Two key duels, at opposite ends of the ground, could go a long way towards deciding the outcome of Saturday afternoon’s big clash between traditional rivals Richmond and Collingwood at the MCG.

It’ll be a tale of two Jacks, when the Tigers’ star full-forward Jack Riewoldt pits his skills against the Magpies’ dependable full-back Jack Frost.

And, at the other end, outstanding Richmond key defender Alex Rance will go head-to-head with Collingwood’s gun spearhead Travis Cloke.

Riewoldt kicked four goals in Richmond’s narrow five-point win against the Magpies back in Round 7, but Tiger assistant coach Brendon Lade acknowledged he was in for a tough battle on Saturday.

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“Jack played really well that game, but Frost has been in great form.  He’s probably their leading defender at the moment, with (Nathan) Brown especially being out,” Lade said on this week’s ‘Spotlight’.

“It’s whether they put Ben Reid back, but his (Frost) form’s been very good, and Jack will have to be playing well to beat him.”

Lade also recognised the importance of Rance’s role on the dangerous Cloke.

“He (Cloke) always seems to play well against the Tigers.  A couple of years ago he kicked seven goals, and I think he kicked three in the first quarter last time against us,” Lade said.

“So, for us, it’s a good match-up for ‘Rancey’ (Alex Rance) . . . a good, All-Australian full-forward against an All-Australian full-back. 

“If he (Cloke) can have 15 marks outside the arc, and no shots at goal, that’d be outstanding for us.

“We’ll see if we can get him up the ground, but he generally plays close to goal.”

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From an overall team perspective, Collingwood’s capacity to win contested ball, and apply intense pressure through tackling, have been major features of its game this season.

“It’s been two ‘stats’ they’ve been very good at all year, and they’ve played a lot of young kids as well,” Lade said.

“To have those kids come in, and do what they do consistently, is a credit to them. 

“For us, we were really good in this area (contested ball) last week (v Gold Coast), but a couple of weeks ago, against the Crows, we were poor. 

“It’ll be a finals-like game inside, and we need to be on our game to get over the line. 

“It’s been a good area for us, and something we have to do well on the weekend.” 

Get all the match day information for Saturday's away match against Collingwood at the MCG

Where: MCG
When: Saturday, August 22, 1.45pm (AEST)
TV coverage: Fox Footy (live from 1.30pm); Channel Seven (delayed from 3.30pm)
Radio coverage: 3AW, Triple M, ABC

Click here to see Sportsbet’s latest odds for each match and CASH BACK special on Head to Head bets if your team lead at any break but lose.

The Richmond 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: Morris, Miles, Lloyd, Edwards
Em: Hampson, Thomas, Castagna

In: Edwards
Out: Thomas (omitted)

Find out how Collingwood is lining up for Round 21 this weekend

Richmond v Collingwood recent history

Round 7, 2015, MCG
Richmond            1.2          9.5          12.6        16.9 (105)
Collingwood       4.4          7.5          12.7        15.10 (100)

Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 4, Vickery 3, Cotchin 2, Deledio 2, Grigg 2, B. Ellis, Maric, McIntosh.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 32, Deledio 30, B. Ellis 29, Grigg 28, Martin 26, Rance 23, Houli 22, Miles 21.
Goals – Collingwood:  Cloke 3, Crisp 2, Elliott 2, Swan 2, White 2, Blair, Broomhead, de Goey, Witts.
Leading possession-getters – Collingwood:  Swan 32, Adams 23, Seedsman 22, Crisp 20.

Round 4, 2014, MCG
Richmond            1.4          2.7          3.10        10.12 (72)
Collingwood       4.3          7.5          10.10     16.14 (110)

Goals – Richmond:  Lloyd 3, Riewoldt 2, Arnot, S. Edwards, Martin, Newman.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Martin 29, Jackson 27, Conca 25, Houli 22, Lloyd 22, Thomas 22, Ellis 20, Vlastuin 20.
Goals – Collingwood:  Beams 3, Pendlebury 3, White 3, Elliott 2, Swan 2, Ball, Blair, Sidebottom.
Leading possession-getters – Collingwood:  Beams 30, Swan 27, Pendlebury 24, Ball 22, Sidebottom 22, Young 21, Fasolo 20.

