Richmond Tigers vs Sydney Swans Prediction: Swans expected to add to Tigers’ struggles

In Australian Football League week 3 action, the Richmond Tigers will face off against the Sydney Swans. Leading up to this game, the Tigers have yet to secure a victory this season, while the Swans boast a perfect record of 3 wins.

Richmond has commenced the season as many anticipated, with a winless record of 0-3, succumbing to defeats against the Gold Coast Suns, Carlton Blues, and Port Adelaide Power. Although showing glimpses of promise in all three matches, they have struggled to maintain consistency throughout the entirety of the games. The absence of experienced players from previous generations has become noticeable, signifying the initiation of a mini-rebuild for the team.

Ruckman Toby Nankervis has notably performed well in the midfield for the Richmond Tigers, averaging 18 disposals and 7.5 clearances per game. However, the team will face challenges as James Trezise is set to be sidelined for up to six weeks due to an ankle injury. Additionally, Jacob Hopper will also be unavailable for the same duration due to a knee injury. On a positive note, Nathan Broad and Tyler Young have passed their fitness tests and are included in the lineup for this week's match.

For me, the Sydney Swans, along with their rivals, the GWS Giants, are the teams to watch this season. They've started impressively, winning their first two significant contests of the year. They defeated the Melbourne Demons 86-64 in the opening round and then dominated the Collingwood Magpies with a scoreline of 102-69 in round 1. Although their performance against the Essendon Bombers in round 2 wasn't as polished, they still managed to score 131 points. However, their defensive effort wasn't as solid as in the opening two games, although it wasn't necessarily required.

Isaac Heeney has begun the year in Brownlow Medal-worthy form, averaging 29 disposals and 8.3 clearances per game, and has also kicked 4 goals. Additionally, Chad Warner, Tom Papley, and Lagan McDonald have all contributed with 6 goals each, highlighting the team's depth in attack, which makes them difficult to defend against.

Heading into this game, Harry Cunningham suffered a severe concussion against Essendon and will miss this week's match despite recovering well. However, Robbie Fox has passed his test on his injured calf and will be available to play from the interchange.

The Richmond Tigers have encountered significant challenges and will face an uphill battle to climb from the bottom of the ladder this season. It's evident that the team is undergoing a transition phase, and our focus should be on long-term development rather than short-term outcomes. Against the Sydney Swans, who possess a formidable midfield, the Tigers will face a tough challenge. The Swans will likely aim to establish an early lead and then control possession, unlike their performance against the Essendon Bombers last week.

I anticipate Sydney to come out strong, possibly surpassing 24.5 points in the first quarter, a feat they achieved against the Essendon Bombers after a slow start. Richmond may struggle to keep pace with the Swans, particularly in the third and fourth quarters, resulting in the total points exceeding 40.