Match details
Saturday, April 14, 1.45 pm (local time), MCG
Teams
Melbourne
B: James Frawley, James Sellar, Clint Bartram
HB: Tom McDonald, Jared Rivers, Colin Garland
C: Rohan Bail, Jack Grimes, Nathan Jones
HF: Cale Morton, Jack Watts, Jeremy Howe
F: Matthew Bate, Mitch Clark, Aaron Davey
FOLL: Mark Jamar, James Magner, Jack Trengove
I/C: Jordie McKenzie, Luke Tapscott, Stef Martin, Lynden Dunn
EMG: Brad Green, Jack Fitzpatrick, Joel Macdonald
IN: Davey, Morton, Tapscott, Martin
OUT: Green, Macdonald, Ricky Petterd, Jamie Bennell
Richmond
B: Steven Morris, Alex Rance, Chris Newman
HB: Bachar Houli, Dylan Grimes, Brandon Ellis
C: Shaun Grigg, Dustin Martin, Daniel Jackson
HF: Brett Deledio, Tyrone Vickery, Shane Edwards
F: Brad Miller, Jack Riewoldt, Robin Nahas
Foll: Ivan Maric, Trent Cotchin, Nathan Foley
I/C: Shane Tuck, Reece Conca, Jake Batchelor, Addam Maric
EMG: Angus Graham, Matthew White, Matt Dea
IN: Addam Maric
OUT: Jake King (Knee)
Broadcast guide
Click here
Form
Melbourne: L, L
Richmond: L, L
Ladder position
Melbourne: 16th
Richmond: 15th
Head-to-head
Played: 181
Melbourne: 79
Richmond: 100
Drawn: 2
At this ground
Played: 126
Melbourne: 59
Richmond: 66
Drawn: 1
Last time they met
Round 22, 2011: Richmond 17.15 (117) d Melbourne 17.8 (110), MCG
Recent streak
Melbourne has won four of its past six against Richmond, but lost its most recent encounter against the Tigers.
Memorable match
Grand final, 1940: Melbourne 15.17 (107) d Richmond 10.8 (68), MCG
One of Melbourne’s hat-trick of premierships from 1939-40-41 came against Richmond in 1940. The red and blue produced a 39-point win on a wet day at the MCG. Club legend Norm Smith starred with seven goals, while Richmond great Jack Dyer was quelled, as Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes guided Melbourne to a flag against his former team. He also coached Richmond to the 1932 premiership. It was also the last time that Harold Ball, Sid Anderson and Ron Barassi Snr played together for Melbourne, before they were lost in WWII.
Milestones
Melbourne:
Richmond: Brad Miller (150 AFL matches, including 133 with Melbourne from 2002-10)
Coaching record
Mark Neeld: 2 matches, 0 wins, 0 draws, 2 losses
Damien Hardwick: 46 matches, 14 wins, 1 draw, 31 loses
Injury list
Melbourne: Lucas Cook (groin) - 2 weeks, Michael Evans (back) - indefinite, Max Gawn (knee) - season, Jordan Gysberts (ankle) - 3-5 weeks, Neville Jetta (ankle) - indefinite, Liam Jurrah (wrist) - 3 weeks, Stef Martin (hip) - test, Brent Moloney (groin) - test, James Strauss (leg) - 2 weeks, Col Sylvia (back) - 3 weeks, Rory Taggert (back) - 3 weeks
Richmond: David Astbury (knee) - indefinite, Brad Helbig (foot) - indefinite, Jake King (knee) - 4-6 weeks, Kelvin Moore (hip) - long term injury list
Players to watch
Melbourne: Tom McDonald
In just his third AFL match - and first for 2012 - the versatile tall was a late call-up for Stef Martin (hip) last round, impressing down back. His inclusion came after he was set to return from Perth to play with Casey on Sunday. But after gaining 17 touches and five rebounds, McDonald will look to build on his efforts this round.
Richmond: Brad Miller
The former Demon was among his team’s best against Collingwood last round, booting four goals. The mature-age rookie, now in his second season with Richmond, will reach the 150-game milestone against his former team.
Match-up to watch
Clint Bartram v Trent Cotchin
The tenacious midfielder/defender ran with and did a fine job on the young Tiger star last year. Bartram, a member of Melbourne’s leadership group, has taken on some big jobs in recent times and expect him to man, if not Cotchin, potentially Dustin Martin or even Brett Deledio.
Most disposals
Melbourne: James Magner (55)
Richmond: Brett Deledio (56)
Most marks
Melbourne: Jeremy Howe (10)
Richmond: Alex Rance (20)
Most tackles
Melbourne: Jordie McKenzie, Jack Trengove (10)
Richmond: Brett Deledio (12)
Most goals
Melbourne: Mitch Clark (7)
Richmond: Brad Miller, Jack Riewoldt (4)
How’s stat?
Melbourne and Richmond are two of the four AFL clubs, along with Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast Suns, to feature in the bottom five least experienced lists - in terms of games and age in 2012.
Foot in both camps
Les Abbott, Ken Albiston, Gerry Beare, Ross Brewer, Jack Bristow, Blair Campbell, Doug Chapman, Cameron Clayton, Craig Cameron, Matt Connors, Daryl Cumming, Leo Dobrigh, Phil Egan, Simon Eishold, Percy Ellingsen, Frank Ellis, Jim Fitzpatrick, Laurie Fowler, Graham Gaunt, Andy Goodwin, Herbert Hill, Max Hislop, Ben Holland, John Howat, Frank Hughes Jnr, Len Incigneri, Les Irwin, Mick Maguire, Addam Maric, Herbie Matthews, Craig McKellar, Brad Miller, Vern Moore, Billy Nettlefold, Steven O’Dwyer, Michael Pickering, Howard Richardson, Haydn Robins, Leo Rush, Alex Salvado, Peter Schofield, Cameron Schwab, Ben Sheppard, George St John, Troy Simmonds, Chris Sullivan, Scott Sutcliffe, Ken Webb, Graeme Wilkinson, Mark Williams
What Mark Neeld says …
“In the review, and taking the scoreboard out of it [last round] … some things you can improve quickly. The more time we spend together, the more time we spend redeveloping our game plan, and the way we respond over the next few weeks to the last couple of games. We'll all find a whole heap about each other I reckon.”
Key Melbourne question
The Demons have started the season with two disappointing results, including a 108-point loss to West Coast on the road last round. Can the Dees hit back with their first win of 2012?
Key Richmond question
The yellow and black went down to the Magpies by 21 points last Saturday night to remain winless this season. Will they suffer their third loss or break their drought against the Dees?
Summary
On and off the field, the past month has been a much-publicised one for Melbourne. Although there have been remnants of some of those issues in the lead-up to round three, the focus has been placed squarely back on the Tigers. The Demons have addressed the on-field areas and have found the positives to focus on. The challenge now for the Dees will be to notch up their first win for 2012. But it won’t be easy. Melbourne has lost its opening two matches by an average of 74.5 points. And although Richmond is of similar experience in terms of age and matches, both sides will be desperate for a win, given the early season scrutiny. Since 2009, Melbourne has had the wood over Richmond, with four wins from six matches, but it will count for little this time around, given the red and blue’s new look coaching staff and game plan. But it’s a great opportunity for the Demons to open their account.
