After a ripping (and tough-to-tip) opening round of the 2015 AFL season, The Roar’s panel of expert tippers are back for another crack in Round 2, again putting their titles on the line to bring you their tips and predictions.
Fancy yourself a decent tipper? It is still not too late to join The Roar’s AFL tipping competition, or else why not have a vote in The Crowd’s tips? Simply scroll down to the form below and submit your tips for the round – these will be tallied and compiled each week as Roarers attempt to out-tip the experts!
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Sean Lee
West Coast, Richmond, GWS, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide, Fremantle, Hawthorn, North Melbourne
West Coast to defeat Carlton: Could Mick actually be dumped by the Blues before he breaks the coaching record in Round 5? After all the Blues are already performing well below his expectations. Apparently they weren’t going to lose a game this year.
Richmond to defeat Western Bulldogs: Richmond to continue their hot streak of one win in a row to get their fans super excited.
GWS to defeat Melbourne: Both teams off to a great start. What better way to boost a home ground attendance than by chalking up a win in Round 1. Oh wait. This game is in Canberra. Oh well. Should be a corker anyway. Can’t I tip a draw?
Adelaide to defeat Collingwood: Adelaide didn’t put a foot wrong in Round 1, although Collingwood won’t be as insipid as the Roos were. Expect them to hold onto top spot for at least another week.
Gold Coast to defeat St Kilda: We kept getting told that the Suns are amassing a superteam that will steamroll all who get in the way. I haven’t seen it yet. Maybe the stars of the future will shine in this game. #Ablettneedshelp
Port Adelaide to defeat Sydney: Sydney got a fright in Round 1, but won’t be able to surrender any sort of lead to Port and expect to bounce back like they did last week. Tough game this. Can’t I tip a draw?
Fremantle to defeat Geelong: Travelling to Simonds Stadium to play the Cats is not the nightmare trip it once was – not for Freo anyway.
Hawthorn to defeat Essendon: If you thought Hawthorn were scary last weekend…
North Melbourne to defeat Brisbane: If the Roos lose this one I’m never tipping them again. #lastchanceroos
Cam Rose
West Coast, Richmond, GWS, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide, Fremantle, Hawthorn, North Melbourne
West Coast to defeat Carlton: A tougher game to start with than the bookies will have us believe, between these two bottom four candidates. Carlton are way over the odds, but I’m taking the weak option of the Eagles at home given I can’t see much in it. West Coast by 5 points.
Richmond to defeat the Bulldogs: The Tigers edge in class is dulled with Deledio out, and the Dogs are a big show with a multi-pronged forward line that can give Richmond some problems. But I think the Tiges will do enough to win these sort of games this season. Richmond by 15 points.
GWS to defeat Melbourne: If both sides produce the same football as last week, the Dees will win this, but neither team can really be trusted to do so. The third game in a row where an upset is a big show at value odds, and I’m sure at least one of them will get up, but I’m playing it safe again, and sticking with the favourites, especially at home. GWS by 8 points.
Adelaide to defeat Collingwood: The Crows were in stunning form first-up, and will have gotten even more confidence from their display. The Pies had to travel back after a tough game in the Brisbane humidity, and have lost a key player in Sidebottom. Adelaide by 35 points.
Suns to defeat St Kilda: The Suns will be keen to bounce back hard after an ordinary performance against Melbourne, while the Saints will give an honest account of themselves. All eyes will be on Ablett to see if he can improve. Gold Coast by 25 points.
Port Adelaide to defeat Sydney: The Power showed enough last week to suggest they shouldn’t be 0-2, and the Swans showed enough to suggest they shouldn’t be 2-0. That might be enough in a tough game to pick. Port by 11 points.
Fremantle to defeat Geelong: How will the Cats respond after being dealt a football lesson by Hawthorn? How will the Dockers back up after such a game of great intensity in high temperatures against Port? Questions that are hard to answer before the game. Fremantle by 8 points.
Hawthorn to defeat Essendon: The Bombers lost no admirers in their loss to the Swans, and if anything may have gained them, but no-one could tip against the Hawks after their commanding first-up performance. Hawthorn by 47 points.
