The Roar’s AFL skilled ideas and predictions, Spherical 24: Three does not go into two

When you’re a Carlton, Fremantle or Western Bulldogs supporter, then be warned: you’re in for a hectic few days.

The AFL’s rigorously crafted remaining spherical fixture has had its desired consequence, with the destiny of the eight going proper all the way down to the wire with three video games back-to-back on Sunday to determine which two of these three groups will dwell to battle one other day in probably the most open finals sequence in lots of a yr… and who can have their hearts ripped out in entrance of all the nation.

That’s, until Hawthorn someway contrive to lose to North Melbourne on Saturday. Stranger issues have occurred, proper?

However the battle for September isn’t the one drama set to take centre stage this weekend: Port Adelaide and GWS can even be vying to safe second spot and a house qualifying remaining on Sunday – and so they’ll know full properly whether or not Geelong, as anticipated, have bullied West Coast on Saturday to shut the share hole and make a loss a dangerous endeavour.

And whereas they’re all however protected within the eight, Brisbane face Essendon figuring out {that a} third consecutive loss for the one-time flag favourites would thrust them into away elimination remaining territory – the stakes merely couldn’t be greater.

For one remaining time within the home-and-away season, we ask the query: who wins?

Tim Miller

Final week: 5

Collingwood, Geelong, Richmond, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Fremantle

Perhaps it’s simply the stress of a protracted, painful season for us tipsters, or possibly the agonising wait to see if my crew goes to let me down once more on Sunday afternoon, however I’m going utterly rogue with my ideas this week.

Having watched them lose abysmally to West Coast and Melbourne within the final three weeks, and solely beat Essendon because of a kick after the siren, it appears to me like Gold Coast have shut up store – and with Richmond getting the prospect to farewell some legends on a Saturday afternoon on the MCG, the Tigers would possibly simply journey the wave of emotion to an upset win (not that I’m assured in any respect in them).

In an analogous vein, an Adelaide outfit enjoying affordable footy of late takes on a Sydney outfit with completely nothing to play for. High spot is secured, and whereas at time of writing we don’t know whether or not the Swans will relaxation anybody, it appears extra possible than not. Plus, I don’t suppose the Swans are enjoying ok footy to be a protected wager right here even when they’d one thing on the road.

I’m not daft sufficient, nonetheless, to again related upsets for Geelong or Brisbane towards West Coast and Essendon respectively; the one query with the Cats is whether or not they’ll enhance their proportion by sufficient to problem Port or GWS for second or third, and certainly, certainly the Lions can’t kick themselves out of a THIRD sport in a row towards inferior opposition… proper?

Hawthorn, too, ought to rack up an enormous rating towards a North Melbourne outfit counting down the times till a season of promise with out nice outcomes is finished; whereas on Friday evening, Collingwood and Melbourne is a frightfully robust sport to tip (and a disgrace for followers of the finals wildcard spherical, given this might be a correct win-and-you’re-in blockbuster if that have been occurring this yr). Pies for me simply because their velocity ought to be an excessive amount of for a Dees crew which had their assertion win on the Gold Coast final week.

And so we come to Sunday, the place logic tells me that at the least one in all our three finals hopefuls will slip up.

I’ve spent all week dreading it being the Bulldogs, and I nonetheless consider the three they’re the likeliest to overlook out… however with a lot on the road, you possibly can’t choose towards your individual crew! A powerful file in Ballarat doesn’t assuage my nerves in any respect, although, given the Giants are 1-0 down there – I’ve simply acquired to hope a loss right here gained’t be as devastating because the one final yr the place the Bulldogs have been overrun from six objectives up.

I’ve a suspicion Port Adelaide, after the brutal depth and excessive feelings of the Showdown, are due a come down, with their top-four place locked up. No Dan Houston doesn’t assist, both. Put it this fashion: if Freo have something to play for by the point this match begins, they’ll win.

Final however not least, sandwiched in the course of the Sunday motion, we’ve acquired Carlton. A stronger facet to the one which butchered the Eagles is probably going, however so too is that St Kilda will put up far more of a battle.

