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Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 19

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

FRIDAY

Collingwood v Richmond, MCG, 5.50pm

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was adamant on Tuesday that his side’s premiership assault was not broken and the 2018 runners-up remained very much in the top-two mix. We are about to find out whether that is the case.

Injuries appear to have caught up with the Magpies, whose formline is a genuine concern, whereas the Tigers’ overall health and form looks to be approaching a level that gives Damien Hardwick and his coaching staff an opportunity to seriously challenge for the flag.

The return of Jack Riewoldt in the past fortnight has enabled Tom Lynch to flourish and though Jeremy Howe and Jordan Roughead are in the back half, the absence of injured pair Darcy Moore and Tom Langdon leaves the Magpies vulnerable against attacks with multiple marking options.

VERDICT: Richmond by 29 points

SATURDAY

Hawthorn v Brisbane, UTas Stadium, 11.45am

Hawthorn’s hopes of sneaking into eighth spot received a boost on Tuesday night when Brisbane’s outstanding young key defender Harris Andrews had his one-game suspension upheld by the AFL Tribunal.

No Andrews, coupled with the emergence of Mitchell Lewis in the Hawks’ forward line, would give coach Alastair Clarkson real confidence that he can snap a three-game losing streak against the Lions, which has eerily coincided with Luke Hodge’s arrival at the Gabba.

The Lions stamped themselves as a side to watch in the corresponding match last season and have only got better since. Lachie Neale has come in for some heavy attention in the past fortnight, but remains a key plank of a midfield that continues to get the job done.

VERDICT: Brisbane by 10 points

Carlton v Adelaide, MCG, 12.10pm

Adelaide’s 2019 was summed up in last Friday night’s loss to Essendon. There was some breathtaking football, a large chunk of mediocre football and further evidence of a slow, ageing side that was let down once more by some senior players.

As a result the Crows are in a fight of their lives just to play finals. A match that six weeks ago looked like a gimme, is now a real danger game. Carlton have been transformed under David Teague and notched back-to-back wins last weekend for the first time since 2017.

The Blues’ ability to hit the scoreboard on Teague’s watch is in stark contrast to what we saw consistently under the defensive-minded Brendon Bolton. They will ask many questions of the Crows, who cannot afford another slip-up.

VERDICT: Adelaide by 5 points

West Coast v North Melbourne, Optus Stadium, 2.35pm

There is no denying North Melbourne have taken great strides since Rhyce Shaw stepped into the hot seat. But their faint finals hopes were extinguished last weekend with the loss to Brisbane and they now head west to tackle West Coast.

Back-to-back road trips for Victorian sides are a rarity and often see them brought undone the second week — as we saw last weekend when Collingwood failed to come up against Greater Western Sydney after playing the Eagles in Perth.

West Coast found a way when challenged by Melbourne, the form of Jack Darling again superb, while Dom Sheed headed up a midfield that generated sufficient football at the appropriate time. The likelihood captain Shannon Hurn returns from a calf strain is also a massive boost for the hosts.

VERDICT: West Coast by 30 points

St Kilda v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 5.25pm

Brett Ratten made it 3 for 3 for interim coaches having a win in their first game in charge when he engineered an upset over the Western Bulldogs. How the Saints back up that display will be interesting.

Melbourne were beaten by West Coast in Alice Springs last round, but showed plenty of grit, hitting the front early in the third term and still hanging around until late. Bayley Fritsch was lively in attack and Clayton Oliver found a lot of the football when the game was at its hottest.

The Saints have struggled to score for the bulk of 2019, but their finishing against the Bulldogs was some of the best we have seen this season and their willingness to take the game on rewarded. Rowan Marshall’s battle with Max Gawn shapes as a highlight.

VERDICT: St Kilda by 7 points

Port Adelaide v GWS, Adelaide Oval, 5.40pm

Will the real Port Adelaide stand up? And while we are on that theme, could the real Greater Western Sydney also please reveal themselves?

The Power looked primed for September with their powerhouse display against Adelaide earlier this month, only to be eclipsed in the past two weeks by Brisbane and Richmond. As for GWS, they made light of the absence of Callan Ward, Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio and Phil Davis to destroy Collingwood last Saturday.

It could be argued that the Giants’ best is the most powerful and intoxicating brand of football going around. Extracting it on a regular basis is Leon Cameron’s biggest task. Jeremy Cameron was a factor in the physical stakes, as well as the scoreboard, against the Magpies. Teammates love key forwards to have a bit of mongrel and will often follow suit.

VERDICT: GWS by 18 points

SUNDAY

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle, Marvel Stadium, 11.10am

The Western Bulldogs butchered a golden opportunity to pressure Adelaide in eighth spot when they were blown away early en route to a shock loss to St Kilda. You would be staggered if Luke Beveridge and his players fell asleep at the wheel for a second straight week.

Fremantle snapped a four-game losing streak against Sydney and could be boosted by the return of captain Nat Fyfe, but clearly need to be more efficient when going inside 50 against the Bulldogs.

The Dockers’ midfield is hard nosed and has its class, but whether the options available to Ross Lyon can harness the talent at Beveridge’s disposal, chiefly Josh Dunkley, Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter, Jack Macrae and Tom Liberatore remains to be seen.

VERDICT: Western Bulldogs by 42 points

Sydney v Geelong, SCG, 1.20pm

Geelong’s funk continued last weekend when they were taken down by Hawthorn, their inefficiency in front of goal matched only by their cautious approach with ball in hand, especially coming out of defence.

Cats coach Chris Scott would dearly love to see his side take the game on more, but is also well aware that the Swans are a difficult opponent to establish any rhythm against, with the tight confines of the SCG aiding the way John Longmire likes to go about his business.

Geelong’s midfield was beaten by the Hawks and it is up to Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Tim Kelly, Mitch Duncan and Cam Guthrie to influence the contest at the source against a Swans running division that continues to be led by warriors Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker.

VERDICT: Geelong by 17 points 

Gold Coast v Essendon, Metricon Stadium, 2.40pm

Essendon continued their march towards September in style last Friday night with a stirring effort to dismiss Adelaide. Though their injury count continues to be high, there is no risk of them coughing up four points.

The ability of the Bombers to build from the back against the Crows was remarkably high and it is an area Suns coach Stewart Dew will be desperate to negate to ensure his side has an outside chance of stopping the rot.

VERDICT: Essendon by 34 points

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