MCG, 7.10pm, Saturday 24 May
ESSENDON
Backs: Slattery Fletcher Lovett-Murray
Half-backs: Myers McPhee Hislop
Centres: Winderlich Watson Dyson
Half-forwards: Welsh Daniher Lovett
Forwards: Hille Lloyd Lonergan
Followers: Ryder Stanton
Rover: McVeigh
Interchange: Neagle Reimers Monfries Jetta
Emergencies: Pears Nash Laycock
In: Lovett-Murray McPhee Dyson Watson
Out: Ramanauskas Michael Houli (virus) Laycock
RICHMOND Backs: McMahon Thursfield King
Half-backs: Newman Moore Hyde
Centres: Richardson Tuck Deledio
Half-forwards: Edwards Schulz Bowden
Forwards: Brown Riewoldt Tambling
Followers: Simmonds Johnson
Rover: Foley
Interchange: Polak White Cotchin Pattison
Emergencies: Pettifer Connors McGuane
In: Pattison Schulz
Out: Morton McGuane
Head-to-head Essendon 98 Richmond 80 Drawn 4
Last time Richmond 17.17 (119) bt Essendon 13.14 (92) R21, 2007, MCG
Betting TABSportsbet: Essendon $3.05 Richmond $1.35. Centrebet: Essendon $3.05 Richmond $1.38.
Summary The Dreamtime at the `G clash celebrates the enormous contributions Aboriginal footballers have made to Australia's indigenous game. Both the Tigers and Bombers have had their fair share of Aboriginal stars and will doubtless call on this history in the lead-up in what's an important game for sides languishing 12th and 13th. They have a combined two points from their past four games, but the Tigers have been much more impressive recently, having pushed Hawthorn, St Kilda and Geelong after the draw against the Bulldogs. Essendon's defeats are getting worse and Sunday's capitulation to Sydney was embarrassing. The Tigers should win, but Richmond-Essendon matches don't always go to script. James Hird and Matthew Richardson, who felt the sting of defeats when the occasion deemed them worthy victors, will testify to that in recent years.
Key Richardson. White men can jump, and run and run and run. Essendon coach Matthew Knights has Aboriginal pair Nathan Lovett-Murray and Paddy Ryder as potential opponents, but the Tigers star looms as the show-stopper.
Tip Richmond by 22 points
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