AFL Round 23
Western Bulldogs vs Port Adelaide Power, Marvel, Aug 20th, 7.50pm
Massive game here to decide the top four. I believe this year if you are a chance of winning the flag you need to finish top four and get a home final. Port have a great chance of hosting two finals even if they finish out of the top four due to the Covid issues in Victoria, as games might be played in Adelaide with a crowd. The Dogs over the past three weeks have been poor and with the loss of Bruce, they are finding it hard to find a way to goal. If they get that in order they will be back to their best. Bont might push forward and play as a small forward which he can do. Power are coasting into the finals nicely and Charlie Dixon, my whipping boy at the start of the year, is coming good. Game will be won and lost in the middle but with the Dogs coming off two loses, they will bounce back and win this one. Dogs by 10+
Head 2 Head
Dogs have won two of the last three games vs the Power
Best bet
Dogs win $1.74
Richmond Tigers vs Hawthorn Hawks, MCG, Aug 21st 1.35pm
An emotional game on Saturday for both sides with a lot of players retiring and Alastair Clarkson coaching his last game for the Hawks. Been one of the best coaches we have seen with one club, coaching his Hawks to 4 flags. A true champion. The Tigers I believe in this game have put up the white flag with multiple changes and some players having booked in for surgery, so they are saying let’s get through this final game with no injuries and attack next year with everything they have. The Hawks will come out firing for Clarkson and Burgoyne, who have been the heart of this club, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawks caused an upset on Saturday. Tigers by 10+
Head 2 Head
Tigers have won two of the last three vs the Suns
Best bet
Tigers +9.5 $1.90
Sydney Swans vs Gold Coast Suns, Marvel Stadium, Aug 21st, 1.45pm
The last time these two sides played the Suns got the chocolates in a game where the Swans were off from the get go. A lot has changed since then and the Swans are on their way to a finals appearance and could be very hard to beat if they string it all together. Buddy is back and is on the way to kick his 1,000th goal this year which is an incredible achievement. It is the small Swans players that excite me though, with Papley, Florent, Heeney and Hayward who can help this side secure another flag. The Suns are gone and rumours are Stuart Dew is done at the club, which is a real shame but this club has had no luck over the years and he hasn’t finished higher than 14th since taking over. Will be very ugly for the Suns come Saturday, Swans by a big margin.
Head 2 Head
Suns have won two of the last three games vs the Swans
Best bet
Swans 28.5 $1.90
Brisbane Lions vs West Coast Eagles, Gabba, Aug 21st 4.35pm
Like the Tigers, the Eagles have also put up the white flag and brought in the kids for a game where if they win and other results fall their way, they will slide into the 8 but after the last month of footy, they are no chance and look disinterested and keen to forget about this year. Kennedy and McGovern are ruled out and booked for surgery, so that gives you an idea of how they are treating this game. Meanwhile the Lions are on their way to another finals spot and with the footy they have played last month, I believe they are a real smokey to cause a few upsets come September. It just seems their squad are playing for each other and doing what the team wants instead of the individual. Daniher to kick 4+ and Cameron to run riot in the forward line this weekend. Lions by 20+
Head 2 Head
Lions have won two of the last three games vs the Eagles
Best Bet
Lions -28.5 $1.90
Geelong Cats vs Melbourne Demons, GMHBA, Aug 21st 7.25pm
Match of the round here and it looks a cracker as it will decide top spot and boy in these days and the uncertainty of the fixture, you would love nothing more than top spot. The Cats have been ok in the last couple of weeks but the Demons are flying and I reckon if this game wasn’t played in Geelong, they would be favs. They are getting good use of the ball from their midfield and Clayton Oliver can’t be stopped at the moment. Demons need to stop Dangerfield as he is coming into his own at the moment and could be a big time finals player. Tipping the Cats here but it will be close and full on from the get go. Cameron to open up Lever or May. Will be a great watch. Reminds me of Cats vs Power 2007, Round 21.
Head 2 Head
Cats have won two of the last three games vs the Demons
Best Bet
Cats -1.5 $1.90
Cats win $1.85
Carlton Blues vs GWS Giants, Marvel, Aug 21st, 7.40pm
Interesting game here with the Giants needing to win to make finals and for the Eagles to lose to the Lions. I would have said 100% they will win this before Eddit Betts announced his retirement but stranger things have happened leading into the last week of a season and one of your favourite players calling time. The Giants will need to be on their game from the get go or this could be a disaster waiting to happen. The Giants since beating the Cats in Geelong have been riding high and will look to smash the Blues and enter the finals with confidence. Greene is back which is all they need and will look to kick a bag. Tipping the Giants but I can sense an upset.
Head 2 Head
Giants have won the last three games vs the Blues
Best Bet
Blues +22.5 $1.90
Essendon Bombers vs Collingwood Magpies, MCG, Aug 22nd 3.20pm
Two old rivals playing at the Home of Football to end the season is great for the game but this won’t be pretty viewing if you are a Pies fan, they are in all sorts at the moment and last weekend showed that being smashed by the Lions in a game where they started well but fell off the cliff after quarter time. Meanwhile the Bombers are hitting their straps heading into the finals and Stringer looks a player that could run riot in September - looks the like the player he was at the Dogs and confidence is high for The Package. I am tipping the Dons by the length of the Flemington straight in this one. Dons by 50+
Head 2 Head
Bombers have won two of the last three games vs the Pies
Best Bet
Bombers 40+ $4
Adelaide Crows vs North Melbourne Kangaroos, Adelaide Oval, Aug 22nd 4.40pm
The Crows are battling since the Taylor Walker issue. They did put in a good display last weekend vs the Power but again fell short while the Roos pushed the Swans all the way in a good strong effort of football last weekend. It is a dead rubber and the Kangaroos are favs for this game shows how bad the Crows are going. Crows by 5+ points in a game which could go both ways.
Head 2 Head
Kangaroos have won two of the last three games vs the Crows
Best Bet
Crows win $2
