The AFL’s indigenous round is here, and it’s a week for some of the game’s biggest stars to shine.
Arguably the hardest game of the round to tip is that between Hawthorn and Port Adelaide on Saturday – both sides have been around the same mark this year, both have had their good games and their bad.
I’ve got two rationales for tipping Hawthorn – it’s their home ground in Launceston, and Port Adelaide are coming off the bye which a lot of teams struggle with.
Dreamtime at the ‘G on Saturday night looked like it might be a fizzer a few weeks ago but suddenly is very interesting – if you were to look at the last two weeks in isolation, Essendon are arguably in better form.
Personally I’m not quite ready to tip against Richmond at the MCG though. They haven’t lost a game there in almost a year – Essendon in their current form are a chance to break that streak, but I’ll tip the Tigers to come out on top.
Adelaide and GWS are both coming off really disappointing losses last week when they meet on Sunday. Even in the midst of an injury crisis the Crows have been a pretty resilient side at home, so I’ll tip them.
The rest of the week looks fairly straightforward: Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong, West Coast, North and Collingwood are my tips in their respective games.
If you’re looking for a lock of the week, it’s hard to go past West Coast on their home deck against the Saints. Things seem likely to get unholy.
Adrian Polykandrites
Sydney, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Geelong, Richmond, West Coast, North Melbourne, Collingwood, Adelaide
The last time Melbourne played Footscray at Docklands, they won by 57 points. This might get uglier than that for the Dogs.
Port should be feeling fresh after a week off and I think they’ll beat the Hawks in a close one in Launceston.
The Suns return to their home ground for the first time since round 22 last season, but the Cats should be too strong. Should.
Richmond will burst the Bombers’ bubble in the Dreamtime match. West Coast should boost their percentage against the Saints. North will be too strong for the improving Lions at Etihad. Collingwood have to beat the Dockers at the MCG if they’re serious. Adelaide should have the Giants covered, but GWS will get it together at some point.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
TomC
Sydney, Melbourne, Hawthorn, Geelong, Richmond, West Coast, North Melbourne, Collingwood, Adelaide
The Power have been much more impressive than the Hawks, particularly recently. But down in Tasmania I’ll back Hawthorn to recover for a narrow win.
Gold Coast finally end their long odyssey and return for the first time this year to Carrara. Whatever advantage they get from their seldom-seen home ground won’t be enough to overcome the Cats though.
Dreamtime at the ‘G could be interesting with the Bombers’ resurgence, but the Tigers are so effective at this ground it’d be silly to bet against them.
North are flattering to deceive, but the Lions just aren’t good enough to beat them in Melbourne.
Elsewhere, Sydney to throttle the Blues, the Demons will comfortably account for the Bulldogs, West Coast to rack up the percentage against the Saints, Collingwood to beat the Dockers, and a Crows win over GWS to round out what appears to be a weekend of mostly one-sided contests.
| Round 11 | Josh E | Adrian P | Cam R | TomC | The Crowd |
| SYD vs CAR | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD |
| WB vs MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL |
| HAW vs PA | HAW | PA | PA | HAW | HAW |
| GCS vs GEE | GEE | GEE | GEE | GEE | GEE |
| ESS vs RIC | RIC | RIC | ESS | RIC | RIC |
| WCE vs STK | WCE | WCE | WCE | WCE | WCE |
| NM vs BRI | NM | NM | NM | NM | NM |
| COL vs FRE | COL | COL | COL | COL | COL |
| ADE vs GWS | ADE | ADE | ADE | ADE | ADE |
| Last week | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Total | 52 | 58 | 55 | 61 | 63 |
Paul D
Roar Guru
My sincere apologies to anyone who followed my lead on this. Was more a tip based on hope and dreams than anything else as it showed More like nightmares in the end. Vale qld footy
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Not a hope in hell. Dees in a canter.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Bit rough on Sheed, but if you can't fit a player as good as him in your side,your side can't be too bad
Jon Boy
Guest
Happy face nasty mind, ha ha .
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Hahaha well that's a chorus line singing from the same page and worth listening to! Not least of all your not at all irrational infantile rantings. ?
