Preview of AFL Round 22 matches (all times AEST):
Port Adelaide v Carlton at Adelaide Oval 7.50pm
Head to Head: Power 14 Blues 11 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 1 2014 – Power 18.12 (120) bt Blues 12.15 (87) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Power $1.38 Blues $2.05
Sportingbet: Power $1.32 Blues $3.35
Fifth-placed Port are playing for a possible top-four spot over the next two weeks while 13th-placed Carlton have already begun trying to build a platform for a successful 2015. Carlton’s midfield is starting to look formidable, led by skipper Marc Murphy and veteran Chris Judd who appears to have regained his burst of speed from the stoppages.
Key: Small forward Robbie Gray’s ability to bring other players into the game such as the talented Chad Wingard could prove a major asset for the home side as they rally to try to keep their top-four hopes alive.
Tip: Power by 15 points
North Melbourne v Adelaide at Blundstone Arena 1.45pm
Head to Head: Kangaroos 17 Crows 19
Last clash: Round 13 2014 – Crows 16.13 (109) bt Kangaroos 10.13 (73) at Adelaide Oval
Tab Sportsbet: Kangaroos $1.78 Crows $2.05
Sportingbet: Kangaroos $1.72 Crows $2.12
Sixth versus eighth, this could potentially rival the Hawthorn-Geelong blockbuster as match of the round. North have included Lachie Hansen and teenager Kayne Turner in place of suspended stars Brent Harvey and Daniel Wells. With a home game to come against bottom side St Kilda in round 23, the Crows should be safe in the eight if only they can secure victory against North.
Key: Skipper Andrew Swallow is giving the Kangaroos a big boost in midfield and should prove hard to stop for Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson, who will rely on fit-again centreman Scott Thompson to lead the charge.
Tip: Kangaroos by 11 points
Essendon v Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium 2.10pm
Head to Head: Bombers 3 Suns 0
Last clash: Round 12 2013 – Bombers 17.13 (115) bt Suns 11.6 (72) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Bombers $1.19 Suns $4.75
Sportingbet: Bombers $1.16 Suns $5.25
Gold Coast have beaten only bottom side St Kilda in their past five games. And while the Suns are missing their injured skipper Gary Ablett, Essendon will go into Saturday’s game without star utility Dyson Heppell who has a broken hand. The seventh-placed Bombers produced a stirring fightback last week to beat West Coast and are riding high on emotion under coach Mark Thompson.
Key: Essendon have so much to play for as the battle continues for top-eight spots and in his second game back from an injury lay-off, skipper Jobe Watson is the likely man to inspire Essendon.
Tip: Bombers by 21 points
Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood at Spotless Stadium 4.40pm
Head to Head: Giants 0 Magpies 2
Last clash: Round 18 2013 – Magpies 15.16 (106) bt Giants 10.6 (66) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Giants $2.60 Magpies $1.50
Sportingbet: Giants $2.55 Magpies $1.52
Both sides suffered injury setbacks last week but the Giants, who were lucky enough to be playing against Melbourne, were able to get over the line to record their fifth win. Tenth-placed Collingwood can be expected to fight back hard from the embarrassment of losing to Brisbane last round, although they can expect plenty of resistance from Giants’ backline star and ex-Magpie Heath Shaw.
Key: Collingwood have made six changes, regaining Scott Pendlebury but losing five players through injury including key forward Travis Cloke. This is Jesse White’s chance to have an impact up forward for Collingwood alongside the versatile Tyson Goldsack.
Tip: Magpies by 10 points
West Coast v Melbourne at Patersons Stadium 7.40pm
Head to Head: Eagles 30 Demons 15
Last clash: Round 2 2014 – Eagles 18.15 (123) bt Demons 4.6 (30) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Eagles $1.02 Demons $13.00
Sportingbet: Eagles $1.03 Demons $12.00
West Coast should be able to hold up their end of their bargain over the final two rounds by beating Melbourne and Gold Coast to keep their top-eight hopes alive. The Demons were woeful last week against an injury-depleted Greater Western Sydney side and some of the good PR the Demons had gathered under new coach Paul Roos faded away last weekend, as Demons’ fans booed their side off the MCG. Eagles’ onballer Matt Priddis can be expected to have a field day against the Demons.