With no house floor benefit to separate them, this sport is about as robust to choose as every other on this loopy season. However as a result of I’m sticking with the Canines and comparatively assured in Freo at house, and I stated earlier that at the least ONE of the Sunday trio would slip up… that leaves me with no different selection than to again within the Saints.

Nice information for Blues followers, I’m positive, contemplating how my tipping has gone this yr.

Toby Greene. (Picture by Graham Denholm/Getty Photographs)

Dem Panopoulos

Final week: 4

Collingwood, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Sydney, GWS, St Kilda, Fremantle

Flipping issues didn’t work out too properly final week so we’ll wind it again to a standard strategy for the ultimate spherical of the home-and-away season, and hopefully get a couple of ideas proper.

What’s normally a mega-clash is solely a contest between two depleted groups this Friday evening, with Melbourne and Collingwood not having a lot to play for. The Magpies themselves in all probability have barely extra incentive to win regardless that they’re unlikely to stand up the ladder, given their first choose goes throughout to Fremantle; I’m utilizing that as sufficient motivation to tip them.

Clearly, the AFL has determined that should you’re going to be out of the home and unable to look at footy, Saturday is the most effective time to do it. Geelong will safe the highest 4 spot with the victory over West Coast, whereas the Tigers farewell some retiring legends and, inevitably, a few of their greatest energetic gamers who’ll be departing as properly.

Perhaps Damien Hardwick needs to wind again the clock and truly win one other sport on the MCG. Suns right here.

The Hawks are nigh on unstoppable in Tasmania, and can head into finals with all of the momentum after one other victory over North Melbourne this week.

As for Saturday evening, the Bombers have inevitably been an enormous letdown in 2024, but they’ll end the season round the place most of us anticipated them to be. Constructive criticism is important, sure, and the Heppell debacle in all probability sums all of it up, however this isn’t a misplaced season for them in any respect. A heavy loss to Brisbane ought to carry the curtain down – dangerous luck, Dyson.

If the Swans need to begin off one other sport poorly, then it’s onerous to belief them in finals. Their conflict with Adelaide is a troublesome one, given I’ve refused to vary my flag tip since final October. Play higher early, Sydney.

Sunday’s the massive day. The Bulldogs’ finals spot is on the road towards GWS, who face a quest for a house qualifying remaining. Clearly, it’s such a hazard sport for the house crew, and the need to separate Rory Lobb and Sam Darcy within the ruck is a little more impactful right here than towards North Melbourne given how harmful GWS’ assault has been.

I believe the Canines can be the higher likelihood at profitable the flag, however the Giants can get the job finished on the day.

What number of gamers do the Blues get again? Does this high-scoring St Kilda crew hold going? That is actually onerous, however I believe I’m nonetheless leaning in the direction of the Saints getting it finished and actually attacking what has been a disappointing Blues defensive construction.

Lastly, sure, I’m tipping Fremantle once more; and sure, I nonetheless have them decently positioned in my premiership rankings.

Patrick Cripps celebrates a aim. (Picture by Quinn Rooney/Getty Photographs)

Cameron Rose

Final week: 5

Collingwood, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Sydney, GWS, St Kilda, Port Adelaide

There’s all the time a sense that the final spherical of any season can produce uncommon outcomes, whether or not there may be any fact to it or not.

However it might take one thing extraordinary for any of the Cats, Suns, Hawks, Lions or Swans to get finished this week, which makes for a very boring Saturday.

Melbourne v Collingwood can be a sluggish begin to the spherical, with each groups out of finals competition. The Demons at the least have a car-crash high quality to them in the intervening time, given their off-field disarray.

The Giants can have two house finals to play for towards the Bulldogs on Sunday in Ballarat. They’ve quietly amassed seven wins in a row, to be peaking on the proper time of yr, and ought to be favourites right here.

The Saints have hit slightly patch of type, albeit two wins in a row is kind of profitable just for a membership that has gained one premiership in its unhappy historical past. They might end the season on a ‘excessive’ and provides their followers false hope for an additional low season – and fairly presumably wreck Carlton’s September dream.

