PREVIEW OF ROUND 14 OF AFL (All times AEST):
FRIDAY, June 22:
Port Adelaide v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, 7:50pm
Head to Head: Power 19 Demons 13 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 18, 2017 – Demons 13.10 (88) bt Power 9.11 (65) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet odds: Power $1.60 Demons $2.35
William Hill: Power $1.60 Demons $2.35
The Demons were brought crashing back to earth in their 42-point loss to Collingwood. Port Adelaide demolished the Bulldogs by 57 points. Both teams are at 8-4, and this game might prove crucial to their top-four prospects. The Demons axed Charlie Spargo and Cameron Pedersen, and brought in Timothy Smith and Dom Tyson. Port recalled Tom Jonas for Jack Hombsch.
Key: Stopping Tom McDonald. The Melbourne spearhead has been in hot form this season and booted six goals against the Magpies. He shapes as a crucial figure in this match.
Tip: Power by 12 points
SATURDAY, June 23:
Hawthorn v Gold Coast at University of Tasmania Stadium, 1:45pm
Head to Head: Hawks 8 Suns 2 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 12, 2017 – Suns 13.17 (95) bt Hawks 12.7 (79) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet odds: Hawks $1.05 Suns $10.50
William Hill: Hawks $1.05 Suns $10
You can’t help but feel for the Suns. Gold Coast’s six-game losing streak should have come to an end last week. Up by 39 points against St Kilda, the Suns were cruising. But St Kilda booted the last six goals of the match to snatch a two-point win, effectively saving the short-term future of coach Alan Richardson in the process. Hawthorn crushed Adelaide by 56 points last round, and will aim for another percentage-boosting win.
Key: Scoring. Gold Coast have struggled to kick big scores this year. Do they have enough firepower to beat the Hawks?
Tip: Hawks by 48 points
Brisbane v GWS at Gabba, 4:35pm
Head to Head: Lions 2 Giants 5 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 6, 2018 – Giants 10.17 (77) bt Lions 5.13 (43) at Spotless Stadium,
Tab Sportsbet odds: Lions $3.65 Giants $1.29
William Hill: Lions $3.55 Giants $1.30
The Giants bounced back to top form before their bye with a 108-point shellacking of Gold Coast. Brisbane only have one win this year, but they have been plucky at the Gabba, beating Hawthorn and coming close against Collingwood and Gold Coast. The Giants have been boosted by the return of Stephen Coniglio, but lose big man Rory Lobb to a back injury.
Key: Jeremy Cameron. The Giants’ spearhead booted six goals from 26 disposals against the Suns. If he gets off the leash again, it could prove painful for Brisbane.
Tip: Giants by 31 points
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 7:25pm
Head to Head: Bulldogs 79 Kangaroos 77 Drawn 3
Last clash: Round 14, 2017 – Bulldogs 15.17 (107) bt Kangaroos 16.10 (106) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet odds: Bulldogs $4.60 Kangaroos $1.20
William Hill: Bulldogs $5 Kangaroos $1.18
The Kangaroos were dealt a huge blow earlier this week when veteran forward Jarrad Waite re-injured his calf. But the situation is far worse at the Bulldogs, whose finals hopes are all but over after four-straight defeats. The Bulldogs look a shadow of the team who won the premiership in 2016, and you have to wonder how they have bottomed out so quickly. The Bulldogs have recalled Dale Morris, Josh Dunkley, Marcus Adams and Aaron Naughton.
Key: Ben Brown. With Waite set to miss several more weeks, how will Brown stand up? He went goalless in the recent 37-point loss to Geelong.
Tip: Kangaroos by 23 points
SUNDAY, June 24:
Collingwood v Carlton at MCG, 3:20pm
Head to Head: Magpies 124 Blues 127 Drawn 4
Last clash: Round 3, 2018 – Magpies 16.4 (100) bt Blues 11.10 (76) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet odds: Magpies $1.07 Blues $8.50
William Hill: Magpies $1.07 Blues $9
The pressure on Carlton coach Brendon Bolton is reaching boiling point after last week’s insipid display against Fremantle. The Blues managed just seven behinds in the first half, and went on to lose by 57 points in front of their home fans. With just one win for the year, Carlton are in crisis mode. The situation is far different at Collingwood, whose 42-point victory over Melbourne has thrust them into the premiership conversation.
Key: Spirit. Will the Blues fold like a deck of cards, or fight for their coach’s future? If they fold, it could get very, very ugly.
Tip: Magpies by 61 points
