PREVIEW OF REMAINING AFL ROUND-14 MATCHES (all times AEST):
FRIDAY, June 23
Sydney v Essendon at SCG, 7.50pm
Head to Head: Swans 86 Bombers 130 Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 7, 2016 – Swans 20.15 (135) bt Bombers 7.12 (54) SCG
Tab Sportsbet odds: Swans $1.40 Bombers $3.00
William Hill: Swans $1.40 Bombers $2.90
The Swans are building up a serious head of steam, with last weekend’s successful escape job against Richmond the fifth win in their past six games. But they have had to find a replacement for feisty Zak Jones, who finally ran out of chances at the match review panel and was suspended for a week. The bye might well have come came at a good time for the older members of the Bombers’ squad, particularly those who were forcibly sidelined for the 2016 campaign. Essendon key forward Cale Hooker will miss the match after dislocating a finger at training.
Key: Lance Franklin just loves playing Essendon. The Sydney superstar averages almost five goals per game against the Bombers across his stellar career.
Tip: Swans by 18 points.
SATURDAY, June 24
Collingwood v Port Adelaide at MCG, 1.45pm
Head to Head: Magpies 14 Power 13
Last clash: Round 11, 2016 – Power 19.11 (125) bt Magpies 7.16 (58) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Magpies $2.15 Power $1.70
William Hill: Magpies $2.07 Power $1.75
Port Adelaide can go a long way towards shoring up their spot in the top four with victory against a Collingwood side playing better than their 5-7 win-loss record suggests. The Power boast the No.2-ranked attack in the competition and the second-stingiest defence, so they are doing a lot right. The Pies are boosted by the returns of premiership-winning pair Ben Reid and Tyson Goldsack.
Key: There have been few more-impressive ruckmen in the competition this year than Paddy Ryder and Brodie Grundy. It could well be a battle royale between the pair.
Tip: Power by 22 points.
Brisbane v Greater Western Sydney at Gabba, 4.35pm
Head to Head: Lions 2 Giants 3
Last clash: Round 17, 2016 – Giants 22.14 (146) bt Lions 9.13 (67) at Gabba
Tab Sportsbet: Lions $5.30 Giants $1.16
William Hill: Lions $5.75 Giants $1.14
The Lions have three highly ranked midfielders in Dayne Beams, Dayne Zorko and Tom Rockliff. The Giants have considerably more than three and boast similar numerical advantages in top-line personnel at both ends of the ground. That’s this contest in a nutshell. Star Giant Josh Kelly has been under an injury cloud but has ben named.
Key: Milestone man Heath Shaw has reinvented himself at GWS. How Lions coach Chris Fagan would love having someone like the 250-gamer marshalling his young defensive unit.
Tip: Giants by 39 points.
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm
Head to Head: Bulldogs 78 Kangaroos 77 Drawn 3
Last clash: Round 4, 2017 – Bulldogs 12.17 (89) bt Kangaroos 12.14 (86) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Bulldogs $1.45 Kangaroos $2.75
William Hill: Bulldogs $1.47 Kangaroos $2.65
Both teams will look to bounce back from poor losses last weekend at this venue. The Kangaroos were outclassed by St Kilda, while the Bulldogs were thumped by the Demons. The Dogs look a shadow of the team who won last year’s flag in thrilling fashion. But skipper Bob Murphy insists there is no truth to the rumours of player infighting at the Kennel. The Roos recalled Majak Daw, Jamie Macmillan and Andrew Swallow for the clash.
Key: It’s been a torrid couple of weeks for 2016 Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen. The best way for the Bulldogs’ flier to avoid the prospect of being sat on every week is to prove he can break a tight tag.
Tip: Bulldogs by 10 points.
West Coast v Melbourne at Domain Stadium, 7.40pm
Head to Head: Eagles 33 Demons 15
Last clash: Round 18, 2016 – Eagles 10.6 (66) bt Demons 8.12 (60) at Domain Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Eagles $1.48 Demons $2.65
William Hill: Eagles $1.42 Demons $2.85
The Demons will be much stronger for the return from injury of All Australian ruckman Max Gawn, even though fill-in Cam Pedersen has been so effective that coach Simon Goodwin has also guaranteed him a spot in the line-up. The Eagles will need to make do without two-time Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy for at least one more week. Gawn returns to the line-up with Billy Stretch, with Jack Watts (hamstring) and Nathan Jones (quad) out.
Key: It’s taken a good season-and-a-half, but Lewis Jetta is producing the sort of hard-running, high-quality footy the Eagles expected when they prised him away from Sydney.
Tip: Eagles by 10 points.
SUNDAY, June 25
Geelong v Fremantle at Simonds Stadium, 1.10pm
Head to Head: Cats 24 Dockers 12
Last clash: Round 1, 2017 – Cats 18.7 (115) bt Dockers 10.13 (73) at Domain Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Cats $1.12 Dockers $6.25
William Hill: Cats $1.15 Dockers $5.50
Shapes as something of a mismatch, with Geelong strengthened by the return of spearhead Tom Hawkins from suspension and tall utility Mark Blicavs from a one-game spell. Nakia Cockatoo is out with a hamstring injury, but the Cats have named Scott Selwood, giving him every chance to throw off his own hamstring issue. Fit-again Hayden Ballantyne is one of six additions to the Dockers’ extended squad.
Key: Despite the recruitment of former Cat Shane Kersten and ex-Giant Cam McCarthy, the Dockers continue to struggle to kick winning scores. Where will their goals come from at Simonds Stadium?
Tip: Cats by 42 points.
Richmond v Carlton at MCG, 3.20pm
Head to Head: Tigers 90 Blues 125 Drawn 2
Last clash: Round 1, 2017 – Tigers 20.12 (132) bt Blues 14.5 (89) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Tigers $1.45 Blues $2.75
William Hill: Tigers $1.47 Blues $2.70
After another final-quarter capitulation against Sydney, all hell could break lose next week at Punt Rd if the Tigers come up short again against their bitter rivals. Dustin Martin, well below his explosive best against the Swans, has been backed to bounce back hard by coach Damien Hardwick. One of the unlikely heroes of the Blues’ two most-recent wins has been reinvented defender Liam Jones, who is set to get the big job on Jack Riewoldt.
Key: Richmond’s strong suit in 2017 has been their back six, where the likes of Alex Rance, David Astbury, Bachar Houli and Dylan Grimes are all enjoying standout years. They really should have the measure of the lowest-scoring team in the league.
Tip: Tigers by 28 points.
St Kilda v Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm
Head to Head: Saints 5 Suns 4
Last clash: Round 15, 2016 – Suns 15.18 (108) bt Saints 8.20 (68) at Domain Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Saints $1.25 Suns $4.00
William Hill: Saints $1.24 Suns $4.00
St Kilda arrested a three-game losing slump in some style last weekend by putting North Melbourne to the sword. But that result will count for nothing if the 10th-placed Saints can’t find a way past Gold Coast. Being on the Gold Coast for the past seven years, it’s easy to forget just how great a footballer Gary Ablett still is. The occasion of his 300th match might well provide the stage for the little master to deliver a timely reminder.
Key: Nick Riewoldt says his priority is playing finals this year, not worrying about whether he goes on for one more season in 2018. Even at 34, it takes a very fit opponent to go head to head with the Saints’ legend.
Tip: Saints by 20 points.
