North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Hawthorn Hawks
August 2nd (Friday 7.50pm) Marvel
Rhyce Shaw has been confirmed for the top job at North Melbourne and what a way to coach your first game then Friday night footy against the Hawks. North last weekend were smashed all over the park vs the Eagles. I put that performance down to travel, they were competitive in the first half but after half time lacked effort and just looked tired. They did play Brisbane the week before and then had to travel to Perth so last week was a loss and move on. Friday night will be a lot different with Shaw being announced as coach the players will be wanting to put their best foot forward. The Hawks last week in my eyes were the better team when they hosted Brisbane in Tassie. Wayward kicking and some bad decisions late cost the side a win which they badly wanted. They will be up for this and I am expecing them to win. Ceglar has been dropped and O’Brien is back for the Hawks while Thompson and Turner are in and Atley and Anderson have been dropped for the Kangas
H2H
The Hawks have won 4 of the past 5 games vs the Kangaroos
Best Bet
Hawks win $1.90
Hawks 1-39 $2.45
Essendon Bombers vs Port Adelaide Power
August 3rd (Saturday 1.45pm) Marvel
WOW you go all out in the free agency to acquire a premiership ruckman and this week you drop him even though he has been one of your better players this year. Something is going on at Port and I think it has nothing to do with the form of their players. Ken Hinkley has gone whack at the selection table over the past 3 weeks dropping senior players. It would be fair to say that he is under extreme pressure from the Power board. It won’t get any easier this weekend when they come up against one of the form teams of the competition in the Bombers. The Bombers used their get out of jail free card against the Suns last weekend and boy did they need it. Credit should be given to the Suns they showed up and gave it everything they had against the Bombers. The Bombers this weekend will benefit getting back to their home ground at Marvel and I am expecting them to put a big score on the Power and make Ken Hinkley week from hell even longer. Good news for the Bombers Fantasia and Mckenna are back who have so much leg speed which will have the Power looking left and right. Bombers in a big win.
H2H
Essendon has won 3 of the past 5 games vs the Power
Best Bet
Bombers -13.5 $1.90
Bombers +40 $4
August 3rd (Saturday 2.10pm) Giants
The Sydney Derby has dished up some classic games since it has started but this weekend I believe the Giants will pull the Swans pants down. The Swans have been competitive in recent weeks but just don’t have the players on the field to be challenging the good sides. They are still without their best player in Lance Franklin and have struggled to kick goals in recent weeks. The Giants on the other hand have been in good form and had a great win for Heath Shaw 300th game last weekend in Adelaide. They held on for a one point victory but it was Davis and Haynes who won them that game with their intercept marking and holding the Power forwards at bay. Giants at their home ground is a scary thought led by Cameron up forward and Greene, Whitfield and Taranto in the middle I can’t see the Swans being able to hold the Giants run and carry. Deledio is back for the Giants who just adds silk and class to their forward line. Giants win easy.
H2H
Sydney has won 3 of the past 5 games vs the Giants
Best bet
Giants +40 $2.87
Fremantle Dockers vs Geelong Cats
August 3rd (Saturday 2.35pm) Optus Stadium
Geelong have taken the unusual preparation route by sending all their players after the Sydney game straight to Perth to have a week training in Perth. I would say this is for Tim Kelly and showing the Cats star that he is a much needed player for Geelong. The Cats have been training at South Fremantle Tim old club. The Cats could rock up 30 mins before this game vs the Dockers because this is going to be one of their easiest wins of season 2019. The big ground of Optus Stadium will suit their players and Dangerfield, Kelly and Selwood are going to have a field day running up and down the wings of Optus Stadium. The Dockers are in turmoil with reports this week that Shane Kirsten has walked out on the club following an argument with Ross Lyon about the way the club has been treating him as he found out they tried to off load him to get Lochie Neal to stay at the club. Add that and poor form is a recipe for disaster. Cats win this easy.
H2H
Geelong have won 4 of the past 5 games vs the Dockers
Best Bet
Cats -16.5 $1.90
Cats 40+ $3.60
Melbourne Demons vs Richmond Tigers
August 3rd (Saturday 7.25pm) MCG
At the start of the year you would have penciled this game into being one of the best of the year and a game that would have a massive impact on the top 4 or even the top 2. Well a year is a long time and many people are wondering what the hell has gone wrong for the Demons. Your season doesn’t get any worse when you lose to the Saints after being up by two goals in the last qtr. I am shocked that Melbourne supporters aren’t calling for Simon Goodwin to be sacked. Yes they made a prelim last year but still you are second last and your list isn’t anything to be proud of. Across the road at Punt Road they are flying, finally starting to get their full squad together apart from Rance and Cotchin the Tigers look back and ready to enter September full of confidence. They are eyeing off a top 2 and a good win here will increase their percentage and possibly by the end of round 20 they will be second on the ladder. Sydney Stack is out with a calf injury but Josh Caddy is back who adds brut. Tigers by a lot.
