Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 4 Posted on April 4, 2024April 8, 2024 | Posted by Digby Beacham THURSDAY Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, 4.40pm Adelaide extended the tenure of coach Matthew Nicks last month in order to quell any outside noise surrounding his position. Understandable at the time, the Crows now find themselves winless ahead of a daunting match-up at home to launch Gather Round. And as fate would have it, Adelaide enter the contest minus Wayne Milera (knee) and Lachlan Murphy (knee). Their absence stretches an already thinning squad against Melbourne, fresh off a huge win over Port Adelaide and boosted by the return of Steven May. The Crows battled to hit the scoreboard in the loss to Fremantle and that is a genuine concern factoring in how efficient the Demons’ defence can be at full strength. VERDICT: Melbourne to win FRIDAY Brisbane v North Melbourne, Norwood, 2.10pm The Brisbane we are witnessing from week to week is a far cry from the Lions outfit that went agonisingly close to winning last year’s flag. It’s hard to believe they are still winless, like their opponents here in North Melbourne. Chris Fagan’s men don’t need to be told how urgent the situation has become. They must start banking victories and have come up with a suitable assignment … the last two matches between these sides have resulted in 108-point and 75-point wins to Chris Fagan’s charges. North have the talent to trade out of their predicament, but it’s still a few years away. Conversely, the Lions are built for the now. VERDICT: Brisbane by 25 points or more Port Adelaide v Essendon, Adelaide Oval, 5.10pm Ken Hinkley is never far from the thoughts of many Port Adelaide supporters. Unfortunately for the Power coach though, most of those said fans are of the view he is not the man to take the club to the promised land. Certainly losses like last weekend’s to Melbourne only fan the flames. It was a game Port were expected to win, but they fell victim to a slick, manic Demons team that took its chances in front of goal. Essendon found themselves on the brink early against St Kilda, but hung in and got rewarded for their tenacity. It’s early, but the signs are good for the Bombers in year two of Brad Scott’s tenure. Another victory here would be huge for their finals ambitions. VERDICT: Port Adelaide by 1-39 points SATURDAY West Coast v Sydney, Mount Barker, 10.30am Unless you bleed blue and gold, it is impossible to make a case for West Coast. Impossible. The Eagles have booted just eight goals in their past two matches and have failed to win any of their 12 quarters in 2024. Sydney hadn’t put a foot wrong until last Sunday when ambushed by Richmond. It served as a wake-up call for the Swans and will lead to a suitable response from a team with designs on a top-four berth. An already deep midfield is set to be boosted by the club debut of Taylor Adams after a solid outing at VFL level. The only meeting between these sides last year resulted in a 171-point victory to Sydney. A similar scoreline would surprise, but a percentage-boosting victory would not. VERDICT: Sydney by 40 points or more Fremantle v Carlton, Adelaide Oval, 1.20pm Justin Longmuir can disarm some of the league’s best teams with his defensive strategies. Think Geelong in Geelong, Melbourne at the MCG and Sydney at the SCG in the past couple of seasons where the Dockers have prevailed. He will again lean on that defensive in a bid to keep Fremantle unbeaten. With Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay lurking inside Carlton’s attacking 50m, the Dockers must break even at worst in the midfield. The presence and form of Nat Fyfe at the stoppages will assist in that and his battle, however fleeting it may be, with Carlton skipper and fellow Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps promises to be box office. VERDICT: Carlton to win Western Bulldogs v Geelong, Adelaide Oval, 5.10pm After a couple of pleasing performances against inferior opposition, the Western Bulldogs now face a litmus test in the form of Geelong. The Cats are on a quick turnaround having beaten Hawthorn on Easter Monday in a game that went far longer than expected due to the last-quarter lightning delay. Does that have an impact here or do we back in the fact the Cats are still an experienced group that knows it can get the job done in South Australia as we saw last month? The Bulldogs’ have filled their boots against Gold Coast and West Coast, but getting a similar return in front of goal against this Tom Stewart-led Cats backline is another matter entirely. VERDICT: Geelong to win SUNDAY Gold Coast v GWS, Mount Barker, 