AFL Round 20 Preview
Collingwood v Melbourne
The Tip: Melbourne by 15 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Jeff White
Chance For An Upset: The Magpies are expected to get the win, but the loss of Fraser could give Melbourne an advantage especially is White has a big game.
Collingwood
They win if....they can contain Robertson, he is a difficult player to find the appropriate opponent for.
The Good News: Pendlebury returns earlier than expected and they need his run through the middle.
The Bad News: Without Josh Fraser in the ruck, Collingwood are without one of their most important players.
Melbourne
They win if....they have enough height in the back line to stop Rocca, Cloke and Rusling.
The Good News: Neitz plays game number 300.
The Bad News: They are still interviewing a bunch of coaching candidates, they should just give it to Sheedy.
Essendon v Carlton
The Tip: Essendon by 23 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Scott Lucas
Chance For An Upset: Carlton are getting a lot closer to winning but Essendon might have the tall forwards that will kick enough goals to just get the win.
Essendon
They win if....Camporeale spends most of the match on the bench.
The Good News: Gumbleton is another big target in the forward line.
The Bad News: That were some strange changes to the side, with Hille and Watson out and Camporeale in.
Carlton
They win if....they stop Stanton, with Watson probably out of the Essendon side it means Stanton doesn't have as much help in the middle.
The Good News: Whitnall returns, they need his skills in the forward line.
The Bad News: Bentick is one of their only strong bodies to use in the middle, but he is stuck in the VFL now.
St Kilda v Fremantle
The Tip: Fremantle by 9 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Luke McPharlin
Chance For An Upset: The Saints are at home for this game but it is a new Fremantle team at the moment and the Dockers also have some mobile defenders who could slow down Riewoldt and Gehrig.
St Kilda
They win if....Milne kicks more goals than Farmer does down the other end, while the big forwards will get all the attention it could be one of the smaller players that wins the match.
The Good News: Blake is contributing in a number of roles, including a tagger in the midfield, but he might go back to his old role for this game as a backup ruckman.
The Bad News: While most teams are getting a contribution from their draft picks, the Saints haven't been helped a lot this season by the players they picked in the draft.
Fremantle
They win if....Bell has a bigger game than Ball.
The Good News: The coaching change has brought a lot more wins.
The Bad News: Even if the Dockers win this round it is unlikely they will jump into the top 8, as one of the Bulldogs or Crows will win and stay above them on the ladder.
Brisbane v Sydney
The Tip: Brisbane by 19 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Jed Adcock
Chance For An Upset: It should be close, and Sydney are the favourite, but Brown is in a lot better form than Hall is so that could be the difference.
Brisbane
They win if....their ruckmen are up to the contest against the Swans' giants, Charman might have a sore hand while Leuenberger has only played a few games.
The Good News: Home ground advantage might be very important int heir chase for a finals spot, they have two more games in Brisbane.
The Bad News: Hooper was a good player during their streak, he is out and someone like Harding, Hadley or Johnson will have to take over his small forward role.
Sydney
They win if....they don't allow Notting to run around without an opponent.
The Good News: It is a rare battle of two high draft picks called Brennan, Sydney made a good choice when they gave Luke another shot at the AFL.
The Bad News: They would have liked to have Leo Barry available to battle Brown.
West Coast v Richmond
The Tip: West Coast by 50 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Dean Cox
Chance For An Upset: The Eagles have lost a couple of games at home that they were expected to easily win, so if the Tigers can again find marking targets up forward they could challenge the Eagles.
West Coast
They win if....they pay attention to the Tigers' little players, Foley and King.
The Good News: Cox and Seaby continue to dominate the hitouts and are also getting forward to kick goals.
The Bad News: Embley is out for several games.
Richmond
They win if....Riewoldt marks everything that comes in his direction.
The Good News: They looked very good last week when they recorded their second win of the year.
The Bad News: They do seem to neglect their ruck position when it comes to drafting and trading, right now they are down to their last ruckman.
Hawthorn v Port Adelaide
The Tip: Port Adelaide by 12 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Peter Burgoyne
Chance For An Upset: Both teams play very well in Tasmania, the Power's ruckmen might be the difference.
Hawthorn
They win if....their big three up forward take over the game.