Key: After conceding seven of the last eight goals in last week’s three-point loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium, the Eagles will be determined to keep themselves in contention with a percentage-boosting win over the struggling Dees.
Tip: Eagles by 68 points
Hawthorn v Geelong at MCG 7.40pm
Head to Head: Hawks 68 Cats 85 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 5 2014 – Cats 15.16 (106) bt Hawks 12.15 (87) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Hawks $1.54 Cats $2.50
Sportingbet: Hawks $1.55 Cats $2.45
Geelong have won 12 of their past 13 matches against the Hawks since the 2008 grand final and the Hawks are coming off a loss to Fremantle. While the Cats are one win and one spot above the third-placed Hawks, neutral observers would struggle to dismiss Hawthorn’s claims in this clash which is sure to add to the captivating modern-day rivalry between these two sides who’ve claimed a combined five of the past seven premierships.
Key: Tall forward Jarryd Roughead, back from a tripping ban, poses a huge threat to Geelong’s defence. At the other end the Cats will be hoping Tom Hawkins can lift after a goal-less performance against Carlton.
Tip: Hawks by 14 points
Brisbane Lions v Fremantle at Gabba 1.10pm
Head to Head: Lions 13 Dockers 12
Last clash: Round 14 2014 – Dockers 15.15 (105) bt Lions 3.4 (22) at Patersons Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Lions $4.00 Dockers $1.25
Sportingbet: Lions $4.00 Dockers $1.25
Brisbane’s 67-point thumping of Collingwood last week was just their seventh win of the season but it could be the springboard for a big year in 2015. That’s certainly the view of 2003 premiership player Ash McGrath who retired this week, confident the Lions are heading in the right direction. That optimism may take a hit on Sunday however against the close-checking Fremantle outfit who are looking every inch a top-four side with September just around the corner.
Key: The return of Hayden Ballantyne to play alongside fellow goalsneak Michael Walters gives Fremantle’s forward line a devastating look. Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says going to the Gabba is a frightening prospect, but this looks like being a one-sided affair.
Tip: Dockers by 39 points
Western Bulldogs v Sydney at Etihad Stadium 3.20pm
Head to Head: Bulldogs 77 Swans 75 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 19 2013 – Swans 21.8 (134) bt Bulldogs 15.9 (99) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Bulldogs $5.50 Swans $1.15
Sportingbet: Bulldogs $5.50 Swans $1.15
Sydney’s twin towers Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett kicked nine goals between them last week against St Kilda, but will they find the going just as easy against the Western Bulldogs? Probably. The Bulldogs fought hard but were overpowered by North Melbourne last week and the Swans are at least one class above North, so this could get ugly for the home side against the ladder leaders.
Key: Sydney’s 2013 All-Australian Dan Hannebery midfielder says he’s feeling fresh after an injury-interrupted season which has included missing six games with an ankle complaint. Look out Bulldogs. The axing of 2013 All-Australian ruckman Will Minson could give the Swans an advantage in their ruck division led by 2012 premiership player Mike Pyke.
Tip: Swans by 70 points
Richmond v St Kilda at MCG 4.40pm
Head to Head: Tigers 106 Saints 69 drawn 3
Last clash: Round 15 2014 – Tigers 18.9 (117) bt Saints 11.7 (73) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Tigers $1.08 Saints $8.00
Sportingbet: Tigers $1.10 Saints $7.00
It’s hard to believe ninth-placed Richmond have recovered from a 3-10 start to be 10-10 with two rounds left and a fairytale rise to the top eight is still a possibility. Of course if eighth-placed Adelaide beat North on Saturday, the task becomes a lot tougher for the Tigers. Last-placed St Kilda caused a huge upset with a win over Fremantle in round 15 and another boilover in this match would allow the Saints to play the classic role of spoilers.
Key: Clearance king and Greater Western Sydney discard Anthony Miles has beefed up Richmond’s midfield considerably and will be a tough match-up for the struggling Saints.
Tip: Tigers by 26 points
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