3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2022 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.

RICHMOND V COLLINGWOOD

Saturday 7 May @ MCG

Things may not be totally back on track for these two but this will be built as an old-fashioned, traditional, Melbourne Saturday afternoon game of footy.

Sure it was only four years ago they met in a famous Prelim at this very ground but there have been a few ups and downs for them since. Some occurred a week later while others continued for years on.

Collingwood have actually played pretty well against the Tigers even through that golden period for the Punt Road mob.

The Pies won last year and drew two years ago in the re-start to season 2020. As mentioned before there was that small measure of the Prelim Final when Mason Cox thought he was Royce Hart.

Obviously they are firmly in a rebuilding phase while the Tigers are tenuously hanging on to the hope that they can get one more flag from many of the heroes of those three in four years.

They sit either side of the cut off for the Eight and realistically that is their mark. It's hard to see them challenging for a top four spot and given their depth, that should rule them out of a shot at the title.

Richmond was being lauded for winning by 109 against West Coast - Collingwood were OK but it was just the Gold Coast. It is that type of season whereby there is a fair old demarcation in the quality of teams.

It is fine to congratulate the Tigers for securing the points and gaining confidence but they could have placed witches hats and those flat roadside cones on the field and that would have given them more worry than the Eagles.

Tackling was barely evident from the opposition but the positives to take out were that Vlastuin is back in some good defending form with Balta alongside him and Grimes teaching Gibcus. Some of that Premiership structure was feasible and real. Rioli doing some running off half back helps too.

It always helps by kicking straight and Riewoldt had four while Lynch had seven but it could have been double digits.

As we said the Gold Coast were OK but after a slower start, Collingwood always seem to hold a semblance of composure. 25 points in the end might have been a margin which flattered the away side.

There is no doubt how grand a player Scott Pendlebury is but they do need more dominant impact from the likes of Adams and De Goey to take some pressure of him in his latter years.

Moore, Howe and Maynard have a degree of solidity which helps no question from the back half. It's that work up to and then at the goal line which has set them back of late. Where does the score come from when it counts against better sides?

That will be major issue here for the Pies. While Richmond aren't at their total best they are tougher to score against. And now they receive the shot in the arm that both Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin return. It might be a sugar hit but they are worth the result.

You can see Collingwood have a red hot go but just not able to hit enough goal attempts. You can't always kick 15.3 as they did against Essendon.

For that reason tipping Richmond to finally win back to back and get the season on at least an even keel. Pretty sure it won't be high scoring.

Match Selection: Richmond by 25 points

Suggested Bets: Total Points Under 170.5 @ $1.90