There are just four rounds to go in the AFL home-and-away season, who’ll get up this week?
Port Adelaide vs Collingwood
The venue change for this game shouldn’t really have any bearing on the outcome. Port Adelaide are in much better form than Collingwood and have the motivation of Travis Boak’s 300th game too.
They’re too good for their Friday night opponents and should cement their top-four spots with a comfortable win.
Power by 31 $1.94 at PlayUp
Carlton vs North Melbourne
Carlton has been a much-improved side over the last few weeks and their final-quarter blitz against Collingwood was seriously impressive.
North Melbourne are also on the up, but they’re building from a much lower base and also have a woeful record at Marvel Stadium.
Blues by 17 $2.04 at PlayUp
Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast Suns
Brisbane, who have looked like a premiership contender all season, are just starting to wobble at the worst possible time.
Injuries aren’t helping, but the Lions need to get their act together and find form soon.
Their state rivals will be licking their lips at the chance to make things difficult, but they aren’t quite at the level where they can be expecting to win this just yet.
Lions by 21 $2.02 at PlayUp
West Coast Eagles vs St Kilda
The home ground advantage is the big factor here.
West Coast are in very ordinary form, but St Kilda has an atrocious record in Perth.
The Saints have never won at the new Perth Stadium, have lost nine of their last ten visits to the WA capital and haven’t beaten the Eagles there since 2010.
It’s hard to see that changing now that Rowan Marshall’s out.
Eagles by 13 $2.00 at PlayUp
Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs
Melbourne continues to wobble at the wrong time of year too, however, they’ve been consistently good against the top times while simultaneously underwhelming against the non-finalists.
We can’t forget the Demons gave the Doggies a touch-up earlier in the season, while the Bulldogs also don’t have the best record at the MCG.
Demons by 7 $2.30 at PlayUp
Adelaide Crows vs Hawthorn
Both of these sides can’t wait for the season to end. Hawthorn hasn’t backed up their better efforts – like their stunning draw with Melbourne last week – all season, but at least they’ve shown something of late.
The Crows have stunk in the second half of 2021 and the venue change for this match really shifts things out of their favour.
Hawks by 22 $2.16 at PlayUp
Sydney Swans vs Fremantle
The home ground advantage seems to almost always decide games between Sydney and Fremantle but, frustratingly, this one’s on neutral territory.
The Swans are in better form than the Dockers – who really laid an egg against Geelong last week – and should continue their march towards finals.
Swans by 28 $1.99 at PlayUp
Geelong Cats vs Richmond
Richmond passed the first test with flying colours, but their uphill battle to keep 2021 alive runs into another huge roadblock in the form of the Cats.
Geelong would love nothing more than to stick a dagger right in the heart of the side that got them in last year’s decider and, with the form they’re in, should do just that.
Cats by 43 $3.80 at PlayUp
Essendon vs GWS Giants
The Bombers are in surprisingly good form of late and are a serious shot of stealing an unlikely finals spot.
Buoyed by Jake Stringer’s recent re-signing, they should have the bounce to knock off a Greater Western Sydney side who are faltering at the wrong time.
Bombers by 8 $2.16 at PlayUp
A version of this preview was originally published over at The Roar https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/07/22/the-roars-afl-expert-tips-and-predictions-round-19-5
