Summary
The outline of this semi-final sketches a routine night at the office for Richmond. Superior on paper, they built a 17-point lead at quarter-time and sealed victory by 31. But it wasn’t as comprehensive as all that. St Kilda matched them for long periods and they should have made it a much tighter affair but poor kicking for goal let them down in the second and third quarters.
The major difference for the Tigers tonight compared to last week’s defeat aginst Brisbane was the addition of Tom Lynch in their forward line. His presence caused havoc in the undermanned St Kida backline and he bullied his way through the four quarters. His participation in next week’s prelim away to Port Adelaide might yet be at the purview of the MRP though after a needless knee-drop to the head of a prone Howard.
As well as Lynch, Houli excelled off halfback, as per usual, while Edwards was typically adroit in the forward half. Martin’s bombast out of the middle was decisive early, and his brilliant left-footed snap sealed the game later on. Shai Bolton ended as the night’s leading goalkicker with 3.0, two of which came in a rush during a first-quarter blitz from which St Kilda never recovered.
The Saints were not far off the mark but could clearly not afford to lose three starting players during the week, especially in defence, where Richmond took full advantage. At the other end they gave up any chance of making this a night to remember with some hapless kicking for goal. Max King is a terrific prospect but this was a night to forget. Still, an excellent season for St Kilda ends with their heads held high.
Coming up next for the Tigers is a visit to Adelaide Oval and the all-conquering Port Adelaide. Richmond will enter in the unfamiliar position of underdogs for that clash and on the evidence of the past fortnight the Power must fancy their chances. For all the Tigers’ snarl, some errors have crept into their game and a more ruthless foe would have punished them more heavily tonight. With home advantage Ken Hinkley’s crew must be odds-on to get the job done.
Thanks for joining me tonight. We’ll be back to do this all again tomorrow with the Cats and Pies.
Updated
Thanks Harry. Fascinating scoreline. Melbourne Storm could win a premiership without facing the Roosters in the finals!
Richmond 12.8 (80) beat St Kilda 6.13 (49)
Another preliminary final for the Tigers. Next stop Port Adelaide.
Tom Lynch only needed on hand to grab this 🧤@ahmhealth | #AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/JSAPDLzrmi
— AFL (@AFL) October 9, 2020
Updated
Q4: 2 mins remaining: Richmond 12.8 (80) v 6.13 (49) St Kilda - Make that 2.5. After earning a free-kick with his speed and strength to get to the front of a pack, Lynch horribly shanks the shot from 20m on an angle.
Q4: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 12.7 (79) v 6.13 (49) St Kilda - Lynch will come out of tonight as the lightning rod for Richmond. His return has been crucial, providing the forward line with more structure and potency, but his return is only 2.4 with one out on the full - and that crazy off-the-ball knee incident, which will lead the news until the MRP makes its call.
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Richmond 12.7 (79) v 6.12 (48) St Kilda - It’s all gone a bit scrappy and unstructured with the ball pinging from end to end. Richmond are not unhappy about that with such a commanding lead.
Q4: 8 mins remaining: Richmond 12.6 (78) v 6.12 (48) St Kilda - The Saints are playing on at all costs through the corridor now, but it’s too little too late.
Q4: 10 mins remaining: Richmond 12.5 (77) v 6.12 (48) St Kilda - More territorial dominance from Richmond, and the pattern tonight indicates this will end in a goal. And it does. Martin snapping a left-footed goal from behind a ruck 40m out like a scum-half box kick in rugby union. The Tigers have score a lot of low XG goals tonight, in comparison to the clear set shots wasted by St Kilda.
Q4: 11 mins remaining: Richmond 11.5 (71) v 6.12 (48) St Kilda - Hill has seen precious little of the ball tonight, but he shows why he’s so important for the Saints, streaking through midfield and bombing miles to the advantage of Membrey - who fumbles a mark he needed to take.
Q4: 13 mins remaining: Richmond 11.4 (70) v 6.11 (47) St Kilda - Entry one didn’t work, nor did entry two, but the third effort to pick out a black and yellow guernsey inside 50 paid dividends for Richmond. Castagna is the beneficiary after excellent work from Edwards. The story of the night for St Kilda, promising around the ground and on the verge of a run, but Richmond always there to hit back and reassert control.
