SUMMARY
Friday night's blockbuster preliminary final between Richmond and Collingwood is 38 years in the making. The two powerhouses haven't met in the post-season since the Tigers hammered the Pies by 81 points in the 1980 Grand Final, and this one is set to nudge a six-figure crowd. For all of Collingwood's defiance of its lengthy injury list, it must defeat the reigning premier to have any hope of winning a first flag in eight years. The midfield battle will be titanic – Martin, Cotchin, Prestia and Lambert v Pendlebury, Treloar, Sidebottom and Adams – but can the Pies withstand Richmond's famed pressure to kick a winning score?
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Friday, September 21, 7.50pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR?
Round six: Richmond 16.17 (113) d Collingwood 10.10 (70) at the MCG
Nathan Buckley's Magpies led at stages throughout each of the first three quarters, and as late as the 22-minute mark of the third term, but never by more than four points. The Tigers took an 11-point edge into the fourth quarter and kicked three goals in the next nine minutes to jump out to a 30-point lead that was never seriously challenged.
Round 19: Richmond 16.9 (105) d Collingwood 12.5 (77) at the MCG
There were many similarities in this one to the clubs' earlier season clash, with the Pies near enough for much of the day and still within four points at three-quarter time. But the Tigers put paid to the Magpies' challenge with the opening five goals of the last term. Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt each kicked three goals and David Astbury was excellent down back.
LAST FIVE TIMES
R19, 2018, Richmond 16.9 (105) d Collingwood 12.5 (77) at the MCG
R6, 2018, Richmond 16.17 (113) d Collingwood 10.10 (70) at the MCG
R2, 2017, Richmond 14.15 (99) d Collingwood 11.14 (80) at the MCG
R20, 2016, Richmond 14.8 (92) d Collingwood 11.11 (77) at the MCG
R2, 2016, Collingwood 13.9 (87) d Richmond 12.14 (86) at the MCG
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Richmond
1. Dylan Grimes looms as the man to stop Magpie match-winner Jordan De Goey. Grimes is tall enough to defend key forwards, but also quick enough to man smaller opponents. De Goey is somewhere in between those two things and this could be Grimes' biggest challenge in 2018.
2. The Tigers aren't traditionally a strong contested ball side, but there's no reason they can't be, especially when it is a priority against Collingwood. Greater Western Sydney's best period last Saturday night came when it briefly wrested control from the Pies in clearances and contested possessions.
3. Richmond rarely tags through the midfield, but Damien Hardwick has an ideal option in Dion Prestia if he wants not only to curb one of the Magpies' Fab Four (Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar, Steele Sidebottom and Taylor Adams), but also hurt them the other way.
Collingwood
1. Levi Greenwood is the popular choice to tag Dustin Martin and has been playing in defence, so may follow the 2017 Brownlow medallist everywhere he goes. But could the Pies instead opt for Tom Langdon or Tyson Goldsack to go to Martin when he sneaks into attack?
2. Richmond kicks 47 per cent of its goals from general play, as opposed to set shots, and the Pies allow their opposition to score 39 per cent of goals that way (ranked fifth-best in the AFL). Collingwood's pressure and fall-of-the-ball work will need to be sharp.
3. David Astbury was an unlikely thorn in the Pies' side in the clubs' round 19 meeting. He kept Mason Cox to two goals and helped himself to 21 disposals, seven marks and five rebound 50s. Cox will have to be more defensively diligent this time around.
THE SIX POINTS
1. The final quarter was the difference between the sides in both games this season. In round six, Richmond led by 11 points at three-quarter time before kicking eight goals to three. Then in round 19, the Tigers' advantage was just four points at the final change, only for them to boot five goals to one.
2. There is a huge contrast in styles between the teams. Collingwood is the highest-ranked disposal team this season, with an average of 401.2, while Richmond's 367.7 per game ranks 14th.
3. The Tigers are placed second for goals per game this season with 14.1, and the Magpies' 13.3 ranks third. Richmond is second for inside 50s and the Magpies third, while the Tigers are second for marks inside 50, but Collingwood is mid-table at equal eighth.
4. Richmond and Collingwood have met in 16 finals, with the yellow and black army winning nine games to seven, including the last six since 1969.
5. The Tigers are aiming for their fifth consecutive post-season win, something they haven't achieved since 1973-75. If they win, it will be back-to-back Grand Final appearances for the first time since 1973-74. Collingwood last made the Grand Final in 2011.
6. The ruck battle could go a long way to deciding this match. Magpie Brodie Grundy is the top-ranked ruckman at No.5 overall in the Schick AFL Player Ratings, while Tiger Toby Nankervis is only 63rd.
WHAT THE COACHES SAY
Damien Hardwick: "I thought they were the best side we've played this year, with their pressure and their ability to hunt around the contest. We knew it was going to be a fight coming in and that was certainly what we got for close to three quarters. It was very much a grind for those three quarters and then we managed to get the game a little bit more on our own terms." – after the round six victory over Collingwood.
Nathan Buckley: "They've been the best team since the last one to two months before last year's finals and they finished top this year. Everyone's waiting for them to fall over, but they're not going to fall over. They have to be beaten. We believe they can be beaten and our best footy will stack up, but talking about it and doing it are two separate things." – after beating the Giants on Saturday night.
