The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 10

The 2015 AFL season is already into double digits. Round 10 is upon us, with a veritable feast of delicious football to feast our eyes on.

As they are each and every week, The Roar‘s panel of expert tipsters are back with their tips and predictions for the weekend’s games.

The Crowd retains the lead over our experts, with 54 points, so well done Roarers. You’ve earned a beer or a coconut water for yourself there.

As for this week, Fremantle, Sydney GWS and Hawthorn seem to pick themselves, don’t they? The ones that will sort the men from the boys will be Essendon and Geelong, which should be a belter,

There’s nothing between the experts though, with all them going the same sweep. What do you think Roarers? Any variation from you guys?

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!

Adam Goodes: walking headline. Playing this weekend. (Photo: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Media)

Cam Rose:
Fremantle, Adelaide, Sydney, Geelong, Port Adelaide, GWS, West Coast, Hawthorn, Collingwood

Fremantle v Richmond: The Tiges play Subiaco well, and usually run the Dockers pretty close when they meet, if not always being able to get over the line. Freo are due for a loss, and the Tiges have momentum. Upset brewing? Fremantle by 11 points.

Carlton v Adelaide: You couldn’t tip the Blues against anyone right now, and unless the Crows after completely flat after a bruising encounter last week, they should be too professional. Adelaide by 26 points.

Gold Coast v Sydney: The only thing left for one of the Suns players to do is crack open a XXXX at quarter time, take a swig and offer Rodney Eade a sip. Sydney by 50 points.

Essendon v Geelong: Six of the Cats’ matches this year have been decided by 40+, winning two and losing four. Who knows what we’re going to get from them. Discounting the Bombers rout over the lowly Brisbane, they’ve averaged less than nine goals a game over their other previous five matches. Who knows what we’re going to get here. I certainly don’t. The loser slips to a precarious 4-6 record. Geelong by 8 points.

Port v Western Bulldogs: Another fascinating contest between two sides that we’re not quite sure about. By my reckoning, the favourite has only won twice in matches involving the Dogs this year, with them either doing the upsetting, or being on the end of it. Does one win mean the Power has their mojo back? I doubt it, but home ground advantage is enough for me to tip them…with zero confidence. Port by 9 points.

GWS v Brisbane: The Giants have bounced back from their losses so far this year, and they’re playing the right team to be able to do it again. GWS by 45 points.

North v West Coast: The third of the “who knows” matches. The Roos have to stand for something soon, with Sydney and GWS at Spotless to come after this. The Eagles continue on with a draw from heaven, their eighth of ten matches against those outside the eight (and the other two they were playing at home). Always go for the team whose confidence is high over the one that isn’t. West Coast by 17 points.

St Kilda v Hawthorn: The Saints are playing with pluck and gumption, but they’ll obviously fall short against the Hawks here. Hawthorn by 58 points.

Melbourne v Collingwood: The Dees can make it hard for teams to beat them, but it’s just a matter of how many quarters they can do it for. All of the Pies win have come against sides currently ranked 10th or lower. They’ve only played two sides currently in the eight, and lost them both. That sums up where they’re at. Collingwood by 22 points.

Sean Lee
Fremantle, Adelaide, Sydney, Essendon, Port Adelaide, GWS, West Coast, Hawthorn, Collingwood

Fremantle to defeat Richmond: Richmond have won three in a row. Fremantle have won nine in a row. There is a reason for this. Freo are premiership favourites. Richmond are not.

Adelaide to defeat Carlton: Adelaide’s form has been indifferent over the past few weeks. Carton’s form has been woeful all year. Enough said.

Sydney to defeat Gold Coast: Sydney fans were drunk with delight last week with Buddy’s return to form. Gold Coast players were just drunk, apparently! Another opportunity for the Swans to boost their percentage and for Buddy to climb further up the Coleman medal rankings.

Essendon to defeat Geelong: They have to! Simple as that. It is a worry that the only reason I can really find for tipping the Bombers is that I barrack for them. They will need to play a different style of football to what they produced last week though.

