Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 16 Posted on July 1, 2021July 2, 2021 | Posted by Digby Beacham THURSDAY Gold Coast v Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 5.20pm Who was the more disappointing in round 15? Richmond kicking two goals in losing to St Kilda at the MCG or Gold Coast being outworked and outclassed by wooden spoon favourites North Melbourne in Hobart? It is a photo finish. The Tigers’ loss was perhaps more surprising. Equally, if there is not a response this week, the entire football world, which has them on the watch list in regards to still being a premiership threat, will be horrified. So too will Damien Hardwick. We know Richmond don’t enjoy playing at Marvel Stadium. That said, the Suns don’t enjoy playing after the midway point of a season. VERDICT: Richmond by 32 points FRIDAY Geelong v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium, 5.50pm Pump the brakes. For those willing to question Geelong’s flag credentials after last week’s mauling at the hands of Brisbane, just take a deep breath. The Cats’ form until the Gabba display was really good and they simply had a bad night. This match against an Essendon outfit on the improve but struggling to get the big scalp that will propel them into the top eight, will stir Geelong’s juices. Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and Shaun Higgins have had superb careers. They were really poor against the Lions. If they rebound like we expect, the Bombers’ backline will be kept extremely busy. VERDICT: Geelong by 27 points SATURDAY Melbourne v GWS, MCG, 11.45am A quick glance at Greater Western Sydney’s recent formlines don’t make for pretty reading. A draw to North Melbourne and last Sunday’s loss to Hawthorn don’t enhance your top-eight credentials. But the body of work since the Giants went 0-3 to start the year, in the face of mounting injuries, has been sound. However, they need to be better than sound in this clash if they are to become only the third team this season to get over the top of Melbourne. The Demons were challenged by Essendon last weekend, but the midfield grunt of Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, and overall defensive structure, shone through. They are a tough nut to score against and GWS will find that out, even if Jesse Hogan returns from injury. VERDICT: Melbourne by 23 points Adelaide v Brisbane, Adelaide Oval, 2.35pm If Adelaide were to cause an almighty upset here and take down Brisbane, you’d think everything has to go according to plan. A rushed trip to Melbourne midweek to avoid being caught up in a potential lockdown doesn’t fit into that category. As for the Lions, they were also inconvenienced this week by jetting out of Brisbane 24 hours earlier than expected to escape a lockdown of their own. But it shouldn’t prove a problem for a line-up that played last Thursday night and is showing a greater efficiency, harder edge and more cohesion than we saw for the most part in 2019 and 2020. Brisbane’s weapons will prove problematic for the Crows, who are on the quick spin around and must find a way to plug the gaps defensively that led to eight second-term goals against Carlton which ultimately cost them the match. VERDICT: Brisbane by 28 points Fremantle v Carlton, MCG, 5.40pm If Justin Longmuir’s attitude is embraced by his players, Fremantle fans can expect a spirited performance from the Dockers in a second match against Carlton in Victoria this season. Longmuir insisted Fremantle had to “charge on” in the face of the upheaval caused by fresh COVID-19 cases in Perth. Ideally, they would be hosting the Blues at Optus Stadium, failing that playing down in Launceston. We know that isn’t the case. The Dockers can take solace from the fact they found a way against Collingwood and with Nat Fyfe back in the line-up, have the midfield grunt to stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh, while being aided by Zac Williams’ suspension and Sam Docherty’s ankle injury. VERDICT: Fremantle by 11 points Hawthorn v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium, 5.40pm Shaun Burgoyne’s magnificent career will be celebrated with understandable fanfare in this match, his 400th at the elite level. Can Hawthorn continue their impressive recent form to ensure he remembers the occasion with a great deal of fondness? On what we have seen recently, you could quite easily say yes. The Hawks are rolling again, displaying more potency forward of the ball and a willingness to take the game on which we didn’t see in the first part of 2021. Port Adelaide will be aware of the risk Hawthorn pose, with the club having an intimate knowledge of how special a person Burgoyne is. If Port can win their share of possession midfield, the forward-line