In this remarkably unpredictable season, the only certainty appears to be uncertainty surrounding the results of teams on a week to week basis.
Essendon are one of those teams that best embodies the season we have been witness to so far, playing brilliantly one week followed by a mediocre performance the next.
St Kilda was another frustrating side early in the season, showing obvious talent with a young squad but dropping winnable matches. After round 12 they sat 5-6, the season in danger of slipping away.
They have won four consecutive games since their loss to the Crows at the Adelaide Oval, now sitting in equal fourth spot.
Their stunning first half against a top 4 side in Richmond left football followers stunned, the margin an incredible 82 points at half time. It was irresistible football, and left long suffering Saints fans dreaming big ahead of finals.
They still have a long way to go in that regard, needing at least 3 more wins to sew up their finals spot. The Saints have not played finals football since 2011, and appear well placed for September action.
The Bombers took care of Collingwood at the MCG last week, reviving their season in the process after successive heartbreaking losses to Sydney and Brisbane. They remain one of the wildcards in this breathtaking season, who could do some damage still if they are good enough to make finals.
It sets up a great contest between the teams under the roof at Docklands to kick off round 17, another superb round of AFL football. Here is a complete preview.
PACY CONTEST: Anthony McDonald Tipungwuti will be an excitement machine against St Kilda on Friday night. SOURCE: Fox Sports.
St Kilda v Essendon
A team winning four games in a season as close as this one is meritorious. That’s what the Saints achieved last week in their dominant dismantling of Richmond, putting themselves in the frame for a top four spot.
That was unthinkable a month ago, but Alan Richardson’s team has turned their fortunes around at the right time of the season with wins over North Melbourne, Gold Coast, Fremantle (interstate) and Richmond leaving them just percentage off fourth spot.
They will face a Jekyll-Hyde Essendon in a mouthwatering match up to open proceedings in round 17, the Dons rebounding strongly after two tight losses with a win over Collingwood last week. Orazio Fantasia and Joe Daniher combining for 8 goals between them.
The Saints lose some of their goal scoring potency for this contest, Tim Membrey to miss a fortnight due to suspension after his 5 goal haul last week. In form ruckman Billy Longer is out with a hamstring injury, Tom Hickey with his first chance at AFL level since round 4 this year.
18 year old Josh Battle will make his AFL debut, the youngster still completing his year 12 studies.
The Bombers have made just one change, Swans premiership player Craig Bird returning to the team for the first time this season with Jobe Watson rested.
Should be a fast paced, exciting game under the roof, going with the Saints to make it five consecutive wins but the Bombers will make them earn it. St Kilda by 11 points.
Geelong v Hawthorn
The Cats enjoyed their holidays to Sydney and Brisbane, and emerged unscathed on the injury and losing front, drawing with the Giants and pummelling the Lions at the Gabba last weekend.
They return to home comforts (of sorts) to take on long time arch rivals Hawthorn at the MCG, the Hawks looking to honour one of their modern day greats in Luke Hodge in game 300.
A three time premiership captain, a four time premiership player, two time Norm Smith Medallist, three time All-Australian and two time club best and fairest, Hodge has been an outstanding contributor to the club’s most successful era, one of the great leaders in VFL/AFL history.
Hawthorn head in to the match in terrific form, having drawn with the Giants in Tasmania last week and beaten Adelaide and Collingwood in rounds 14 and 15 respectively. It has been a remarkable turnaround in fortunes from a 0-4 start to the season, the Cats thrashing the Hawks by 86 points in the corresponding fixture earlier in year.
The Hawks go in to the match unchanged, but the Cats welcome back important players Scott Selwood and Daniel Menzel, youngsters Wylie Buzza and Zach Guthrie the players to make way.
Stopping the impact of Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood looms once again as the key for Hawthorn here, but Tom Mitchell has been in dynamic form this season and could go head to head with the 2016 Brownlow Medallist.
The Hawks should lift for Hodgey’s 300th, but the Cats have more class and polish and should be able to get it done to stay in touch with the Giants and Adelaide. It could be yet another epic between these two great modern rivals. Geelong by 8 points.
STAR OF THE GAME: Luke Hodge plays his 300th match on Saturday. SOURCE: SEN.
Port Adelaide v North Melbourne
Just when Port Adelaide seemed set to beat a top 8 team, results earlier in round 16 pushed their opponents West Cosat out of the 8 by the time the clubs met in the final game of the round. The football gods love irony it seems.
It takes nothing away from the Power’s most impressive victory of 2017, interstate against a team that is tough to beat at home. 8 goals in the last quarter at Subiaco is a mighty effort, the Eagles succumbing to the visitors run and carry through the centre of the ground.
Charlie Dixon was strong up forward and finished with 5 goals, while Robbie Gray showed his class in slotting 3 majors. Brad Ebert, Travis Boak and Ollie Wines all leading from the front after being criticised for failing to lift when required against Richmond the week earlier.
