AFL round 12 preview panel

Preview of round 12 AFL games (all times local).

Teams: ESSENDON V WEST COAST
Venue: Telstra Dome
Date: Friday, June 13
Time: 7.40pm
Head.to.head: Essendon 21 West Coast 15 Drawn 0
Last.Time: West Coast 21.6 (132) bt Essendon 19.10 (124) R22 2007 Subiaco

Betting TABSportsbet Essendon $1.80 West Coast $1.95. Centrebet Essendon $1.81 West Coast $2

Summary: Essendon coach Matthew Knights’ blunt warning to fans that star forward Matthew Lloyd was not still in his heyday could have a stinging effect on the proud Bomber. Rather than a let-off for ordinary form, it is set to spark Lloyd into action. If that happens and Scott Lucas, now Essendon’s major forward weapon, produces another effective performance, the Eagles will have trouble holding the home side. The Bombers might have lost their past eight matches but last week’s loss to Hawthorn showcased a fairly even first half and the match would have gone down to the wire had it not been for the intervention of Hawk Lance Franklin who booted nine goals. The Eagles, too, are knocking on the door, shown by their big effort in taking the Swans to within five points last week.

Key: The battle of the big men. The form of the league’s best ruckman, Eagle Dean Cox, will be crucial – if he is on top of his game Essendon’s hard-working David Hille will face a big test.

Tip: Essendon by 15 points

Teams: FREMANTLE V NORTH MELBOURNE
Venue: Subiaco
Date: Saturday, June 14
Time: 2.10pm
Head.to.head: Fremantle 4 North Melbourne 11 Drawn 0
Last.Time: North Melbourne 12.10 (82) bt Fremantle 11.12 (78) R15 2007, Subiaco

Betting TABSportsbet Fremantle $1.80 North Melbourne $1.95 Centrebet Fremantle $1.81 North Melbourne $2

Summary: Fremantle represents four easy points these day to virtually every team and there appears to be little the Dockers can do with their lack of depth to reverse the dismal situation. Fremantle is capable of short bursts of competitiveness as they showed against Brisbane last week but simply can’t sustain the effort. North Melbourne, set to be boosted by the return of forward Nathan Thompson, forced a near-best effort out of Geelong last week before going down narrowly. The Roos’ mental toughness is relentless, as is their workrate. Midfielder Shannon Grant has been publicly endorsed this week as a player who will never be dropped under coach Dean Laidley, despite average form – a show of faith which could encourage him to wind back the clock for this game.

Key: As usual, Fremantle will rely on forward Matthew Pavlich for goals – he presents the major hurdle for the Kangaroos

Tip: North Melbourne by 30 points

Teams: WESTERN BULLDOGS V BRISBANE
Venue: MCG
Date: Saturday, June 14
Time: 2.10pm
Head.to.head: Western Bulldogs 21 Brisbane 14 Drawn 0
Last.Time: Western Bulldogs 13.17 (95) bt Brisbane 10.12 (72) R11 2007, Gabba

Betting TABSportsbet Western Bulldogs $1.40 Brisbane $2.80 Centrebet Western Bulldogs $1.43 Brisbane $2.85

Summary: The Lions are on a four-game roll and set to establish themselves firmly in the eight, but this clash will give them a clear picture of what they need to do to progress further. Now one of only three Teams:, with Geelong and Hawthorn, to have conceded just one game this year, the Bulldogs could be unbeaten on top of the ladder if Brad Johnson had been on target in his after the siren shot at goal against the Roos. The Bulldogs showed they fear no one with their breakthrough win over Hawthorn and dispensed with St Kilda last week with contempt. The Lions certainly have the manpower to challenge the Bulldogs, but with star forward Daniel Bradshaw having injured his hamstring last week, Jonathan Brown might have to carry a big load in front of goal.

Key: The highlight of the match will be Bulldog midfielder Jason Akermanis lining up against his old side in sizzling form. He kicked six goals last week and has all the sparkle of his premiership years with the Lions

Tip: Western Bulldogs by 15 points

Teams: ADELAIDE V HAWTHORN
Venue: AAMI Stadium
Date: Saturday, June 14
Time: 7.40pm
Head.to.head: Adelaide 15 Hawthorn 11 Drawn 0
Last.Time: Hawthorn 17.12 (114) bt Adelaide 10.10 (70) R4 2008, Aurora Stadium

Betting TABSportsbet Adelaide $1.90 Hawthorn $1.83 Centrebet Adelaide $1.92 Hawthorn $1.88

Summary: Adelaide face an important test this week against top-of-the-table Hawthorn, who hauled themselves back on track after their one off day of the year with a confident 51-point victory over Essendon last week. Lance Franklin’s nine goals will strike fear in the hearts of the Crows defenders. Whoever gets the big Hawk, Nathan Bock or Ben Rutten, will have to produce the performance of his life. Then there is Franklin’s attacking partner Jarryd Roughead to contend with – and a slick midfield which includes Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis. The Crows are fourth on the ladder, but there are questions over whether they can stay there. Only one of their eight wins has been over a side in the eight and two of their three losses have been against pacesetting Teams:, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs.