Q4: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 10.4 (64) v 6.11 (47) St Kilda - Richmond have done well all night to hit back soon after a St Kilda goal, and again they win a crucial centre clearance and set up camp in attacking territory.
Q4: 15 mins remaining: Richmond 10.4 (64) v 6.11 (47) St Kilda - Richmond get repeat entries after winning the opening centre clearance but the Saints’ defence holds firm. Bruce reckons they need six goals this term to stand a chance, and Ross get the first, scampering home unopposed after Hunter Clark forced yet another error from Richmond’s backline.
Saints kicked 15.3 in their round four victory, tonight they’re 5.11.
Three-quarter-time: Richmond 10.4 (64) v 5.11 (41) St Kilda
The Saints pushed hard again and lead the Tigers for shots on goals. In fairness they’ve probably had the better around the ground for most of the night, but Richmond have been more decisive when it’s counted.
Speaking of Tom Lynch and how important he is to Richmond - could he be in trouble for this?
Lynch just does a lot of unnecessary actions. It's a bad look. pic.twitter.com/ZniQMQ6Ogg
— Brayden Cocks (@brayden_cocks) October 9, 2020
Q3: 1 min remaining: Richmond 10.3 (63) v 5.11 (41) St Kilda - Lynch kicks a behind after competing strongly to win possession - not for the first time tonight. He is so mobile and strong, a nightmare to defend.
Q3: 2 mins remaining: Richmond 10.2 (62) v 5.11 (41) St Kilda -An uncharacteristically high number of errors form Richmond tonight, especially this quarter, and especially from their back six.
Q3: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 10.2 (62) v 5.11 (41) St Kilda - Cotchin has been on the wrong end of the umpire’s whistle often tonight, and he’s pinged again for holding the ball. The free-kick finds King in space about 35m out straight in front, and he butchers yet another set shot. Awful night in front of goal for the big lad.
But the Saints somehow find a goal soon afterwards. Richmond can’t clear their lines and the ball comes straight back in, Kent eventually toe-poking the ball through after some sharp hands around the goalsquare.
Q3: 5 mins remaining: Richmond 10.2 (62) v 4.10 (34) St Kilda - They might not be giving up St Kilda, but they’re not indicating they have the tools to punish Richmond. Billings is the latest to make a mess of a set shot, albeit a tough one, and the Tigers make him pay, going coast to coast, featuring great work in the air and on the ground form Lynch before Prestia drills the goal against the run of play.
Q3: 7 mins remaining: Richmond 9.2 (56) v 4.9 (33) St Kilda - Can the Saints mount a sustained assault on Richmond? No. Crucial centre clearance goes to the Tigers, another bomb forward, another leading mark from Lynch - but this time his long range effort drifts wide.
St Kilda go down the other end and cause panic in the Richmond backline but a couple of ricochets off shins end up in a poster, not a goal. The Saints are not giving up.
Q3: 8 mins remaining: Richmond 9.1 (55) v 4.8 (32) St Kilda - As with the second term, the Saints have had the better of the opening minutes of this quarter around the ground, but have nothing to show for it. Richmond are scrapping hard just to retain a foothold, utilising their spare man behind the ball, meaning they have nowhere to go when they do regain possession. Finally St Kilda work the fat side of the ground to engineer a mark inside 50, and this time it goes through! Battle finesses an excellent team goal with a finish that makes a mockery of recent misses.
Q3: 10 mins remaining: Richmond 9.1 (55) v 3.8 (26) St Kilda - Lol. And there he is. Battle popping up in the middle of a pack like Leo Barry to set up a rousing third term fightback. Until he shanks the 15m set shot, of course. Deary me, that was the stuff of nightmares. Add that to King’s miss from earlier and St Kilda have to look at themselves, despite Richmond’s excellence.
And now Marshall misses from gettable range following a 50m penalty against Lynch for some unsociable behaviour off the ball.
Q3: 12 mins remaining: Richmond 9.1 (55) v 3.6 (24) St Kilda - Some pretty frantic turnover footy between the arcs precedes a deep entry form Richmond after Riewoldt marked. St Kilda deal with it well though and rebound, but not with the required pace and the Tigers flood back and defuse the situation.
Battle is finally back on. Still no word of any injury.
Q3: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 9.1 (55) v 3.6 (24) St Kilda - Josh Battle has been on the bench for 25-minutes and counting, but he’s not yet been scrubbed, nor has there been any news relayed to the TV crew.
