The battle of the ‘bookends’ shapes as a significant element in Saturday night’s blockbuster ‘Dreamtime at the ‘G’ clash between Richmond and Essendon.

Star Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt is coming off a superb, match-winning four-goal display against Port Adelaide last Sunday, and he has 24 goals for the season.

Up the other end of the ground, the Bombers’ giant, young gun Joe Daniher also is in fine form, having kicked a career-high six goals against Brisbane in Round 8.

Riewoldt is likely to be matched up by talented Essendon key back Michael Hurley, while star Tiger defender Alex Rance seems set to go to Daniher.

“Hurley has played on Jack before and done quite well, but Jack is playing some pretty good footy at the moment, both up the ground and in the goal-square.  So he’s a hard match-up for whoever plays on him,” Richmond assistant coach Brendon Lade said on this week’s 'Spotlight’.

Find out all you need to know about Saturday’s Dreamtime activities, including ticket sales

“He (Hurley) is very strong, so getting in a wrestle is probably not ideal for Jack. 

“Jack’s smart enough to know that he needs to move around and, hopefully, he can sit on Hurley’s head a couple of times and take some nice marks . . .

“For Daniher to kick six goals against Brisbane last week . . . obviously the ball was in there a lot, but you still have to mark and kick the goals.  That’s something he’s doing really well at the moment, and ‘Rancey’ (Alex Rance) will have his hands full against a taller opponent, that’s for sure.

“If he can keep him grounded, and make it one of those dog-fights on the ground, that’d be great.

Lade stressed the importance of the Tigers not bombing the ball into their forward-50 area, given the interception expertise of the Bomber backs.

“They’ve probably got four players that are very good at the intercept marks – Hooker, Hurley, Fletcher and Hibberd – they’re all quite good at intercepts, so for us, it’s about using our feet going inside 50, making sure we’re hitting the right target and not bombing it up high, because these guys will have an impact in the air,” he said.

Where:  MCG
When:  Saturday, May 30, 2015, 7.20pm (EST)
TV coverage:  Channel 7 (live from 7pm), Fox Footy (live from 7.15pm)
Radio coverage:  3AW, Triple M, ABC

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Round 9 Richmond team

B: Dylan Grimes, Jake Batchelor, Alex Rance
HB: Bachar Houli, Nick Vlastuin, Troy Chaplin
C: Brandon Ellis, Trent Cotchin, Kamdyn McIntosh
HF: Dustin Martin, Shane Edwards, Anthony Miles
F: Jack Riewoldt, Brett Deledio, Steven Morris
R: Ivan Maric, Shaun Grigg, Taylor Hunt
IC: Liam McBean, Corey Ellis, Connor Menadue, Ben Griffiths
Em: Ben Lennon, Matt McDonough, Todd Elton

In: Liam McBean
Out: Ty Vickery (ankle)  

See how Essendon is lining up for the Dreamtime game this weekend

Richmond v Essendon recent history

Round 20, 2014, MCG
Richmond            1.2          7.4          9.8          14.11  (95)
Essendon            3.2          6.4          8.7          11.11  (77)
Goals – Richmond:  Deledio 2, S. Edwards 2, Gordon 2, Riewoldt 2, Cotchin, B. Ellis, Griffiths, Houli, Maric, Martin.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  B. Ellis 28, Miles 28, Cotchin 22, Martin 21, Deledio 19, S. Edwards 19, Petterd 19.
Goals – Essendon:  Carlisle 2, Chapman 2, Melksham 2, DellOlio, Goddard, Heppell, Merrett, Winderlich.
Leading possession-getters – Essendon:  Heppell 32, Zaharakis 32, Stanton 25, Goddard 24, Chapman 23, Dempsey 20. 

