Richmond Tigers v Essendon Bombers: Full preview, teams, odds and how to watch Friday night's AFL action

Mick Stirling

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Richmond Tigers v Essendon Bombers: Full preview, teams, odds and how to watch Friday night's AFL action image

PREVIEW OF RICHMOND TIGERS V ESSENDON BOMBERS

Another massive crowd should pack the MCG to kick off a big weekend in football, with only three teams locked into AFL finals with just two rounds to go.

Friday night may not be an official Dreamtime clash but Essendon’s dreams are definitely on the line as they fight to keep their September hopes alive against Richmond.

The Tigers are secure in the top two, which guarantees an MCG clash in the first week of finals, so they’d love nothing more than to keep their intimidating record-winning streak at the home of football intact.

Hard to believe that just 24 months ago these two teams sat 13th and 18th on the ladder.

WHAT TIME IS THE GAME ON?

The ball is bounced at 7.50pm AEST.

HOW TO WATCH FRIDAY NIGHT’S AFL ACTION

The best way to watch the game is front row, level two of the Great Southern Stand, but if you can’t manage that then settle down in front of the telly with a glass of red and a bowl of cashew nuts and turn on Channel 7 from 7.30.

If you’ve forked out for Foxtel then you’ll probably want to get your money’s worth by tuning in to Fox Footy (channel 504) from 7pm for an extra half hour of Dermott Brereton. Why would you do that? Apparently there are people that eat pet hair too. It takes all types, eh?

CAN I WATCH IT OVERSEAS?

Cousin decided to get married in Phuket and rented the dodgiest ‘resort’ in Thailand for you to stay at? Feign stomach cramps and say you’ve got to go into town to the doctors, then find an Aussie-themed bar with pay TV and kick back for a couple of hours. If you can talk a couple of the bridesmaids to go with you then even better!

Alternatively watch the game on your device under the bamboo table at the wedding reception through the Foxtel app or AFL Live Pass.

AND THE RADIO?

If it’s your wedding and you think the new missus might notice you watching your screen, just pop an EarBud in your right-hand head hole and keep the little lady on the left.

Triple M, 3AW, AFL Nation, SEN – if they cover football they’ll be calling this game.

RICHMOND TIGERS’ LIKELY LINEUP

B: 2 Dylan Grimes, 18 Alex Rance, 15 Jayden Short
HB: 1 Nick Vlastuin, 12 David Astbury, 14 Bachar Houli
C: 3 Dion Prestia, 9 Trent Cotchin, 6 Shaun Grigg
HF: 11 Jason Castagna, 10 Shane Edwards, 17 Daniel Rioli
F: 22 Josh Caddy, 8 Jack Riewoldt, 28 Jack Higgins
R: 25 Toby Nankervis, 4 Dustin Martin, 34 Jack Graham
Int: 5 Brandon Ellis, 33 Kamdyn McIntosh, 35 Nathan Broad, 27 Sam Lloyd

WHAT’S IN THIS GAME FOR THE TIGERS?

Richmond can’t drop out of the top two but that doesn’t mean they haven’t got plenty to play for. Locking in home finals is one thing, but if they lose their sense of invincibility at the MCG they lose one of their strongest weapons – intimidation is a powerful thing. Essendon will provide the perfect lead-in game to September: a huge crowd, hot contest and an opponent in do-or-die mode.

KEY RICHMOND PLAYERS

Damien Hardwick will be keen to make sure Jack Riewoldt doesn’t repeat his 10-goal performance from last week, because this Tigers outfit isn’t about individuals. Daniel Rioli, Jason Castagna, Shane Edwards and Jack Higgins kicked one goal between them against the Suns, and while it’s not all about scoring with Richmond’s small forwards, ‘Dimma’ would love to see them hit the boards a bit more this week.

ESSENDON BOMBERS’ LIKELY LINEUP

B: 41 Ben McNiece, 18 Michael Hurley, 11 David Zaharakis
HB: 42 Adam Saad, 9 Brendon Goddard, 45 Conor McKenna,
C: 35 Matt Guelfi, 7 Zach Merrett, 3 Darcy Parish
HF: 1 Andrew McGrath, 28 Mitch Brown, 25 Jake Stringer
F: 43 Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 26 Cale Hooker, 32 Travis Colyer
R: 2 Tom Bellchambers, 5 Devon Smith, 23 David Myers
Int: 4 Kyle Langford, 10 Aaron Francis, 12 Mark Baguley, 21 Dyson Heppell

WHAT’S IN THIS GAME FOR THE BOMBERS?

Everything! Lose and it’s bye-bye September. Win and it’s ‘form team of the competition’ and ‘Essendon could be this year’s Richmond or Western Bulldogs’. Mind you, they still might not make it to the play offs, but what a glorious run they’re having.

KEY ESSENDON PLAYERS

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti plays the high-pressure small forward role even better than the Tigers’ rabid brigade, and if he can get close to the effort he put in against the Saints there’ll be scoring opportunities opening up left, right and centre for his teammates. Michael Hurley will need to be on song to shut down Riewoldt, but more important will be the small defenders at his feet.

LAST FOUR MEETINGS

Rd 11, 2018, Richmond Tigers 17.12 (114) d Essendon Bombers 6.7 (43) at the MCG
Rd 10, 2017, Richmond Tigers 11.15 (81) d Essendon Bombers 10.6 (66) at the MCG
Rd 17, 2016, Richmond Tigers 16.6 (102) d Essendon Bombers 11.17 (83) at the MCG
Rd 10, 2016, Richmond Tigers 16.9 (105) d Essendon Bombers 10.7 (67)  at the MCG

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

Essendon may be in good form, but going for 20 in a row at the ‘G sees Richmond open hot favourites. The Tigers are $1.30 for the win with the Bombers $3.66. Considering Richmond has won the past seven against Essendon, this may not be a good time to go for the long shot.

The adrenaline will be pumping though and it’s likely the first goal will go the Bombers’ way. Devon Smith bursting out of the middle and slotting one from 50 to start proceedings just seems right, and at $23 for the former Giant to kick the first major you’d be crazy not to put a lazy $10 down.

WHO WILL WIN?

There’s a lot of love for Essendon of late and they’re definitely wearing the ‘in-form team’ monicker, but they’ve dropped two of their last six and three of those wins have been against St Kilda, Fremantle and Gold Coast, so there may be a bit of romance tinting the goggles.

injuries haven’t helped their cause this week either.

The Tigers meanwhile just keep getting the job done and are only getting closer to full strength.

Richmond by 37 points.

Mick Stirling