Thursday’s AFL 2018 Finals Week 1 match is between Richmond Tigers and Hawthorn Hawks. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:20 local time with the game to be played at MCG. The home team Richmond Tigers are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Richmond Tigers and Hawthorn Hawks.
When: 19:20 | Thursday 06/09/2018
Where: MCG
Preview:
I like the fact this match is on a Thursday night and I’d like to see more Thursday night fixtures in 2019.
Richmond love to get the ball inside their forward 50 and apply extreme pressure on the opposition defence which causes turnovers that they can score from.
Hawthorn’s one advantage will come from the ruck contests and stoppages, so they’ll have to make the most of this on the night.
The Tigers are bidding for back-to-back premierships and they would be feeling extremely confident and at their best, they are four goals better than the next best side particularly on the MCG.
Hawthorn’s forward line has two All Australians in Luke Bruest and Jack Gunston.
Provided the midfield get on top and can supply them enough ball, these two will be the key.
Odds:
Tip: Richmond Tigers at $1.42
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Josh Caddy at $11.00
More Info:
Teams:
Richmond Tigers: 
B: Alex Rance, David Astbury, Dylan Grimes
HB: Jayden Short, Nick Vlastuin, Bachar Houli
C: Shaun Grigg, Reece Conca, Kamdyn McIntosh
HF: Daniel Rioli, Shane Edwards, Jason Castagna
F: Jack Riewoldt, Josh Caddy, Dustin Martin
R: Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, Trent Cotchin
INT: Kane Lambert, Nathan Broad, Jack Higgins, Jack Graham
IN: Kane Lambert
OUT: Brandon Ellis
Hawthorn Hawks: 
B: Jarman Impey, Ben Stratton, James Sicily
HB: Ricky Henderson, James Frawley, Blake Hardwick
C: Jack Gunston, Tom Mitchell, Shaun Burgoyne
HF: Ryan Burton, Jarryd Roughead, Isaac Smith
F: Luke Breust, Ben McEvoy, Paul Puopolo
R: Jonathon Ceglar, Jaeger O’Meara, James Worpel
INT: Ryan Schoenmakers, Harry Morrison, Liam Shiels, Conor Nash
Emer: Daniel Howe, David Mirra, Teia Miles, Brendan Whitecross
IN: James Sicily, James Frawley, Jonathon Ceglar
OUT: Teia Miles (omitted), Kaiden Brand (omitted), David Mirra (omitted)
AFL News:
AFL minor premiers Richmond are rightly favourites to bank back-to-back flags but fellow top-eight clubs believe they stand a puncher’s chance, GWS coach Leon Cameron says.
Ahead of Saturday week’s all-Sydney elimination final, the Giants mentor suggested his seventh-placed club was capable of a deep run this September.
But the feeling is mutual across all finals teams after premiership outsiders Western Bulldogs and Richmond caught fire in consecutive finals series to claim drought-breaking flags.
“Eight sides are probably sitting back plotting this week saying ‘we do all have the teams to go all the way’,” Cameron told Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday.
“There’s a story for everyone. Our story is, if we put it together, absolutely (we) can win finals.
“But I’m (thinking) about next week against the Swans and we’ve got to prove ourselves in a massive final at their home ground.”
Yet there’s no denying the Tigers are the benchmark and a force to be reckoned with, Cameron admits.
“Everyone would acknowledge in the AFL world that Richmond’s sit out in front by a couple of goals,” he said.
“You can’t get away from that. They’re just proven. They’ve gone 18 (wins) and four (losses) and they’re two games clear of everyone else.
“They’re the yardstick. But the (West Coast) Eagles have been fantastic.”
GWS must past their opening-week hurdle, a first final against the Swans since their 36-point qualifying final win in 2016, to potentially get another crack at Richmond after last season’s preliminary final loss.
The Swans have had the wood on their cross-town rivals in recent times, winning both clashes this season.
“They’ve got us twice this year. They got us by a couple of goals at the SCG and three goals at Spotless a couple of weeks ago,” Cameron said.
“They do match up well against us but we feel as though we match up pretty well against them.
“They’ve got the runs on the board so they’re the ones that are probably going to go in pretty heavy favourites.”
GWS could receive a welcome boost for the September 8 match with up to seven players back from injury and available.
That list includes stars Toby Green and Zac Williams, veterans Brett Deledio, Ryan Griffen and Matt de Boer as well as key defenders Aidan Corr and Sam Taylor.
But Cameron maintains bringing them all back at once is probably out of the question.
“They’ll be a number of those guys putting their hand up. Whether they all play or not is a different thing,” he said.
“It’s intriguing because some of these guys who are going to put their hand up in a couple of weeks time have had injury-interrupted years, but at their very best can no doubt contribute to our footy team.”
