The second of Saturday AFL Round 1 matches is between Gold Coast Suns and Richmond Tigers. The game is set to commence at 6.40pm with the game to be played at Metricon Stadium. Home team Gold Coast Suns go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Gold Coast Suns and Richmond Tigers.
Round: Round 1, Saturday March 15, 6.40pm
Stadium: Metricon Stadium
Weather: 29° Mostly sunny.
Featured Bookmakers:
Gold Coast Suns $2.70 vs Richmond Tigers $1.48 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
Gold Coast Suns $2.70 vs Richmond Tigers $1.48 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison:
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| Gold Coast Suns | 2.70 | 2.70 | 2.70 | 2.70 | 2.70 | 2.50 |
| Richmond Tigers | 1.48 | 1.47 | 1.48 | 1.47 | 1.48 | 1.53 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Tips: Richmond to win.
Preview:
TWO OF the most exciting young teams in the competition will match up in round one at Metricon Stadium. Although Richmond is a couple of years ahead in terms of development – they played finals last season for the first time since 2001 – the Suns will see themselves as a good chance of sneaking a win here. Although the midfield match-up between Gary Ablett and Trent Cotchin will rightfully take most of the attention, there are a number of young stars littered all over the ground. Dustin Martin, Reece Conca and Brandon Ellis should square off nicely against Dion Prestia, Harley Bennell and Jaeger O’Meara. It is also young Sun Jack Martin’s first appearance.
LAST FIVE TIMES
R16, 2013, Richmond 6.17 (53) d Gold Coast 6.8 (44) at Cazalys Stadium
R16, 2012, Gold Coast 13.12 (90) d Richmond 13.10 (88) at Cazalys Stadium
R17, 2011, Gold Coast 12.13 (85) d Richmond 9.16 (70) at Cazalys Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. After two previous losses at Cairns’ Cazalys Stadium, Richmond broke its duck against Gold Coast last time, winning by nine points.
2. No team laid less tackles in 2013 than Richmond, who were ranked 18th with just 56 tackles per game. Gold Coast were ranked 13th with 60 per game.
3. Richmond was one of the best marking teams in the competition last year, ranked third, while the Suns struggled and were ranked 16th.
4. Gold Coast is starting to make Metricon Stadium a legitimate home ground advantage, winning six of its 11 matches there in 2013. They had won only two of 19 in 2011-12.
5. Richmond has not played at Metricon Stadium since 2009, and have not won there since 1991, when they defeated the Brisbane Bears by seven points.
6. Gary Ablett starts the season ranked No.1 on the AFL Official Player Ratings with a big gap back to Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield. Trent Cotchin is the highest placed Tiger at No.36.
Teams:
Gold Coast Suns:
B: Matthew Warnock, Steven May, Greg Broughton
HB: Sean Lemmens, Clay Cameron, Trent McKenzie
C: Matt Shaw, Gary Ablett, Jarrod Harbrow
HF: Aaron Hall, Tom Lynch, Jack Martin
F: Sam Day, Charlie Dixon, Brandon Matera
Fol: Tom Nicholls, Michael Rischitelli, Dion Prestia
I/C: David Swallow, Danny Stanley, Andrew Boston, Jaeger O’Meara
Emg: Alex Sexton, Timmy Sumner, Luke Russell
Richmond Tigers:
B: Troy Chaplin, Alex Rance, David Astbury
HB: Bachar Houli, Chris Newman, Steven Morris
C: Shaun Grigg, Dustin Martin, Brandon Ellis
HF: Ricky Petterd, Reece Conca, Nick Vlastuin
F: Ben Griffiths, Ty Vickery, Jack Riewoldt
Fol: Shaun Hampson, Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio
I/C: Shane Edwards,Nathan Foley, Matt Thomas, Matt McDonough
Emg: Aaron Edwards, Nathan Gordon, Sam Lloyd