North Melbourne to defeat Brisbane: The Roos will be keen to atone after being humiliated in Round 1, and they generally bounce back okay from such defeats. The Lions clicked into gear late against the Pies, but will miss skipper Rockliff, and struggle to convert opportunity into goals. North by 36 points.
Ryan Buckland
West Coast, Richmond, GWS, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide, Fremantle, Hawthorn, North Melbourne
And you thought last round was bad, tippers? Round 2 throws up six legitimate toss up games, two where an upset is possible (if unlikely) and just one shoe-in. Why did I agree to become an expert tipper again? Here goes nothing…
West Coast should (repeat, should) open their 2015 account against Carlton. Repeat: should. Stay away punters.
The Tigers will start the season 2-0 after Saturday afternoon at the ‘G, but the Bulldogs will make it difficult for them – as they will for many top eight fancies this year (they laid 96 freaking tackles against the Eagles last week – did someone tell them it’s Round 1?).
Greater Western Sydney should account for Melbourne on their home deck. Don’t get me wrong, the Dees were very impressive in their win last week, but one data point doesn’t make a trend. If it makes you feel any better I’d take Melbourne if t’were at the MCG.
Collingwood surprised many with their victory against Brisbane, but Adelaide won the Shock and Awe Cup last week with their dismantling of North Melbourne. That, plus Crows are meaner than Magpies, and would win a National Geographic computer simulated fight, so they’ll win here.
Gold Coast should (repeat, should) open their 2015 account against St Kilda. Repeat: should. Stay away, punters.
Argh why is this round so hard to tip?! Port’s season would become mighty interesting if they lose to Sydney. Would doubts about their so-called fitness advantage begin to creep in? Sydney only managed to get over the line by virtue of the Bombers resembling a third grade suburban veterans league side in the last quarter. Story lines aplenty. When in doubt, take the home points.
More tastiness is on offer Sunday. Geelong and Fremantle renew hostilities, minus a key protagonist. Geelong won’t like the week of headlines they’ve had to endure, and will come out firing, but Fremantle’s midfield should see them home.
Hawthorn and Essendon will face off in the AFL’s first ever “I Can Kick The Ball Better Than You, No You Can’t, Yes I Can, No You Can’t, Yes I Can” competition. Bold prediction: whoever wins the kick count will win the game. I forecast this to be match of the round, and that’s saying something this week. My pick? The Champs. They’ve got 5-foot-nothing guys that take hangers now, too.
I bet North are breathing a massive sigh of relief that they get to play Brisbane, at home, and down their captain, after last week’s shellacking. This is Round 2’s only shoe-in, so tip accordingly.
But otherwise? You’re on your own, man…
| Round 2 | Cam | Ryan | Sean | The Crowd |
| WCE v CAR | WC | WC | WC | WC (75%) |
| RIC v WB | RIC | RIC | RIC | RIC (83%) |
| GWS v MEL | GWS | GWS | GWS | GWS (60%) |
| COL v ADL | ADL | ADL | ADL | ADL (87%) |
| GC v STK | GC | GC | GC | GC (95%) |
| PA v SYD | PA | PA | PA | PA (71%) |
| GEE v FRE | FRE | FRE | FRE | FRE (63%) |
| ESS v HAW | HAW | HAW | HAW | HAW (94%) |
| NM v BL | NM | NM | NM | NM (85%) |
| LAST ROUND | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| OVERALL | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
*The Crowd’s tips correct as of 2:15pm Friday, April 10 (358 votes)
Don Freo
Guest
Oh...evidence... 20.11 (131) to 9.8 (62) But then, again, you probably read that like a golf score and declare Carlton the winner. Stats can show anything.
jax
Guest
Freo will touch the Cats up and wasn't WC good tonight.
Macca
Guest
Whats my agenda Don, trying to educate you that to have a mature discussion you not only have to form an opinion and express it but be able to support it with some evidence? Surely if that was my agenda educating the less fortunate should be viewed as a noble cause? And whats your agenda Don - after all you didn't have to add your 2 cents to a light hearted discussion between Ant and I on the Carlton Essendon rivalry - a topic that given it has nothing to do with Freo would hold no interest to you? Could it be that your agenda was nothing more than tro lling? PS - if scrolling down is just too hard for you you could always just click on the button that allows you to view newest posts first.
