The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Rounds 10 and 11

It’s been non-stop footy since last Wednesday and the footy’s not stopping yet.

We’ve got the rest of Round 10 to tackle today, before we turn our attention to Round 11 which kicks off, as usual, at 4:35pm on Saturday and concludes with a Wednesday night thriller.

The fixture may have been put through the blender, but our tips didn’t get savaged too badly. Both myself and The Crowd managed a score of nine (which, thanks to 2020, isn’t a perfect score for the week), Marnie Cohen collected eight and Liam Salter slipped up with seven.

That opens up a two-point lead for yours truly atop The Roar’s AFL expert tipping ladder, with Marnie three points adrift of Liam. The Crowd, of course, leads the overall standings by five.

Stirling Coates

Collingwood, St Kilda, GWS Giants | Richmond, Brisbane, West Coast, Melbourne, St Kilda, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Essendon

The Swans copped a reality check against St Kilda last week and, while they’re rightfully shuffling the deck and blooding another debutant, I can’t see any outcome but a hefty loss to the Magpies this evening. As much as it pains me to say it, it looks like the Suns are in for a similar touchup from the surging Saints.

Ever since Essendon made a statement against the Pies a month ago, they barely scraped past North and Adelaide, while getting thumped by the Lions and Bulldogs. Collingwood’s last month suggests that win might not have been such a grand statement after all. This is exactly the kind of game the Giants would give away, but I’ll back them to stay on track.

That’s Round 10 taken care of, with Round 11 pitting Port Adelaide against Richmond in another grand final preview. It’s a weird thing to say about a team that’s topped the ladder after every round this season, but the Power continue to prove the doubters wrong and cement their status as a genuine contender. They’ll take it right up to the Tigers, but the ball is really rolling at Punt Road (or whatever hotel they’re cooped up in), so I’ve got them falling just short.

Genuine home advantage sways me Brisbane’s way over the Western Bulldogs, while West Coast over Carlton in Perth doesn’t require much explanation – although it’s imperative the Blues give them a shake after last week’s shocker.

David Teague must demand a response from Carlton. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

I can’t believe everyone’s jumping back on the Kangaroos so quickly after their demolition of Adelaide. I wouldn’t tip the Crows against the Generals right now, so North’s ‘return to form’ isn’t enough for me to pick them against Melbourne. The Demons have actually been decent since Round 3 – I’m chalking the Port loss to Port just being that good.

I’ll back the Saints to continue their white-hot form by grabbing a second win later this week against the Cats, Hawthorn should bring Fremantle back to earth, although I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dockers ended up triumphing by 15 goals, it’s that kinda game.

The Pies should make it two straight against the Crows early next week, while Gold Coast’s slump probably continues for another week against the Bombers.

Making Carlton’s opponent the Shoe-In of the Week has been the kiss of death in 2020, but I’m going to do it to the Eagles this week and see what happens.

Marnie Cohen

Collingwood, St Kilda, GWS Giants | Richmond, Brisbane, West Coast, North Melbourne, Geelong, Fremantle, Collingwood, Gold Coast

I really thought by the halfway point of the season tipping would be a little easier and I can confirm it is not.

Of this cluster of matches, the hardest to tip (yet the most exciting) is Port Adelaide versus Richmond on Saturday. Week in, week out the Tigers are looking more ferocious and are emerging as the premiership favourite. Although I’m tipping the Tigers, I wouldn’t dismiss the talent and capabilities of Port, especially with Charlie Dixon in sublime form. We should have a clearer understanding of where these teams truly sit after this game.

A win for Essendon or GWS on Friday night would put them a game clear inside the top eight. Plenty at stake here for both sides but the Giants should come out on top.

Essendon will also face the Suns five days later and if the game follows a similar script to last season’s, then the new and improved Gold Coast should get over the line. They’ll be no match for St Kilda, though – but the Saints won’t be a match for Geelong either.

I like both West Australian sides at home and North Melbourne will notch up their first-ever victory at Adelaide Oval against the Dees.

Collingwood should bounce back from his horror couple of weeks with some wins, while Brisbane should get over the Dogs.

Liam Salter

Collingwood, St Kilda, GWS Giants | Port Adelaide, Brisbane, West Coast, North Melbourne, Geelong, Fremantle, Collingwood, Gold Coast

And we’re well into a football marathon. Some dubious tips for me last edition, not a lot of them working out.

Sunday’s West Coast versus Carlton clash is the only vaguely easy tip: the Eagles to comfortably win. Fremantle play the following night and with a few players returning from injury and momentum after last week’s brilliant win, they should defeat the Hawks at home – although Hawthorn are also coming off a strong come-from-behind victory themselves.

Collingwood and Sydney open up this slate of games. The Pies head in as favourites but, given their disappointing performances of late, I’d suggest Sydney have more than a sniff. Regardless, expect the Pies to bounce back with a win, while I’ll also back them to beat an awful Adelaide six days later.

Collingwood should get back on track with two wins this week. (Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Finals are increasingly likely for St Kilda, something that can no longer be said for the Gold Coast, who were so impressive earlier this year. They play each other tonight in Queensland, and I’m – somewhat nervously – backing the Saints to secure a win. They’d hope they do, given they’ll drop their game against the Cats four days. The Suns next face Essendon and I’m going to back them in that contest. Sorry, Dons fans, I’m also predicting your squad will lose to the Giants tomorrow night.

Saturday is full of premiership contenders, with Port hosting Richmond and Brisbane hosting the Bulldogs. Neither are easy tips, but look like sensational match-ups. Port have not been as strong at home this season, while Richmond have been in fine form the previous fortnight. Despite this, because – and only because – this game is in Adelaide, I’ll go Port to flex their credentials over the reigning premiers.

Similarly, Brisbane get the nod over the consistently inconsistent Doggies.

Note: Like last week, you’ll notice Round 10’s still hanging around below. Don’t panic, you can either check back on Saturday, when Round 11’s matches will appear, or just head to our AFL tipping hub to get your tips in now. Round 12 starts on a Thursday, so things should be back to normal next week.

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