Round 14 AFL Preview
Thursday
West Coast vs Essendon @ Optus Stadium - 20:10
The 5th placed Eagles will take on 10th placed Essendon at Optus Stadium, Perth, in the first game of Round 14 and while it would be easy to pick a win for West Coast, the Bombers had a good win in Perth just last season: one thing about the match in question is that both of the Eagle's key forwards missed the game, giving a big boost to the Bombers. It won't be the same for this match!
There should be a number of interesting contests in this game, with how the Bomber's backmen Hurley and Hooker match up against the Eagle's Kennedy and Darling; will the Eagles put a tag on Zac Merrett after his great showing last week and which of the Bomber backmen will get the jobs of trying to stop Liam Ryan, Willie Rioli and the speed of Jack Petruccelle? In short, I don't think they'll be able to.
Eagles by 11
Friday
Sydney vs Hawthorn @ The SCG - 19:50
Friday night finds us heading to Sydney for a match between the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn Hawks. While the Swans had a much-needed bye last week, the Hawks suffered a loss against the Bombers, taking them down to 12th spot on the ladder. In spite of being in 15th place, the Swans appear to be starting their "is it that time of year already?" improved second-half of the season, having smashed West Coast by 45 points in their last outing, as they look towards a run at the finals in 2019.
It will be interesting to see if Scrimshaw and Wingard make it back for the Hawks and where Kennedy, Zak Jones and Kieren Jack are at for the Swans. If many make it back, they will give their respective team a good boost.
Even with the Hawks good record against the Swans, I can't see the Swannies letting this one slip.
Sydney by 22
Saturday
Melbourne vs Fremantle @ The MCG - 13:45
On Saturday afternoon we have the Melbourne Demons taking on the Fremantle Dockers at the MCG, and make no mistake about it, the Demon's Max Gawn will be getting ready to have a huge afternoon, as he tries to drag his team across the line against an improved Dockers outfit.
If the script goes the way of games this season, the Demons will win plenty of the ball; get it inside 50 lots but either a. Fail to take a mark within scoring range or b. Waste the opportunities by kicking lots of points. Of course, it could be a decent combination of both!
With Jesse Hogan and Michael Walters showing much-improved form, Stephen Hill being better for the run last round, and the fact that the Dockers got a great win against the Magpies at the G just the other week, they should be able to account for a floundering Demons team.
Dockers by 8
St. Kilda vs Brisbane @ Marvel Stadium - 16:35
Under the Marvel Stadium roof during a cold Saturday evening the Saints will play host to the travelling, and probably frost-bitten, Brisbane Lions. Coming off a four-point come-from-behind win over the Suns last round, the Saints find themselves in 11th place and yet just one game out of the Top 8, but their low percentage would be a worry moving forward in 2019. The Lions are coming off their bye week so should be rested and feeling better after the chance to let some aches and pains subside, even if just for a couple of weeks. While the Saints have performed well this season, I think the Lion's height and speed will be too much for them to contain for a whole match.
Brisbane by 14
Port Adelaide vs Geelong @ Adelaide Oval - 19:40
In Adelaide on Saturday night, the Port Power play host to the league-leading Geelong Cats, who are coming off a weekend of rest and recuperation. The Power will be going into this game after a month of having played just about anywhere except their home ground, and while I'm sure the Power will be happy to be home again, the prospect of playing a rested rampant Geelong isn't going to do much to lift their spirits! Even with the prospect of getting some quality players back, Port Adelaide has only managed to beat the Cats once from their past fifteen attempts AND the Catters are playing better footy now than they have for quite a while!
Geelong by 26
Sunday
Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood @ Marvel Stadium - 15:20
After surviving a mighty scare from the Blues last round, the Western Bulldogs take on the Collingwood Magpies at Marvel Stadium in the only game this coming Sunday. After a weekend off last round, the Magpies will be looking to start the second half of the season in the same winning ways that see them sitting 3rd to start the round. With the Doggies having the quality of Dunkley, McRae, Liberatore and Bontempelli in the middle, the Pies will have to be sure to take advantage of the dominance that Brodie Grundy will have in the ruck; last time these two teams met, Grundy won the hit-outs 60-6. Wow!
