Melbourne Demons vs Sydney Swans
August 16th (Friday 7.50pm) MCG
Round 22 kicks off with a battle of the bottom 6 at the MCG. The Swans are blooding youth and they have lost another one of their established players with Nick Smith retiring he joins Jarred McVeigh and most likely Kieren Jack in hanging up the boots this season. The Demons have made 5 changes from their loss to Collingwood last weekend, again they played like a VFL side and the heat has finally been put on Simon Goodwin and his coaching efforts this year. He will be coaching the Demons in season 2020 but if they have another year like they have this year he will be out of a job by round 10. The Swans have had a poor year by their standards but they will win this game as they are far better then the Demons. Their youth is impressive and with the addition of Lance Franklin next year I expect them to pushing for a top 8 spot. This game will be interesting on Friday night but the Swans have more to play for and will bring the pressure in the midfield and the Demons won’t be able to cope. Will be a poor crowd at the MCG Friday night with most of the Demons fans given up. Swans by 20+
H2H
Sydney have won 4 of the last 5 games vs the Dees
Best Bet
Swans win $2
Swans +3.5 $1.90
Carlton Blues vs St Kilda Saints
August 17th (Saturday 1.45pm) MCG
David Teague has been announced of the new Carlton coach which is a great effort as he has brought back belief into their fans who have suffered for far too long. The Blues have been competitive in the last weeks and have showed they can mix it up with the big boys if their mind is on the job from the get go. They have a very good opportunity to get another win under Teague this weekend when they play the Saints who are coming off their best win of season 2019. The Saints fought hard against the Dockers for four qtrs and got the chocolates in the end off the back of Dan Hannebery and Jack Steven will and effort to get their side over the line. This game will be won in the midfield with Steven and Cripps going head to head in a battle that will be a great physical battle. Tipping the Blues here as I believe they are ahead of the Saints in game execution. Liam Jones is out for the Blues which is a major blow as he has been in career best form. Blues by 10+
H2H
Saints have won the last 5 games vs the Blues
Best Bet
Blues $1.95
Blues +1.5 $1.95
Brisbane Lions vs Geelong Cats
August 17th (Saturday 2.10pm) Gabba
Forget West Coast vs Tigers on Sunday this is the game you want to be watching on the weekend. The Lions play a fast flowing brand of football which many teams can’t compete with at the moment. Many people have said that the Lions haven’t beat anyone of much substance but I say you can only beat the teams you are matched against and the Lions have beat everyone in their way. This is their biggest test of 2019 and the Gabba will be rocking when they face the ladder leaders in Geelong. The Cats have been a bit shaky in recent weeks but had a fantastic victory last weekend over the Kangaroos where they only let them score one goal for the whole match. Dangerfield and Kelly looked in perfect condition and would love nothing more to beat the Lions up there on Saturday. This game has a huge impact on the top 4 if the Lions lose they will miss the opportunity to host a home final. If the Cats lose they might give up the Top spot. Huge game, huge ramifications and a lot on the line for both sides. Lions in a thriller.
H2H
Geelong has won the last 5 games vs the Lions
Best bet
Lions win $1.80
Lions -3.5 $1.90
Adelaide Crows vs Collingwood Magpies
August 17th (Saturday 4.10pm) Adelaide Oval
This game is huge for the top 8. If the Crows win they will cement themselves in the 8 if they lose it will be a battle to make the top 8 for season 2019. They probably played their best game for season 2019 last weekend vs the Eagles going down by 10 points. Darcy Foggary kicked 5 goals and people are asking why was he playing Sanfl all year? If he puts in another 5 goal game the Crows will win on Saturday night. The Pies have a slight top 4 chance still on the line. If the Tigers lose to the Eagles and the Pies win their two final games of season 2019 they will be in the top 4 and that much wanted double chance. The Pies had an easy victory last weekend vs the Demons but they can expect a much more physical game come Saturday night. I am tipping the Crows on the back of last weekend's game where they played great football for four qtrs and maybe if Rory Sloane played out the whole game would of pushed the Eagles even further. O’Brien and Seedsman are back for the Crows and Noble is in for the Pies. Crows by 10+
H2H
Adelaide have won 3 of the last 5 games vs the Pies
Best Bet
Crows win $1.72
Crows -5.5 $1.90
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide
August 17th (Saturday 7.25pm) Marvel
The Kangaroos appointed Rhyce Shaw as their head coach for the next three seasons then they kicked one goal against the Cats, well that wasn’t in the script for the Kangaroo board members. Anyway they’ve put that in the forget file and move onto a Power side that is pushing for a top 8 spot. The Power are in 8th spot now and a win here could secure their top 8 position for season 2019 as they play Fremantle in the last game of the season at the Adelaide Oval. The Kangas will love getting back to Marvel Stadium for this game as they play this ground very well. The Kangas midfield will be up against a powerful Power side that welcomes back Ollie Wines from a broken finger. Mason Wood has been dropped by Shaw which is a statement to other players as no games are given this time of the year. He has been in poor form for such potential. I am tipping the Kangaroos to get back to winning ways only because this game is at Marvel Stadium.
