AFL Round 13 Preview
Essendon v Melbourne
The Tip: Essendon by 7 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Dustin Fletcher
Chance For An Upset: Daniher's time with Melbourne is coming to an end, they didn't do it for the coach last week so it is unlikely they turn it around for this game. It could happen with Neitz back in the side. With Hille out they are a chance.
Essendon
They win if....Laycock and Ryder successfully combine to replace Hille's usual influence on the game.
The Good News: Stanton is the engine that runs the team, he is back in the middle for this game.
The Bad News: They were bad for three quarters last round.
Melbourne
They win if....Neitz plays and the Demons don't allow Michael and Fletcher to double-team him.
The Good News: "Wayne" Newton gets his chance, they really can't call him "Juice" because they used that name before for another Melbourne Newton.
The Bad News: Frawley is out, unless there is an injury that wasn't reported this makes little sense.
Geelong v Sydney
The Tip: Geelong by 23 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Paul Chapman
Chance For An Upset: If Roos can find a way to win this game it will be the biggest win of his career, in terms of how bad the odds are against a win.
Geelong
They win if....they are alert to the various forward structures that Sydney will employ with Hall out, the Swans could go very small up forward to try to expose Harley and Egan for pace.
The Good News: A win streak and another game at home.
The Bad News: Tenace probably feels unlucky as he was dropped.
Sydney
They win if....Everitt and Jolly win the majority of the hitouts and also drift forward to kick goals.
The Good News: Davis returns, he can kick goals against Geelong.
The Bad News: Not only is Hall out of this game, but the Swans are concerned he might miss more games.
Fremantle v Carlton
The Tip: Fremantle by 100 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Matthew Pavlich
Chance For An Upset: Both teams are in turmoil, with problems on and off the field. The Dockers have the home ground advantage so that might be enough to get the win as Carlton are missing several stars.
Fremantle
They win if....Pavlich has another big game against a team that struggles to contain him.
The Good News: Farmer is back after several suspensions, one from the AFL and then the team-imposed one.
The Bad News: They ruined their season with what they did in the Northern Territory last round.
Carlton
They win if....Carlton's combo of a short ruckman and an inexperienced ruckman can do anything against the two giants that the Dockers play.
The Good News: Betts is back, so even if they lose the fans will be entertained.
The Bad News: Whitnall and Walker will be missed.
Brisbane v Port Adelaide
The Tip: Port Adelaide by 11 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Kane Cornes
Chance For An Upset: Both teams have hit a slump this season, but the Power got out of it while the Lions are still searching for answers. The Power are favourites but the Lions have a chance at home.
Brisbane
They win if....Brown finally has a huge game.
The Good News: The Lions are getting an early start on the future, with Proud now in the team and Dzufer is debuted in this game.
The Bad News: Copeland and Roe were big parts of their early season success, they have both been dropped.
Port Adelaide
They win if....Their young forwards continue to play at a high level.
The Good News: Tredrea played well last round.
The Bad News: Salopek is a more important player than some realize.
St Kilda v Richmond
The Tip: St Kilda by 9 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Nick Riewoldt
Chance For An Upset: The Saints have one more Riewoldt playing than the Tigers and that might get them the win. The Tigers are not expected to win but that didn't stop them last round. Brown was a welcome addition for them last week and Simmonds could have a big game this round.
St Kilda
They win if....Gehrig owns the goal-square like Koschitzke did last week.
The Good News: They had a huge win last week.
The Bad News: Koschitzke and injuries are nothing new.
Richmond
They win if....Simmonds has recovered and is able to run all game.
The Good News: They won last week.
The Bad News: They are still in last spot.
Adelaide v West Coast
The Tip: Adelaide by 17 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Mark Ricciuto
Chance For An Upset: Adelaide is the favourite, so the Eagles are not in their usual position. But the Eagles are still a big chance even without Judd as the Crows are not anywhere near full strength either.
Adelaide
They win if....they are alert to Hunter sneaking up to the forward line.
The Good News: Maric's return could give them more options, and might allow Griffin to become a full forward.
The Bad News: They still have a lot of injuries.
West Coast
They win if....Dean Cox has a huge game.
The Good News: Embley is available this round.
The Bad News: They did not expect to lose last week.
Kangaroos v Western Bulldogs
The Tip: Western Bulldogs by 40 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Brad Johnson
Chance For An Upset: Teams are supposed to lift for milestone games, and that might have happened last weekend in Perth, so the Kangaroos will be in this game and if Wells provides the speed to counter the Bulldogs in the middle he might be the difference. The Kangaroos will need a big game from Harris and Grant, the Bulldogs will also expect big things from Harris and Grant.
Kangaroos
They win if....they don't allow the Bulldogs to run.
The Good News: A big event in the Kangaroos' history with Archer playing game 300.
The Bad News: It was not a game they expected to lose when the Crows ran over them on the Gold Coast.
Western Bulldogs
They win if....Street can keep up with McIntosh.
The Good News: Chris Grant returns to add another tall at either end of the ground.
The Bad News: Murphy is injured once more.
Collingwood v Hawthorn
The Tip: Hawthorn by 33 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Sam Mitchell
Chance For An Upset: The Magpies might have won last round but a bunch of problems hit them this week. Josh Fraser is the key to the game, if he can stop Campbell and also kick a few goals it could get Collingwood the win.
Collingwood
They win if....Cloke really steps up with Rocca out.
The Good News: Reid may be young but in the VFL he has shown that he is ready.
The Bad News: There have to be more than a few sponsors, officials and supporters who are worried about what is going on off the field.
Hawthorn
They win if....they play like they did last round.
The Good News: Franklin is added to a team that won by 100 points the previous round.
The Bad News: Someone has to miss from last round, a tough choice for the Hawks as they didn't have any bad players last time they played.