Round 4, 2013, MCG
Richmond                            3.3          6.5          8.6            11.13 (79)
Collingwood                       1.4          5.8          13.12       16.17 (113)

Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 3, McGuane 2, Vickery 2, S. Edwards, Houli, King, Maric.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Cotchin 27, Deledio 25, Houli 24, Grigg 22, Knights 20.
Goals – Collingwood:  Cloke 7, Sidebottom 4, Clarke, Dwyer, Elliott, Lumumba, Swan.
Leading possession-getters – Collingwood:  Swan 35, Pendlebury 27, Sidebottom 21, Clarke 20, Cloke 20, Lumumba 20.

Round 2, 2012, MCG
Richmond                            1.6          2.10        4.13          8.16 (64)
Collingwood                       2.8          5.10        11.12        12.13 (85)

Goals – Richmond:  Miller 4, Deledio 2, Conca, Edwards.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 35, Rance 34, Grigg 30, Cotchin 26, Houli 26, Newman 25, Tuck 25, Batchelor 23, Conca 21, Martin 21, Morris 21, Grimes 20.
Goals – Collingwood:  Cloke 3, Thomas 3, Blair 2, Fasolo 2, Jolly, Paine.
Leading possession-getters – Collingwood:  Swan 32, Pendlebury 29, Sidebottom 24, O’Brien 23, Beams 22, Ball 20.

Round 4, 2011, MCG
Richmond                            2.2          5.7          11.10        13.12 (90)
Collingwood                       8.6          13.9        15.12        24.17 (161)

Goals – Richmond:  Riewoldt 4, Martin 2 White 2, Deledio, Graham, King, Miller, Vickery.
Leading possession-getters – Richmond:  Deledio 33, Cotchin 30, Grigg 30, Martin 28, Jackson 26, Newman 26, Conca 23, Edwards 22, Foley 19.
Goals – Collingwood:  Swan 4, Cloke 3, Sidebottom 3, Beams 2, Dawes 2, Thomas 2, Ball, Blair, Brown, Didak, Johnson, Pendlebury, Wellingham, Wood.
Leading possession-getters – Collingwood:  Swan 33, Didak 26, Pendlebury 26, Thomas 26, Sidebottom 25, Beams 23, Blair 21, Shaw 20.            

Richmond v Collingwood head-to-head

  • Richmond and Collingwood have played 202 times, with the Tigers winning 85, losing 116 and drawing one.
  • Richmond last defeated Collingwood in Round 7, 2015 at the MCG – 16.9 (105) to 15.10 (100).
  • Richmond has lost seven of its past eight games against Collingwood.
  • Richmond and Collingwood have met in nine finals matches, with the Tigers winning six and losing three.
  • The two teams have met in six league Grand Finals, with Richmond winning two (1920 and 1980) and losing four (1919, 1927, 1928 and 1929).
  • Richmond’s best winning sequence against Collingwood is six, from 1920-22.
  • Richmond’s longest losing sequence against Collingwood is 11, from 1909-14.
  • Richmond’s highest score against Collingwood is 25.25 (175) in Round 3, 1942 season at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s lowest score against Collingwood is 1.7 (13) in the 1927 Grand Final at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s greatest winning margin against Collingwood is 138 points in Round 3, 1942 at Punt Road.
  • Richmond’s biggest losing margin against Collingwood is 101 points in Round 21, 1986 at Victoria Park.
  • Richmond and Collingwood’s one and only drawn match was in Round 6 of the 1917 season at Punt Road.
  • The most goals kicked by a Richmond player in a match against Collingwood is shared by Jack Titus, 10 goals, Round 3, 1942 at Punt Road, and Jeff Hogg, 10 goals, Round 8, 1991 at the MCG.
  • Richmond’s biggest-ever crowd against Collingwood is 113,461 in the 1980 Grand Final.