Opinion
After an exciting Round 2 that saw the long-awaited return to footy, the AFL is preparing to see competitive footy in back-to-back weeks for the first time this season.
With some form of normality returning to the AFL schedule this week, it will be the first time observers will get to see the full effects of things such as the hub in Queensland.
After some shock results in the season reboot such as Gold Coast’s big win over West Coast and North Melbourne’s triumph against GWS, it was a friendly reminder to all fans that anything is possible in this season and particularly in the wacky year of 2020.
So with that in mind and some big match-ups on the radar this weekend, these are three bold predictions for the week ahead.
1. Gold Coast to slaughter Adelaide to win back-to-back games
It is a phrase that has rarely been heard since the Suns entered the league in 2011, but Gold Coast have a huge chance to win their second consecutive game this Sunday.
Following one of the biggest wins in their history last week over the West Coast Eagles, the young Suns face a considerably easier task this week against the depleted Adelaide Crows.
After a monster 75-point loss in the Showdown last Saturday, the Crows are battling to prove they are better than a bottom-four team this season despite heavy criticism from the AFL media and general fans.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
The Crows have been forced to blood a number of fresh faces to fill the gaps of departed stars in recent years such as Charlie Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield and Eddie Betts. However with all the criticism the Crows’ management has copped over recent years, it seems they have not learnt or adapted and are set for a monumental slide down the ladder in 2020.
After the emergence of Matt Rowell in Round 2, which has led to the number one draft pick being dubbed the next Joel Selwood, the Suns are riding high and will enter this week with a mountain of confidence that they can improve to 2-1 on the season.
With home-ground advantage, look for Gold Coast to bury this game early and win their second game in a row for the first time in a long time.
2. Hawthorn to cause a Thursday night boilover
If there is one thing that footy fans should have learnt over the past decade, it is that you never count out Alastair Clarkson. Despite being embarrassed at Kardinia Park last Friday, the Hawks will count themselves as a big chance on Thursday night to dethrone the reigning champions.
For starters, they are back on their favourite ground at the MCG after clearly battling to handle the dimensions of GMHBA Stadium against the Cats. The extra space on the wings will help to bring in more of their outside runners, who were completely nullified by the Cats’ game plan last weekend.
The Hawks also seem set to gain Jaeger O’Meara back from injury, which should help them in the contested footy and clearances – areas where they were comprehensively beaten last weekend.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
On top of this, the Tigers looked uncharacteristically rusty and sloppy in their Thursday night draw with Collingwood in a match that drew a lot of criticism. Whether this was just rust from the long lay-off or a general lack of preparation to restart the season, Richmond looked vulnerable for the first time in years.
Either way you look at it, expect Hawthorn to rebound this week and at least give the Tigers an almighty scare at the MCG on Thursday night.
3. Fremantle to upset the top-of-the-ladder Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide have been the most impressive team over the first two rounds of the AFL season in 2020. After dismantling the Suns on the Gold Coast in Round 1, the Power showed no signs of rust as they romped home in the Showdown to defeat Adelaide by 75 points.
Fremantle, on the other hand, have been one of the hard-luck stories to start the year. After falling just a kick short of toppling Essendon in Round 1, the Dockers travelled to the Queensland hub and pushed the Brisbane Lions right to the final siren, again falling just short of another upset win on the road.
However the signs are there for Freo that they are ready to claim a big scalp and this week proves a perfect opportunity to dismantle the ladder leaders.
Led by Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe and a host of rising young talent, the Dockers will officially host their first game on the Gold Coast this week. A fresh, new game style and a new level of confidence gives Fremantle a new-look side, with a good chance of rolling Port Adelaide this week.
This will be one of the more intriguing matches this weekend, but look for Fremantle to be right in this match going into the final quarter.
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