Richmond and Hawthorn do battle at the MCG on Saturday afternoon in Dustin Martin’s highly anticipated 300th AFL game.
The Tigers (2-11, 64.9%) claimed their second win of the season last Thursday against the Crows and will be looking to take that momentum into their Round 14 meeting with the Hawks — buoyed by the return of their superstar key forward.
On the other hand, the Hawks (6-7, 88.1%) are riding some terrific form of their own, hoping to claim their fourth consecutive win as they stage an improbable finals push.
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Adem Yze recalled Martin and spearhead forward Tom Lynch ahead of Saturday’s bout, excluding Samson Ryan (Injured) and Dion Prestia (Injured).
Sam Mitchell, meantime, brought back ruckman Lloyd Meek and electric forward Nick Watson in favour of Ned Reeves (Injured) and Seamus Mitchell (Omitted).
Mitchell previewed his side’s match-up with Richmond on SEN on Friday, with Kane Cornes noting “it’ll feel like a final”.
“It’s a great opportunity for us, we don’t look at it in any other way,” Mitchell said.
“It’s a huge opportunity for us to showcase how we play, how we go about it in a game that no one can get a ticket for.
“So, the fact that we all get to go and watch Dusty — hopefully he doesn’t have too much of an influence on the game, himself — but to see him play his 300th is obviously going to be special for the 85,000 (people) that are probably going to be there, and the vast majority of them are going to be Tigers fans.”
The match gets underway at 4:35pm from the MCG.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), streaming on Kayo or via Hubbl, from 4:30pm.
ROLLING MATCH UPDATES
There were no late changes for either side, with Kane McAuliffe (Richmond) and Luke Breust (Hawthorn) named the subs.
The Dusty 300 haircuts were flowing outside the ground pre-game too!
It didn’t take long for the Tiger King to make his mark, receiving a handball to slot a superb goal on the run from the 50 metre arc.
“The Greatest Showman turned up didn’t he!” former teammate Jack Riewoldt said on Fox Footy.
“The roar came before he’d even kicked it!” Fox Footy commentator Mark Howard replied.
Hawthorn spearhead Mabior Chol booted Hawthorn’s first, converting from close range.
Dylan Moore popped up with a major of his own shortly after, as he continues to put his name forward to All-Australian selectors.
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Hawthorn father-son young gun Calsher Dear then set sail from outside the 50 metre arc with a massive roost to make it three in a row for the Hawks.
The Tigers got one back through Tim Taranto, who kicked a beauty from the pocket before the Hawks got the immediate reply through Jai Newcombe.
“The Hawks have dominated this quarter but the Tigers are only seven points down,” Riewoldt said.
The Hawks led 4.3 (27) to 2.3 (15) at the first change.
New Tigers recruit Jacob Koschitzke got the Tigers off to the fast start in the second term, standing up for his first goal against his old side.
Hawthorn livewire Jack Ginnivan kicked his first of the day after star midfielder Will Day shrugged off a tackle on the wing.
“This guy is turning into an A grade midfielder, if he isn’t already,” Riewoldt said of Day.
Hawks forward Connor Macdonald extended the lead out to a game-high 17 points before Shai Bolton hit back for the Tigers.
Chol then snapped truly from the pocket, much to the Hawthorn faithful’s delight.
Hawks small forward Nick Watson had two opportunities in quick succession but failed to convert in front of the big sticks.
The Hawks led 7.6 (48) to 4.5 (29) at the main break.
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