Photo Credit: SEN
We have expert tips and predictions for AFL round 22, beginning tonight with St Kilda and Brisbane, a game that could go a long way too shaping the top eight.
We have a big Saturday of football, with the Bulldogs last chance to keep their finals chances alive when they face the Giants. Adelaide a chance to make it three straight when they host North Melbourne. The Cats a chance to put themselves in prime position for the minor premiership when they face Gold Coast.
A huge Saturday night of football with Melbourne a chance to keep up their top two ambitions, or Carlton a chance to wrap up their first finals appearance since 2013 when the Dees face the Blues at the MCG. Fremantle a chance to wrap up a place in the top six when they face West Coast in the Perth Derby.
We have an even bigger Sunday of football, Richmond a chance to keep their noses in the eight, when they host Hawthorn at the G. Sydney have a chance to end Collingwood’s 11 game winning run when they host them on Sunday afternoon, or Collingwood a chance to keep up their top two ambitions. The round wraps up with Essendon hosting Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.
St Kilda
St Kilda Brisbane Lions
Brisbane LionsFriday 7:50pm AEST
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
St Kilda will host the Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium tonight.
In what is shaping as a huge contest, the Saints might have their last chance to make finals, facing a Lions side contending to make the top four.
The Saints sitting ninth, two points out of the top eight, with an 11-9 record. They sit two points behind Richmond, who if they win on Sunday which is likely, and if Saints can’t win tonight, they will have to rely on Carlton loosing their last two games and beat Sydney next week (who are in the top four) just to have any chance of making finals. They face a Lions side in fifth position with a 14-6 record.
Last week the Saints were outclassed by Geelong by 45-points. While the Lions took care of Carlton by 33-points in an overall impressive display. Brisbane have won three out of the last five clashes with St Kilda.
Key players:
St Kilda:
- Max King
- Bradley Hill
- Tim Membrey
Brisbane:
- Joe Daniher
- Charlie Cameron
- Lachie Neale
St Kilda vs Brisbane prediction:
Brisbane to win comfortably by 35-points. They have plenty of fire power, with lots of momentum behind them.
St Kilda vs Brisbane betting tip:
Brisbane start favourites at $1.54 to St Kilda $2.42
Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs GWS
GWSSaturday 1:45pm AEST
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
The Western Bulldogs will host GWS at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon, in a do or die clash for the Dogs as their top eight hopes come down to this game.
The Bulldogs sit 10th with a 10-10 record, a game and a half out of the eight with two games left. Taking on the 16th placed Giants with a 6-14 record. On paper it looks one sided, but you never no what pressure does. The Bulldogs have won four out of the last five clashes with GWS.
The Bulldogs went down to Fremantle by 17-points last week. While the Giants had a home win over Essendon by 27-points.
Key players:
Western Bulldogs:
- Aaron Naughton
- Marcus Bontempelli
- Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
GWS:
- Jesse Hogan
- Josh Kelly
- Callan Ward
Western Bulldogs vs GWS prediction:
The Bulldogs to win by 36-points and keep their season alive.
Western Bulldogs vs GWS betting tip:
Western Bulldogs start hot favourites at $1.17 to GWS $4.90
Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows North Melbourne
North MelbourneSaturday 2:10pm AEST
Adelaide Oval
Adelaide will host North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon at Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide in 15th with a 7-13 record, facing the 18th and last placed North with a 2-18 record. Adelaide have won the last three consecutive games against North, only loosing two out of the five encounters with North. Adelaide have a massive chance to make it three in a row and finish their season strongly.
Adelaide got over the line in a thrilling finish over West Coast last week. North got outclassed by Sydney by 38-points.
Key players:
Adelaide:
- Taylor Walker
- Rory Laird
- Ben Keays
North Melbourne:
- Nick Larkey
- Cameron Zurhaar
- Luke Davies-Uniacke
Adelaide vs North Melbourne prediction:
Adelaide by 40-points or more. They will win comfortably at home and make it three on the trot.
Adelaide vs North Melbourne betting tip:
Adelaide start strong favourites at $1.16 to North $5.25
Gold Coast Suns
Gold Coast Suns Geelong
GeelongSaturday 4:35PM AEST
Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast
Gold Coast will host Geelong at Metricon Stadium on Sunday evening.
Gold Coast in 11th with a 9-11 record, taking on the first place Geelong with a 16-4 record, and a big chance to potentially wrap up the minor premiership if results go their way. Either way, a win puts them at least a game clear top with West Coast who are in the bottom two next week. Geelong have won the last five clashes with Gold Coast.
Gold Coast went down to Hawthorn by seven points last week, while the Cats outclassed the Saints by 45-points.
Gold Coast vs Geelong prediction:
Geelong by 30-points, they can’t be stopped right now.
Gold Coast vs Geelong betting tip:
Geelong start favourites at $1.25 to Gold Coast $3.85
Melbourne
Melbourne Carlton
CarltonSaturday 7:25pm AEST
MCG, Melbourne
Melbourne will host Carlton in one of the biggest games of the season on Saturday night at the MCG.
