Round 8
Gold Coast Suns vs Western Bulldogs
July 23rd (Thursday 7.40pm) Metricon Stadium
Gold Coast get a prime time slot for the first time in the club's history. They deserve it but jeez it’s a tough ask against a Dogs side who had a great win last weekend vs a good Bombers side. Lachie Hunter is out for the Dogs, has some personal issues that he needs to address stemming from his hit and run this year during the height of the lockdown. I have gone with the Dogs this weekend. They impressed me enough last weekend, but if the Suns can get on top early it won’t be easy for the Dogs to play their running game. Suns had a nice win against the Swans but it was just a win and nothing impressive, Swans are going backwards at the moment. Gold Coast have made no change to a winning side. Dogs have brought in Gowers who adds grunt and some polish up forward along with Porter who is on debut. It is a night game so the ball will be like a bar of soap as are the conditions this time on the Gold Coast. Dogs by 15+
H2H
Dogs have won four of the last five games vs the Suns
Best Bet
Dogs $1.65
Dogs 1-39 $1.95
GWS Giants vs Richmond Tigers
July 24th (Friday 7.50pm) Giants Stadium
Huge game for the Giants here they need to win this to keep their season alive and also so the critics of the media will be quiet. They are a talented side but have been labelled as selfish and not a team more of individuals. I disagree this team made it to a Grand Final last year on the back of binding together and not leaving their mates behind. I expect them to show up this weekend with rumours that Toby Greene will be back after missing last weekend with a knee complaint. The Tigers on the other hand are in some good form Dusty is back to his old ways and if their younger stars like Bolton and Pickett can fire up it will be very tough for the Giants to win this one. As it is a Grand Final rematch I think the Giants will have more to play for therefore am I am tipping them but in a very close game. A fast start is needed and Jez Cameron needs a big game if he kicks a bag of 6 Giants win. Great Friday night viewing.
H2H
Tigers have won three of the last five games vs the Giants
Best Bet
Giants $1.75
Giants 1-39 - $2.10
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Carlton Blues
July 25th (Saturday 1.05pm) Gabba
Carlton would be kicking themselves last weekend that they didn’t get the four points, Robbie Gray for the Power came to save the day and break Blues fans hearts. They played well for four qtrs but again they were let down by some silly mistakes in the last moments of the game. If it was an experienced side they would have iced the clock but a few players lost their head and they butchered the win. This weekend they come up against a North side that is in tatters, can’t get a win and don’t look like getting one. They kicked two goals last weekend vs the Tigers which is under 18s stuff. Rhyce Shaw will drop a few passengers that have been taking this side for a ride. They need hard contested players who want to play for North Melbourne. At the moment themselves and Adelaide are the easy beats of the comp. The form the Blues are in I can’t see North winning but at $2.40 there is value for them and if this was the week for a win it will be this weekend. I am not totally sold on Carlton at the moment but they can prove me wrong. North in a close one Ben Brown to stand up after being bashed in the media this week.
H2H
North have won five of the last five games vs the Blues
Best Bet
North $2.65
North +12.5 $1.91
Sydney Swans vs Hawthorn Hawks
July 25th (Saturday 3.35pm) SCG
Interesting game this one with the Hawks being smashed last weekend vs the Demons and the Swans losing to the Suns in a close game. On paper Hawks should win by 10 goals but their recent form wouldn’t suggest that at all. They have been playing very boring and non attacking football. Their midfield looks slow and old and Tom Scully looks to have lost all his pace since that ankle injury a few years ago. It is Jack Gunston's 200th game this weekend, surely the Hawks get up for him and play an aggressive brand of football. The Swans have been competitive in most of their games this year but they struggle to hold their form for four qtrs. They are a young side with not much experience on the park so they will fade out of games. It is played at the SCG on Saturday afternoon so that will boost the Swans chances but I am tipping the Hawks to win this one and I believe they will win well.
