Round 9
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons
May 17th (Friday 6.10pm) Optus Stadium
A trip to the West couldn’t come at a worse time for the Demons with injuries hitting hard. No Melksham, Hibbard and Lewis this weekend makes it a lot tougher. The Eagles had a hard fought win last week vs the Saints and will look to beat the Demons and beat them well to increase their percentage. Last time the Demons went to Optus Stadium they were beat by 60 points in a final and this year haven’t looked like the side that won two finals last year. They will look to bring back a bit of credibility this weekend and put in a strong performance. The Eagles welcome back Willie Rioli who comes in for Jake Waterman.
H2H
West Coast have won 3 of the last 5 games vs the Dees. Prelim final last year they won by 60+
Best Bet
Eagles -22.5 $1.80
Collingwood Pies Vs St Kilda Saints
May 18th (Saturday 1.45pm) MCG
Collingwood were tested last weekend vs a Blues side that is ever improving. They welcome back Dayne Beams who will add to their midfield who is missing Taylor Adams. If the Pies midfield get on top early I think it will be a tough game for the Saints who last weekend pushed the Eagles but were never really in the game after halftime. The Saints looked a top 8 side a few weeks ago but now look like they will be struggling to make it into the top 10. Jack Billings keeps on performing week in week out but he needs support. Long and Webster miss for the Saints. Beams and Varcoe are in for the Pies.
H2H
Collingwood have won 3 of the last 5 games vs the Saints
Best Bet
Collingwood -27.5 $1.90
Brisbane Lions vs Adelaide Crows
May 18th (Saturday 2.10pm) Gabba
This is match of the round Saturday afternoon at the Gabba for two teams who are playing a good brand of football. The Crows after getting off to a bad start to season 2019 have regrouped and have been playing great football. They smashed the Power last week and will love the big open ground of the Gabba. The Lions on the other hand went down to Ballarat to play the Bulldogs and at times looked the winner but the Bulldogs got the chocolates in the end. They will love being back at the Gabba and welcome back Josh Walker and Rhys Mathieson who will add a bit of power up forward and in the midfield. This is a big chance for the Crows to cement themselves in the top 8. They bring in Chayce Jones for Riley Knight.
H2H
Adelaide have won the last 5 games vs the Lions
Best Bet
Crows win $2.10
Crows +4.5 $1.90
Geelong Cats vs Western Bulldogs
May 18th (Saturday 4.35pm) GMHBA
Tough week to be a Dog's supporter with a trip down to the cattery to take on the flag favourites. Geelong look unbeatable and will be looking to smash the Dog’s to increase their percentage as the top 4 will come down to percentage this year. Tim Kelly is in Brownlow form and will be very hard to stop this weekend. Ablett is in form and the Cats defenders look like a wall down back. They welcome back Joel Selwood but lose Ratugolea who is injured. The Dogs go in un changed after a hard fought win vs the Lions last weekend. If the Dogs start well they can make this game competitive but I think it will be a big Cats win on Saturday.
H2H
Geelong have won 4 of the last 5 games vs the Dogs
Best Bet
Cats -30.5 $1.90
Cats +40 $2.45
Essendon Bombers vs Fremantle Dockers
May 18th (Saturday 7.25pm) Marvel Stadium
Essendon have been blasted in the media all week for not seeming to care after the Sydney game. Players smiling and laughing after going down by a kick isn’t a good look. I would watch out if I was the Dockers the Dons get back to their home ground and will look to put the pressure on the Dockers early. Who las week were smashed by the Tigers in a game that they were never in. It is a big week for Rory Lobb and Jesse Hogan they didn’t perform last week and need to stand up if they are to beat the Dons. Dons lose Devon Smith but regain Joe Daniher. Dockers have brought back Connor Blakely and dropped ex Don Travis Colyer. Expecting a different Dons side to last week and expecting a spirited performance.
H2H
Fremantle have won 3 of the last 5 games vs the Dons
Best Bet
Dons 1-39 $2.15
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Sydney Swans
May 18th (Saturday 7.25pm) Blundstone Arena
Kangaroos have been the worst performed team in the competition this year but the positive this weekend is that they are playing at their second home ground that being Blundstone Arena. The Kangaroos have a great record down in Tassie and will benefit with a Swans team without Lance Franklin. The Swans had a great win last weekend vs the Dons and will look to win again on the road and try and get their season back on track. Lance Franklin misses again with a hamstring injury and this is becoming a problem for the Swans as they don’t look confident going forward. Kangaroos welcome back McDonald and Thompson who will straighten up their defence. Kangaroos in a thriller.
H2H
Swans have won 4 of the last 5 games vs the Kangaroos
Best Bet
Kangaroos -12.5 $1.90
Kangaroos 1-39 $2.20
Port Adelaide Power vs Gold Coast Suns
May 19th (Sunday 1.10pm) Adelaide Oval
The Power need to win this game and win it well. They have been smashed two weeks in a row by the Crows and the Pies so will be looking forward to a game vs the Suns this weekend. The Power looked in the game last week vs the Crows but the much more experience side won in the end. The Suns last week were up by 6 points with 30 seconds to go and managed to lose unbelievable. Stuart Dew would not of been happy with the performance in the last 5 mins of the game as they didn’t lock the ball down. They have been competitive on the road this year with wins in Melbourne and a close game vs the Eagles. Power will win this game but it will be a lot closer then people think.
H2H
Port Adelaide have won the last 5 games vs the Suns
Best Bet
Gold Coast +34.5 $1.90
Power 1-39 $2.30
Richmond Tigers vs Hawthorn Hawks
May 19th (Sunday 3.20pm) MCG
Tigers played outstanding last Sunday in Perth and looked like the 2017 side that won the Grand final. They were quick, strong and silky when running all over the Dockers. Tom Lynch was a presence up forward and kicked 3 goals. Dustin Martin stood up and controlled the midfield for most of the game. The Tigers are travelling along well and with a win this weekend can set up a top 4 finish in season 2019. The Hawks also had a great victory last weekend vs the Giants, they competed well and ran all over the Giants led by Jaeger O’Meara and Tom Scully. This game will be won in the midfield and whoever can get on top early will go along way in winning on Sunday. Tigers welcome back Rioli and Vlastuin but lose Nankervis and Ross. Hawks are unchanged.
H2H
Tigers have won the last 3 games vs Hawks
Best Bet
Tigers win $1.66
GWS Giants vs Carlton Blues
May 12th (Sunday 3.20pm) Giants
Round 10 finishes in the Harbour city with a game that could be very bad for the Blues. The Giants last week were smashed by the Hawks and will look to bounce back against the team that is coming last in season 2019. The Blues were in the game vs the Pies last weekend for 4 qtrs and Patrick Cripps was a stand out and is looking like a key Brownlow player. The Giants need to win this game and by a big margin. Cameron was kept goalless last weekend and will look to kick a big bag vs Blues and increase his coleman medal lead. Blues need to lock down Josh Kelly if they are any chance this weekend. Mumford, Whitfield and Deledio are back for the Giants but Coniglio and Langdon will miss. Plowman is out for the Blues.
H2H
Giants have won 4 games out of the last 5 games vs the Blues
Best Bet
Giants +40 $1.90
Giants -37.5 $1.90
