North Melbourne vs Richmond AFL tips & top odds – Rd18, 2022

Will the North Melbourne Kangaroos quickly improve following the sacking of David Noble, or will the Richmond Tigers deal them another massive blow this Saturday at Marvel Stadium for round 18 of the 2022 AFL premiership season?

Former North Melbourne Kangaroos head coach David Noble only lasted a couple of seasons at the helm due to his awful on-field record, but there is a chance the Roos can turn their form around considering how close the came to a victory last week against the Magpies.

The Kangaroos were every chance of winning their second game of the season in round 17, but Collingwood pulled off a stunning final quarter comeback and stole the premiership points.

Just like the Kangaroos blew their lead in the final quarter, the Richmond Tigers managed to one-up them on the Gold Coast against the Suns, as they lost after the siren despite leading by 40 points earlier in the match.

Not only did the Richmond Tigers drop a game they should have won, three important players in Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo all suffered injuries, which will certainly shake up the squad at team selection.

Nick Vlastuin, Noah Balta and Trent Cotchin are expected to return this week for the Tigers, but that still leaves a void in the ruck coming up against the experienced Todd Goldstein.

Key matchup: Jy Simpkin vs Shai Bolton

Both Jy Simpkin and Shai Bolton boast terrific athletic traits and ball-winning ability, making the pair two of the most exciting young talents in the AFL. Bolton was unstoppable against the Suns last round, collecting 29 disposals and kicking 3.3, while Simpkin quietly managed 31 disposals of his own against the Magpies.

You will find plenty of value for these stars in the disposal betting markets, but we think the goalscoring market is the way to go this week. Both players need to impact up the ground in order to win this match, and we think Bolton will bring his kicking boots to Marvel Stadium this Saturday.

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Richmond Tigers betting tips

North Melbourne +42.5
If the Kangaroos can put together a similar performance to last week, they can easily keep up with the injury plagued Tigers this Saturday. The loss of Toby Nankervis cannot be underestimated, as the Richmond ruckman has been elite this season and a key factor toward its success. An in-form Nick Larkey will be critical for the struggling Roos, especially if Noah Balta is forced to play ruck.

Luke McDonald 25+ disposals
We initially expected Luke McDonald to have a bigger impact against the Magpies last weekend while Aaron Hall is sidelined, but he was not given the green light to control the ball off half back. Leigh Adams is the acting coach for the Roos, and we think he will go back to basics and play McDonald in his most natural position, where he should pick up more than 25 disposals.

North Melbourne v Richmond Same game multi pick

We see the Kangaroos putting up a spirited effort upon the departure of David Noble, with players such as Luke McDonald thriving in a new role while Shai Bolton keeps up his good form for the Tigers.

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