Don Freo
Guest
This is your agenda. No one wants your numbers. Just form an opinion and express it. Now Macca, you bore me. I can't keep responding to you because every time you post, I have to scroll through 100 comments to do so. Let your next comment be a response to the result.
Macca
Guest
Hmmm Don - that sort petulant behaviour is going to get you nowhere. I am doing this for your own good. No shall we try again - what evidence what you like to present to support your opinion?
Don Freo
Guest
That was not an opinion, it was an observation. The writing of it is my proof I observed it.
Macca
Guest
Now, now Don don't get all titchy. Seeing as you are really struggling with this I'll help you through it. Now you have just expressed an opinion, which is great good for you, now what we do now is test the validity of that opinion and try to find some supporting evidence for it (or facts) - now admittedly given the nature ridiculous nature of the opinion it will be very hard for you to support but I think simply going through the exercise will be of benefit for you - what evidence would you like to present that might support your opinion Don?
Don Freo
Guest
I'd say 100% better than Carlton is pretty dominant. But then...you'll never let facts interfere with numbers.
Macca
Guest
A winning percentage of just over 60% is "dominant" Ant - come off it, especially with the amount of those games that were decided by less than 2 goals -and again you leave out round 3 of 2007 where carlton won by 3 points - which makes it 10 from 17 or just under 59% - hardly dominant at all. And if we go back another year we see our 3rd draw in under a decade (has anyone else had that many?) and another win to the good guys which makes it 10 from 19 or just under 53%.
Ant
Guest
Essendon v Carlton since Rd 21 2007: Rd 21 '07- Essendon Rd 3 '08- Essendon Rd 13 '08- Essendon Rd 3 '09- Essendon Rd 13 '09- Essendon Rd 3 '10- Essendon Rd 13 '10- Carlton Rd 3 '11- draw Rd 17 '11- Carlton Elim final '11- Carlton Rd 3 '12- Essendon Rd 20 '12- Carlton Rd 3 '13- Essendon Rd 11 '13- Essendon Rd 3 '14- Essendon Rd 22 '14- draw So Macca, I'd say winning 10 of 16 clashes is a fairly dominant performance over the last 7 years, wouldn't you?
Don Freo
Guest
That's funny. Even when you retract, you don't.
Macca
Guest
Sorry Ant - got the dfted & lost to the wrong way around - but clearly your reaction shows you don't care about Carlton at all. The fact 3 of the last 4 games have been decided by less than 2 goals combined still bears out my point though. I notice you stopped before the 2011 elimination final "demolishing".
Don Freo
Guest
Maybe their goal to goal line reads The Roar.
Ant
Guest
Ah Macca, you haven't beaten us for three years. Round 21 or 22 2012 was your last win against us when we had that horrific injury list. Essendon won both matches in 2013, flogged you last year and then drew in the last round. I fail to see where Carlton's beaten us since 2012. Oh and we demolished you in 2012 when you were 'premiership favourites'. So that makes four of the last six to Essendon mate. And one other we should have won.
Brett McKay
Expert
I want to know who the five Roarers who picked St.Kilda are!!
Macca
Guest
Yeah Don, the rivalry is clearly dead after those recent results - I mean 2-1 (and a draw) with 2 results by less than a goal (1 each way) is such a one sided domination that no supporters will even bother to turn up to next weeks game!
Don Freo
Guest
That looks to me like Essendon has the wood on Carlton. Essendon 2... Carlton 1. This could now rank as your silliest argument ever, Macca.
Wilson
Roar Guru
agree with Dawes and Vince back in it is going to be hard not to go for the Dee's but I think it will be a Close game.
Macca
Guest
Carlton so Ordinary - Is that why in the last 2 years the results between the 2 are 1 draw - 2 wins to the bombers (1 by 6 points) and 1 win to Carlton (by 5 points)? As for the Hawthorn Game - Gibson Lake & Frawley will destroy your tall forwards and Hawthorn has far too much fire power up forward. Also to get the Hawks forwards chasing tails you first have to win the ball off them, it is easier said than done. I do like the way you ask for an example of when they suffered an emotional let down but then exclude the best example of it because they were "booted from finals" an act that I would imagine would have lead to an emotional let down!
Kaks
Roar Guru
Agree with this. Dee's to beat GWS in Canberra