It’s being billed as an elimination final in April, which is a little far-fetched, given there’s still plenty of the season remaining.

There is no doubt, however, about the importance of tonight’s Richmond v Collingwood blockbuster at the MCG, with both teams having managed just one win from three games so far.

As is usually the case, the midfield contest shapes as pivotal to the final outcome.

The Tigers’ Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Daniel Jackson, Matt Thomas, Reece Conca and co. up against the Magpies’ Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Dayne Beams, Steele Sidebottom, Brent Macaffer and co. will be an intriguing battle.

And, at opposite ends of the ground, star key forwards Jack Riewoldt (Richmond) and Travis Cloke (Collingwood) clearly have the talent to maximise the opportunities provided by a winning midfield.

Where:  MCG
When:  Friday, April 11, 7.50pm (EST)
TV coverage:  Channel 7 (live from 7.30pm); Fox Footy (live from 7.30pm)
Radio coverage:  3AW, SEN, Triple M, ABC

The Richmond team
B:  Chaplin, Astbury, Grimes
HB:  Houli, Vlastuin, Morris
C:  Grigg, Jackson, Cona
HF:  Martin, Vickery, Lloyd
F:  S. Edwards, Riewoldt, Griffiths
R:  Hampson, Thomas, Cotchin
IC:  Ellis, Newman, Arnot, Gordon
Em:  McDonough, Stephenson, Foley

In:  Hampson, Arnot, Lloyd
Out:  Petterd (inj – groin), Stephenson, King
New:  Lloyd (Frankston)

See the full team list, presented by Sportsbet.com.au

The Collingwood team
B:  Toovey, Keeffe, Maxwell
HB:  Lumumba, Frost, Fasolo
C:  Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Young
HF:  Macaffer, Cloke, Blair
F:  Elliott, White, Goldsack
R:  Grundy, Swan, Beams
IC:  Ball, Witts, J. Thomas, Langdon
Em:  Kennedy, Clarke, Lynch

In:  J. Thomas, Witts
Out:  Dwyer (inj – knee), Adams (suspension)     


Richmond v Collingwood recent history

Round 4, 2013 at the MCG
Richmond                            3.3          6.5          8.6            11.13  (79)
Collingwood                       1.4          5.8          13.12       16.17 (113)

Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 3, McGuane 2, Vickery 2, S. Edwards, Houli, King, Maric.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 27, Deledio 25, Houli 24, Grigg 22, Knights 20.

Goals – Collingwood:  Cloke 7, Sidebottom 4, Clarke, Dwyer, Elliott, Lumumba, Swan.
Leading possession-getters – Collingwood:  Swan 35, Pendlebury 27, Sidebottom 21, Clarke 20, Cloke 20, Lumumba 20.


Round 2, 2012 at the MCG
Richmond                            1.6          2.10        4.13          8.16  (64)
Collingwood                       2.8          5.10        11.12        12.13  (85)

Goals – Richmond:  Miller 4, Deledio 2, Conca, Edwards.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 35, Rance 34, Grigg 30, Cotchin 26, Houli 26, Newman 25, Tuck 25, Batchelor 23, Conca 21, Martin 21, Morris 21, Grimes 20.

Goals – Collingwood:  Cloke 3, Thomas 3, Blair 2, Fasolo 2, Jolly, Paine.
Leading possession-getters – Collingwood:  Swan 32, Pendlebury 29, Sidebottom 24, O’Brien 23, Beams 22, Ball 20.


Round 4, 2011 at the MCG
Richmond                            2.2          5.7          11.10        13.12  (90)
Collingwood                       8.6          13.9        15.12        24.17  (161)

Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 4, Martin 2 White 2, Deledio, Graham, King, Miller, Vickery.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 33, Cotchin 30, Grigg 30, Martin 28, Jackson 26, Newman 26, Conca 23, Edwards 22, Foley 19.

