In a year of footy where just about every match looks like a winner, Round 15 looks especially tantalising – and hard to tip!
I’ll be filling in for Ryan Buckland this week on the Friday Night Forecast for the Melbourne vs Sydney game. Give it a read here to find out my tip.
West Coast’s post-bye revival came to an end after a winning streak a whole one game long last week, but, I feel like they can get back on the horse by beating the Bulldogs, even though they’re travelling to Melbourne to do it.
Adelaide aren’t likely to play two bad games in a row and should make short work of Carlton, though as always, the Blues will take any opportunity they get to cause an upset.
How lucky are us North fans that Gary Ablett couldn’t play his 300th last week and instead will celebrate the big milestone against us? I look forward to him gathering 40 touches and kicking five in a Suns home win, on my birthday of all days. That’s just not fair.
Home ground advantage makes GWS and Port Adelaide my tips on Saturday night but I’m not confident on either.
Hawthorn and Collingwood is really splitting hairs at this point, but I haven’t seen Hawthorn play good football two weeks in a row a lot this year, so I’ll say Collingwood.
The Ross Lyon grudge match is always a good one. A trip west may be a little daunting for the Saints but I’d be disappointed in them if they don’t get the job done.
Essendon should get over Brisbane at Etihad – that’s my lock of the week and probably the only game of the week that’s close to being a straightforward tip.
Maddy Friend
Sydney, Bulldogs, Adelaide, Gold Coast, GWS Giants, Port Adelaide, Essendon, Hawthorn, St Kilda
The first game of the round should be an absolute gem – I’m especially excited to see how the midfield battles unfold. I’m tipping the Swans, just, as I feel like Melbourne’s injury woes might start to take their toll.
The Bulldogs should account for West Coast, given the match is at Etihad, while I’m expecting Adelaide to beat Carlton, but the Blues’ defensive game style will probably give the Crows a few headaches.
Hawthorn and Collingwood will be another close game – I’m tipping the Hawks, who are riding a wave of decent form of late.
Gold Coast should account for North Melbourne at home in Steven May’s 100th and possibly Gary Ablett’s 300th games.
GWS and Geelong should be another great match – I’m tipping the current ladder leaders to get a win at home.
Port Adelaide should be too strong for Richmond, but in a close one, as should the Saints over Freo (despite St Kilda’s deplorable record in Perth).
Essendon and Brisbane shapes as the only real clear-cut match of the round – Bombers by plenty.
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Cameron Rose
Sydney, Bulldogs, Adelaide, Gold Coast, GWS, Port Adelaide, Essendon, Collingwood, St Kilda
We’ve got a huge round coming up, one that may prove decisive in the race for top four and top eight spots come the end of the season.
Sydney and Melbourne kick things off, with both sides flying. The Dees are still missing some key players, are at the end of a run of six day breaks, and coming back from Perth. Swans for me, even though I don’t trust them at all yet.
Western Bulldogs shape as too good for a West Coast that has to come to Melbourne but with a forward-line that is makeshift at best. The Dogs should be able to keep the Eagles to a losing score.
Adelaide are shaky and Carlton are honest, but we have to stick with the Crows to bounce back. Gold Coast and North will play a bruise free encounter at Metricon, and it will come down to which set of forwards can get on top. Suns at home.
GWS and Geelong haven’t exactly put together seasons worthy of their ladder positions, but have both found a way when required.
The Giants will be looking to carry on their good from over Brisbane into this week, while the Cats need to play better footy than they displayed against Fremantle. GWS for me.
Port and Richmond is the other big game, the two best defensive sides in the league squaring off. The Power has a cleaner and more effective avenue to goal for the most part, and their scoring power may have the edge over what may be a Tiger midfield advantage. Port at home.
On Sunday, Essendon should be too good for Brisbane, Collingwood and Hawthorn will both reverse their form from last week to see a victory to the Pies, while St Kilda will continue their winning run in Perth over Fremantle.
| Round 15 | Josh Elliott | Maddy Friend | Tim Lane | Cam Rose | The Crowd |
| MEL vs SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD/td> |
| WB vs WCE | WCE | WB | WB | WB | WB |
| CAR vs ADE | ADE | ADE | ADE | ADE | ADE |
| GCS vs NM | GCS | GCS | GCS | GCS | GCS |
| GWS vs GEE | GWS | GWS | GWS | GWS | GWS |
| PA vs RIC | RIC | PA | PA | PA | PA |
| ESS vs BRI | ESS | ESS | ESS | ESS | ESS |
| HAW vs COL | COL | HAW | HAW | COL | HAW |
| FRE vs STK | STK | STK | FRE | STK | FRE |
| Last week | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Total | 62 | 68 | 71 | 73 | 68 |
Don Freo
Guest
If you watched the game last week, you'd have noticed Deluca get injured in the second quarter. If fact I commented on that in the live commentary on The Roar at the time. He spent most of the second half on the bench with an ankle injury and is out now with that injury. Did you notice Ross brought Grey straight back in? Did you notice Hughes get picked ahead of Pearce despite the like for like with Hill? Your comments always happen without knowledge of Freo games or Freo players. Mind you, the press, all week, went with the brave Geelong thing and never acknowledged Deluca's injury or the in game injuries to Hill and Ballantyne. You can be forgiven since since no one told you what to think.
