Round 3 AFL Preview
Thursday
Adelaide vs Geelong @ Adelaide Oval - 19:50
After beating Collingwood and Melbourne across the first two rounds of the season, Geelong is probably the form team of the competition and definitely deserve to be at the top of the ladder as we head into Round 3. On the other hand, Adelaide had a bad loss at home to Hawthorn in Round 1 and managed to get past Sydney, away, in Round 2.
With this being such a tough call I am going to have to rely on history to give me some help. The last three times these teams have met in Adelaide, the Crows have got the win and, as this game is in Adelaide, I am going to have to stick with the home team. Just!
Adelaide by 18
Friday
Melbourne vs Essendon @ The MCG - 19:50
While Melbourne lost to Geelong down at GMHBA (huh?) oval last weekend, Essendon lost to the Saints in a truly lackluster showing; I'm not sure what is going wrong over at Windy Hill but I wouldn't be too impressed if I was a Bomber fan! The same could certainly be said of Demon's fans but with Oliver, Brayshaw and big Max Gawn managing to stay in great touch, I believe the Demons will be too tough through the midfield for the Bombers. While I still don't know who is going to kick their goals, I'm going with...
Melbourne by 15
Saturday
Carlton vs Sydney @ Marvel Stadium - 13:45
Carlton put in a much better performance against the Power last weekend, and now get to come home to play Sydney at Marvel (tra la la) Stadium on what is looking like a lovely Saturday in Melbourne. Who would have thought it hey...?
With Curnow out for a couple of weeks, this game just got harder to pick, but with Sydney winning every game between these two teams, except one, over the past half a decade, I think the decision has been made.
Sydney by 10
GWS Giants vs Richmond @ Sydney Showgrounds - 16:35
Round 1, Richmond account for Carlton. Round 2, Richmond get an absolute belting at the hands of Collingwood.
Round 1, GWS give Essendon a fair lesson in how to play footy. Round 2, the Eagles say "nuh, uh, ..." THIS is how you play footy!
And here we find ourselves, in Round 3, trying to work out who will take home the biscuits.
A Richmond team without Rance, Houli and now Jack Riewoldt, facing a Giants outfit at home, looking to make amends for a dismal showing over west.
GWS Giants by 29
Brisbane vs Port Adelaide @ The Gabba - 19:25
For me, the surprise packet of the 2019 season to date is the Brisbane Lions who, after fighting hard to beat the Kangaroos in Melbourne, get to return home to the Gabba to take on the also undefeated Power. With the Big O' and Cameron causing headaches for opposition defenses, and Watts out for the Power, I think this game is going to be a very close contest. Will the hardened Port midfield prevail, or will the Lions be able to keep their ladder jumping run alive?
Brisbane by 11
Collingwood vs West Coast @ The MCG - 19:25
The rematch of last years Grand Finalists is at hand, and I'm excited! Both of these teams have had a similar start to the season, with an ugly loss in Round 1 and a great win in Round 2. On both team's Round 2 performance this is a really tough pick to make, but with the Pies playing great football, and being at home on the MCG, I am going to slightly lean over their side of the fence.
Collingwood by 11 points
Sunday
Western Bulldogs vs Gold Coast @ Marvel Stadium - 14:20
While the Suns have been experiencing tight finishes to both of their matches this season, Bulldog fans haven't had the same nail-biting start to 2019 with solid wins over Sydney and Hawthorn. Gold Coast certainly put in a better performance last week to beat a poor Fremantle team, but having to travel back down to Melbourne, and coming up against the great run of the Doggies, will see them having a much tougher time in Round 3.
Western Bulldogs by 33
Hawthorn vs North Melbourne @ The MCG - 15:20
Will Burgoyne recover from an iffy hammy in time for the match? and what about the important Liam Shiels? If both are out they will leave two sizeable holes for Clarkson to try and plaster over. On the upside for the Hawks, Tom Scully got through his first game in the brown & yellow unscathed and will be better for the run.
North Melbourne won the only meeting between these two teams last season, with Hawthorn winning the previous four before that. With their grunt at the coal-face, and Ben Brown due a big game (hey, it is Round 3 after all...) I think the Kangas might just have the edge.
North Melbourne by 13
Fremantle vs St. Kilda @ Optus Stadium - 17:20
After a surprisingly bad showing against the Suns last weekend, the Dockers get to return home to try and salvage a bit of pride in their Round 3 clash with St Kilda. Even with the Saint's improved performance last week I'm expecting the Dockers to win the hit-outs, and for Fyfe and Hill to relish being back on the wide-open expanses of Optus Stadium.
