The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 2

Last week had it all and, even better, we get to experience it again so soon.

There were thrillers, blowouts, upsets and comebacks. Some top sides looked vulnerable, some non-finalists looked vastly improved.

If it wasn’t enough to play around with our tips last weekend, it’s sure made this weekend a heck of a lot more complicated.

The chaos meant five was the score to beat on the AFL expert tipping panel for Round 1, achieved by myself and the newest member of the panel; Dem Panopoulos, with poor Liam Salter getting stung by too many upsets and ending up with four.

Please join me in wishing Dem a warm welcome to The Roar’s expert writers team – I’m sure you’ll all agree he’s produced some of the best Roar of the Crowd articles for some time and you should all be looking forward to a regular column from him in the very near future.

Stirling Coates

Carlton, Brisbane, Sydney, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Gold Coast, Richmond, Western Bulldogs, Fremantle

Having proper-length footy with crowds is something I’ll never, ever take for granted again. I just couldn’t get enough of it last weekend, even if my tips can undone by a handful of massive upsets and a mammoth comeback.

This week doesn’t get much easier, with plenty of matches that could go either way – starting with tonight. I was really impressed with how Carlton played for most of their Round 1 loss to Richmond – they matched the reigning premiers for much of the evening, but shot themselves in the foot up forward too many times.

Collingwood’s miserly defence could prove punishing, but their ability to counterattack isn’t anywhere near as threatening. Blues to dominate the game for long stretches, but only get up by under three goals.

Friday night is also intriguing, with last week’s egg-layers facing off in a super important game. I’m not sure who I’m more worried about; Geelong played a better game eventually, but got ambushed and genuinely looked outmatched at times, whereas Brisbane had the Swans chasing their tails when they felt like it – the problem being they only felt like it for five minutes in each of the first two quarters.

The Lions may not have won at Kardinia Park since 2003, but no Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, or (potentially) Sam Menegola means I reckon they’ll catch the Cats at a vulnerable time and steal the points.

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Saturday’s first match went from fizzer to thriller in a hurry and I can’t wait to watch it. Sydney and Adelaide will both be up and about and this is a real toss of the coin. The Crows have an exceptional record at the SCG, but I’ll back the Swans to back up last week’s stunner with a narrow win.

These words are becoming more and more of the ‘famous last’ variety, but Port Adelaide should have no trouble knocking off Essendon, while Gold Coast have a big test against North Melbourne – they need to win by plenty to back Sunday night’s competitive effort in Perth.

I was super impressed with St Kilda getting the job done against the Giants on Sunday despite missing a boatload of their best players. I’m feeling more confident with each week that they’re a force to be reckoned with in 2021 and they should move to 2-0 against the Demons.

By the same token, I was very unimpressed with Greater Western Sydney not getting the job done against a St Kilda side missing a boatload of their best players. I’m feeling less confident with each week they’re a threat in 2021 and they should fall to 0-2 against the Dockers.

I’ll put my money where my mouth is and back the Bulldogs to take the points against an Eagles side I insist are on track to just miss the eight, while Richmond should bring Hawthorn back to earth with a thud in Sunday’s earalier game.

After making Geelong the Shoe-In of the Week last week (putting the boot into them, more accurately), I’ll give the kiss of death to the Power this weekend to crush the Bombers.

Dem Panopoulos

Carlton, Geelong, Sydney, Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Richmond, Western Bulldogs, Fremantle

It’s a pleasure to be part of the tipping panel, if not only to try and provide logic to myself in what is otherwise an illogical activity that preys on our conviction in deeming one team better than another.

Luckily, that first round has us all back down to earth thanks to Adelaide and Sydney deciding to become powerhouses.

As a result, the next few paragraphs are filled with blind optimism in the fact the words, and indeed tips, carry some sort of weight, rather than any genuine guarantees.

So why not start with that old rivalry between the Blues and the Magpies?

The fact both teams lost in Round 1 doesn’t really mean much, unless you subscribe to the coincidental narrative that starting off the season with two losses is almost a death sentence, in which case, this is season-on-the-line stuff.

Zac Williams and Jack Martin are expected to be back for the Blues as at time of writing, while Steele Sidebottom is a chance to play for the Magpies, who probably need all the help they can get. Carlton should win its first game in four years against Collingwood tonight.

