Richmond Tigers v Sydney Swans: Full preview, teams, odds and how to watch Thursday night AFL action

Mick Stirling

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Richmond Tigers v Sydney Swans: Full preview, teams, odds and how to watch Thursday night AFL action image

PREVIEW OF RICHMOND TIGERS V SYDNEY SWANS

First v second on a Thursday night!

For once the AFL scheduling might have got something right with the game of the round in the primo timeslot, but someone try to explain to me why the hell it’s at Etihad Stadium and not the MCG!

Sydney has won 12 of its past 13 games at Etihad so that’s a good sign for the Swans, but the last game they lost there was against the then-reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs, so that may be a bad omen as they come up against the current champs…

But it’s better than getting the Tigers at the ‘G where they’re unbeatable … since Sydney downed them last year … so maybe the Swans would prefer this game at Richmond’s fortress …

…whatever! This should be a beauty, and with an Alex Rance, Lance Franklin match up there’ll be better acting than anything you might get on Netflix.


 

HOW TO WATCH THURSDAY NIGHT AFL ACTION

The bye rounds are over so we’re back to a reasonable number of games on free-to-air television. Seven starts its coverage from 7pm AEST, while Fox Footy (channel 504) starts at 6.30 so they can fit in all the crap Dermott Brereton wants to spout.

CAN I WATCH IT OVERSEAS?

If you’re enjoying a stroganoff lunch in a Moscow café while waiting for Uruguay v Poland to start then you can get some real football action on your phone or tablet via AFL Live Pass or the Foxtel app.
 

AND THE RADIO?

Radio is like television nowadays, only without the picture, so if you don’t actually have a little tranny you can always use your phone and get apps like iHeartRadio or Simple Radio.

If you’re in Russia and do have a ‘little tranny’ then you probably aren’t listening to the radio.

WHAT TIME IS THE GAME ON?

The ball is bounced at 7.20pm AEST, 12.20pm in St Petersburg.

RICHMOND TIGERS’ LINEUP

B: D.Grimes 2, A.Rance 18, D.Astbury 12
HB: N.Broad 35, N.Vlastuin 1, J.Short 15
C: S.Grigg 6, T.Cotchin 9, D.Prestia 3
HF: D.Rioli 17, S.Edwards 10, D.Butler 7  
F: J.Caddy 22, J.Riewoldt 8, J.Castagna 11
R: T.Nankervis 25, K.Lambert 23, D.Martin 4,
Int: J.Higgins 28, R.Conca 30, , B.Ellis 5, J.Graham 34

WHAT’S IN THIS GAME FOR THE TIGERS?

Win and Richmond puts a gap between itself and the chasing pack, especially if West Coast goes down to Adelaide. Lose and all of a sudden the Tigers are right back in the mix, with almost every other top-eight team likely to salute this weekend.

KEY RICHMOND PLAYERS

The Rance v Buddy show is the big one, and there could actually be a panel of judges ready to mark the anticipated diving display. If the long-time All-Australian key defender can lock down the long-time All-Australian key forward the Tigers are well on their way to victory. There’s been a feeling in the air all year that Dustin Martin is saving himself for the business end of the season. Well, we’re in the run home so get ready for Dusty to turn it on.


 

SYDNEY SWANS’ LINEUP

B: N.Smith 40, H.Grundy 39, D.Rampe 24
HB: J.McVeigh 3, A.Aliir 36, J.Lloyd 44 
C: I.Heeney 5, J.P.Kennedy 12, H.Cunningham 7  
HF: G.Hewett 29, T.McCartin 30, W.Hayward 9
F: G.Rohan 16, L.Franklin 23, B.Ronke 25
R: C.Sinclair 18, L.Parker 26, D.Hannebery 4 
Int: K.Jack 15, O.Florent 13, J.Rose 1, Z.Jones 10

WHAT’S IN THIS GAME FOR THE SWANS?

The same equation as the Tigers – win and they’re sitting high and mighty on top of the ladder, lose and a top-four spot becomes a lottery.

KEY SYDNEY PLAYERS

Franklin, obviously, but with Rance and David Astbury likely to make life very hard for the Bud it’s going to fall on the Swans’ small forwards to really step up. Ben Ronke, Tom Papley and Will Hayward have shown they’re a quality mosquito fleet and can fill the gaps when Franklin’s misfiring. It won’t be easy, but if they can do the job this week then they can do it on the biggest stage of all.


 

LAST FOUR MEETINGS

Rd13, 2017, Sydney Swans 12.8 (80) d Richmond  Tigers 10.11 (71) at the MCG
Rd23, 2016, Sydney Swans 25.14 (164) d Richmond Tigers 7.9 (51) at the SCG
Rd8, 2016, Richmond Tigers 14.17 (101) d Sydney Swans 15.10 (100) at the MCG
Rd13, 2015, Richmond Tigers 14.11 (95) d Sydney Swans 11.11 (77) at the SCG
 

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

Richmond starts the week at $1.60 favourites with Sydney not too far behind at $2.35 – not bad for a team that’s won 12 of its last 13 at the venue.

The Tigers love a big last quarter, so for a little something on the side put a lobster on Richmond kicking the first goal of the last quarter, paying $3.20.
 

WHO WILL WIN?

The Swans love Etihad. The Tigers don’t. That’s as simple as we can make it.

Sydney by 17 points.

Mick Stirling