Round 2
Collingwood Magpies vs Richmond Tigers
June 11th (Thursday 7.40pm) MCG
Footy is back and it starts with a bang on Thursday night against two teams who are challenging for this year's flag. Both sides were on fire in the first round of season 2020 but with the extended break it could unease the momentum of both these sides. If the Pies start strongly on Thursday night I think they will push the Tigers all the way in a close game. No fans are annoying as this game would have drawn 80k plus to this one. Tigers forward look very dangerous for the Pies defence with Lynch in very good nick. Dustin Martin in the midfield I think Greenwood will try and go with him for most of the game but if he gets off the chain watch out for a high number of touches and he will kick goals as he pushes forward. It is a big game for De Goey who looks to play more midfield minutes. I am tipping the Pies in a close one they will be ready to rock n roll come Thursday night and will want to knock off the Tigers and push their premiership credentials. Pies have brought in another ruck man in Darcy Cameron to help Brodie Grundy.
H2H
Tigers have won three of the last five games vs the Pies.
Best Bet
Pies +7.5 $1.90
Pies win $2.29
Geelong vs Hawthorn
June 12th (Friday 7.50pm) GMHBA
Good way to start the weekend with these two sides on a Friday night. Both of these sides hate each other and have had some cracking battles over the last 20 years. Geelong are falling away from their premiership window but with most of their home games in Geelong this year I expect them to finish top 5 and hunt for a flag. Dangerfield looks in good nick and will need to shoulder the load left by Tim Kelly. The Hawks on the other hand looked dangerous in round 1 and if they can keep their guns on the park and get a full season out of Patton I expect them to feature in finals footy. Big out for the Hakws with O’meara out with a fractured skull. Will be a tight contest early but expect the Cats to get on top later in the game. They play this ground so well and the Hawks haven’t been to Geelong since 2006 where they won a classic. The Cats need Tom Hawkins to fire early and dominate the Hawks back line. Cats by 15+ for me in a tight contest.
H2H
Hawks have won three of the last five games vs the Cats.
Best Bet
Cats -9.5 $1.90
Brisbane Lions vs Fremantle Dockers
The Dockers have landed in Queensland for their four week stint in the isolation hub as the WA premier can’t get his head around people coming into WA to play footy. It is a massive disadvantage for the Dockers as they have to play their home games away from Optus Stadium which gives them a massive advantage over interstate sides. Top it off they play a red hot Brisbane Lions side at the Gabba. Think it couldn’t get worse well they are a chance to be without Cam Mccarthy who fainted last week during a routine skills session and looks likely to miss this weekend. The Lions lost round 1 to a fired up Hawks but they will be winning this game and I expect them to dominate this game from the first bounce. They are a class above the Freo side and will look to get back on the winners list. Lachie Neale against his old side he could have 30+ and add salt to the wound. Charlie Cameron will be to fast for the Dockers defenders and will look to build on his All Australian season. Lions by 40+
June 13th (Saturday 1.45pm) Gabba
Bet of the round
H2H
Dockers have won three of the last five games vs the Lions.
Best Bet
Lions -18.5 $1.90
Carlton Blues vs Melbourne Demons
June 13th (Saturday 4.45pm) Marvel Stadium
Big game for both sides who promise so much but have delivered nothing over the last 10 years. The Demons played finals in 2018 but after that the wheels have fallen off dramatically and finished 17th last year. They have brought in Harley Bennell for his first game in 3 years and lets hope for Harley he gets through this game with no calf issues. He is a star when on and has had a horrid run with injury so lets pray!! The Blues had a competitive round 1 and pushed the Tigers for three quarters before eventually being run over by the flag favourites. I think it will be a very sloppy game and not much skill involved but the Blues can win this if they get off to a good start, they don’t mind playing at Marvel and the Demons absolutely hate it so I am backing the Blues in a sloppy affair. +10.5 for the Blues is a steal get on.
H2H
Demons have won four of the last five games vs the Blues.
