Chris Greenway's Crystal Ball Report

Throughout the 2004 season, Aussie Chris Greenway wrote his game predictions. They're all here! Round 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22

Port Adelaide V Richmond Rd 9 2004 Saturday 22/05/2004 AAMI Stadium (N)

Before I say anything about how I think this week will pan out I have to revisit last week. Well, actually I don't HAVE to, but I WANT to, because it's just soooo much fun!

10 goals! 10 big ones! 10 cotton pickin' sausage rolls! Not only was that how many the Bulldogs kicked for the match, it was how many Richo kicked all by himself. I've been watching the big fella since he burst onto the scene as a gangly kid, tipped as the next big thing and for the last decade I have wanted to see him take a game by the scruff of the neck and completely dominate it. Last Saturday it happened.

It was destined by fate I think: a beautiful, picture postcard, Melbourne autumn day, at the home of football the MCG (don't believe what they tell you about Ferengi stadium), Saturday afternoon the traditional time of football, against another suburban rival in Footscray (yes, they're officially called the Western Bulldogs, but they are still Footscray), what more could you want? Well, maybe it could have been Collingwood, but other than that perfect. I think we all sensed something BIG was going to happen when Richo slotted his 8th and then when number 9 came up and we started to chant: We want ten! You just knew he was going to do it. Once in a great while you go to the football and something wonderful happens. Last Saturday was one of those and I will never forget it.

Now onto this week. I want to tip the Tigers I really do and so does the Crystal Ball, but we just can't. One reason is every time we do, they lose and the others are because we're playing Port Adelaide over there. If it were here I'd have the Tigers pencilled in with another bag beside the name of Matthew Richardson, but they are a different side on their own mudheap. They have injuries, but they also have pride and they've got to be smarting from the 92 point hammering they received at the hands of the Roos last week. We don't play well over there and we have never beaten Port in Adelaide, plus it's not a ground that has fond memories for Richo. He's been injured and humiliated there. Love to see him turn all that around, but it just may be a big beyond us. The Crystal Ball agrees with me.

The Power to shut down the Tigers.

Not an official site of the Richmond Tigers.