The Saints continue to work hard but despite a couple of Richmond errors across halfback still haven’t found the clear opening.
Q3: 15 mins remaining: Richmond 9.1 (55) v 3.6 (24) St Kilda - St Kilda need an early goal if they’re going to make this a contest, and they almost earn one after Cotchin is pinged for a high tackle against Steele at the centre bounce. The ball inside 50 causes trouble, but there isn’t a Saint in the right place at the right time to steer the ball home.
Some stats for you... Bolton leads the way with three goals, Houli and Ross both have 15 disposals, and Dustin Martin is bloody brilliant: 13 touches, eight inside-50s, four clearances, six score involvements.
Thanks Harry, sounds like an era could be ending over there.
Meanwhile, this one has been reasonably even for large parts, but Richmond have just managed to string together a couple of savage bursts of goals - one in each quarter - both the product of centre clearance dominance and hunger around their attacking 50m. Lynch has also threaded a couple of excellent finishes, in contrast to last weekend when his presence was missed. The Saints are game, but they don’t appear to have the nous or firepower in their front half to unsettle such a well organised backline.
Half-time: Richmond 9.1 (55) v 3.6 (24) St Kilda
The margin many expected before the start of play, but one that fails to take into account how St Kilda dominated the opening portion of the second quarter and should have been just nine points down midway through the term, but King missed a very makable set shot and the Tigers pounced.
The ball bounced favourably for the Tigers and Daniel Rioli couldn't be more happier to be on the end of it 😊 #FootyOHWHATAFEELING | #AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/STrInL1koF
— AFL (@AFL) October 9, 2020
Q2: 1 min remaining: Richmond 9.1 (55) v 3.6 (24) St Kilda - More controversy late in the quarter with St Kilda putting the ball through the posts. This time it’s only a point for the Saints after the goal umpire awarded a rushed behind despite Nick Vlaustin not appearing to touch the footy as it approached the line. Replays were inconclusive so the on-field decision stands.
Q2: 1 min remaining: Richmond 9.1 (55) v 3.5 (23) St Kilda - It hasn’t been precise from Richmond tonight, but boy has it been effective, turning centre clearances into goals in the blink of an eye. Martin has dominated in the middle, bombing the ball forward, and time and again it has fallen in favour of a teammate, or Richmond have looked hungrier at ground level against an unsettled backline.
Q2: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 9.1 (55) v 3.5 (23) St Kilda - Richmond have done it again, turning one goal into an avalanche. Bolton is on the stats sheet again, marking a huge Martin clearance that drops in his favour just inside 50. The set shot is very handsome.
Q2: 4 mins remaining: Richmond 8.1 (49) v 3.5 (23) St Kilda - I love Houli and his rapier-like left foot. For the umpteenth time in his career he’s in prime position to profit from a poor clearing defensive kick. Once in possession he delivers lace out for Lynch darting towards the right pocket. The big Tiger threads the needle for the second time tonight.
Q2: 5 mins remaining: Richmond 7.1 (43) v 3.5 (23) St Kilda - Houli lays a super tackle in midfield, Richmond punt it forward, Riewoldt gambles for the floater over the top - and he guesses correctly - leaving him Johnny on the spot to handball to Rioli in the goalsquare. The Tigers hit straight back.
Updated
Q2: 6 mins remaining: Richmond 6.1 (37) v 3.5 (23) St Kilda -It’s St Kilda’s turn to profit from a marginal umpiring decision, Balta harshly penalised for holding the ball after accepting contact in possession a metre from the boundary line. You see dozens of those a week go unpunished. Anyhow, Steele laid the tackle and kicked an excellent goal from the pocket to keep the Saints in touch.
Q2: 7 mins remaining: Richmond 6.1 (37) v 2.5 (17) St Kilda - If there’s a “rule of the week” on show tonight it is the deliberate out of bounds rule. Hannebery is the latest to be penalised with a minor indiscretion inviting Richmond to camp in St Kilda’s defensive territory. A goal seems inevitable, and Edwards delivers, snapping with great skill after St Kilda failed to clear their lines following a ball-in.
