Adelaide and Geelong are two of the premiership favourites in the 2017 AFL season. Sitting in 1st and 2nd respectively, the clubs will kick off round 18 with a top of the table clash under lights at the Adelaide Oval, both teams out to prove a point.
While the Cats have won their past two games and haven’t lost since round 13, their ability to take their best football on the road against good opposition remains an issue. While they brushed aside 18th placed Brisbane at the Gabba a fortnight ago, they could only share the points with the Giants in round 15, and lost to the Eagles in round 13 after their bye.
A match against the Crows on their home patch won’t be easy for Chris Scott’s men, but they go in with some confidence having beaten the Crows in the past five matches between the clubs, including the round 8 match last year at the Adelaide Oval.
With both sides wanting to prove their premiership credentials, this looms as a perfect opportunity for one team to establish themselves as the frontrunner for the 2017 AFL flag with just 6 weeks until finals football. Here is a complete preview of round 18.
TOUGH CONTEST: Rory Sloane gets a kick away under pressure in the round 10 clash between Geelong and Adelaide at Kardinia Park. SOURCE: The Adelaide Advertiser.
Adelaide v Geelong
It’s a good time of the year to be 1st and 2nd on the ladder. While the minor premiership doesn’t mean too much these days, you would still love top spot with 6 weeks left in the home and away season.
These two teams have already met once in 2017, a Friday night encounter at Kardinia Park won convincingly by the Cats.
In all the team and navy blue and white hoops have won the past 5 encounters against the Crows dating back to 2013, although four of those have been on Geelong’s home patch. The Cats did however largely dominate the round 8 fixture at the Adelaide Oval last season, only keeping the home side in the match with poor kicking for goal before closing it out for a 26 point win.
With the Crows being an attacking high scoring team, the Cats seemed to have cracked the code as to how to clamp down on Don Pyke’s side’s ability to score, having kept them to 12 goals or less in each of the past five encounters.
The talk of the town is whether Patrick Dangerfield will line up against his former side, having sustained a foot injury against Hawthorn last week.
Not only did he play out the match, but he was the most influential player on the ground with 5.6 playing exclusively out of full forward. With 32 goals to his name already in 2017, the Brownlow Medallist looms as a threat even on one leg should he get up for the contest.
Former Victorian first class cricketer Alex Keath will make his debut, having previously been on the Gold Coast Suns inaugural list in 2011. He becomes the second code hopper rookie to debut for the Crows this season, Hugh Greenwood having slotted in seamlessly since his debut in round 9.
Going to be game of the round for me this one, but the Cats defence is impenetrable it seems when these two teams play. Cats for me. Geelong by 8 points.
A DANGEROUS FIVE: Patrick Dangerfield slotted 5 goals in a memorable performance against the Hawks last week, but remains in doubt for a clash against his old side in Adelaide. SOURCE: SEN.
Essendon v North Melbourne
ESSENDON ARE BACK! Well at least that was the narrative spruiked after the Bombers pummelled St Kilda to the tune of 61 points last Friday night.
No doubt their best is very good, but they simply must find some consistency if they are to be a significant factor in finals football, or even be in the running for a finals berth.
Taking care of 17th placed North Melbourne is a must if they are to keep in touch with the top 8, having previously stumbled against fellow cellar dwellers Brisbane in round 15.
The Roos appear ripe for the picking, broken by a series of close losses already this season and coming off a 70 point trouncing at the hands of Port Adelaide last weekend.
They are also without captain Jack Ziebell who has been managed, while experienced ruckman Todd Goldstein has finally paid the price for poor form, dropped for the clash with the Dons.
In this corresponding match two years ago, Goldstein dominated to the point where he was being compared to the greatest ruckman of the modern generation in Dean Cox. He would win All-Australian honours and the club best and fairest that season, but that seems a world away now as he appears destined to be moved on from Arden Street at the end of the season.
The Dons welcome back Jobe Watson and young gun Jayden Laverde, fresh off 6 goals in the VFL last week. Josh Green misses with a hamstring injury, while former Swan Craig Bird has been dropped, suggesting his career at AFL level may be as good as over.
Essendon need to continue their momentum from last week, and with Joe Daniher in ominous form he seems set to feature prominently once again. Bombers to secure another important win. Essendon by 34 points.
Melbourne v Port Adelaide
The Dees must win this. But then again, so must the Power. With other teams breathing down their neck, a loss here could send Melbourne spiralling out of the eight. It’s a similar scenario for the Power in their bid for a top four berth, Sydney and Richmond both lurking at their heels.
