PREVIEW OF AFL ROUND 16 MATCHES (all times AEST)
FRIDAY, July 5
Hawthorn v Collingwood at MCG, 7.50pm
Head to Head: Hawks 67 Magpies 97 drawn 0
Last clash: Round 1, 2018 – Hawks 15.11 (101) bt Magpies 9.13 (67) at MCG
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley was furious following his side’s limp 44-point loss to North Melbourne last week, criticising their lack of intensity. Hawthorn’s finals hopes appear over following four straight losses, with inaccurate goalkicking costing them dearly in last week’s six-point loss to West Coast.
Key: Collingwood’s desire. The Magpies have been off the boil in recent weeks, but Buckley’s rocket might fire them into action.
Tip: Magpies by 29
SATURDAY, July 6
Essendon v Sydney at MCG, 1.45pm
Head to Head: Bombers 131 Swans/South Melbourne 89 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 8 2019 – Swans 11.11 (77) bt Bombers 10.12 (72) at SCG
The Bombers used a get-out-of-jail-free card in last week’s six-point win over GWS, with the result reviving their finals hopes. Sydney have won three in a row to move to within a win of eighth spot.
Key: The ruck mystery. Both sides will enter this match missing their No.1 ruckman. Which midfield will cope better?
Tip: Bombers by 21
Gold Coast v Richmond at Metricon Stadium, 2.10pm
Head to Head: Suns 3 Tigers 5 drawn 0
Last clash: Round 21 2018 – Tigers 19.11 (125) bt Suns 7.9 (51) at Metricon Stadium
The reinforcements are arriving thick and fast for Richmond, and they made the most of it with a 33-point win over St Kilda last week. Richmond’s percentage is poor, and they need a big win over a Suns outfit that have lost 10 in a row.
Key: Can Gold Coast avoid another second-half slumber? The late fadeouts have cost them dearly this season.
Tip: Tigers by 27
Adelaide v Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, 4.35pm
Head to Head: Crows 24 Power 22 drawn 0
Last clash: Round 8, 2019 – Crows 13.10 (88) bt Power 9.14 (68) at Adelaide Oval
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley told his players to harden up in the wake of last week’s 25-point loss to the Bulldogs. Adelaide lost to Geelong by 27 points last week in a game where they lost the inside 50m count 63-40.
Key: Eddie Betts bounce back. The mercurial forward went goalless from nine disposals last week. He’ll be hungry for a big game.
Tip: Crows by 8 points
Western Bulldogs v Geelong at Marvel Stadium, 7.25pm
Head to Head: Bulldogs 56 Cats 102 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 9 2019 – Cats 21.7 (133) bt Bulldogs 13.11 (89) at GMHBA Stadium
Geelong rebounded from their shock loss to Port Adelaide with a comfortable 27-point win over Adelaide. The Bulldogs kept their slight finals hopes alive with a 25-point win over the Power. Geelong have won 16 of their past 18 matches against the Bulldogs.
Key: Stopping Tim Kelly. The Geelong midfielder has been in hot form this season, and looms as the key figure in this match.
Tip: Cats by 34
Fremantle v West Coast at Optus Stadium, 8.10pm
Head to Head: Eagles 29 Dockers 20 drawn 0
Last clash: Round 4, 2019 – Eagles 10.9 (69) bt Dockers 7.14 (56) at Optus Stadium
Fremantle conceded four goals in the last six minutes to slump to a shock four-point loss to Carlton last week. West Coast notched a six-point win over Hawthorn courtesy of a late snap from Jamie Cripps. West Coast will be aiming for their ninth straight derby win.
Key: Nic Naitanui v Aaron Sandilands. The battle between two of the great modern-day ruckmen will go a long way to deciding this one.
Tip: Eagles by 21 points
SUNDAY, July 7
Carlton v Melbourne at MCG, 1.10pm
Head to Head: Blues 118 Demons 92 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 9, 2018 – Demons 25.9 (159) bt Blues 7.8 (50) at MCG
The fairytale revival under David Teague continued last week when Carlton produced a famous four-point upset win over Fremantle. That result has been tempered by the loss of Charlie Curnow to a knee injury. Melbourne fought hard in last week’s 33-point loss to Brisbane before being blown away in the final quarter.
Key: Ruck battle. The showdown between Melbourne’s Max Gawn and Carlton’s Matthew Kreuzer should be a ripper.
Tip: Demons by 2 points
North Melbourne v St Kilda at Blundstone Arena, 3.20pm
Head to Head: Kangaroos 79 Saints 78 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 23, 2018 – Kangaroos 17.15 (117) bt Saints 14.10 (94) at Marvel Stadium.
North Melbourne are just a game outside of eighth spot following four wins from their past five matches. Their 44-point demolition of Collingwood last week was breathtakingly brutal. St Kilda need a win to ease the pressure on coach Alan Richardson.
Key: Intensity. If the Kangaroos can bring the same intensity from last week, it’s hard to see how any side can stop them.
Tip: Kangaroos by 29 points
Greater Western Sydney v Brisbane at Giants Stadium, 4.40pm
Head to Head: Giants 6 Lions 2 drawn 0
Last clash: Round 14, 2018 – Giants 16.13 (109) bt Lions 12.10 (82) at the Gabba.
The Giants need to win this one to make up for their late fadeout to Essendon last week. Brisbane are shaping as the feel-good story of 2019, and a win here would see them leapfrog GWS into the top four. The Giants have lost ruckman Shane Mumford for this one.
Key: Lachie Neale has been in hot form this year, and GWS need to find a way to curb the star Lions midfielder.
Tip: Lions by 5 points