The fixturing is really nice to provide us with the two most disappointing teams from the first round playing a primetime game in Geelong. The Cats were shellshocked to start the season and the Lions were just lazy. I’ll tip the team who turned up in the second half last week.

Let’s temper our expectations on the early afternoon game, although the Swans’ and Crows’ kits in Sydney sunshine will be nice to watch. We’ll go with an Isaac Heeney three-voter to lead from the front.

We can rush over the fact Port Adelaide will absolutely dominate Essendon in a standalone Saturday twilight game and move onto a fascinating game.

Some readers may know I am bullish on the Demons this season, despite losing almost all its key forward depth after I announced as much in a piece.

So bullish, that I think they’ll remain undefeated against the Saints – that fitness edge will let Melbourne counter attack all night, thanks to the great work of Steven May, Adam Tomlinson and Jake Lever.

Yes, the Suns will win their first game of the season against North Melbourne, and of course Richmond will be comprehensive in the victory over Hawthorn.

If the Bulldogs or the Eagles get their way, we might see the first ever game with a 100 per cent uncontested possession rate, while all sorts of marking records will be broken. The midfield depth of the home team should be too much for the travelling Eagles, who have a bit to prove with some youth in the squad.

Finally, that Fremantle injury list looks a little daunting until you consider that at most five of the players are best 22, and Pearce and Hamling have been replaced well anyway. It’s a far more daunting prospect for the Giants, who need to travel to Perth and face everyone’s second favourite team, and it should be win number one for the Purple Haze.

Liam Salter

Carlton, Geelong, Sydney, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Gold Coast, Richmond, Western Bulldogs, Fremantle

Before I get started, just lemme put out a PSA: if you successfully tipped either Sydney or Adelaide’s wins, flick me an email at iabsoutelydon’tbelieveyou@gmail.com, because I want to know your secret.

Tonight’s Carlton versus Collingwood game – with its newly confirmed 75 per cent MCG capacity, which you’d predict would be near enough to full – should be a bloody belter. Neither team won last week, though I’d argue the Blues had the more impressive loss (as lame as that sounds). Collingwood’s were flattered by a misfiring Dogs forward line and their forward line is a major concern itself. I can’t see it being a blowout, but the Blues appeal at the moment – and I’ll back them in to win by a couple of goals.

Tomorrow night, a Patrick Dangerfield-less Geelong take on Brisbane at the former’s home ground. Dangerfield, suspended for three weeks, won’t be up against the Neale-led midfield that badly misfired against a young Swans side. Of course, this is a difficult game to predict given last weekend’s results, so I’ll revert to the cheapest tip in the book: the home ground advantage, so Geelong to win.

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The two youth-led upset winners last week, Sydney and Adelaide, coincidentally play each other at the SCG this weekend. The triumphant return of Buddy Franklin is the biggest story this week, which should bolster an unusually high-scoring team last weekend.

The Crows weren’t any less impressive, but – purely because this game is in Sydney – I’m not confident enough tip them again.

For your Saturday night viewing pleasure, the Saints – off the back of a miracle win last week – take on the Demons, who had a vastly more comfortable win themselves. I’m in two minds about the Saints: one, GWS’s struggles probably outshone the Sainter’s win; two, they didn’t let their injury crisis deter them.

Melbourne looked good in their opening win, but I think the Saints spirit will shine through again – and, honestly, I trust them more than the Dees. Saints to win.

Speaking of injury crises, Fremantle’s moved from a horror show to a genuine five-alarm fire, with Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling both succumbing to injury, which is bad news as they prepare to play the Giants.

The Dockers will be buoyed by the game’s Optus Stadium setting, though the Giants will be furious with letting last week’s clash slip. After the Giants’ loss and Freo’s dispiriting performance, it’s difficult to confidently predict either team winning, but I’ll tip Freo because of the home ground factor.

As ever, and even though very little of these worked out last week, there are some ostensibly ‘easier’ games to tip this week. Expect to see the Suns garner a home win against the North Melbourne; Richmond should go 2-0 against the Hawks; the Bulldogs will beat the Eagles in a close one; and Port Adelaide should comfortably beat Essendon – although how predictably funny would it be if the Dons somehow won this?

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