Key: Buddy Franklin has received some attention for off-field activities and subsequent advice on how to behave from the disgraced Wayne Carey of all people – but on the field he is a one-man scoring machine

Tip: Hawthorn by 25 points

Teams: SYDNEY V ST KILDA
Venue: SCG
Date: Saturday, June 14
Time: 7.10pm
Head.to.head: Sydney 123 St Kilda 73 Drawn 3
Last.Time: St Kilda 6.15 (51) bt Sydney 6.13 (49) R1 2008 Telstra Dome

Betting: TABSportsbet Sydney $1.18 St Kilda $4.50 Centrebet Sydney $1.22 St Kilda $4.30

Summary: Considering they have been playing without their Key: forward Barry Hall for weeks, Sydney’s rise to fifth on the ladder on the back of four straight wins is ominous. And the way the Saints have shown such topsy turvy form this year they need to be very worried. They are outside the eight and a loss here could just about write them off for the season. The controversy over Adam Goodes, the dual Brownlow Medallist who has yet again avoided suspension for a high bump, has deflected a little from the Swans’ routine, but the Key: point is that the big forward will be up and firing. To win, the Saints must for once kick on after quarter-Time:. If they are true to recent form the Swans will frustrate them out of any chance of victory.

Key: At the SCG Sydney reigns and the stats show so, at least for this encounter, the Swans have beaten the Saints in five of their past six clashes in Sydney.

Tip: Sydney by 20 points

Teams:: GEELONG V PORT ADELAIDE
Venue: Skilled Stadium
Date: Sunday, June 15
Time: 1.10pm
Head.to.head: Geelong 9 Port Adelaide 8 Drawn 1
Last.Time: Geelong 15.15 (105) bt Port Adelaide 14.12 (96) R1 2008, AAMI Stadium

Betting: TABSportsbet Geelong $1.16 Port Adelaide $4.80 Centrebet Geelong $1.19 Port Adelaide $4.75

Summary: Despite their up and down form this season Port Adelaide can take some hope into this grand final replay. Sure, they travel to the dreaded Skilled Stadium, but all they need to do is cast their minds back to round 21 last year when they upset the Cats on their home ground by five points. The grand final was a wipeout for the Power but in round one it was a tougher task – Geelong battling to scrape through the match by just nine points. On the ground, the Cats have everything except a suddenly brittle defence, weakened by the loss of Matthew Scarlett and Matthew Egan. A Gary Ablett-led midfield is hard to toss and Port will have to call on all of their Key: players – the Cornes and Burgoynes and the in-form Daniel Motlop – to be at the top of their game.

Key: Skilled Stadium remains a solid advantage for the Cats and, despite that one slip-up last year, the figures are firmly on their side – four wins over Port in their past five games.

Tip: Geelong by 25 points

Teams:: COLLINGWOOD V CARLTON
Venue: MCG
Date: Sunday, June 15
Time: 2.10pm
Head.to.head: Collingwood 111 Carlton 121 Drawn 4
Last.Time: Carlton 17.9 (111) bt Collingwood 13.10 (88) R4 2008, MCG

Betting: TABSportsbet Collingwood $1.35 Carlton $3.05 Centrebet Collingwood $1.36 Carlton $3.15

Summary: Earlier in the season it would have been hard to generate much real feeling from the traditional rivalry between these two sides but recent events have changed that. Carlton’s vital win over Port Adelaide produced a remarkable result – after trailing all day the Blues fired off a seven-goal final term which sunk the Power and at the same Time: sparked interest in the clash with the Magpies. That intensity was always there from Collingwood’s point of view though – they need revenge following their upset loss to the Blues in round four this season. And they will need to regain some confidence after needing to throw everything they had at the bottom side Melbourne last week to avoid defeat. The midfield clash should be one of the focal points with the likes of Dane Swan and Scott Burns to take on Chris Judd and Nick Stevens, along with rapidly rising younger star Marc Murphy.

Key: Brendan Fevola is capable of carrying the Blues on his back but was restricted to two goals last week, not his usual haul, so he’ll be keen to play a bigger part.

Tip: Collingwood by 15 points

Teams: RICHMOND V MELBOURNE
Venue: Telstra Dome
Date: Sunday, June 15
Time: 4.40pm
Head.to.head: Richmond 96 Melbourne 75 Drawn 2
Last.Time: Richmond 18.16 (124) bt Melbourne 11.9 (75) R12 2007, MCG

Betting: TABSportsbet Richmond $1.35 Melbourne $3.05 Centrebet Richmond $1.33 Melbourne $3.35

Summary: If last week’s results are any guide this will be a close contest. Richmond stuck with top four side Adelaide then were gunned down by a 10-goal rally while Melbourne reversed every poor sign they have displayed this season to make Collingwood earn their win. Neither side appears to be able to play four quarters though and probably the most consistent team this week will end up with the points. The Demons, already without retired skipper David Neitz and injured spearhead Russell Robertson, are set to now lose Brent Moloney to shoulder surgery and Jared Rivers to an abdominal injury. Weak now in attack and defence, Melbourne will be searching for something special from their second tier players, but the object now may be to work to get that elusive game plan of Dean Bailey’s right rather than get excited about the odd rare win.

Key: With not a lot to stop him Richmond’s champion forward Matthew Richardson has the opportunity to run riot this weekend. If the Tigers can regain some even form over the course of the game they should win

Tip: Richmond by 20 points