As if it wasn’t enough to be denied my first perfect 9 of the week by a one-point loss, it just HAD to be my Bulldogs on the end of it.

Thanks, Bevo.

My reaction to the loss at the time was actually quite philosophical by my standards – I should have known that would only end in me screaming like Charlton Heston at the end of the original Planet of the Apes movie by Monday night.

Despite my concerns, Round 6 actually turned out to be a relatively straightforward one – unless you chose it as your week to side with a few roughies, in which case it definitely backfired.

Round 7 promises to be more of the same, with a lot of key favourites, the odd interesting clash between sides near the bottom, and one absolute doozy to finish off the round.

Historically, this has been the round where my season has completely gone off the cliff (if it hadn’t already) – so let’s get it over and done with!

Tim Miller (last week: 8)

West Coast, Geelong, Adelaide, Melbourne, St Kilda, Carlton, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane

After Thursday night and public holiday matches aplenty to start 2022, it feels a bit weird to have a round condensed to just three days.

Maybe it’s that which has prompted me to make probably my craziest tip of the week – I just can’t shake the feeling West Coast will start us off with an upset and knock over Richmond at home.

The Eagles have been seriously dire in their last fortnight; while the Tigers haven’t exactly set the world on fire themselves, they’re holding on to their old majesty with a sort of grim determination that’s quite admirable. Nevertheless, the Eagles feel due for a win at home for the first time since Round 19 last year (the same round, as it happens, that Melbourne last lost), and with Jeremy McGovern and Andrew Gaff back in the picture and the Tigers without a swathe of veterans, I’m going out on a limb and giving them my nod.

Because of that, I’m playing Saturday by the numbers. Geelong should be too strong at their Kardinia Park fortress for a Fremantle without Matt Taberner and Sean Darcy; you couldn’t pick GWS on current form against just about anyone, much less a resurgent Adelaide on their home patch; Melbourne could probably beat Hawthorn even if everyone got COVID, the way they’re travelling; and the loss of Marc Pittonet would probably hurt Carlton more if they were playing anyone other than, y’know, North Melbourne. (Though the Roos did smash the Blues last year, so what do I know?)

Ed Curnow dribbles through a beauty in game 200 ????#AFLBluesNorth pic.twitter.com/5FMnKG3xx6

— AFL (@AFL) July 24, 2021

The most interesting game of the day might be St Kilda taking on Port Adelaide. At Marvel Stadium, the Saints would be almost a lock, but up in Cairns, it’s less certain. I’ll back the Saints because I’m a coward, but don’t be surprised to see Port give them a run for their money.

Sunday also offers us plenty of intrigue, with Gold Coast looking to record victories over Collingwood at the MCG for two seasons in a row. Brodie Grundy’s out is a game-changer for the Magpies’ midfield, and while I’ll tip them, Jarrod Witts could easily give a star-studded Suns midfield enough opportunities to win the game for them.

If the Bulldogs could have asked to face anyone this week, they’d probably only have had Essendon behind North and West Coast. The Bombers have had major struggles defending in recent weeks, and in recent times, this match has been a loose, free-flowing game that has suited the Dogs greatly. Put it like this: if the Bulldogs lose, they’re just about cooked.

Finally, the game of the round has been fittingly chosen for the prime time slot of *checks notes* Sunday, 4:40pm? Seriously, guys – we knew Brisbane and Sydney were good when the fixture was made!

I’ve got a weird theory that the Swans are better away from the SCG than at home, where the smaller confines make it easier for teams to curb their speedy midfielders. Losing to the Lions here won’t really help me convince everyone that’s legit, but it’s at least given me a reason to back Brisbane in for what should be an absolute cracker.

I’m tied at the top with The Crowd, so my two roughy picks for the weekend could either give me some badly needed breathing space… or leave me needing to play catch-up tipping for the rest of the year.

