Round 12 sees the beginning of the bye rounds in season 2018, but a slightly longer round than usual since we have a public holiday on Monday.
Richmond have a 100 per cent record in Victoria and a 0 per cent record outside of it. Can Port Adelaide keep up that trend? I’m not sure, but with Dustin Martin out, that pushes the Power over the top in my book.
Geelong clicked together really well last week, albeit against pretty average opposition. At their home ground of Kardinia, I suspect they’ll have too much star power for North.
A breakthrough win for GWS over the Crows at Adelaide Oval last week was a reminder that they’re still a pretty good football team, if not what we thought they might be. Should easily dispose of the Suns.
St Kilda have made both Richmond and West Coast feel nervous in the past fortnight, but haven’t been able to land a killer blow. I don’t think they’ll have any more luck against Sydney this week.
Brisbane at the Gabba is a prospect that should make any team nervous, especially an Essendon side reeling from last week’s loss. Still I think the Lions will miss the spark of Charlie Cameron and the Dons will win.
Fremantle might nearly have been favourites against an increasingly wounded Adelaide side this week, but the absence of Nat Fyfe should make this a fairly straightforward one for the Crows.
Queens Birthday is match of the round and a really tough contest to pick. Melbourne’s form is impossible to ignore, but the Magpies are every chance.
Lock of the week would have to be the Giants shutting down the Suns on Saturday.
Adrian Polykandrites
Richmond, Geelong, GWS, Sydney, Brisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne
I’m tipping the Cats but I don’t know why. North are better. Kardinia Park, I suppose.
GWS should get a nice percentage boost against the Suns.
Sydney are one of the least impressive 8-3 sides in recent memory and the Saints are coming off a respectable fortnight against the top-two. I’m tipping the Swans in a close one.
Brisbane will get their second win of the year against the Bombers and Fremantle will upset the decimated Crows even without Nat Fyfe.
Melbourne will be too strong for Collingwood on Monday. It’s a fun round.
Cameron Rose
Richmond, Geelong, GWS, Sydney, Essendon, Adelaide, Melbourne
A number of big games this weekend, and some exciting challenges await.
Port hosts Richmond, with the Power nutted in a close one last week and the Tigers fresh off a commanding win. Richmond look to be right back in form after a quiet period, and can go on with it.
North heads down the highway to Geelong, in a game that is vital to the top four chances of both sides. The Roos are playing the most committed footy of any side, but expecting the Cats top end quality and home ground advantage to hold sway.
GWS should clean up Gold Coast in the clash of the expansion sides, and the same can be said for Sydney against St Kilda.
On Sunday, a humbled Essendon get a chance to show their mettle at the Gabba. A few injuries will start to hit home for Brisbane. Freo will be lucky to win more than a few games for the rest of the season, and losing Nat Fyfe for a week gives the edge to Adelaide, even in Perth.
On Monday, we see two of the form teams of the comp square off, both of which have shown a number of attacking weapons in recent times. No team is hotter than Melbourne right now, and they meet a sterner test than they have for quite a while in Collingwood. Expect them to handle it, and win well.
TomC
Port Adelaide, Geelong, GWS, Sydney, Essendon, Adelaide, Melbourne
The Tigers need to be seen as two different teams: the one that plays at home and the one that goes on the road. Looking at it that way there isn’t much reason to tip them away to the Power this week, and I’ll go with Port Adelaide in front of a parochial Friday night crowd.
On form you might just back the Roos over the Cats, but I’m not quite convinced enough to tip them head to head at Kardinia Park, particularly with Ablett getting into gear. Geelong at home for me.
GWS will beat the Suns by 15 goals.
Sydney are getting to the end of a particularly easy section of their draw, playing Fremantle, Brisbane, Carlton and now St Kilda in four rounds. They’ve looked comfortable in each of these matchups so far and I suspect will do so again against the sorry Saints.
When Brisbane play their best footy they look capable of beating mid-ladder teams, but with a rash of injuries in a short space of time they look vulnerable against the improved Bombers. Essendon will play better footy for longer and should grind out a win.
Adelaide appear to have fallen into a hole that they might not get out of in 2018. But the Dockers are missing several key players including Nat Fyfe and on paper at least look a little outmatched this week. While I’m a bit hesitant tipping the visitors, who have never played at the new stadium, I think the Crows have too much firepower for Freo.
