AFL Round 6
GWS Giants vs Western Bulldogs, Manuka Oval, 23rd April 7.50pm
The Anzac Day round kicks off between two teams who have built up a strong hatred for each other which stems back to the prelim final in 2016, which was one of the best games of footy I have ever seen. The Dogs are 5-0 and have been playing some unreal football. They head to the Nation's Capital in red hot form and will look to beat a Giants side who have had an up and down start to the year. The Bont is in full force giving his forwards every opportunity and when Mcrae and Hunter link up on the left side of the field, they are near unstoppable. The Giants had their best win of 2021 last weekend where they snatched an unlikely win to knock off the undefeated Swans on their home deck. Toby Greene kicked 1.7, which is unlike him as he is usually a dead eye in front of the big sticks. If he brings his kicking boots this weekend, they can win this. Can the Giants knock off another undefeated side this Friday? I think so. Giants line for me.
Head 2 Head
Dogs have won two of the last three games against the Giants
Best bet
GWS +19.5 $1.90
Geelong Cats vs West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium, 24th April 1.45pm
Interesting game, this one, with both teams suffering from some injuries to key players. The Cats have ruled out Dangerfield this weekend as he has an ankle injury and has required surgery. While the Eagles are touch and go with big key forward Josh Kennedy. The Cats are debuting one of their star recruits in Jezza Cameron, who has missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury. Scary thought for the Eagles defenders with Hawkins and Cameron in the forward line. Eagles haven’t won at this venue since 2006, where they came back from 54 points to snatch an unlikely win, the average winning margin by the Cats since that game at this venue has been 53 points. Can’t see the Eagles winning this game .Cats the line and some more!!
Head 2 Head
Cats have won the last two of the last three games against the Eagles
Best bet
Cats -11.5 $1.90
Cats $1.50
Gold Coast Suns vs Sydney Swans, Metricon Stadium, 24th April 1.45pm
Danger game here for the Swannies after starting the season 4-0, they dropped a game to the Giants last weekend and have lost Lance Franklin for four weeks with bone bruising, which is a major blow as he looked in very good touch. It will be a good test for their younger players going forward now and nothing better than an away trip to get a win. The Suns are in a tricky situation here with a season that looked so promising is now turning into another failed season. They were smashed last weekend and if they lose this, they are closer to the bottom again. In saying that, I think they can get the win this weekend if they run and carry and take the game on. They need to beat the Swans with their speed and daring game style. The start is key to this game, but I believe there will be an upset in the sunshine state. Suns win by 12+
Head 2 Head
Suns have won two of the last three games against the Swans
Best bet
Suns +8.5 $1.90
Suns win $2.30
Carlton Blues vs Brisbane Lions, Marvel Stadium 24th April 4.35pm
Big week for the Blues, here. They had a great opportunity last week to get a win against a flag favourite in the Power but again let their fans and club down. I will admit, I fell into the hype of this side, but they are nothing short of mediocre. Lions had their best win of Season 2021 last weekend against the Bombers in pouring rain and will look to bring that form this week and get a healthy win and move up the ladder. The run and the carry, plus the big forwards in Hipwood and Daniher, will be too much to handle for the Blues. I am expecting a blow-out come Saturday afternoon. The run and carry of the Lions will be on show under the roof. Lions mids are very good by foot, so expect plenty of clean ball coming out of the midfield. Lions by 30+
Head 2 Head
Lions have won two of the last three games against the Blues
Best bet
Lions win $1.62
Lions -8.5 $1.90
Melbourne Demons vs Richmond Tigers, MCG, 24th April 7.25pm
Match of the round, here. The Demons are 5-0 and playing a fast and exciting brand of footy in Season 2021. It's a massive Anzac Day eve match and if the Demons win this one, they are locked in for finals in my eyes. Bigger game for the Demons as well with one of their stalwarts in Nathan Jones bringing up 300 games for the club. He has been through the worst days with the Demons and deserves some glory at the end of his career. They come up against the best side in the comp in my eyes, in Richmond. The Tiges haven’t been at their best this year but were unreal last weekend, giving the Saints a bath. If Dusty and Bolton bring the same pressure they did last weekend, they will be too strong for the Demons. I am tipping an upset here with the Demons having a little more to play for. Look for the Demons to run and carry the ball with their elite runners in Hunt and Langdon. Demons by 10
Head 2 Head
Tigers have won the last three games against the Demons
Best bet
Melbourne win $2.15
Melbourne +5.5 $1.90
Fremantle Dockers vs North Melbourne Kangaroos, Optus Stadium 24th April 8.10pm
Not the greatest game to be broadcasted live on a Saturday night but that is the way the fixture is. People who are saying that the Kangaroos put in a good display against the Cats last weekend are kidding themselves. They put in the most defensive display of football I have ever seen and didn’t look like kicking a goal for the entire game. The club is so far behind the 8-ball it is not funny. The Dockers on the other hand are playing a fast and exciting brand of football. They had a good win against the Crows in Adelaide last weekend and will look to get another win on the board when they play Saturday night. Taberner looks to have found his kicking boots and looked unstoppable against the Crows. Mundy has wound back the clock and is in very good touch and when Nat Fyfe floats forward, they look a scoring threat. Fremantle to win by 30+ points.
