After weeks of getting to get used to an inevitable Collingwood victory, all of us get some badly wanted respite in Spherical 14.
Not as a result of the Pies are taking part in somebody higher than them or something; it’s as a result of they’re on their bye, together with Gold Coast, Sydney and Richmond, leaving us with seven video games to hopefully placed on a greater spectacle than final week’s tough slog.
It was a foul weekend for my ideas particularly, paying the value for ambitiously backing West Coast to beat North Melbourne – which they need to have performed – and Essendon to take down Carlton – which they almost did.
With seven clear favourites this weekend, and a number of other matches that seem like rippers, will Spherical 14 be extra fulfilling than Spherical 13?
AFL tipping is BACK on The Roar for 2025! Get your ideas in right here.
Tim Miller
Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Geelong, Fremantle, Melbourne, Carlton
Effectively, final spherical was a little bit of a nightmare for me – ambitiously going towards the grain and choosing West Coast and Essendon blew up in my face, though each solely narrowly misplaced and the Eagles particularly actually ought to have crushed North Melbourne.
Nonetheless, there’s no shut in tipping, and having fallen behind my two co-tippers (I’m no likelihood of catching The Crowd), I’ll must tread rigorously in what looms as a deceptively easy weekend to select.
The Bulldogs are as soon as once more below the Thursday night time lights, and if their historical past this yr of destroying everybody under them and shedding to the groups above them continues, they’ll hand St Kilda a second towelling of the season.
Hawthorn taking up Adelaide in Tasmania on Friday night time – aspect word, when was the final time Launceston received a Friday night time recreation? – looms as an absolute magnificence. God is aware of how the climate, and particularly the wind and the rain, will affect the sport – the conspiracy theorist in me says the league intentionally scheduled it to show why Tasmania wants a roofed stadium – however the Hawks must be used to each, and now that they’re again in type, residence floor benefit may get them over the road.
You couldn’t probably decide GWS towards nearly anyone for the time being, by no means thoughts Brisbane on the Gabba; whereas within the ‘Nation Sport’ on the MCG within the afternoon, I received’t be making the error of choosing an undermanned Essendon two weeks in a row, although I wouldn’t again them towards Geelong even with a full-strength workforce.
As for Saturday night time, North Melbourne face Fremantle at their religious residence of … Optus Stadium. Effectively, the Roos received out of jail towards West Coast in Bunbury, and so they’d most likely lose to the Dockers wherever they performed them, so having it at Freo’s residence floor most likely doesn’t matter within the grand scheme of issues. Fremantle by what number of.
Sunday’s schedule is truthfully baffling, with no footy till 3:20 after which a Fox Footy-exclusive 6:10pm quasi-twilight recreation. It’s everywhere in the store, and given the 2 video games we’re getting, I wouldn’t blame you for tuning out and doing one thing else productive with the Lord’s day.
Port Adelaide versus Melbourne does loom as fascinating, as a result of Port have residence floor benefit and are coming off a powerful win on the highway towards GWS, whereas the Dees did the whole lot to knock over Collingwood however really land the killer blow. I’m leaning Melbourne’s means just because I believe Max Gawn will destroy Dante Visentini within the ruck.
Ending off the spherical, Carlton’s simple run continues towards West Coast. Anticipate the Eagles to place up a combat at residence, however I simply can’t see the Blues’ midfield not totally dominating.
(Photograph by Michael Willson/AFL Pictures through Getty Pictures)
Dem Panopoulos
Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Brisbane, Geelong, Fremantle, Melbourne, Carlton
That was the worst spherical of footy in trendy reminiscence – some may say since COVID, however even at the moment, we have been begging for the distraction that was footy, so one thing was higher than nothing.
Perhaps nothing would have been higher than the one thing final week – even the shut video games weren’t a lot chop.
Anyway, 4 extra groups have the bye, so we transfer on.
Aaron Naughton will likely be licking his lips towards a St Kilda defence that has three All-Australian worthy candidates. He has 16 targets in his final 4 contests towards the Saints, and with Sam Darcy coming again, the strain on him eases a little bit.
The Bulldogs are most likely fourth or fifth on my checklist of who can win the flag proper now, however they should cope with the Saints as workforce ought to – I firmly imagine final week’s loss to Hawthorn was an aberration that may quickly be forgotten.