The Good News: The Hawks have certainly showed the other clubs how to rebuild, trade the old guys for draft picks and then scout the prospects effectively.
The Bad News: Vandenberg is hurt again.
Port Adelaide
They win if....they have Peter Burgoyne loose in their back line and he does more damage than someone like Guerra does for Hawthorn in a similar role.
The Good News: Brogan, Salopek and Tredrea are their inclusions, those three significantly strengthen the team.
The Bad News: Their young tall defenders are going to have a big challenge.
Kangaroos v Geelong
The Tip: Kangaroos by 27 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Drew Petrie
Chance For An Upset: Geelong are expected to win every game they play, maybe this have a slight stumble here against the team that previously defeated them.
Kangaroos
They win if....they use the height advantage that Petrie and Hale provide up forward and they also stop Milburn and Bartel playing without an opponent.
The Good News: They know how to beat the Cats, and it is their home game this time too.
The Bad News: Archer probably won't play next season, that will be a loss that isn't easy to replace.
Geelong
They win if....they know who is playing on Simpson, although that seems so long ago and they supposedly did know who was playing on him anyway.
The Good News: Chapman is playing, while G Ablett and Bartel have really stepped up this season, Chapman provides a bit more toughness that will be so important in September.
The Bad News: Those who thought that Hawkins was going to be the season's Rising Star were wrong, but those who did pick a Geelong player to win the award were right.
Adelaide v Western Bulldogs
The Tip: Western Bulldogs by 5 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Brad Johnson
Chance For An Upset: Two teams that need a big full forward play for the right to remain in the finals race. The Crows are expected to win but the Bulldogs might get going again with Gilbee and Johnson back in the team.
Adelaide
They win if....Hudson gets back in the good books with a big performance in the ruck.
The Good News: They can still make the finals, if they keep winning, and their percentage is quite good too which might help.
The Bad News: Ricciuto is retiring, the fans will have to find another player to cheer their name when they have the ball.
Western Bulldogs
They win if....West, Cross and Boyd get a huge amount of the football.
The Good News: Gilbee with the ball in the back line means a lot of accurate and long passes to other Bulldogs.
The Bad News: McDougall was supposed to bring them some size, but the way the Bulldogs play it is their taller players who kick forward to their smalls who are expected to mark the ball.
The Tip: Melbourne by 15 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Jeff White
Chance For An Upset: The Magpies are expected to get the win, but the loss of Fraser could give Melbourne an advantage especially is White has a big game.
Collingwood
They win if....they can contain Robertson, he is a difficult player to find the appropriate opponent for.
The Good News: Pendlebury returns earlier than expected and they need his run through the middle.
The Bad News: Without Josh Fraser in the ruck, Collingwood are without one of their most important players.
Melbourne
They win if....they have enough height in the back line to stop Rocca, Cloke and Rusling.
The Good News: Neitz plays game number 300.
The Bad News: They are still interviewing a bunch of coaching candidates, they should just give it to Sheedy.
Essendon v Carlton
The Tip: Essendon by 23 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Scott Lucas
Chance For An Upset: Carlton are getting a lot closer to winning but Essendon might have the tall forwards that will kick enough goals to just get the win.
Essendon
They win if....Camporeale spends most of the match on the bench.
The Good News: Gumbleton is another big target in the forward line.
The Bad News: That were some strange changes to the side, with Hille and Watson out and Camporeale in.
Carlton
They win if....they stop Stanton, with Watson probably out of the Essendon side it means Stanton doesn't have as much help in the middle.
The Good News: Whitnall returns, they need his skills in the forward line.
St Kilda v Fremantle
The Tip: Fremantle by 9 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Luke McPharlin
Chance For An Upset: The Saints are at home for this game but it is a new Fremantle team at the moment and the Dockers also have some mobile defenders who could slow down Riewoldt and Gehrig.
St Kilda
They win if....Milne kicks more goals than Farmer does down the other end, while the big forwards will get all the attention it could be one of the smaller players that wins the match.
The Good News: Blake is contributing in a number of roles, including a tagger in the midfield, but he might go back to his old role for this game as a backup ruckman.
The Bad News: While most teams are getting a contribution from their draft picks, the Saints haven't been helped a lot this season by the players they picked in the draft.
Fremantle
They win if....Bell has a bigger game than Ball.
