The first game on Saturday for AFL Round 21 is between Richmond Tigers and Carlton Blues. The opening bounce is set to commence at 1:45pm with the game to be played at MCG. The favourite for the match is home team Richmond Tigers. View our preview and teams for the game between Richmond Tigers and Carlton Blues.
Round: Round 21 1:45 PM August 17, 2013
Stadium: MCG
Weather: 15° A little rain
Featured Bookmakers:
Richmond Tigers $1.32 vs Carlton Blues $3.40 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
Richmond Tigers $1.36 vs Carlton Blues $3.15 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:
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| Richmond Tigers | 1.32 | 1.35 | 1.36 | 1.35 | 1.32 | 1.33 |
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Carlton Blues
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3.40 | 3.20 | 3.15 | 3.20 | 3.40 | 3.40 |
Preview:
Richmond takes the field Saturday looking to win their third straight game and add Carlton to their recent scalps of Hawthorn and Brisbane.
The Tigers are going as well as they have all year and, currently in sixth spot on the ladder – equal points with Collinwood, the Tigers have the opportunity to climb another spot here with Collingwood facing off against Hawthorn Friday night.
Whilst it’s all systems go for the Tigers, the Blues on the other hand have been nothing but disappointing in the past fortnight.
They’ve been playing to keep their season and finals aspirations alive but in losses to both Fremantle and Western Bulldogs, by 36 and 28 points respectively, it appears their interest in playing in September is minimal.
They sit two wins outside of the eight in ninth spot on the ladder and have played themselves into a very tight corner and, with Andrew Carazzo joining Chris Judd and Matthew Watson on the injury list, very little chance of playing themselves out of it.
The last two occasions these sides have met have produced outstanding clashes, with Carlton winning by 4 and in the most recent, back in the opening round of this year, Richmond by 5.
We could see another close encounter if Carlton, who need to win here to keep whatever hope they have of playing in the finals alive, were to produce their best however, given that they have had everything to play for the past fortnight as well, it’s hard to say they will with any great confidence.
Teams:
Richmond Tigers: 
B: S.Morris A.Rance D.Astbury
HB: B.Houli T.Chaplin R.Petterd
C: S.Grigg T.Cotchin D.Jackson
HF: M.White D.Martin B.Ellis
F: L.McGuane J.Riewoldt T.Vickery
FOLL: I.Maric B.Deledio N.Foley
I/C: S.Tuck R.Conca N.Vlastuin D.Grimes
EMG: M.McDonough B.Helbig L.McBean
In: Dylan Grimes, Ricky Petterd
Out: Robin Nahas (omitted), Chris Newman (ankle)
Carlton Blues:
B: J.Bootsma M.Jamison L.Henderson
HB: Z.Tuohy A.McInnes B.Gibbs
C: C.Yarran M.Robinson K.Simpson
HF: E.Curnow A.Walker T.Bell
F: B.McLean L.Casboult H.Scotland
FOLL: R.Warnock E.Betts M.Murphy
EMG: D.Armfield N.Graham T.Menzel
I/C: J.Waite J.Cachia K.Lucas S.Rowe
In: Andrew McInnes, Mitch Robinson, Nick Graham, Tom Bell, Levi Casboult
Out: Matthew Watson (foot), Chris Judd (knee), Sam Rowe (omitted) , Jaryd Cachia (omitted) , Jeff Garlett (glute)
AFL Blues’ Judd to play on in 2014
Reports of Chris Judd possibly not playing on for the 2014 AFL season have been exaggerated, according to the dual Brownlow Medallist himself.
However Judd admitted on Wednesday that the fact he turns 30 next month means he’s now one of those players who will face constant scrutiny over his future.
The 257-game veteran suffered a medial-ligament strain to his knee in last week’s loss to the Western Bulldogs and despite the club’s own website listing the injury as season-ending, Judd is yet to rule out playing again in 2013.
“I’m looking forward to next year and the challenges that await,” Judd told reporters at a cancer charity event.
Pressed on his plans for 2015, Judd added: “My guess is as good as yours.
“But I’m still certainly ready to gear up for next season,” he said.
“It’s natural when players get to 30-plus those sorts of questions get asked.
“It’s not surprising but I wasn’t aware there was a whole lot of speculation about it.”
Judd admits the Blues have a lot of work to do to make themselves a premiership force under first-year coach Mick Malthouse.
“We’re a mediocre team,” he said.
“It has given us some real clarity on where our club and where our list is at.
“I certainly don’t think we’ve been able to band-aid over anything.
“The coaching staff have a really clear picture of that.”
Judd is unsure if the Blues can make the finals in September even by just staying ninth, given the uncertainty over a possible stripping of premiership points for seventh-placed Essendon if the AFL Commission deems the Bombers have brought the league into disrepute over their use of supplements in 2012.
“Before we need to worry about any what-ifs or what’s going to happen down the track, playing better footy and competing harder is our main focus and we need to do that this week against the Tigers (on Saturday at the MCG),” Judd said.
Judd says it will be touch and go if he plays again this year, with three rounds remaining in the home-and-away season.
“I’ll be in the brace for two weeks and then we’ll see after that,” he said.