The second of today’s AFL Round 4 matches will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Richmond Tigers and Collingwood Magpies. The opening bounce is set to commence at 2:10pm local time with the home team Richmond Tigers currently the favourites in what looks to be a close match on paper. View our live scores and results for the game between Richmond Tigers and Collingwood Magpies.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Saturday April 20, 2:10pm
Opening Odds:
Richmond Tigers $1.87 vs Collingwood Magpies $1.97 at Sportsbet Australia
Richmond Tigers $1.77 vs Collingwood Magpies $2.08 at Luxbet Australia
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Preview:
It’s Richmond vs Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday, kicking off at 2.10pm. This match looks like one of the tightest encounters of the weekend, with Richmond finally getting a chance to test themselves on the 2013 stage. It will not be easy for them however, on such a big stage against such a big club, who they haven’t beaten since Round 19, 2007. The Magpies will be without Darren Jolly for this match however, and will also be weakened with the loss of veteran Ben Johnson with a calf injury. Look for great mid-field clashes and a close match-up between Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt and Collingwood’s Travis Cloke in what looks like a close contest.
Richmond Tigers:
B: Steven Morris, Alex Rance, Troy Chaplin
HB: Dylan Grimes, Ricky Petterd, Bachar Houli
C: Chris Newman, Trent Cotchin, Reece Conca
HF: Brett Deledio, Shane Edwards, Dan Jackson
F: Luke McGuane, Jack Riewoldt, Tyrone Vickery
Foll: Ivan Maric, Dustin Martin, Shane Tuck
I/C: Brandon Ellis, Jake King, Shaun Grigg, Chris Knights
Emg: Jake Batchelor, Robin Nahas, Nick Vlastuin
IN: No change
OUT: No change
Collingwood Magpies:
B: Nathan Brown, Alan Toovey, Ben Reid
HB: Marty Clarke, Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien
C: Steele Sidebottom, Dane Swan, Dale Thomas
HF: Jamie Elliott, Travis Cloke, Quinten Lynch
F: Ben Sinclair, Tyson Goldsack, Sam Dwyer
Foll: Ben Hudson, Scott Pendlebury, Jarryd Blair
I/C: Alex Fasolo, Jordan Russell, Josh Thomas, Paul Seedsman
Emg: Brent Macaffer, Ben Kennedy, Jack Frost 45
IN: Thomas, Seedsman
OUT: B.Johnson (calf), Frost
Best start in 18 years for Richmond Tigers
Richmond’s best AFL season start in 18 years has been quickly put aside as the Tigers set themselves for a month-long test of whether they’re truly finals material.
Defender Dylan Grimes said consistent performances to beat Carlton, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs in the first three rounds were heartening.
But none of those clubs were finalists last year or have won more than one game so far this season.
Which makes Richmond’s upcoming run against Collingwood, Fremantle in Perth, Geelong and Port Adelaide in Adelaide a better gauge.
“It is a big month, there’s no doubting that,” Grimes told reporters on Tuesday.
“It’s good for us in the sense it puts the first three rounds behind us and really gives us something to focus on going forward.
“But it will be a real test for us, because the ultimate test for a good club is how consistent they can be on game day.
“To be playing against the best teams in the competition will be a real benchmark.”
The Tigers are clearly excited about Saturday’s bumper MCG clash with Collingwood, which shapes as perhaps the club’s biggest game in a decade.
“The heat’s on us this week,” Grimes said.
“Collingwood will want to come out and make a big statement so the challenge for us is to be consistent.”
He’s relishing the battle between the Tigers’ in-form midfield and their decorated Collingwood counterparts such as Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury.
Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin’s bright season start has made him outright Brownlow Medal favourite, while Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio were every bit as impressive against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
“I’m extremely excited to see how they’ll go,” Grimes said.
“We’ve had some midfielders that have been in electric form.”
Grimes, who missed huge chunks of the past two seasons with major hamstring injuries and is yet to play more than eight AFL games in succession, is confident those troubles are behind him after surgery late last year.
He expects to steadily build form as he gains match fitness after making his AFL return in round two.
