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Geelong meet Essendon tonight in the first match of Round 7 for the 2013 AFL season.
The two remain the only undefeated sides in the league after six rounds making this a very difficult match to dissect.
Geelong v Essendon – Etihad Stadium, 7:50pm* – Friday, May 10
*All times EST
The Cats overran Richmond in the second half last week to eventually win by 44 points whilst the Bombers got the job done with a 39-point triumph over a plucky Giants outfit.
Geelong have won eight of the last ten in this fixture giving them the slight edge over Essendon and I feel that it will again go the way of the blue and white hoops.
The Dons have made six changes with the return of Dustin Fletcher and Jake Carlisle strengthening their defence whilst Dyson Heppell and Michael Hurley are also valuable ins but losing Courtenay Dempsey (ankle) and Brent Stanton (groin), among others, may hurt.
On the other hand, the Cats remain fairly settled with Joel Corey (knee) the only major out and I expect Chris Scott’s side to produce more winners across the park and grab another set of four points in a fairly tight contest.
Prediction: Geelong by 15.
Port Adelaide v Richmond – AAMI Stadium, 1:45pm – Saturday, May 11
Port experienced their first defeat of the season last week, going down to North Melbourne by 10 points after trailing by around 40 points at one stage.
Richmond were competitive in patches against Geelong but were comfortable beaten by more than seven goals in the end which makes tomorrow’s trip to AAMI Stadium an extremely vital fixture.
Damien Hardwick is without captain Trent Cotchin (knee soreness) and also loses key forward target Tyrone Vickery (concussion) and defenders Dylan Grimes (foot) and Ricky Petterd (calf), however dynamic midfielder Nathan Foley returns after a lengthy absence with an Achilles problem.
Joining him is Shane Tuck who will provide grunt around the stoppages whilst Robin Nahas and Jake Batchelor are back in along with former Cats ruckman Orren Stephenson.
Ken Hinkley has made three changes, not as key as the ins and outs for the Tigers, suggesting his side is a lot more settled and will be suited to being back home after a trip to Tasmania.
These sides have mixed their form against each other over the past six years, with the Power winning five, Richmond saluting four times and their latest meeting being a draw in Round 23 last year.
The Tigers desperately need this one after three losses on the trot but I just feel that Port are in good enough nick to see of their challenge which will make it a 6-1 start to the campaign for the 2012 battlers.
Prediction: Port by 10.
Brisbane v West Coast – Gabba, 2:10pm – Saturday, May 11
Brisbane were hammered pillar to post by reigning premiers Sydney last week, eventually losing by 60 points, whilst West Coast produced the opposite with a 70-point thumping of a hapless Western Bulldogs outfit.
The Lions actually have a fairly solid record against the Eagles in recent years, winning five of the past seven meetings, with four of those wins coming at the Gabba.
But history is unlikely to repeat itself tomorrow afternoon as the hungry Eagles will get the job done and force their way to the edge of the eight.
Andrew Raines and Simon Black are back for Michael Voss whilst Matt Rosa is among three changes for John Worsfold who loses Daniel Kerr (knee) and Chris Masten (foot).
The potency of the Eagles forward line will be far too much for the Lions defence to handle and I feel a comfortable victory is on the cards for the visitors.
Prediction: West Coast by 32.
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne – Etihad Stadium, 4:40pm – Saturday, May 11
North grabbed their second win of 2013 with a 10-point salute against a fast-finishing Port as the Dogs were smashed by the Eagles in Perth.
Recent encounters suggest North will grab this one comfortably as they have won two of the past three (by 54 and 31) after the Bulldogs had won four in a row in 2009 and 2010.
Brendan McCartney gets back Daniel Giansiracusa, Bob Murphy and Ryan Griffen which are enormous inclusions but it will not be enough to down the Roos who get back veteran Brent Harvey who has served his suspension from last season.
The Kangas have been competitive in all of their four losses to date whilst the Dogs have been easily turned over on occasions and that trend may continue tomorrow at the Etihad Stadium.
