Saturday’s second AFL Round 15 match is between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Richmond Tigers with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 2:10pm local time with away team Richmond Tigers currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Richmond Tigers.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Saturday 6 July, 2:10pm
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Preview:
North Melbourne take on Richmond at Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm on Saturday. Richmond will be expected to win this one, with a 9-4 record so far this season and a few nice wins over recent weeks. While the Roos had a big 88 point win against GWS last week, the Tigers had an even more significant victory by beating the Saints by 64 points at the MCG. It’s almost impossible to look past Richmond for this one, with form on their side against what is a struggling North Melbourne outfit.
Teams:
North Melbourne Kangaroos:
B: Michael Firrito, Scott D. Thompson, Aaron Mullett
HB: Lachlan Hansen, Nathan Grima, Shaun Atley
C: Sam Gibson, Ben Cunnington, Ryan Bastinac
HF: Daniel Wells, Drew Petrie, Levi Greenwood
F: Leigh Adams, Robbie Tarrant, Brent Harvey
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell
Int: Brad McKenzie, Aaron Black, Jamie Macmillan, Taylor Hine
Emerg: Will Sierakowski, Jordan Gysberts, Majak Daw
In: B.Cunnington
Out: L.Thomas (suspension)
Richmond Tigers:
B: Steven Morris, Alex Rance, Bachar Houli
HB: Chris Newman, Troy Chaplin, Jake Batchelor
C: Shaun Grigg, Trent Cotchin, Daniel Jackson
HF: Shane Edwards, Aaron Edwards, Jake King
F: Ty Vickery, Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin
Foll: Orren Stephenson, Brett Deledio, Nathan Foley
Int: Matt White, Brandon Ellis, Nick Vlastuin, Reece Conca
Emerg: Ricky Petterd, Matthew Arnot, Matt Dea
In: N.Vlastuin
Out: M.Arnot
Tigers know how North Melbourne feel
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick knows how North Melbourne feel.
Having been on the receiving end of several narrow, heartbreaking losses last season, Hardwick is wary of what North are capable of – and conscious the Kangaroos are in many ways a 2013 version of the 2012 Tigers.
“I think we’re both similar clubs which have followed the same path in a way,” Hardwick said on Thursday.
“We started at a relatively similar time, me and Brad. Both teams have been going head-to-head and like-for-like and it’s a contest we look forward to.”
North have lost four matches by less than a goal this season, and six by less than 16 points.
Their 5-8 win-loss record belies their quality, according to Hardwick, who spent much of Thursday addressing North’s scoring power with his players ahead of their clash on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.
“They can score heavily and that’s the thing we went through today – they can really get up and going,” Hardwick said.
“They’re a good side, they just haven’t had a couple of results play their way. They could quite easily be where we’re sitting.”
The Tigers are on the precipice of a top four spot, having won four in a row on their way to a 9-4 record which puts them within sight of their first finals appearance since 2001.
Richmond’s Shaun Grigg and hardman Jake King will play their 100th AFL matches against the Kangaroos.
But Hardwick will again be without ruckman Ivan Maric, who will at least miss this week after a groin problem flared late last week to rule him out of the Tigers’ big win over St Kilda.
“The big thing for him is just getting his body right – we’re just going to have to keep strengthening that core area,” Hardwick said.
“Every year around this time of year, he’s going to need a couple of weeks off to get the remainder of his year up and going.
“He’ll be fine – next week he should be available to play.”
It means the Tigers will use Orren Stephenson and Ty Vickery in tandem against North’s ruck star Todd Goldstein.