Richmond will be banking on its defence, ranked third in the competition over the course of the home-and-away season (for points against) to restrict North Melbourne, which had the fifth-ranked attack, to a losing score in Sunday’s elimination final at the MCG.

“The defenders have been outstanding,” Richmond assistant coach Brendon Lade said on this week’s ‘Spotlight’.

WATCH: Damien Hardwick’s press conference from the ME Centre today

“We’ve hardly changed our back seven probably all year.  It’s been very solid . . . a real strength of ours.

“The ‘mids’ have been putting some good pressure on, too, so it’s been a whole team aspect . . .

“At the moment, we’ve got a really good defence . . . It’s about getting our offense up and going and scoring lots of points as well.”

Where:  MCG
When:  Sunday, September 13, 3.20pm (EST)
TV coverage:  Channel Seven (live from 3pm), Fox Footy (live from 3pm)
Radio coverage:  3AW, SEN, Triple M, ABC

 

It’s Finals, Finally! Check out the massive special from Sportsbet on every match in the first week of finals –CASH BACK if your team lead at any break but lose!

 

Richmond’s Elimination Final team
B:  Newman, Batchelor, Rance
HB:  Houli, Vlastuin, Chaplin
C:  B. Ellis, Cotchin, McIntosh
HF:  Martin, Lennon, Lambert
F:  Riewoldt, Deledio, Vickery
R:  Maric, Grigg, Hunt
IC (from):  Grimes, Miles, Lloyd, Edwards, Griffiths, Conca, Morris

In:  Griffiths, Conca, Morris
Out:  Nil

Find out how North Melbourne is lining up for the Elimination Final this weekend

 

Richmond v North Melbourne recent history

Round 23, 2015, Etihad Stadium
Richmond            1.4          2.7          7.11        16.12 (108)
North Melb.       2.3          4.5          6.6          10.7 (67)
Goals – Richmond:  Martin 3, Vickery 3, Lambert 2, Riewoldt 2, Deledio, Edwards, B. Ellis, Houli, Maric, Newman.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 30, Deledio 26, B. Ellis 26, Miles 24, Grigg 22, Martin 21.
Goals – North:  Turner 3, Brown 2, Daw 2, Bastinac, McKenzie, Petrie.
Leading possession-getters – North:  Macmillan 27, Gibson 21, Atley 20, Hansen 19, Nahas 19.

Round 6, 2015, Blundstone Arena
Richmond            2.1          5.8          6.11        10.14 (74)
North Melb        3.2          6.8          13.10       16.13 (109)
Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 3, Miles 2, Chaplin, Edwards, Maric, Martin, Morris.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Martin 30, Miles 30, Cotchin 28, Grigg 25, B. Ellis 24, Vlastuin 20.
Goals – North Melbourne:  Thomas 5, Higgins 3, Harvey 2, Nahas 2, Brown, Petrie, Waite, Wright.
Leading possession-getters – North Melbourne:  Jacobs 23, Harvey 22, Petrie 21, Thompson 21, Wright 21.

Round 12, 2014, Etihad Stadium
Richmond            3.4          10.6        11.8        13.10 (88)
North Melb.       3.3          4.7          12.11     17.14 (116)
Goals – Richmond:  Martin 4, Riewoldt 3, Dea, S. Edwards, Maric, Morris, Thomas, Vickery.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Houli 30, Martin 28, Cotchin 24, Thomas 24, Ellis 23, Vlastuin 20.
Goals – North Melbourne:  Petrie 4, Harvey 3, Bastinac 2, Nahas 2, Ziebell 2, Black, Cunnington, Goldstein, Greenwood.
Leading possession-getters – North Melbourne:  Greenwood 29, Swallow 29, Harvey 25, Goldstein 20, Hansen 19.

Round 15, 2013, Etihad Stadium
Richmond            2.2          2.7          4.15        8.18 (66)
North Melb.       3.3          11.6        15.8        19.14 (128)
Goals – Richmond:  Morris 2, Riewoldt 2, White 2, Ellis, Jackson.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 25, Foley 24, Grigg 24, Martin 23, White 19.
Goals – North Melb:  Tarrant 4, Black 3, Bastinac 2, Harvey 2, Mullett 2, Ziebell 2, Cunnington, Gibson, Greenwood, Petrie.
Leading possession-getters – North Melb:  Adams 29, Harvey 27, Greenwood 26, Swallow 26, Wells 25, Ziebell 25, Bastinac 21, Thompson 21, Grima 20.

Round 17, 2012, MCG
Richmond            2.3          5.9          10.12       14.15 (99)
North Melb.       3.5          7.9          9.11          15.13 (103)
Goals – Richmond:  Nahas 3, Riewoldt 3, S. Edwards 2, Martin 2, Tuck 2, Cotchin, Houli.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 31, Tuck 26, Rance 25, Cotchin 24, Jackson 23, Morris 23, Martin 22, Conca 21, Ellis 21, Grigg 20.
Goals – North Melb:  Petrie 7, Anthony 2, Harper 2, Campbell, Hansen, Harvey, Macmillan.
Leading possession-getters – North Melb:  Bastinac 29, Swallow 29, Anthony 26, Gibson 24, Harvey 24, Grima 23, Adams 20, Wright 20.


Richmond v North Melbourne head-to-head

  • Richmond and North Melbourne have played 155 times with the Tigers winning 83, losing 70 and drawing two.
  • Richmond last defeated North Melbourne in Round 23, 2015 at Etihad Stadium – 16.12 (108) to 10.7 (67).
  • Richmond has lost seven and drawn one of its past 10 matches against North.
  • Richmond and North Melbourne have met in just one league Grand Final – in 1974 – with the Tigers winning by 41 points (18.20 to 13.9).
  • Richmond and North Melbourne have met in five finals all-up, with the Tigers winning two and North three.
  • Richmond and North Melbourne have played two drawn matches – Round 8, 1966 at the MCG, and Round 16, 2009 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s best winning sequence against North Melbourne is 18, from 1925-36.
  • Richmond’s longest losing sequence against North Melbourne is seven, from 1990-93.
  • Richmond’s highest score against North Melbourne is 30.19 (199) in Round 2, 1931 at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s lowest score against North Melbourne is 3.8 (26) in Round 3, 1960 at Arden Street.
  • Richmond’s greatest winning margin against North Melbourne is 168 points in Round 2, 1931 at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s greatest losing margin against North Melbourne is 141 points in Round 2, 1990 at the MCG.
  • The most goals kicked by a Richmond player in a match against North Melbourne (and every other team for that matter) is 14 by Doug Strang in Round 2, 1931 at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s biggest-ever crowd against North Melbourne is 113,839 in the 1974 Grand Final.