AFL Round 9 – Indigenous Round – kicks off tonight with Collingwood hosting reigning premiers Sydney at the MCG.
Collingwood v Sydney – MCG, 7:50pm* – Friday, May 24
*All times are AEST
The Pies became the first side of 2013 to beat Geelong with a morale-boosting six-point triumph last week after being blown away in the third quarter.
Sydney blew a 27-point lead late in the game to be held to a draw by Fremantle, leaving them without a win since Round 6.
Marty Clarke is back for Collingwood whilst Sydney have also made just one change, bringing in youngster Jed Lamb for his third game of the year.
The Pies have had the wood over the Swans in recent years, winning 10 in a row between 2006 and last year, before they were beaten by 26 points in the Preliminary Final.
I’m tipping Nathan Buckley’s men to get back on the winners list in this particular fixture with last week’s victory over the Cats giving them the impetus to push towards the top four.
In addition, I just don’t feel John Longmire’s Sydney side are anywhere near their best.
Prediction: Collingwood by 13.
Port Adelaide v Geelong – AAMI Stadium, 1:45pm – Saturday, May 25
Port have dropped off the pace in recent weeks, which was to be expected, but still continue to fight. Last week they made life difficult for Carlton before eventually going down by 18 points.
Geelong suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Collingwood and will be determined to recoil from the immediately.
The Cats have saluted in 11 of the past 12 in this fixture – the last seven by an average of 61 points – and I predict that streak to continue in Adelaide tomorrow.
Ken Hinkley loses Domenic Cassisi to a hamstring injury and have rested Jake Neade whilst Chris Scott gets back Steve Johnson, which is a massive in.
Geelong are a genuine premiership threat while Port will battle to make finals and I see them getting the job done in their customary no frills fashion.
Prediction: Geelong by 21.
GWS Giants v West Coast – Skoda Stadium, 2:10pm – Saturday, May 25
West Coast have won their past three and that will definitely extend to four when they take on the Giants tomorrow.
John Worsfold’s Eagles managed to produce a last-gasp two-point win in a thriller with North Melbourne last Friday night whilst Kevin Sheedy’s GWS were battered by flag favourites Hawthorn by 83 points.
I suggest the scoreline could be of similar nature when the likes of Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras and Jack Darling come to town (provided they kick straight) and it could be another long day for the inexperienced Giants who will be looking for any sort of improvement.
Prediction: West Coast by 65.
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs – Etihad Stadium, 4:40pm – Saturday, May 25
St Kilda are in ok form notwithstanding their 40-point defeat at Adelaide last week, highlighted by their win over Carlton the week before.
The Dogs are struggling big time, pinpointed by their 32-point loss to Gold Coast in Round 8, which came on the back of a nine-goal mauling at the hands of North.
Lenny Hayes is a major inclusion for Scott Watters’ side, replacing Terry Milera, whilst Brendan McCartney’s Doggies get back Dylan Addison and Tom Williams whilst youngster Nathan Hrovat will debut.
On the flipside, Adam Cooney has succumbed to a hamstring problem and will miss along with Daniel Cross and Lukas Markovic.
Historically, the Saints have this covered with 14 wins in their last 18 meetings – including the last eight straight – and I suggest that number will increase on Saturday with a hard-fought victory over a Dogs side who need to show something.
Prediction: St Kilda by 17.
Brisbane v Carlton – Gabba, 7:40pm – Saturday, May 25
Brisbane surprised all bar themselves with a 10-point win over Essendon last week as Carlton got the job done by 18 points against the visiting Port Adelaide.
Michael Voss’ side showed plenty of ticker to down the Dons and will only benefit from that type of performance which could be the catalyst for the rest of the season.
Daniel Merrett and Justin Clarke will miss because of suspension whilst in the Blues camp, Bryce Gibbs returns after a few weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring problem.