They now return home to take on 17th placed North Melbourne, who had yet ANOTHER tight loss last week, losing by four points to Fremantle at Docklands. Todd Goldstein’s tough season got tougher, missing a routine set shot from 25 metres out in the final minute that would have won the game.
I’m not sure North Melbourne fans could get any more frustrated with their team, but you wouldn’t know as they don’t tend to turn up to support their team anyway, as shown by the poor crowd last Sunday.
A trip to Adelaide is not an appealing one, particularly with the Power keen to push their top four credentials. Rookie Cameron Zurhaar will make his AFL debut, recruited from East Fremantle.
Young defender Logan Austin plays his first game of the season for the Power, having recovered from a broken ankle sustained in the final round of last year. Jack Hombsch makes way after being convincingly beaten by Jack Darling last week.
Can’t see the Roos going to the Adelaide Oval and returning back to Arden Street with the points, but nothing would surprise in this season. Power to be too good. Port Adelaide by 35 points.
Gold Coast v Collingwood
The two coaches under the most pressure in the competition right now are Gold Coast’s Rodney Eade and Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley.
Both of their sides are well off the pace and unlikely to make finals, and with both being out of contract at seasons end, any further poor performances from here will not be tolerated and could spell the end for both at their respective clubs.
Considering the media attention for both men during the week it’s quite fitting the clubs face off this weekend at Metricon Stadium, the temperature likely to reach boiling point for the losing coach.
Both teams are coming off dispiriting losses in round 16, but welcome back important personnel for the Saturday twilight fixture.
Gary Ablett is back for the Suns, along with fellow first choice midfielders Aaron Hall, Pearce Hanley and forgotten man Michael Rischitelli, who plays his first games in 12 months after a knee reconstruction.
The Pies welcome back Daniel Wells from another calf injury, along with Jarryd Blair, Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe. Levi Greenwood headlines the exclusions for the Pies, out with suspension.
With some vital inclusions for both sides this looms as a better contest than first anticipated, but the Suns have more potency up forward than the Pies who have struggled to kick a score all season. ‘Rocket’ to get one over his former colleague Bucks here. Gold Coast by 24 points.
UNDER PRESSURE: Rodney Eade faces an uphill battle to keep his coaching job in 2018. SOURCE: Gold Coast Bulletin.
Greater Western Sydney v Sydney
The Sydney Derby. The battle for the bridge. It could be one of the games of the season, but it’s of more interest to those outside of the state itself than those within it. But at least look on the bright side New South Wales folk, at least a team from the state will win that one, unlike in State of Origin. It may rain on Saturday night, but it will more than likely just be tears from Sydneysiders after the result in game 3 on Wednesday. Those Queenslanders too good once again.
The Giants are coming off back to back draws against Geelong and Hawthorn and appear on the slide slightly despite being equal top of the table. A game against the inform team of the competition in Sydney looms a great test to see where Leon Cameron’s team is at heading towards the business end of the season.
Steve Johnson, Toby Greene and Zac Williams are all welcome inclusions for the home side, Sam Reid out with an ankle injury to make commentators jobs that little bit easier in this one, his namesake lining up at full forward for the Swans.
Sydney welcome back skipper Josh Kennedy after he was a late withdrawal against the Suns, young gun Oliver Florent the player to make way. Gary Rohan kicked 5 goals to continue his good recent form, while Lance Franklin looms as another match winner.
Could be one of the games of the season here, and if the Swans are genuine contenders they need to beat a team like GWS in the run to the finals. Despite the fact it’s at Spotless Stadium, the Swans midfield is in form and can give their team a decisive advantage. Sydney by 7 points.
Melbourne v Adelaide
TIO Stadium in Darwin isn’t the worst place to play when it’s the heart of winter in your home state. It will present a different challenge altogether for both the Demons and the Crows, particularly the latter who play at the venue for the first time in their history.
The heat and humidity of the Northern Territory will make skills and ball handling difficult for players, which probably brings the Dees in to the game, the Crows with superior skills by foot and by hand.
The Crows welcome back Tom Lynch from illness and rookie Hugh Greenwood from a week’s rest to strengthen their side for the match, Don Pyke’s team out for revenge after a shock loss to the Dees at home in round 8. Wayne Milera is out with a calf concern, while veteran Scott Thompson has been dropped.
The Dees have recalled Jay Kennedy-Harris at the expense of Billy Stretch, Kennedy-Harris’ pace to be handy in the humid conditions
The Crows should have too much forward firepower for the Dees, particularly with Lynch back to partner in form duo Josh Jenkins and captain Taylor Walker up front. Don’t discount Eddie Betts, Charlie Cameron and Mitch McGovern either. Adelaide by 15 points.
GUTSY WIN: Melbourne players celebrate their hard fought 8 point win over Carlton. SOURCE: The New Daily.
