Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 7

Posted on May 2, 2019 | Posted by Digby Beacham

FRIDAY

Collingwood v Port Adelaide, Marvel Stadium, 5.50pm

At stages last Friday night, Port Adelaide looked like a top-eight side. Then there were the other periods of the match where they were modest at best. Such fluctuations won’t go unpunished here.

Collingwood have had the odd slip-up as they set about going one step better than 2018, but all in all, their body of work looks encouraging. They hung tough against Essendon and though Mason Cox is unavailable, the potency of their forward line will stretch a Port defence missing co-captain Tom Jonas (calf).

At the other end of the ground, the wizardry of Power’s brilliant playmaker Robbie Gray (broken hand) will also be non-existent. Teenager Connor Rozee looks like he will be a star but the Friday night stage in Melbourne in hostile surrounds will ask a lot of the young man.

VERDICT: Collingwood by 27 points

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SATURDAY

Melbourne v Hawthorn, MCG, 11.45am

Melbourne are endeavouring to give the impression they are a united club, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. The Demons are in a hole and splintering from within. Put simply, they are a mess.

Hawthorn aren’t exactly purring like the mighty Hawks machines of recent times, but injuries to key personnel have played a part in their 3-3 start. Alastair Clarkson’s men found a way when seriously challenged by Carlton, with the returning Liam Shiels illustrating his importance to the midfield, kicking three goals.

With Shiels likely to be even better in a physical sense this week and the Demons unable to call on rugged co-captain Jack Viney (AC joint), the Hawks have the capacity to wreak havoc in and around the stoppages and then exploit a suspect Melbourne defence.

VERDICT: Hawthorn by 32 points

GWS v St Kilda, UNSW, 11.45am

This was a match few expected St Kilda had any chance in when the fixtures were released late last year. There may well be some out there who feel the same way, even though the Saints have made a bright start to the 2019 campaign.

But the loss of GWS ball magnet and elite distributor Lachie Whitfield (corked thigh) is a boost for the visitors as they look to claim an interstate scalp — and a big one at that. But the form of Stephen Coniglio and return from a delayed beginning to the year of Josh Kelly ensures the St Kilda midfield will be kept busy.

As will their defence, with Coleman Medal leader Jeremy Cameron in full flight at present as he clearly appreciates the speed with which his teammates are bringing the ball inside 50, not to mention the introduction of the 6-6-6 rule.

VERDICT: GWS by 24 points

Brisbane v Sydney, Gabba, 2.35pm

Sydney have owned Brisbane for what seems an eternity. On closer inspection, a winning streak that extends beyond 10 games in the current AFL climate, which is what the Swans have been able to piece together against the Lions, is actually an eternity.

But all good things must come to an end. The Lions weren’t anywhere near their best against Gold Coast, but they didn’t have to be. Lachie Neale and Mitch Robinson were outstanding and the support cast deep enough to notch a Q-Clash victory.

In another derby south of the Tweed River, Sydney were poleaxed by Greater Western Sydney. The absence of Lance Franklin (hamstring) in that clash and again here, leaves the Swans’ anaemic forward line in all sorts of trouble.

VERDICT: Brisbane by 29 points  

Western Bulldogs v Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 5.25pm

One has to wonder how a football club, indeed a football coach, can survive intense scrutiny when they are unable to function with any consistency or efficiency in the forward half of the ground.

The time has come for the Western Bulldogs and Luke Beveridge to solve the riddle. Another season is quickly slipping away because of their inability to kick a total that threatens rivals — as we saw here at Optus Stadium last Saturday night against Fremantle.

And if the Bulldogs thought that challenge was tough, they better brace themselves here. The Tigers monstered Melbourne on Anzac Eve and even with Jack Riewoldt (knee) missing, they have the speed and weapons to do what they want to a faltering rival.

VERDICT: Richmond by 45 points

West Coast v Gold Coast, Optus Stadium, 6.10pm

The numbers suggest West Coast have been in all sorts of trouble in the past fortnight. The numbers don’t lie. They have been putrid and were quite rightly given a clip by coach Adam Simpson in the wake of the 58-point capitulation to Geelong last Sunday.

Fortunately for the premiers, they get the right to have an easy kill against Gold Coast. Having made a bright start to the season, the Suns have been touched up by Adelaide and Brisbane in successive weeks, with their lack of potency in attack being laid bare.

The Eagles’ defence actually held on OK after the initial seven-goal opening-term burst from Geelong and what we have seen regularly from the premiers at Optus Stadium is their efficiency in stifling opposition sides from scoring.

VERDICT: West Coast by 56 points

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SUNDAY

Carlton v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 11.10am

Starting a season 1-5 is less than desirable for any side, regardless of the profile of your squad. But it’s fair to assume that in the battle of these two 1-5 outfits, Carlton supporters are feeling decidedly more upbeat than those in the North Melbourne corner.

The “green shoots” Blues coach Brendon Bolton has spoken about for some time have actually appeared. They were desperately unlucky not to topple Hawthorn last weekend, with Harry McKay continuing his solid form in attack and Sam Petrevski-Seton and Sam Walsh offering support to midfield bull Patrick Cripps.

As for the Kangaroos, they rallied after half-time against Port Adelaide and added respectability to the scoreboard without ever threatening to prevail. Many of their most important players, notably Ben Brown, are out of form. If that continues, Carlton can win.

VERDICT: Carlton by 11 points

Geelong v Essendon, MCG, 1.20pm

The challenges just keep on coming for Geelong. And on what we have witnessed in the opening six rounds of 2019, it would take a brave person to suggest the Cats won’t meet those challenges head-on after their dismantling of West Coast.

Essendon have picked themselves up following a dreadful 0-2 start to the season and are likely to be bolstered this week by the return of last season’s best and fairest Devon Smith and silky small forward Orazio Fantasia. Both reek of class and can shape this contest

A key in Geelong’s powerful start to the season has been their ability to extract consistent performances from their proven performers, while fresh faces Gary Rohan and Luke Dahlhaus have carried out their roles also. This is clearly the best match of the round.

VERDICT: Essendon by 3 points

Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval, 2.40pm

The football world is not so sure. On what you might ask? Whether the Crows have actually turned the corner or  merely teased us in the past fortnight with wins over Gold Coast and St Kilda.

We will have a clearer picture after this match. While the Dockers have the same 4-2 formline as St Kilda’s, their brand of football and overall talent level within the squad, headlined by Nat Fyfe, David Mundy and Michael Walters, appears more sustainable than the Saints. Therefore, they will ask many questions of Adelaide.

The Crows could well have the answers. The form of Brodie Smith off half-back has been brilliant, a reminder of how good a player he was before he tore an anterior cruciate ligament late in 2017. Then there is co-captain Taylor Walker, who has booted seven goals in the past fortnight. All good sides boast a powerful key forward.

VERDICT: Adelaide by 14 points

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