Head 2 Head
Dockers have won two of the last three games against the Kangaroos
Best bet
Kangaroos +43.5 $1.90
Hawthorn Hawks vs Adelaide Crows, UTS Stadium, 26th April 25th 12.30pm
I am looking forward to this contest come Sunday. The Hawks need a win and they love playing at their second home in Tasmania, while the Crows need to get back on the winners' list after dropping a game they should've won last weekend against Fremantle. Tex Walker is under an injury cloud and will be touch and go for this game, but the Crows need him badly as he plays such a key role for this club. The Hawks are coming off a big loss to the Demons last week but the result didn’t tell the story. The Hawks were down by 6 points 5 minutes into the last quarter and had the opportunity to go all square if it wasn’t for O’Brien dropping an easy mark. The Demons went down the other end and kicked a quick three goals. Game over. The Hawks need to play four-quarter footy and get their hands dirty. They will benefit from the trip to Tassie and will get the win on Sunday. Hawks by 15+
Head 2 Head
Hawks have won two of the last three games against the Crows
Best bet
Hawks win $1.62 $1.90
Hawks -7.5 $1.90
Collingwood Magpies vs Essendon Bombers, MCG, 25th April 3.20pm
The much anticipated clash between two archrivals in the Pies and Dons in a match that has a lot riding on it so early in the season. The Pies went west last weekend and were belted by the Eagles in a game that hurt them not only on the scoreboard, but also on the injury list, with De Goey and Howe both subbed out halfway through the first half. The Pies need to win this game or Nathan Buckley is serious hot water with his coaching career hanging by a thread. I don’t give him much of a chance to coach the Pies in Season 2022. The Bombers, on the other hand, like the Pies, were belted by the Lions last weekend and will look to bounce back. I am giving them a huge chance to knock the Pies off. The Bombers will need to use a lot of their run and carry to open the Pies' defence. The Bombers by 10+. It will be a heated game early, finals-like heat.
Head 2 Head
Pies have won two the last three games against the Bombers
Best bet
Bombers win $2.10
Bombers +4.5 $1.90
Port Adelaide Power vs St Kilda Saints, Adelaide Oval, 25th April 6.40pm
The Anzac Day round concludes in Adelaide in a game that scares me if I was a Saints fan. Smashed last weekend against the Tigers and they come up against a red hot Power side who will look to put the pressure on this Saints side early. Power had a great win last weekend against the Blues in a game where I thought they would find it tough. They rose to the occasion and got the win and that is all they needed to do. The Saints look slow and have the oldest list in the comp, which means that it could be a bleak period for the club. I do not give them much of a chance against the Power in Adelaide. Loving the game style of Hamish Hartlett - he gives the Power so much drive going forward. Dixon will look for a bag this game. Power by 40+
Head 2 Head
Power have won two of the last three games against the Saints
Best bet
Power -27.5 $1.90
Power 40+ $2.55