This year’s Queen’s Birthday clash is one of the most highly anticipated I can remember. I think the Demons still have a bit to prove, and Collingwood are a big chance, but there’s no denying Melbourne bring in the better form and I’ll back them to continue their winning run.
| Round 12 | Josh E | Adrian P | Cam R | TomC | The Crowd |
| PA vs RIC | PA | RIC | RIC | PA | RIC |
| GEE vs NM | GEE | GEE | GEE | GEE | GEE |
| GWS vs GCS | GWS | GWS | GWS | GWS | GWS |
| STK vs SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD |
| BL vs ESS | ESS | BL | ESS | ESS | ESS |
| FRE vs ADE | ADE | FRE | ADE | ADE | ADE |
| MEL vs COL | MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL |
| Last week | 8 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Total | 60 | 65 | 61 | 69 | 71 |
IAP
Guest
Yes I trawled through last year's Roar articles for your opinion so I could copy it...
Mark
Guest
That’s completely false. We’ve won 12 of our last 13 at Etihad. Some people...
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Still deciding on the Lions match. I like making last minute switches, but otherwise, I'm going pretty much the same.
Don Freo
Guest
Good to see you reading my comments from last year. Little wonder I agree with you on this one.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Trying to get hold of the Master tipster Rick.....A perfect round last round (yeah I know the easiest round of the year) certainly helped the cause..... Now just got back it up...... No Dusty, Poor away form plus the Adelaide oval, Port by a couple of goals Cats by a couple of goals on the back of they are a much better side down in Geelong GWS- Suns are a rabble Swans- to win by their standard 2-4 goals. Lions two most important players out in Robinson and Cameron, got the Bombers getting it done just (I really hope I'm wrong) No Fyfe, but Sandi back....Tex back..... Toss the coin, Adelaide because Freo's brought back Ballas- he's done! Melbourne- This is new Melbourne! They are my favourites for the Flag! This will show their genuine contenders. 20-25 points.
Don Freo
Guest
GC had a home game at Perth. Got any REAL issues?
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
What? Freo just stopped short of raiding the year 6s from St Pat's Primary School to fill out their team over the weekend. Adelaide will still be bringing over a well-seasoned team, which makes all the difference.
Don Freo
Guest
Corked thigh last week. Light jogging all week. Fitness test.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Every once and a while you appear on here to deliver some entirely spontaneous deadpan quip, and I'm loving it.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Neale? What's up with Neale?
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Fyfe has been dragging Freo with him for weeks, Adelaide Pies to deflate Dees,by a goal I'm expecting the Cats to be better,but North by three goals Port want to stay in the eight,have to win,won't. GWS and that other Sydney side that people refer to out of the corner of their mouth Lions,come on,say it's so.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't make too much of Adelaide's injuries. They have 7 of their top 22 out, 8 if you count Riley Knight. Freo has 8 of their best 22 out, 11 if Sandi, Pearce and Neale don't come up. It seems some critics acknowledge injury for some teams but they forget injuries to other teams if they are long term.
TomC
Roar Guru
I'm afraid I can't, as I have no hard earned money. Only money I have shamelessly swindled from my gullible employer.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Tough round this week, lot of scope for upsets or things to go against script. Port Adelaide - at home, they aren't a bad side if they're on and no Dusty for the Tigers. If Hardwick is easing them back a bit as they head into winter this will be a game Port should be able to win I want to go North but I'm saying Geelong GWS. Sydney. No Charlie Cameron we're really going to struggle for spark and I think Essendon will be far too quick for us. Fremantle, for the love of all that is holy. If they lose to Adelaide at home after everything Adelaide has been through these last few weeks they will be burning effigies of Ross outside the stadium. I'm going Collingwood. I hear his Lordship has cast a sad eye over Collingwood's propensity to ruin big moments for the Dees in recent years and this is going to be another one.
peter chrisp
Guest
Peter let's hope you are correct on The Pies a continuation of our last game of the year where we knocked off Dees would like that very much
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
That's all good and well . . . but it's Freo for Chrissake. Crows still win this one.
Michael
Guest
Just nitpicking, but North are second lowest per game, Port have had the bye already.
Tom M
Guest
Every MCG Tennant is required to play 1 home game a year at Etihad. Hawthorn have had theirs and Collingwood played the Bulldogs their in what was our home game. So we played the Bulldogs at their own home ground, pretty stupid. Feel lucky that you drew the swans TTF, they have a much better record at the G
sammy
Guest
I will ask the 3 tipsters who tipped Adelaide to beat Freo this weekend..would you put your hard earned money on it? If freo can't beat an absolutely injury ravaged crows at home this week it says more about them than it does the crows I think. I can see Freo winning this comfortably
IAP
Guest
Ahhh, the bL8ody bye rounds. Please AFL, just scrap them and make the clubs give every player a rest at some stage during the season. It's such a simple fix for such a stupid, stupid thing to do.