Key posts
Vibe building at the MCG
By Marc McGowan
Tens of thousands of fans have already taken their seat at the MCG for tonight’s Anzac Day eve clash between Melbourne and Richmond as the players go through their early warm-ups.
I’ve reported on this match several times across the years, and the pre-match spectacle is typically brilliant. Hugh Sheridan is belting out Bridge Over Troubled Water at the moment, with the Anzac Day-related ceremony about to start, which is always respectfully done and received.
Christian Petracca warms up at the MCG.Credit: Getty Images
Cambell Gray makes his debut for the Tigers tonight.Credit: Getty Images
Pickett hands Tiger first jumper
Richmond premiership player Marlion Pickett has been in the Tigers rooms tonight to present debutant Campbell Gray with his match jumper.
Gray will wear the No.50, made famous by Pickett when he played his first game in Richmond’s 2019 grand final victory against Greater Western Sydney.
Gray, 21, stands 195cm and was taken at pick 16 in the 2024 mid-season rookie draft. He caught the eye of Tigers’ recruiters in eight VFL matches that season with Essendon.
Pickett, 33, played 91 games for the Tigers before retiring last year.
Sydney’s Warner rejects WA offers to remain a Swan
By Steve Larkin
Chad Warner has resisted the lure of home, re-signing with the Swans.Credit: Getty Images
Chad Warner has rejected multi-million dollar offers from the two Western Australian clubs and signed a fresh two-year deal with Sydney.
The Swans ace has been weighing offers, with Fremantle particularly keen to prise the Perth-born playmaker out of Sydney.
But the 23-year-old has opted to remain at the Swans until the end of 2027, when he will qualify for free agency.
Warner earlier this year was open-minded about his future – he was due to fall off-contract at season’s end.
The explosive midfielder was being courted heavily by both West Coast and the Dockers, who were understood to have tabled a long-term offer.
But the 91-gamer elected to stay in Sydney.
The decision of Warner, who won his first All-Australian blazer last season, is welcome relief for Dean Cox in his first year as Sydney coach.
Cox had always expressed quiet confidence that Warner would reject the WA offers.
“For me, I want to make sure, first of all, that Chad plays his best footy for this football club, and he enjoys his time whilst he’s here,” Cox said last month.
“Hopefully that is for longer … you want to keep your best players, and Chad’s one of those.
“He is passionate, he loves his time at the footy club, and he loves playing with his teammates.”
AAP
How the teams line-up
MELBOURNE v RICHMOND, MCG, 7.30PM
MELBOURNE
B: J. Bowey, S. May, C. Salem
HB: C. Windsor, T. McDonald, J. McVee
C: K. Chandler, J. Viney, E. Langdon
HF: T. Sparrow, T. Fullarton, K. Pickett
F: K. Tholstrup, B. Fritsch, C. Spargo
R: M. Gawn, C. Petracca, H. Langford
I/C: C. Oliver, X. Lindsay, T. Rivers, H. Petty
SUB: Harry Sharp
EMG: J. Billings, B. Howes, A. Johnson
IN: S. May, J. McVee, B. Fritsch
OUT: B. Howes (omitted), D. Turner (injured), J. Melksham (managed)
RICHMOND
B: B. Miller, N. Broad, N. Vlastuin
HB: J. Short, S. Banks, L. Trainor
C: H. Ralphsmith, T. Dow, J. Trezise
HF: S. Campbell, J. Ross, S. Green
F: J. Faull, T. Lynch, M. Rioli
R: T. Nankervis, T. Taranto, J. Hopper
I/C: R. Mansell, C. Gray, K. McIntosh, S. Lalor
SUB: T. Brown
EMG: T. Sonsie, J. Bauer, K. Smith
IN: R. Mansell, C. Gray
OUT: N. Balta (legal reasons), S. Ryan (injured)
The match in a nutshell
What to expect: No person will be more relieved than Richmond coach Adem Yze when the first bounce kicks off tonight’s Anzac Day Eve clash at the MCG between the Demons and the Tigers. He will finally be able to concentrate on footy after a week dominated by Noah Balta’s court case coverage. The Tigers will miss Balta, who was strong in their win against the Gold Coast, and as a result the playing group might be distracted. Expect Melbourne to go hard to establish an early lead in a match that will largely be determined in the midfield.