Dem Panopoulos (last week: 6)

West Coast, Geelong, Adelaide, Melbourne, St Kilda, Carlton, Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane

Alright, blind decisiveness didn’t work.

This week, we’re going with our gut: and truth be told, I’m hungry for a feast.

A short break for Richmond was always going to see some veterans miss the trip west, with Trent Cotchin and Robbie Tarrant rested. The midfield has really struggled at Tigerland so Cotchin’s absence will tell.

The Eagles were expectedly awful against Port, but maybe we can afford them some leeway? Jeremy McGovern’s back and so is Andrew Gaff. Here’s a stat for you: Richmond haven’t beaten the Eagles in WA since 2014, either. Upset alert.

JK puts the @WestCoastEagles in front! #AFLEaglesTigers pic.twitter.com/EWhkxlcP74

— AFL (@AFL) June 13, 2021

The Dockers are genuine contenders, but will have some key absences. Geelong at GMHBA is a tough obstacle to leap with that in mind.

Are the Crows good? They’re certainly fit and that counts for a lot in 2022, while the Giants are devoid of confidence. I’m playing the percentages with this one, but GWS desperately needs the win and won’t leave anything out there.

The Demons, COVID-hit or not, shouldn’t have an issue covering the Hawks, who are getting by with extraordinary efficiency when inside 50 but chip the ball around way too much to worry the champions.

St Kilda are off to a flyer but have sold this home game to Cazaly’s, where they lost to the Crows last year (who
didn’t score in the first quarter).

They’ve only won one of their last 11 against the Power, but I’m banking on the crazy record with Paddy Ryder in the team to get it right.

Marc Pittonet is clearly more valuable than many people thought to Carlton, but surely they don’t struggle against North even without him? Though watch for Todd Goldstein to wind back the clock as the Roos’ number one ruck after Tristan Xerri’s foot injury ruled him out.

The Magpies and Suns will play a fun contest on Sunday at the MCG. Brodie Grundy’s injury hurts the Magpies, and Jack Bowes could waltz straight back into the Suns team.

They beat Collingwood at the MCG last year and they can do it again.

Is there a game with more at stake than the Bulldogs and Essendon? Both are struggling and would have expected finals; one would think the Bulldogs winning would end the season of the Bombers.

And if I’m locking one result in, it’s Brisbane to beat Sydney. It’s the match of the round, and I think the SCG suits the visitors more than the hosts.

Cameron Rose (last week: 6)

West Coast, Geelong, Adelaide, Melbourne, St Kilda, Carlton, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane

After a couple of losses by a combined 150 points, Friday night gives every indication of a “line in the sand” game for West Coast in Perth against a travelling Richmond outfit that is struggling to put four quarters together. Can they find something against a Tigers that are ripe for the picking?

Geelong v Fremantle has snuck up on us to claim match-of-the-round status, and the Dockers will be relishing the chance to test their mettle at one of the most long-standing home ground advantages in the competition.

There haven’t been too many chinks in the Freo armour so far, but you know the Cats will find anything there is to be found, especially at the Cattery.

Adelaide has all the momentum after two stirring victories, and now get to build more confidence against GWS – and announce themselves as a top-eight smokey in the process.

Taylor Walker becomes the 61st player in VFL/AFL history to kick 500 goals. #AFLDogsCrows pic.twitter.com/br8BxU3424

— AFL (@AFL) April 23, 2022

Melbourne should continue on their merry way against Hawthorn; Carlton get the chance against North Melbourne to bounce back from a poor loss on the road; and St Kilda must be heavily favoured to take out Port up in Cairns, but proved last year that they know how to drop a game up there.

But could the Power have lit the spark after their first win?

Collingwood get a look at what life looks like without Brodie Grundy, ironically against a ruckman they cast off in Jarrod Witts.

The Suns can prove a handful on their day, but picking that day is never easy.

The Dogs are facing a must-win game against Essendon, who looked okay in patches on ANZAC Day. This one could be closer than the odds suggest.

