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We have expert tips and predictions, ahead of the biggest round 23 of AFL we have seen for many decades. Beginning tonight with Brisbane and Melbourne to decide who will finish in the top four. Along with so many games that could determine top eight spots.

Sunday is the biggest Sunday of Football we have ever seen in round 23 before you would think, so much on the line from every game. If the Bulldogs can beat Hawthorn as expected and Carlton lose to Collingwood, the Bulldogs will overtake the Blues in the eighth spot. Sydney can secure top two with a win over St Kilda, who must win by 90-points and rely on both Carlton and the Dogs loosing to make eighth position. If Carlton can’t get passed the Pies, they risk loosing their place in their first final series in nine-years.

We also have a big Saturday of football, with the Giants hosting Fremantle, the Dockers have the chance to potentially grab a top four spot depending on the result of Carlton Collingwood. North will round out its season against Gold Coast. Geelong will cruise towards the minor premiership (in which, they have already secured) when they host West Coast, looking to make it 13 straight wins. Richmond will look to secure seventh position when they face a rattled Essendon, while Port Adelaide and Adelaide will round out their seasons with a Saturday night showdown.

Brisbane Lions

  Melbourne

Friday 7:50pm AEST

The Gabba, Brisbane

The Brisbane Lions will host Melbourne in a massive Friday night game, that will shape who finished in the top four.

With Brisbane currently in fourth with a 15-6 record, facing the third placed Melbourne with an identical record. Melbourne have won three out of the last five clashes with Brisbane, including the last four consecutively.

Brisbane defeated St Kilda by 15-points despite a challenge from the Saints on Friday night. Whilst Melbourne made the unlikeliest escape from Carlton on Saturday night. Being down by eight-points with under two-minutes to play, goals from Jake Melksham and a miracle snap from Kysaiah Pickett with 11-seconds left stole a thrilling five-point victory for Melbourne. These sides met earlier this year at the MCG, Melbourne dominated by 64-points and will want to play a similar style if they want to finish top four against the odds away from home.

Key players include:

Brisbane:

• Joe Daniher
• Eric Hipwood
• Lachie Neale

Melbourne:

• Max Gawn
• Luke Jackson (50th game)
• Ben Brown

Brisbane vs Melbourne prediction:

Melbourne to grab the win by 15-points, they will find the form they need when it matters most.

Brisbane vs Melbourne betting tip:

Brisbane start favourites at $1.80 to Melbourne $2.00

GWS

Fremantle

Saturday 1:45pm AEST

Manuka Oval, Canberra

GWS will host Fremantle on Saturday afternoon at Manuka Oval.

GWS in 16th position with a 6-15 record, taking on the sixth placed Fremantle with a 14-6 record. Fremantle have won three out of the last five clashes with GWS. If they can win this one tomorrow, they set themselves up with the potential to make top four, worst case, they can also finish fifth and play whoever comes eighth in a home elimination final. One thing though, is they are secure of a home final week one as it stands regardless of the result, as they are two games clear of Richmond in sixth.

Fremantle secured a top six spot last week, with a 24-point win over West Coast. GWS came really close to denying the Bulldogs a chance of playing finals, but fell short by five-points in a gallant effort.

Key players:

GWS:

• Jesse Hogan
• Josh Kelly
• Lachie Whitfield

Fremantle:

• Nat Fyfe
• Michael Walters
• Andrew Brayshaw

GWS vs Fremantle prediction:

Fremantle to win by 45-points and secure a top five position and potentially top four depending on the Collingwood result.

GWS vs Fremantle betting tip:

Fremantle start favourites at $1.44 to GWS $2.75

  North Melbourne

Gold Coast Suns

Saturday 2:10pm AEST

Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

North Melbourne will host Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon, as the sides round out season 2022.

North Melbourne sitting in 18th with a 2-19 record, face the Suns in 12th position with a 9-12 record. Gold Coast have won three out of the last five clashes with North Melbourne.

It has been a dismal season for North, they seem destined for back to back wooden spoons. But the huge news of landing Alistair Clarkson will give them a lot of hope going forward that they can rebuild properly and there are blue skies ahead. North put in a positive effort against Adelaide last week, only to go down by 29-points in the end after a strong last quarter from the Crows. But this performance can be something North look back on positively and look to build for the future. While Geelong simply outclassed the Suns by 60-points to secure the minor premiership.