H2H
Port have won the last 5 games vs the Kangaroos
Best Bet
Kangaroos win $2.07
Kangaroos +4.5 $1.90
Fremantle Dockers vs Essendon Bombers
August 17th (Saturday 6.10pm) Optus Stadium
Jeez the Bombers were shocking last weekend so no better then getting on a plane and going to the other side of the country to get away and try and re group for a must win game vs the Dockers on Saturday. John Worsfold has been battered all week that he is not the right man to coach this side. What a load of crap this was the man who coached them through the Essendon Drug Scandal and took them to 5 wins in a row this year against good opposition. Woosha will love nothing more than facing one of his old enemies from his Eagles days in the Dockers. This will be an emotional game for the Dockers fans when they say goodbye to Aaron Sandilands and Hayden Ballantyne who are legends of this club. Sandilands a monster of the AFL who no ruckman on their day could beat him. The game will be won in defence for both sides they have elite ball players who love to run and carry and if Hill can carry all day long it will go along way for a Dockers win. If Jake Stringer plays well for the Bombers they win. Bombers have made 5 changes while the Dockers have named Mccarthy and Ballantyne. Bombers by 5+
H2H
Bombers have won 3 of the last 5 games vs the Dockers
Best Bet
Bombers win $2.63
Bombers +14.5 $1.90
Richmond Tigers vs West Coast Eagles
August 18th (Sunday 1.10pm) MCG
"Grand Final preview" people are declaring for this game. Big call but over the last month I have to agree with it. The Tigers have been in ureal form and no team has got near them. The Eagles have also been in dominating form and had a hard fought victory last weekend vs the Crows. A game they needed leading up to Finals, led by Elliott Yeo who is putting in another All Australian year he gave first use to the Eagles forwards in Darling and Kennedy. The Tigers will be without Cotchin for this game who has been given another week to recover from his hamstring injury. They welcome back Dustin Martin who is set to go against Yeo in a battle that everyone will love. The Tigers forward line is starting to gel well together with Tom Lynch looking like the missing piece in the puzzle for the Tigers, Tom Barrass will get the job on him this weekend. This will be a tight contest but rain is expected and that will suit the Tigers and not the Eagles as the Eagles love to mark the ball from intercept kicks. I am tipping the Tigers by 10+. Expect a very physical game from the get go.
H2H
West Coast has won 3 of the last 5 games vs the Tigers
Best Bet
Tigers -10.5 $1.90
GWS Giants vs Western Bulldogs
August 18th (Sunday 3.20pm) Giants
Big game here for the Giants after a disappointing display last weekend vs the Hawks where the game was snowing it just looked like the Hawks wanted the footy more and embraced the conditions if it wasn’t for Toby Greene and Whitfield this game would of been over at qtr time. The Giants need to win this to keep their home final alive, if they lose this game they will find it hard to secure a home final. The Bulldogs are on the hunt after last weekends performance where they didn’t let the Bombers score a goal till the last qtr they will be riding high and can beat the Giants. The Bulldogs have great memories of this ground where they beat the Giants to secure a grand final spot in 2016. This time out it is a little different but if the Dogs bring the same game style they brought last weekend they will beat the Giants. I am tipping the Bulldogs just because of their midfield which is top 3 in the league for clearances they will have to much leg speed for a Giants side where injuries are catching up to them.
H2H
GWS has won 4 of the last 5 games vs the Bulldogs
Best Bet
Bulldogs win $2.30
Bulldogs +8.5 $1.90
Hawthorn Hawks vs Gold Coast Suns
August 18th (Sunday 4.40pm) Marvel Stadium
Round 22 rounds out in Melbourne which will be a highly emotional game where the Hawks farewell one of their favourite sons in Roughead. A fan favourite football, good guy who has done everything. Beaten Cancer won four flags multiple All Australians and won many a game off his off boot for the Hawks. He has been recalled into the side to be farewelled by the Hawks faithful what a career. The Hawks last weekend had a very spirited win over the Giants in Canberra they showed no conditions could derail their end goal. They will make easy work of the Suns on Sunday and they will do it for Roughy. Not much I can say about the Suns other then they are looking forward to a break and refresh for next year. Hawks by a lot on Sunday.
H2H
Hawthorn have won 3 of the last 5 games vs the Suns
Best Bet
Hawks -47.5 $1.90
