Richmond assistant coach Danny Daly believes the ruck battle between two of the competition’s most spirited big men will be a major factor in the outcome of the Tigers’ Round 19 clash with Greater Western Sydney at the MCG.
It’s tough Tiger Ivan Maric up against Giant Shane Mumford, in what shapes as an absorbing contest.
“’Ivvy’ is starting to hit some really good form, like from two years ago. Seven games back now (from a long-term injury) and his last four have been pretty good, and it’s no coincidence we’ve won the last four,” Daly said on this week’s ‘Roar Vision Spotlight’.
“Mumford is a big catalyst for them in terms of their clearances and their contested footy . . .
“So, that’s going to be a massive battle for us this week, and ‘Griffo’ (Ben Griffiths) will need to come in and play his role at stages through the ruck as well.”
Richmond will be striving for a record five consecutive wins under Damien Hardwick’s coaching, in this Saturday twilight match against the Giants.
The Tigers, however, will have to overcome an improved GWS outfit, and an MCG record this season, which sees them with just two wins from nine games.
Where: MCG
When: Saturday, August 2, 4.40pm EST
TV coverage: Fox Footy (live from 4.30pm)
Radio coverage: 3AW, SEN, Triple M, ABC
The Richmond team
B: Chaplin, Batchelor, Rance
HB: Houli, Newman, Grimes
C: Foley, Cotchin, Miles
HF: Martin, Griffiths, Deledio
F: S. Edwards, Riewoldt, Conca
R: Maric, Ellis, Thomas
IC: Petterd, Vlastuin, Gordon, Lloyd
Em: Dea, Helbig, Lennon
In: Petterd, Griffiths
Out: Vickery (suspended), Morris (hand)
The GWS team
B: Bugg, Davis, Frost
HB: Kennedy, Plowman, Hunt
C: O’Rourke, Palmer, Williams
HF: Scully, Boyd, Tomlinson
F: Smith, Patton, Greene
R: Mumford, Ward, Treloar
IC: Shaw, Shiel, Kelly, Hoskin-Elliott
Em: Golds, Whiley, Stewart
In: Shaw, Frost
Out: Cameron (ankle), Mohr (knee)
Richmond v Greater Western Sydney recent history
Round 10, 2014, Spotless Stadium
Richmond 8.0 14.2 21.4 24.10 (154)
GWS 1.5 1.6 3.9 5.11 (41)
Goals – Richmond: Riewoldt 11, Ellis 2, Griffiths 2, Houli 2, Vickery 2, Cotchin, S. Edwards, Foley, Grigg, McDonough.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Martin 36, Deledio 34, Ellis 31, Thomas 28, Cotchin 26, Houli 26, Conca 23, Foley 21, Rance 21.
Goals – GWS: Cameron, Coniglio, Hoskin-Elliott, Palmer, Scully.
Leading possession-getters – GWS: Shiel 34, Treloar 34, Scully 20, Tomlinson 20.
Round 22, 2013, Spotless Stadium
Richmond 4.4 15.9 19.10 25.13 (163)
GWS 3.0 3.1 6.4 6.6 (42)
Goals – Richmond: A. Edwards 5, Conca 3, Ellis 3, Grigg 2, Houli 2, Maric 2, Petterd 2, Vickery 2, S. Edwards, King, Morris, Riewoldt.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Martin 33, Conca 28, Houli 28, Grigg 26, Jackson 25, Chaplin 23, Deledio 23, White 22, Rance 21, A. Edwards 20, Ellis 20.
Goals – GWS: Adams, Greene, Jaksch, Scully, Shiel, Sumner.
Leading possession-getters – GWS: Adams 23, Green 23, Shiel 23, Scully 22, Tomlinson 22, Treloar 22.
Round 12, 2012 at Spotless Stadium
Richmond 4.2 6.7 9.14 11.20 (86)
GWS 2.0 5.1 8.1 12.2 (74)
Goals – Richmond: Connors 3, Riewoldt 3, S. Edwards 2, Cotchin, Deledio, Jackson.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond: Deledio 30, Tuck 29, Houli 27, Cotchin 25, Conca 22, Grigg 22.
Goals – GWS: Cameron 3, Greene 2, Palmer 2, McDonald, Patton, Phillips, Schulz, Shiel.
Leading possession-getters – GWS: Greene 24, Cornes 23, Davis 23, Scully 20, Ward 20.
