Sports

David Shortte’s AFL Preview: Round 19

Posted on | Posted by David Shortte

THURSDAY

Geelong v St Kilda, GMHBA Stadium, 5.30pm

It has been a tough six week patch for the Cats with just one win and losses to Carlton, Adelaide, Fremantle, Brisbane and GWS. They have been very competitive in all of those games but ultimately they have come up just short and now find themselves in 9th spot on the ladder.

Saint Kilda have had a nice month winning three of their last four matches against GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide. They sit just one spot below the Cats on the table in 10th place.

The Cats will be without their star forward Jeremy Cameron for the next 4-6 weeks after shoulder surgery earlier in the week. He is one of 7 changes for Geelong with Bowes, Martin, Knevitt, Blicavs, Bruhn and Kolodjashnij all out and Worpel, Edwards, Close, Clark, Polkinghorn, Miers and O’Connor all coming in. The Saints have made just one change with Hunter Clark in for Angus Hastie.

The Saints have a hoodoo against the Cats at GMHBA Stadium losing their last 13 in a row at the venue by an average losing margin of 44 points.

While this is probably the best opportunity Saint Kilda will get to beat Geelong at the Cattery for some time I still think the home team will find a way to keep their season alive.

VERDICT: Geelong by 9 points.

Same Game Multi:  Gryan Miers, Darcy Wilson and Callum Wilkie to all get 20 or more disposals, Bailey Smith and Max Homes to both get 25 or more disposals and Oli Dempsey to kick a goal or more @ $4.20*

FRIDAY

Sydney v Adelaide, SCG, 5.40pm

Sydney served it right up to Fremantle in the first half of their fixture last week with some serious pressure but in the second half the Dockers responded and in the end the Swans were comfortably defeated losing by 38 points. They retain 2nd spot on the ladder with a 13 win, 4 loss record.

Adelaide maintained their strong recent form with a 79 point victory over Gold Coast last week. They sit in 5th spot with an 11 win and 6 loss season record.

These two sides are littered with top end talent and this match shapes as a ripper.

With the home ground advantage I’ll stick with the red and whites to prevail.

VERDICT: Sydney by 15 points.

Same Game Multi: Isaac Heeney and Nick Blakey to both get 20 or more disposals, Errol Gulden to get 25 or more disposals and Darcy Fogarty to kick 2 or more goals @ $3.40*

SATURDAY

Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval, 11.15am

Port Adelaide handed in a typically plucky performance last week against Saint Kilda but injuries within the game thwarted their hopes. They sit in 15th spot on the AFL ladder.

After a first half where they failed to score a goal the league leading Fremantle dropped a gear in the second half scoring 15 goals and defeating Sydney by 38 points. They are two wins and percentage clear at the top of the ladder.

Port Adelaide will be missing Butters, Horne-Francis and Georgiades for this clash and they are three very hard players to replace.

Fremantle look likely to win and win well.

VERDICT: Fremantle by 57 points.

Same Game Multi: Luke Jackson to get 15 or more disposals, Shai Bolton to get 20 or more disposals, Murphy Reid to get 25 or more disposals and Josh Treacy to kick 2 or more goals @ $3.10.*

North Melbourne v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 2.15pm

The Kangaroos dropped their second match on the trot when losing to Collingwood by 4 points last week. It leaves them in 13th spot with a 8 win, 9 loss record.

Melbourne made it 4 wins from their last 5 matches when 46 point winners over Richmond last week. They sit in 6th spot.

Melbourne are having a tremendous season and get the nod here.

VERDICT: Melbourne by 17 points.

Same Game Multi: Melbourne to win, Tom Sparrow, Jake Bowey, Luke Parker and Jack Steele to all get 20 or more disposals and Harry Sheezel to get 25 or more disposals @ $3.00*

Collingwood v Carlton, MCG, 5.35pm

The Pies brought up their fourth straight win when beating the Kangaroos by 4 points las week. They find themselves in 8th spot on the AFL table.

Carlton’s 7 game winning streak came to a halt last week losing to Hawthorn by 64 points. They sit in 12th position on the ladder.

One of the games great rivalries should again serve up a quality contest in front of a big crowd.

I expect this to be a tight contest but lean towards the Magpies narrowly.

VERDICT: Collingwood by 7 points.

Same Game Multi: Either team to win by 29 points or less, Adam Cerra to get 15 or more disposals and Jagga Smith, Josh Daicos and Jordan De Goey to all get 20 or more disposals @ $3.10*

West Coast v Brisbane, Optus Stadium, 6.10pm

West Coast lost to the Western Bulldogs by 16 points last weekend but there were plenty of positive signs and despite losing their last 5 matches, they have been very competitive in most of them. They are in 16th place on the ladder.

Quite simply Brisbane are starting to look awfully dangerous. They have won their last 5 on the trot and have climbed to 4th spot on the AFL ladder.

The Eagles face the ultimate acid test here with the reigning champions starting to regain their brutal best form. The Lions look too classy.

VERDICT: Brisbane by 37 points.

Same Game Multi: Willem Duursma to get 15 or more disposals, Tim Kelly, Harley Reid and Dayne Zorko to all get 20 or more disposals and Lachie Neale to get 25 or more disposals and Logan Morris to kick 2 or more goals @ $3.00*

SUNDAY

Richmond v Hawthorn, MCG, 11.10am

The Tigers have had a long season and lost their sixth straight match last week when Melbourne beat them by 46 points. They are in 17th spot with just 2 wins from 17 attempts.

Hawthorn were impressive 64 point winners over Carlton last week and remain in 3rd spot on the Ladder.

The Hawks have a class edge and lots more to play for. They should win comfortably.

VERDICT: Hawthorn by 49 points.

Same Game Multi: Will Day, Tim Taranto and Jarman Impey to all get 20 or more disposals, and Jack Gunston to kick 4 or more goals @ $3.15*

Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs, People First Stadium, 1.15pm

The Suns have been in reverse in recent times losing their last 7 on the bounce including a 79 point hiding at the hands of Adelaide last week. They have slipped to 14th on the AFL table.

The Western Bulldogs have won 5 of their last 7 matches and last week defeated the Eagles by 16 points. It sees them sitting in 7th spot.

I think this is one of the tougher games of the round to predict. There has been a lot of pressure heaped on the Gold Coast set up this week and it often can force a response. With home ground advantage I thought they might sneak home in a nail-biter.

VERDICT: Gold Coast by 3 points.

Same Game Multi: Noah Anderson and Marcus Bontempelli to both get 25 or more disposals and Aaron Naughton and Ben King to both kick 2 or more goals each @ $3.35*

Essendon v GWS, Marvel Stadium, 2.40pm

The Bombers were horrendous last week against Brisbane getting thumped by 90 points. They are in 18th spot with just one win for the season.

The Giants came from behind to knock off Geelong and win by 13 points last week. They have claimed some big scalps in recent times and sit in 11th spot.

The Giants can be an enigmatic outfit but this is a game they simply must win to keep their Wildcard hopes alive. I expect them to do the business.

VERDICT: GWS by 52 points.

Same Game Multi: Lachie Ash, Lachie Whitfield and Finn Callaghan to all get 25 or more disposals, Clayton Oilver to get 30 or more disposals and Jake Stringer to kick 3 or more goals @ $3.75*

Market Market



Recent Articles