Best Bet
Carlton +10.5 $1.90
Carlton win $2.45
Gold Coast Suns vs West Coast Eagles
June 13th (Saturday 7.40pm) Marvel Stadium
It is meant to be raining this weekend on the Gold Coast and it could be raining goals on Saturday night when the Eagles take on the Suns. The Eagles like the Dockers have been forced into the Isolation hub and they have made it known they aren’t particularly happy about it. When the Eagles aren’t happy they look to hurt except Jack Darling and Josh Kennendy to give the younger Suns players a nightmare come Saturday night. The Eagles line is -32.5 it should be -50.5. Kelly, Yeo, Shuey and Gaff in the middle will look to run all day vs a very young Suns midfield and with first use from Nic Nat watch out Suns fans. Easy win for the Eagles who will look to win every game in the Sunshine State.
H2H
Eagles have won three of the last five games vs the Suns.
Best Bet
Eagles -32.5 $1.90
Eagles +40 $2.25
Adelaide Crows vs Port Adelaide Power
June 13th (Saturday 7.50pm) Adelaide Oval
Finally some common sense in Australia with some lucky fans being able to attend the showdown this week. All reports suggesting there will be 5000-10,000 fans at the game this week which is great for all involved. Back to the footy I am unsure how the Crows are $2.75 for this game against a side which didn’t play finals last year and has a very ordinary list in my eyes. I think punters should jump on the Crows ASAP with a 15 point head start. It is a showdown remember and these sides play classics in this fixture. Crows have Tex Walker up forward who would have used the extended break to get his ageing body just right. Ollie Wines looks set to miss after breaking isolation protocols which isn’t the greatest message to his other teammates. Tipping the Crows in this one Rory Sloane to get his first win as a Crows captain.
H2H
Crows have won three of the last five games vs the Power.
Best Bet
Crows -15.5 $1.90
Crows win $2.75
GWS Giants vs North Melbourne Kangaroos
June 14th (Sunday 1.05pm) Giants Stadium
Sunday’s early game sees two sides who had good wins in round 1 face off. The Giants on paper look the better side but Rhyce Shaw would love nothing more to beat his younger brother in Heath Shaw this weekend. Shaw has got his Kangaroos side up and running and they will look to be very physical with this Giants side. Giants bring back Callan Ward after his one year lay off due to an ACL suffered last year, they need his toughness and footy smarts in season 2020. This game will be very physical early but the Giants led by Greene, Whitfield and Congilo will have too much class and polsih for this Roos side. Giants at home will be looking for a big score and -19.5 is on the money if they get off to a good start Cameron could have 6 by the day's end. Giants to kick a big score and win easily.
H2H
Giants have won three of the last five games vs the Kangaroos.
Best Bet
Giants -19.5 $1.90
Sydney Swans vs Essendon Bombers
June 14th (Sunday 3.35pm) SCG
Big blow to the Swans during the Iso break with Buddy Franklin doing a bad hamstring and looks set to miss up to 8 weeks which just puts a line through the Swans season. He is getting on in his career Bud and it may be his last. They have stated that they will be playing Heeney as a direct marking forward. I don’t think that will work as Heeney plays one good game and then goes in and out of games for a while, hoping for the best but wouldn’t be touching the Swans this year. The Dons will be looking for an early kill away from Melbourne they have been smashed in the media all break about the Daniher trade to the Swans and why they didn’t take it, they would love nothing more then to head up to Sydney and get the choccies. I am tipping an upset and the Dons will win, they will be too tough and skillful for the Swans here. Merrett to have a thousand touches and if Stringer can kick some goals it’s goodnight Sydney.
H2H
Swans have won three of the last five games vs the Bombers.
Best Bet
Bombers +4.5 $1.90
Bombers win $2.08
St Kilda Saints vs Western Bulldogs
June 14th (Sunday 6.05pm) Marvel Stadium
Rounding out round 2 is a game that the Dogs could win by 40+. I have the opinion that the Saints are light years off being competitive and that was shown in round 1 where they lost to a Roos side that didn’t show up for three quarters. The Dogs on the other hand were woeful round 1 and will look to get off to a flying start vs the Saints. The Dogs midfield is elite and can run riot over a Saints midfield that lacks class and polish. They do have Brad Hill on the wing but he can’t carry this side. The line in this game is -9.5 which is a steal and is my bet of the week it should be more like -20.5, Dogs forwards will be on from the get go and look for Josh Bruce to have a big day after the Saints got rid of him. Dogs by 30+
H2H
Dogs have won three of the last five games vs the Saints.
Best Bet
Bulldogs -9.5 $1.90