10.30am Damien Hardwick would love nothing more than for his young side to make a statement early in his reign as Gold Coast coach. Back-to-back wins at home preceded a poor effort opposed to the Western Bulldogs. Taking the scalp of GWS would constitute a “statement”, but it would seem a bridge too far. The Giants have won 11 of their past 12 meetings against Gold Coast stretching over a decade and are unbeaten to start 2024. Lachie Whitfield is enjoying a brilliant start to the season off half-back, alongside Mr Dependable, WA key defender Sam Taylor. There is so much to like the way GWS are going about their business and they should be winning again. VERDICT: GWS by 1-39 points Richmond v St Kilda, Norwood, 1.20pm The glow of Adem Yze’s first win at the helm of Richmond was tempered by serious injuries to big boppers Tom Lynch (hamstring) and Noah Balta (knee). If that wasn’t enough, Liam Baker was suspended for one week, a sanction that was upheld at the AFL Tribunal. On the flip side, Dustin Martin and Dylan Grimes are in line to play. Their experience will prove invaluable for an interstate assignment against a St Kilda team that also has its challenges on the personnel front, with the suspension of Marcus Windhager untimely to put it mildly. Max King returns from suspension however and will no doubt be eager to prove a threat in attack and help square away the Saints season at 2-2. VERDICT: St Kilda to win Collingwood v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval, 3.10pm All eyes will be on Jack Ginnivan as he encounters his premiership teammates for the first time since his departure from Collingwood soon after the 2023 season ended. And it’s not solely because there is no real love lost between Ginnivan and his one-time allies. Rather because he was umpired harshly (and incorrectly) in the Hawks’ Easter Monday loss to Geelong. Collingwood breathed life into their season with the win over Brisbane and now get a golden opportunity to start climbing the ladder. Sadly for Hawthorn, the predictions of a lowly finish appear on the money. No Mitch Lewis (hamstring) is a hammer blow for the Hawks. VERDICT: Collingwood by 1-39 points Market Market
Harry Buchanan’s Friday Greyhound Best Bets May 3, 2024 MANDURAH Race 1 No. 6 Hurry Henry and No. 7 Burner Flash This fav hard to beat off the red but she can dwell at… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Eagle Farm Preview May 2, 2024 RACE 1 Big day at Eagle Farm as we kick off another Winter Racing Carnival. I’m leaning to the backmarker OSTERMEIER in this opening race… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Hawkesbury Preview May 2, 2024 RACE 1 Racing heads to Hawkesbury on Saturday for their stand-alone Cup Day. The meeting gets under way with a 2yo affair where I’m keen… Read More
Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 8 May 2, 2024 THURSDAY Adelaide v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, 5.30pm Not a great deal separated these teams in betting earlier in the week. Once it was announced… Read More
Trent Cooper’s Gloucester Park Preview May 2, 2024 Race 1 DUTY BOUND (2) has finished 2nd at his last two starts but looks the leader and gets a great chance to go one… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Thursday Greyhound Best Bets May 2, 2024 MANDURAH Race 3 No. 4 Mind Reader Copped a few checks last time yet his effort was still good when he finished off well out… Read More
Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview May 2, 2024 RACE 1 LEXINGTON CITY looks the only speed in the quartet of runners. Expect he will bounce straight on the lead and from there Chris… Read More
The Scout: EPL Week 36 May 2, 2024 Luton Town v Everton Time is running out for Rob Edwards to save Luton Town’s season and, on current form, it’s not easy to make… Read More
Great Greys May 2, 2024 Thursdays from 10am on TABradio GREAT GREYS – all the best bets of Australian chasing. Harry Buchanan Mandurah Thursday : 8-3 Uncompromised / 9-3 Timmy… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Wednesday Greyhound Best Bets May 1, 2024 CANNINGTON Race 1 No. 2 Emmy Nakayama and No. 1 Dozen Staples Both dogs trialling well and while they are limited, so are the rest… Read More
Matt Young’s Tuesday Gloucester Park Selections April 30, 2024 Race 1 OFF THE CHARTS (7) BETTOR ARCADE (2) FRANKLIN DELANO (5) RAJAH ROCKS (10) Race 2 THE BEAUDSTER (2) THE MASKED CRUSADER (6) RAKERO… Read More
Scott Embry’s Thursday Pinjarra Preview April 30, 2024 RACE 1 PLAYING GAMES should be too sharp for her rivals here. She’s had two runs this preparation – third behind The Boss Lady (subsequent… Read More