Key players:

North Melbourne:

• Nick Larkey
• Cameron Zurhaar
• Jason Horne-Francis

Gold Coast:

• Matt Rowell
• Touk Miller
• Mabior Chol

North Melbourne vs Gold Coast prediction:

Gold Coast to win by 35-points and confine North to their second consecutive wooden spoon.

North Melbourne vs Gold Coast betting tip:

Gold Coast start favourites at $1.30 to North Melbourne $3.40

Geelong

West Coast

Saturday 4:35pm

AEST GMHBA Stadium, Geelong

Geelong will host West Coast on Saturday evening.

Geelong already secured the minor premiership, with a 17-4 record and carry a remarkable 12-game winning streak into this game. West Coast have had their worst season since 2010 when they got the wooden spoon, they sit equal last with a 2-19 record. If North Melbourne are to cause an upset over Gold Coast, then West Coast will be confined to the spoon for 2022.

Geelong have won four out of their last five games against West Coast. Geelong secured the minor premiership last week with a 60-point demolition of Gold Coast. While West Coast went down to cross town rival Fremantle by 24-points.

Key players:

Geelong:

• Tom Hawkins
• Tyson Stengle
• Patrick Dangerfield

West Coast:

• Jack Darling
• Tim Kelly
• Liam Ryan

Geelong vs West Coast prediction:

Geelong by 85-points, it’ll be a dress rehearsal for finals footy, as they make it 13-consecutive wins.

Geelong vs West Coast betting tip:

Geelong start strong favourites at $1.02 to West Coast $13.00

Essendon

  Richmond

Saturday 7:25pm AEST

MCG, Melbourne

Essendon will host Richmond on Saturday night at the MCG.

Essendon will round out their disastrous season, where the bottom four looms against the side vying to finish seventh placed. Essendon sit 15th with a 7-14 record, taking on the seventh placed Richmond with a 12-8 record. Richmond have won every clash with Essendon dating back to 2014.

One would not think that streak would be ended on Saturday night, Richmond destined for a seventh placed finish, while this could very well be Ben Rutten’s last game in charge of Essendon. Essendon had a disastrous week. Going down to Port Adelaide by 84-points and have been all over the media, as they weigh up the future of Ben Rutten, and need to handle missing out on Alistair Clarkson as he chose to go to North Melbourne.

Richmond booked their spot in September, following a 61-point demolition of Hawthorn. As long as they beat Essendon which seems pretty striaght forward, they will claim seventh spot and await whether they will face a trip to Brisbane, or face Melbourne or Collingwood at the MCG. That is, barring Fremantle don’t lose to GWS, which seems very unlikely.

Key players:

Essendon:

• Jake Stringer
• Peter Wright
• Darcy Parish

Richmond:

• Jack Riewoldt
• Maurice Rioli
• Dion Prestia

Essendon vs Richmond prediction:

Richmond by 35-points, they will secure seventh place and await to see who finishes sixth.

Essendon vs Richmond betting tip:

Richmond start favourites at $1.30 to Essendon $3.45

Port Adelaide

Adelaide Crows

Saturday 7:30pm AEST

Adelaide Oval

Port Adelaide will host Adelaide in the Showdown, as both sides round out season 2022.

Port in 11th position with a 9-12 record, taking on the 14th placed Crows with an 8-13 record. Port have won four out of the last five clashes with Adelaide.

The Power destroyed Essendon by 84-points last week, outclassing them completely all over the ground. While Adelaide made it three straight wins with a 29-point win over North Melbourne.

Key players:

Port Adelaide:

• Charlie Dixon
• Travis Boak
• Ollie Wines

Adelaide:

• Rory Laird
• Taylor Walker
• James Rowe

Port Adelaide vs Adelaide prediction:

Port Adelaide to win by 25-points.

Port Adelaide vs Adelaide betting tip:

Port start favourites at $1.35 to Adelaide $3.14

  Hawthorn

Western Bulldogs

Sunday 1:10pm AEST University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston

Hawthorn will host the Western Bulldogs in Tasmania on Sunday afternoon, in a do or die clash.

