Preview of AFL Round 6 matches (all times AEST):
FRIDAY, April 29
North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium 7.50pm
Head to head: Kangaroos 76 Bulldogs 76 drawn 3
Last clash: Round 22 2015 – Bulldogs 14.12 (96) bt Kangaroos 10.13 (73) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Kangaroos $1.80 Bulldogs $2.00
William Hill: Kangaroos $1.85 Bulldogs $1.95
First plays second, with North the only unbeaten team and the Bulldogs similarly impressive so far this season. But injuries have hit the kennel hard in the last three weeks and it’s been timely that their last two opponents have been lowly Carlton and Brisbane. At their best, the Bulldogs are exhilarating with their outside run and brutally-efficient at contested ball. But the Kangaroos so far look the goods, with no obvious weaknesses.
Key: Injuries to Bob Murphy, Jason Johannisen and Matt Suckling weaken the Bulldogs’ run out of defence – one of their key tactical weapons. And the ability to slingshot out of defence is particularly handy under the Etihad Stadium roof.
Tip: Kangaroos by 15 points
SATURDAY, April 30
Melbourne v St Kilda at Etihad Stadium 1.45pm
Head to head: Demons 118 Saints 89 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 17 2015 – Saints 12.11 (83) bt Demons 6.10 (46) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Demons $1.58 Saints $2.40
William Hill: Demons $1.57 Saints $2.40
Too many passengers, not enough players wanting to take the responsibility: that’s not Melbourne coach Paul Roos blasting his team. Instead, Saints coach Alan Richardson was scathing after they fell away badly against GWS. These are certainly problems that have plagued the Demons in the past, but they are flying after impressive wins over Collingwood and Richmond. Now it’s a question of how well Melbourne can maintain their momentum.
Key: Playing Nick Riewoldt on the wing is a worthy idea, but only if it’s effective. The Saints skipper looked far more dangerous last Sunday when he went forward. The Saints also have left out young key forward Paddy McCartin.
Tip: Demons by 30 points
Adelaide v Fremantle at Adelaide Oval 2.10pm
Head to head: Crows 19 Dockers 15
Last clash: Round 9 2015 – Dockers 10.8 (68) bt Crows 7.15 (57) at Adelaide Oval
Tab Sportsbet: Crows $1.06 Dockers $9.50
William Hill: Crows $1.08 Dockers $8.00
If there is such a thing as an honourable loss, it was the Crows’ effort last Friday night against Hawthorn. Except for a couple of crucial errors late in the last term, Adelaide were super-impressive and look far too strong for the winless Dockers. After starting the season as legitimate premiership hopefuls, Fremantle are without Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands and Michael Johnson through injury and also without hope. So coach Ross Lyon is now rebuilding.
Key: With Fyfe’s season in tatters, fellow onballers such as Michael Barlow and Lachie Neale must do the heavy lifting at the stoppages. But it’s a huge ask this week, especially with Crows stars Rory Sloane and Scott Thompson in red-hot form.
Tip: Crows by 60 points
Greater Western Sydney v Hawthorn at Spotless Stadium 4.35pm
Head to head: Giants 1 Hawks 3
Last clash: Round 6 2015 – Giants 16.12 (108) bt Hawks 14.14 (98) at Spotless Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Giants $2.25 Hawks $1.65
William Hill: Giants $2.20 Hawks $1.67
A year after the Giants beat Hawthorn for the first time, they will fancy their chances again. While the Hawks are much stronger this time, they are also testing their luck with threes-successive wins by three points. Last Friday’s hero Paul Puopolo will only get them over the line so many times. Just as Hawthorn are not playing well, so the Giants showed some impressive signs in last Sunday’s win over St Kilda.
Key: Jarryd Roughead’s absence means a greater reliance from Hawthorn on their small forwards. But Giants running defenders Heath Shaw, Nathan Wilson and Zac Williams are in good form and will relish taking on Puopolo, Cyril Rioli and Luke Breust.
Tip: Giants by 10 points
Richmond v Port Adelaide at MCG 7.25pm
Head to head: Tigers 10 Power 15 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 8 2015 – Tigers 11.10 (76) bt Power 5.13 (43) at Adelaide Oval
Tab Sportsbet: Tigers $1.68 Power $2.20
William Hill: Tigers $1.70 Power $2.15
The pressure builds each week at Punt Rd and Alberton as a season of justified great expectations rapidly turns to frustration. If there’s one consolation for the Tigers, their 1-4 start is familiar territory and they have shown a strong ability to rally. If there’s a consolation for Port, they are playing well below their capability. But Robbie Gray (hamstring) and Chad Wingard (concussion) are big losses for the Power.
