It’s Dreamtime time!
The most effective nights on the footy calendar is upon us as Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Spherical enters its second week – however for the primary time shortly, Essendon and Richmond’s battle on the MCG received’t be high billing. In actual fact, given the Tigers’ woes, it is likely to be the least fascinating sport from a footy perspective of the weekend.
This looks like a spherical that lulls you right into a false sense of tipping safety earlier than touchdown upset after upset. The Bulldogs, for instance, are a dwell probability of toppling the white-hot Sydney on Thursday night time, whereas Collingwood head west to face Fremantle as underdogs, which they’ll little doubt relish.
GWS’ journey to Geelong and West Coast heading to Adelaide Oval to face the Crows are additionally matches primed for boilovers, whereas Hawthorn are 4-0 over Brisbane since COVID, regardless of making zero finals sequence to the Lions’ 4. Can they hold that streak going?
North Melbourne may additionally undoubtedly upset Port Ade… yeah, okay, that is likely to be pushing it too far.
Tim Miller
Final week: 7
Sydney, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Carlton, GWS, Essendon, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide
It’s at all times the hope that will get you, however I’ll be heading to Marvel Stadium on Thursday night time with an actual sense of optimism that the Bulldogs can do what solely *checks notes* – wait, RICHMOND have executed this yr? – and take down the Swans.
It received’t be simple – Sydney are premiership favourites for a purpose, and completely flying in the mean time – so I’m not courageous sufficient to tip my very own staff, however may the Swans be due a loss?
The toughest sport of the spherical, no less than for us professional tippers, is Friday night time’s conflict between Fremantle and Collingwood out west. I’m exceedingly nervous about backing the Dockers, particularly as I’m out on an island with the opposite guys tipping the Pies, however one have a look at the black and white harm record, in addition to at Freo’s robust midfield, residence floor benefit, completely affordable kind and Collingwood’s jailbreak win over Adelaide makes me extra comfy. And Freo are favourites in any case.
Two simultaneous video games beginning at 1:45pm Saturday no less than means we will ignore Port beating up on North Melbourne in Tassie, and as an alternative regulate what ought to be an interesting Carlton-Gold Coast conflict. The Blues have soft-tissue accidents in all places, however I nonetheless again them greater than I do the Suns wherever south of the Tweed.
Geelong-GWS guarantees to be a ripper: the Giants have as robust a file at GMHBA Stadium as anybody, and with the Cats starting to decelerate drastically and GWS’ midfield far, far stronger, I’m going to again an upset. Hey, I’m far sufficient behind the others on this competitors already – I have to do one thing.
For the primary time in ages, Dreamtime on the ‘G feels prefer it may very well be ugly. It’s such an ideal night time for causes exterior soccer, however the precise sport itself has been actually entertaining for some time now. This received’t be – with Richmond scarcely capable of discipline a staff and the Bombers excessive on perception, it’s Essendon by how far.
Sunday has its share of fascinating video games – I’m backing Brisbane to knock over Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium regardless of the Hawks, and I can’t actually consider this, having received 4 straight over the Lions courting again to Spherical 1, 2020. This sport being at Docklands and never the MCG or in Launceston is an enormous purpose for my confidence.
Melbourne are mainly St Kilda however with a considerably higher midfield – neither aspect are taking pictures the lights out in the mean time, however the Saints misplaced this 9 years in the past once they selected to not choose Christian Petracca. Dees for me.
And to shut out the spherical, I give West Coast a sneaky probability of upsetting an Izak Rankine-less Adelaide: however pretty much as good as they’ve checked out Optus Stadium in latest occasions, their credentials on the highway are far much less safe. I’m not backing them, however I wouldn’t fault you should you had extra religion.
Essendon gamers rejoice their Dreamtime on the ‘G victory over Richmond. (Picture by Dylan Burns/AFL Pictures through Getty Pictures)
Dem Panopoulos
Final week: 6
Sydney, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Carlton, Geelong, Essendon, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide
It’s the ultimate week earlier than we spend a month and not using a full set of fixtures as groups get their mid-season break.
The controversy relating to whether or not video games go on for too lengthy has come up once more and particularly, was sparked by Thursday night time’s Gold Coast-Geelong sport. In case your argument goes to come back after 41 objectives have been scored, the rarest of occurrences, it is likely to be value retaining a bit quiet.
I doubt that can be a lot of a problem in Thursday night time’s sport, as defence is the secret between two in-form groups in Sydney and the Western Bulldogs. A lot to the Canines’ credit score, they’ve sat up just like the Undertaker after a kicking out simply earlier than the three rely and pulled off an enormous win final week. This, although, is their greatest check, with it being the primary time in a bit they’ll play an precise flag risk.
The Swans are the favourites, however their defence continues to be a bit undersized for the three-headed monster of Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy. That is genuinely exhausting – I’ll go Sydney simply to keep away from the chance of failure by the hands of Luke Beveridge.