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Richmond 5.1 (31) v 2.5 (17) St Kilda - Speaking of King, he holds onto the ball in attack when he thinks he’s marked it (there was clearly a Richmond hand involved) so the Tigers mug him and burst forward at warp speed. They only get as far as the 50m arc though before indecision costs them and Houli is caught holding the ball.
Q2: 9 mins remaining: Richmond 5.1 (31) v 2.5 (17) St Kilda - After a long spell of St Kilda pressure with just three points to show for it the game is back in dispute around the ground. That King miss still resonates.
Q2: 11 mins remaining: Richmond 5.1 (31) v 2.5 (17) St Kilda - The game is all on St Kilda’s terms this quarter. There is a breeze in their favour, which may be more influential that first thought.
Again they win possession easily in midfield, and this time then switch from right to left and build nicely until King is found isolated on the lead about 40m out. He misses the first chance of the night so far that will leave Saints fans frustrated. They can’t afford not to kick those goals against a team like Richmond.
Q2: 13 mins remaining: Richmond 5.1 (31) v 2.4 (16) St Kilda - The Saints keep the pressure on and they’re quickly back on the attack. Again they find a marking forward on the lead around 50m out, this time the ball ending with Savage to shoot from range, but unlike in the opening quarter his monster effort isn’t big enough. Again the Saints continue to push and a Richmond effort offers a free-kick from the boundary deep in the pocket but Marsh can’t bend his effort enough.
Q2: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 5.1 (31) v 2.3 (15) St Kilda - Better start to this quarter from St Kilda. King marks strongly 80m out and he sets up Membrey with a nice kick but his teammate can’t hold the mark under pressure. The phase does lead to a stoppage inside-50 though, and from that skirmish Jones is hammered high by Cotchin which leads to a long-range set shot from Jack Billings that fades wide.
The quarter-time stats are pretty even, but they hide the intent behind Richmond’s possessions. They dominated St Kilda for a five-minute spell, turning centre clearances into goals at will.
Quarter-time: Richmond 5.1 (31) v 2.2 (14) St Kilda -
Controversy on the siren! St Kilda have to score with seconds remaining on the clock but Geary drops an absolute sitter of a mark. Somehow the Saints keep the ball alive and as the siren sounds Butler gets his kick away and through the big sticks. Richmond are adamant the hooter had already blown but St Kilda get the benefit of the doubt.
It’s a goal that just about keeps them alive after a vicious burst from Richmond looked set to end the clash as a meaningful contest.
Shai Bolton is lighting up Metricon Stadium 🙌#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/R7rXANvlNF
— AFL (@AFL) October 9, 2020
Q1: 1 min remaining: Richmond 5.1 (31) v 1.2 (8) St Kilda - St Kilda need to stop the rot, and a superb rundown tackle from Butler on his former skipper Cotchin could be it. But it isn’t, because the Tigers continue their superb defence of their defensive 50.
Q1: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 5.1 (31) v 1.2 (8) St Kilda - Yowza! Richmond are on a serious tear. Another centre clearance, another mongrel forward, another yellow and black win at ground level inside attacking 50 and this time McIntosh snaps the goal.
Q1: 3 mins remaining: Richmond 4.1 (25) v 1.2 (8) St Kilda - Two in a minute from Bolton. Richmond are dominating clearances and getting the ball forward quickly, causing panic in St Kilda’s defence with players unsure whether to stick or twist. Bolton pounces on the indecision, snapping creatively on the burst with his right foot. Superb inventive finish.
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Richmond 3.1 (19) v 1.2 (8) St Kilda - Bolton replies with a showstopping goal of his own. If Savage’s hit owed everything to aerodynamics, then Bolton’s opportunistic snap relied on the idiosyncrasies of the Sherrin. Wheeling onto his right boot on the arc the kick is a wobbly floater heading for a behind to the right, but once it hits the deck around 15m from home it bounces kindly and curves just inside the post like Tiger Woods’ chip at the 16th at Augusta in 2005.
Q1: 5 mins remaining: Richmond 2.1 (13) v 1.2 (8) St Kilda - Bosh! What a hit! Shane Savage was an unlikely starter tonight but he has already earned his appearance fee, smashing a monster goal that must have carried fully 60m. He accepted Butler’s offload on the burst after the former was going back for a set shot of his own.
