Round 10: Friday Night, St Kilda v Richmond
Venue: Etihad Stadium (St Kilda Home)
Ladder Positions: St Kilda (4th); Richmond (16th)
Last three games: St Kilda (win/win/lose); Richmond (win/lose/lose)
Favourite: St Kilda
My Tip: St Kilda
At the end of the 2009 season, the Saints were minor premiers and Richmond was the runner-up for the wooden spoon. After ten rounds, the Saints had won ten games to Richmond’s two.
At the midway point in the 2010 season, both teams have wavered in success. St Kilda has won 7 from 10 to keep them comfortably in the top four, while Richmond has just managed the one win against Port Adelaide in round nine.
On paper, the game’s outcome is predictable enough. Although the Saints haven’t sufficiently backed up from their 2009 success, they should nevertheless be feared as a serious finals contender. The hunger should still be burning and their ability to close down these low level games needs to be in tune to maintain a healthy opportunity in 2010.
The last time these teams met was in round 13, 2009; the Saints won by 56 points. The difference? Justin Koschitzke kicked five majors, while Jack Riewoldt kicked one goal, four behinds.
In lies the challenge to Jack (Riewoldt) and Richmond. Without cousin Nick parading the Saints’ forward fifty, responsibility again lies heavily on Koschitzke. So far in 2010, Jack has averaged 2.9 goals a game to Koschitzke’s 0.7. In rounds 9 and 10, Jack kicked four and six goals respectively. While I’m not suggesting that the hopes of either team rests solely, or even slightly, on the shoulders of these opposing men, statistics don’t lie and good form is perennial.
However, in that same breath, team form far outweighs player form and it would be dangerous to assume that Richmond has hit “good” form merely because the club achieved their first win for the season.
While, for the sake of the competition, I hope the teams meet at a contest, I can only assume that the Saints will take the four points…
By 36.
Ladder Positions: St Kilda (4th); Richmond (16th)
Last three games: St Kilda (win/win/lose); Richmond (win/lose/lose)
Favourite: St Kilda
My Tip: St Kilda
At the end of the 2009 season, the Saints were minor premiers and Richmond was the runner-up for the wooden spoon. After ten rounds, the Saints had won ten games to Richmond’s two.
At the midway point in the 2010 season, both teams have wavered in success. St Kilda has won 7 from 10 to keep them comfortably in the top four, while Richmond has just managed the one win against Port Adelaide in round nine.
On paper, the game’s outcome is predictable enough. Although the Saints haven’t sufficiently backed up from their 2009 success, they should nevertheless be feared as a serious finals contender. The hunger should still be burning and their ability to close down these low level games needs to be in tune to maintain a healthy opportunity in 2010.
The last time these teams met was in round 13, 2009; the Saints won by 56 points. The difference? Justin Koschitzke kicked five majors, while Jack Riewoldt kicked one goal, four behinds.
In lies the challenge to Jack (Riewoldt) and Richmond. Without cousin Nick parading the Saints’ forward fifty, responsibility again lies heavily on Koschitzke. So far in 2010, Jack has averaged 2.9 goals a game to Koschitzke’s 0.7. In rounds 9 and 10, Jack kicked four and six goals respectively. While I’m not suggesting that the hopes of either team rests solely, or even slightly, on the shoulders of these opposing men, statistics don’t lie and good form is perennial.
However, in that same breath, team form far outweighs player form and it would be dangerous to assume that Richmond has hit “good” form merely because the club achieved their first win for the season.
While, for the sake of the competition, I hope the teams meet at a contest, I can only assume that the Saints will take the four points…
By 36.
