Sports

Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 16

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

THURSDAY

Port Adelaide v Carlton, Adelaide Oval, 5.30pm

It doesn’t promise to be the most pure game of Australian Rules football you’ll witness in 2025, but there is no denying its appeal. Both teams’ faintest of faint finals hopes go on the line, with Carlton coach Michael Voss needing wins, or at worst profound improvement, to save his job.

Port Adelaide welcome back some vital experience. However, questions remain over the fitness of talented duo Miles Bergman and Jason Horne-Francis. The same applies to Carlton captain Patrick Cripps, who missed a light training run on the eve of this match with illness.

The Power have traditionally responded when their backs are to the wall. An emotional outfit, they have the capacity to stun opposition teams. That the match is at home is another bonus.

VERDICT: Port Adelaide to win

Same Game Multi: Zak Butters to have 25+ disposals and Willie Rioli to kick 2+ goals @ $3.05*

FRIDAY

Sydney v Western Bulldogs, SCG, 5.40pm

Just when it appeared Sydney were starting to get rolling again, we learnt this week that spearhead Joel Amartey (hamstring) couldn’t be considered.

His non-selection doesn’t cruel the Swans’ hopes of an upset win although the task now becomes considerably more difficult. The Western Bulldogs are on the quick spin after playing well opposed to Richmond, but have the incentive of honouring skipper Marcus Bontempelli’s 250th appearance.

The Bulldogs couldn’t consider Adam Treloar (calf), his absence being offset by the recall of young Ryley Sanders and veteran rebounding defender Jason Johannisen.

VERDICT: Western Bulldogs to win

Same Game Multi: Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney and Aaron Naughton to kick 1+ goals @ $2.60*

SATURDAY

Gold Coast v Melbourne, People First Stadium, 11.20am

Melbourne flagged their intentions for this clash at selection when they dropped Jake Lever, one of their leaders and most dependable performers in the Simon Goodwin era.

Will it correlate into victory? The Demons sure hope so, but will no doubt need to produce a season-best performance to do so. Despite falling to a third successive loss last weekend against GWS, Gold Coast did a fair bit right. A lack of composure in the final quarter proved costly.

This shouldn’t pose as many problems. Melbourne aren’t anywhere near as efficient going forward as GWS are and their lack of leg speed also threatens to be an issue.

VERDICT: Gold Coast by 16 points or more

Same Game Multi: Gold Coast to win and game total over 172.5 points @ $2.43*

Hawthorn v North Melbourne, UTAS, 2.15pm

Alastair Clarkson hasn’t had a great time of it against his former club since assuming the reins at North Melbourne. To be fair, the match-ups have been a tough watch from a Kangaroos perspective.

Clarkson would love nothing more than to stick a knife in Hawthorn’s finals push and is entitled to feel this is his best chance since the first meeting back in 2023. The Kangaroos are fresh off a demolition of Carlton, although the win came at a cost with Charlie Comben re-aggravating a shoulder injury.

Hawthorn dodged a bullet against Adelaide in their last trip to Tasmania and will know what North are going to bring. A feature of the win over the Crows was Dylan Moore’s return to form and the ability to lift as a collective when challenged. The Hawks’ best remains at a level or two above that of the Kangaroos’.

VERDICT: Hawthorn by 1-39 points

Same Game Multi: Dylan Moore and Jarman Impey to have 20+ disposals @ $4.80*

Collingwood v West Coast, Marvel Stadium, 5.35pm

West Coast’s mid-season bye couldn’t have come at a better time. Unfortunately, they resume activities on the road against the premiership favourites Collingwood.

To say this assignment is more daunting than the Eagles’ most recent failure against Carlton is an understatement of note. West Coast at full tilt wouldn’t be able to go with this Magpies team. The Eagles are anything but full tilt because of injuries.

Collingwood are also making do without key personnel in this “grind” part of the campaign, but they are a remarkably slick unit which is nice and refreshed and surely ready to strengthen their grip on top spot.

VERDICT: Collingwood by 60 points or more @ $1.85

Same Game Multi: Liam Baker to have 20+ disposals and Nick Daicos to have 40+ disposals @ $16*

SUNDAY

Richmond v Adelaide, MCG, 1.15pm

Adem Yze and his players have exceeded external expectations in 2025. The challenge for them now is to ensure their groundwork isn’t torpedoed over the back third of the year.

The signs were ominous against the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide, having enjoyed a bye and with an eye on a top-four berth, aren’t likely to be in any mood to be charitable.

The Crows aren’t the finished article by any means, but they are extremely potent forward of the ball. If Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty and Ben Keays get sufficient supply, Adelaide could do a number on the Tigers.

VERDICT: Adelaide by 25 points or more

Same Game Multi: Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty to kick 2+ goals @ $2.40*

Fremantle v St Kilda, Optus Stadium, 3.10pm

Fremantle fans don’t have a great deal of affection towards former coach Ross Lyon. They might be forced to change their tune later this season if the Dockers’ current trajectory continues.

It was the spanking by the Lyon-led St Kilda at Marvel Stadium earlier in the year that forced the Dockers to recalibrate. Not everything has been linear since but the Dockers the Saints will encounter in WA are a completely contrasting side.

The influence of Luke Jackson around the ball has been elite and the spread of contributors for Justin Longmuir heartening. This game sets up beautifully for the Dockers, rounding out what has been a prolonged stint on home soil.

VERDICT: Fremantle by 16 points or more

Same Game Multi: Jye Amiss to kick 1+ goals and Shai Bolton and Josh Treacy to kick 2+ goals @ $3.65*

*Odds correct at the time of publication.

Market Market




Recent Articles