Round 3 Preview
Richmond Tigers vs Hawthorn Hawks
June 18th (Thursday 7.40pm) MCG
Thursday night footy off to a bang with two sides that are predicted to go deep into the Finals in season 2020. The Tigers have been dealt a massive blow with Dustin Martin to miss the game with a rib injury which will affect the Tigers ability to run the ball out of the midfield. There is also a question mark over Tom Lynch fitness so monitor him up until the bounce of the ball on Thursday night. Hawks welcome back Jaeger O’Meara who has recovered from his head injury and boy do they need him. Hawks looked slow after half time last week vs the Cats so will be looking for a better performance. Many punters are tipping the Tigers to win in a blow out. I am tipping the Hawks to give them a red hot crack and push this one all the way. They like the MCG and will be up for the challenge. Tigers by 6-12.
H2H
Tigers have won four of the last five games vs the Hawks.
Best Bet
Hawks +15.5 $1.90
Western Bulldogs vs GWS Giants
June 19th (Friday 7.50pm) Marvel Stadium
The Giants smashed the Dogs last year in the first elimination final that set up the Giants finals campaign. They bullied the Dogs all over the park and went after their players such as Daniels and Bontempelli. This time they will have to do it without their star player in Toby Greene who has knee soreness. The Dogs last week were smashed by the Saints so will be out to prove the doubters wrong with many having this side in the top four, currently they look like a bottom 4 side with no direction and no angle to goal at the moment. Giants had a shock loss to the Kangaroos last week but weren’t disgraced, had their opportunities but failed to kick straight and a few decisions didn’t go their way. They will look to bounce back on Friday night. I am tipping a Giants win because I think the Dogs have a few problems up forward and will struggle to kick a score. Giants over 15 points.
H2H
GWS have won four of the last five games vs the Dogs.
Best Bet
Giants -8.5 $1.90
Giants win $1.65
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Sydney Swans
June 20th (Saturday 1.45pm) Marvel Stadium
Cracking game to start your Saturday with two sides who are in a rebuild phase but play exciting footy. The Kangaroos had a great win against last year's runner up in the Giants. They played hard and aggressive footy and seemed to bully the Giants in all aspects of the game. Loved the way Jy Simpkin went about his game on the weekend looks a player for the future for the Kangaroos, adds that polish and class midfield. The Swans on the other hand lost to the Bombers in a nail biter, if they got off to a good start they would have won by 4 goals+ but the Dons jumped them and with the shorter qtrs you can really hold down a nice lead leading into the long break which can set your side up for a win. Swans had great use from Kennendy and Blakey but Isaac Heeney was barely sighted in the loss and will look to bounce back this weekend. If the Kangaroos bully the Swans like they did to the Giants they will win on Saturday, look for Zuhaar to get on top early a big body who can find the scoreboard.
H2H
Swans have won four of the last five games vs the Kangaroos.
Best Bet
Kangaroos -8.5 $1.90
Kangaroos win $1.65
Collingwood Magpies vs St Kilda Saints
June 20th (Saturday 4.35pm) MCG
Credit where credit is due the Saints played awesome last week they didn’t just beat the Dogs they destroyed them in all aspects of the game. The Dogs had no answer for their skills and running game. It looks like the Saints have worked on their delivery of the ball to their forward line in the offseason as they are hitting a lot more targets then the past Saints side. Big challenge this weekend coming up against a Pies side that didn’t kick a goal after halftime last week. They got off to a great start but just pulled up and were lucky to get a draw last week. It is a big week for Jordan De Goey wasn’t his best game last week and looked a little tired coming to the end of the game. He had his chances to kick 3+ goals if he kicks them Pies win so De Goey needs to hit the scoreboard and take his opportunities and the Pies will win this. For the Saints to win they need to bring the pressure and elite kicking they dished up the Dogs. Pies win this but the start is crucial.
H2H
Pies have won three of the last five games vs the Saints.
