AFL Round 2
Carlton Blues vs Collingwood Magpies 25th March, MCG 7.20pm
Round two kicks off with two old rivals going head to head at the home of football. The Blues pushed the Tigers all the way last week, but I put that down to excitement and the Tigers don’t get out of first gear ‘til after round 8. The Pies lost but I look at the opportunities they missed. They could have beaten the Dogs last week even though they didn’t play to their full potential. It starts in the middle tomorrow night. If the Pies mids can get on top, they will win. Pies welcome back Steele Sidebottom, while the Blues should add Zac Williams, who will add a lot of run with Saad for the Blues. Collingwood, in my eyes, are still playing finals and should win this game on Saturday night. De Goey to kick a bag. Pies by 10+
Head 2 Head
Pies have won four of the last five vs the Blues
Best bet
Pies win $1.82
Pies +2.5 $1.90
Geelong Cats vs Brisbane Lions 26th March, GMHBA 7.50pm
The match of the round and it looks to be a cracker come Friday night. These two played off in the Prelim final last year with the Cats getting the chocolates in Brisbane. The Lions will want revenge for that, they need to win this after going down to the Swans last weekend at home. They struggled and looked sluggish during the game and couldn’t really get much of their own footy, but it was Round 1, so put a line through it and move on. The Cats, on the other hand, lost to the side that came last in Season 2020. They were bullied by the Crows and to make matters worse, they have lost Patrick Dangerfield for 3 weeks who has been suspended for a late bump on Jake Kelly. The Cats will definitely miss his explosiveness out of the middle, but they have stars all around so it won’t be a huge loss. Cats will look for big Hawkins when going forward and if he can kick a bag, they will win. Being back at their home ground does add a big advantage. Cats by 15+
Head 2 Head
Cats have won 4 out of the last 5 vs the Lions
Best bet
Cats -8.5 $1.90
Cats 1-39 $2.15
Sydney Swans vs Adelaide Crows 27th March, SCG 1.45pm
HE IS BACK! I haven’t been this excited for a player return since Ben Cousins in 2007. Lance Franklin will play AFL football this weekend and isn’t that the biggest plus for the Swans. Saying all that, the Swans looked very good last weekend against the Lions in Brisbane and came away with a very well deserved four points. Their young players looked very up to AFL standard and destroyed the Lions all over the ground. The Lions were no match for the Swans fast pace through the midfield and then up forward. The Crows on the other hand had a great win against the Cats and looked very good with Tex Walker spearheading their attack with 5 goals. They hunted in packs, the Crows, and tackled with a lot of intent on Saturday. If they bring that intensity on Saturday it will be a very good contest for these two young sides. I think the Swans will get over the line. It’s meant to be nice weather in Sydney come Saturday and that just opens it up for big Buddy to kick a bag. Swans 20+
Head 2 Head
Sydney have won 3 of their last 5 games vs the Crows
Best bet
Swans -18.5 $1.90
Port Adelaide Power vs Essendon Bombers 27th March, Adelaide Oval 4.35pm
Interesting game, this one, with the Bombers always pushing the Power most of the way in their games over the years and winning three of their last five against the Power. The Bombers last week got out to a 33-point lead against the Hawks but were mowed down by a better side in the end. They will need to play a four quarter game this weekend if they are to beat the Power or they will be punished big time. The Power were very good last weekend, smashing the Kangaroos after quarter time. They looked very polished - running riot at stages through the game. I really liked their midfield and if they can get on top of teams early in season 2021, they will be hard to beat. Power by 15+
Head 2 Head
Bombers have won 3 of the last 5 games vs the Power
Best bet
Bombers +32.5 $1.90
St Kilda Saints vs Melbourne Demons 27th March, Marvel Stadium 7.25pm