Don Freo
Guest
Of course you are lost. You know nothing about this club.
Don Freo
Guest
You'd better get your grizzle in now JonBoy (we know you are anon). Everyone knows Pearce won't play and that Ballantyne will turn in another gem as he always does.
Don Freo
Guest
Going for a surf...a healthy, life affirming activity, on your day off is no culture problem. The problem is that, with a sniffle, he'd have been better off not surfing that day but just resting. A culture problem? That would be when a club's new 18yo world beating draftee gets drunk and then drives a car. It seems that's OK for some clubs. -ahem - Charlie Curnow - cough
Jon boy
Guest
Spot on matt and macca but Eagles are still in the race this year. Freo ? I am LOST to what"s Going on! Blakely has to write down a1000 times " Iam right behind you Coach" Ross has Quoted this on 3 Occasions " Hayden is SORRY he knows he has let the team down and he is working on winning back the trust of the players""
Macca
Guest
Who said there were cultural issues at Freo?
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Ha ha ha. Look at you replying to "Jon boy" as it's not your alt. account.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Well, that's disappointing. Collins and Hughes are good ins, though. Still a relatively strong team, I'd suggest.
Mattician6x6
Guest
Jon- Ross and simmo are swapping notes on how to select a team hey. Interesting opinion piece on west coast on the WA today news site that is spot on IMO.
Mattician6x6
Guest
That's a bit of a treck for a midweek surf I got to say.
anon
Roar Pro
LOL is Rossy really playing D Pearce? This is going to be a 15 year rebuild at this rate.
Jon boy
Guest
Ross is sneaking back all the old and unperformed deadwood ,,,,,,Last week it was Ballantyne and Suban now its Daniel Pearce Who next week Dawson? Nick played OK last week for 3 Quarters,,,,,,,,But as usual when the game was on the line him and Ballantyne went missing
Paul D
Roar Guru
Freo have just advised Blakely was dropped for leaving training early on Wednesday claiming to be sick and then going for a surf down at Yallingup
anon
Roar Pro
Blakely and Deluca are out because Rossy doesn't like playing young players despite being in a rebuild.
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Blakely, St.Hill and Deluca are out. No idea why, as yet. Collins, D.Pearce and Hughes in. That might change things. Real shame about Blakely in particular.
Anthony Bishop
Roar Rookie
Golly gosh, I would suggest that Nigel Fauntleroy-St John 111 and his erudite doppelganger, namely Archie Densborough of the MCC DESERVE either a knighthood (or at the very least a nomination for same) for their continued enrichment of the readers. Regarding their eloquent buffoonery I would raise a glass of the finest home-grow, illegal and distilled liqueur. Perhaps cumquat. Perhaps a bracing blend of maybloom flower essence and sour grapes. Or something like that. Or at least one of the very fine reds or whites from the Molonglo region (which encompasses the Kkkaaaaiiiirrrrmmmmbbbbrrrrrraaaahhhhh region. Thank you, chaps, for your enlightened prose, your arch wankery (which to non-Demons lovers can be a tad arcane.) Anyways, I will depart with this stirring hail: GO THA MOITEEEE SAINTS. Smash the Dockers, whose ONLY redeeming feature is their updated home guernsey design. I shudder when casting my addled mind back to ye old circa '95 when Freo FC first hit our consciousness. Whoever designed their earlier guernsey and /or composed their club song needs to be quietly erased from Austraya's rich and chequered history. That's all.
I ate pies
Guest
Maybe just a touch.
Don Freo
Guest
With Freo doing so well at Geelong last week and adding Sandi, Fyfe and Grey, I'd say the Freo win is close to the Lock. Hopefully, Fyfe and Mundy rotate in Kersten's place.
Jon boy
Guest
Great answer agree on all fronts Love to have him at Freo, I am Backing Michael VOSS Paul Hasleby ticket ,
Mattician6x6
Guest
Jon- what do you think are chances of pav entering coaching once he's taken time away from game. He's a leader of men much in the same way woosh was, when he talks you listen because he just commands your respect imo