Throughout the 2004 season, Aussie Chris Greenway wrote his game predictions. They're all here! Round
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Richmond V Sydney Rd 22 Saturday 28/08/2004 MCG
Both the Crystal Ball and I are looking forward to a well earned holiday following this match, but we still have one last task to complete and that is to pick the winner of this game.
Despite the disparity in ladder positions, the Swans will more than likely contest finals, Richmond are trying to avoid the wooden spoon, the teams match up fairly evenly. The Tigers don't have Ottens, but Sydney don't have a ruckman anyway. The big difference is in the midfield. The Swans midfield is a fast, hard, skilled, disciplined unit with a decent coach and plays to some sort of game plan. Richmond's midfield has some useful players and should be way better than it is, even given the absence of Kane Johnson, Coughlan has a game under his belt and will be a more useful contributor this week because of it. However they are not fast, they not as strong as they should be and not enough of them have the required skills. I doubt Richmond have 5 players that can even spell the word discipline, Ty Zantuck's actions last week, which got him a 2 week suspension proved that beyond all shadow of a doubt. They are poorly coached by that idiot masquerading as a coach; Wayne Brittain and their game plan consists of: 'kick it to Richo.'
Swans coach Paul Roos has said this is a danger game for Sydney as Richmond are playing for pride and because it is Danny Frawley's last game as coach they'll want to send him off with a win as a mark of respect for him. That would be true if Richmond 2004 had any pride, but they have sadly proved time and again this season that the majority of them do not have pride in themselves or the jumper they wear. As for respect for Danny Frawley they don't have any of that, if they did they wouldn't have performed to under 10 level. This will be another loss and the Tigers can add another wooden spoon to their collections. If it weren't for the draft this season would have been a complete and total waste of time. Even as it is the team should collectively apologise to supporters and offer to pay for next seasons memberships out of their own pockets.