Prediction: North Melbourne by 35.
Hawthorn v Sydney – MCG, 7:40pm – Saturday, May 11
The 2012 Grand Final replay again pits two quality sides against each other, both of whom have had winning starts to the 2013 season.
Premiers Sydney easily dealt with Brisbane last week, winning by 10 goals, as runners-up Hawthorn did just enough to edge the Crows by 11 points in Adelaide making both of their records 5-1 after six rounds.
This is likely to be another high intensity meeting between these two sides who had two extremely close encounters in two of the three fixtures they contested in 2012.
Both teams go in unchanged, suggesting that they are completely settled at this stage of the season, and it will come down to who wants it more at the home of football on the prime time big stage.
Lance Franklin has been way below his best in the past fortnight and it is that fact that I’m only marginally tipping the Hawks who will be boosted by his return to form.
Prediction: Hawthorn by six.
Fremantle v Collingwood – Patersons Stadium, 7:40pm – Saturday, May 11
Fremantle accounted for Gold Coast by 45 points last week in an expected victory as Collingwood were eventually too good for St Kilda, getting up by 26.
The Dockers get back classy mover Stephen Hill as the Pies will be boosted by the return of skipper Nick Maxwell who will add direction and leadership to a defence that has been leaky on occasions in 2013.
The head-to-head stats do not read well for Freo who have lost six of their past seven against the Pies by an average margin of 44 points, with the last two at Patersons yielding comfortable wins for the visitors.
This is a tough one to pick but I feel Freo are a different monster this season, especially defensively, and may be just on top of their game enough to edge the Pies.
Prediction: Fremantle by 12.
GWS Giants v Adelaide – Skoda Stadium, 1:10pm – Sunday, May 12
GWS were extremely competitive against Essendon until the Dons ran away with it at the ‘G last week as Adelaide tested Hawthorn but fell short by 11 points.
The Giants have been mixing their form of late, which is expected from a group of youngsters, leading me to believe that at times they will make life difficult for the Crows who will eventually run over the top.
Adelaide desperately need a win to keep in touch with the top eight and the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson, Rory Sloane, Bernie Vince, Brent Reilly and co. may be just a little too much for the inexperienced Giants to cope with.
Prediction: Adelaide by 45.
Melbourne v Gold Coast – MCG, 4:45pm – Sunday, May 12
Melbourne were brushed aside by Carlton by 61 points whilst Gold Coast were no match for Fremantle, going down by 45 after kicking just two goals in the first half.
Former Pie Chris Dawes finally gets his chance for the Dees who lose co-captains Jack Grimes (collarbone) and Jack Trengove (calf), giving Nathan Jones the deserved chance to lead the side.
In the Gold Coast camp, Karmichael Hunt has succumbed to a hamstring problem but other than that there are few other changes.
This one is borderline for me, and I’ve been struggling with which way to go, but I just feel that if the Suns can get on a roll they might have enough tricks up forward and in the midfield to get the job done.
Prediction: Gold Coast by seven.
St Kilda v Carlton – Etihad Stadium, 7:40pm – Monday, April 13
St Kilda were decent in their 26-point loss to Collingwood last week as Carlton were supreme in their contest with Melbourne, getting up by just over 10 goals.
Four goals each from Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett will have the Saints small defenders extremely worried whilst the return of Matt Kreuzer and Andrew Carrazzo are also dangers for Scott Watters’ side.
In the Saints camp, James Gwilt and Farren Ray are among their extended ins but they lose Sam Gilbert (knee) and Justin Koschitzke (suspended).
The Blues are up and about at the minute and with a very dangerous forward line, will be far too much for St Kilda to contend with.
Prediction: Carlton by 28.
Suggested multi-bet
Choose your own line with sportsbet.com.au
Geelong 1-39 ($2.15)
West Coast -12.5 ($1.48)
Carlton -11.5 ($1.50)
Port Adelaide H2H ($1.52)
Total: $7.25
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