Best Bet
Pies -15.5 $1.90
Geelong Cats vs Carlton Blues
June 20th (Saturday 7.35pm) GMHBA
Jeeez the Cats gave the Hawks a football lesson last week at GMHBA stadium and will look to build on that this weekend against a Blues side I can’t see kick more than 30 points. Cats were all over the Hawks last week led by Ablett and Dangerfield and just looked so powerful and dominant when going forward. The short qtrs might benefit an ageing Cats side that has Ablett playing high half forward, if Gary kicks 3 goals a game you would pencil in a Cats win. The Blues on the other hand let Melbourne kick the first 8 goals before they mounted a comeback and if it wasn’t for some wayward kicking would have beaten the Demons. If the Blues are to have any hope this weekend they need Cripps to dominate from the get go. Reports in the media saying there is a possibility that he will leave at the end of the year to chance finals success, If I am a Blues fan I am very worried. Cats win this and they win by 40+
H2H
Cats have won four of the last five games vs the Blues.
Best Bet
Cats -28.5 $1.90
Brisbane Lions vs West Coast Eagles
June 20th (Saturday 7.40pm) Gabba
Match of the round against two sides who were eliminated in the same week during the finals last year. The Lions had a nice win vs the Dockers last week and will look to build on that against a West Coast side that looked horrible. Eagles got beat by 40 points by a side that has been bottom of the ladder for the last year and their average age on their list is 23. Adam Simpson would have gone ballistic after that performance on Saturday night. Add salt to the wound the Eagles will be without Jeremey Mcgovern for this game as he was suspended for a punch last week. The Lions like playing against the Eagles. They match up well and will use their knowledge of the Gabba to try and kick away early because they know if the Eagles get on top in the midfield it could be good night early. Nic Nat was giving Luke Shuey the best service last week and if the conditions are dry watch out Lions. I have tipped the Eagles to bounce back on Saturday night.
H2H
Eagles have won four of the last five games vs the Lions.
Best Bet
Eagles +2.5 $1.90
Eagles win $2.05
Adelaide Crows vs Gold Coast Suns
June 21st (Sunday 1.05pm) Metricon Stadium
For the first time in a long time the Suns could have back to back wins. The Suns were fantastic last weekend beating a flag favourite in the Eagles. They ran hard, tackled hard and played smart footy in the wet conditions. Matt Rowell the Suns youngster had it on a string and looks a ready made player don’t be surprised if the Crows put someone on him early to test him out and see if he likes the bash and crash side of footy. The Crows on the other hand last weekend were shocking got off to a nice start vs the Power but after qtr time it went downhill and went downhill fast. Their two recruits Keays and Crocker were invisible and the Crows will be asking questions if they were right in drafting them. The Crows list has too many good players to lie down and admit defeat if Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane have a big game. Tipping the Crows and if conditions suit they will win well.
H2H
Crows have won five of the last five games vs the Suns
Best Bet
Crows win $1.95
Crows +1.5 $1.90
Essendon Bombers vs Melbourne Demons
June 21st (Sunday 3.35pm) MCG
Two old rivals going at it on a Sunday afternoon bit disappointing that there are no crowds because this game would have pulled 70k+ at the G on a Sunday afternoon. Demons used their get out of jail free card last week vs the Blues. They kicked the first 8 goals of the game and I thought they would win easy but they do say a win is a win. Good to see Harley Bennell get through his first game of AFL in three years and will be more confident come this weekend game on the MCG. The Dons had a nightmare trip to Sydney flying at 6am and then being locked up in a hotel room till 1pm no wonder they came out firing against the Swans, if they bring that heat this weekend vs the Dees they will win this game quite easily. Tipping Bombers get off to a good start and just bully the Demons who for me are a very poor side.
H2H
The Bombers have won three of the last five games vs the Dees.
Best Bet
Bombers win $1.90
Bombers -1.5 $1.90
Port Adelaide Power vs Fremantle Dockers
June 21st (Sunday 6.05pm) Metricon
Looking forward to this game come Sunday and what the Power dish up. They were fantastic last week vs the Crows and beat them all across the ground but I was more impressed with their midfield set up, they have premiership ruckman in Scott Lycett and a back up ruckman in Paddy Ryder so should be getting first use of the ball each time. They played smart through the midfield last week and used their speed players in Rozee and Butters to kick goals which worked well for them. The Dockers on the other hand have been unlucky in their two games this year losing to the Bombers by a point then losing to Lions by 13. I am tipping an upset here and Freo will win, Fyfe leads from the front and if Walters can kick some goals early they will beat the Power this week. Conditions will suit the Dockers down to a tee. Freo at the line.
H2H
Power have won three of the last five games vs the Dockers.
Best Bet
Dockers +21.5 $1.90
Dockers win $3.40
