The absence of Fremantle’s two quality, All-Australian defenders, Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson, opens a window of opportunity for Richmond in Saturday’s Round 13 clash at the MCG.

Although the Tigers will go into the match against last year’s Grand Finalist as clear outsiders, the fact that McPharlin and Johnson are both out injured, boosts their prospects of pulling off an upset win.

“They’re two very good players, so we’ve put the heat on our forward line this week . . . there’s a great opportunity for them to make a statement this week,” Richmond forwards’ coach Danny Daly said on this week’s ‘Spotlight’.

“If our midfielders can get the ball into the areas that we want to make then defend, we should go okay.  But their work-rate needs to be up.

“It’s a real challenge for our guys to make sure (of that) because they’re (Fremantle) the best defensive unit in the AFL.

“They don’t get too many scores kicked against them, so if we can kick a dozen goals, we’re going to be in the game for a long way.”

Where:  MCG
When:  Saturday, June 14, 1.45pm
TV coverage:  Fox Footy (live from 1.30pm), Channel 7 (delayed from 3pm)
Radio coverage:  3AW, Triple M, ABC

The Richmond team

B:  Chaplin, Batchelor, Rance
HB:  Houli, Dea, Morris
C:  Lennon, Cotchin, Petterd
HF:  Martin, A. Edwards, Deledio
F:  S. Edwards, Riewoldt, Newman
R:  Maric, Ellis, Miles

IC:  Grimes, Foley, Vlastuin, Hampson

Em:  Helbig, McDonough, O’Hanlon

In:  Newman, Grimes, Hampson, A. Edwards
Out:  Thomas (suspended), Vickery (suspended), Griffiths (omitted), McDonough (omitted)

See the full team list and how Fremantle will line-up, presented by Sportsbet.com.au

Richmond v Fremantle recent history

Round 17, 2013, MCG

Richmond            3.3          4.6          9.9          12.12  (84)

Fremantle           2.2          2.5          6.6          8.9  (57)

Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 4, Cotchin, Deledio, S. Edwards, Jackson, King, Martin, Vickery, White.

Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 34, Martin 30, Rance 30, Ellis 24, Grigg 24, Jackson 22, Petterd 22, S. Edwards 20, Houli 20, Newman 20.

Goals – Fremantle:  Mzungu 3, Mayne 2, de Boer, Silvagni, Walters.

Leading possession-getters – Fremantle:  Fyfe 27, Mundy 24, Barlow 22, Johnson 21, Mzungu 21, Neale 21, Pearce 20, Walters 20.

Round 5, 2013, Subiaco

Richmond            5.2          7.3          9.5          12.8  (80)

Fremantle           2.0          7.5          10.8        12.9  (81)

Goals – Richmond:  Knights 3, Vickery 3, McGuane 2, Grigg, Martin, Riewoldt, White.

Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 26, Ellis 25, Houli 23, S. Edwards 22, Martin 22, Jackson 21, Deledio 20.

Goals – Fremantle:  Ballantyne 4, Mayne 3, Walters 2, Crowley, Hill, Suban.

Leading possession-getters – Fremantle:  Barlow 31, Ibbotson 24, Pearce 24, Fyfe 23, Hill 23, Spur 23, Griffin 21.

 

Round 21, 2012, Subiaco

Richmond            2.3          5.4          8.4          11.6  (72)

Fremantle           3.4          7.8          10.12     13.16  (94)

Goals – Richmond:  King 3, Deledio 2, Riewoldt 2, Edwards, Nahas, O’Hanlon, White.

Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 32, Tuck 28, Grigg 25, Houli 23, Martin 22, White 20.

Goals – Fremantle:  Ballantyne 3, Pavlich 3, de Boer 2, Bradley, Hill, Mayne, Mzungu, Walters.

Leading possession-getters – Fremantle:  Mundy 32, Barlow 25, Duffield 25, Ballantyne 24, McPhee 23, de Boer 22, Pearce 22, Fyfe 21.

 

 

Round 11, 2012, MCG

Richmond            5.2          6.3          8.8          9.12  (66)

Fremantle           4.1          7.3          9.6          12.6  (78)

Goals – Richmond:  Edwards 3, Cotchin, Martin, Nahas, Riewoldt, Tuck, Vickery.

Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 30, Tuck 29, Grigg 24, Houli 20, Jackson 20, Martin 20.

Goals – Fremantle:  Pavlich 6, Ballantyne 2, Crichton, de Boer, Griffin, Mayne.

Leading possession-getters – Fremantle:  de Boer 29, Barlow 24, Hill 24, Johnson 23, Mundy 21, Mayne 20, Mzungu 20.

Round 7, 2011, MCG

Richmond            3.2          9.7          17.7          23.10  (148)

Fremantle           2.8          9.9          13.11       14.15  (99)

Goals – Richmond:  Cotchin 4, Nahas 4, Riewoldt 4, Vickery 3, Houli 2, King 2, Deledio, Graham, Martin, Miller.

Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Nahas 30, Cotchin 25, Conca 24, Edwards 24, Deledio 23, Houli 23, Rance 21, Foley 20, Grigg 20.

Goals – Fremantle:  Bradley 4, Ballantyne 2, Mayne 2, Hill, Ibbotson, Lower, McPhee, Pavlich, Pitt.

Leading possession-getters – Fremantle:  Pavlich 33, Mundy 28, Fyfe 23, Sandilands 23, Hill 18.

 

Richmond v Fremantle head-to-head

  • Richmond and Fremantle have played 29 times with the Tigers winning 16 and losing 13.
  • Richmond last defeated Fremantle in Round 17, 2013 at the MCG – 12.12 (84) to 8.9 (57).
  • Richmond has won six and lost four of its past 10 matches against Fremantle.
  • Richmond and Fremantle have never met in a league final.
  • Richmond’s best winning sequence against Fremantle is three, from 2008-09.
  • Richmond’s longest losing sequence against Fremantle is three, from 2005-07, and 2012-13.
  • Richmond’s highest score against Fremantle is 23.10 (148) in Round 7, 2011 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s lowest score against Fremantle is 5.12 (42) in Round 19, 1997 at the WACA.
  • Richmond’s greatest winning margin against Fremantle is 90 points in Round 14, 1998 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s greatest losing margin against Fremantle is 66 points in Round 4, 2002 at Subiaco.
  • The most goals kicked by a Richmond player in a match against Fremantle is six by Matthew Richardson (three times), in Round 13, 1999 at Subiaco,  Round 19, 2002 at the MCG and Round 4, 2005 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s biggest-ever crowd against Fremantle is 43,801 in Round 11, 2012 at the MCG.
  • Fast Fact:  Richmond has lost its last five games at the MCG (against Collingwood, Hawthorn, Geelong, Melbourne, Essendon).