Port Adelaide to defeat Western Bulldogs: Port have been a real disappointment this year while the Bulldogs have been something of a revelation. Still, surely Port can’t have completely forgotten how to play, and while a top four spot is probably beyond them now, the top eight still beckons. They have to start winning regularly though.

GWS to defeat Brisbane: GWS were stung by the Bulldogs last week while Brisbane were stung by more injuries. It won’t be an easy game for the Giants, but it is the type of game they need to grind out if they are to seriously threaten the top four.

West Coast to defeat North Melbourne: The Kangaroos must be as frustrating to support as Richmond. As well as being heartbreakers they are also a tipster’s nightmare. West Coast have to travel for this one, but one suspects that Collingwood knocked the spirit out of the Kangas last week. They’ll have trouble getting up for this one.

Hawthorn to defeat St. Kilda: The Saints aren’t the worst team in the competition, but the Hawks, despite some wobbles, are still one of the best. This will be reflected in the result come Sunday evening.

Collingwood to defeat Melbourne: The Pies have their critics and they still need to learn to play four quarters of footy, but they are sitting pretty in the top four. There are fourteen other clubs who wish they could say the same. They will still be there next week too!

Ryan Buckland
Fremantle, Adelaide, Sydney, Essendon, Port Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney, West Coast, Hawthorn, Collingwood

So have you worked out yet that I’m no good at picking winners in the AFL? If you’re still following my picks, my sincere condolences. If you’re not, it’s okay, I understand. I like to win at things, too.

Here’s Round 10s losers.

The Dockers are at 9-0, which is the first time a team has started the season in such a manner since 2011 when the Cats had nine wins and a bye after Round 10. They should win and win comfortably here, but come back tomorrow for an extended preview.

Adelaide almost beat the impermeable Fremantle last weekend in a candidate for game of the season thus far. They face the clear worst side in the competition in Carlton, and will be looking to put up a huge score and gather some sweet, sweet basis points as the middle of the table grows more crowded.

It doesn’t get much better in the twilight game, with Sydney to take a trip up north to mush what’s left of Gold Coast into a fine paste. Look for a triple digit margin in this one – after all, Kurt and Lance will be playing.

Things get a little more complicated on Saturday night. Actually, a lot more complicated.

When I wrote that Essendon was the real deal after Round Four, I genuinely believed it. And I still do. But I’m increasingly of the belief that coach James Hird is misusing his charges. He must have read too much of Aesop’s fables while on forced vacation. Slow and steady no longer wins the race, James. They have the talent and ability to get the job done here, even if they’re missing their captain and grandad. But am I confident tipping them? Nope.

The New Port Adelaide, the Western Bulldogs, journey to Adelaide to play Regular Port Adelaide. The Dogs are another team I upped a few weeks back, and they’ve been mid table inconsistent since. Check out the wins and losses the Dogs have compiled in 2015:

West Coast: W
Richmond: W
Hawthorn: L
Adelaide: W
Sydney: W
St Kilda: L
Fremantle: L
Melbourne: L
GWS: W

Like, c’mon guys. Read that form line. Port Adelaide have probably been the disappointment of the year now that Richmond seem to be back on track for ninth place. The Power tuned themselves up in the second half last week, and will be looking to continue against the Dogs. Both sides want to play the game in their forward half, and both sides love nothing more than a half back transition goal. This one’s a toss up, so take the home points. Did I mention I’m terrible at tipping?

Sunday’s slate is pretty clear for mine. GWS v Brisbane on Sunday early afternoon should be one way traffic, despite Brisbane’s recent improvement. Take West Coast’s momentum machine over the shapeless blob that is North Melbourne Rounds 1-9 2015. Are West Coast playing finals? Eight wins at the turn suggests so. Hawthorn are at near-full strength, and primed for a big scalp (ala their mincing of the Dogs in Round 3).

Monday football, yay! I love a good Monday game, if only because it extends the AFL week that extra day. Collingwood, like the Dogs, have a very wonky form line. Fortunately, Melbourne do not. The Pies should get the job done here, in what could be an entertaining, contested game. I’ll be watching.

Crowd tips updated 1:30pm 5/6