Richmond v Brisbane
Oh Richmond. Like the Tigers of old. What was that last week? Horrific. That’s what it was. Sure, it was only their second poor performance of the season, but this was from the 2016 Richmond school of poor.
A 92-10 half time scoreline reflected the poor performance, and while they added some respectability to the scoreline in the last term it was too little too late.
Despite a seemingly soft round 17 match up with bottom placed Brisbane, the Tigers cannot afford to drop this one or risk their whole season falling apart. That road win over Port Adelaide could all be for nothing after all.
Richmond welcome back Nick Vlaustin and Anthony Miles for the match, adding some experience to the squad. Ivan Soldo will partner Toby Nankervis in the ruck, while ex-Swan Districts player Nathan Broad is in for his first game of the season.
Recently re-signed Josh Schache is back for the Lions to give them another avenue up forward, while fellow youngsters Ben Keays and Cedric Cox get another chance to impress at AFL level. Rohan Bewick has been dropped after playing his 100th AFL game last week, Archie Smith and Matthew Hammelmann joining him for a stint in the NEAFL.
The Lions play some good football at Docklands and should pose a challenge for the Tigers here, but the boys in yellow and black should have enough class to get it done. Richmond by 28 points.
Carlton v Western Bulldogs
Carlton have no doubt improved this year, but they still sit in 16th spot. They are now a competitive AFL side again, a far cry from the last few weeks of the Malthouse era. Now the challenge is to win the close games, something they have struggled to do this season bar a brilliant win over the Giants in round 12.
They lost not only the game but also their most important player last week in Patrick Cripps, who is done for the season with a leg injury sustained in the second quarter against Melbourne.
The Blues were in front in the last quarter once again against the Dees, but couldn’t close it out to record a 6th win of the season.
They now face a wounded Western Bulldogs side who appear to be almost down and out, having produced their worst performance of the Luke Beveridge era last week against Adelaide.
The fact the match is at the MCG rather than Docklands will also aid the Blues, who play a dour defensive game style at the home of football.
Alex Silvagni is one of the 5 inclusions for the Blues, Simon White and David Cunningham joining Cripps on the sidelines due to injury.
The Bulldogs welcome back Robert Murphy, as well as premiership player Shane Biggs, but lose four of their flag heroes from last year in the process, Easton Wood (suspended) Matthew Boyd (Achilles) Clay Smith and Fletcher Roberts (dropped) all out of the side. Young South Australian Lewis Young will debut for the Dogs.
If the Bulldogs can’t beat the Blues, they may as well pack up and start their end of season trip now. Nothing against Carlton, but they shouldn’t get within 5 goals of the reigning premiers if they are any good. Then again, maybe the boys from the Whitten Oval aren’t any good anymore. Western Bulldogs by 34 points.
BITTER BLOW: Patrick Cripps will miss the remainder of the season with a leg injury. SOURCE: SBS.
Fremantle v West Coast
Western Derby 46. The last at Subiaco Oval. All of a sudden, it looms as a fascinating game with the Eagles on the slide and the Dockers capable of matching it with most teams in the competition.
West Coast have won the last four Western Derbies to restore order in Perth, having dominated early battles between the clubs before Fremantle dominated for three quarters of a decade.
The Dockers secured a gritty win over North Melbourne last week, rookie debutant Ryan Nyhuis kicking four goals in a memorable debut. Recruited from the Northern Territory, what made Nyhuis’ debut even more incredible is that he has played nearly all of his football as a defender.
Having played as a defensive forward on Robbie Tarrant, will Nyhuis take on Jeremy McGovern this weekend? We shall wait and see, but the high flying Eagle looms as a key player to stop if the Dockers are to beat their cross-town rivals.
Josh Kennedy is back for West Coast, and looms as almost the most important player on the ground, having won the previous two Ross Glendenning Medals with 7 and 6 goal hauls. Jack Darling has also been in good form, with 7 goals in his past two matches.
The Dockers need more options in attack, with small forward Michael Walters their most potent player up forward. Shane Kersten and Brennan Cox need to stand up for the Dockers and at the very least compete to give their team a chance.
The home crowd will be behind the Dockers here, making the Eagles task that little bit tougher despite also playing on their home patch. Having been run off their feet by the Power last week, they will need to play four quarters of quality football to beat Ross Lyon’s men.
Tipping the Eagles to record a 26th derby win, Lewis Jetta the surprise tip from me to win the Ross Glendenning Medal. West Coast by 24 points.
GUESS WHO’S BACK: Josh Kennedy returns for his first match since round 10 thanks to calf injury. SOURCE: Triple M.
By Jacob Landsmeer.
Jacob Landsmeer is a sports broadcaster on 91.3 Sport FM in Perth. He blogs here at zombiecrowscricket. Follow him on Twitter: @jlandsme_93
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