After Richmond’s disappointing display in last Saturday night’s Dreamtime game, the theme at Tigerland this week has been a significant increase in intensity levels.

The Tigers are fully aware that has to be a non-negotiable, if they are to have any chance of pulling off what the critics believe would be an upset win at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night. 

“When we play footy, we want to go out there and have a crack, show some effort, and put some pressure on the opposition,” said Richmond assistant coach Danny Daly. 

“We were poor in that as a playing group and a coaching group in making sure that happened (last Saturday night).

“It’s been the number one focus for this week.”

Richmond also knows it has to use the ball intelligently, in an attempt to build up scoreboard pressure on the Roos, who have shown this season how adept they are at interceptions in their defensive area, and then quickly rebounding.

“Our ball movement’s going to be really important.  We just can’t bomb it in,” Daly said.

“We’ve got to be smart about using the footy through the midfield – use our hands or short-pass game with our feet.”


Where:  Etihad Stadium
When:  Sunday, June 8, 7.10pm
TV coverage:  Fox Footy (live from 7pm)
Radio coverage:  3AW, SEN, Triple M, ABC


The Richmond team
B:  Chaplin, Batchelor, Rance
HB:  Houli, Dea, Morris
C:  Lennon, Cotchin, Petterd
HF:  Martin, Griffiths, Deledio
F:  S. Edwards, Riewoldt, Vickery
R:  Maric, Ellis, Thomas
IC:  McDonough, Foley, Vlastuin, Miles
Em: Hampson, Helbig, O’Hanlon

In:  Batchelor, Petterd, Miles, Vickery, Vlastuin
Out:  Grimes (toe), Grigg (hamstring), Jackson (hip), Conca (groin), Hampson
New:  Anthony Miles
Milestone:  Damien Hardwick, 100^th game as coach


The North Melbourne team
B:  McDonald, Thompson, Hansen
HB:  Dal Santo, Firrito, Mullett
C:  Gibson, Swallow, Greenwood
HF:  Bastinac, Black, Adams
F:  Thomas, Petrie, Harvey
R:  Goldstein, Ziebell, Cunnington
IC:  Nahas, Anthony, Atley, Daw
Em:  Wright, McKenzie, Jacobs

No change



Richmond v North Melbourne recent history

Round 15, 2013 at Etihad Stadium
Richmond            2.2          2.7          4.15        8.18  (66)
North Melb.       3.3          11.6        15.8        19.14  (128)
Goals – Richmond:  Morris 2, Riewoldt 2, White 2, Ellis, Jackson.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 25, Foley 24, Grigg 24, Martin 23, White 19.
Goals – North Melb:  Tarrant 4, Black 3, Bastinac 2, Harvey 2, Mullett 2, Ziebell 2, Cunnington, Gibson, Greenwood, Petrie.
Leading possession-getters – North Melb:  Adams 29, Harvey 27, Greenwood 26, Swallow 26, Wells 25, Ziebell 25, Bastinac 21, Thompson 21, Grima 20.

Round 17, 2012 at the MCG
Richmond            2.3          5.9          10.12       14.15  (99)
North Melb.       3.5          7.9          9.11          15.13  (103)
Goals – Richmond:  Nahas 3, Riewoldt 3, S. Edwards 2, Martin 2, Tuck 2, Cotchin, Houli.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 31, Tuck 26, Rance 25, Cotchin 24, Jackson 23, Morris 23, Martin 22, Conca 21, Ellis 21, Grigg 20.
Goals – North Melb:  Petrie 7, Anthony 2, Harper 2, Campbell, Hansen, Harvey, Macmillan.
Leading possession-getters – North Melb:  Bastinac 29, Swallow 29, Anthony 26, Gibson 24, Harvey 24, Grima 23, Adams 20, Wright 20.

Round 24, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
Richmond                            3.2          9.7          10.10       13.13  (91)
North Melb.                       5.3          7.7          12.11       15.14  (104)
Goals – Richmond:  Nahas 5, Riewoldt 3, Martin 2, Miller, Vickery, White.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 23, Martin 23, Cotchin 22, Houli 22, Foley 21, Grigg 18, Tuck 18.
Goals – North Melbourne:  Petrie 4, Edwards 2, Harvey 2, Thomas 2, Black, Harper, Macmillan, McIntosh, Swallow.
Leading possession-getters – North Melbourne:  Harvey 31, Adams 27, Rawlings 24, Pratt 23, Bastinac 22, Cunnington 22, Thomas 20, Thompson 20.

Round 5, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
Richmond                            1.3          6.8          10.10       17.10  (112)      
North Melb.                       5.1          8.6          12.11       14.19  (103)
Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 5, Martin 4, King 3, Cotchin 2, Edwards, Miller, White.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Martin 33, Houli 30, Deledio 27, Jackson 26, Nahas 26, Foley 24, Grigg 24, Cotchin 23, Conca 22, Rance 20.
Goals – North:  Petrie 6, Swallow 2, Adams, Cunnington, Hansen, Harvey, Tarrant, Wells.
Leading possession-getters – North:  Swallow 32, Harvey 27, Rawlings 26, Anthony 24, Petrie 20, Wells 20.

Round 16, 2010 at Etihad Stadium
Richmond                            1.5          4.7          4.8            7.11  (53)
North Melb.                       2.4          6.9          11.12       15.13  (103)
Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 3, Collins, King, McGuane, Nahas.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Connors 30, Cousins 27, Tuck 26, Deledio 24, Edwards 18.
Goals – North:  Adams 3, Campbell 2, Hansen 2, Firrito, Goldstein, Harvey, Pratt, Swallow, Urquhart, Warren, Wells.
Leading possession-getters – North:  Swallow 31, Adams 28, Wells 26, Grima 24, Harvey 23, Firrito 22, Rawlings 21, McIntosh 20, Urquhart 20.
 

Richmond v North Melbourne head-to-head

• Richmond and North Melbourne have played 152 times with the Tigers winning 82, losing 68, and two draws.
• Richmond last defeated North Melbourne in Round 5, 2011 at Etihad Stadium – 17.10 (112) to 14.19 (103).
• Richmond has lost six and drawn one of its past 10 matches against North.
• Richmond and North Melbourne have met in just one league Grand Final – in 1974 – with the Tigers winning by 41 points (18.20 to 13.9).
• Richmond and North Melbourne have met in five finals all-up, with the Tigers winning two and North three.
• Richmond and North Melbourne have played two drawn matches – Round 8, 1966 at the MCG, and Round 16, 2009 at the MCG.
• Richmond’s best winning sequence against North Melbourne is 18, from 1925-36.
• Richmond’s longest losing sequence against North Melbourne is seven, from 1990-93.
• Richmond’s highest score against North Melbourne is 30.19 (199) in Round 2, 1931 at Punt Road.
• Richmond’s lowest score against North Melbourne is 3.8 (26) in Round 3, 1960 at Arden Street.
• Richmond’s greatest winning margin against North Melbourne is 168 points in Round 2, 1931 at Punt Road.
• Richmond’s greatest losing margin against North Melbourne is 141 points in Round 2, 1990 at the MCG.
• The most goals kicked by a Richmond player in a match against North Melbourne (and every other team for that matter) is 14 by Doug Strang in Round 2, 1931 at Punt Road.
• Richmond’s biggest-ever crowd against North Melbourne is 113,839 in the 1974 Grand Final.

Fast Fact:  In terms of total goals kicked so far this season, Richmond is ranked 10^th overall in the competition, with 123 goals, while North Melbourne is 12^th, with 119 goals.