Afl Preview - Season 2008 Round 20

Newcastle Herald

Friday August 15, 2008

with Grant Sproule

TONIGHT

PORT ADELAIDE V COLLINGWOOD

7.10pm at AAMI Stadium

TAB Sportsbet: Power $2.90, Magpies $1.38

The Power have lost their past three matches but are a big chance

to knock off Collingwood tonight. This is a danger game for the

Magpies. Collingwood have won more matches as underdogs this

season than they have as favourites. Port are playing for pride and

would love nothing better than to stall the Pies finals charge.

TIP: Power

TOMORROW

ESSENDON V ADELAIDE

2.10pm at Telstra Dome

TAB Sportsbet: Bombers $2.20, Crows $1.62

Essendons season goes on the line this week. After a

disappointing loss to the Eagles, the Bombers must find a way

past the in-form Crows to stay in the hunt for the top eight. The

form of skipper Matthew Lloyd, who plays his 250th game, has

been impressive, but he will need to be at his best if the Bombers

are to post a winning score. Expect a close, low-scoring affair.

TIP: Crows

MELBOURNE V WEST COAST

2.10pm at the MCG

TAB Sportsbet: Demons $1.80, Eagles $1.90

The Demons miserable season was underlined with their insipid

performance against the Cats last Friday night. West Coast will

start favourites for the first time this season and will be full of

confi dence after their big win over the Bombers last week. Young

forward Ben McKinley kicked seven goals in a best-on-ground

performance and will find little opposition from the Demons

defenders. The Eagles will show just how big the

gap is between 15th and 16th. TIP: Eagles

BRISBANE V WESTERN BULLDOGS

7.10pm at the Gabba

TAB Sportsbet: Lions $1.95, Bulldogs $1.80

A Bulldogs victory will end the Lions season and put some wind

back into the sails of their stalling flag hopes. Jason Akermaniss

form slump has coincided with the Dogs dropping three of their

past four matches. At the halfway mark of the season the Lions

looked a top-four chance, but since the mid-season break they

have won only two from eight. TIP: Bulldogs

SYDNEY V GEELONG

7.10pm at ANZ Stadium

TAB Sportsbet: Swans $4.50, Cats $1.18

When the final siren blows tomorrow night, the Swans will know if

they have what it takes to make a run at this years flag. The Cats

have been simply awesome in their title defence, losing only one

of 19 matches. Last time these two sides met the Cats belted the

Swans by 42 points. Since then, the Cats have reaffirmed their

credentials as the leagues best, and Sydney have been anything

but consistent. The Swans will have to play out of their skin and

hope to get Geelong on an off night. TIP: Cats

SUNDAY

RICHMOND V HAWTHORN

1.10pm at the MCG

TAB Sportsbet: Tigers $4.50, Hawks $1.18

Richmonds finals run came to a grinding halt in Adelaide last week

and they face the daunting task of playing a rampant Hawthorn.

Lance Franklin needs only nine goals to reach the coveted 100-

goal season mark and is not without a chance to get them against

the inexperienced Tigers defence. Franklin and his partner-in-crime,

Jarryd Roughead, have kicked 150 goals between them and form

the nucleus of the leagues most dangerous forward line. Sam

Mitchell is in career-best form and he, along with Luke Hodge and

Jordan Lewis, will have way too much class for the Tigers.

TIP: Hawks

CARLTON V NORTH MELBOURNE

2.10pm at Telstra Dome

TAB Sportsbet: Blues $2.15, Kangaroos $1.65

Kangaroos fans must be a happy lot. Their team are never out of

the hunt and rarely out of a contest. Once again, the Roos have

been the surprise packets and outside of Geelong have the best

form of the past eight weeks. Carlton must win to stay in finals

calculations but will get no favours from the neighbouring Roos.

The Blues have done better than expected in 2008 and will be a

good side in the next few years. Nathan Thompson should return

for the Roos, and at the other end Brendan Fevola will attempt to

catch Franklins goalkicking total. TIP: Roos

FREMANTLE V ST KILDA

4.40pm at Subiaco

TAB Sportsbet: Dockers $1.65, Saints $2.15

Its a bad case of deja vu for the Saints. Only three weeks ago St

Kilda travelled to Perth as warm favourites but were upstaged by

the Eagles. This time around they tackle the Dockers, and if last

weeks form is anything to go by the Saints are in for a tough day

at the office. Another loss and the Saints will struggle to make

the eight. The Dockers threw away a certain win in Sydney last

week, but at home they are a different proposition. Fremantle have

nothing to lose and that spells nothing but trouble for the Saints.

TIP: Dockers

gsproule@theherald.com.au

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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