How good is a great Sunday twilight game? We should get one here, with Brisbane taking on Sydney at the SCG.

There might only be room for one of them in the top four at the end of the year, so an eight-point game has come early. I reckon the Lions can get it done.

Liam Salter (last week: 8)

Richmond, Geelong, Adelaide, Melbourne, St Kilda, Carlton, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane

Goddamn it, Crows.

For the second week in a row, Adelaide let my tipping down with a surprise win and prevented me going 9/9. I’m hunting for that elusive full sweep, but it might not be this round – it ultimately seems a worryingly simple week to tip, and that should make everybody nervous.

West Coast hosting Richmond probably sounded rather good when the fixture was organised, but in reality it isn’t an ideal Friday night clash.

The Eagles inspire little confidence, while Richmond are super inconsistent. I’ll go the Tiges.

Geelong host Freo first thing Saturday. The in-form Dockers typically produce wacky results at Kardinia Park, but injury concerns mount and the Cats are forever difficult to beat at home. I’ll be crossing my fingers for an upset, but backing Chris Scott’s outfit is the way to go. 

It’s tough to go past Adelaide’s form of late. Given I’ve been punished for not backing them the past fortnight, the Giants’ horrible form this season simply amplifies the irresistibility of tipping the Crows at home and the inevitability of Leon Cameron’s departure.

As for Melbourne and Hawthorn, as much as I’ve liked the Hawks of late (bar a significant final-term failure last week), not even COVID dramas are budging me from a near-instantaneous tip of the premiers whenever and wherever they play. 

Three goals for Weids ????#AFLTigersDees pic.twitter.com/gBngAaRtUd

— AFL (@AFL) April 24, 2022

I’ve never understood why the Saints play up in Cairns occasionally, but I’m slowly understanding they’re a more mature, better side than last year – one wholly capable of beating the Power and one I’m backing to do so (sorry, Ken, a massive win against the Eagles does not impress me enough to back your boys for two on the trot).

Carlton finishes a stacked Saturday hosting the Kangaroos, and will win with ease. I think. I’m really not sure with Carlton anymore, though, especially without Marc Pittonet in the ruck. 

Two-thirds of Sunday is very meh. The Suns fly to Melbourne to play the Pies, two hours before the Dogs host the Dons. I’m oddly getting a feel of an upset from both these clashes; the Suns’ crap record at the MCG, though, leans me Collingwood’s way, and Essendon’s pure untrustworthiness frightens me too much.

However, we’re in for a treat to conclude the round. Sydney and Brisbane are both flying, both very offensively potent, and both potentially the most logical heir-apparent (at this stage) to Melbourne’s premiership reign.

This is truly a flip-a-coin clash. I’m going to back Brisbane – I just trust them a smidgen more than I do the Swans. 

Round 7	Tim	Dem	Cam	Liam	Crowd
WCE vs RCH	WCE	WCE	WCE	RCH	RCH
GEE vs FRE	GEE	GEE	GEE	GEE	GEE
ADE vs GWS	ADE	ADE	ADE	ADE	ADE
MEL vs HAW	MEL	MEL	MEL	MEL	MEL
STK vs PA	STK	STK	STK	STK	STK
CAR vs NM	CAR	CARL	CAR	CAR	CAR
COL vs GCS	COL	GCS	COL	COL	COL
WB vs ESS	WB	WB	WB	WB	WB
SYD vs BL	BL	BL	BL	BL	SYD
ROLLING SCORE	38	32	30	34	38

Multi tip from PlayUp: 

Leg 1. Richmond H2H @ $1.55

Leg 2. Geelong H2H @ $1.37

Leg 3. Collingwood H2H @ $1.48

Leg 4. Western Bulldogs H2H @ $1.41

Total – $4.43

Good luck this weekend. Be sure to check out the great odds and the new same game Multi-feature at PlayUp. Please gamble responsibly.