The Roar’s AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 14

Port Adelaide vs Melbourne – potentially Jack Watts’ first game against his old club – looks like the only real headscratcher in an AFL round that is relatively easy to tip.

West Coast vs Essendon tonight has some upset potential of course. The Eagles are missing both Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy which is something the Dons can look to take advantage of.

Maybe if this game were being played in Victoria (especially if it were at the MCG) I would consider tipping the upset, but at Optus Stadium one can’t go past the Eagles.

Brisbane hosting GWS, too, has some potential. With Rory Lobb out you can expect Stef Martin to dominate this match and the home ground advantage will play a role.

I suspect the superstar level talents of Josh Kelly and Jeremy Cameron will get the Giants over the line, but this could certainly go the other way.

Anyway. On to Port vs the Dees. Both sides are around the same mark and neither has been especially consistent throughout the year when it comes to form.

Melbourne seemed to wilt under the pressure of being favourites against Collingwood in their last outing, but they won’t have the same trouble here.

Port have the home ground advantage though and they have the fact that Melbourne are coming off a bye, which often makes it difficult for teams to win.

My gut tells me that the Demons are a very strong chance in this one but my head tells me to pick Port. I’ll trust my head this time around, just for a change of pace.

Hawthorn over Gold Coast, North over the Bulldogs and Collingwood over Carlton all seem like pretty straightforward picks.

Lock of the week, at the risk of shooting my own team in the foot, must be a North win over a Bulldogs side losing Easton Wood and Jackson Macrae to injury.

Adrian Polykandrites
West Coast, Melbourne, Hawthorn, GWS, North Melbourne, Collingwood

The last of the bye rounds is a bit of a snoozer with the exception of Friday night.

The Eagles were stifled by the Swans last week but should have no such trouble at home against the Bombers.

Hawthorn and North Melbourne should be able to score nice percentage boosts against the Suns and Bulldogs, respectively.

The Giants face a tricky trip to the Gabba where a loss would be a major setback to their finals push. They should get the points, but the Lions won’t make it easy for them. Brisbane are no good, but they should be better than 1-11 and I suspect they’ll find a few wins in the second half of the year.

Don’t buy into any talk of Sunday being a danger game for Collingwood. The Pies are top-four contenders and the Blues are rubbish. Collingwood by plenty.

(Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Cameron Rose
West Coast, Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, GWS, North, Collingwood

Getting the sense that West Coast might be shaky, and Essendon are a live chance, but have to stick with the Eagles at home.

Port hosting Melbourne is the clear match of the round, with each looking to move one game clear of the other.

Both teams will start favourite in their next three games after this, so a win here would be just what they need to go into their easier runs.

Collingwood shut down the Demons running game on Queen’s Birthday, and it’s not easy to play free-flowing footy at Adelaide Oval. This gives the Power the edge.

The rest of the round looks clear-cut – Hawthorn, GWS, North and Collingwood.

(AAP Image/David Mariuz)

TomC
West Coast, Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, GWS, North, Collingwood

Honestly not too many that you really have to think about this week.

Melbourne had an impressive win at the Adelaide Oval last season and might be a chance to back-to-back, but you can’t possibly tip against the Power.

Brisbane might be a chance at home against the fragile Giants, but you’d certainly back GWS to play better footy for longer.

West Coast at home against Essendon, Hawthorn will pummel the unfortunate Suns, North will batter the wounded Dogs, and Collingwood to continue Carlton’s misery.

All in all, it’s a good weekend to watch a lot of soccer.