Fremantle by 25 points
Adelaide vs Geelong @ Adelaide Oval - 19:50
After beating Collingwood and Melbourne across the first two rounds of the season, Geelong is probably the form team of the competition and definitely deserve to be at the top of the ladder as we head into Round 3. On the other hand, Adelaide had a bad loss at home to Hawthorn in Round 1 and managed to get past Sydney, away, in Round 2.
With this being such a tough call I am going to have to rely on history to give me some help. The last three times these teams have met in Adelaide, the Crows have got the win and, as this game is in Adelaide, I am going to have to stick with the home team. Just!
Adelaide by 18
Friday
Melbourne vs Essendon @ The MCG - 19:50
While Melbourne lost to Geelong down at GMHBA (huh?) oval last weekend, Essendon lost to the Saints in a truly lackluster showing; I'm not sure what is going wrong over at Windy Hill but I wouldn't be too impressed if I was a Bomber fan! The same could certainly be said of Demon's fans but with Oliver, Brayshaw and big Max Gawn managing to stay in great touch, I believe the Demons will be too tough through the midfield for the Bombers. While I still don't know who is going to kick their goals, I'm going with...
Melbourne by 15
Saturday
Carlton vs Sydney @ Marvel Stadium - 13:45
Carlton put in a much better performance against the Power last weekend, and now get to come home to play Sydney at Marvel (tra la la) Stadium on what is looking like a lovely Saturday in Melbourne. Who would have thought it hey...?
With Curnow out for a couple of weeks, this game just got harder to pick, but with Sydney winning every game between these two teams, except one, over the past half a decade, I think the decision has been made.
Sydney by 10
GWS Giants vs Richmond @ Sydney Showgrounds - 16:35
Round 1, Richmond account for Carlton. Round 2, Richmond get an absolute belting at the hands of Collingwood.
Round 1, GWS give Essendon a fair lesson in how to play footy. Round 2, the Eagles say "nuh, uh, ..." THIS is how you play footy!
And here we find ourselves, in Round 3, trying to work out who will take home the biscuits.
A Richmond team without Rance, Houli and now Jack Riewoldt, facing a Giants outfit at home, looking to make amends for a dismal showing over west.
GWS Giants by 29
Brisbane vs Port Adelaide @ The Gabba - 19:25
For me, the surprise packet of the 2019 season to date is the Brisbane Lions who, after fighting hard to beat the Kangaroos in Melbourne, get to return home to the Gabba to take on the also undefeated Power. With the Big O' and Cameron causing headaches for opposition defenses, and Watts out for the Power, I think this game is going to be a very close contest. Will the hardened Port midfield prevail, or will the Lions be able to keep their ladder jumping run alive?
Brisbane by 11
Collingwood vs West Coast @ The MCG - 19:25
The rematch of last years Grand Finalists is at hand, and I'm excited! Both of these teams have had a similar start to the season, with an ugly loss in Round 1 and a great win in Round 2. On both team's Round 2 performance this is a really tough pick to make, but with the Pies playing great football, and being at home on the MCG, I am going to slightly lean over their side of the fence.
Collingwood by 11 points
Sunday
Western Bulldogs vs Gold Coast @ Marvel Stadium - 14:20
While the Suns have been experiencing tight finishes to both of their matches this season, Bulldog fans haven't had the same nail-biting start to 2019 with solid wins over Sydney and Hawthorn. Gold Coast certainly put in a better performance last week to beat a poor Fremantle team, but having to travel back down to Melbourne, and coming up against the great run of the Doggies, will see them having a much tougher time in Round 3.
Western Bulldogs by 33
Hawthorn vs North Melbourne @ The MCG - 15:20
Will Burgoyne recover from an iffy hammy in time for the match? and what about the important Liam Shiels? If both are out they will leave two sizeable holes for Clarkson to try and plaster over. On the upside for the Hawks, Tom Scully got through his first game in the brown & yellow unscathed and will be better for the run.
North Melbourne won the only meeting between these two teams last season, with Hawthorn winning the previous four before that. With their grunt at the coal-face, and Ben Brown due a big game (hey, it is Round 3 after all...) I think the Kangas might just have the edge.
North Melbourne by 13
Fremantle vs St. Kilda @ Optus Stadium - 17:20
After a surprisingly bad showing against the Suns last weekend, the Dockers get to return home to try and salvage a bit of pride in their Round 3 clash with St Kilda. Even with the Saint's improved performance last week I'm expecting the Dockers to win the hit-outs, and for Fyfe and Hill to relish being back on the wide-open expanses of Optus Stadium.
Fremantle by 25 points
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