Preview of AFL Round 13 matches (all times AEST).
FRIDAY, June 21
Hawthorn v West Coast at Etihad Stadium 7.50pm
Head to Head: Hawks 17 Eagles 24
Last clash: Round 2 2013 – Hawks 23.10 (148) bt Eagles 15.8 (98) at Subiaco
Tab Sportsbet: Hawks $1.12 Eagles $6.25
Sportingbet: Hawks $1.17 Eagles $5.10
A crucial fixture for ninth-placed West Coast, who risk losing touch with the top eight if defeated by the rampant Hawks, losers just once this season. Hawthorn remain the competition’s highest scorers and have the best disposal efficiency rate in the league. In contrast, the Eagles have the worst efficiency rate – and if they can’t improve on that stat, their winning chances are slim against the super-slick Hawks. But the return of stars Darren Glass, Beau Waters, Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras should help.
Key: The Eagles hold two aces: Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui. They will rule the rucks, but against the savvy Hawk midfield, can West Coast turn this advantage into a winning score?
Tip: Hawks by 42 points
SATURDAY, June 22
Port Adelaide v Sydney at AAMI Stadium 1.40pm
Head to Head: Power 6 Swans 15
Last clash: Round 3 2012 – Swans 16.9 (105) bt Power 12.11 (83) at AAMI Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Power $8.00 Swans $1.08
Sportingbet: Power $6.50 Swans $1.11
Sydney take a three-game winning streak, ominous form and Kurt Tippett into this clash. Tippett’s debut after serving an 11-game suspension will be the talking point in a match the Swans are expected to win, and win well. Port broke a five-game losing streak by pounding Greater Western Sydney last start but, with their captain and best player Travis Boak out injured, lack the midfield depth to challenge the Swans.
Key: How will Tippett slot into the Swans? The ex-Crow looms as the trump card in Sydney’s premiership defence and, against Port’s undersized defence, could make an instant impression.
Tip: Swans by 72 points
St Kilda v Melbourne at MCG 4.40pm
Head to Head: Saints 118 Demons 84 Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 20 2012 – Saints 16.11 (107) bt Demons 12.10 (82) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Saints $1.10 Demons $7.00
Sportingbet: Saints $1.11 Demons $6.50
Both clubs are dealing with serious issues: St Kilda, the rape charges against Stephen Milne, who has been stood down indefinitely; Melbourne, the sacking of coach Mark Neeld. What impact the controversies have in a game between Victoria’s two poorest performing clubs is a great unknown. Surely the Demons can’t get any worse. But the Saints aren’t travelling that much better and are just one win ahead of their opponents.
Key: The influence of Melbourne caretaker Neil Craig and St Kilda coach Scott Watters looms large. Can they get their players to focus on the footy and somehow turn the off-field negatives into on-field positives?
Tip: Saints by 36 points
Western Bulldogs v Richmond at Etihad Stadium 7.40pm
Head to Head: Bulldogs 69 Tigers 77 Drawn 2
Last clash: Round 3 2013 – Tigers 20.15 (135) bt Bulldogs 10.8 (68) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Bulldogs $6.25 Tigers $1.12
Sportingbet: Bulldogs $5.50 Tigers $1.15
Richmond are producing finals-like form to justify the hope of their long-suffering supporters. With midfield class, a sturdy defence and potent attack headed by Jack Riewoldt, the Tigers have too many weapons to drop this game against the developing Dogs, who continue to rely too heavily on skipper Matthew Boyd and Ryan Griffen to spark them. Father-son recruit Lachie Hunter makes his AFL debut for the Dogs.
Key: Bulldog ruckman Will Minson is, statistically, the best in the business – he has the most hit outs of any player. The Dogs must convert his dominance into scores if they’re to challenge the Tigers.
Tip: Tigers by 60 points
SUNDAY, June 23
Fremantle v North Melbourne Kangaroos at Subiaco 3.20pm
Head to Head: Dockers 8 Kangaroos 14
Last clash: Round 22 2012 – Dockers 20.12 (132) bt Kangaroos 12.7 (79) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Dockers $1.25 Kangaroos $4.00
Sportingbet: Dockers $1.28 Kangaroos $3.65
North coach Brad Scott insists his team remain in finals contention, despite sitting 13th with just four wins – but their last-start loss to Gold Coast hammered a nail in their proverbial coffin. No such worries for Dockers coach Ross Lyon, who has crafted the most-miserly defensive outfit in the league. While Fremantle don’t score freely – only the bottom five clubs have scored less this season – it rarely matters as they suffocate their opponents. Freo will rise into the top four with another win.
Key: Can the Kangas crack Fremantle’s defensive structures? They’ll need daring and dash, and a massive game from key forward Drew Petrie, to do so.
Tip: Dockers by 30 points
Brisbane v Geelong at Gabba 4.40pm
Head to Head: Lions 17 Cats 21 Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 5 2012 – Cats 12.7 (79) bt Lions 4.17 (41) at Gabba
Tab Sportsbet: Lions $8.00 Cats $1.08
Sportingbet: Lions $5.50 Cats $1.15
Geelong, fresh from their bye, are set to spoil the party of Brisbane’s milestone man Ash McGrath, who plays his 200th AFL match. The Cats simply have too much class for the Lions, who remain cemented in 15th spot with only three wins. Brisbane coach Michael Voss appears baffled as to what his best combination is: only Greater Western Sydney have used more players this season. The return from suspension of Jonathan Brown and Daniel Merrett adds some class and experience.
Key: If Brisbane captain Brown can break the Geelong shackles and boot a bag of goals, maybe, just maybe, the Lions can cause a boilover. But if Brown is contained, the Lions don’t have much hope.
Tip: Cats by 66 points
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