Jon Boy
Guest
Peter- Howe is a big out but it is a big ask hopefully we take it right up to you though.Interesting to watch the Langdon boy's. Ed has really gone to another level this year.
Jon Boy
Guest
At last Ross has got it right , 13th man and other good judges have been hammering for weeks and even Robert Walls calling to dump the old hasbeens. It does not guarantee instant success but it is a huge step in the right direction .Matera needed to be dropped as well, good call but he is young and it will do him good ,but he will be back a better player. Rewarding mediocrity is hopefully a thing of the past.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Yep they've sent Ballantyne and Johnson to Peel, along with Matera. So they're going with both Apeness and Jones, interesting. Hopefully Apeness goes clunk-bat-caca-crazy. Suman and Kersten also in with Giro, with the Doona in to do a bit of running.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Mihocek and Cox will be tall marking targets Jonboy with Thomas, De Goey, Wells, Hoskin Elliott and Stephenson at their feet. Down back we will miss Howe but other intercept marks will step up such as Scharenberg and Langdon. Treloar, Sidey and Pendles may all rotate through the forward line too. Will Greenwood tag Fyfe I wonder?
Jon Boy
Guest
Out -Sandi, Hill, Pearce, Ballantyne and Johnson In -Apeness, Duman, Giro, Sheridan and Kersten. Stefan Giro picks himself ,Sheridan still only young probably his last chance, Kersten probably helps out Apeness and can play either end of the ground. Time to let Banfield have a bit of freedom been doing a good job but let him attack and show his skills.Give Sheridan the tagging roll,he might find the ball more.
johno
Guest
OK - just realised that Duman and Apenss aren't on the bench so are officially in. Sandi and S Hill have been replaced. So it's one of Gireo, Kersten, Sheridan, Crowden for D Pearce ..... unless Lyon swings the axe more on Johno and Ballas - should definitely be Giro, he showed enough in the JLT and in his games back from injury to be given a crack
johno
Guest
I went to the G 2 years back to see Freo get belted on a cold (must've been single digits) night. This time its in the afternoon, but I can't see too different a result this week OUT: Sandi, D Pearce, S Hill IN: Giro, Jones, Kersten Jones has to come in as the preferred main ruck option. Apeness has played 4 games as a ruck and to bring him in against Grundy would just be a slaughter. The issue with Jones is that he doesn't get a lot of the ball. But he's been rucking for years and at 23 is a mature body Giro, just because he has been the best performed WAFL player of late Kersten, just because we can swing him into attack if needed
DingoGray
Roar Guru
This round I found pretty difficult. Swans will get the job done by 4-6 goals. Melbourne are the real deal. They will consolidate with a 30 point win. Hawks just. They showed enough last week for me to see them getting this done by 6-14 points Cats just too good with too much class. 16-25 points Richmond by 5 goals Eagles by 10 goals North is my lock. They always beat my Lions. 15 points in this one. Pies to good for Fyfe, 25 points in this. Time for GWS to stand up. They go to Adelaide and win by 20 odd points.
Swannies
Guest
Hawks and Lions to win.
Don Freo
Guest
You know, Jonchild, Freo was only 3 points behind when it happened. Are you saying they weren't? If not, you make no point (as always). If so, you are just silly.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Haha, just saw this after typing similar which the reply planted it right above. I'll always remember that Suns victory too, watching the last half in a Subi pub right before heading to see Freo play, HB wrote large.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Geelong getting upset is definitely one to have a speculator on. They've lost their last two games travelling up to Metricon and the Suns have had their refresher from the fatigue moderated game we have of late. Of course you'll need to overcome your understandable nervousness surrounding the Sun's flakiness and that they've had the trip to China take some of the glow off their rest in taking up that wager.
User
Roar Rookie
I reckon sheed is more likely a rest to get that foot as good as possible for second half of year. Maybe ah chee will be moved to masten wing
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Or maybe the thinking is different to yours and with your filters you see it as "unthinking".
User
Roar Rookie
Going two roughies in gcs and dons other than that all others are the favourites.