Richmond Tigers vs Carlton Blues
March 18th (Thursday 7.25pm) MCG
Do they play do they not play? Has been the question on everyone’s lips leading into Round 1. The Corona Virus has swept through Australia and looks certain to cause as much havoc as Dustin Martin did on Grand Final Day. My gut feeling is they will play Round 1 but as soon as one AFL player gets the virus the game will go into lock down but enough about the virus lets focus on the footy. The Tigers won the flag last year and didn’t get tested in the Grand Final by the Giants I am tipping them to go back to back this year. The Blues ended season 2019 on a high winning a few games late but during the 2020 pre-season they looked horrible and in my eyes will find season 2020 very tough, just because you recruited a few players over the summer doesn’t mean you will be winning games of footy. The Tigers midfield will be to strong for a young Blues side led by Patrick Cripps. Look for Martin to get on top early and spot up a full fit Tom Lynch. Tigers by 40+
H2H
Tigers have won the last 5 games vs the Blues
Best Bet
Tigers win $1.35
Dustin Martin to get over 35 touches $4.50
Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood Magpies
March 20th (Friday 7.50pm) Marvel Stadium
My match of the round here. Dogs were storming home in 2019 and if it wasn’t for a first final were they were bullied by the Giants I think they would have pushed further in the finals series. The Bont is in fine form during the pre season and looks to take his game to another level. If he performs and kicks goals from the midfield they will win a lot of games. The Pies on the other hand are safe from Corona with Pendles all clear after a scare during the week. Pies looked good in the preseason and especially Darcy Moore his run and carry off the back line was brilliant if he stays fit he will be a weapon for them. Big loss in the preseason with Dayne Beams retiring from footy for mental health issues. Jordan De Goey looks fit and firing this year and if he takes his game to another level then watch out AFL. My tip for this game is the Dogs in a close one only because it is at Marvel Stadium. The Dogs play the ground so well!!!
H2H
Pies have won three of the last five games vs the Dogs.
Best Bet
Dogs win $2.05
Dogs line +1.5 $1.90
Essendon Bombers vs Fremantle Dockers
March 21st (Saturday 1.45pm) Marvel Stadium
Two teams that are under the pump in season 2020. This is the last year that the Bombers will have John Worsfold as their coach until he hands over the reins to Ben Rutten. Promising signs during the preseason for the Bombers looks a lot like the Eagles of 2006. Lots of run and carry and that will work well for players like Smith and Shiel who are metre gained machines. Fremantle on the other hand are a side I have picked for bottom three if it wasn’t for Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters this team would struggle big time. I can’t see them kicking a score in season 2020 no real full forward and their defence has taken a hit with a lot of injuries in the preseason. I am tipping the Dons and by a big score. Look for Stringer and Smith to get on top early with their forward pressure.
H2H
Bombers have won four of the last five games vs the Dockers.
Best Bet
Dons win $1.45
Dons -14.5 $1.90
Adelaide Crows vs Sydney Swans
March 21st (Saturday 4.35pm) Adelaide Oval
No Buddy no Swans and I stand by that Lance Franklin is out for the start of the season and that will hurt the Swans as a lot of pressure is now on Mccartin who has shown promising signs as a key forward and for life after Buddy. Saying that the Swans did look good in game two of their preseason vs the Kangas they have a few young players coming through and senior players like Rampe and Kennedy look like they can take this team forward and push for finals. The Crows are having their first game under a new coach and from looking at their preseason games they look to be playing a defensive style of attack where defence is first and then they attack through the wings. This will work well as they have quick outside players in Laird and Seedsman. I am tipping the Crows just because this game is at Adelaide Oval and with a new coach the players will be out to prove their worth.
H2H
Crows have three of the past five games vs the Swans.
Best Bet
Crows win $1.67
Gold Coast Suns vs Port Adelaide Power
March 21st (Saturday 7.25pm) Metricon Stadium
How this game is scheduled for a Saturday night is beyond me after the Suns performed so badly in season 2020 but with no crowds this might be an opportunity for the Suns to get some road kills at their home ground. The Suns started the season 2019 with a bang winning their first three games and against good sides and I am tipping an upset and they will beat the Power. The Power along with the Dees are the most under pressure side in 2020, Ken Hinkley knows if he doesn’t make finals he will be without a job and that is fair a team that has promised so much over the last few years hasn’t performed. Charlie Dixon is a big part of the Power doing well in Season 2020 if he performs well then the Power can make a charge at the finals if he crumbles like he has then it's over before it starts. I am tipping the younger Suns players to run over this Power side.
