Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 14 Posted on June 15, 2023June 15, 2023 | Posted by Digby Beacham THURSDAY Port Adelaide v Geelong, Adelaide Oval, 5.40pm Once bitten twice shy! Having tipped against Port Adelaide last Friday night without success, I’m not prepared to make the same mistake here … even factoring in a beefed-up Geelong side. Captain Patrick Dangerfield heads up a list of significant “ins” for the Cats, who venture across the border to a ground they enjoy playing at. But nobody is having a great deal of fun tackling Port Adelaide at present. They boast a brilliant young midfield group, led by the form player of the competition in Zak Butters, and are sweeping all before them to sit second on the table. It’s inevitable the Power will drop one soon, but it would take a bold person to say the slip-up occurs here. VERDICT: Port Adelaide to win FRIDAY Brisbane v Sydney, Gabba, 5.50pm If Sydney felt they squandered an opportunity to remain relevant in the finals conversation last round, then they should be prepared to look to 2024 after this match. The Swans are light years away from the side that played off in the 2022 grand final and as such, are at the mercy of the better teams. Brisbane fit comfortably in that “better teams” category overall, but are elite at home. Their last two losses to Adelaide and Hawthorn have come away from the Gabba and they will relish the chance to return to a ground where they have dismissed better sides than Sydney. No Hugh McClugagge is a blow, but the depth of the Lions’ on-ball unit is deep. VERDICT: Brisbane to win by 25 points or more SATURDAY GWS v Fremantle, Giants Stadium, 2.35pm The wriggle room Fremantle had worked so very hard to cultivate leading into their mid-season bye disappeared at a saturated Optus Stadium last Saturday night. Four successive wins were undone by a disappointing loss to Richmond. With the sour taste of that result in their mouths, the Dockers must now rebound immediately against a GWS opponent that is feisty if nothing else. The Giants continually give their all and will ask plenty of questions of Freo. But the Dockers will be boosted by the return from suspension of Jaeger O’Meara and will relish the fine conditions of western Sydney given the way they are approaching their football now as opposed to earlier in the season. VERDICT: Fremantle to win Richmond v St Kilda, MCG, 5.25pm If you were asked to rank a club and its supporters on an emotional level, with one being the most fervent and 18 extremely placid, Richmond would sit at the pointy end of that table. With Trent Cotchin making his 300th appearance, it’s fair to assume the MCG will be both heaving and loud for this clash with St Kilda. But can the ageing Tigers back up from a trip west and take care of the rested Saints without Marlion Pickett and Rhyan Mansell? The Saints are reasonably healthy, but there is no denying they are a more effective side on the tighter confines of Marvel Stadium and the SCG than the MCG. VERDICT: St Kilda to win SUNDAY Carlton v Gold Coast, MCG, 11.10am Michael Voss’ plight gets more dire by the week. And if he thought it was bleak after the Sunday night defeat to arch rivals Essendon, another poor display against Gold Coast could be catastrophic. The Suns hit their bye with back-to-back wins over finals hopefuls the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide and seemingly poised from which to launch a September assault of their own. The absence of Touk Miller was meant to be a hammer blow. Instead, Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson have gone to another level at the feet of a very much in-form Jarrod Witts. VERDICT: Gold Coast to win North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 2.35pm In contention for a top four spot late last month, the Western Bulldogs could enter this match outside the top eight if other round 14 results fall the way some expect. It is an alarming regression from the Bulldogs, who have again been exposed behind the ball … an Achilles heel of Luke Beveridge’s reign. It is unlikely to be an issue here as North are very reliant on Nick Larkey to boot bags of goals without a great deal of assistance. The Kangaroos are tipped to welcome back key midfielders, but it is the ongoing development of George Wardlaw that has all of Arden Street excited. VERDICT: Western Bulldogs by 1-39 points Market Market
Scott Embry’s Wednesday Belmont Preview October 28, 2025 RACE 1 SPIRITED STRIKE burst through traffic to break his maiden at Northam over 1000m and then held his own from leader’s back when splitting… Read More
Glenn Ingram’s Wednesday Bendigo Preview October 28, 2025 RACE 1 The race experience appear to have a slight edge. THANKS GORGEOUS has the right formlines to figure coming back from a good 2YO… Read More
Matt Young’s Tuesday Gloucester Park Preview October 27, 2025 Race 1 NITE SNIPER (10) looks a nice type and trialled well, if anything the draw was probably the only one connections wouldn’t have wanted… Read More
Matt Young’s Monday Pinjarra Preview October 27, 2025 Race 1 GRUMPEE (10) creates a lot of interest with some decent form from the eastern state, must be respected and has form from the… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Monday Greyhound Best Bets October 27, 2025 NORTHAM Race 5 No. 1 Star Zitto Recent form says no, and it’s hard to argue with that, she’s been mixing tracks and distances of… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Saturday Greyhound Best Bets October 25, 2025 CANNINGTON Race 4 No. 6 Our Ozzie Salute Thought it looked a great map for this fellow tonight, drawn the green rug, with a moderate… Read More
TIPS – Greyhound Jet Set Podcast October 24, 2025 Mandurah Friday David Shortte 6-6 Spooky Hook 7-8 Boiler Maker 8-3 Another Jimmy (3&5 Quinella) 9-2 Hera (1&2 Quinella) ROVING BANKERS : 3-7 Cheers Cobber… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Northam Preview October 24, 2025 RACE 1 LOVE OF FAR FA was a serious improver first-up to second-up after being beaten nearly 11L behind Old Mate Henry to then get… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Laverton Preview October 24, 2025 RACE 1 BLOWIN’ SMOKE beat home CASINO ROYALE when they met in a 1200m maiden at Leonora to kick off this three week Eastern Goldfields… Read More
Weekend Tipsters October 24, 2025 Moonee Valley Saturday Glenn Ingram Quaddie 3 4 5 7 – 3 5 8 9 – 1 3 – 6 Best Bets 4-1 Salty Pearl… Read More
Glenn Ingram’s Saturday Moonee Valley Preview October 24, 2025 RACE 1 Extreme speed expected for this 1000m dash. DON’T HOPE DO led throughout at Caulfield with the rail out 11m coming off a five… Read More
MLB World Series Preview: Toronto Blue Jays v Los Angeles Dodgers October 24, 2025 TABtouch’s resident Baseball Nut Ben Newton is here to help you navigate the exciting best of 7-game MLB World Series which kicks off Saturday morning…. Read More