Digby Beacham’s AFL Season Preview Posted on March 16, 2020March 19, 2020 | Posted by Digby Beacham Premiers – Richmond $4.50* There is no denying Richmond are going to be fully extended in their bid to win back-to-back premierships. But on what we have seen over the past three seasons, there is no better side in the competition to overcome any obstacles they encounter than the Tigers. That Tom Lynch was able to have the contribution he did in 2019 off the back of an injury-interrupted pre-season is extremely daunting for opposition sides. He is a genuine key-position star and forms a potent one-two punch with Jack Riewoldt forward of centre. It is fair to expect him to be better again this season, while the return from brain surgery of Jack Higgins also provides Damien Hardwick with more options at selection. Dustin Martin sits comfortably atop the heap as the competition’s best player and Trent Cotchin, a Brownlow medallist, has strong claims on the mantle as the league’s best captain. Alex Rance will again miss, just as he did for all but three quarters of 2019, but David Astbury, Dylan Grimes, Bachar Houli and Nick Vlastuin work splendidly in a resolute back half. Just as Lynch is expected to elevate again this year, Marlion Pickett and Sydney Stack should be expecting to play each and every week after having a taste last season. Throw in the obvious advantage of playing regularly at the MCG and it is little wonder Richmond are a popular premiership selection. Rising Star Winner – Max King $8* Genuine excitement surrounds the debut campaigns of Gold Coast pair, close friends Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. The duo are going to find a lot of football and have the makings of being high-calibre AFL players. But St Kilda’s Max King has the tools to get to another level entirely. The teenager didn’t play an AFL match last season after being selected fourth in the national draft, but in five VFL matches kicked more than 10 goals as a spindly, key-position prospect. With the benefit of another pre-season under his belt, King is going to give himself every opportunity to show his wares. Publicly, Saints officials and coaches are guarded about what they say about King, but privately are salivating at what he can deliver. In a sign of how highly he is regarded, King has been handed the No.12 jumper worn most recently by arguably the greatest Saint of all, Nick Riewoldt. He has Rising Star written all over him. Brownlow Medal – Patrick Cripps $6* WA bull Patrick Cripps just gets better and better. Brave, durable and a contested-ball beast, his CV deserves to boast a Brownlow Medal. With no bad luck in 2020, that may well be forthcoming. Cripps continually leads by example in the Carlton midfield and is a proven votegetter. His growing ability to push forward and kick goals — he booted four majors in a win mid-season over Brisbane in 2019 — only enhances his claims. Cripps polled 26 votes last season and while young Sam Walsh finds plenty of football and Zac Fisher is a talented young midfielder/forward, the absence of proven teammates in the eyes of umpires counts in his favour. Dual medal winner Nat Fyfe will have his share of admirers, and for good reason. The same applies to Dustin Martin, Marcus Bontempelli and Tim Kelly in this era of midfielders running up big numbers, but Cripps is now at the peak of his powers and can claim a first Brownlow this year. Ladder Prediction 1. Richmond 2. West Coast 3. GWS 4. Western Bulldogs 5. Collingwood 6. Brisbane 7. Essendon 8. Melbourne 9. Hawthorn 10. North Melbourne 11. St Kilda 12. Geelong 13. Port Adelaide 14. Fremantle 15. Sydney 16. Carlton 17. Adelaide 18. Gold Coast *Odds correct as at 8am, 16th March 2020. Market Market
Shayne Williams’ Saturday Greyhound Best Bets October 18, 2025 CANNINGTON Race 2 No. 4 Clifton Jasper Nice young pup going through the grades, was a winner two back in 29.91. Has won 3 from… Read More
TIPS – Greyhound Jet Set Podcast October 17, 2025 Mandurah Friday David Shortte 3-2 Sky Reign 5-5 Surf The Sun 6-9 Elite Deluxe 8-3 Sunset Oyster ROVING BANKERS : 2-2 Jayde McCool / 4-4… Read More
Weekend Tipsters October 17, 2025 Caulfield Saturday Glenn Ingram Quaddie 1 3 11 – 2 3 8 10 – 15 – 1 2 5 10 Best Bets 3-3 Just A… Read More
Glenn Ingram’s Saturday Caulfield Preview October 17, 2025 RACE 1 SULEK lands in a good spot midfield or forward of, a progressive type on the improve and will be strong late. BACASH got… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Randwick Preview October 17, 2025 Race 1 Everest day at Randwick on Saturday plus the Group 1 King Charles, there’s also a cracking support card. Keep an eye on the… Read More
Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview October 17, 2025 RACE 1 SATURDAY SESH took full advantage of the on-speed nature of the Kalgoorlie track over the traditional annual race round and recorded his third… Read More
Apocalyptic poised to conquer Caulfield October 17, 2025 The Melbourne Spring Carnival kicks up a notch this Saturday as Caulfield hosts a selection of the Carnival’s most anticipated races, including the Thousand Guineas…. Read More
Ka Ying Rising ready to shake up Australia October 17, 2025 When the gates crash back at Randwick for The Everest, all eyes will be on Ka Ying Rising – Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Kalgoorlie Preview October 17, 2025 RACE 1 LAVISH CHARM looks a $1.12/$1.14 pop? Two runs this prep for Peter Fernie: maiden win over 1200m by 4.4L at $1.24 and a… Read More
Matt Young’s Sunday Kellerberrin Preview October 17, 2025 Race 1 GINNIVAN (5) was solid in his return run, doing the work outside the eventual winner but he never shirked the task, expecting him… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Friday Greyhound Best Bets October 17, 2025 MANDURAH Race 1 No. 7 Cracker Dust Willing to have something on this dog, now he’s first up for 5 months but he did show… Read More
Matt Young’s Friday Bunbury Preview October 17, 2025 Race 1 Open race, TRITTRITTBANGBANG (4) has the speed to burn across and lead and the distance suits, but his form is not flash and… Read More