It’s a good little contest occurring on a Friday night time in Tassie. The Hawks have been good in beating the Canine, whereas the Crows fought to hit the lead towards Brisbane and barely held on, however they’re deserving of their high 4 spot for the time being.
It’s one other problem they’re confronted with, though their greatest points will likely be towards highly effective offences, of which the Hawks will not be one. Nonetheless, in Tassie, it’s a must to favour one of many league’s finest groups who may need now turned a nook.
Saturday early afternoon is between the 2 groups I’ve most likely been most repetitively down on regardless of their pre-season flag favouritism. You’d assume Brisbane will get up on the Gabba, however GWS’s midfield will likely be bolstered with the return of Finn Callaghan, although we’re unsure but on Toby Greene’s availability. Lions for now.
Geelong ought to deal with Essendon comparatively simply, and the Bombers’ pluckiness ought to meet its finish right here, whereas Fremantle has to take full benefit of this away recreation at residence towards North Melbourne on Saturday night time.
Should you’re busy on Sunday, you’re streets forward of these in search of to observe footy.
Port Adelaide and Melbourne will most likely be a low-scoring mess, and it received’t be due to spectacular defensive buildings from genius coaches who pull levers to cease transition in both path – these are two groups that don’t know the way to rating.
Then there’s West Coast taking part in Carlton. The Blues have to really win a recreation by quite a bit, and never let weaker opposition again into the sport. Harry Edwards was wildly spectacular towards Nick Larkey final week, however Charlie Curnow has extra methods.
Somebody inform my brother I’d really make myself out there for indoor cricket on Sunday night time so I don’t have to observe this.
(Photograph by Michael Willson/AFL Pictures through Getty Pictures)
Liam Salter
Western Bulldogs, Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Carlton
Effectively, that wasn’t a very good weekend of soccer. Blame the absence of Freo and the Saints. That is what soccer is with out the league’s two strangest golf equipment.
We’ll see one in every of them on Thursday night time, internet hosting the Doggies. Whereas the Saints loved a break, the Canine continued what’s quick changing into a worrying development for his or her season – their lack of ability to beat the league’s finest groups. They’ve now misplaced to all however one of many high eight golf equipment they’ve performed, with their solely win coming over a deeply-inconsistent Giants outfit.
Happily for them, the Saints – in twelfth – aren’t a very threatening opposition. Sure, they will play some good footy, however the Canine’ calibre stays a lot greater, and the Doggies ought to – ought to – have the ability to simply seize the 4 factors.
Freo, too, returns with the weight of an atrocious report in video games instantly following bye rounds and an odd circumstance of an ‘away’ recreation at Optus Stadium.
Positive, North received final week, however did anybody really win given the terrible soccer on show in Bunbury? If Freo’s a severe membership – and may take advantage of a beneficial few weeks – they win this comfortably. I’m numb to the actual fact I can’t assure that, although.
In a turbulent week for footy in Tassie, they at the least play host to a rattling good recreation tomorrow night time. The Crows – god, the Crows – made a giant reputational leap in besting the reigning premiers final week, however a visit to Hobart is at all times difficult.
The Hawks received again to close their finest final week, and love Tassie. However the place’s the enjoyable in backing the favourites?
However we will’t at all times be enjoyable: as a lot as tippingf the Giants appeals – inconsistency means they’ll be good each different week, and the 2025 Lions aren’t the 2024 Lions, but – Brisbane are so good at residence. A wise decide ensues.
The place to from right here for Port and Melbourne? Port gained 4 factors final week, whereas the Dees let one slip. The Demons have an okay report at Adelaide Oval, however I genuinely can’t muster myself to care sufficient about this recreation. The Energy, I suppose.
The 2 most forgone conclusions, I assume, are the Cats over a VFL stage Essendon aspect (such is the state of their accidents) and Carlton, presumably, over the Eagles within the west. Who is aware of. Footy’s bizarre.
| Spherical 14 | Tim | Dem | Liam | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STK vs WB | WB | WB | WB | ? |
| HAW vs ADE | HAW | HAW | ADE | ? |
| BL vs GWS | BL | BL | BL | ? |
| ESS vs GEE | GEE | GEE | GEE | ? |
| NM vs FRE | FRE | FRE | FRE | ? |
| PA vs MEL | MEL | MEL | PA | ? |
| WCE vs CAR | CAR | CAR | CAR | ? |
| LAST WEEK | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| ROLLING TOTAL | 72 | 74 | 73 | 83 |
