Richmond enters this contest in red-hot form after disposing of Collingwood by 91 points last week at the MCG. The Tigers should be eyeing another healthy victory this week against the struggling Bombers, who lost to the Gold Coast by two points last week in Matthew Egan's first game in charge as interim coach. The Bombers have lost their past six games since beating Melbourne in round 15, and don't have a whole lot left to play for in 2015 apart from disrupting the Tigers' finals plans. Damien Hardwick will be keen to ensure that doesn't happen, particularly with a big game to follow in round 23 against North Melbourne.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Saturday, August 15, 1.45pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R9, 2015, Richmond 10.12 (72) d Essendon 8.11 (59) at the MCG
R20, 2014, Richmond 14.11 (95) d Essendon 11.11 (77) at the MCG
R11, 2014, Essendon 15.14 (104) d Richmond 7.12 (54) at the MCG
R23, 2013, Richmond 15.14 (104) d Essendon 9.11 (65) at the MCG
R9, 2013, Essendon 13.13 (91) d Richmond 9.8 (62) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. Since the teams last played in round nine, the Tigers have won nine of 12 matches with an average score of 89 points a game while the Bombers are 1-10 averaging just 66 points a game.
2. Richmond has now won three of the last four clashes between the sides and four of the last six; they will be looking for three straight wins over the Bombers for the first time since 2007-08.
3. The Bombers are the worst team kicking for goal in 2015 after 20 games, kicking 205.208 at 45.7 per cent.
4. Last week against Collingwood the Tigers kicked their highest score of the season: 23.9 (147). In the past two weeks they have a kicked a total of 45 goals to 15 and won by a combined 174 points.
5. Richmond spoiled the party for Dustin Fletcher's 400th game the last time the sides met. In his milestone match, the 40-year-old had 10 disposals before aggravating a long-term abdominal injury. He hasn't played since.
6. Richmond forward Ty Vickery was best-performed player of last round according to the Official AFL Player Ratings. Vickery booted a career-high bag of six goals.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Trent Cotchin. The Tigers skipper was held to just 13 disposals last week, so will be keen to bounce back against the Bombers.
PREDICTION: Richmond by 40 points
