AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia, May 11, 2018

AFL DAILY: RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin and ruckman Toby Nankervis are certain starters as the Tigers set themselves for a North Melbourne ambush at Etihad Stadium.

TRENT Cotchin is a certain starter on Sunday as the Tigers set themselves for a North Melbourne ambush at Etihad Stadium.

And the Tigers have confirmed ruckman Toby Nankervis will play despite speculation he was sore. Cotchin will play after overcoming knee soreness, but his availability only puts a bullseye on his back as a target for tagger Ben Jacobs. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is thrilled to escape the wintry Melbourne weather at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. But he is aware the Kangaroos shape as a huge test given their forward line arsenal and a defence ranked behind his as the best in the competition. BIG WIN: IS THIS THE QUICKEST REBUILD EVER? AFL TEAMS: WHO IS IN FOR ROUND 8? STAR CAUGHT: FREO STAR IN TROUBLE WITH POLICE Hardwick said only the media had written off North Melbourne as a pre-season fancy, adamant he wouldn’t underestimate a team which had won seven of its past nine against the Tigers. “We are looking forward to the challenge of North Melbourne,” Hardwick said. “They have been in outstanding form, they are the second-best defensive side in the comp behind us so it’s goig to really challenge us and the way we want to play. “They have probably had the wood over us in the last couple of years so we are looking forward to a fierce contest. “They have got a really strong back six, a mature spine and play a really contested brand of footy. “Brad (Scott) is a great coach and we are looking forward to the challenge of playing them under the roof.” Tigers football boss Neil Balme confirmed Nankervis would take his place in the selected side. In-form North Melbourne tagger Jacobs will take on the Tigers for the first time since keeping Cotchin to nine possessions in the 2015 elimination final. Roos assistant coach Drummond said on Thursday the Roos hadn’t decided whether he would take on Cotchin or Martin on Sunday. But Jacobs opponents this year have included inside midfielders like Seb Ross, Clayton Oliver, Tom Mitchell and Patrick Cripps, so Cotchin would seem the likely target. Martin kicked 0.4 to go with 26 possessions against Fremantle, quiet in the past three weeks after six incredible goals against Brisbane. Yet he seems the least of Hardwick’s worries given his response to a question about his form: “I probably view it as we are six wins and one loss, he’s a very good player”. LIVE stream the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership on FOX SPORTS. Every match of every round LIVE in HD, with no ad-breaks siren-to-siren! Get your 2-week free trial now >

Originally published as AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia, May 11, 2018

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