Richmond coach Adem Yze is wary of Kysaiah Pickett’s match-winning abilities.Credit: Getty Images
What history says: Melbourne have owned Richmond since 2020. They have won their past five clashes, four of them on Anzac Day Eve. The last time the Tigers beat the Demons was July 5, 2020, during the COVID-interrupted season.
What the stats say: This year, Melbourne have averaged almost 23 more disposals a game than Richmond (326.7 to 340), been inside 50 almost 10 more times a game (51.5 to 41.8) and have racked up six more contested possession a game (130.8 to 124.8).
Both sides have similar numbers in clearances (Melbourne 34.2 to Richmond 35.8), marks (Melbourne 91.3 to Richmond 89.5) and turnovers (Melbourne 63.8 to Richmond 63.2). The Demons have averaged 68.6 points a game this season, but averaged 81 points a game at the MCG. They have only passed 100 points once. The Tigers have not kicked more than 100 points in any game this year, while averaging 70 points a game across their six matches and 86 points a game at the MCG.
What the coaches say:
Simon Goodwin: “Our defence hasn’t been at the level we’re capable of. Our focus is really on getting back to that. The players’ buy-in (to defence) was high last week, but Fremantle still kicked 97 points—so we know there’s still plenty of work to do.”
Adem Yze: “I’m not sure who we are going to play on Kozzy Pickett because he played like a star (against Fremantle). He is a talented kid, and we might have to put two or three players on him.”
What the experts say: All 14 members of The Age’s expert tipping panel are predicting a Melbourne victory. Their average winning margin is 15 points.
Saints resigned to King’s long-term AFL absence
By Roger Vaughan
St Kilda spearhead Max King.Credit: AFL Photos
Ross Lyon is resigned to St Kilda star Max King being sidelined until late this season, again stressing that it’s short-term pain for a long-term career.
Pointing to GWS’ Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan and retired Brisbane Lions premiership star Joe Daniher, Lyon said King is another key forward who will need time to overcome injury before he hits his peak.
Similarly, Lyon said before training earlier today that they will be careful with young gun Mattaes Phillipou, who is on the verge of playing again for the first time this year after recovering from a stress reaction in his leg. Asked when Phillipou might be ready an AFL return, Lyon replied it was a “really good question”.
Phillipou, King and Dougal Howard (shoulder) are all yet to play this season, with Howard set to return on Saturday against the Lions at Marvel Stadium.
King needed more surgery last week after a setback in his recovery from a pre-season knee injury. He was at the club this morning, with a bandage on his right knee. The Saints said last week that King’s likely time out would be six weeks and Lyon expects an AFL return will not happen quickly after that.
“It’s going to be a fair period of time – you’re not going to see Max until the late end of the season,” Lyon said. “And that’s OK. Is it disappointing for Max and us? Yes. But we have a power forward and he had a great summer. The knee is structurally sound, so it gives him a clear runway, whenever that is.”
As he did last week, Lyon said St Kilda would be patient in managing King.
“You look at Daniher, you look at Hogan – Max is 24,” Lyon said. “When you think of Daniher and Hogan, they hit their peak around 29 to 31, because of all their challenges.
“Gee whiz, if Max could have a good run at it, I think he’s going to hit his straps well before 29.”
AAP
Welcome to Anzac Eve footy
Good evening, footy lovers. Two big MCG tenants, Melbourne and Richmond, lock horns at the MCG tonight as part of the AFL’s Anzac Day round.
My name is Danny Russell and I will step you through the clash goal by goal, covering off all the big hits and big calls.
Melbourne have been disappointing to date and will be keen to chalk up their second win, while the Tigers surprised Gold Coast last week in a win that was quickly overshadowed by Noah Balta’s court case. They will be looking to wrestle back the narrative with their third victory of the year.