Ironically, if the Dees do beat the Power here the teams will both have 10-7 records, despite the Power being in 4th spot and Melbourne in 7th heading in to this contest. It shows just how tight this season is, and how costly one poor performance can be.
Melbourne welcome back four first choice players and a former captain for the fixture at the MCG, the first time the teams have met at the venue since round 1, 2013. A man who debuted in that fixture, now co-captain of the club Jack Viney has been named to return from a foot injury ahead of schedule for the match, along with Christian Salem, Dom Tyson, Jack Trengove and 150 gamer Jack Watts.
You sense Simon Goodwin has thrown out all his aces in this footballing poker match, knowing the importance of winning this game. The Power have dropped Jasper Pittard, welcoming back Matthew Broadbent from an ankle injury which cost him a fortnight on the sidelines.
Charlie Dixon plays his 100th match of AFL football, and looms as a key player in this match. With all the inclusions here for the Dees, I think they might just edge the Power. Will be interesting to see how Melbourne starts this game after playing in the humidity and heat of Darwin last week. Melbourne by 13 points.
WELCOME BACK JACK: Jack Watts returns to play his 150th match against the Power this weekend. SOURCE: ABC.
Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast
Oh dear. Cairns. That’s a Taboo word down at Tigerland. Damien Hardwick still has nightmares about Karmichael Hunt’s goal after the siren.
Thankfully for Dimma and his team their contract to play one home match in Cairns a year for three seasons expired, and rather unsurprisingly they jumped and ran when it was and handed the baton across to the Western Bulldogs, who handled the trip a lot better last season and recorded a win by 8 goals.
They were travelling far better this time last year, and don’t head in to the game full of confidence and in great form. They were victorious against the Blues last Sunday, but were far from convincing. In saying that, after their previous month an ugly win sure beats an ugly loss.
Youngster Lewis Young impressed in the long sleeves across half back for the Doggies, giving the supporters in red, white and blue something to cheer about in what has been a frustrating premiership defence thus far. Young was an able replacement for the suspended Easton Wood, who returns for the trip North, Jake Stringer (hamstring) a casualty in the win over the Blues.
Gold Coast have once again been hit hard by injury to key personnel, making an already tough task for Rodney Eade and his side even tougher. Gary Ablett misses again with a hamstring concern despite racking up 41 touches in a loss to the Magpies, the third game he has missed in the past 6 weeks.
Co-captain Steven May and boom recruit Jarryd Lyons both miss as well due to injuries sustained early against Collingwood, making their task exceedingly difficult. Finals now appear a distant dream for the Suns, who seemed on the build earlier in the season with wins over West Coast and Hawthorn.
Jack Scrimshaw debuts for the Suns, a first round draft pick from last year. A tall, left footed rebounding defender from Sandringham, Scrimshaw is highly rated and is expected to slot seamlessly in to AFL football.
It may be a chastening debut however for the 18 year old, the Bulldogs hungry for some better form and sensing a swift and decisive kill against the weakened Suns. Expect the Dogs to enjoy a fruitful trip to Cairns here. Western Bulldogs by 45 points.
Sydney v St Kilda
Sigh. Just when all AFL fans thought we would have an AFL finals series without either Hawthorn or Sydney for the first time since 2009, the Swans decided they would start playing at their best again after a 0-6 start appeared to put their 2017 season in the un- retrievable basket.
Some 10 games later the Sydneysiders have won 9 of their past 10 games, and appear headed for not only a finals berth, but a potential top four finish. Considering no team has ever made the finals from 0-6, it seems nigh on possible that team could earn the double chance from that position.
Sydney never just make up the numbers in finals either. Their contested style always stands up to the rigours of finals football, and with so many A grade players in their ranks there is no doubt John Longmire’s men are capable of winning the 2017 AFL premiership from here.
In saying that, one or two shock losses has them back in the logjam looking for a top 8 spot, showing just how tight (and ridiculous) this season is.
The Swans host St Kilda at the SCG under lights on Saturday night, fresh off their finest win of the season over local rivals Greater Western Sydney last Saturday. Despite only being a 13 point win on paper, it was their most imposing performance of the season against quality opposition.
The Saints came crashing back to earth with a thud in a ten goal loss at the hands of Essendon, just 6 days after their finest performance in many a year against Richmond. I guess in hindsight we should have seen it coming after four successive wins, but the performance put in by Alan Richardson’s men was not that of a top eight side.
The punishment for the defeat to see their spot inside the 8 disappear by the end of the round, and facing an uphill battle to get it back with a match against the Swans. They welcome back ruckman Billy Longer from a hamstring injury, while youngster Rowan Marshall makes his debut. At 201 cm, Marshall can play at either end of the ground and gives the Saints some much needed flexibility.
