Just four rounds into the AFL season, Richmond and Collingwood are probably playing for their finals hopes.
The Tigers and Magpies share a 1-2 start going into their Friday night blockbuster at the MCG.
Only two teams in the past five seasons have slumped to a 1-3 record and recovered to make the top eight.
And one of those was Carlton last year, finishing ninth and elevated into the finals because of Essendon’s supplements scandal punishment.
Hawthorn climbed out of the 1-3 hole in 2010 and finished seventh.
It is not the scenario that Richmond and Collingwood expected to be facing a month into this season.
The Tigers had high hopes after last season’s first finals appearance since 2001.
While Collingwood finished eighth last year and have reshaped their list, they are also tipped widely to make the finals for the ninth-straight season.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick denies the Tigers lack hunger so far this season.
“We’re going six out of 10,” Hardwick said.
“It’s an enormous game. Every Richmond-Collingwood game is.”
The Tigers have lost seven of their past eight games against the `Pies.
In round four last year, Collingwood key forward Travis Cloke dined out on Richmond with 14 marks and seven goals as the Magpies won by 34 points.
This time around, it is Cloke’s 200th game and he would dearly love another big match against the Tigers.
He has only kicked two goals so far this season and was kept scoreless in last weekend’s 11-point loss to Geelong.
Collingwood small forward Jamie Elliott said the Magpies need to make it harder for defenders to double-team the two-time All-Australian.
“If we let defenders drop off and then go to Trav and then he’s competing two or three on one, he’s not going to take any marks so we’ve got to help him out and he has to help us out as well,” Elliott said.
“The delivery has been bad. I’m guessing on his behalf that he hasn’t competed as well as he could have.
“If we can deliver the footy to him without a two-on-one then he should get more shots on goal.”