3 minute read
Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2021 AFL Season.
We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.
GOLD COAST V RICHMOND
Thursday 1 July @ Marvel Stadium
Assuming the world isn't ending and we're still playin' footy, how do we rationally look at Thursday's game without feeling so ho hum.
I guess one way is to say if Richmond lose they are zero hope for the flag – the old 'Hot Take Express' in full flow.
And with flexible fixturing, not sure why Gold Coast are even on a Thursday night but here we are.
With the match moved from Queensland to Melbourne, you'd think it gives Richmond a big advantage but remember we're told they hate Marvel so who knows.
The Suns have yet again failed to impress. Rowell and Anderson were the reason to cheer but once Rowell went down at the start of the year, and hasn't fully recovered either, the sun set.
There has been little improvement amongst the rest, the side has few supporters that turn up in droves and their competition-wide acclaim diminishes weekly.
So this is all positive then! But realistically it's not a great position from a holistic situation. Having embedded huge financial foundations, the AFL needs it to work.
That is even more critical with the horrific fiscal circumstances all sports find themselves in, into and out of COVID.
One shining light this year has been Touk Miller. He will easily have his best year statistically by the end of it and just last week showed how much superior he was playing to teammates.
Whether he's given a job as the hunter or sometimes as the hunted, he shows the way. More need to follow this leader.
But losing to North is not pretty no matter where it is played. They can't kick a score and will need to this week.
That will be against the champs who have hit a roadside deer (Hopefully not the one those fools that got fined for COVID protocol breaches this week).
Not only were they putrid in kicking 2.10 against a spluttering St Kilda, they did it at home, they did it when needed, they lost some important soldiers and yet somehow kept their spot in the Eight.
No question they will be better with Lynch back. He takes the number one defender allowing Riewoldt down the chain and so on and so on. Plus his contested marking and pack splitting brings in their little men who play the preferable Tigers style.
However last Friday night they lost two important defenders in Balta and Broad to syndesmosis injuries which need surgery and long times on the sidelines.
They'd almost certainly be mincemeat this week were they playing a structured and in form rival. Balta is the one who offers them a stability in the post-Rance era and it might need some innovative coaching to replace him longer term.
They just didn't look on against the Saints. Early on there were so many missed targets, bad disposal, missed shots on goal and missed tackles that meant even a team who wasn't in their best of form knocked them off by 40. The signs were bad from the jump.
When Dusty is only just going in an MCG match, you know you're in for a long night.
Richmond has had their way with the Suns during the recent times. It is hard to even fathom the Karmichael Hunt match from 2012 even exists.
And surely, SURELY, it will be so again. The Tiges would probably just take a 20 point win with no injuries and move on.
Class usually shines through and you'd think that suits a dry Marvel but the roof being required to stay open for protocol reasoning could impinge on good footy at night?
If Gold Coast bring some tackling pressure they could cause at least some mid-game concern, if not pain. But the Tigers can scramble over the line.
Shai Bolton is consistent and against this opponent may just cause some pain so he's the suggested play.
Match Selection: Richmond by 26 points
Suggested Bets: Shai Bolton 2+ goals @ $2.50
