The ability of the Richmond defenders to generate swift, efficient transition out of the back half, will be an important factor in Saturday’s Round 2 clash with the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
The Bulldogs scored five goals from forward-50 stoppages in their impressive opening round victory over West Coast due to their intensity at the contest.
“They do put lots of pressure on down there. They had 25 tackles (in the forward-50 area) last week, so it’s something we’ve got to be aware of and hopefully we can counteract that,” Richmond assistant coach Brendon Lade said on this week’s ‘Spotlight’ show.
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“I think they had about 24 (forward-50 stoppages) last week . . . that normally correlates to how many tackles you have.
“The big thing for us is to make sure we intercept that ball and get it out as quick as we can.
“There’ll be times when we’ll have to run through, and there’ll be times where we’ll kick our way through it as well.
“We’ll give the players the decision to make out there, whatever they think is the best. But if it’s not going well, we’ll make a decision up in the box.”
Find out all about Richmond’s Round 2 pre-game activities this Saturday
Up the other end of the ground, star Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt shapes as a major problem for the Bulldog backs.
Riewoldt has kicked 21 goals in his past five games against the Dogs, and he’s coming off an impressive four-goal performance in the opening round victory over Carlton.
Where: MCG
When: Saturday, April 11, 1.45pm (EST)
TV coverage: Fox Footy (live from 1.30pm), Channel 7 (90-minute delay from 3pm)
Radio coverage: Triple M, 3AW, ABC
The Richmond team
B: Chaplin, Batchelor, Rance
HB: Houli, Vlastuin, Grimes
C: Ellis, Cotchin, McIntosh
HF: Morris, Edwards, Lambert
F: Riewoldt, Lloyd, Griffiths
R: Maric, Martin, Hunt
IC: Grigg, Newman, Miles, Gordon
Em: Astbury, Petterd, Knights
In: Kane Lambert
Out: Brett Deledio (suspended)
New: Kane Lambert, 23, 178cm, 75kg, from Northern (U18), Northern Blues (VFL), Williamstown (VFL)
See how the Western Bulldogs will line up, presented by Sportsbet.com.au
RICHMOND v WESTERN BULLDOGS RECENT HISTORY
Round 3, 2014, Etihad Stadium
Richmond 2.4 3.4 9.6 15.8 (98)
W. Bulldogs 5.4 9.5 11.9 15.10 (100)
Goals – Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Griffiths 2, Vickery 2, Cotchin, Gordon, Grigg, Jackson, King, Martin, Petterd.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Cotchin 28, Jackson 23, Thomas 21, Conca 18, Martin 18, Morris 18.
Goals – W. Bulldogs: Jones 3, Crameri 2, Giansiracusa 2, Jong 2, Cooney, Dalhaus, Higgins, Hunter, Macrae, Stringer.
Leading possession-getters – W. Bulldogs: Macrae 30, Boyd 29, Liberatore 24, Cooney 22, Murphy 19, Crameri 18, Higgins 18, Picken 18.
Round 13, 2013, Etihad Stadium
Richmond 4.8 8.13 13.16 17.19 (121)
W. Bulldogs 3.3 5.9 5.11 8.13 (61)
Goals – Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Conca 2, Grigg 2, Vickery 2, Cotchin, A. Edwards, Foley, Houli, Jackson, Martin, Vlastuin, White.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Deledio 25, Houli 25, Jackson 23, Martin 23, Conca 21, Grigg 21.
Goals – W. Bulldogs: Stringer 2, Boyd, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Hunter, Jones, Murphy.
Leading possession-getters – W. Bulldogs: Griffen 38, Boyd 34, Macrae 27, Cooney 23, Murphy 23.
Round 3, 2013, Etihad Stadium
Richmond 4.9 7.11 13.14 20.15 (135)
W. Bulldogs 2.1 3.3 6.5 10.8 (68)
Goals – Richmond: Riewoldt 5, Deledio 3, McGuane 3, S. Edwards 2, Martin 2, Houli, Jackson, Knights, Maric, Tuck.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Cotchin 36, Martin 35, Deledio 27, Grigg 26, Houli 26, Tuck 22, Jackson 20.
Goals – W. Bulldogs: Jones 4, Cooney 2, Dalhaus, Giansiracusa, Griffen, Stevens.
Leading possession-getters – W. Bulldogs: Griffen 30, Cross 23, Murphy 22, Wallis 22, Stevens 19.
Round 20, 2012, MCG
Richmond 6.4 10.10 17.16 22.18 (150)
W. Bulldogs 2.3 6.4 12.5 12.8 (80)
Goals – Richmond: Riewoldt 5, S. Edwards 4, Cotchin 3, McGuane 3, Grigg 2, King 2, Martin, Nahas, Newman.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Cotchin 35, Deledio 31, Martin 30, Houli 25, S. Edwards 22, Newman 22, Tuck 21, King 20, Riewoldt 20.
Goals – W. Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 3, Lake 2, Skinner 2, Addison, Dickson, Hooper, Smith, Wallis.
Leading possession-getters – W. Bulldogs: Boyd 33, Picken 23, Wallis 21, Murphy 20, Smith 20.
Round 8, 2011, Etihad Stadium
Richmond 1.4 6.8 11.8 18.10 (118)
W. Bulldogs 7.2 12.4 18.11 23.15 (153)
Goals – Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Miller 3, Foley 2, Martin 2, Vickery 2, Graham, Helbig, Jackson, King, Nason.
Leading possession-winners – Richmond: Nahas 31, Deledio 30, Grigg 26, Martin 26, Conca 22, Cotchin 22, Jackson 22.
Goals – W. Bulldogs: Gilbee 6, Minson 4, Grant 3, Jones 2, Liberatore 2, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Hargrave, Moles, Murphy, Ward.
Leading possession-winners – W. Bulldogs: Boyd 32, Cross 28, Cooney 27, Ward 27, Hargrave 25, Liberatore 25, Hudson 22, Murphy 21, Sherman 20.
Richmond v Western Bulldogs head-to-head
- Richmond and the Western Bulldogs have played 150 times with the Tigers winning 78, losing 70 and drawing two.
- Richmond last defeated the Bulldogs in Round 13, 2013 at Etihad Stadium – 17.19 (121) to 8.13 (61).
- Richmond has won just three and drawn one of its past 13 matches against the Bulldogs.
- Richmond and the Bulldogs have never met in a league final.
- Richmond’s best winning sequence against the Bulldogs is 8, from 1927-31.
- Richmond’s longest losing sequence against the Bulldogs is 8, from 1960-64.
- Richmond’s highest score against the Bulldogs is 27.18 (180) in Round 7, 1980 at Western Oval.
- Richmond’s lowest score against the Bulldogs is 2.11 (23) in Round 13, 1958 at Western Oval.
- Richmond’s greatest winning margin against the Bulldogs is 115 points in Round 18, 1980 at Waverley Park.
- Richmond’s greatest losing margin against the Bulldogs is 115 points in Round 1, 2006 at Etihad Stadium.
- The most goals kicked by a Richmond player in a match against the Bulldogs is 11 by Michael Roach in Round 7, 1980 at Western Oval.
- Richmond’s biggest-ever crowd against the Bulldogs is 68,447 in Round 11, 1974 at the MCG.
