It’s been an emotional week at Richmond with the passing of Club ‘Immortal’ Tommy Hafey on Monday.
There have been numerous glowing tributes to Richmond’s four-time premiership coach over the past few days, but the current Tigers’ playing group are fully aware that the best way to honour Hafey is by beating Melbourne at the MCG tomorrow (Saturday, May 17).
That will be no easy task, as this is a much-improved Melbourne outfit under the coaching guidance of Paul Roos.
Be there to say thank you to Tommy Hafey, buy your tickets to the game.
The Demons have impressed with gritty performances over the past two weeks, beating Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, and pushing the Western Bulldogs all the way last Saturday night, before falling 16 points short.
Richmond’s last-start effort, against the highly-rated Geelong side, was probably its best for the season, even though it didn’t get the precious four premiership points.
The Tigers moved the ball with far greater fluency and speed, and it will be striving to build on those encouraging signs for this crucial clash with Melbourne.
At two wins and five losses, Richmond is fully aware that its season must be kick-started now.
Where: MCG
When: Saturday, May 17, 1.40pm (EST)
TV coverage: Fox Footy (live from 1.30pm)
Radio coverage: 3AW, SEN, Triple M, ABC
The Richmond team
B: Chaplin, Astbury, Rance
HB: Houli, Lennon, Morris
C: Grigg, Jackson, Conca
HF: Martin, Griffiths, Deledio
F: S. Edwards, Riewoldt, Vickery
R: Hampson, Ellis, Cotchin
IC: McDonough, Vlastuin, Foley, Lloyd
Em: Batchelor, Petterd, Gordon
In: Griffiths, Lennon, Foley
Out: Newman (inj – calf), A. Edwards (omitted), Gordon (omitted)
New: Ben Lennon
See the full team list and how Melbourne will line-up, presented by Sportsbet.com.au
Richmond v Melbourne recent history
Round 8, 2013 at the MCG
Richmond 2.4 7.9 12.14 15.16 (106)
Melbourne 3.0 7.2 10.4 11.6 (72)
Goals – Richmond: Martin 3, Riewoldt 3, King 2, Chaplin, Deledio, Ellis, Morris, Nahas, Vlastuin, White.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Ellis 39, Deledio 27, Cotchin 26, Vlastuin 25, Grigg 24, Houli 24, S. Edwards 23, Jackson 23.
Goals – Melbourne: Davey 3, Dawes 2, Dunn 2, Bail, Evans, Howe, Nicholson.
Leading possession-getters – Melbourne: N. Jones 22, terlich 21, Magner 20, Davey 19, M. Jones 18.
Round 15, 2012 at the MCG
Richmond 4.6 6.12 9.20 13.23 (101)
Melbourne 1.0 4.4 5.6 11.12 (78)
Goals – Richmond: Nahas 4, Deledio 2, McGuane 2, Edwards, Grigg, Riewoldt, Tuck, White.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Grigg 35, Cotchin 28, Houli 27, Conca 23, Deledio 23, Tuck 23, Edwards 21, Ellis 21.
Goals – Melbourne: Martin 2, Bail, Bennell, Blease, Garland, Jones, McKenzie, Rivers, Sylvia, Tapscott.
Leading possession-getters – Melbourne: Jones 25, Sylvia 25, Dunn 22, Bail 20, Frawley 20, McKenzie 20.
Round 3, 2012 at the MCG
Richmond 4.4 6.8 15.11 20.13 (133)
Melbourne 2.3 5.6 6.6 11.8 (74)
Goals – Richmond: Cotchin 3, Miller 3, Conca 2, Deledio 2, Nahas 2, Grigg, Houli, Jackson, I. Maric, Martin, Riewoldt, Tuck, Vickery.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Grigg 37, Tuck 30, Conca 29, Houli 29, Foley 28, Deledio 27, Cotchin 22, Jackson 21, Nahas 21, Newman 20.
Goals – Melbourne: Clark 2, Dunn 2, Howe 2, Trengove 2, Jones, Sellar, Watts.
Leading possession-getters – Melbourne: Howe 24, Jones 17, McKenzie 17, Morton 17, Trengove 16.
Round 22, 2011 at the MCG
Richmond 6.2 10.9 11.12 17.15 (117)
Melbourne 4.0 7.1 14.2 17.8 (110)
Goals – Richmond: Martin 3, Miller 3, Foley 2, Riewoldt 2, Cotchin, Edwards, Graham, Jackson, King, Nahas, Webberley.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Tuck 28, Foley 24, Grigg 23, Deledio 21, Martin 21, Cotchin 18, Edwards 18.
Goals – Melbourne: Sylvia 5, Jones 3, Jurrah 3, Trengove 2, Bennell, Green, Petterd, Watts.
Leading possession-getters – Melbourne: Sylvia 29, Moloney 25, Jones 22, Morton 21, Garland 20, McKenzie 20, Trengove 19.
Round 14, 2011 at the MCG
Richmond 3.5 7.5 10.9 13.13 (91)
Melbourne 7.1 12.4 14.14 17.16 (118)
Goals – Richmond: Vickery 3, Farmer 2, Newman 2, Deledio, Edwards, Foley, Grigg, Martin, Riewoldt.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Foley 27, Houli 27, Deledio 26, Nahas 23, Edwards 22, Newman 20.
Goals – Melbourne: Green 3, Trengove 3, Watts 3, Jones 2, Jurrah 2, Martin 2, Howe, Sylvia.
Leading possession-getters – Melbourne: Moloney 30, Scully 26, Jones 24, Gysberts 22, McKenzie 21.
Richmond v Melbourne head-to-head
- Richmond and Melbourne have played 184 times with the Tigers winning 103, losing 79 and two draws.
- Richmond last defeated Melbourne in Round 19, 2013 at the MCG – 15.16 (106) to 11.6 (72).
- Richmond has won six of its last 10 games against Melbourne, and the last four in-a-row.
- Richmond and Melbourne have met in two league finals with the Tigers winning one and losing one.
- Richmond and Melbourne have met in one Grand Final, in 1940, which the Demons won by 39 points - 15.17 (107) to 10.8 (68).
- Richmond’s best winning sequence against Melbourne is nine, from 1965-70 and 1971-75.
- Richmond’s longest losing sequence against Melbourne is seven, from 1961-65.
- Richmond’s highest score against Melbourne is 30.16 (196) in Round 2, 1942 at Punt Road.
- Richmond’s lowest score against Melbourne is 1.6 (12) in Round 10, 1908 at the MCG.
- Richmond’s greatest winning margin against Melbourne is 93 points in Round 9, 1980 at the MCG.
- Richmond’s greatest losing margin against Melbourne is 121 points in Round 21, 1993 at the MCG.
- The most goals kicked by a Richmond player in a match against Melbourne is nine by Michael Roach in Round 20, 1980 at the MCG.
- Richmond’s biggest-ever crowd against Melbourne is 76,387 in Round 22, 1998 at the MCG.
Fast Fact: Tommy Hafey won 18 of 21 games against Melbourne during his 11-season coaching career with Richmond.
