Control of the stoppages shapes as pivotal to the outcome of Friday night’s big Anzac Day eve clash between Richmond and Melbourne.

The Tigers are fully aware of Melbourne’s stoppage strength and they have prepared accordingly this week.

“They gave us a touch-up last year in this area and last week in Adelaide (against the unbeaten Crows), when it was really wet, they had 144 stoppages,” Richmond assistant coach Brendon Lade said on this week’s ‘Spotlight’.

Richmond and Melbourne to honour wartime history

So we’ve prepared the boys for a bit of a fight . . . a lot of numbers around the stoppage.  That’s what we’re going to get all night, and we just have to do our best to make sure we win more stoppages than we lose.”

The ruck battle between Richmond’s Ivan Maric and Melbourne’s Mark Jamar also shapes as a decisive factor.

“Ivan didn’t play last year against Jamar.  They’re very similar ruckmen . . . both are physical and like getting their knees dirty, Lade said.

“I’m looking forward to that battle more than any.”

Where: MCG
When: Friday, April 24, 7.50pm (EST)
TV coverage: Channel Seven (live from 7.30pm), Fox Footy (live from 7.30pm)
Radio coverage:  3AW, SEN, Triple M, ABC

To view the current odds as well Sportsbet.com.au’s ‘Lead at any break’ promotion, click here (18+)

Round 4 Richmond Team

B:  Astbury, Batchelor, Rance
HB:  Houli, Vlastuin, Drummond
C:  B. Ellis, Cotchin, McIntosh
HF:  Morris, Edwards, Miles
F:  Riewoldt, Lloyd, Griffiths
R:  Maric, Martin, Hunt
IC:  Grigg, Arnot, McDonough, Gordon
Em:  Vickery, Lennon, Elton

In:  McDonough, Drummond, Arnot
Out:  Newman (back), Knights (hamstring), Chaplin (calf)
New: Nathan Drummond, 20, 182cm, 86kg, from Shepparton Bears/Murray U18

See how Melbourne is lining up in Round 4 this weekend

Richmond v Melbourne recent history

Round 9, 2014, MCG
Richmond            2.3          4.8          6.16        9.20  (74)
Melbourne         1.3          4.5          9.6          14.7  (91)
Goals – Richmond:  S. Edwards 2, Lennon 2, Cotchin, Jackson, Lloyd, Martin, Riewoldt.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Martin 31, Jackson 30, Cotchin 26, Deledio 24, Ellis 23, Grigg 23, Houli 22.
Goals – Melbourne:  Watts 3, Pedersen 2, Tyson 2, Dawes, M. Jones, N. Jones, Kennedy-Harris, Riley, Vince, Viney.
Leading possession-getters – Melbourne:  N. Jones 33, Vince 25, Howe 24, Viney 24, Grimes 23, Tyson 23, Cross 22.

Round 8, 2013, MCG
Richmond            2.4          7.9          12.14       15.16  (106)
Melbourne         3.0          7.2          10.4          11.6  (72)
Goals – Richmond:  Martin 3, Riewoldt 3, King 2, Chaplin, Deledio, Ellis, Morris, Nahas, Vlastuin, White.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Ellis 39, Deledio 27, Cotchin 26, Vlastuin 25, Grigg 24, Houli 24, S. Edwards 23, Jackson 23.
Goals – Melbourne:  Davey 3, Dawes 2, Dunn 2, Bail, Evans, Howe, Nicholson.
Leading possession-getters – Melbourne:  N. Jones 22, terlich 21, Magner 20, Davey 19, M. Jones 18.

Round 15, 2012, MCG
Richmond            4.6          6.12        9.20        13.23  (101)
Melbourne         1.0          4.4          5.6          11.12  (78)
Goals – Richmond:  Nahas 4, Deledio 2, McGuane 2, Edwards, Grigg, Riewoldt, Tuck, White.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Grigg 35, Cotchin 28, Houli 27, Conca 23, Deledio 23, Tuck 23, Edwards 21, Ellis 21.
Goals – Melbourne:  Martin 2, Bail, Bennell, Blease, Garland, Jones, McKenzie, Rivers, Sylvia, Tapscott.
Leading possession-getters – Melbourne:  Jones 25, Sylvia 25, Dunn 22, Bail 20, Frawley 20, McKenzie 20.

Round 3, 2012, MCG
Richmond            4.4          6.8          15.11     20.13  (133)
Melbourne         2.3          5.6          6.6          11.8  (74)
Goals – Richmond:  Cotchin 3, Miller 3, Conca 2, Deledio 2, Nahas 2, Grigg, Houli, Jackson, I. Maric, Martin, Riewoldt, Tuck, Vickery.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Grigg 37, Tuck 30, Conca 29, Houli 29, Foley 28, Deledio 27, Cotchin 22, Jackson 21, Nahas 21, Newman 20.
Goals – Melbourne:  Clark 2, Dunn 2, Howe 2, Trengove 2, Jones, Sellar, Watts.
Leading possession-getters – Melbourne:  Howe 24, Jones 17, McKenzie 17, Morton 17, Trengove 16.

Round 22, 2011, MCG
Richmond            6.2          10.9        11.12     17.15  (117)
Melbourne         4.0          7.1          14.2        17.8  (110)
Goals – Richmond:  Martin 3, Miller 3, Foley 2, Riewoldt 2, Cotchin, Edwards, Graham, Jackson, King, Nahas, Webberley.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Tuck 28, Foley 24, Grigg 23, Deledio 21, Martin 21, Cotchin 18, Edwards 18.
Goals – Melbourne:  Sylvia 5, Jones 3, Jurrah 3, Trengove 2, Bennell, Green, Petterd, Watts.
Leading possession-getters – Melbourne:  Sylvia 29, Moloney 25, Jones 22, Morton 21, Garland 20, McKenzie 20, Trengove 19.

Richmond v Melbourne head-to-head

  • Richmond and Melbourne have played 185 times with the Tigers winning 103, losing 80 and two draws.
  • Richmond last defeated Melbourne in Round 19, 2013 at the MCG – 15.16 (106) to 11.6 (72).
  • Richmond has won five of its last 10 games against Melbourne.
  • Richmond and Melbourne have met in two league finals with the Tigers winning one and losing one.
  • Richmond and Melbourne have met in one Grand Final, in 1940, which the Demons won by 39 points - 15.17 (107) to 10.8 (68).
  • Richmond’s best winning sequence against Melbourne is nine, from 1965-70 and 1971-75.
  • Richmond’s longest losing sequence against Melbourne is seven, from 1961-65.
  • Richmond’s highest score against Melbourne is 30.16 (196) in Round 2, 1942 at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s lowest score against Melbourne is 1.6 (12) in Round 10, 1908 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s greatest winning margin against Melbourne is 93 points in Round 9, 1980 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s greatest losing margin against Melbourne is 121 points in Round 21, 1993 at the MCG.
  • The most goals kicked by a Richmond player in a match against Melbourne is nine by Michael Roach in Round 20, 1980 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s biggest-ever crowd against Melbourne is 76,387 in Round 22, 1998 at the MCG.