AFL ladder predictions: Round 5

The first derby of 2019 was predicted to be a hot, exhilarating contest in Round 4.

The western derby was just one of quite a few tight, exciting games, with Port Adelaide v Richmond tipped to be the second best game of round four. We now have the Easter weekend in Round 5, which is expected to have a few crackers.

Let’s see what Round 5 has in store.

Brisbane v Collingwood
The Lions are on the rise and is shown by the AFL’s trust in them by scheduling them in a primetime slot on Easter Thursday. The last time the Pies were at the Lions home ground, these young cubs almost got the four points before going down by seven points in the end.

At the Gabba, I think that the Lions are a chance to upset the Pies, and I’m going to unconfidently and bravely back them and tip them to beat the 2018 runners-up in Collingwood.

Prediction – Brisbane by 15 points.

North Melbourne v Essendon
This game is one of two Good Friday matches, with the AFL scheduling a doubleheader with two games on opposite sides of the country. North Melbourne have been in the Good Friday match for two years in a row against the Dogs in 2017 and the Saints in 2018, with the Roos only winning the Good Friday match in 2018 against St Kilda.

I can’t see the Roos beating the Bombers here, with North Melbourne now slumping to a 2-3 record after five rounds.

Prediction – Essendon by 19 points

West Coast v Port Adelaide
The Eagles and the Power have had two tight, exciting clashes within the last three times they’ve faced off against each other. The 2017 elimination final saw the Eagles win thanks to an after the siren goal from Luke Shuey, and Round 21 last year saw the Eagles win thanks to last minute heroics from All-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern.

I’m predicting this one to be another tight match going the Eagles way on the Good Friday stage.

Prediction – West Coast by 5 points.

GWS Giants v Fremantle
The Giants will kick off Easter Saturday football against Fremantle in Canberra. The Dockers have the win-loss ledger split at 2 wins and 2 losses, whereas the Giants have still not won a game.

However, I believe that the Giants will snag their first win against the Dockers and have a solid win.

Prediction – GWS Giants by 44 points.

Melbourne v St Kilda
The last time the Dees and the Saints played, the Saints put a dent in the Dees top four and finals hopes at that time, leaving them with an 8-6 win-loss record at that time. Looking back now, it was a costly loss for the Demons, as they would have been in the top four had they beat the Saints.

I’m predicting the mighty red and blue to smash the Saints by at least 50 points.

Prediction – Melbourne by 52 points.

Richmond v Sydney
This game has the potential to be a nail-biter. This one is at Marvel Stadium and labelled as Richmond’s home game, and the Swans were better playing away than at home last season. However; I can’t see the Tigers dropping this game to the bloods regardless of what happens.

Prediction – Richmond by 21 points.

Western Bulldogs v Carlton
The Dogs finished in a lowly thirteenth on the ladder with only eight wins. The Dogs would be hoping to get a win against the Blues and continue their predicted good start to the season with three wins in the first five rounds.

Prediction – Western Bulldogs by 30 points.

Adelaide v Gold Coast
Watch out Suns fans, this could get ugly! The Crows have been predicted to be 4-0 after four rounds, whereas the Suns have been predicted to be 0-4 after four rounds. I believe that this game will get really ugly, with the Crows smashing the Suns by over 10 goals.

(Photo by Sean Garnsworthy/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Prediction – Adelaide by 84 points.

Hawthorn v Geelong
The Hawks-Cats clashes are always spectacular regardless of where the teams are placed on the ladder. The Hawks have the ledger split after four games, and the Cats have only one win from the first month of footy, however; I believe the Cats and Hawks will have the same amount of wins from five rounds after this Easter Monday clash.

Prediction – Geelong by 22 points.

Predicted ladder after Round 5
1. Adelaide – 5-0
2. Melbourne – 5-0
3. Essendon – 4-1
4. Collingwood – 4-1
5. West Coast – 4-1
6. Richmond – 3-2
7. Western Bulldogs – 3-2
8. Brisbane – 3-2
9. Port Adelaide – 2-3
10. North Melbourne – 2-3
11. Fremantle – 2-3
12. Hawthorn – 2-3
13. Geelong – 2-3
14. Sydney – 1-4
15. GWS Giants – 1-4
16. St Kilda – 1-4
17. Carlton – 1-4
18. Gold Coast – 0-5

2018 non-finalists Adelaide and Essendon are so far looking like being top four teams in 2019 after an exhilarating first five rounds. Hold out on locking any team into the position they’re in though as there’s still seventeen games to go and teams could still rise or fall out of nowhere.

The Western Bulldogs and Brisbane are looking like being smokey’s of featuring in the 2019 finals series with the Lions causing three upsets on their way to a 3-2 record after five games. None of the Hawks, Cats, Swans, or Giants sit inside the top eight after five games, however; the Hawks and Cats only sit a game outside the top eight and the Giants and Swans are two games outside the top eight. The bottom three look at odds of remaining there for the rest of the 2019 season, with the Suns winless and the Saints and Blues with one win and look like having little chances of winning games or upsetting teams.

Those are my Easter Round predictions, keep an eye out for the ANZAC Round predictions.