the Gold Coast side.

“We’ve just got to be smarter with the way we go inside 50,” Cotchin told a media conference on Tuesday.

“We kicked it to their spare quite a bit.

“You can’t allow a player, probably (Lachie) Hansen was the one who had the most impact, to drop off like that and take so many uncontested marks.

“There’ll be a few little changes to the way we’ve been playing, especially last week with our bombing inside-50.

“We’ll be okay.”

Cotchin says the Tigers are determined to learn from their mistakes up north. Richmond’s three-year deal to play Gold Coast in Cairns expires this weekend and, so far, the Tigers have a 0-2 record.

“We’ve let ourselves down in the past couple of years but we’re a different team. Aside from last week, we’ve really come a long way,” Cotchin said of the Tigers, who are on track for their first finals appearance since 2001.

“The conditions up in Cairns are a little bit different to down in Melbourne. We’ve prepared for that.

“We’ve had two years of it now and we know what to expect.”

Cotchin was among his side’s better players last week but the 2012 All-Australian’s numbers are down this season, averaging 25.38 possessions per game compared to 27.55 last year.

The Brownlow runner-up is also hoping to have a greater impact on the scoreboard after booting only three goals in 13 matches.

The 23-year-old said he’d been hanging around half-forward less and spending more time in defence in 2013.

Richmond face tough battles against top-five sides Fremantle, Sydney and Hawthorn after their clash with 13th-placed Gold Coast.

“We’ve got to make sure this week is a building block to playing the most consistent and quality footy that we have all season,” Cotchin said.

Cotchin is confident Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin will re-sign with the club.

“It’s a great place to be. We’re building towards something,” said Cotchin, who will celebrate his 100-game milestone on Saturday.