Collingwood have labored into this season properly and it feels their ground-level offensive sport can no less than be a brand new look to present Fremantle’s dominant defence, difficult them otherwise and getting them the victory.
Port Adelaide have performed two good quarters of footy in a fortnight and sit in fourth place – it’s that form of season. They bully horrible opponents, and can be doing the identical to North Melbourne.
At time of writing, we don’t know if Jacob Weitering is match to play or not for Carlton in opposition to Gold Coast It’s an enormous swing issue, however I’ll assume he’s okay and tip the Blues to halt their dropping streak as a result of they’re merely not as unhealthy as 10th spot.
Fascinating video games proceed to be performed within the Saturday twilight spot, sadly, so eyes received’t be glued to Geelong’s date with GWS. Each have heaps to show, however I’m leaning barely in direction of the house staff.
The ‘lower than 20 objective prediction’ for the Tigers final week was fairly correct. We’ll go together with a 40-point buffer right here for the Bombers in Dreamtime on the ‘G.
Each the Hawks and the Lions have wonderful latest data at Marvel Stadium, so the query is whether or not Hawthorn could make it 5 in a row in opposition to the reigning grand finalists. The suspension of Eric Hipwood in all probability helps Brisbane, so we’ll go them.
Lastly, Melbourne to beat St Kilda, whereas extra respect ought to be placed on the title of the Eagles. They received’t win this one in opposition to the Crows in Adelaide, however they’ve turned the nook.
Sydney’s Tom Papley. (Picture by Matt King/AFL Pictures/through Getty Pictures)
Cameron Rose
Final week: 7
Sydney, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Carlton, Geelong, Essendon, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide.
It’s inconceivable to tip in opposition to Sydney in the mean time, and equally inconceivable to tip any of North, Richmond and St Kilda, whereas Hawthorn and West Coast lookup in opposition to it this week – albeit the Hawks have a great file over the Lions.
Will they lose confidence from final week’s calamity in opposition to Port, or will it gas their steely resolve?
Collingwood have historically been a great travelling staff, and I believe they will take Fremantle out. The Dockers have dropped two of their final three at Optus Stadium, too.
Gold Coast appear like world-beaters up in Darwin, however have put in some very strange performances on the highway this yr – they need to be taking it to an undermanned Carlton this week excessive on confidence, however can’t be trusted.
Liam Salter
Final week: 6
Sydney, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Carlton, Geelong, Essendon, Brisbane, Melbourne, West Coast
Are the Bulldogs again, or simply stay frustratingly inconsistent? Tomorrow night time’s encounter with Sydney will go a good distance in direction of answering simply that.
Besides the reply’s moderately easy: the Swans are in ominous kind, and I’ve little-to-no religion within the Doggies.
Remaining an enigma are Fremantle, who bounced again final week however face a considerably sterner check on Friday night time in opposition to Collingwood – spoiler alert, this can be a ‘tip in opposition to my staff however hope for the perfect’ form of sport.
The Queensland groups cherished a objective (or twenty-two) final weekend, however face two disparate challenges this weekend. I’m backing the Blues in Saturday’s twilight sport, but when the Suns’ midfield can match them, significantly if Carlton’s harm disaster doesn’t abate, they’re each probability of an upset. In the meantime, the Lions will have to be cautious of Hawthorn’s competitiveness – it’ll be a great signal for Sam Mitchell’s males to again up final week’s heartbreaker with a robust residence efficiency – however have seemingly discovered their mojo.
Two premiership contenders, neither having received since April, conflict at GMHBA Stadium in a Saturday arvo blockbuster. The Cats are ostensibly favourites (and my tip), however this conflict has given me pause: this might l be a hell of a press release for the Giants to make.
And talking of statements, Harley Reid and 21 different blokes will go to Adelaide to tackle the Crows, aiming to take advantage of the Crows deep inconsistency and earn a 3rd win from six video games – to hell with it, they’ll do it.
Breezing via the rest of the weekend, Port shouldn’t have any issues in Tasmania in opposition to North, regardless of the Kangas sticking with Essendon for a short while final weekend; it’s the Bombers by lots after which some in opposition to the wounded Tigers within the Dreamtime conflict; and whereas the Demons had been completely outgunned final week, the Saints are so uninspiringly ‘meh’ they’re inconceivable to tip.
Brody Mihocek. (Picture by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Pictures)
| Spherical 11 | Tim | Dem | Cam | Liam | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WB vs SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | ? |
| FRE vs COL | FRE | COL | COL | COL | ? |
| NM vs PA | PA | PA | PA | PA | ? |
| CAR vs GCS | CAR | CAR | CAR | CAR | ? |
| GEE vs GWS | GWS | GEE | GEE | GEE | ? |
| RCH vs ESS | ESS | ESS | ESS | ESS | ? |
| HAW vs BL | BL | BL | BL | BL | ? |
| MEL vs STK | MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL | ? |
| ADE vs WCE | ADE | ADE | ADE | WCE | ? |
| LAST WEEK | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| ROLLING TOTAL | 52 | 57 | 56 | 56 | 58 |
