AFL 2023 round 3 LIVE updates: Collingwood Magpies, Richmond Tigers face off at MCG

Shai Bolton has booted the opening goal with a classy goal on the run.

The wet ball had no impact on his ability to execute to kick off the outside of his boot.

Tigers 6, Magpies 2 with 17 mins to go in Q1.

Collingwood has won the toss and will kick to the right of the TV screen.

No late changes.

Injured Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe was sent to hospital this week for treatment for an infection in his injured arm.

Collingwood announced the setback tonight.

The 32-year-old had surgery on his broken forearm on March 18 after sustaining the injury during the third quarter against Geelong at the MCG in round one.

“Our main priority is Jeremy’s health and we will continue to support him as he recovers,” Collingwood football general manager Graham Wright said.

“The infection was picked up early by medical staff, and we don’t foresee any long-term issues.

“Despite the slight setback with his recovery, in true Jeremy style, he is in good spirits.”

The club said it would provide an update on his recovery in the “coming weeks”.

Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Caroline Wilson discuss the Blues and their big win over Geelong.

Plus, the Tigers’ chance to become the hunters this week, the Saints are rolling, rumblings at Gold Coast, the Bulldogs’ abject performances to start the season and much more.

Got a question about your club? Send it to realfootypod@theage.com.au for our hosts to answer.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.And if you value independent, quality journalism, please subscribe to The Age today.

Thanks for listening and don’t forget to check out more great podcasts from The Age & SMH.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has backed his young players to stand up despite the team being without superstar Dustin Martin and star recruit Jacob Hopper.

Hardwick, who is coaching his 300th AFL game tonight, has told his younger replacements to play their roles and back themselves against the in-form Magpies.

“It has been difficult. We are probably very similar to Collingwood, play a similar system but one thing I will say is our young players have been playing the same roles in the VFL so they will come in knowing what they need to do,” Hardwick told Fox Footy.

“We would like to back in our boys, give them the opportunity to play our way and see how it goes from there.”

Hardwick thanked Richmond for making an emotional tribute video this week although he laughed off the question about what he would tell himself in his first year as an AFL coach in 2010.

“Some advice? Buy bit coin,” Hardwick said with a laugh.

Collingwood assistant coach Justin Leppitsch expects a tough, contested night of football after rain hit Melbourne late this afternoon.

“The ball will be on the ground a lot, which might not make for great TV watching but more importantly the win is up for grabs,” Leppitsch told Fox Footy.

As both coach Craig McRae and Leppitsch had successful stints as assistant coaches at Richmond, Leppitsch said he had sent a congratulations video to Tigers coach Damien Hardwick for coaching his 300th game tonight.

“We know the minds of the coaches, they know us as well. Both play well in the wet,” Leppitsch told Fox Footy.

“I sent him a little video to wish him all the best as I was with him for about 200 of those games.”

He also said Mason Cox was expected to miss at least “a couple of weeks” with his rib injury but the team still didn’t have a full prognosis on the American-born ruckman.