H2H
Power have won the last five games vs the Suns
Best Bet
Suns +13.5 $1.90
GWS Giants vs Geelong Cats
March 21st (Saturday 7.25pm) Giants Stadium
Very interesting game on Saturday night. The Giants made the Grand Final last year when many thought they wouldn’t make it past the first week of the finals but they showed a lot of fight and just fell short at the final hurdle. Inclusions of a fully fit Coniglio will be handy for the Giants because he is a goal kicking midfield. Throw Toby Greene and Jez Cameron up forward it is a scary thought for any defence. They will kick a good score on the weekend and look to beat the Cats in the midfield. The Cats are my side who will be on the slide they finished first last year but were shocking in the Finals and with the loss of Tim Kelly to the Eagles has left a big hole in the Cats midfield. They will struggle to kick a score with an ageing Tom Hawkins. If they don’t make their home ground a fortress then they will miss the top eight. Tipping the Giants and quite comfortably as well.
H2H
Cats have won three of the past five games vs the Giants
Best Bet
Giants win $1.60
Giants -9.5 $1.90
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs St Kilda Saints
March 22nd (Sunday 1.10pm) Marvel Stadium
Looking forward to this game on a Sunday between two teams that I believe will be pushing for the bottom half of the top 8. Both teams are playing an attacking style of the game that will be hard to defend. The Saints have put all their chips and recruited some big names in Bradley Hill who will add so much run and carry for the Saints and he is an elite ball user which the Saints have been lacking in recent years. On the Kangaroos front Rhys Shaw has got this side back to the old ways of the Kangaroos spirit tough hard footy. Cam Zuhaar is a bull at the ball and is leading the Kangaroos like an Glen Archer of old which is what this club needs. I am tipping the Kangas to win this game but it will be a tight contest.
H2H
Kangaroos have won three of the past five games vs the Saints
Best Bet
Kangaroos win $2.05
Kangaroos +2.5 $1.90
Hawthorn Hawks vs Brisbane Lions
March 22nd (Sunday 3.20pm) MCG
The Hawks are my lock for a top four finish this year they have got the final piece of their puzzle in a key forward in Jon Patton who at the Giants kicked 50+ goals in 2016 but has had a shocking run of injuries of late if he can find full fitness and stay injury free then the Hawks will be playing finals. They finished the year off on a high note beating the Eagles on their home deck to ruin their top 4 chances. The Lions last year had a great year but didn’t perform in finals and that happened to the Demons where they didn’t perform in season 2019 I don't think that will be the case for the Lions as their leaders will lift their side when they are done. If they make the Gabba a force they will be very handy again. I am tipping the Hawks this week at the MCG they will be too hard to beat. Look for O’meara to have a big day along with the return of Tom Mitchell!
H2H
Lions have won four of the past five games vs the Hawks
Best Bet
Hawks win $2.02
Hawks +2.5 $1.90
West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne Demons
March 22nd (Sunday 3.20pm) Optus Stadium
Last match of a very weird round 1 sees us head West in a game the Demons will be licking their lips for ever since they were belted by the Eagles in 2018 they haven’t performed up to their standards. The big plus for the Demons as well is that the Eagles don’t have their loud and brutal crowd to listen to which has thrown sides off before. Max Gawn needs to beat Nic Naitanui for the Dees to have any chance of winning on the weekend. If he can get on top and give his midfield first use then they are in for a chance. The Eagles on the other hand will look at season 2020 as a chance to win a flag they have recruited Tim Kelly and with a few of their older players coming to the end of their careers this really is a make or break year for the Eagles. I am tipping the Eagles in this one just because of their forward line and midfield but it will be a chance for the Dees to get one back.
H2H
Eagles have won three of the last five games vs the Dees.
Best Bet
Melbourne +19.5 $1.90
