The last game on sunday for AFL Finals Week 1 is between Richmond Tigers and Carlton Blues. The match is to be played at MCG with the opening bounce set to commence at 3:20pm local time with home team Richmond Tigers currently holding favouritism in the market. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Richmond Tigers and Carlton Blues.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, 3:20pm AEST Sunday, September 8, 2013
[include file=”inpost_adrotator.php”]
Opening odds comparison:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Richmond Tigers | 1.50 | 1.48 | 1.47 | 1.48 | 1.50 | 1.50 |
|
Carlton Blues
|
2.65 | 2.75 | 2.65 | 2.65 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
Preview:
The last match of the weekend, and second elimination final is between Richmond and Carlton, Sunday, 3.20pm at the MCG. Richmond will go into this match as favourites, although the Blues can certainly not be ruled out. Carlton will be on a high after their last minute victory against Port Adelaide to make it into the finals. While the Blues wouldn’t have made it this far without the Essendon drugs scandal, make no mistake, they are just as likely to be boosted by their inclusion as they are to feel unworthy.
Richmond have not played in the finals for a very long time, ironically beating the Blues in their last finals encounter in 2001. Jack Riewoldt and Chris Newman are both
potential late-inclusions for the Tigers, and could make a big difference to the game if found fit. All in all, the Tigers should be too strong for the Blues this weekend, coming off two victories in their last two games and desperate to make their long-awaited finals appearance last longer than a week.
Teams:
Richmond Tigers: 
B: Morris, Rance, Grimes
HB: Houli, Chaplin, Newman
C: Grigg, Cotchin, Jackson
HF: Vlastuin, A Edwards, Ellis
F: Martin, Riewoldt, Vickery
F: Maric, Deledio, Conca
INT FROM: Foley, S Edwards, King, Tuck, Petterd, Stephenson, Dea
In: C.Newman, J.Riewoldt, S.Edwards, M.Dea
Out: M.White (hamstring)
Carlton Blues: 
B: Scotland, Jamison, Henderson
HB: Tuohy Waite Gibbs
C: Yarran, Robinson, Simpson
HF: Curnow, Walker, McLean
F: Garlett, Kreuzer, Judd
FOLL: Warnock, Betts, Murphy
INT FROM: Armfield, Bell, Casboult, Duigan, Ellard, McInnes, Menzel
In: C.Judd, B.McLean, H.Scotland
Out: –
Tigger the Tiger awaits first AFL final
Nick Vlastuin was still a toddler when his mother nicknamed him Tigger.
Cecily Vlastuin was not being an incredible AFL prophet, but rather comparing his energy to the bouncing, boisterous Winnie the Pooh character.
After an impressive debut season with Richmond that earnt him a Rising Star nomination, “Tigger” Vlastuin will play for the Tigers this Sunday in their historic elimination final against Carlton.
It is Richmond’s first finals appearance since 2001.
More than one teammate has noted that while Richmond veteran Chris Newman has had to wait more than a decade for his first taste of September, the 19-year-old only had to play for 23 weeks.
“Everyone has been saying how lucky I am, how fortunate,” Vlastuin said on Wednesday.
“I followed Collingwood growing up, so there were plenty of finals with them.
“But then `Newy’ has waited 13 years, I think … I couldn’t imagine that.
Vlastuin is enjoying the buildup to his first final, but admits the growing excitement among the Tigers faithful has caught him off-guard.
“It’s a lot more full-on and a lot more fans than I thought there would be,” he said.
“It’s just been awesome.”
Vlastuin added that this time, Carlton will not take them by surprise.
The Blues beat them by 10 points in round 21, Richmond’s most recent loss.
“We made a good start and they fought back,” he said.
“We’re definitely not going to underestimate them again.”
Vlastuin said they were also better prepared for this next instalment of Richmond’s fierce rivalry with the Blues.
“A couple of weeks leading up to that game we were training pretty hard,” he said.
“All the boys were pretty sore.
“The last couple of weeks, we’ve backed that off a bit because of finals.
“Getting the body right and little tweaks in the game plan, stuff like that – hopefully we’ll be flying.”