Triple M Footy Preview - Round 19
In conjunction with Crownbet.
(Image: Getty)
The Triple M Footy Preview is brought to you with our good mates at Crownbet. Each week, a member of the triplem.com.au team will look at the fixture and put their neck on the line with their call for the games of the round. With odds for each team thanks to Crownbet.
Keep up to date with the latest odds on all the weekend’s action at Crownbet.com.au.
Hawthorn vs. Sydney
Sydney’s won 10 of their last 11, a stretch of form no team in the competition has come close to matching this year. So who can stop them? Maybe the team that’s handed them their only loss in that time: Hawthorn. They’ve lost once since the bye - a three-point win to second-placed Geelong and, at home, they’ll keep this one close.
Hawthorn by 5
Crownbet odds:
Hawthorn 2.75
Sydney 1.46
North Melbourne vs. Melbourne
Surely it’s time for Melbourne to snap their hoodoo over North Melbourne? The last time they beat the Roos, David Neitz kicked a bag of eight. They’ve got the majority of their best 22 back and were impressive in knocking off Port Adelaide last week, so they should have the tools to get a win over North here. Mind you, that was probably what they were thinking back in round nine, too.
Melbourne by 15
Crownbet odds:
North Melbourne 2.80
Melbourne 1.44
GWS vs. Fremantle
GWS have lacked a lot of scoring power of late, topping just 100 points once over the last two months - against Brisbane, too - so this serves as a good opportunity to sort things out. Against a flaky Fremantle team with one win in eight, GWS need a big win. This is a good opportunity to assert themselves.
GWS by 40
Crownbet odds:
GWS 1.13
Fremantle 6.00
Port Adelaide vs. St Kilda
This clash carries a lot of weight for both sides. Off the back of a fairly dismal loss to Melbourne last week, Port Adelaide simply can’t afford another loss to a finals contender. However, they win here and St Kilda might not leave this round a finals contender at all any longer.
Port Adelaide by 21
Crownbet odds:
Port Adelaide 1.17
St Kilda 5.15
Gold Coast vs. Richmond
The Tigers are trialling one of the shortest forward lines in recent memory, losing Jack Riewoldt to an eye injury and bringing in Shai Bolton. But the Tigers are a good side with a seriously good backline, which might be all the difference: they’ve conceded 90 points or more in a game just twice this season, the least in the competition.
Richmond by 26
Crownbet odds:
Gold Coast 2.60
Richmond 1.50
Carlton vs. Geelong
This is a game that Geelong can’t afford to drop, as it’s a sort of game they can let go. Carlton did manage to knock them off last year with an excellent performance, and they’ll be looking to rebound after last week’s poor showing against Brisbane. It’s a must win for Geelong: a loss here gives Richmond or GWS the chance to launch above them, and throws the prospect of a home qualifying final in jeopardy.
Geelong by 15
Crownbet odds:
Carlton 4.20
Geelong 1.23
Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon
The difference between these two fairly evenly matched sides might come through scoring power. The Dons are the highest scoring team over the two months, averaging nearly 110 points a match. The Western Bulldogs in that same time are averaging just 75 - the third worst in the league - and will miss Jack Redpath through suspension this week.
Essendon by 20
Crownbet odds:
Western Bulldogs 2.10
Essendon 1.75
Collingwood vs. Adelaide
The Crows are on top of the ladder for a reason, and all logic says they should come away with the win here. But Collingwood isn’t bad when their backs are against the wall - just look at last week’s last quarter against West Coast. Levi Greenwood shuts down Rory Sloane as he did to Andrew Gaff last week and the Pies are a sneaky chance.
Adelaide by 13
Crownbet odds:
Collingwood 3.10
Adelaide 1.37
West Coast vs. Brisbane
Against a Zorko-less Brisbane, West Coast could seriously do with a big win here. Their form has been mediocre for a while, culminating in a capitulation from 24 points up against Collingwood last week. Their percentage is worse than every side in the top eight, something they’ll need to improve on against the worst defence in the league.
West Coast by 55
Crownbet odds:
West Coast 1.08
Brisbane 8.00