Paicey's picks: AFL Round 2 tips

Round 2 of the AFL season is here, so who is going to win and lose? Read on for the good oil as we break down each game and give a tip and margin.

Collingwood versus Richmond
Richmond woke up just in time to avoid a major embarrassment in Round 1, while Collingwood were putrid. A national TV audience and 80,000 people will hope that both teams show a bit more this weekend but they won’t have confidence in this happening – without Dane Swan and Steele Sidebottom the mountain seems too high to climb for the Pies.

Richmond to win by 17 points in an underwhelming, uninspiring contest.

Adelaide versus Port Adelaide
The Showdown is always compelling viewing, as these two sides dislike each other with a rich history of battles on and off the field, mainly at Footy Park and the Ramsgate Hotel.

Despite it only being Round 2, the Crows can ill-afford to go 0-2 while the Power must make the most of a soft draw. The Crows won the contested possession battle in every game bar one at Adelaide Oval last season and with the home ground advantage and a lethal attack will win by 11 points in what shapes as a high-scoring, entertaining encounter.

Essendon versus Melbourne
The last time the Demons were this heavy a favourite, colour television was yet to be invented. Despite them winning last week, they were far from impressive and while they should handle Essendon it is highly unlikely they kick enough goals for this to be an easy win.

Melbourne scored from just 36 per cent of their inside 50s against the Giants, the worst result of any side last weekend; Essendon were hot on their heels as they scored from just 38 per cent of entries.

This match looms as brutal viewing between two poor teams, but Melbourne should do enough to win by 26 points and at 2-0 they may see Paul Roos change his mind and re-sign for another year or two.

Brisbane versus North Melbourne
The Lions have been praised for kicking 15 goals last weekend, but they conceded 26 goals to the opposition.

They have won three of the last four Gabba encounters against the Roos, and will head into this game full of confidence but North will know how important an early season win is.

At some stage Brent Harvey will realise he should be coaching or in a cushy media gig at his age, rather than running rings around this competition. Mutual fans will be torn on who to support as one team has Lindsay Thomas and one has Mitch Robinson; the Lions will play with flair and attack the game but North will win by 27 points.

St. Kilda versus Western Bulldogs
Saints star Nick Riewoldt plays his 300th game in what promises to be a huge match; despite it being a Saints home game they are playing the Dogs in their element under the roof.

St. Kilda lead at every break before stumbling in the final quarter against Port, while the Dogs made Fremantle look like purple traffic cones with a rabid style of attacking football.

Jake Stringer was compared to Gary Ablett Sr in some media outlets this week and that couldn’t be less accurate – Ablett wasn’t this impressive as a 22 year old. ‘The Package’ and his mates will bring the pain and run out winners by 19 points.

Fremantle versus Gold Coast
Its only one week into 2016 but it looks as though the game and competition is heading towards being more attacking than ever.

That’s bad news for the Dockers who ranked last for inside 50 entries and finished -44 in contested possessions and are stuck in a defensive rut.

They were not up for the fight, but their fans can breathe a sigh of relief for one week as they play the Suns this weekend.

Gold Coast are far from a decent team, and Fremantle beat bad teams – that’s just what they do.

This figures to be a dour, physical game that will not reach any great heights; neutral supporters can hope that the absence of Ryan Crowley allows Gary Ablett off the leash and that he can produce some magic.

Docker fans will go home happy as their team will run out 29-point winners.

Greater Western Sydney versus Geelong
The Steve Johnson revenge match will make for intriguing viewing – how many left-foot torpedo punts will we see from this genius? Will he flip the bird towards the Cats coaches’ box if he kicks a goal? And will have either a handball or goal assist?

This legend will always be a Geelong player but his new side must win this game after a poor loss to Melbourne in Round 1. For the Cats, positive media coverage about Patrick Dangerfield has broken the internet this week but Mark Blicavs, Zac Smith, Darcy Lang and Lincoln McCarthy figure to have just as much a say in any 2016 success for the boys from the Cattery.

This is a game the Giants should win, but their development is far from impressive and the Cats seem primed to push up the ladder and should win by 22 points.

Hawthorn versus West Coast
The grand final rematch has many main players missing but is a crucial clash for both teams.

Most of the Eagles players will cower in the corner of the MCG change-rooms at the mere thought of taking the ground again after their diabolical performance on the biggest stage last season, but they will never get a better chance to exact some form of revenge against a depleted Hawks team.

This is quite simply a game the Eagles should win, but there is no escaping that this is a proud Hawthorn team who will not want to go 0-2. Expect to see the anti-social Hawks out in force as they will find a way to win this game by 12 points.

Carlton versus Sydney
The Blues should have won last weekend, and Sydney made Collingwood look third rate. Excitement abounds about what Carlton can become and while their youngsters are elite, there are a number of gaps in this side that are likely to be exposed by the Swans.

Carlton continue to attempt to extract blood from the stone that is Dale Thomas and will be hoping he can get through a game without being reported or injured, while Lance Franklin may introduce Jacob Weitering to a little reality in his second game.

Sydney went inside 50 on 76 occasions last week and while Patrick Cripps and co are likely to be more competitive in the middle of the ground, the quality and depth of midfield will see the Swans win by 33 points