Round 4 AFL Preview
Thursday
Sydney vs W. Bulldogs @ The SCG - 19:40
At the SCG this Thursday night the Swans and Bulldogs look to keep the wins coming as they face off under lights. The Swans did well to get an away win over the Roos last round, while the Bulldogs put in a much-improved effort to beat the Giants in a low-scoring contest. With both teams playing a tough, effort-filled style of footy this should be a very willing contest and one that will be good to watch if you loved 80's football. It will be interesting to see who lines up for the Swans, and we hope Tom McCartin makes a quick recovery.
Bulldogs by 5 points
Friday
GWS Giants vs Collingwood @ Giants Stadium - 19:50
In their match against Collingwood at home this weekend, the Giants will need to show a solid reversal of form if they are to keep up with the improving Magpies, even at home! The Magpies bounced back from the ordinary match against the Tigers, to beat St. Kilda by a solid 44 points. Pies fans would have been extra pleased as a lot of the good work was done by the club's younger players, supporting the old-guard. Giants supporters will be excited to see Kelly, Whitfield and Greene back in this match's line-up. *flips coin*
Giants by 7 points
Saturday
Port Adelaide vs West Coast @ Metricon Stadium - 13:45
At another game played at Metricon between two teams that aren't from Queensland, we have an impressive Port Adelaide team coming up against a West Coast outfit that has looked out of sorts these past two rounds. While there is no doubting the talent in the Eagle's line-up, they just aren't playing a style of football that puts faith in them being able to be a quality team in the Power. Even though Xavier Duursma will be missing for a few weeks, after "pinging" his hammy, the Power have enough quality players to cover for him and get the win.
Port Adelaide by 29 points
St. Kilda vs Richmond @ Marvel Stadium - 16:35
While St. Kilda was brought back to the turf with a thud by Collingwood last week, Hawthorn did the same to Richmond, leading to a match between two teams looking to right the ship of this shortened season. While St. Kilda played a good game two weeks ago, the Tigers have looked very ordinary in their two matches since the re-start, making for a harder selection than I would have thought. While Dan Butler will be looking to make an impact against his old team, I can't see the Saints being able to kick a high enough score to win.
Richmond by 23 points
Essendon vs Carlton @ The MCG - 19:40
Connor McKenna's actions will be felt quite severely by his teammates this week, as the Bombers go into this match down a couple of members of its backline, and while Carlton doesn't have the most potent of forward set-ups, the likes of Betts, Casboult and McGovern will certainly relish the opportunity to make a big impact. For the Bombers, they are going to be coming off a weekend without playing a match so will be further behind the 8-ball, and when you add these two items up I am going to have to go with the blue baggers.
Carlton by 12 points
Gold Coast vs Fremantle @ Metricon Stadium - 19:40
Gold Coast has been one of the surprise packets of the start of the re-start, having shown great run and carry in their wins over West Coast and Adelaide; the latter being a big 53-point victory over the crow eaters. On the other side of the coin, Fremantle has been finding things a lot tougher, with losses to Brisbane and Port Adelaide across the past two weekends. With the West Australian team having to play another match in Queensland (I can't imagine they will have much support in the crowd) I think the Suns will continue to shine brightly.
Gold Coast by 27 points
Sunday
Brisbane vs Adelaide @ The Gabba - 13:05
Brisbane got another win last round as they come up to meet the floundering Adelaide Crows at the Gabba this weekend. While the Lions beat the Dockers and then went on to smash the Eagles, the Crows have dropped their last two matches to the Power and Suns. Although the Lions just beat the Dockers, they really mauled the Eagles, which usually isn't an easy thing to do. With the way the Crows have been playing the last two matches, they have pretty much shouted out "don't pick us!", so I won't.
Brisbane by 37 points
Melbourne vs Geelong @ The MCG - 15:35
As the other team that missed their fixture last week, the Melbourne Demons come up against the Geelong Cats at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. In their last match, the Demons managed an exciting 1-point win over the Blues, but that was two weekends ago now. Even with the Cats losing to the Blues last weekend, they certainly showed that they can get going; Geelong was down by 42-points in the third quarter but only lost by 2 points, after holding Carlton to a single point while kicking 5-goals 4. While I am sure Gawn will dominate the ruck duel, the Cats will have a plan for it.
Geelong by 19 points
Hawthorn vs North Melbourne @ Marvel Stadium - 18:05
In the last game of Round 4, we have Hawthorn meeting cross-town rivals, North Melbourne on Sunday night. Hawthorn played a great game to knock-off the Tigers last weekend, while the Kangaroos suffered an 11-point loss to Sydney, halting their win-streak at two. The last time these two teams met, it was the Kangaroos coming away with a 22-point win. Even with Goldstein's efforts, I think the Hawks will have too much for the Roos to get past in this one.