The match of the spherical is the final one. Fremantle have confirmed to be frauds, as is normally the case with them, shedding three video games in a row after being perched third on the ladder after Spherical 21. Fancy shedding to Essendon after being 5 objectives up within the final quarter.

Port will win this one, no matter whether or not the Dockers can nonetheless make finals or not.

Liam Salter

Final week: 6

Collingwood, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Sydney, GWS, Carlton, Port Adelaide

Simply pure, unadulterated footy – with every part on the road.

Needs to be enjoyable. Or anxiety-inducing. Or each?

The actual essential stuff begins on Sunday, however Friday evening’s opener is headline-worthy sufficient. Not that many seen, however the Demons acquired a relieving win over the Suns after a tumultuous few weeks – column inches means that though they’ve re-signed Max Gawn and Jack Viney, Kysaiah Pickett could also be leaving now – and would love to complete the season with a win towards the Pies.

The Magpies resumed peak-2023 type by incomes a miracle win over Brisbane final week, however they’ll want their largest miracle but to make finals – which is to say, it ain’t occurring, although they’ll earn the 4 factors right here.

Saturday is chock-a-block filled with intrigue. Dealing with what stays a basically dangerous West Coast at house, the Cats have the within observe to the double likelihood – there ain’t no manner they’ll capitulate at house to the Eagles, proper?

The Lions have a harder conflict, internet hosting the mathematically-eliminated Bombers, which actually makes me hesitate. I’ll again the hosts to bounce again, however… this might be very, very humorous.

And to re-ignite final yr’s Ben Keays definitely-a-goal controversy, the Swans will certainly lock in high spot over the Crows.

To throw a smidgen of enjoyable into the race for the spoon, the Tigers might drag themselves off the underside of the ladder. Right here’s the equation: the Hawks will win by lots towards North, which implies the Tigers merely must beat the Suns (and add a couple of objectives for proportion) – easy!

It’s a lot much less black and white in actuality – although the Suns have apparent troubles travelling, I’m confident-ish they’ll beat the worst crew within the league.

After which all of it – actually – comes all the way down to Sunday.

The primary piece of the puzzle is Ballarat’s conflict, with the league’s most underrated rivalry. My disclaimer right here is the Canines are exceptionally tough to tip – significantly, there’s no rhyme or rhythm to this freaking membership. That makes a troublesome tip harder: the Canines’ greatest is silly good, however the Giants have been in very good type. Coin flip: Giants. 

Much less of a coin flip now the Blues have found even a makeshift ahead line works, they need to have the ability to lock in finals. The Saints gained’t be easybeats just like the Eagles (the Cats know that) however that is the best of Sunday’s three video games in my eyes – the Blues have this.

Ending us off, no Josh Treacy (once more) might be a remaining dagger to the hearts of Freo followers – if we had hearts left after the final three weeks.  Port are peaking on the proper time, averted stepping on a rake with final week’s Showdown win, and can nonetheless have high two as a viable likelihood.

If, like I’ve tipped, the Giants win earlier within the day, the Dockers can have every part to play for, however Port is hard. 

Name it reverse psychology, name it realism – the Energy ought to sneak this one. I’ll simply snigger.

Ollie Wines. (Picture by Paul Kane/Getty Photographs)

Spherical 24	Tim	Dem	Cam	Liam	Crowd
MEL vs COL	COL	COL	COL	COL	?
GEE vs WCE	GEE	GEE	GEE	GEE	?
RCH vs GCS	RCH	GCS	GCS	GCS	?
HAW vs NM	HAW	HAW	HAW	HAW	?
BL vs ESS	BL	BL	BL	BL	?
SYD vs ADE	ADE	SYD	SYD	SYD	?
WB vs GWS	WB	GWS	GWS	GWS	?
CAR vs STK	STK	STK	STK	CAR	?
FRE vs PA	FRE	FRE	PA	PA	?
LAST WEEK	5	4	5	6	5
ROLLING TOTAL	117	125	120	113	121