Where and when: Giants Stadium, Saturday April 6, 4.35pm AEDT
Last time they met: Giants Stadium, round 17, 2018: Giants 11.13 (79) defeated Richmond 10.17 (77)
The home side grabbed a crucial win after holding off the inaccurate Tigers in the final term. Richmond got within a kick with a minute to play but GWS won the centre clearance and controlled the footy until the siren went. Lachie Whitfield starred with 35 possessions at half-back for the Giants, but co-captain Callan Ward took the three Brownlow medal votes for his 32 touches and 10 clearances.
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What it means for GWS: After their opening-round rout of Essendon, the Giants let themselves down last week against West Coast, and must stand up against quality opposition to show where they're really at.
What it means for Richmond: The Tigers must rebound from last week's poor showing against the Pies with Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt missing, and it's a massive chance for the them to silence any doubters of the flag credentials.
How GWS wins: Jeremy Cameron and Harry Himmelberg will enjoy a Rance-free weekend, and the tall targets will be a handful for the Tigers if the Giants can get them enough quality ball.
How Richmond wins: Star Tigers Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin, Dion Prestia and Kane Lambert had a quiet night against Collingwood and rarely play two bad games in a row. Expect a response.
The stat: In last year's clash at Giants Stadium, Richmond small forward Jason Castagna couldn't buy a goal, and finished with 0.5 for the match in the two-point defeat.
The match-up: Phil Davis v Tom Lynch
The GWS co-captain, ranked 120th in the Schick AFL Player Ratings, has always performed well on the former Sun (190th) and with Riewoldt gone and Lynch the main target, Davis will be primed to cut him out of the game. If he gets enough help up the ground, Davis could make it a tough clash for the big Tiger.
Phil Davis is set to resume hostilities with Tom Lynch, with the former Sun in new colours. Picture: AFL Photos
It’s a big week for: Toby Nankervis
The Richmond ruckman is likely to run head on into a fired up and fresh Shane Mumford, who returns from suspension, and the rampaging Giant is coming off the long run. The battle between the two big men for midfield supremacy will be intriguing.
Big call: With the Tigers backline depleted and missing leadership, GWS will take the chance to put 20 goals on the visitors, with Cameron and Himmelberg contributing half of them.
Prediction: GWS by 36 points
