The AFL Preliminary Finals kick off on a Friday Night, and it all starts in Adelaide with the Port Adelaide Power taking on the Richmond Tigers at the Adelaide Oval.
This is pressure game for both clubs, but mainly the Power as they have been consistent for the majority of the season and will come into this game as the favourites.
The AFL Semi-Finals were somewhat predictable, and the Tigers had minimal issues against the Saints. The Magpies were always going to find it tough to back up their performance in their win out West against the Eagles. The Cats were far too good and won the match easily.
Be sure to check back before each AFL Finals match, for AFL Tips, AFL Previews, AFL Predictions and AFL Player Props for each round of the 2020 AFL Season.
Also, check out our in-depth Round by Round Brownlow Medal Predictions for the 2020 AFL Season. A summary of each round, with projected votes and some of the best chances based on some of the key statistical areas from previous winners and top-five finishes. Stats don’t mean everything, but some key stats have been consistent from past winners over the journey.
Tipping Results this Season
Finals Tips – 4/6
Finals Player Props – 7/14
Season Tips – 113/159 = 71.07%
Season Player Props – 74/134 = 55.2%
Port Adelaide Power vs Richmond Tigers
Last Meeting
Round 11 2020, Port Adelaide 13.15 93 – Richmond 11.6 72
(Port Adelaide by 21 Points)
The Power stepped up to the challenge and had a big win over the reigning Premiers. Ollie Wines led the way for the Power with 28 Disposals and 11 Tackles, and Travis Boak was also influential with 31 Disposals and 9 Score Involvements.
Last 5 Meetings
Port Adelaide – 2 Wins
Richmond – Richmond 3 Wins
Team Changes
Both sides are going into this match with an unchanged lineup.
Prediction
The Power got the better of the Tigers in their Round 11 clash and maintained possession of the football for the majority of the contest. In slippery conditions, the Power led the Contested Possessions count 155-112 and also won the Centre Clearance battle 20-5. The Power also dominated the Inside 50s, 55-24, but Richmond step up in finals so statistics like this are unlikely to happen on this occasion.
Conditions for this match could be slippery with showers expected in the afternoon in Adelaide.
The Tigers have an excellent record in slippery conditions, but conditions were slippery the last time the two sides met, and the Power came out on top. The Tigers were without some key players in that loss including Trent Cotchin, Bachar Houli and Shane Edwards.
This is a tough game to predict, and the pressure is on the Power as they are at home and did finish the season on top of the AFL Ladder.
The Tigers have a host of premiership stars playing in this game and will make it very tough for the Power, but they need to get their hands on the football which they struggled with in Round 11.
It is shaping up as an absolute Blockbuster, but the Tigers finals experience could be enough to get them the win. Bachar Houli and Shane Edwards both had big games last week and were absent in the Round 11 loss to the Power. The addition of captain Trent Cotchin will help win the football, and the Tigers will be very tough to beat in this clash.
Our Pick – Richmond (Win)
Player Props
Player Prop – Dan Houston +68.5 Fantasy Points
The Tigers are very good at pressuring opposition defenders and forcing them to chip the footy around on occasions. Richmond are prone to giving up disposals to opposition backs, because of this and that could mean more disposals for the Power defenders. Houston didn’t get a lot of the footy against the Cats with just the 13 Disposals, but the Cats have a different game style compared to the Tigers. Is currently in decent form and has a season average of 16.9 disposals per match. Has also averaged 80 Fantasy Points per game in his last four matches.
Player Prop – Trent Cotchin + 17.5 Disposals
Cotchin has stepped up in finals before and is averaging 18.3 disposals per match this season. Have seen his Fantasy line as low as 58.5, but that may be a risky play as he has been giving away free kicks in the finals. If the Tigers are to win the match, Cotchin will need to have an influence and he can win a lot of contested possessions. Should cover this number if the Tigers are to win.