Key: Welcome back Brett Deledio. Since the start of 2014, Richmond have a 3-11 record when he is out of the side. This will be his first game of the season after recovering from a quad muscle injury.
Tip: Tigers by 10 points
Geelong v Gold Coast at Simonds Stadium 7.25pm
Head to head: Cats 5 Suns 1
Last clash: Round 3 2015 – Cats 16.9 (105) bt Suns 13.18 (96) at Simonds Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Cats $1.08 Suns $8.00
William Hill: Cats $1.07 Suns $8.00
Gold Coast must lift dramatically to avoid this becoming the mismatch of the round. After starting the season with three-straight wins, they’re falling away amid another bad run with injuries. Geelong were brutally-effective last week, weathering some early heat from Port Adelaide and then bursting clear for a fine away win. A lot would have to go wrong for the Cats to drop this one.
Key: There is no good time for Gold Coast to be without Michael Rischitelli and potentially Dion Prestia, but especially not at Simonds Stadium against Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield. Once again, there will be plenty of focus on Gary Ablett.
Tip: Cats by 50 points
SUNDAY, May 1
Brisbane Lions v Sydney at Gabba 1.10pm
Head to head: Lions 21 Swans 26 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 15 2015 – Swans 10.10 (70) bt Lions 7.7 (49) at Gabba
Tab Sportsbet: Lions $7.00 Swans $1.10
William Hill: Lions $6.25 Swans $1.12
Brisbane’s recent record against Sydney is diabolical – only two wins and a draw in their last 19 clashes. But their last home game was a fine win over Gold Coast a fortnight ago and if they can bring that sort of effort, they could at least keep pace. Sydney only have one blemish in the first five rounds, and that was an epic loss to Adelaide where the Swans lost no friends. Ted Richards’ fractured eye socket means Sudanese refugee Aliir Aliir will make his AFL debut.
Key: Sydney are No.1 in the AFL for contested possessions and Brisbane are last. Say no more.
Tip: Swans by 40 points
Carlton v Essendon at MCG 3.20pm
Head to head: Blues 121 Bombers 115 drawn 6
Last clash: Round 3 2015 – Bombers 16.9 (105) bt Blues 11.18 (84) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Blues $1.36 Bombers $3.15
William Hill: Blues $1.37 Bombers $3.05
Cale Hooker’s re-signing was a great morale boost for Essendon this week, but the timing could still hardly be worse for a clash with their fiercest rivals. The Bombers are reeling after the appalling first half on Anzac Day against Collingwood, a performance which showed the worst of their makeshift team. The day before, Carlton had posted their first win of the season, away against Fremantle, and their tails are up.
Key: The only team that has scored less than Carlton so far this season is Essendon. The Bombers are relying too heavily on Joe Daniher and the Blues would love Levi Casboult to kick straighter.
Tip: Blues by 30 points
West Coast v Collingwood at Domain Stadium 4.40pm
Head to head: Eagles 23 Magpies 22 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 16 2015 – Eagles 11.21 (87) bt Magpies 7.14 (56) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Eagles $1.09 Magpies $7.50
William Hill: Eagles $1.08 Magpies $7.50
West Coast have won their last eight games at Subiaco and Collingwood have lost their last four. As much as the Magpies improved dramatically last Monday, the Eagles at home are a much stiffer proposition than Essendon’s spare-parts lineup. Collingwood would dearly love another start like last Monday, when they put the Bombers out of the game in the first 20 minutes. But Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff and Luke Shuey can match Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom through the midfield. And Eagles key forward Josh Kennedy is due for a big game.
Key: With Travis Cloke given another week to find form in the VFL, scoring remains an issue for the `Pies. As good as American Mason Cox was on debut, he is no Coleman Medal contender yet.
Tip: Eagles by 40 points
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Essendon captain Zach Merrett says he would have relished extra time to decide a winner on Anzac Day, while Collingwood coach Craig McRae felt…
Cooper Simpson and his mum both welled up as he told her he'd been named to debut against the Western Bulldogs.
"You want your key forward to be a beast."
Pendles wasn't expecting that!
Does he have a point?
The Blues have truly stood up and are a genuine flag threat in 2024 and they have their younger brigade of troops to thank for it.
