Match Preview: St Kilda v Richmond
9:05:37 PM Mon 14 April, 2003
Matt Burgan
afl.com.au
MATCH: St Kilda v Richmond
WHEN & WHERE: Monday, April 21, Telstra Dome, 2.10pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Channel 10 – Melbourne (4pm), Adelaide (1:30pm), Perth (12:00pm), Sydney (2:00pm), Brisbane (2:00pm)
LAST TIME: St Kilda 10.12 (72) defeated Richmond 9.9 (63) at the Telstra Dome, round nine, 2002. St Kilda champion Robert Harvey was best-on-ground and received the three Brownlow votes, while Stephen Milne and Nick Riewoldt were the only two multiple goalkickers on the night with two goals apiece. Joel Bowden was Richmond’s best. The loss sparked a nine-game losing streak for the Tigers, while it was one of just five wins for the season for St Kilda.
THE MEDICAL ROOM: St Kilda young-gun Nick Riewoldt is battling a corked thigh and could be in doubt, while Richmond superstar Matthew Richardson is available this week despite recovering from a fractured cheekbone. Key defender Ben Holland (knee) is set to resume this week, but is likely to come through the VFL after a lengthy lay-off, while Brad Ottens remains a mid-season prospect with a back injury.
THE FORM: After losing its opening game of the season to Collingwood, Richmond has bounced back to win its past two games against the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle respectively. The Tigers have moved into sixth position and into the eight for the first time this year. St Kilda produced a fine win against Adelaide in round two, but dropped its opening game of the season to the in-form Kangaroos. However, the Saints had a miserable loss to West Coast at Subiaco last round and are now sitting second last on the ladder.
WHO’S HOT: Dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey has started the season in fine form after having some injury-riddled seasons in recent years. The former skipper racked up 27 possessions against the Eagles last week and is proving that he still has plenty to offer the Saints. Richmond skipper Wayne Campbell keeps on keeping on and this was evident last week in his 250th game for the Tigers, when he was one of the standouts against Fremantle in soggy conditions at the MCG.
WHO’S NOT: Brett Voss played every game for the Saints last year, but his start to this season began with Springvale in the VFL. However, he won’t be making his 2003 debut appearance for St Kilda this week, after he injured his ribs last week in the VFL, which will force him on the sidelines. New Richmond recruit Justin Blumfield was seen as one of the key recruits for the Tigers over the summer, but so far he has had little impact at his new club.
KEY MATCH-UPS: The task of minding electrifying Richmond forward Matthew Richardson will be no mean feat, but expect St Kilda to give Fraser Gehrig or Luke Penny the challenge. At the other end of the field, Saints’ young-gun Nick Riewoldt will be one the Tigers need to quell, with either Darren Gaspar or Andrew Kellaway expected to get the nod. Matthew Capuano will have his work cut out in the ruck against Richmond duo Greg Stafford and Ray Hall.
ALL-TIME CLASSIC: The 1971 preliminary final was a day St Kilda fans will never forget, as the Saints marched through to only their fourth ever grand final (they have played in a total of five grand finals), after defeating the Tigers by 30 points. In front of a crowd of 102,494 at the MCG, St Kilda’s Allan Davis led the way with six goals, while Stuart Trott was arguably the Saints best. Richmond’s Barry Richardson booted five goals, while Royce Hart was the Tigers best.
WE THINK: This one could go either way, with both sides capable of producing the goods, but also capable of disappointing in recent times. Still, the Tigers have won their last two in a row and are gaining some momentum, while the Saints had a shocker in Perth last week, despite knocking over Adelaide in round two. A toss-of-the-coin, but the Tigers, just. Richmond by 14 points.
9:05:37 PM Mon 14 April, 2003
Matt Burgan
afl.com.au
MATCH: St Kilda v Richmond
WHEN & WHERE: Monday, April 21, Telstra Dome, 2.10pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Channel 10 – Melbourne (4pm), Adelaide (1:30pm), Perth (12:00pm), Sydney (2:00pm), Brisbane (2:00pm)
LAST TIME: St Kilda 10.12 (72) defeated Richmond 9.9 (63) at the Telstra Dome, round nine, 2002. St Kilda champion Robert Harvey was best-on-ground and received the three Brownlow votes, while Stephen Milne and Nick Riewoldt were the only two multiple goalkickers on the night with two goals apiece. Joel Bowden was Richmond’s best. The loss sparked a nine-game losing streak for the Tigers, while it was one of just five wins for the season for St Kilda.
THE MEDICAL ROOM: St Kilda young-gun Nick Riewoldt is battling a corked thigh and could be in doubt, while Richmond superstar Matthew Richardson is available this week despite recovering from a fractured cheekbone. Key defender Ben Holland (knee) is set to resume this week, but is likely to come through the VFL after a lengthy lay-off, while Brad Ottens remains a mid-season prospect with a back injury.
THE FORM: After losing its opening game of the season to Collingwood, Richmond has bounced back to win its past two games against the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle respectively. The Tigers have moved into sixth position and into the eight for the first time this year. St Kilda produced a fine win against Adelaide in round two, but dropped its opening game of the season to the in-form Kangaroos. However, the Saints had a miserable loss to West Coast at Subiaco last round and are now sitting second last on the ladder.
WHO’S HOT: Dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey has started the season in fine form after having some injury-riddled seasons in recent years. The former skipper racked up 27 possessions against the Eagles last week and is proving that he still has plenty to offer the Saints. Richmond skipper Wayne Campbell keeps on keeping on and this was evident last week in his 250th game for the Tigers, when he was one of the standouts against Fremantle in soggy conditions at the MCG.
WHO’S NOT: Brett Voss played every game for the Saints last year, but his start to this season began with Springvale in the VFL. However, he won’t be making his 2003 debut appearance for St Kilda this week, after he injured his ribs last week in the VFL, which will force him on the sidelines. New Richmond recruit Justin Blumfield was seen as one of the key recruits for the Tigers over the summer, but so far he has had little impact at his new club.
KEY MATCH-UPS: The task of minding electrifying Richmond forward Matthew Richardson will be no mean feat, but expect St Kilda to give Fraser Gehrig or Luke Penny the challenge. At the other end of the field, Saints’ young-gun Nick Riewoldt will be one the Tigers need to quell, with either Darren Gaspar or Andrew Kellaway expected to get the nod. Matthew Capuano will have his work cut out in the ruck against Richmond duo Greg Stafford and Ray Hall.
ALL-TIME CLASSIC: The 1971 preliminary final was a day St Kilda fans will never forget, as the Saints marched through to only their fourth ever grand final (they have played in a total of five grand finals), after defeating the Tigers by 30 points. In front of a crowd of 102,494 at the MCG, St Kilda’s Allan Davis led the way with six goals, while Stuart Trott was arguably the Saints best. Richmond’s Barry Richardson booted five goals, while Royce Hart was the Tigers best.
WE THINK: This one could go either way, with both sides capable of producing the goods, but also capable of disappointing in recent times. Still, the Tigers have won their last two in a row and are gaining some momentum, while the Saints had a shocker in Perth last week, despite knocking over Adelaide in round two. A toss-of-the-coin, but the Tigers, just. Richmond by 14 points.
