After one full nine-round weekend of AFL motion, we’re into the annoying month and a bit the place all eight Opening Spherical groups get their byes. Yippee.
This week, it’s Carlton and Brisbane sitting it out in absolutely totally different moods, given one is 2-0 and completely satisfied to have per week to relaxation jangled nerves, whereas the opposite is 0-2 and certain chomping on the bit for an opportunity at redemption.
Of the eight video games left to us, this feels distinctly just like the kind of week the place tipping appears to be like fairly straightforward on paper… just for the standard early-season randomness to kick in, upsets to crop up in every single place, and depart us all observing a 4 or a 5 and nicely shy of the courageous leaders who went for 2 or three outsiders.
So to buck this pattern, I’ve… picked 7 out of 8 favourites. What can I say – I’m a coward.
Tim Miller
Final week: 6
Collingwood, Adelaide, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide, GWS
Let’s get the elephant within the room out of the way in which – sure, I’m tipping towards my Bulldogs once they face Gold Coast on Sunday.
Sure, it’s sacrilege to choose towards your crew, and sure, the Canine’ document in Ballarat is superb, however you couldn’t probably watch their efficiency towards Melbourne and tip them with any confidence towards a Suns outfit with related strengths to the Dees in a robust midfield, tall defence and high-quality ruckman in Jarrod Witts.
Plus, right here’s a stat: the Canine have by no means misplaced in Spherical 1 below Luke Beveridge and responded by profitable Spherical 2. Make of that what you’ll.
Aside from that, I’ve just about performed it protected this weekend: I’m assured Collingwood may have gotten the kick up the bottom from Craig McRae in the course of the week they want and can overcome St Kilda in ‘Spud’s Sport’, whereas Fremantle, the Dees, Sydney, Port Adelaide and GWS are all snug favourites of their matches – although Richmond could possibly be a sneaky probability to knock off the Energy at house, if they will replicate the spirit they confirmed towards Carlton.
The toughest of the bunch is Adelaide vs Geelong: the Cats are my decide to climb up into the highest 4 this yr, whereas I’ve a sneaky suspicion the Crows will regress a contact. Regardless of that, I’ve gone with the house crew – Matthew Nicks’ males are deadly on the Adelaide Oval, and a robust midfield has usually proved the Cats’ kryptonite in years passed by. Nonetheless, in case you’re out to tip an upset, that is most likely your greatest guess.
(Photograph by Quinn Rooney/Getty Photos)
Dem Panopoulos
Final week: 7
St Kilda, Adelaide, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, GWS
Alright, we’re again on monitor after an Opening Spherical that fairly frankly, I’m completely satisfied to deal with as if it didn’t exist.
We’ve obtained the reigning grand finalists sitting winless after a mixed 4 video games, we’ve obtained a maligned coach orchestrating a big victory after signing a contract extension, and we’ve obtained media highlighting and complaining a few high-five between two gamers. Footy’s again.
Oh, and completely satisfied first bye spherical.
By way of pleasure, Thursday evening’s conflict carries a heap of weight. The Magpies merely can’t lose three on the trot, however after watching the Saints’ loss to Geelong, I’m much more satisfied of their credentials than in the beginning of the season, even when I consider they’ll have to beat a sluggish begin.
It’s a very onerous recreation to tip – my intestine says the Saints, my head says Collingwood can’t lose three in a row. We’re going with our intestine right here.
Friday evening can also be an vital early-season recreation for each Adelaide and Geelong. The Crows have rather a lot to show: they’re count on to be an imposing determine of a membership at house in 2024, and the problem that this opponent brings is critical – Geelong have gained 5 of the final six on this contest.
Welcoming again some tall timber can be useful, and the circumstances ought to be extra acquainted, though the moist hypothetically suited their glut of inside midfielders towards Gold Coast. The Cats had a rollercoaster kind of match towards St Kilda however they’re on the same degree to Adelaide this season.
I feel it’s the Crows, however with out full confidence.
It’s price rapidly pertaining to the Swans-Bombers contest on Saturday evening, given how terribly shut these two groups’ matches historically are. Seven of the final eight have been determined by 10 factors or much less, and whereas we are able to solely hope for the same consequence, the Bombers could also be too undermanned to hold in with my flag favourites.