H2H
Richmond has won 3 of the past 5 games vs the Demons
Best Bet
Tigers -28.5 $1.90
Tigers 40+ $2.60
Adelaide Crows vs St Kilda Saints
August 3rd (Saturday 7.10pm) Adelaide Oval
Don Pyke has again swung the axe and dropped Josh Jenkins which shows he isn’t afraid of the senior players. When you lose to Carlton last week the fans expect a big showing this weekend and no better place than Adelaide Oval in front of the home fans to do this. Bryce Gibbs is back along with Eddie Betts and I expect the Crows to win this game unless the Saints bring their A game they brought their A game in the last qtr vs the Demons last weekend and rolled them to win by 20 points. Josh Bruce is becoming a power forward which the Saints identified when they acquired him from the Giants. If the Saints can bring the heat early they will make this game very interesting for the Crows. If the Crows lose this I can’t see Don Pyke coaching them next year. A big in for the Crows is Darcy Foggarty who is a gun and should of played more games this year.
H2H
Adelaide has won the last 5 games vs the Saints
Best Bet
Saints +18.5 $1.90
Collingwood Magpies vs Gold Coast Suns
August 4th (Sunday 1.10pm) MCG
Great effort from the Suns last Sunday vs the Bombers pushing them the whole way and nearly snatching the game. If they had 3 more experienced players they would have won that game. Stuart Dew can’t be mad at his players or disappointed at his players with that performance last week he would of been stoked. If they can bring that intensity and effort this weekend vs a Pies side that is depleted then they will not embarrass themselves. On the other hand is a Pies side that needs to win this game by a lot to keep them in the hunt for a top 4 spot. Their side has been again hit by injuries this week they will be without De Goey who has a hamstring injuries. Questions need to be asked about the training program the Pies are on. So many soft tissue injuries this year are all adding up at the wrong time of the year. Saying all that I believe they will be to classy for a young Gold Coast side. Big win for the Pies.
H2H
Collingwood has won 4 of the past 5 games vs the Suns
Best Bet
Pies 40+ $2
Carlton Blues vs West Coast Eagles
August 4th (Sunday 3.20pm) Marvel Stadium
Danger game for the Eagles here with the Blues in red hot form and the game being at Marvel Stadium a venue that has been a bit tricky for the Eagles to get their run and carry going. On paper and on form the Eagles should be winning this game quite easy but the Blues under David Teague have found a new belief and will want to test the premiers from last year. David Teague produced a wonderful display of coaching last week to defeat the Crows and enhance his chances of coaching this side for season 2020. Patrick Cripps is in the top 5 players in the comp after last week's domination of the Crows the Eagles have brought back Mark Hutchings who might get the tough ask of tagging him. Elliott Yeo is in career best form and was awesome last weekend vs the Kangas. I am expecting an Eagles win but so hard to get a read on the Blues.
H2H
West Coast has won 4 of the past 5 games vs the Blues
Best Bet
Blues +17.5 $1.90
Brisbane Lions vs Western Bulldogs
August 4th (Sunday 4.40pm) Gabba
Round 20 rounds out in Brisbane for a game that will have some feelings in it. The Dogs had a huge performance last weekend vs the Dockers and they never got out of first gear. If the Dogs bring the heat early vs the Lions they can beat him. The Dogs players would love nothing more then to knock off the Lions who are in the sort of form the Dogs were in 2016 when they went on to win the flag. The Lions again proved to the footy world that they can match it with the best with a great victory in Tasmania over the Hawks. It was led by their midfield who have been nothing but awesome this year. Mitch Robinson is in career best form and looks like a man on a mission to play finals this year. I am tipping a Dogs win here just because the Dogs are out to prove that their season hasn’t been a write off. Lions have been up for a while and a loss wouldn’t be the worst heading into the last three weeks of the season.
H2H
Western Bulldogs have won the last 5 games vs the Lions
Best Bet
Bulldogs win $3.20
Bulldogs +17.5 $1.90
