Saturday’s AFL 2018 Round 23 match is between Richmond Tigers and Western Bulldogs. The opening kick is set to commence at 14:10 local time with the game to be played at MCG. The home team Richmond Tigers are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Richmond Tigers and Western Bulldogs.
When: 14:10 | Saturday 25/08/2018
Where: MCG
Preview:
Richmond have wrapped up the minor premiership and they’re the best team in the competition by about 20 percent.
Tigers won’t be resting any players as Damien Hardwick has stated he wants to play his best team this weekend and get some momentum.
Bulldogs are finishing the season off strongly and I like the way their midfield is combining with Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae and Josh Dunkley getting a lot of the ball.
KEY BATTLE:
Neither side employ one-on-one tactics but they key for the Bulldogs will be if they can move the ball through Richmond’s team defence.
Most sides have found it impossible to do that this year.
The Verdict
Hard to go past Richmond at the MCG where they have won 20 in a row.
The Tigers have a 29-16 (64.4 percent) record playing within its home state in day matches since 2014.
Unibet Odds:
Richmond Tigers at $1.10
Western Bulldogs at $7.50
Odds:
Tip: Richmond Tigers at $1.10
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Josh Caddy at $10.00
More Info:
Teams:
Richmond Tigers: 
B: Astbury, Rance, Grimes
HB: Short, Vlastuin, Houli
C: Grigg, Cotchin, McIntosh
HF: Rioli, Edwards, Castagna
F: Riewoldt, Martin, Caddy
FOLL: Nankervis, Conca, Prestia
I/C: Broad, Higgins, B. Ellis, Graham
EMG: Garthwaite, Menadue, Baker, Lloyd
IN: Astbury, Cotchin, Prestia
OUT: Garthwaite, Lloyd, Baker
Western Bulldogs: 
B: Wood, Naughton, Williams
HB: Crozier, Morris, Johannisen
C: Hunter, Macrae, Richards
HF: Gowers, Schache, Daniel
F: McLean, Bontempelli, Roughead
FOLL: Trengove, Dunkley, Wallis
I/C: Lipinski, Greene, Lynch, Smith
EMG: Young, Honeychurch, Porter, English
IN: Williams, Smith
OUT: Dickson, Jong
AFL News:
Damien Hardwick is used to not getting the rub of the green with AFL umpires, but the Richmond coach admits he was frustrated by the officiating during his side’s eight-point win over Essendon.
The Tigers were on the wrong end of a 27-15 free kick count in their 12.9 (81) to 11.7 (73) win in front of 76,424 fans at the MCG on Friday night.
It continued a theme for Hardwick’s men this year.
After 21 rounds, Richmond had conceded the most free kicks in the league and received the fewest.
“It was a frustrating night, there’s no doubt,” Hardwick said.
“Once again, it’s not the free kicks that we give away … the vast majority, 80 per cent, are there.
“But it’s the ones we don’t get that probably I find a little bit frustrating.”
The premiership coach feels particularly aggrieved for spearhead Jack Riewoldt, who gave away three free kicks and received none against the Bombers.
“I look at Jack tonight and I thought, ‘You know what – he doesn’t get much’,” he said.
“And I look at the other end and think, ‘Oh, I wish he was playing (there).’
“Anyway, it is what it is.
“Jack normally perseveres with that. He doesn’t blame, doesn’t complain – he just gets on with it and jumps at the ball.
“There’s not much we can do about it. We’ll just take it for what it is and hopefully we’ll get a better result next week.”
The lopsided free kick stats are one of the few areas Hardwick has reason to complain on the eve of the finals.
The Tigers, who he says didn’t play near their best, held off a late charge by Essendon – who bowed out of the finals race – to win their 20th match in a row at the MCG and claim top spot.
And they did it without premiership skipper Trent Cotchin and grand final stars Dion Prestia, Kane Lambert and David Astbury, who were all out injured.
All except for Lambert should return for the round 23 clash against the Western Bulldogs.
“We’ll get the majority of our best side up and going next week, get them back playing together and get a little bit of that clunkiness out that we’re probably seeing at the moment,” Hardwick said.
“We’re not playing our best footy, but we think it’s not too far away.”