Q1: 6 mins remaining: Richmond 2.1 (13) v 0.2 (2) St Kilda - After a couple of minutes of turnover footy in midfield St Kilda earn a free-kick just outside attacking 50 following a terrific chase and tackle form Marsh. The ball quickly ends in dispute in the hot spot and a snap from the chaos just fizzes wide.
Q1: 8 mins remaining: Richmond 2.1 (13) v 0.1 (1) St Kilda - You can tell the Saints want to play on at all costs but Richmond’s defensive set-up is too good for them to just blaze away. The outcome is slow attacking possession with the Tigers happy to let St Kilda play in front of their backline and then pull out all the stops once the ball gets inside 50. It’s a risky strategy, but the space available to counterattack makes it worthwhile.
From one of those counterattacks Howard is penalised for a deliberate out-of-bounds but Lynch cannot execute the check-side from deep in the pocket.
Q1: 10 mins remaining: Richmond 2.0 (12) v 0.1 (1) St Kilda - Some slow footy for a spell down St Kilda’s right wing eventually ends with a centring ball intercepted by Richmond. They build a measured attack down their own right flank that has Martin heavily involved. His ball inside-50 generates a hefty pack and a spectacular couple of leaps and the Sherrin falls kindly for Edwards, front and centre, who collects and dribbles home smartly from 30m.
Q1: 12 mins remaining: Richmond 1.0 (6) v 0.1 (1) St Kilda - The Saints got inside Richmond territory, but just as Ratten feared the rebound the other way spells trouble. It ends with Rioli marking just at the limit of his boot and his set shot fading at the last second and dropping short.
St Kilda do well to hit the other way quickly and after a centring ball to the top of the square they’re unlucky not to be able to force a snap on goal away. Excellent smothering defence from the Tigers.
Q1: 14 mins remaining: Richmond 1.0 (6) v 0.0 (0) St Kilda - Another centre clearance win for Richmond, this time helped by a free-kick for a high tackle. This time St Kilda repel the first entry then chop off the second soon afterwards. However, on their way out of defence they kick out on the full on centre wing. I’m not sure what happened next because I’m pretty sure Bruce McAvaney misused the word skidmark.
Q1: 15 mins remaining: Richmond 1.0 (6) v 0.0 (0) St Kilda - *Ominous music plays*. Richmond win the centre clearance. Some nice hands in midfield creates enough room for a hoof forward towards the leading Lynch. The returning spearhead marks strongly under close attention, goes back and threads a lovely set shot from 35m on a reasonable angle. Quite the start from the champs.
Opening bounce!
Four quarters from Port Adelaide. Who will get there?
Speaking of the anthems, Richmond look focussed tonight, unlike last week when Hardwick arrived late with a sheepish grin on his face.
“We need to get the ball to ground” says Brett Ratten as the sides line up for the national anthem. He has identified Richmond’s ability to rebound from intercept marks as their greatest weapon.
The first week of finals set a very high bar. Let’s hope we’re raving about week two, and week three...
Welcome on board SD. They’re a good bunch below the line around here so I’m sure you’ll be inundated with nominations for a team to follow soon enough.
Richmond are in the blackest version of their famous strip. No chance of the aesthetic jumble we’re set for tomorrow when the Cats and Pies reignite the tiresome clash guernsey debate.
C’mon, Tigers. Let’s fight and win. #AFLFinals #gotiges pic.twitter.com/YgusLd9rk9
— Richmond FC 🐯🏆 (@Richmond_FC) October 9, 2020
Updated
Out come St Kilda, in the whitest iteration of their uniform. Is their coach the most liked man in footy right now?
A special milestone for one of the best in the business.
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) October 9, 2020
Tonight marks Brett Ratten’s 400th AFL game as a player/coach. pic.twitter.com/DbGdDioWAp
Agree with this. I think the definition of attack also needs to extend beyond tactics and include character. Brisbane went toe-to-toe with Richmond last week and refused to back down. Once they established they would not be pushed over the Tigers looked robbed of a crucial edge.
It’s a beautiful clear night on the Gold Coast with the temperature around 20C, kept in check by a light northerly breeze. Metricon Stadium (with dimensions similar to the MCG) was nominated by Richmond as their home from home, and it’s a venue that has served them well in recent times with the Tigers enjoying a nine-game winning streak dating back to 2017. This season alone they’ve taken down four finalists at the ground.
St Kilda are two from three on the Gold Coast this year, all of which were nailbiters.
