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Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 14

Posted on | 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

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