RICHMOND v GEELONG

Venue MCG Date Saturday, May 17
Time 2.10pm
Head to head Richmond 85 Geelong 92 Drawn 3
Last time Geelong 21.13 (139) bt Richmond 11.3 (69) R18, 2007, Skilled Stadium
Betting TABSportsbet: Richmond $4.50 Geelong $1.18. Centrebet: Richmond $4.85 Geelong $1.18

RICHMOND
B: Luke McGuane, Will Thursfield, Jake King
HB: Chris Newman, Graham Polak, Kelvin Moore
C: Matthew Richardson, Shane Tuck, Joel Bowden
HF: Matt White, Jack Riewoldt, Mitch Morton
F: Richard Tambling, Brett Deledio, Nathan Brown
Foll: Troy Simmonds, Kane Johnson, Nathan Foley
I/C: Jordan McMahon, Chris Hyde, Shane Edwards, Adam Pattison
EMG: Jay Schulz, Trent Cotchin, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls
In: Bowden, Polak
Out: Jackson, Schulz

GEELONG
B: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Josh Hunt
HB: Darren Milburn, Harry Taylor, Corey Enright
C: Cameron Ling, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel
HF Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Paul Chapman
F: James Kelly, Tom Hawkins, Ryan Gamble
Foll: Mark Blake, Gary Ablett, Joel Corey
I/C: Shane Mumford, Andrew Mackie, Max Rooke, David Wojcinski
EMG: Brent Prismall, Travis Varcoe, Shannon Byrnes
In: G Ablett
Out: Stokes (suspended)

Summary Geelong have won their past two matches against Richmond by a combined total of nearly 40 goals. But the hard-tackling 2008 Tigers are a far cry from the skill-challenged rabble shellacked by the premiers twice last season. Richmond are playing genuinely competitive football and have won as many matches this season as they did all last. Midfielder Nathan Foley proved himself elite in the Big V match last weekend, and Matthew Richardson is in career-best form on a wing at age 33. But Geelong have not yet lost a game, and for Richmond, this is a yardstick to measure their improvement. Geelong star Gary Ablett has been under an injury cloud but should play, though the Cats lose busy Mathew Stokes through suspension. With any number of quality replacements available, the Cats should continue their undefeated 2008.

Key Can Richmond match motors in the middle with Ablett, Bartel, Corey and company?

Tip Geelong by 32 points.