Collingwood by 24
Byes: Adelaide, Carlton, Gold Coast, GWS Giants, North Melbourne, Richmond
West Coast vs Essendon @ Optus Stadium - 20:10
The 5th placed Eagles will take on 10th placed Essendon at Optus Stadium, Perth, in the first game of Round 14 and while it would be easy to pick a win for West Coast, the Bombers had a good win in Perth just last season: one thing about the match in question is that both of the Eagle's key forwards missed the game, giving a big boost to the Bombers. It won't be the same for this match!
There should be a number of interesting contests in this game, with how the Bomber's backmen Hurley and Hooker match up against the Eagle's Kennedy and Darling; will the Eagles put a tag on Zac Merrett after his great showing last week and which of the Bomber backmen will get the jobs of trying to stop Liam Ryan, Willie Rioli and the speed of Jack Petruccelle? In short, I don't think they'll be able to.
Eagles by 11
Friday
Sydney vs Hawthorn @ The SCG - 19:50
Friday night finds us heading to Sydney for a match between the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn Hawks. While the Swans had a much-needed bye last week, the Hawks suffered a loss against the Bombers, taking them down to 12th spot on the ladder. In spite of being in 15th place, the Swans appear to be starting their "is it that time of year already?" improved second-half of the season, having smashed West Coast by 45 points in their last outing, as they look towards a run at the finals in 2019.
It will be interesting to see if Scrimshaw and Wingard make it back for the Hawks and where Kennedy, Zak Jones and Kieren Jack are at for the Swans. If many make it back, they will give their respective team a good boost.
Even with the Hawks good record against the Swans, I can't see the Swannies letting this one slip.
Sydney by 22
Saturday
Melbourne vs Fremantle @ The MCG - 13:45
On Saturday afternoon we have the Melbourne Demons taking on the Fremantle Dockers at the MCG, and make no mistake about it, the Demon's Max Gawn will be getting ready to have a huge afternoon, as he tries to drag his team across the line against an improved Dockers outfit.
If the script goes the way of games this season, the Demons will win plenty of the ball; get it inside 50 lots but either a. Fail to take a mark within scoring range or b. Waste the opportunities by kicking lots of points. Of course, it could be a decent combination of both!
With Jesse Hogan and Michael Walters showing much-improved form, Stephen Hill being better for the run last round, and the fact that the Dockers got a great win against the Magpies at the G just the other week, they should be able to account for a floundering Demons team.
Dockers by 8
St. Kilda vs Brisbane @ Marvel Stadium - 16:35
Under the Marvel Stadium roof during a cold Saturday evening the Saints will play host to the travelling, and probably frost-bitten, Brisbane Lions. Coming off a four-point come-from-behind win over the Suns last round, the Saints find themselves in 11th place and yet just one game out of the Top 8, but their low percentage would be a worry moving forward in 2019. The Lions are coming off their bye week so should be rested and feeling better after the chance to let some aches and pains subside, even if just for a couple of weeks. While the Saints have performed well this season, I think the Lion's height and speed will be too much for them to contain for a whole match.
Brisbane by 14
Port Adelaide vs Geelong @ Adelaide Oval - 19:40
In Adelaide on Saturday night, the Port Power play host to the league-leading Geelong Cats, who are coming off a weekend of rest and recuperation. The Power will be going into this game after a month of having played just about anywhere except their home ground, and while I'm sure the Power will be happy to be home again, the prospect of playing a rested rampant Geelong isn't going to do much to lift their spirits! Even with the prospect of getting some quality players back, Port Adelaide has only managed to beat the Cats once from their past fifteen attempts AND the Catters are playing better footy now than they have for quite a while!
Geelong by 26
Sunday
Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood @ Marvel Stadium - 15:20
After surviving a mighty scare from the Blues last round, the Western Bulldogs take on the Collingwood Magpies at Marvel Stadium in the only game this coming Sunday. After a weekend off last round, the Magpies will be looking to start the second half of the season in the same winning ways that see them sitting 3rd to start the round. With the Doggies having the quality of Dunkley, McRae, Liberatore and Bontempelli in the middle, the Pies will have to be sure to take advantage of the dominance that Brodie Grundy will have in the ruck; last time these two teams met, Grundy won the hit-outs 60-6. Wow!
Collingwood by 24
Byes: Adelaide, Carlton, Gold Coast, GWS Giants, North Melbourne, Richmond
Comments
Post a Comment