Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 20

Posted on July 29, 2021July 30, 2021 | Posted by Digby Beacham

FRIDAY

St Kilda v Carlton, Marvel Stadium, 5.50pm

The last thing David Teague probably needs right now is a football examination on the Friday night stage. As fate would have it, that is exactly what he has got.

And in a further blow to his chances of holding on to the top job, St Kilda are set to welcome back Rowan Marshall, Hunter Clark and Jack Higgins. The Blues will include Charlie Curnow in what is reward for persistence, but it is fanciful to think he is going to boot a bag given how long he has been away from the game.

The Saints have precious little time to waste if they are to sneak into eighth spot. If you believe what you hear, Teague has precious little time at the helm.

VERDICT: St Kilda by 21 points

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SATURDAY

Western Bulldogs v Adelaide, Mars Stadium, Ballarat, 10.20am

The depth Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has at his disposal may well be the envy of every other mentor in the competition. Fresh off their heavyweight stoush with Melbourne, it wouldn’t be a shock if he swung the changes this week.

Adelaide will head to a frigid Ballarat full of confidence after taking down Hawthorn last Saturday night, but this contest represents an entirely different challenge.

The Bulldogs have their issues behind the ball, but their firepower through the midfield and in attack will ask many questions of a young Crows side that would love to put the likes of North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Collingwood in the rear-vision mirror.

VERDICT: Western Bulldogs by 31 points

North Melbourne v Geelong, Blundstone Arena, 11.15am

The preparations for this match from a North Melbourne perspective played second fiddle to the revelation yesterday that gun midfielder Ben Cunnington underwent surgery to remove a testicular tumour.

Cunnington wouldn’t run out of sight on a foggy night, but his clearance work and crisp disposal, along with experience, has been invaluable to the Kangaroos over the years and his return last weekend was instrumental in the upset of Carlton.

How the young Kangaroos deal with his sudden unavailability will be interesting, as will their ability to negotiate a disciplined and organised Geelong outfit that is in excellent form.

VERDICT: Geelong by 36 points

Gold Coast v Melbourne, Metricon Stadium, 1.10pm

There was a delay this week as to where this match would be staged. It mattered little to Melbourne, who would have travelled to Timbuktu in order to find some flow and confidence with finals fast approaching.

The Demons weren’t horrible against the Western Bulldogs, rather wasteful in attack and slightly disorganised in defence. As for Gold Coast, they were truly horrible in the second half after an inspired opening 60 minutes opposed to Brisbane.

The Suns’ best is competitive, but too often the bad outweighs the good. Melbourne cannot waste the opportunity to snare four points.

VERDICT: Melbourne by 26 points

Collingwood v West Coast, MCG, 2.15pm

It hasn’t been convincing, but there have been signs over the past fortnight that West Coast are approaching somewhere near their best form. Not all the time in the course of the wins over Adelaide and St Kilda, but at various stages.

And that should hold them in good stead for an away match against Collingwood, who are still not guaranteed to avoid the wooden spoon, yet are playing some entertaining football considering their inexperience.

No Scott Pendlebury is perhaps a bigger blow to Collingwood than no Liam Ryan for the Eagles, who should enjoy taking the game on against the youthful Pies.

VERDICT: West Coast by 28 points

Essendon v Sydney, Gabba, 5.40pm

Sydney’s surge towards September has captured the imagination of most and it’s entirely understandable. The Swans looked cooked as they limped to the mid-season bye, yet have emerged from it reinvigorated.

And talking of returning, the Swans will have access this weekend to Callum Mills and Harry Cunningham after they served their 14 days of quarantine. Their experience and fresh legs will provide a genuine boost, while at the same proving somewhat problematic for the Bombers.

We have seen time and time again in the second half of seasons that players who return from a week off through suspension or a designated rest can be damaging. And in a game where we often work with small margins, that could be telling here.

VERDICT: Sydney by 11 points

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SUNDAY

Hawthorn v Brisbane, UTAS Stadium, 12.10pm

The one certainty in this game is Jacob Koschitzke looking to pass off to Chad Wingard when the opportunity presents. Wingard’s dressing down of his young Hawthorn teammate last Saturday night was a horrible look.

It also summed up the frustration of the Hawks players as they slid to a shock loss to Adelaide, which has them vying for the wooden spoon alongside North Melbourne. It is unlikely they will get any favours here from Brisbane.

The Lions’ second half against Gold Coast was a powerful reminder of what their best football looks like. Normally Hawthorn in Tasmania is a daunting assignment. Not so this season.

VERDICT: Brisbane by 25 points

GWS v Port Adelaide, 1.10pm

Just as Sydney will be rapt to welcome back some proven performers from quarantine, Greater Western Sydney cannot contain their excitement at having spark plug Toby Greene back in the line-up. And it couldn’t come at a better time.

The Giants revived their finals hopes last weekend and are entitled to feel they can get over the top of Port Adelaide and remain in eighth spot with three rounds remaining.

As for the Power, they have assumed fourth position and with key players starting to return, will have no excuses if they cannot secure the double chance. This is a real test, but they have sufficient class to get the job done.

VERDICT: Port Adelaide by 11 points

Fremantle v Richmond, Optus Stadium, 3.10pm

Fremantle have asked many questions of rival teams in Perth this season. That doesn’t apply to the most recent home match against Geelong and one wonders what they have left in the locker for this assignment.

No Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters and Alex Pearce, on top of an already extensive injury list, leaves the Dockers short changed against a Richmond side that continues to mix its form in a bid to creep into eighth spot and have finals opponents looking over their shoulders.

The midfield of Richmond has been dealt its share of injury blows in 2021, but if Dion Prestia returns to aid Kane Lambert, Trent Cotchin, Shai Bolton and Shane Edwards among others, the visitors can stay relevant for another week.

VERDICT: Richmond by 17 points

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