Roosters v Raiders in the NRL is going to be fantastic. Harry, feel free to pop back with score updates at your leisure.
We will have both the AFL and NRL covered tomorrow night.
St Kilda XXII
It’s been a tough week at the selection table for Brett Ratten with three massive holes to fill in time for St Kilda’s biggest game in a decade. Paddy Ryder had a day out against Western Bulldogs but he finished the elimination final in tears sensing injury would rule him out the remainder of the finals series. Jake Carlisle has left the hub to attend the birth of his third child. And Ben Long was rubbed out by the Match Review Panel for coming off the line and cleaning up Jack Macrae during last weekend’s victory. The Saints exhausted all avenues of appeal but never looked likely of succeeding with clear evidence undermining any case they could have mounted.
The trio charged with filling such big shoes are Josh Battle, Jonathon Marsh, and Shane Savage. Battle is a straightforward recall after the consistent defender missed the clash with the Bulldogs with foot soreness, but Marsh has only appeared five times this season - and only once since round six - while Savage has only featured once, back in round nine.
B: J.Marsh, D.Howard, B.Paton
HB: N.Coffield, C.Wilkie, J.Geary
C: B.Hill, S.Ross, J.Billings
HF: D.Butler, T.Membrey, J.Sinclair
F: D.Kent, M.King, J.Battle
FOLL: R.Marshall, Z.Jones, J.Steele
I/C: S.Savage, H.Clark, D.Hannebery, J.Lonie
EMG: R.Abbott, D.Roberton, N.Hind, J.Webster
IN: J.Marsh, J.Battle, S.Savage
OUT: B.Long (suspended), J.Carlisle (family reasons), P.Ryder (injured)
Richmond XXII
Richmond are bolstered by the return of premier goalkicker Tom Lynch after he missed the qualifying final with a hamstring injury. During that defeat to Brisbane the Tigers struggled to to convert their play around the ground into a consistent threat inside 50 with Harris Andrews at fullback and Daniel Rich in front of him, both excelling. Nathan Broad is Damien Hardwick’s other inclusion, the hardworking defending making his first appearance since round 15, and only his second since round 12. Jake Aarts and Mabior Chol are the pair to make way.
B: D.Astbury, D.Grimes, N.Balta
HB: L.Baker, N.Vlastuin, B.Houli
C: K.McIntosh, J.Graham, M.Pickett
HF: S.Bolton, J.Castagna, D.Martin
F: T.Lynch, J.Riewoldt, D.Rioli
FOLL: T.Nankervis, S.Edwards, T.Cotchin
I/C: D.Prestia, J.Short, K.Lambert, N.Broad
IN: T.Lynch, N.Broad
OUT: J.Aarts, M.Chol (both omitted)
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to week two of the AFL finals. We’re into vomit on sweater (mom’s spaghetti) territory in this weirdest of seasons with just five sudden death contests remaining. The six sides remaining dare not lose the opportunity of a lifetime.
Tonight provides a fascinating clash of narratives. In the yellow and black corner serial winners Richmond are aiming to put a chastening defeat to Brisbane behind them and remind the competition why they’ve spent the majority of a year chasing a third flag in four seasons as premiership favourites. Meanwhile the boondock Saints are already in rarefied air after winning their first final in ten years last time out against the Bulldogs. For the Tigers tonight is about composure and handling expectation. For St Kilda it’s about showing the world they belong at the highest level - win or lose.
Richmond will go in as clear favourites. They finished higher on the ladder, carry decent form into the finals, and are battle hardened at this stage of the season. They didn’t disgrace themselves in defeat to the Lions last week, and may well have enjoyed a week off had they converted their territorial dominance into goals midway through the second quarter. The inclusion of Tom Lynch tonight will help matters on that score.
St Kilda will relish the underdog tag and Brett Ratten will have spent all week encouraging his troops to enjoy an occasion in which they have nothing to lose. It is unfortunate they go in somewhat undermanned with a host of factors conspiring against them, but they will carry the confidence of victory the last time these sides met, back in round four. On that night they kicked a remarkable 15.3 and won despite losing the inside-50 count. They will probably require a similar quirk of fate if they are to earn a trip to Adelaide Oval.
As always, this is more fun if you make yourselves heard, so get in touch via Twitter or email, or chat amongst yourselves below the line.