The Good News: The coaching change has brought a lot more wins.
The Bad News: Even if the Dockers win this round it is unlikely they will jump into the top 8, as one of the Bulldogs or Crows will win and stay above them on the ladder.
Brisbane v Sydney
The Tip: Brisbane by 19 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Jed Adcock
Chance For An Upset: It should be close, and Sydney are the favourite, but Brown is in a lot better form than Hall is so that could be the difference.
Brisbane
They win if....their ruckmen are up to the contest against the Swans' giants, Charman might have a sore hand while Leuenberger has only played a few games.
The Good News: Home ground advantage might be very important int heir chase for a finals spot, they have two more games in Brisbane.
The Bad News: Hooper was a good player during their streak, he is out and someone like Harding, Hadley or Johnson will have to take over his small forward role.
Sydney
They win if....they don't allow Notting to run around without an opponent.
The Good News: It is a rare battle of two high draft picks called Brennan, Sydney made a good choice when they gave Luke another shot at the AFL.
The Bad News: They would have liked to have Leo Barry available to battle Brown.
West Coast v Richmond
The Tip: West Coast by 50 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Dean Cox
Chance For An Upset: The Eagles have lost a couple of games at home that they were expected to easily win, so if the Tigers can again find marking targets up forward they could challenge the Eagles.
West Coast
They win if....they pay attention to the Tigers' little players, Foley and King.
The Good News: Cox and Seaby continue to dominate the hitouts and are also getting forward to kick goals.
The Bad News: Embley is out for several games.
Richmond
They win if....Riewoldt marks everything that comes in his direction.
The Good News: They looked very good last week when they recorded their second win of the year.
The Bad News: They do seem to neglect their ruck position when it comes to drafting and trading, right now they are down to their last ruckman.
Hawthorn v Port Adelaide
The Tip: Port Adelaide by 12 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Peter Burgoyne
Chance For An Upset: Both teams play very well in Tasmania, the Power's ruckmen might be the difference.
Hawthorn
They win if....their big three up forward take over the game.
The Good News: The Hawks have certainly showed the other clubs how to rebuild, trade the old guys for draft picks and then scout the prospects effectively.
The Bad News: Vandenberg is hurt again.
Port Adelaide
They win if....they have Peter Burgoyne loose in their back line and he does more damage than someone like Guerra does for Hawthorn in a similar role.
The Good News: Brogan, Salopek and Tredrea are their inclusions, those three significantly strengthen the team.
The Bad News: Their young tall defenders are going to have a big challenge.
Kangaroos v Geelong
The Tip: Kangaroos by 27 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Drew Petrie
Chance For An Upset: Geelong are expected to win every game they play, maybe this have a slight stumble here against the team that previously defeated them.
Kangaroos
They win if....they use the height advantage that Petrie and Hale provide up forward and they also stop Milburn and Bartel playing without an opponent.
The Good News: They know how to beat the Cats, and it is their home game this time too.
The Bad News: Archer probably won't play next season, that will be a loss that isn't easy to replace.
Geelong
They win if....they know who is playing on Simpson, although that seems so long ago and they supposedly did know who was playing on him anyway.
The Good News: Chapman is playing, while G Ablett and Bartel have really stepped up this season, Chapman provides a bit more toughness that will be so important in September.
The Bad News: Those who thought that Hawkins was going to be the season's Rising Star were wrong, but those who did pick a Geelong player to win the award were right.
Adelaide v Western Bulldogs
The Tip: Western Bulldogs by 5 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Brad Johnson
Chance For An Upset: Two teams that need a big full forward play for the right to remain in the finals race. The Crows are expected to win but the Bulldogs might get going again with Gilbee and Johnson back in the team.
Adelaide
They win if....Hudson gets back in the good books with a big performance in the ruck.
The Good News: They can still make the finals, if they keep winning, and their percentage is quite good too which might help.
The Bad News: Ricciuto is retiring, the fans will have to find another player to cheer their name when they have the ball.
Western Bulldogs
They win if....West, Cross and Boyd get a huge amount of the football.
The Good News: Gilbee with the ball in the back line means a lot of accurate and long passes to other Bulldogs.
The Bad News: McDougall was supposed to bring them some size, but the way the Bulldogs play it is their taller players who kick forward to their smalls who are expected to mark the ball.