Hawthorn by 16
Sydney vs W. Bulldogs @ The SCG - 19:40
At the SCG this Thursday night the Swans and Bulldogs look to keep the wins coming as they face off under lights. The Swans did well to get an away win over the Roos last round, while the Bulldogs put in a much-improved effort to beat the Giants in a low-scoring contest. With both teams playing a tough, effort-filled style of footy this should be a very willing contest and one that will be good to watch if you loved 80's football. It will be interesting to see who lines up for the Swans, and we hope Tom McCartin makes a quick recovery.
Bulldogs by 5 points
Friday
GWS Giants vs Collingwood @ Giants Stadium - 19:50
In their match against Collingwood at home this weekend, the Giants will need to show a solid reversal of form if they are to keep up with the improving Magpies, even at home! The Magpies bounced back from the ordinary match against the Tigers, to beat St. Kilda by a solid 44 points. Pies fans would have been extra pleased as a lot of the good work was done by the club's younger players, supporting the old-guard. Giants supporters will be excited to see Kelly, Whitfield and Greene back in this match's line-up. *flips coin*
Giants by 7 points
Saturday
Port Adelaide vs West Coast @ Metricon Stadium - 13:45
At another game played at Metricon between two teams that aren't from Queensland, we have an impressive Port Adelaide team coming up against a West Coast outfit that has looked out of sorts these past two rounds. While there is no doubting the talent in the Eagle's line-up, they just aren't playing a style of football that puts faith in them being able to be a quality team in the Power. Even though Xavier Duursma will be missing for a few weeks, after "pinging" his hammy, the Power have enough quality players to cover for him and get the win.
Port Adelaide by 29 points
St. Kilda vs Richmond @ Marvel Stadium - 16:35
While St. Kilda was brought back to the turf with a thud by Collingwood last week, Hawthorn did the same to Richmond, leading to a match between two teams looking to right the ship of this shortened season. While St. Kilda played a good game two weeks ago, the Tigers have looked very ordinary in their two matches since the re-start, making for a harder selection than I would have thought. While Dan Butler will be looking to make an impact against his old team, I can't see the Saints being able to kick a high enough score to win.
Richmond by 23 points
Essendon vs Carlton @ The MCG - 19:40
Connor McKenna's actions will be felt quite severely by his teammates this week, as the Bombers go into this match down a couple of members of its backline, and while Carlton doesn't have the most potent of forward set-ups, the likes of Betts, Casboult and McGovern will certainly relish the opportunity to make a big impact. For the Bombers, they are going to be coming off a weekend without playing a match so will be further behind the 8-ball, and when you add these two items up I am going to have to go with the blue baggers.
Carlton by 12 points
Gold Coast vs Fremantle @ Metricon Stadium - 19:40
Gold Coast has been one of the surprise packets of the start of the re-start, having shown great run and carry in their wins over West Coast and Adelaide; the latter being a big 53-point victory over the crow eaters. On the other side of the coin, Fremantle has been finding things a lot tougher, with losses to Brisbane and Port Adelaide across the past two weekends. With the West Australian team having to play another match in Queensland (I can't imagine they will have much support in the crowd) I think the Suns will continue to shine brightly.
Gold Coast by 27 points
Sunday
Brisbane vs Adelaide @ The Gabba - 13:05
Brisbane got another win last round as they come up to meet the floundering Adelaide Crows at the Gabba this weekend. While the Lions beat the Dockers and then went on to smash the Eagles, the Crows have dropped their last two matches to the Power and Suns. Although the Lions just beat the Dockers, they really mauled the Eagles, which usually isn't an easy thing to do. With the way the Crows have been playing the last two matches, they have pretty much shouted out "don't pick us!", so I won't.
Brisbane by 37 points
Melbourne vs Geelong @ The MCG - 15:35
As the other team that missed their fixture last week, the Melbourne Demons come up against the Geelong Cats at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. In their last match, the Demons managed an exciting 1-point win over the Blues, but that was two weekends ago now. Even with the Cats losing to the Blues last weekend, they certainly showed that they can get going; Geelong was down by 42-points in the third quarter but only lost by 2 points, after holding Carlton to a single point while kicking 5-goals 4. While I am sure Gawn will dominate the ruck duel, the Cats will have a plan for it.
Geelong by 19 points
Hawthorn vs North Melbourne @ Marvel Stadium - 18:05
In the last game of Round 4, we have Hawthorn meeting cross-town rivals, North Melbourne on Sunday night. Hawthorn played a great game to knock-off the Tigers last weekend, while the Kangaroos suffered an 11-point loss to Sydney, halting their win-streak at two. The last time these two teams met, it was the Kangaroos coming away with a 22-point win. Even with Goldstein's efforts, I think the Hawks will have too much for the Roos to get past in this one.
Hawthorn by 16
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