Round 4 AFL Preview
Thursday
Sydney vs Melbourne @ The SCG - 19:20
To kick off Round 4 we have two teams that are struggling at the start of the 2019 season. The Demons are sitting at the bottom of the ladder (what the...?), while the Swans have managed the one win, against Carlton. As both teams are in pretty poor form so far, let's look back at the history between these two clubs and see if that gives us any help...
It seems that no matter where they have played over the past half a decade, the Swans have come away with the win and even with Max Gawn winning the hit-outs, in their Sydney sand-trap (should the AFL apologise to the soccer players?), the Swannies should be able to edge out the disappointing Demons.
Sydney by 11
Friday
Collingwood vs Western Bulldogs @ The MCG - 19:50
Both teams in this match had a disappointing Round 3 and will be looking to bounce back with a win. While the Magpies had a narrow loss to the reigning premiers, the Doggies went down to the visiting Suns, a result I am sure they wouldn't have expected; getting ahead of themselves much? With both team's strength lying in their midfield, the Pies forwards, and backs will be too strong for their Bulldog counterparts. Expect to see Grundy have a huge day in the ruck and around the ground!
Collingwood by 26
Saturday
Geelong vs GWS Giants @ GMHBA Stadium - 13:45
Along with the Eagles, Geelong would be the form team of the season so far with wins over Adelaide, in Adelaide, Melbourne and Collingwood. The Giants weren't great last week. Well, not for the first three quarters. They then broke free for a fantastic last quarter to put the Tigers to the sword.
If this game was up in Sydney I may lean towards the home team, but down in Geelong, I think the Catters can get win number 4.
Geelong by 21
Essendon vs Brisbane @ The MCG - 14:10
The Bombers got their first win of the season last round, getting past the lack-lustre Demons at the MCG. Up in Brisbane the Lions managed to get past the Power in a fast finish to an exciting game. Besides the results of Round 3, these two teams don't have much in common early in Season 2019; Essendon fourth last on the ladder, while their opponents are sitting up high in second place with three wins.
With all indicators, except the venue, pointing to the Lions continuing on their winning ways... I'll go along.
Brisbane by 19
Port Adelaide vs Richmond @ Adelaide Oval - 16:35
While Port Adelaide had a narrow loss to the Lions up in Brisbane last weekend, the Tigers were destroyed in the last quarter by the Giants, who ran out big winners. As has been splashed around the media this week, the Tigers are looking like they will be without Rance, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Short, Houli and probably Martin for this game. When you add Shaun Grigg in there, it is something like 1,500 games of experience out. Just huge! While the Power hasn't been great at home so far, they have shown flashes of the talent they have on the team. With so many senior Richmond players being out, and Port Adealide able to physically impose themselves on the Tigers in the past, good luck Tigers... you're going to need it!
Power by 32
North Melbourne vs Adelaide @ Marvel Stadium - 19:25
Over the past five years, every game between these two sides has gone the way of the home team, so why would this game be any different? That's a good question you ask right there! While both teams have quality through the midfield, I believe the 2019 Crows model, with the Rorys and Crouches, is a step above those that North can field next Saturday. Even though Ben Brown is due a big game (7 disp and 1 goal 2 points last week) he hasn't shown much so far, but then neither has Taylor Walker, with a near exact copy of Brown's stats last round;(7 disp and 1 goal 1 behind). While history says this should be a Kangaroo win, I'm going to buck the trend and back the Crow's midfield, hopefully with Jacobs back in the team to lead the way.
Adelaide by 28
West Coast vs Fremantle @ Optus Stadium - 20:10
In the first Western Derby for 2019, we see the high-flying Eagles up against the ship-to-shore Dockers. One team is on top of their game, while the other struggled to get past St Kilda in Round 3, and had their best player suffer a nasty looking head-clash towards the end of the game. Will Fyfe be okay for this match?
Coming off a great win against Collingwood last week, the Eagles should have no problem dispatching a Dockers team that has been having trouble kicking a decent score the last couple of weeks. This game could get ugly for the Purple and White.
West Coast by 43
Sunday
Gold Coast vs Carlton @ Metricon Stadium - 14:40
A game between two of last years battlers is shaping as a pretty decent looking contest. Both teams have been markedly better in 2019, with Carlton falling just short of Sydney last week, and Gold Coast keeping in front of the Bulldogs to the siren. While Carlton has a solid midfield, Rory Lobbe has to get more involved around the ground! Gone are the days where the ruck can just give the ball a whack before dropping back to fill the gap at CHB. While on the topic of rucks, and rucking, the combination of Jarrod Witts and Peter Wright was huge for the Suns last weekend, netting 71 hit-outs between them. The Blues really need Kreuzer to get back into the team ASAP.
Strange as it is... Across their past four meetings, two in Melbourne and two on the Gold Coast, both teams have only won when away!
Gold Coast by 15
St. Kilda vs Hawthorn @ Marvel Stadium - 15:20
I thought the Hawks were going to lose to the Roos last round, but they managed to get their act together after half-time and do enough for the win. For the Saints, if they had've kicked straighter they woulda, shoulda and coulda come away with a quality win after the big trip west. Unfortunately for their supporters they didn't, and as we all know, (say it along with me now) 'bad kicking for goal is bad footy!'
With O'Meara in great form, and Chat Wingard snagging three goals in his Hawthorn debut, I just can't see the Saints being able to keep up with the Hawks across a whole game.