Melbourne in third position with a 14-6 record, taking on the seventh placed Blues with a 12-8 record. This game is huge for the Blues, if they can somehow cause an upset and break the form of the last two weeks, they can secure a first finals birth since 2013. Melbourne have the chance to keep their top two hopes alive however. They have also won the last six clashes with Carlton dating back to 2016.
Melbourne went down in one of the games of the year to Collingwood by seven-points last week, in a game that saw their top two spot stolen from them. Carlton went down to Brisbane by 33-points, despite a last quarter where they kicked eight goals, the damage was done in their woeful first three quarters.
One positive for the Blues is the relief of Patrick Cripps’ suspension being lifted. One thing the Blues need to do is play four consistent quarters and will want to start off on the front foot. Playing catch up football is not their strength, as shown last week especially.
Melbourne vs Carlton prediction:
Melbourne will most likely win but by no more than 15-points. One thing you can’t do is count out the Blues, who will desperately try hard to cause the upset to secure finals.
Melbourne vs Carlton betting tip:
Melbourne start favourites at $1.32 to Carlton $3.30
Fremantle
Fremantle West Coast
West CoastSaturday 7:40 AEST
Optus Stadium, Perth
Fremantle will host West Coast in the Perth Derby at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
Fremantle in sixth position with a 13-6 record, taking on the 17th placed West Coast with a 2-18 record. West Coast have won three out of the last five clashes with Fremantle.
The Dockers have the chance to wrap up a place in the top six, in what looms a massive opportunity for them. They had a huge 17-point win over the Bulldogs last week, to really get them in prime position for finals. West Coast went down fighting against Adelaide, in Josh Kennedy’s final game, he kicked eight goals but it wasn’t good enough in the end.
Fremantle vs West Coast prediction:
Fremantle to win by 75-points and secure a home final.
Fremantle vs West Coast betting tip:
Fremantle start hot favourites at $1.08 to West Coast $7.50
Richmond
Richmond Hawthorn
HawthornSunday 1:10pm AEST
MCG, Melbourne
Richmond will host Hawthorn at the MCG this Sunday.
Richmond in eighth position with an 11-8 record and a chance to secure their spot in the finals. They take on the 13th placed Hawks with an 8-12 record. Richmond have won three out of the last five clashes with Hawthorn.
Richmond won a massive clash against Port Adelaide away from home by 38-points last week. Hawthorn held off the Gold Coast Suns by seven-points. Hawthorn are starting to develop well under Sam Mitchell, and this week is another chance to test themselves against a top eight contender.
Key players:
Richmond:
- Jack Riewoldt
- Tom Lynch
- Trent Cotchin
Hawthorn:
- Jack Gunston
- Luke Breust
- Tom Mitchell
Richmond vs Hawthorn prediction:
Richmond to win by 25-points and wrap up a finals appearance. But don’t count out the Hawks either.
Richmond vs Hawthorn betting tip:
Richmond start favourites at $1.31 to Hawthorn $3.46
Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans Collingwood
CollingwoodSunday 3:20pm AEST
SCG, Sydney
Sydney will host Collingwood on Sunday afternoon, in possibly the biggest game of the round at the SCG.
Its the fourth placed Swans, with a 14-6 record, taking on the second placed Collingwood with a 15-5 record and winning the last 11 consecutive games. Collingwood have won three out of the last five clashes with Sydney. Collingwood can make it 12 wins in a row and put themselves in exelent position to finish top two. But, if Sydney can end this streak, they can keep up their spot in the top four.
Sydney took care of North Melbourne by 38-points last week. While Collingwood climbed into second with yet another, thrilling, close win over Melbourne by seven-points. They are simply the masters of winning close contests.
Both teams have incredible scoring power, there’s no question that it’ll be a high scoring affair on Sunday.
Key players:
Sydney:
- Lance Franklin
- Sam Reid
- Tom Papley
Collingwood:
- Jamie Elliott
- Nick Daicos
- Scott Pendlebury
Sydney vs Collingwood prediction:
While Collingwood have been the masters of close finishes, one wonders how long they can last out. Sydney to win a close encounter by 15-points.
Sydney vs Collingwood betting tip:
Sydney start favourites at $1.39 to Collingwood $3.03
Essendon
Essendon Port Adelaide
Port AdelaideSunday 4:40pm AEST
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Essendon will host Port Adelaide on Sunday evening at Marvel Stadium.
Essendon in 14th position with a 7-13 record, facing the 12th placed Power with an 8-12 record. Port have won four out of the last five clashes with Essendon, including the last four consecutively.
The Bombers went down to the Giants by 27-points last week. While Port struggled to contend against Richmond, a disappointing loss at home by 38-points.
Key players:
Essendon:
- Peter Wright
- Jake Stringer
-
Darcy Parish
Port Adelaide:
- Charlie Dixon
- Mitch Georgiades
- Travis Boak
Essendon vs Port Adelaide prediction:
Port to win by 15-points in a close encounter.
Essendon vs Port Adelaide betting tip:
Essendon start slight favourites at $1.73 to Port Adelaide $2.12