Expect the Swans will not be letting up anytime soon and won’t give the Saints a look in here, they have worked too hard to undo all their good work with a loss at home. Sydney by 28 points.
HERE COME THE SWANS: Sydney players celebrate a hard fought 13 point win over Greater Western Sydney in round 17. SOURCE: SEN.
Fremantle v Hawthorn
Fremantle are never going to win an award for being the most aesthetically pleasing team in the competition, at least while Ross Lyon is at the helm. But heck, that was horrible last week against the Eagles. Having watched that effort live in person, it was ten times worse than watching on television.
The Dockers simply couldn’t hit a target, whether in general play or having a shot for goal. They had a return of 2.13 at one stage, even the most optimistic of Freo fans struggling to claim they had kicked the equivalent of 4.1.
Remarkably they were still in the game halfway through the last quarter before the Eagles put them out of their misery with a couple of late goals. In all honesty the siren put everyone out of their misery, most Fremantle fans half way home by the time the final act of the afternoon sounded out around Subiaco Oval.
The only target seemingly hit all day was Ross Lyon’s coke bottle, which ended up all over assistant coach Anthony Rock. That was almost the highlight of the game, which speaks volumes about what sort of contest transpired on the day.
Lyon’s men simply couldn’t play that badly again in this encounter, a match at home against Hawthorn presenting another challenge for his young side.
Two Fremantle youngsters Luke Ryan and Brennan Cox were so affected by the game they partook in last Sunday that they needed to cleanse themselves with a couple of post-match ales that sees them relegated to the sidelines for this fixture, replaced by Cam McCarthy and second gamer Josh Deluca.
The Hawks will look to mark coach Alastair Clarkson’s 300th game as coach in the best possible style with a victory, the finest coach of his generation doing a fine job of regenerating his list on the run.
Shaun Burgoyne incredibly plays his 100th consecutive match, a remarkable effort for a man who arrived at the club in 2010 with a dodgy knee and little hope of playing more than a couple of seasons. On form, he could certainly play on into 2018.
The visitors will unveil an Irish debutaunt by the name of Conor Glass, a red headed 19 year old originally recruited from County Derry. Brendan Whitecross also returns, Kurt Heatherley and Kade Stewart omitted.
Tough game to tip with both teams at similar stages in their development, or re-development if you like. Fremantle will play better than last week, but I’m not sure they can kick a big enough score to beat the Hawks even at home. Hawthorn by 18 points.
MODERN DAY COACHING GREAT: Alastair Clarkson celebrates the 300 game milestone as coach against Fremantle on Saturday night. SOURCE: Fox Sports.
Richmond v Greater Western Sydney
The Giants are on the slide apparently. Wouldn’t mind being on the slide while still in third place on the AFL ladder mind you.
Most other teams with an injury list as long as the AFL’s newest club would be out of the finals race and hoping for better luck next year. The fact the Giants are still in the premiership race is remarkable when put in context. Imagine if they get something close to their best side on the park? Look out fellow finals fancies.
Two draws and a gallant loss to the Swans is hardly a form slump, but another loss in this match against Richmond could get people talking. The Giants will be without Jeremy Cameron once again after he was a late withdrawal with a hamstring concern against the Swans last week, but could welcome back Stephen Coniglio for his first match since round 8 due to an ongoing ankle concern.
The Tigers were largely unconvincing against the Brisbane Lions last Sunday, but secured an important win to keep their season moving forward in the right direction. No doubt the boys from Punt Road will remember the round 9 fixture between the sides, Richmond squandering a 31 point lead in the third term to lose at the death by 3 points.
It was their second loss in the dying moments in consecutive weeks, and left Tigers fans wondering what on earth their team needed to do to be on the right side of a close result. They might get another chance here, as this looms as another epic at the home of football.
It’s a rare chance for the Giants to play on the hallowed MCG turf, having not played at the venue since round 1 last year. They have won just one of ten games at the ground, a ten goal win over the Demons in 2014 their only success.
With this their only chance to play at the venue potentially until Grand Final day (if they get there), Leon Cameron’s men simply must win this game. The former Western Bulldogs and Richmond player signed a two year contract extension during the week, a reward for his development of a young up and coming powerhouse.
Think the Giants will have too much poise and polish for the Tigers, but will be one of the games of the round. Greater Western Sydney by 7 points.
Collingwood v West Coast
Nathan Buckley must feel like he is on a hiding to nothing. His team finally gets a win, a hard fought one at that in the wet over the Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, and he and his team still gets smashed in the media.
