AFL Round 16 Preview: Gold Coast vs Richmond

Pete Roberts from Behind The Footy is sharing some of his great content with us for the 2021 AFL season. Pete spent fifteen years in AFL coaching boxes as an analyst. He now shares those insights with footy fans. Here’s his AFL Round 16 Preview.

AFL Round 16: Gold Coast v Richmond

If you needed further proof that this round has been turned on its head, the Suns land in a prime time spot against the reigning Premier. Instead of at least being on their home deck, Gold Coast have to tackle Richmond at the MCG.

Expecting a response from both sides after their performances last weekend – the Suns were beaten by a 1-win team and arguably should’ve lost by more. The Tigers were embarrassed by the Saints, posting their sixth-lowest score in history.

Who can we rely on to bounce back? Obviously it’s the Tigers. They have been blessed with a great opportunity to quickly move on from last week and take care of arguably the most disappointing team of the season.

Lucky for the Tigers, they still have a fair bit of depth – out comes Prestia, Lambert, Broad and Balta (whoa), but they are replaced with some genuine quality, particularly Astbury and Lynch.

After six-weeks out with a knee injury, Tom Lynch has been named to return for Richmond’s clash with the Gold Coast tomorrow night. @AyrtonWoolley #AFL #9News pic.twitter.com/59EtnE6Zgr

— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) June 30, 2021

The Suns don’t bat nearly as deep – Greenwood’s absence will hurt them badly through the middle, and while Zac Smith hasn’t set the world on fire, his injury now forces them to play Chris Burgess in the ruck. Less than ideal. Thankfully Collins and Swallow return, two of their most competitive players.

It would be a shock to see anything other than a Richmond win here. The second-lowest scoring team of the season would have to find goals from unlikely sources to post the kind of total that will trouble Richmond. Individual brilliance from one of the few players capable of kicking a bag could be their only hope – King, Rankine, Sexton, not many others. Hard to see it.

Richmond will be too strong. Wouldn’t shock to see them come out all guns blazing and blow the Suns away.

Pick: Richmond by 38
🍻 Pub bet
Richmond -26.5
$1.85 with TopSport

Pete Roberts from Behind The Footy is sharing some of his great content with us for the 2021 AFL season. Pete spent fifteen years in AFL coaching boxes as an analyst. He now shares those insights with footy fans.