Round 11, 2014, MCG
Richmond            0.1          3.5          3.8          7.12  (54)
Essendon            4.4          9.8          11.11     15.14  (104)
Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 3, Martin 2, Cotchin, S. Edwards.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Martin 28, Ellis 26, Cotchin 25, Houli 25, Thomas 23, Chaplin 21, Deledio 20, S. Edwards 20.
Goals – Essendon:  Howlett 5, Daniher 3, Merrett 2, Bellchambers, Chapman, Fletcher, Heppell, Hibberd.
Leading possession-getters – Essendon:  Watson 36, Zaharakis 31, Goddard 30, Stanton 27, Fletcher 25, Merrett 22, Heppell 21, Carlisle 20. 

Round 23, 2013, MCG
Richmond            4.1          5.7          11.9        15.14  (104)
Essendon            2.4          3.6          5.8          9.11  (65)
Goals – Richmond:  A. Edwards 4, Vickery 4, Jackson 2, King 2, Grigg, Martin, Tuck.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Ellis 35, Jackson 30, Cotchin 29, Martin 26, Deledio 25, Petterd 24, Conca 22, Grigg 22, Foley 20.
Goals – Essendon:  Hurley 2, Jetta 2, Melksham 2, Dalgleish, Howlett, Lovett-Murray.
Leading possession-getters – Essendon:  Stanton 33, Hibberd 26, Goddard 25, Watson 25, Lovett-Murray 23, Melksham 20. 

Round 9, 2013, MCG
Richmond            2.2          4.5          6.5          9.8  (62)
Essendon            2.3          7.7          11.9        13.13  (91)
Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 2, Cotchin, S. Edwards, King, Martin, McGuane, Nahas, Vlastuin.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Jackson 29, Grigg 27, Newman 27, Houli 25, Cotchin 23, Chaplin 22, Martin 22, Vlastuin 22, S. Edwards 21.
Goals – Essendon:  Crameri 3, Watson 3, Zaharakis 2, Hibberd, Howlett, Melksham, Stanton, Winderlich.
Leading possession-getters – Essendon:  Stanton 39, Goddard 34, Hibberd 29, Dempsey 28, Watson 28, Heppell 27.  

Round 22, 2012, MCG
Richmond            5.5          8.11        12.16     13.24  (102)
Essendon            3.2          4.6          7.9          8.9  (57)
Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 3, Edwards 2, McGuane 2, Astbury, Deledio, Grigg, Martin, Nahas, O’Hanlon.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 33, Tuck 33, Cotchin 31, Houli 26, Martin 25, Edwards 22, Grigg 21, Newman 21.
Goals – Essendon:  Monfries 3, Browne, Gumbleton, Hurley, Jetta, O’Brien.
Leading possession-getters – Essendon:  Heppell 28, Hibberd 20, Watson 20, Crameri 19, Monfries 19, Stanton 19. 

Richmond v Essendon head-to-head

  • Richmond and Essendon have played 195 times, with the Tigers winning 87, losing 104 and drawing four.
  • Richmond last defeated Essendon in Round 20, 2014 at the MCG – 14.11 (95) to 11.11 (77).
  • Richmond has won five and lost five of its past 10 games against Essendon.
  • Richmond and Essendon have met in nine league finals, with the Tigers winning five and losing four.
  • Richmond and Essendon have met in two Grand Finals, with the Tigers winning one (1943) and losing one (1942).
  • Richmond’s best winning sequence against Essendon is 11, from 1914-21.
  • Richmond’s longest losing sequence against Essendon is seven, from 1987-91.
  • Richmond’s highest score against Essendon is 25.22 (172), in Round 3, 1982 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s lowest score against Essendon is 3.11 (29), in Round 2, 1911 at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s greatest winning margin against Essendon is 74 points, in Round 21, 1970 at the MCG, and Round 18, 1983 at Windy Hill.
  • Richmond’s greatest losing margin against Essendon is 125 points, in Round 2, 1960 at Punt Road.
  • The most goals kicked by a Richmond player in a match against Essendon is 10 by Dick Harris, in Round 3, 1944 at Windy Hill.
  • Richmond’s biggest-ever crowd against Essendon is 90,564, in Round 3, 1982 at the MCG.