Saints, clap, clap, clap. Huge effort to beat the Giants last weekend in a game that looked like the Giants until the last five minutes of the final quarter. The Saints hung in there and got the win in the end despite a host of players out. They will welcome back a few of their stars this weekend to help them beat the Demons. The Demons, on the other hand, were less than impressive against a Fremantle side who were missing a host of star players, including Walters and Lobb. I really can’t see them beating the Saints this weekend. The Saints are that far in front of this side it isn’t funny. Marvel Stadium in front of the home crowd, the Saints will get the win and move to 2-0 in Season 2021. Look out for the Saints in season 2021 - they are up for this. Saints by 20+
Head 2 Head
Saints have won 3 of the past 5 games vs the Demons
Best bet
Saints win $1.38 best bet all round
Saints -8.5 $1.90
Gold Coast Suns vs North Melbourne Kangaroos 27th March, Metricon Stadium 8.10pm
If it wasn’t the Suns’ first home game, I think this fixture would be the lowest attendance for Season 2021. The Kangaroos are so far behind the eight ball it isn’t funny. Smashed last weekend against the Power, and it is going to get a whole lot worse come Saturday night when they play a Suns side who pushed flag fancies in the Eagles. The Suns came out with a lot of intent and looked to match the Eagles all over the park last weekend. Shame for young gun Matt Rowell who is out for 12 weeks with a knee injury, he can’t catch a break, that young kid. Suns will win this game and get their season back on track in a year where I think they can push for a top 8 finish if luck falls their way. Suns by 20+
Head 2 Head
Suns have won 3 of the last 5 games vs the Roos
Best bet
Suns -20.5 $1.90
Hawthorn Hawks vs Richmond Tigers 28th March, MCG 1.10pm
Good game to start Sunday football with two teams who never let their fans down in these contests. Richmond had a good hit-out last weekend against a Carlton side that pushed them all the way. You can’t stop Dustin Martin though, he kicked two goals and could have kicked four. He will get three Brownlow votes in this game. The Hawks need to stop his involvement. If they can hold him and not let him have an influence this weekend, they can win this game. If Dusty doesn’t play well, I give the Hawks a chance on Sunday. The Hawks looked to have picked up some young guns in the draft and Tom Phillips adds so much run to their wing, which is great to see. I don’t expect the Hawks to win this game on Sunday, but I think they can push the Tigers the whole way in a good contest. Tigers by 10+
Head 2 Head
Richmond have won 4 of the past 5 games vs the Hawks
Best bet
Hawks +28.5 $1.90
Western Bulldogs vs West Coast Eagles 28th March, Marvel Stadium 3.20pm
This match will be a cracker for Sunday arvo footy. The Dogs are coming off a win against the Pies in a game that had some feeling around the Trealor departure from Collingwood, but that is in the past and they need to be on their game to beat the Eagles come Sunday. The Bont and Hunter are the key to a Dogs victory and if they play well, I can’t see the Eagles winning. These two set up a lot of attack for the Dogs and can deliver the ball on a dime for their forwards. The Eagles, on the other hand, had a good win against an attacking Gold Coast side. Oscar Allen looks a player that could really make 2021 his. He plays attack and defence which is unreal in this day and age of footy. The ‘Allen Key’, he has been hailed in the west. If the Eagles are to win, look for Nic Nat and Kelly to get going from the midfield, along with Gaff. Gaff was well held last weekend but look for him to pick up and attack. Dogs by 10+
Head 2 Head
Eagles have won 4 of the past 5 games vs the Bulldogs
Best bet
Dogs -9.5 $1.90
Dogs win $1.60
Fremantle Dockers vs GWS Giants 28th March, Optus Stadium 6.10pm
Round 2 rounds out in the wild west. The Dockers have had a shocking run of injuries of late with now Hamling and Pearce going down again. They can’t take a trick. Add them to the list with Lobb and Walters and season 2021 looks over before it starts. They hung in against the Demons last weekend but again they just ran out of legs and Nat Fyfe can’t do it all on his own. He needs some troops on his side to help him carry the load. The Giants were unlucky last weekend and some bad kicking cost them in a game they should have put to bed early in the fourth quarter. Greene looked good up forward and the Giants will need him firing come Sunday. I am tipping the Giants to get the points for their first win at Optus Stadium. Giants by 6+
Head 2 Head
GWS have won 4 of the last 5 games vs the Dockers
Best bet
Giants win $2
Giants +2.5 $1.90