This is a tricky affair to evaluate as both sides are in desperate need of more victories to continue their climb up the table but I feel the Essendon win may spur the Lions on and I’m tipping them in a close one.
Prediction: Brisbane by 7.
Richmond v Essendon – MCG, 7:45pm – Saturday, May 25
Richmond have got their season back on track with victories over Port Adelaide and Melbourne in the past two weeks.
The Tigers were made to earn their 34-point victory over the Dees last week as Essendon were beaten for the second match in a row, going down to Brisbane by less than two goals.
This fixture has basically been shared since 2009 with the Tigers winning three and the Dons saluting on four occasions but at this point in time, I feel that Damien Hardwick will have his charges primed against his former club.
Chris Newman and Ivan Maric are back, as Sam Lonergan gets set to make his Tigers debut against old teammates, whilst James Hird will call on Courtenay Dempsey after his disciplinary ban and Leroy Jetta who returns.
The Dreamtime at the ‘G will be a great celebration of indigenous Australians, as this match has been over the past few years, but it will be Richmond’s Shane Edwards as the sole Indigenous member of the black and yellow line-up to enjoy the spoils come Saturday night.
Prediction: Richmond by 14.
Hawthorn v Gold Coast – MCG, 1:10pm – Sunday, May 26
The Premiership fancies will make it eight straight without too much ado when they tackle Gold Coast on Sunday.
Hawthorn have kicked on from their opening round loss to Geelong by winning seven on the trot and putting themselves in an enviable position at the top of the standings.
Gold Coast have exceeded expectations thus far, winning four matches, including last week’s impressive five-goal triumph over the Western Bulldogs which followed a 10-goal thumping of the hapless Melbourne.
However, Sunday at the MCG will prove a much more difficult task against a Hawthorn side ready for another victory which should come without any major struggle.
Prediction: Hawthorn by 45.
North Melbourne v Adelaide – Etihad Stadium, 3:20pm – Sunday, May 26
North were desperately unlucky last week, losing to West Coast by two points, making it four losses by under a kick in 2013.
Adelaide were professional in accounting for St Kilda by 40 points at home and will now be looking to push into the eight now they have got their win-loss ratio back to 50 percent.
Neither side is yet to make a change with no players injured or omitted from last week’s line-ups but Jordan Gysberts could get his chance to make his Kangaroos debut after crossing from the Demons prior to this campaign.
The Roos have won the last three over the Crows – all at Etihad – and that streak could be set to continue if the likes of Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie and even Majak Daw can fire up forward.
Adelaide are good enough to win but their travels to the Docklands have been pretty much fruitless since 2010, winning just once in 10 outings at the venue, suggesting that North may get the better of them at a venue where they have won 13 times from their last 18.
Prediction: North Melbourne by 17.
Fremantle v Melbourne – Patersons Stadium, 4:40pm – Sunday, May 26
Fremantle came from the clouds to force a draw with Sydney at the SCG last week as Melbourne showed plenty of heart and fight only to lose to Richmond by a little under six goals.
Freo are continuing to hang on despite a number of key injuries with that crisis deepening following the ankle problem suffered by leading goalkicker Michael Walters last week.
A number of youngsters including Matt Taberner, the explosive Josh Simpson and Viv Michie are in the mix to make their debuts, suggesting that Ross Lyon is ready to throw the burden to some of the clubs inexperienced.
In the Melbourne camp, top draft pick Jimmy Toumpas is out with an ankle problem but Shannon Byrnes and Jack Watts could return, however, that will not offset the fact they are not up to the standard of the Dockers who should come away with a comfortable victory which will allow them to consolidate in the eight.
Prediction: Fremantle by 48.
Suggested multi-bet
Pick your own line with Sportsbet
Collingwood 1-39 ($2.05)
North Melbourne -6.5 ($1.61)
Port Adelaide +36.5 ($1.62)
Total:
$5.24
Add some value
Richmond 1-39 ($2.70)
Total:
$14.16
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