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Digby’s AFL Round 14 Preview

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

Adelaide v North Melbourne

Thursday, Adelaide Oval 5.50pm

Having performed soundly against the better sides earlier in the season without a great deal of success, Adelaide took a massive step forward with a win interstate against West Coast. Admittedly, the Eagles aren’t at the level they were last year, but they are still tough nuts to crack in Perth. Boosted by a week’s break, the Crows now get the chance to build on that against a banged-up and besieged North Melbourne.

The Kangaroos made a physical stand against Hawthorn and were very impressive, but again came up short. The absence of Daniel Wells (ankle) is significant, but the return of captain Andrew Swallow and Ben Cunnington will help in what promises to be a slog in terrible conditions. Adelaide’s improvement in the past few weeks has been underpinned by better defending and that will be telling against the Kangaroos, who are fronting up on a second successive six-day break.

VERDICT: Adelaide by 21 points.

1st goal scorer: Eddie Betts

Collingwood v Fremantle

Friday, MCG 5.50pm

The home-and-away campaigns of Collingwood and Fremantle are miles away from where most expected they would be. Impressive during the NAB Challenge, both have been riddled by injuries, but also poor form for prolonged periods and will be spectators in September. However, the Dockers are seemingly on the right track, even taking into account their mounting injury toll, and have every right to feel a fourth straight win is within reach.

Collingwood were ordinary in the Queen’s Birthday loss to Melbourne, but enter this match fresh following a bye in round 13. And if Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar, Levi Greenwood and Travis Varcoe can have an influence through the middle of the ground opposed to the Dockers’ on-ball division being superbly led by Lachie Neale and Michael Barlow, the Magpies should generate enough opportunities to kick a winning total.

VERDICT: Collingwood by 11 points.

1st goal scorer: Matthew Pavlich

Richmond v Brisbane

Saturday, MCG 11.40am

You know you are having a wretched season when a 49-point loss to a West Coast side that struggles on the road, a margin flattered by the last three goals of the game in junk time, is viewed as a minor victory. Brisbane may well be looking at a lengthy rebuild, but their effort levels and organisation has to get better — and quickly. Failure to do that could lead to some brutal losses in the back half of the season, starting here against Richmond.

The Tigers are a formidable opponent at the MCG and though they struggled to overcome Gold Coast a fortnight ago, it would be a massive shock if they aren’t effective against the Lions and make their customary late-season surge towards finals. Richmond are receiving great service from Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin and have the weapons forward of centre to pulverise Brisbane, who have conceded more points than any other team in the competition.

VERDICT: Richmond by 56 points.

1st goal scorer: Jack Riewoldt

GWS v Carlton

Saturday, Spotless Stadium 2.35pm

Greater Western Sydney were given a scare by Essendon last Sunday before finding their groove and the four points courtesy of a much improved second half. Don’t expect the Giants to enter this contest with the same questionable attitude. Leon Cameron’s side is a powerhouse at Spotless Stadium and even though Carlton had the benefit of a bye last weekend, the Giants are on a top-four path.

The Blues are organised defensively and have performed well against some of the competition’s better sides, but stemming the midfield flow generated by Callan Ward, Josh Kelly, Dylan Shiel, Lachie Whitfield, Stephen Congilio and Ryan Griffen will be extremely difficult, even more so with the return of dominant ruckman Shane Mumford. Steve Johnson also comes back in, further strengthening a GWS forward line that is very potent.

VERDICT: GWS by 34 points.

1st goal scorer: Jeremy Cameron

St Kilda v Geelong

Saturday, Etihad Stadium 5.25pm

Just over a month ago, questions were being asked of Geelong following back-to-back losses to Carlton and Collingwood. Now they sit on top of the ladder, thanks chiefly to a patch of form enjoyed by Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood that rivals, perhaps even surpasses, anything they have produced previously. One of the main points of interest in this game is what approach St Kilda coach Alan Richardson will take to nullify their influence.

The Saints have a high-class midfielder in Jack Steven, who is also enjoying a superb season. His ability to accumulate big numbers makes the Saints testing material in Victoria, especially at Etihad Stadium. The Saints need to work over Dangerfield and hold their ground midfield. If they can do that and not blaze away when going forward, which plays into the hands of Geelong’s experienced defence, they are a chance. Achieving that though will be a tough gig.

VERDICT: Geelong by 30 points.

1st goal scorer: Tom Hawkins

Hawthorn v Gold Coast

Sunday, Aurora Stadium 1.20pm

In all due respect to the people of Launceston, the Tasmanian city is not really an ideal holiday destination in winter. And as far as Gold Coast are concerned, there are other venues they would prefer to be than at Aurora Stadium in late June. Hawthorn know that and believe the cold weather at their home away from home against interstate sides works in their favour. Having a line-up littered with superstars doesn’t hurt either.

The Hawks are unbeaten in seven meetings with the Suns and though the current group is not as dominant or efficient as their premiership-winning sides of the past three seasons, they are still 10-3 and inside the top four. What Hawthorn have been able to do again in 2016 is score heavily. Even in Cyril Rioli’s absence for this match, they have the firepower to overwhelm the Suns, who will be better in the second half of the year than they were in the first.

VERDICT: Hawthorn by 47 points.

1st goal scorer: Luke Breust

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