With the Dogs in ninth position currently, sitting on an 11-10 record and have one last chance to make the finals. They need Collingwood to defeat Carlton and defeat the Hawks by over nine-points. Hawthorn sitting 13th with an 8-13 record. The Bulldogs have won three out of the last five clashes with Hawthorn.

The Hawks got outdone by Richmond last week, going down by 61-points as the Tigers wrapped up their September place. While the Dogs just managed to keep their season alive in a thrilling five-point win over the Giants, where they really got themselves out of jail. Hawthorn might be determined to win this one, to send off Ben McEvoy in the right way.

Key players:

Hawthorn:

• Jack Gunston
• Tom Mitchell
• Ben McEvoy

Western Bulldogs:

• Aaron Naughton
• Marcus Bontempelli
• Adam Treloar

Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs prediction:

Western Bulldogs to win by 15-points, but don’t count the Hawks out, as they wanna finish off their season and Ben McEvoy’s carrier on the right note.

Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs betting tip:

The Bulldogs start favourites at $1.41 to Hawthorn $2.85

Carlton

Collingwood

Sunday 3:20pm AEST

MCG, Melbourne

Carlton will host Collingwood in potentially the biggest blockbuster of the round, it is no doubt the biggest clash between these two in many a decade. It is essentially an elimination final for Carlton, who are desperately trying to make it through to their first finals series since 2013.

Carlton clinging onto eighth spot with a 12-9 record, needing a win to secure finals depending on the Bulldogs result, face the fifth placed Collingwood with a 15-6 record. Collingwood have won four out of the last five clashes with Carlton.

The Blues will be hurting after last week, being 11-seconds away from a finals berth, with Kyashia Pickett’s late snap breaking their hearts yet again. It has been fair to say the Blues faithful have been put through the rim since 2014, constant bottom six finishes, two wooden spoons in 2015 and 2018, four coach changes. Whilst this season was looking really promising, winning their first three games, being 8-2 after 10 rounds, finals looked to be in view. But a dismal last three weeks, with a bad loss to Adelaide, getting outclassed by Brisbane and Melbourne stealing a late thriller has put the Blues in a position of needing to beat a side that won 11 consecutive matches before last weekends loss to Sydney.

Carlton deserve to play finals and their fans will be truly devastated if they were to miss out on the top eight, where they have been all season. There has been a lot of improvement from the Blues this year and there will be a lot of stepping stones for next year, but it would truly be a letdown to see Carlton miss the eight after the position they were in. Collingwood’s 11-game loosing streak was ended by Sydney last week by 27-points. But this week they regain Jordan De Goey and Jack Ginnivan has been named in the starting line up, as they look to secure a top four finish.

Key players:

Carlton:

• Charlie Curnow
• Patrick Cripps
• Sam Walsh

Collingwood:

• Jordan De Goey
• Jack Ginnivan
• Scott Pendlebury

Carlton vs Collingwood prediction:

Carlton by 10-points. Don’t count out the Blues, they will be very determined to pull this one out the bag after last weeks unfortunate last gasp defeat and secure a finals birth. Carlton will get very close what ever the outcome is, even if they fall.

Carlton vs Collingwood betting tip:

The sides start equal odds at $1.92

St Kilda

Sydney Swans

Sunday 4:40pm AEST

Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

St Kilda will host the Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium, in the final game of the home and away season.

A lot on the line for both sides, for the Swans a top two finish, for the Saints one last final effort to make the finals if every result goes their way. The Saints sitting 10th with an 11-10 record, taking on the second placed Swans with a 15-6 record. Sydney have won three out of the last five clashes with St Kilda. It will be a fitting farewell for Daniel Hannebery against his old side.

St Kilda put up a gallant fight, but were not good enough to defeat the Brisbane Lions on Friday night, loosing in the end by 15-points. Basically putting their finals hopes in jeopardy, barring a miracle. Sydney ended Collingwood’s 11-game unbeaten run by 27-points to climb into the top two.

Key players:

St Kilda:

• Max King
• Dan Hannebery
• Tim Membrey

Sydney:

• Lance Franklin
• Tom Papley
• Isaac Heeney

St Kilda vs Sydney prediction:

Sydney by 30-points, its a bit of a bridge far for the Saints. The Swans will secure their top four berth and potentially come second depending on other results.

St Kilda vs Sydney betting tip:

Sydney start favourites at $1.36 to Sydney $3.18