The Tip: Essendon by 7 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Dustin Fletcher
Chance For An Upset: Daniher's time with Melbourne is coming to an end, they didn't do it for the coach last week so it is unlikely they turn it around for this game. It could happen with Neitz back in the side. With Hille out they are a chance.
Essendon
They win if....Laycock and Ryder successfully combine to replace Hille's usual influence on the game.
The Good News: Stanton is the engine that runs the team, he is back in the middle for this game.
The Bad News: They were bad for three quarters last round.
Melbourne
They win if....Neitz plays and the Demons don't allow Michael and Fletcher to double-team him.
The Good News: "Wayne" Newton gets his chance, they really can't call him "Juice" because they used that name before for another Melbourne Newton.
The Bad News: Frawley is out, unless there is an injury that wasn't reported this makes little sense.
Geelong v Sydney
The Tip: Geelong by 23 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Paul Chapman
Chance For An Upset: If Roos can find a way to win this game it will be the biggest win of his career, in terms of how bad the odds are against a win.
Geelong
They win if....they are alert to the various forward structures that Sydney will employ with Hall out, the Swans could go very small up forward to try to expose Harley and Egan for pace.
The Good News: A win streak and another game at home.
The Bad News: Tenace probably feels unlucky as he was dropped.
Sydney
They win if....Everitt and Jolly win the majority of the hitouts and also drift forward to kick goals.
The Good News: Davis returns, he can kick goals against Geelong.
The Bad News: Not only is Hall out of this game, but the Swans are concerned he might miss more games.
Fremantle v Carlton
The Tip: Fremantle by 100 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Matthew Pavlich
Chance For An Upset: Both teams are in turmoil, with problems on and off the field. The Dockers have the home ground advantage so that might be enough to get the win as Carlton are missing several stars.
Fremantle
They win if....Pavlich has another big game against a team that struggles to contain him.
The Good News: Farmer is back after several suspensions, one from the AFL and then the team-imposed one.
The Bad News: They ruined their season with what they did in the Northern Territory last round.
Carlton
They win if....Carlton's combo of a short ruckman and an inexperienced ruckman can do anything against the two giants that the Dockers play.
The Good News: Betts is back, so even if they lose the fans will be entertained.
The Bad News: Whitnall and Walker will be missed.
Brisbane v Port Adelaide
The Tip: Port Adelaide by 11 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Kane Cornes
Chance For An Upset: Both teams have hit a slump this season, but the Power got out of it while the Lions are still searching for answers. The Power are favourites but the Lions have a chance at home.
Brisbane
They win if....Brown finally has a huge game.
The Good News: The Lions are getting an early start on the future, with Proud now in the team and Dzufer is debuted in this game.
The Bad News: Copeland and Roe were big parts of their early season success, they have both been dropped.
Port Adelaide
They win if....Their young forwards continue to play at a high level.
The Good News: Tredrea played well last round.
The Bad News: Salopek is a more important player than some realize.
St Kilda v Richmond
The Tip: St Kilda by 9 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Nick Riewoldt
Chance For An Upset: The Saints have one more Riewoldt playing than the Tigers and that might get them the win. The Tigers are not expected to win but that didn't stop them last round. Brown was a welcome addition for them last week and Simmonds could have a big game this round.
St Kilda
They win if....Gehrig owns the goal-square like Koschitzke did last week.
The Good News: They had a huge win last week.
The Bad News: Koschitzke and injuries are nothing new.
Richmond
They win if....Simmonds has recovered and is able to run all game.
The Good News: They won last week.
The Bad News: They are still in last spot.
Adelaide v West Coast
The Tip: Adelaide by 17 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Mark Ricciuto
Chance For An Upset: Adelaide is the favourite, so the Eagles are not in their usual position. But the Eagles are still a big chance even without Judd as the Crows are not anywhere near full strength either.
Adelaide
They win if....they are alert to Hunter sneaking up to the forward line.
The Good News: Maric's return could give them more options, and might allow Griffin to become a full forward.
The Bad News: They still have a lot of injuries.
West Coast
They win if....Dean Cox has a huge game.
The Good News: Embley is available this round.
The Bad News: They did not expect to lose last week.
Kangaroos v Western Bulldogs
The Tip: Western Bulldogs by 40 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Brad Johnson
Chance For An Upset: Teams are supposed to lift for milestone games, and that might have happened last weekend in Perth, so the Kangaroos will be in this game and if Wells provides the speed to counter the Bulldogs in the middle he might be the difference. The Kangaroos will need a big game from Harris and Grant, the Bulldogs will also expect big things from Harris and Grant.
Kangaroos
They win if....they don't allow the Bulldogs to run.
The Good News: A big event in the Kangaroos' history with Archer playing game 300.
The Bad News: It was not a game they expected to lose when the Crows ran over them on the Gold Coast.
Western Bulldogs
They win if....Street can keep up with McIntosh.
The Good News: Chris Grant returns to add another tall at either end of the ground.
The Bad News: Murphy is injured once more.
Collingwood v Hawthorn
The Tip: Hawthorn by 33 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Sam Mitchell
Chance For An Upset: The Magpies might have won last round but a bunch of problems hit them this week. Josh Fraser is the key to the game, if he can stop Campbell and also kick a few goals it could get Collingwood the win.
Collingwood
They win if....Cloke really steps up with Rocca out.
The Good News: Reid may be young but in the VFL he has shown that he is ready.
The Bad News: There have to be more than a few sponsors, officials and supporters who are worried about what is going on off the field.
Hawthorn
They win if....they play like they did last round.
The Good News: Franklin is added to a team that won by 100 points the previous round.
The Bad News: Someone has to miss from last round, a tough choice for the Hawks as they didn't have any bad players last time they played.
