Match Preview: Hawthorn v Richmond
10:26:07 PM Mon 21 April, 2003
Samantha Lane
afl.com.au
WHEN & WHERE: 2.10pm (AEST), Saturday, 26 April, MCG
COVERAGE: Fox Footy Channel - Melbourne (2pm), Adelaide (1.30pm), Perth (12pm), Sydney (2pm) , Brisbane (2pm)
LAST TIME: Richmond 16.11 (107) d Hawthorn 13.15 (93), round 20, 2002 at the MCG. Matthew Richardson shone with a five-goal effort and was ably assisted by fellow tall Greg Stafford, who kicked four. It was an especially disappointing effort from Hawthorn, whose finals chances were greatly damaged by the loss after a great win over Collingwood the previous week.
THE MEDICAL ROOM: Nathan Thompson (knee), Richard Vandenberg (gastro), Nick Holland (calf) and Kingsley Hunter (hamstring) are available. Luke Hodge (ankle) and Nathan Lonie (medial ligament) are still a fortnight away. John Barker (osteitis pubis) is expected to resume through the VFL in two weeks. George Davies (fractured fibula) is about a month away from resuming. At Richmond, Justin Blumfield will miss the next two weeks with a thigh strain, Wayne Campbell corked his leg on Monday but should be OK, while Brad Ottens, Ben Holland and Duncan Kellaway are still a number of weeks away.
THE FORM: The Hawks rebounded as they needed to last weekend, with a convincing victory over Sydney following an embarrassing drubbing by Port Adelaide the week before. Richmond has had a perfect run since losing to Collingwood in round one, beating the Western Bulldogs, Fremantle and St Kilda.
WHO’S HOT: Jonathan Hay was best on ground last week, after a decidedly shaky start to the year. He kept Swans powerhouse Barry Hall to just two goals.
In one of his best ever matches for the Tiges, Adam Houlihan was his club’s unlikely leading goal kicker in round four.
WHO’S NOT: Steven Greene hasn’t cracked it in the seniors yet this year, after playing 13 games last season. And Richmond’s Justin Blumfield has not had the best of runs since relocating to Tigerland. The former Bomber has been uninspiring so far this season, and has now strained his thigh and is expected to miss a fortnight.
KEY MATCH-UPS: As always, the match-up on Matthew Richardson will be important. Expect Hay to get the job. Watch for the Peter Everitt-Stafford dual, both big men are in great form and as was shown last year in Stafford’s case, are able to be greatly influential on the scoreboard. With the Hawks’ forward line so depleted, erstwhile defender Jade Rawlings might find himself pitted against Darren Gaspar.
ALL-TIME CLASSIC: Easter Monday, 1977. The Tigers’ Jim Jess replaced Bob Heard 16 minutes into the last quarter, took three screamers and kicked three goals. Richmond won by a point.
WE THINK: Richmond is facing just a five-day break here, and while its performance against St Kilda was good for three quarters, its final term fadeout was worrying. Hawthorn meanwhile, will have gained a lot of confidence from a convincing win and be primed to continue the form with a strong follow-up match. On paper the Hawks’ forward line is little match for the Tigers, but their midfield is superior.
10:26:07 PM Mon 21 April, 2003
Samantha Lane
afl.com.au
WHEN & WHERE: 2.10pm (AEST), Saturday, 26 April, MCG
COVERAGE: Fox Footy Channel - Melbourne (2pm), Adelaide (1.30pm), Perth (12pm), Sydney (2pm) , Brisbane (2pm)
LAST TIME: Richmond 16.11 (107) d Hawthorn 13.15 (93), round 20, 2002 at the MCG. Matthew Richardson shone with a five-goal effort and was ably assisted by fellow tall Greg Stafford, who kicked four. It was an especially disappointing effort from Hawthorn, whose finals chances were greatly damaged by the loss after a great win over Collingwood the previous week.
THE MEDICAL ROOM: Nathan Thompson (knee), Richard Vandenberg (gastro), Nick Holland (calf) and Kingsley Hunter (hamstring) are available. Luke Hodge (ankle) and Nathan Lonie (medial ligament) are still a fortnight away. John Barker (osteitis pubis) is expected to resume through the VFL in two weeks. George Davies (fractured fibula) is about a month away from resuming. At Richmond, Justin Blumfield will miss the next two weeks with a thigh strain, Wayne Campbell corked his leg on Monday but should be OK, while Brad Ottens, Ben Holland and Duncan Kellaway are still a number of weeks away.
THE FORM: The Hawks rebounded as they needed to last weekend, with a convincing victory over Sydney following an embarrassing drubbing by Port Adelaide the week before. Richmond has had a perfect run since losing to Collingwood in round one, beating the Western Bulldogs, Fremantle and St Kilda.
WHO’S HOT: Jonathan Hay was best on ground last week, after a decidedly shaky start to the year. He kept Swans powerhouse Barry Hall to just two goals.
In one of his best ever matches for the Tiges, Adam Houlihan was his club’s unlikely leading goal kicker in round four.
WHO’S NOT: Steven Greene hasn’t cracked it in the seniors yet this year, after playing 13 games last season. And Richmond’s Justin Blumfield has not had the best of runs since relocating to Tigerland. The former Bomber has been uninspiring so far this season, and has now strained his thigh and is expected to miss a fortnight.
KEY MATCH-UPS: As always, the match-up on Matthew Richardson will be important. Expect Hay to get the job. Watch for the Peter Everitt-Stafford dual, both big men are in great form and as was shown last year in Stafford’s case, are able to be greatly influential on the scoreboard. With the Hawks’ forward line so depleted, erstwhile defender Jade Rawlings might find himself pitted against Darren Gaspar.
ALL-TIME CLASSIC: Easter Monday, 1977. The Tigers’ Jim Jess replaced Bob Heard 16 minutes into the last quarter, took three screamers and kicked three goals. Richmond won by a point.
WE THINK: Richmond is facing just a five-day break here, and while its performance against St Kilda was good for three quarters, its final term fadeout was worrying. Hawthorn meanwhile, will have gained a lot of confidence from a convincing win and be primed to continue the form with a strong follow-up match. On paper the Hawks’ forward line is little match for the Tigers, but their midfield is superior.