Goals – Collingwood:  Swan 4, Cloke 3, Sidebottom 3, Beams 2, Dawes 2, Thomas 2, Ball, Blair, Brown, Didak, Johnson, Pendlebury, Wellingham, Wood.
Leading possession-getters – Collingwood:  Swan 33, Didak 26, Pendlebury 26, Thomas 26, Sidebottom 25, Beams 23, Blair 21, Shaw 20.      


Round 17, 2010 at the MCG
Richmond                            2.2          4.4          6.7            6.9  (45)
Collingwood                       6.1          11.3        15.10       19.13  (127)

Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 2, Collins, Cousins, Graham, Martin.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Morton 25, Tuck 25, Cousins 24, Rance 23, Astbury 20, Deledio 19, Edwards 19, Polo 19.

Goals – Collingwood:  Davis 4, Brown 3, Didak 3, Macaffer 3, Jolly 2, Beams, Dawes, Pendlebury, Swan.
Leading possession-getters – Collingwood:  Swan 37, Pendlebury 30, Didak 28, Thomas 26, Johnson 26, Reid 22, Sidebottom 22, Ball 21


Round 20, 2009 at the MCG
Richmond                            2.1          3.3             6.5             8.11  (59)
Collingwood                       7.8          13.13        20.18    22.20  (152)

Goals – Richmond:  Hislop 2, Nahas 2, Deledio, Morton, Riewoldt, Tambling.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 31, Tuck 26, Newman 25, Bowden 24, Cousins 19, McMahon 19, Nahas 19.

Goals – Collingwood:  Davis 4, Anthony 3, Cloke 2, Dick 2, Didak 2, Swan 2, Beams, Johnson, Lockyer, Medhurst, O’Brien, Pendlebury, Shaw.
Leading possession-getters – Collingwood:  Swan 34, O’Bree 33, Pendlebury 31, Beams 30, Didak 29, Johnson 27, Lockyer 24, Cloke 21, Shaw 21, Davis 20, O’Brien 20, Wood 20.

Richmond v Collingwood head-to-head

  • Richmond and Collingwood have played 200 times, with the Tigers winning 84, losing 115 and drawing one.
  • Richmond last defeated Collingwood in Round 19, 2007 at the MCG – 18.8 (116) to 14.12 (96).
  • Richmond has lost its past six games against Collingwood.
  • Richmond and Collingwood have met in nine finals matches, with the Tigers winning six and losing three.
  • The two teams have met in six league Grand Finals, with Richmond winning two (1920 and 1980) and losing four (1919, 1927, 1928 and 1929).
  • Richmond’s best winning sequence against Collingwood is six, from 1920-22.
  • Richmond’s longest losing sequence against Collingwood is 11, from 1909-14.
  • Richmond’s highest score against Collingwood is 25.25 (175) in Round 3, 1942 season at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s lowest score against Collingwood is 1.7 (13) in the 1927 Grand Final at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s greatest winning margin against Collingwood is 138 points in Round 3, 1942 at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s biggest losing margin against Collingwood is 101 points in Round 21, 1986 at Victoria Park.
  • Richmond and Collingwood’s one and only drawn match was in Round 6 of the 1917 season at Punt Road.
  • The most goals kicked by a Richmond player in a match against Collingwood is shared by Jack Titus, 10 goals, Round 3, 1942 at Punt Road, and Jeff Hogg, 10 goals, Round 8, 1991 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s biggest-ever crowd against Collingwood is 113,461 in the 1980 Grand Final.
    Some Magpies-turned Tigers:  Charlie Pannam (the Tigers’ first captain in the VFL), Dan Minogue (the Tigers’ 1920-21 premiership captain-coach), Mick Erwin, Bob Heard, Craig Considine, Rod Oborne, Craig Stewart, John Annear, Neil Peart, John Mrakov, Phillip Walsh, Peter McCormack, Wally Lovett, Terry Keays, Clinton King.

Fast Fact:  Ben Griffiths is ranked equal first in the competition after three rounds for contested marks.