H2H
Hawks have won three of the last five games vs the Swans
Best Bet
Hawks $1.67
Port Adelaide Power vs St Kilda Saints
July 25th (Saturday 7.40pm) Adelaide Oval
Saints got the monkey off the back last weekend vs the Crows to record their first ever win at Adelaide Oval. They will take a lot of confidence into this fixture against the top of the table Power. They were challenged against the Crows on Monday night but stood up and got the chocolates. I was partially impressed with the mids and Jack Steele game he will need to bring that again this weekend if they are to have any chance of beating the red hot Power. The Power on the other hand are playing like a side that wins at all costs. Most teams last weekend would have put the cue in the rack and said too hard last weekend after missing four easy set shots in the final stages in their game against the Blues but they stood up and got the win after a beautiful set shot from Robbie Gray after the siren. He is a freak and one of the most clutch players in the game. I am tipping the Power it is their first game back at Adelaide Oval since round 1 and I can’t see them losing in front of their fans. Power 20+
H2H
Power have won five of the last five games vs the Saints
Best Bet
Power -15.5 $1.90
Adelaide Crows vs Essendon Bombers
July 26th (Sunday 1.05pm) Adelaide Oval
Back to back games at Adelaide Oval and this is a danger game for the Bombers with a host of their stars out with injuries. I honestly believe the Crows can get their first win of season 2020. They weren’t that bad last weekend vs the Saints but a few errors and poor decisions when going forward cost them any chance of beating the Saints last weekend. The Bombers on the other hand were no match for a red hot Doggies side. As mentioned before with a host of stars out this is a dangerous game for the Bombers but last year the Dons had a famous victory against the Crows so they will be hoping to do the same come Sunday. It is a big day for Taylor Walker who nearly single handedly pulled his Crows side over the line last weekend and if he brings that same aggression the Crows can win. A player who stood out for the Crows last weekend that I have been critical of is Ben Keays, if he tags one of the Bombers mids it will help the Crows a lot.
H2H
Crows have won three of the last five games vs the Bombers
Best Bet
Crows +13.5 $1.90
West Coast Eagles vs Collingwood Magpies
July 26th (Sunday 3.35pm) Optus Stadium
Match of the round the grand final rematch from 2018 will have fireworks. Grundy vs Nic Nat, Moore vs Kennedy, Yeo vs Adams. Just great match ups all around the ground. The Eagles have won three on the bounce and were too good for a Fremantle side that should be in the WAFL. The Pies had a great win last weekend vs the Cats but it came at a huge cost with De Goey out for 6 weeks with a finger injury. He adds a lot of spark and energy to their forward line. They will miss him dearly. Nic Nat vs Grundy is there a better ruck dual? I would say no Grundy will get Nic Nat around the ground with pure athleticism but Nic Nat in the air and ruck contests has Grundy measure whoever wins that will help their side win this game. Luke Shuey has been declared fit for this game and the skipper will be fired up after missing the last two weeks with a hamstring injury. I am picking the Eagles only because it is played at Optus and De Goey is out. Will be a cracker though, great Sunday viewing.
H2H
Eagles have won four of the last five games vs the Pies
Best Bet
Eagles win $1.67
Eagles 1-39 $1.95
Melbourne Demons vs Brisbane Lions
July 26th (Sunday 6.10pm) Metricon Stadium
The Demons had a great victory last weekend in Sydney against a side that has always caused them a few problems in Hawthorn. They took the game on and used their elite runners to beat the Hawks on the counter attack. I hope their elite runners have packed their runners this weekend because they are up against the fastest side in the competition. The Lions are flying. They had a great win vs the Giants last weekend and will look to get back to the Sunshine State in winning ways. I am amazed how a side is yet to put pressure on Lachie Neale it seems he has more time then the early settlers when on the field. The Demons should send Petracca to him for a great matchup as he himself is in great form. The Demons will get first use of the ball as Max Gawn is their ruckman but need to use that to their advantage as the Lions are a very good clearance side. I like the Demons line and would be surprised if they caused an upset.
H2H
Melbourne have won four of the last five games vs the Lions
Best Bet
Melbourne +10.5 $1.90
Lions win $1.51
Fremantle Dockers vs Geelong Cats
July 27th (Monday 8.10pm) Optus Stadium
The round finishes in the West and after last weekend I can’t see the Dockers winning this game at all. Unless Geelong don’t show up they will win this game and they will win it well. The Cats were ok last weekend vs the Pies but couldn’t never get their noses in front and the Pies had all the answers. Gary Rohan is playing good physical footy and will bring that Sunday. Danger needs to slow down when kicking the football. He wastes the ball too much which is hurting his side. Selwood is out with a hamstring injury that was picked up early in the match vs the Pies. Fremantle on the other hand are going backwards they were never in it vs the Eagles last weekend and that is their 10th straight Derby loss which is embarrassing. They are without their best player Fyfe and if it wasn’t for Michael Walters they would be battling Adelaide for the last place. They can’t kick a score and they have one of the weakest backlines I have ever seen. Cats by 35+
H2H
Geelong have won four of the last five games vs the Dockers
Best Bet
Cats -10.5 $1.90
Cats 40+ $5.20
