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David Shortte’s AFL Preview: Round 14

Posted on | Posted by David Shortte

THURSDAY

Western Bulldogs v Adelaide, Marvel Stadium, 5.30pm

The Doggies have had a real Roller Coaster sort of a season but to their credit they have consistently found ways to win under challenging circumstances and that was the case again last week when they were able to kick 8 of the last 9 goals to defeat the Hawks. That victory made it 3 wins on the trot and takes them to 6th spot on the AFL table with an 8 win, 5 loss record.

After losing 3 of their first 4 matches Adelaide have turned their season around with wins at 6 of their last 8 matches and they were very good in last week’s 1 point victory over Geelong.

The Crows bring in Thilthorpe, Pedlar and Murray for this contest while the Dogs have just one change with Luke Kennedy coming in for the injured Lachie McNeil.

These two sides met in round 2 at the Adelaide Oval when the Doggies prevailed by 6 points in what proved to be a very tight contest. This time with home ground advantage I expect the Western Bulldogs to be hard to beat. The Dogs at Marvel usually equates to high scoring and high disposals.

VERDICT: Western Bulldogs by 7 points

Same Game Multi: Total Points over 180.5 points, Ryley Sanders, Jordan Dawson, Marcus Bontempelli and Ed Richards to all get 20 or more disposals and Bailey Dale to get 25 or more disposals @ $4.40*

FRIDAY

Geelong v Gold Coast, GMHBA Stadium, 5.40pm

After impressive wins against the Kangaroos, Magpies, Lions and Swans the Cats have had narrow losses at their last couple, losing to Carlton by 4 points and the Crows by a point. It sees them sitting in 4th spot on the ladder with a 8 win, 5 loss record.

Gold Coast were bitterly disappointing last week in the Q Clash where Brisbane went on to dominate the contest and beat their cross town rivals by 31 points. The loss sees them in 7th position on the table with a 7 win, 5 loss record.

The two sides met in Round Zero this season where the Suns jumped the Cats and went on to record a 56 point win. This time around though the Cats have the home ground advantage and will be a lot more wound up than what they were to kick off their season. I expect the Cats to bounce back to winning form at their favourite patch.

VERDICT: Geelong by 27 points

Same Game Multi: Geelong to win, Lawson Humphries to get 15 or more disposals, Gryan Miers to get 20 or more disposals, Max Holmes to get 25 or more disposals and Bailey Smith to get 30 or more disposals @ $3.35*

SATURDAY

Melbourne v Essendon, MCG, 11.15am

Melbourne bounced back to winning form on King’s Birthday Monday with a gutsy 8 point win over Collingwood. They now sit in 5th spot on the AFL table with an 8 win, 5 loss record.

The Bombers showed more fight last week and in the end they only went down by 5 points to Carlton. They sit on the bottom of the ladder with just 1 win for the season and an extended injury list.

The one and only win the Bombers have had this season was when these two sides met in Gather Round and Essendon romped in by 45 points. That said, if Melbourne turn up and play to the level they have for most of the season and Essendon do the same the Demons should be going home with the 4 points.

VERDICT: Melbourne by 33 points.

Same Game Multi: Sullivan Robey to get 15 or more disposals, Max Gawn and Jack Steele to both get 20 or more disposals and Archie Roberts to get 25 or more disposals @ $3.30.*

North Melbourne v West Coast, Optus Stadium, 2.15pm

The Kangaroos copped an almighty thumping last week in Bunbury with the Dockers handing them a 124 point defeat in a game where the Roos only managed 4 goals for the entire game while Freo piled on 24. It leaves them in 14th spot on the table with a 5 win, 7 loss record.

West Coast got close but didn’t quite have the polish required late in the game last week going down to Port Adelaide by 6 points. They are now 16th with a 4 win, 9 loss season record.

These two sides met at Optus Stadium in round 2 when the Eagles prevailed by 17 points in a game where Harley Reid was at his best with 30 disposals.

I thought this match could go either way. The Kangaroos need to improve sharply off their poor effort from last week while West Coast just need to tidy up their work in front of the big sticks.

VERDICT: North Melbourne by 7 points.

Same Game Multi: Willem Duursma to get 15 or more disposals, Harley Reid and Tim Kelly to both get 20 or more disposals and Jake Waterman to kick 3 goals or more @ $3.15*

Port Adelaide v Sydney, Adelaide Oval, 5.35pm

Port Adelaide had lost 4 on the trot prior to their 6 point win over West Coast last week. They find themselves in 15th spot on the AFL table with a 4 win, 8 loss record.

Sydney had to dig deep to overcome a plucky Saint Kilda outfit last week, eventually sneaking home by 2 points. They are putting together a wonderful body of work and sit 2nd on the ladder with an 11 win and 2 loss record.

Sydney remain one of the premier sides in the game right now while Port’s winning strike rate is poor. The Swans get the nod.

VERDICT: Sydney by 23 points.

Same Game Multi: Sydney to win, Jai Serong and Riley Bice to both get 15 or more disposals, Isaac Heeney to get 20 or more disposals and Nick Blakey to get 25 or more disposals @ $3.25*

SUNDAY

Richmond v Brisbane, Ninja Stadium (Hobart), 11.15am

Richmond were absolutely torched by the Swans prior to last weekend’s bye losing by a whopping 114 points. They sit in 17th spot with just 2 wins for the season.

After a disappointing patch where they lost games to GWS, Geelong and Fremantle the Lions returned to form last week winning the Q Clash by 31 points. They occupy 9th spot on the table with a 7 win, 6 loss record.

Brisbane showed some positive signs last week and while they might not be back to their very best you would expect them to have far too many weapons for an undermanned Tigers outfit

VERDICT: Brisbane by 67 points

Same Game Multi: Jayden Short and Darcy Wilmot to both get 20 or more disposals, Lachie Neale to get 30 or more disposals and Logan Morris to kick 3 or more goals @ $3.75*

Saint Kilda v GWS, Marvel Stadium, 1.15pm

The Saints served it right up to the Swans at the SCG last week, eventually losing by 2 points in the dying stages of the match. Their 5 win, 8 loss record sees them in 12th spot on the table

GWS come in fresh here off the bye but their form was excellent prior to the break with wins over Brisbane and Melbourne. They occupy 10th spot on the AFL table with a 6 win, 6 loss season record.

These two sides met in round 2 where Saint Kilda beat the Giants by just 4 points. I find it almost impossible to separate the two sides and expect this to go right down to the wire.

VERDICT: Saint Kilda by 3 points.

Same Game Multi: Brent Daniels and Darcy Wilson to both get 15 or more disposals, Max Hall and Callum Wilkie to both get 20 or more disposals and Liam Ryan to kick 2 or more goals @ $4.10*

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