Friday night’s AFL Round 5 match is between Fremantle Dockers and Richmond Tigers with the game to be played at Patersons Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 8:40pm AEST. The home team Fremantle Dockers are the current favourites in the market for the game. View our live scores, teams and results for the game between Fremantle Dockers and Richmond Tigers.
WHERE AND WHEN: Friday April 26, 8:40pm, Patersons Stadium
Opening Odds:
Fremantle Dockers $1.51 vs Richmond Tigers $2.57 at Sportsbet Australia
Fremantle Dockers $1.48 vs Richmond Tigers $2.65 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
Fremantle take on Richmond this weekend, with both teams coming off losses last weekend and Fremantle looking particularly shaky so far this season. They will be hard to beat at home however, even without key position star Pavlich in the lineup. The Tigers are also struggling with key injuries for this match however, and will definitely be without Morris, Conca, and King. Fremantle will start this match as favourites, mostly because of their home-ground advantage.
Teams:
Fremantle Dockers:
B: Lee Spurr, Zac Dawson, Michael Johnson
HB: Clancee Pearce, Luke McPharlin, Paul Duffield
C: Tendai Mzungu, Ryan Crowley, Danyle Pearce
HF: Hayden Ballantyne, Kepler Bradley, Nat Fyfe
F: Jack Hannath, Chris Mayne, Michael Walters
Foll: Jon Griffin, David Mundy, Stephen Hill
I/C: Michael Barlow, Lachie Neale, Matt De Boer, Garrick Ibbotson
Emg: Hayden Crozier, Alex Silvagni, Nick Suban
IN: Luke McPharlin, Garrick Ibbotson, Jack Hannath
OUT: Nick Suban, Cameron Sutcliffe, Tanner Smith (hamstring)
New: Jack Hannath
Richmond Tigers:
B: Jake Batchelor, Alex Rance, Brad Helbig
HB: Dylan Grimes, Ricky Petterd, Bachar Houli
C: Chris Newman, Trent Cotchin, Matt White
HF: Brett Deledio, Shane Edwards, Dan Jackson
F: Luke McGuane, Jack Riewoldt, Ty Vickery
Foll: Ivan Maric, Dustin Martin, Nick Vlastuin
I/C: Brandon Ellis, Jake King, Shaun Grigg, Chris Knights
Emerg: Aaron Edwards, Robin Nahas, Matt Dea
IN: Matt White, Jake Batchelor, Brad Helbig, Nick Vlastuin
OUT: Shane Tuck (rested), Troy Chaplin (calf), Steven Morris (suspension), Reece Conca (foot)
New: Nick Vlastuin
Richmond to be forced into team changes
With the Richmond AFL bandwagon having the brakes applied last weekend, coach Damien Hardwick admits some tinkering and forced changes beckon before Fremantle do on Friday night.
Richmond’s 3-0 start to the season was brought undone by Collingwood, suggesting the Tigers have a few rough edges to chip off before they can be considered a genuine top-class side.
With another upwardly mobile side in Fremantle looming in Perth, Hardwick must make changes to what has become a settled Tigers line-up.
Key defender Troy Chaplin looks set to miss the match after being concussed against the Magpies, while defender Steven Morris has accepted a one-match suspension for rough conduct.
Hardwick admits there was some soul-searching following the Collingwood defeat, but is confident his side can snap back into the form they showed prior to the match.
“The pleasing thing you’d say is we only got beaten 34 points considering we played our worst game for the year,” Hardwick said.
“We’re 3-1. We didn’t play to the level we required. We address those things. We move on.”
Hardwick said improved tackling was one must for the Tigers, as well as overcoming what he felt was a below-par week of training leading into the Collingwood match.
The Tigers’ tackle numbers lag behind most of the best sides – the potential cost shown in a disappointing third quarter in which Collingwood ran riot.
“Is it (tackling) a technique thing? No. Is it an attitude thing? No doubt,” Hardwick said.
“It’s just an attitude. You come with a mindset you want to tackle and you want to defend, and you get the job done. We’ve just got to get a lot better at that.”
Fremantle go into the match without two injured players who usually torch the Tigers – key forward Matthew Pavlich and ruckman Aaron Sandilands.
Considering the Tigers’ inability to control Collingwood giant Travis Cloke last weekend, Pavlich’s absence particularly should be a blessing – though Hardwick had a warning.
“We’re not overly disappointed (Pavlich) is not playing, let’s put it that way.
“But the thing is when sides change up their forward structure, they become more unpredictable.”
Hardwick is confident Jake King, who limped from the field against Collingwood after being kneed in the lower back, will be fit to travel to Perth.
But hard-working midfielder Nathan Foley, who returned from his long injury absence successfully in the reserves last weekend, won’t be rushed back.
Hardwick says Foley faces at least a fortnight more gaining match fitness before he is considered for the seniors.
