Round 2 Tips

Apologies for the lateness of this. I’ve been dealing with a slow internet connection. By here are my tips for this round.

Thursday Night: Carlton Blues vs. Richmond Tigers

Elimination Final replay and no doubts that Richmond will be wanting to make amends for last time, though the recent history suggests it will be difficult. The last time Richmond beat the Blues was by 5 points in Round 1 last year and the only time in the their last four meetings (including the final). If Richmond want to win, they need something special and Jake King may provide it, but my tip still goes to the Blues.

My Tip: Blues by 15 points.

Friday Night: Essendon Bombers vs. Hawthorn Hawks

The assurance that Hird will return for season 2015 will take some weight off the Bombers shoulders, but the question is, is it enough to beat the reigning Premiers? In my opinion, there are only two teams capable of beating the Hawks: Geelong who have demonstrated it more than once, and Richmond who despite their abysmal list have somehow managed to get over the Hawks in both encounters in the last two seasons. Obviously, Essendon isn’t one of the two.

My Tip: Hawks by 40 points

Saturday Afternoon: Saint Kilda Saints vs. GWS Giants

There is no reason why the Giants can’t beat the Saints. They’ve defeated the Swans who have at least 10 times the list of the Saints, so it’s certainly doable. It depends though on if the Giants can produce the same performance twice consecutively. The only two times they’ve played the Saints have demolished them, but that means nothing now. Shutting down Cameron will critical for a Saints victory.

My Tip: Giants by 25 points

Saturday Afternoon: Port Adelaide Power vs. Adelaide Crows

The South Australian Showdown. Port won the first Showdown at AAMI Stadium when the Crows joined the AFL. They won the last Showdown at AAMI Stadium in Round 19 last year. So you can see they’ll be wanting to win their first game on Adelaide Oval which also happens to be the first Showdown on Adelaide Oval. The Crows of course will be desperate to break that tradition. In order to do that, they’ll need to put sufficient space between themselves the Power by three-quarter time to hold out under the Power’s famous fast finishing final quarter.

My Tip: Power by 10 points.

Saturday Afternoon: Fremantle Dockers vs. Gold Coast Suns

The Dockers have beaten the Suns three times out of three matches. Don’t expect that to change, especially as the game is in Perth.

My Tip: Dockers by 35 points

Saturday Night: Sydney Swans vs. Collingwood Magpies

The AFL obviously thinks that the hole called ANZ Stadium is good enough for an AFL game this year, despite numerous complaints from not only opposition sides but the Swans as well about the grounds conditions. I don’t why the game is being played there (presumably there’s a cricket game on at the SCG) but the AFL needs to listen and not put games there. The game is 50/50 as to who will win. Collingwood won last time by 29 points, but I feel the Swans will come out and really want to show what they can do after being comfortably beaten by the Giants (as an added bonus, if they do win, it’ll keep the Magpies at the bottom of the ladder).

My Tip: Swans by 30 points.

Sunday Afternoon: Brisbane Lions vs. Geelong Cats

In future, if I go straight to the tip, it means that it’s fairly obvious who will win the game.

My Tip: Cats by 39 points.

Sunday Afternoon: Melbourne Demons vs. West Coast Eagles

My Tip: Eagles by 80 points

Sunday Afternoon: Western Bulldogs vs. North Melbourne

The Bulldogs could prove challenging, but I doubt the Roos will want to put on the same performance twice in a row.

My Tip: North by 40 points