SEN Breakfast host Garry Lyon believes if Richmond can beat North Melbourne on Saturday night, they have a real chance of finishing inside the top four.
Richmond sat just 0.1% outside the top four after 10 rounds with a record of 6-4, and will go into the bye 7-4 if they can beat North Melbourne on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
North Melbourne have beaten Richmond in seven of the past eight matches, with Richmond's only win since 2011 against the Roos coming in round 23, 2015 when North rested players before they beat the Tigers in the elimination finalย a week later.
The Tigers have been the better side in 2017, and could be a game clear on top of the ladder had they not lost those three matches againstย the Bulldogs, Dockers and Giants by under a kick.
That's not to say North Melbourne have been poor, as the Roos have won four of their past five.
A win to Richmond this weekend would solidify their turning of the corner this season according to Lyon, who could see the Tigers sneak into the top four should they get the result.
โThis is a side they have struggled to beat,โ he said on SEN Breakfast.
โIโm not sure (Etihad Stadium) suits the Tigers as well as the MCG (and) Iโve got a high regard for North Melbourne, they are in good touch.
โNot only would it make them (Richmond) legitimate, but it keeps this crazy sort of top four (shot) in the mix.โ
Lyon's co-host Tim Watson believes the media will need to re-think North Melbourne's credentials in 2017 if they can beat Richmond, saying it would be a huge win for the Roos.
โIf North Melbourne were to beat Richmond, then we are all going to need a re-think on where North Melbourne are at right now,โ Watson said.
