Sunday, Aug 9 2009, 2.10pm, MCG
Season to date
Richmond is five wins, one draw and 12 losses from 18 rounds. Currently sitting one spot behind the Swans in 12th, the Tigers are on 22 points with a percentage of 81.44.
The season started disastrously for Richmond with a round one beating by Carlton to the tune of 83 points. Star recruit Ben Cousins also did a hammy in a truly forgettable day.
Cousins didn’t return till round seven and by round 12, Jade Rawlings had taken over as interim coach following the axing of Terry Wallace in the wake of round 11’s 68-point thrashing by the Western Bulldogs. They’d only won twice under Wallace in 2009.
The Tigers have enjoyed a revival of sorts under the 31-year-old former Coburg VFL coach, winning against West Coast in round 12, but losing three subsequent games (though one was to St Kilda).
However, last week’s thrilling victory over the Demons came after Richmond defeated Bombers the previous round – the Tigers’ first back-to-back victories of the season.
Recent form
Round 14 – Richmond 13.7 (85) lost to Adelaide 15.12 (102), Gold Coast Stadium
Round 15 – Richmond 12.17 (89) lost to Carlton 16.13 (109), MCG
Round 16 – Richmond 12.13 (85) drew with North Melbourne 12.13 (85), MCG
Round 17 – Richmond 15.11 (101) d Essendon 14.12 (96), MCG
Round 18 – Richmond 12.14 (86) d Melbourne 12.10 (82), MCG
Last time they met
Sydney Swans 14.10 (94) d Richmond 11.9 (75), round 6, 2009, SCG
The Swans lead at every change to register a comfortable 19-point win over a fast-finishing Tigers under then-coach Terry Wallace.
Having trailed by 27 points at half time, the Tigers got close early in the final quarter when Jack Riewoldt found himself in space 20m out only for Marty Mattner to lay on one of the tackles of the season. It was a decisive moment and the Swans kicked consecutive goals to seal the win.
Rhyce Shaw with 25 possessions, Brett Kirk (24) and Lewis Roberts-Thomson (25 possessions) shone while Michael O'Loughlin and Barry Hall kicked two goals apiece.
For the Tigers, Daniel Jackson with 29 possessions, Joel Bowden (28) and Shane Tuck (27) impressed, while the improving Richard Tambling and Andrew Collins’ also caught the eye with two goals each and 23 and 24 possessions respectively.
The venue: MCG
In the 18 games between the two sides since 1980, this fixture has yielded 10 wins to Richmond and eight to the Swans. In the last five encounters, it’s 3-2 to the Swans at this ground. The Tigers have played their last four games at the 'G.
The coach: Jade Rawlings
Richmond’s interim coach’s philosophy is built on honesty and accountability. On the pitch, pressuring the opponent across the ground has been stressed although he hasn’t radically changed the Wallace game-plan.
This year, Rawlings coached Richmond's VFL affiliate Coburg as well as helping Craig McRae as a development coach at Tigerland before getting the senior job on an interim basis. Rawlings played 145 games at Hawthorn, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs from 1996-2006. He was the Bulldogs' leading goal-kicker in 2004.
Strengths
Reinvigorated under the leadership of Rawlings, and with star recruit Ben Cousins showing some of his Brownlow medal-winning form in midfield in recent weeks, Richmond has a solid defensive six, plenty of run and good ball-users in midfield, led by Cousins, Brett Deledio and Richard Tambling.
Missing in action
Jarrod Silvester (knee) – test
Andrew Collins (hip) – assess
Matthew Richardson (hamstring) – season
Nathan Foley (ankle) – season
Kayne Pettifer (knee) – season
Trent Cotchin (hip) - season
The key:
The Swans will be desperate to win for Micky O’Loughlin – the club legend celebrates 300 games for the Bloods on Sunday. The Swans found their mojo last week, effectively choking St Kilda’s midfield and applying fierce pressure in a display that harked back to the Swans’ glory years.
Evading the Swans’ stranglehold at the stoppages will be the key. You’d fancy the Swannies if Darren Jolly gets first hands on the footy and good ball-users like Adam Goodes, Rhyce Shaw and Ryan O’Keefe find the Sherrin. Up forward Jesse White is in promising form too.
However, the Tigers should be quicker across the wide open spaces of the 'G. And if Cousins evades the tags and the Tigers’ hard-ball getters hold sway, there’s a chance of making it three consecutive wins for Richmond. This will be a tight contest.
The young gun: Brett Deledio
The midfielder has played all 18 games this season. Under Rawlings, after an honest appraisal of his output and accountability, the 22-year-old has improved greatly in his defensive work. Deledio is averaging 25.2 disposals a game since round 12, improved his contested possession stats and racked up a season-high seven tackles against the Bombers in round 17. Deledio was averaging 22.4 possessions a game before the coaching change but it’s his change in attitude that’s been the difference.
The big questions
Can the Tigers win in a daylight fixture? Who gets the job of shutting down Ben Cousins? What effect will the milestones of Michael O’Loughlin’s 300th and Cousins’ 250th have on the respective teams? Was the Swans’ improved effort against the Saints a one-off last week?
What they’re saying
"He's been really good – he's stood up when we've needed it, and I guess his presence in the midfield has really added another dimension to where we want to go to for the club..” - Richmond skipper Chris Newman on Ben Cousins.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
