The Roar’s AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 6

As we arrive at Round 6 of the 2015 AFL season, there is no clear frontrunner in The Roar‘s expert tipping leaderboard. Sean has closed the gap on Cam and The Crowd is looking in good shape.

As they are (and will be) each and every round, our experts are back with the tips and predictions for Round 6.

Fancy yourself a good tipper? Make sure you cast your vote in The Crowd’s tips below, and help other Roarers out-tip the experts!

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Ryan Buckland
Collingwood, North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Sydney, Fremantle, Carlton, Port Adelaide

Friday is another genuine prime time toss up. Wait. There hasn’t been a genuine prime time toss up yet? It’s Round freaking 6!

The Pies are on the upswing a little earlier than expected, and Cats are in the downswing much later than expected. Both sides have gorilla key forwards and a top end midfielder. Where they differ is the defensive side of the ball, and I think Collingwood’s pressure and emerging half back line are enough to see them home.

A six game Saturday starts with Richmond playing in their traditional 2:00pm time slot, but in very unfamiliar surrounds down south. The Roos have won four of six at Blundstone, and will make it five from seven. Don’t write the Tigers off yet – they could win their last nine games again, right?

The Bulldogs are rising, fast. You’ve probably read that headline a lot this week after five games. Hopefully you also read it on The Roar after the second round. It’ll come to an end eventually – sides this young tend to burn out towards the end of the year – but it won’t be this week.

Taking all bets. Which Hawk will take physical aggression too far this week in an effort to stave off an opponent they’ll beat by ten goals anyway? Despite missing four veterans, and playing in Western Sydney for the first time, the Hawks will get up. Take the over on “Games missed through suspension” market on this game.

The next two on the slate should be straight up and down, but have wonky potential for sure. The Suns drew an almighty line in the Gold Coast sand (see what I did there) this week, and Adelaide haven’t looked as ferocious at the ball as they did in their opening two rounds in recent weeks. This could be really close, or an absolute bloodbath, but the Crows are in the box seat.

Sydney are also in that wonky boat following a middling, dare I say Sydney-like, start to the season. And who knows which Demons side will show up? Go with the pedigree, but buyer beware.

Saturday night’s showdown between the contested kings (Fremantle) and uncontested kings (Essendon) is challenging Friday for game of the week. The Dockers are cruising, while the Dons are in a bit of a funk. I’m all in on both teams – calling Fremantle as top two before the season, and anointing them my premiership fancy after round four; and suggesting Essendon are this season’s top four challengers – and we’ll find out more about the away side in this game. I can’t wait. Oh you want a winner? The premiership favourites, of course.

And that wraps the week. Wait, there’s footy on Sunday?

The Blues/Lions match up is one to savour. Not. Flip a coin, if heads: Blues, if tails: Lions. (Flips coin). Heads. There we go.

There’s a little more interest in the twilight game, with an offensively rampant West Coast flying to Adelaide to take on the biggest question mark in the league: Port Adelaide. The Power should get the job done on paper; after all, they’re likely to be a top eight side when all said and done, and we know the Eagles love playing top eight sides.

Sean Lee
Collingwood, North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Sydney, Fremantle, Carlton, Port Adelaide

Collingwood to defeat Geelong: What an intriguing game. Is there any fight left in the once cool Cats? Or will the Hot Pies continue to enjoy their unexpected resurgence? My money is on the Pies. They are up and about and Eddie is beaming!

North Melbourne to defeat Richmond: So far this season North’s win/loss pattern looks like this – loss, win, loss, win, loss – so they are due for a win. Also they are playing Richmond. Enough said.

Western Bulldogs to defeat St Kilda: Bad kicking late in the game cost St Kilda dearly last week. It won’t matter how they kick this week though because they won’t be close enough to threaten the rabid Doggies!

Hawthorn to defeat Greater Western Sydney: Sparked by Clarko’s altercation with a fan last week, the Hawks are back to their unsociable best. Even without Mayweather and Pacquiao, errr, I mean Hodge and Lewis, the Hawks will bully GWS into submission.

Adelaide to defeat Gold Coast: After having suspended half of their own team (and with the other half unavailable due to injury), Gold Coast will be looking to borrow some of Essendon’s pre-season top up players just to make up numbers.

Sydney to defeat Melbourne: The Swans were surprised by the Bulldogs last week, but the season is a marathon, not a sprint. The Sydneysiders will restore the status quo this Saturday night with a comprehensive victory.

Fremantle to defeat Essendon: The Bombers are flying on one engine at the moment and that is not good when you have to soar all the way to Western Australia to meet an undefeated Fremantle. With their backs against the wall the Dons could win, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they did, but I don’t have the courage to tip them.

Carlton to defeat Brisbane: This game will give the Blues faithful something to cheer about… hopefully. If not, then Mick won’t see the week out.

Port Adelaide to defeat West Coast: After a tough start to the season Port are settling into their stride. West Coast certainly won’t be tearing them apart this week.

Cam Rose
Collingwood, North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Sydney, Fremantle, Carlton, Port Adelaide.

Collingwood vs Geelong: The Pies pressure should be too good for the Cats who are too sporadic, and frankly, ordinary. Collingwood by 17.

North vs Richmond: The Roos have owned the Tigers in recent times, and it’s hard to see why that will turn around now. North by 42

Western Bulldogs vs St Kilda: Young sides can sometimes beat the best but lose to the worst. The Dogs should obviously win, but if they don’t bring the spirit that has sustained them, and the Saints do, this could be closer than some think. Bulldogs by 23.

GWS vs Hawthorn: The Giants can give the Hawks a fright if they can regain their form, but the reigning premiers should still be too professional. Hawthorn by 18 points.

Gold Coast vs Adelaide: The Crows should simply decimate the train wreck that is the Suns. Phil Walsh will still demand supreme effort, even against weak opposition and coming off a fierce game. Adelaide by 75 points.

Melbourne vsSydney: The Swans will have been stung by last week’s loss, and the Dees will try hard against a superior side, but ultimately be out-matched. Sydney by 31.

Fremantle vs Essendon: The Bombers represent the best roughie bet of the round, but I’m not going to actually declare them. They seem to be a side that lifts for the best sides, but can’t deliver consistently against the poor ones. The Dockers are looking every bit the genuine premiership contender. Fremantle by 2 points.

Carlton vs Brisbane: A game between two poor sides can carry just as much interest as one between two contenders, but this doesn’t really feel like one of them. Carlton by 25.

Port vs West Coast: The Power are rocking and rolling down as they scoot into two months of easy draw, while the Eagles will always struggle to beat genuine top eight sides. Port by 35.