Not only is ‘Bucks’ under pressure to keep his job, but prominent members of the Melbourne media are now calling for President Eddie McGuire to join Buckley in exiting the Lexus Centre after what looms as a fourth successive season without a finals appearance.
You wonder what the Pies can actually do to stop the media criticism, considering winning clearly did nothing to help the looming decision on Buckley’s future. I guess all they can do is keep on winning, and another positive result against a top eight side in West Coast at Docklands will help alleviate the pressure no end.
West Coast bounced back from their poor loss to Port Adelaide with a win over a wasteful Fremantle in the Western Derby last Sunday, two time reigning Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy returning with 3 goals. Despite missing 5 games through injury, he sits just 10 goals behind Coleman Medal leader Lance Franklin with matches against bottom four teams Brisbane and Carlton looming over the next month.
The match is Kennedy’s 200th at AFL level, the Eagles spearhead closing in on 500 AFL goals. It has been a fantastic career after a slow start, but West Coast can now view the infamous Chris Judd trade as a favourable one after some initial misgivings from fans and media alike.
Luke Shuey (150 games) and Elliot Yeo (100 games) also reach milestones against the Magpies, West Coast no doubt greatful they have drawn Collingwood at Docklands rather than the MCG, having not beaten the Pies at the mecca since round 2, 1995.
West Coast was too good for Collingwood at Docklands in 2015, and their forward line once again looms as a key to this fixture. With Kennedy back and Jack Darling having produced a fine month of football, the Eagles have definitive forward targets that Collingwood crave.
The home side will have to beat the Eagles without the services of captain Scott Pendlebury, who will miss an indefinite period with a finger injury sustained late against the Suns in the wet last week. With his stunning recuperative powers, you wouldn’t rule him getting back within a fortnight.
The Eagles were smashed in the midfield last week even in victory in Derby 46, and the Magpies strength is their performance in the middle of the ground, even in Pendlebury’s absence. Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom are all quality players, and West Coast must neutralise their influence if they are to win.
Tipping West Coast here, but it could be another scrappy frustrating game for both teams. The Eagles don’t mind playing at Docklands, compared to their struggles at the MCG. West Coast by 19 points.
MILESTONE MAN: Josh Kennedy celebrates his 200th AFL match against Collingwood on Sunday. SOURCE: The Australian.
Brisbane Lions v Carlton
It’s been an awfully long time since these two teams played in what could be considered a genuine blockbuster. Both have been down the bottom end of the ladder for the past decade, and that has been reflected in the fixturing here, with the Lions and Blues drawn to finish the round in the dreaded Sunday evening timeslot.
Considering the Lions struggle to get decent home crowds in recent seasons, you can expect another low attendance figure in this one. Still, it should be an interesting game, both teams showing improvement in 2017 despite being in 18th and 16th position respectively.
The last time these teams met in a game that meant anything more than the stock standard four premiership points for the record was back in 2009, when the teams played out an epic elimination final that saw the Lions come back from 5 goals down early in the last quarter to win by 7 points. Yep, it’s been a while.
The Blues continue to be gallant in defeat without stringing together a series of stirring wins, their season highlight to date their victory over Greater Western Sydney in round 12 by a solitary point.
This looms as a very winnable contest for the visitors, despite the Blues having failed to win at the Gabba since round 9 2013. Brisbane shows spurts of growth without always turning it in to victorious performances, much like their opponents in this contest.
Carlton are counting the cost of their injuries as we move towards the final month of the season, Dylan Buckley (hamstring), Ciaran Byrne (groin) and Alex Silvagni (knee) all ruled out of the trip North with ailments picked up in the 20 point loss to the Bulldogs last Sunday.
Collingwood premiership player Dale Thomas, utility Dennis Armfield and ex Cat Billie Smedts headline the inclusions list for the visitors, while Darcy Gardiner could return from an elbow injury for the Lions. Nick Robertson goes out after paying the price for his niggling tactics on Dustin Martin last week, suspended for the fixture.
Brisbane recived a further boost during the week with youngster Alex Witherden given the round 17 Rising Star nomination after having a team high 28 disposals in the 31 point loss to the Tigers last week. In just his fourth game, Witherden is averaging a touch under 25 disposals a game.
Flip of a coin tip this one, but backing the Lions to continue their recent improvement and claim a victory at home. The two great Dayne’s in Zorko and Beams will be hard to stop in midfield. Brisbane by 15 points.
BRIGHT YOUNG TALENT: Alex Witherden secured the round 17 Rising Star nomination for his 28 disposal effort against Richmond. 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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