Hawthorn by 25
Sydney vs Melbourne @ The SCG - 19:20
To kick off Round 4 we have two teams that are struggling at the start of the 2019 season. The Demons are sitting at the bottom of the ladder (what the...?), while the Swans have managed the one win, against Carlton. As both teams are in pretty poor form so far, let's look back at the history between these two clubs and see if that gives us any help...
It seems that no matter where they have played over the past half a decade, the Swans have come away with the win and even with Max Gawn winning the hit-outs, in their Sydney sand-trap (should the AFL apologise to the soccer players?), the Swannies should be able to edge out the disappointing Demons.
Sydney by 11
Friday
Collingwood vs Western Bulldogs @ The MCG - 19:50
Both teams in this match had a disappointing Round 3 and will be looking to bounce back with a win. While the Magpies had a narrow loss to the reigning premiers, the Doggies went down to the visiting Suns, a result I am sure they wouldn't have expected; getting ahead of themselves much? With both team's strength lying in their midfield, the Pies forwards, and backs will be too strong for their Bulldog counterparts. Expect to see Grundy have a huge day in the ruck and around the ground!
Collingwood by 26
Saturday
Geelong vs GWS Giants @ GMHBA Stadium - 13:45
Along with the Eagles, Geelong would be the form team of the season so far with wins over Adelaide, in Adelaide, Melbourne and Collingwood. The Giants weren't great last week. Well, not for the first three quarters. They then broke free for a fantastic last quarter to put the Tigers to the sword.
If this game was up in Sydney I may lean towards the home team, but down in Geelong, I think the Catters can get win number 4.
Geelong by 21
Essendon vs Brisbane @ The MCG - 14:10
The Bombers got their first win of the season last round, getting past the lack-lustre Demons at the MCG. Up in Brisbane the Lions managed to get past the Power in a fast finish to an exciting game. Besides the results of Round 3, these two teams don't have much in common early in Season 2019; Essendon fourth last on the ladder, while their opponents are sitting up high in second place with three wins.
With all indicators, except the venue, pointing to the Lions continuing on their winning ways... I'll go along.
Brisbane by 19
Port Adelaide vs Richmond @ Adelaide Oval - 16:35
While Port Adelaide had a narrow loss to the Lions up in Brisbane last weekend, the Tigers were destroyed in the last quarter by the Giants, who ran out big winners. As has been splashed around the media this week, the Tigers are looking like they will be without Rance, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Short, Houli and probably Martin for this game. When you add Shaun Grigg in there, it is something like 1,500 games of experience out. Just huge! While the Power hasn't been great at home so far, they have shown flashes of the talent they have on the team. With so many senior Richmond players being out, and Port Adealide able to physically impose themselves on the Tigers in the past, good luck Tigers... you're going to need it!
Power by 32
North Melbourne vs Adelaide @ Marvel Stadium - 19:25
Over the past five years, every game between these two sides has gone the way of the home team, so why would this game be any different? That's a good question you ask right there! While both teams have quality through the midfield, I believe the 2019 Crows model, with the Rorys and Crouches, is a step above those that North can field next Saturday. Even though Ben Brown is due a big game (7 disp and 1 goal 2 points last week) he hasn't shown much so far, but then neither has Taylor Walker, with a near exact copy of Brown's stats last round;(7 disp and 1 goal 1 behind). While history says this should be a Kangaroo win, I'm going to buck the trend and back the Crow's midfield, hopefully with Jacobs back in the team to lead the way.
Adelaide by 28
West Coast vs Fremantle @ Optus Stadium - 20:10
In the first Western Derby for 2019, we see the high-flying Eagles up against the ship-to-shore Dockers. One team is on top of their game, while the other struggled to get past St Kilda in Round 3, and had their best player suffer a nasty looking head-clash towards the end of the game. Will Fyfe be okay for this match?
Coming off a great win against Collingwood last week, the Eagles should have no problem dispatching a Dockers team that has been having trouble kicking a decent score the last couple of weeks. This game could get ugly for the Purple and White.
West Coast by 43
Sunday
Gold Coast vs Carlton @ Metricon Stadium - 14:40
A game between two of last years battlers is shaping as a pretty decent looking contest. Both teams have been markedly better in 2019, with Carlton falling just short of Sydney last week, and Gold Coast keeping in front of the Bulldogs to the siren. While Carlton has a solid midfield, Rory Lobbe has to get more involved around the ground! Gone are the days where the ruck can just give the ball a whack before dropping back to fill the gap at CHB. While on the topic of rucks, and rucking, the combination of Jarrod Witts and Peter Wright was huge for the Suns last weekend, netting 71 hit-outs between them. The Blues really need Kreuzer to get back into the team ASAP.
Strange as it is... Across their past four meetings, two in Melbourne and two on the Gold Coast, both teams have only won when away!
Gold Coast by 15
St. Kilda vs Hawthorn @ Marvel Stadium - 15:20
I thought the Hawks were going to lose to the Roos last round, but they managed to get their act together after half-time and do enough for the win. For the Saints, if they had've kicked straighter they woulda, shoulda and coulda come away with a quality win after the big trip west. Unfortunately for their supporters they didn't, and as we all know, (say it along with me now) 'bad kicking for goal is bad footy!'
With O'Meara in great form, and Chat Wingard snagging three goals in his Hawthorn debut, I just can't see the Saints being able to keep up with the Hawks across a whole game.
Hawthorn by 25
Will review for round 4 be up this morning ?
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