Despite Richmond sitting in 13^th spot on the ladder, the game at Manuka Oval on Saturday will be no walk in the park for the second placed GIANTS and the stats that matter will make it abundantly clear. 

If the GIANTS are to win and make it a clean sweep in their second home, they will need to shut down the Tiger’s ball winner, Dustin Martin. 

One of this season’s Brownlow Medal favorites, Martin is averaging 38 disposals per game over the last month ranking him number one in the competition.

It’s not just about how much of the ball he gets either, it’s what he does with it.

Martin is one of the competition’s best players when it comes to meters gained (600m or more over the past two weeks) and is has been the best in the AFL over the past month when it comes to clearances. 

The classy midfielder had 21 centre clearances, well clear of the Sydney’s Luke Parker with 16.

Richmond’s midfield cartel of Martin, Trent Cotchin, Anthony Miles and Shaun Grigg have been finding their footy the tough way too.

This year their overall hard ball gets count is seven higher than their opponents, meaning more often than not they win the hard ball gets each week. 

The GIANTS however are the number one clearance side after 17 games averaging 41 per game, while Richmond has struggled in this area, ranked 11th at 36.2 per game.

Once they get the football, Richmond’s midfielders often look towards their towering forwards of Nick Riewoldt and Ben Griffiths who are both elite contested marking targets.

Riewoldt is ranked eight in the competition this season meaning he is likely to receive the attention of GIANTS key backs Phil Davis, Adam Tomlinson or Joel Patfull.  

Young forward Sam Lloyd has been a revelation up forward this year - kicking 29.11 - one of the most accurate set shot players in the comp.

GIANTS forwards Rory Lobb, Jeremy Cameron and Jonathon Patton will be wondering if they’ll find Tigers defender Alex Rance alongside them at the start of the game.

Rance is an elite one-on-one player and is a good chance to be picked at full back in the All-Australian side this year.

Rance and the Richmond backline will be greatly tested at Manuka Oval with the GIANTS the highest scoring side in 2016, averaging 109 points per game. 

On the flipside Richmond are a long way back having averaged 84 points per game, however they will be comforted by the fact that the GIANTS have never beaten them in their five previous meetings.