options could swamp the Hawks’ defence. VERDICT: Port Adelaide by 19 points SUNDAY Sydney v West Coast, GMHBA Stadium, 11.10am West Coast will bounce this weekend. They simply have to. Last Sunday’s loss to the Western Bulldogs was too bad to be true, a performance turned in that had supporters shaking their heads and wondering whether finals were a formality. Just how big a spike there is on a week when the Eagles had to get out of dodge far earlier than anticipated, with no guarantees of returning home on Sunday as expected, is the great unknown. Sydney stretched the necks of Port Adelaide in Adelaide last Saturday, a display that showed the bye they looked like they desperately needed, had the desired effect. Whether they are able to maintain that level at a ground they enjoy playing at will go a long way towards influencing the outcome of this game. VERDICT: Sydney by 12 points Collingwood v St Kilda, MCG, 1.20pm Not for the first time since we have witnessed them lining up in the same side together, Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall proved just how influential they can be against Richmond. Their presence gives Brett Ratten a wonderful 1-2 punch and it is a combination which will no doubt require much planning from interim Magpies coach Robert Harvey, who has access to a high-class big man himself in Brodie Grundy. Normally, this match is a venue contest. If staged at Marvel Stadium, there is a leaning to the Saints. If staged at the MCG, like it is, there is a leaning to the Magpies. But St Kilda simply destroyed Richmond at the home of football last round and that is a formline that needs to be respected. VERDICT: St Kilda by 12 points Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 2.40pm North Melbourne fans are entitled to feel good about themselves, knowing full well that finally there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel that isn’t an oncoming train. Then realisation hits. The Kangaroos are fronting up to the Western Bulldogs, who just put West Coast to the sword in Perth and earlier this year made David Noble’s side look like a bunch of Sunday amateurs on Good Friday. North will field a stronger line-up this time around, but the Bulldogs are relentless and boast the midfield depth that eclipsed a stronger running division last Sunday at Optus Stadium than what the underdogs here possess. VERDICT: Western Bulldogs by 39 points Market Market
Harry Buchanan’s Wednesday Greyhound Best Bets May 22, 2024 CANNINGTON Race 3 No. 2 Knight Fright and No. 4 Gnarly Nala A messy maiden on the cards here. Some very wide runners with dogs… Read More
Matt Young’s Tuesday Gloucester Park Preview May 21, 2024 Race 1 HOLY HECKA (1) returns and has above average ability, he has plenty of speed and looks to have found a suitable race to… Read More
Scott Embry’s Wednesday Belmont Preview May 21, 2024 RACE 1 STORYVILLE skipped away impressively to win her barrier trial by 4.7L leading into her debut. Barrier 12 of 12 is a big unknown… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Tuesday Greyhound Best Bets May 21, 2024 MANDURAH Race 4 No. 6 Uncompromised and No. 5 Bracton This doesn’t get any more winnable than this. The 6 especially only has to bring… Read More
Warren Huntly’s Wednesday Bendigo Preview May 21, 2024 Race 1 PANTOJA, the half brother to Giga Kick, has been jumping out in great style and Tropicus has franked the form out of one… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Monday Greyhound Best Bets May 20, 2024 NORTHAM Race 4 No. 8 Simone Keeping This box could see her sweep up quickly here and find the arm or close to it. Been… Read More
Matt Young’s Monday Pinjarra Preview May 20, 2024 Race 1 THAT’S NOT MY GAIT (7) has to overcome the 80m handicap and I am not in the game of tipping horses off such… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Sunday Greyhound Best Bets May 19, 2024 CANNINGTON Race 3 No. 4 Red Ned Gundi and No. 6 Evie Malt The start is critical here. He nails it, he wins. That’s all… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Saturday Greyhound Best Bets May 18, 2024 CANNINGTON Race 1 No. 1 Girls Like You and No. 6 Stylish in Black The 1 is perfectly drawn here and she is a huge… Read More
Weekend Tipsters May 17, 2024 Flemington Saturday Warren Huntly Quaddie 13 4 2 6 16 – 12 9 3 6 – 6 15 1 2 – 1 7 3 10… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Kalgoorlie Preview May 17, 2024 RACE 1 BAALBEK won a C2 1200 at Kalgoorlie under 60kg by 4L and then went to town to win a C3 at Ascot from… Read More
Warren Huntly’s Saturday Flemington Preview May 17, 2024 Race 1 SNEAKY SUNRISE hit the line well in a key lead up race and can settle closer from a favourable draw. NARBOLD comes through… Read More