We’re still a few weeks away from winter, but it’s a fresh night to be at the footy tonight for one of the newest “blockbusters” on the AFL calendar: the ANZAC Day eve clash between Richmond and Melbourne.
The flags on top of the scoreboard at the Ponsford Stand End are suggesting a slight breeze to the left of screen but as we know the wind swirls around the MCG and there’s no real advantage.
MCG tonight.Credit: Getty
Despite rain overnight, the surface presents immaculately and the bounce is true, though it may get a little greasier through the night.
Loyal listeners to our tipping podcast will know that I’ve made the Dees my lock of the week against the undermanned Tigers. Lose, and I’ll be belting out “we’re from Tigerland” next week, and nobody wants that.
Both teams are coming off the bye after poor losses – in Melbourne’s case again against a revitalised Brisbane, while Richmond were well beaten by West Coast. That formline does not look as icky after the Eagles backed it up in the Derby.
I’m expecting the Dees to be too strong in the middle for the Tigers, whose midfield has been hammered by injuries to Tim Taranto and Dion Prestia. Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney are well placed to have dominant nights.
The Dees have issues in attack but they should get plenty of opportunities tonight.
The Tigers have been competitive most weeks, and should be again tonight but they don’t have the class to cause an upset tonight.
There’s an expected crowd of 80,000.