Lastly, I like the unpredictability of the video games performed at Mars Stadium. The wind, the chilly, the equalisation all of it brings – you couldn’t get extra totally different circumstances for the Suns to play in than what they’re used to.
Right here’s just a little tidbit – it’s solely the third Sunday recreation ever performed in Ballarat, and each earlier clashes have had important margins. Whichever crew embraces a much less exact fashion of footy will win.
Nat Fyfe. (Photograph by Will Russell/AFL Images through Getty Photos)
St Kilda Saints
v
Collingwood Magpies
AFL : Head To Head
Thu, 21 Mar 2024, 19:30
Adelaide Crows
v
Geelong Cats
AFL : Head To Head
Fri, 22 Mar 2024, 19:40
North Melbourne Kangaroos
v
Fremantle Dockers
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 23 Mar 2024, 13:45
Hawthorn Hawks
v
Melbourne Demons
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 23 Mar 2024, 16:35
Sydney Swans
v
Essendon Bombers
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 23 Mar 2024, 19:30
Western Bulldogs
v
Gold Coast Suns
AFL : Head To Head
Solar, 24 Mar 2024, 13:00
Richmond Tigers
v
Port Adelaide Energy
AFL : Head To Head
Solar, 24 Mar 2024, 16:00
West Coast Eagles
v
Larger Western Sydney Giants
AFL : Head To Head
Solar, 24 Mar 2024, 18:50
* Odds Right At Time Of Posting. Examine PlayUp Web site For Newest Odds
Think about what you can be shopping for as a substitute.
Totally free and confidential help name 1800 858 858 or go to gamblinghelponline.org.au
Cameron Rose
Final week: 7
Collingwood, Adelaide, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide, GWS
Beginning the spherical off, I’m certain there might be many sniffing a Thursday evening upset from St Kilda, and maybe rightly so, however the Pies have performed what look like the 2 kind groups of the competitors within the early rounds, and the Saints are a degree or two under them.
I’ve to belief they gained’t drop three on the bounce.
Geelong appears to be like overs on Friday evening as snug underdogs, however I’m sticking with Adelaide, who like to catch fireplace and might be wanting to make a press release after their loss to the Suns.
The upset of the spherical could be in Ballarat on Sunday – there are large query marks over the Bulldogs, and Gold Coast are on a confidence excessive and searching for their first ever 3-0 begin to a season.
Liam Salter
Final week: 5
Collingwood, Geelong, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Port Adelaide, GWS
Let’s get my solely mildly controversial tip out the way in which first.
I obtained (rightly) lambasted, primarily by Tim, for selecting the Doggies final week, and I’ve completed an entire 180 this week – the Suns will go three-zip with a win in Ballarat. That strain gauge over Luke Beveridge… nicely, it’ll be going up.
Aside from that, I’ve performed it protected throughout the board. You can make an argument that the Saints have greater than an opportunity towards a struggling Collingwood outfit, however the Pies are nearly definitely going to return out respiration fireplace, and I’m not satisfied Ross Lyon’s males can maintain that.
Ditto the Crows – they’re normally a lot better at house, and I preserve they’re finals contenders, however the Cats regarded superb final week.
The Demons, Sydney, Port and the Giants look comfortable-ish favourites of their clashes, and whereas I’ve horrid recollections of North beating Freo on this precise fixture twelve months in the past, Freo began brilliantly towards Brisbane and I’ve obtained religion.
Harmful final phrases.
Dyson Heppell and Zach Merrett. (Photograph by Mark Kolbe/Getty Photos)
| Spherical 2 | Tim | Dem | Cam | Liam | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STK vs COL | COL | STK | COL | COL | ? |
| ADE vs GEE | ADE | ADE | ADE | GEE | ? |
| NM vs FRE | FRE | FRE | FRE | FRE | ? |
| HAW vs MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL | ? |
| SYD vs ESS | SYD | SYD | SYD | SYD | ? |
| WB vs GCS | GCS | WB | GCS | GCS | ? |
| RCH vs PA | PA | PA | PA | PA | ? |
| WCE vs GWS | GWS | GWS | GWS | GWS | ? |
| LAST WEEK | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
| ROLLING TOTAL | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
