Round 20 commences with Carlton and St Kilda doing battle on Friday night at Marvel Stadium.
We look ahead to the best of the rest this weekend.
St Kilda vs. Carlton
July 29th 7:50pm
Carlton is in desperate strife of a win to save the career of coach David Teague when it faces St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.
The Blues stunk it up against North Melbourne last week after a seven-goal to zero third term all but sealed yet another season without without finals.
St Kilda, meanwhile, battled tooth and nail against West Coast in Perth but feel just short to lose by eight points despite six goals from Max King.
Expect a response from Carlton as they have done so all year after putting in season worst performances.
Saints win but it will be closer than most think.
Prediction: St Kilda by 15 points
Suggested Bet: St Kilda -10.5 at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: St Kilda -10.5
Leg 2: J. Martin 2+ goals
Leg 3: J. Steele 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $7
Western Bulldogs vs. Adelaide
July 21st 12:20pm
The opportunity for Western Bulldogs to hold sway atop of the ladder presents itself when it takes on Adelaide.
The Bulldogs snatched top spot off Melbourne with a commanding 20-point victory at the MCG last week but must turn its attention to a Crows team who notched up a 19-point win over Hawthorn.
It has been an easy time of it for Luke Beveridge and his men against the Crows in recent times.
Round 12 in 2020 was the last time the teams met as Marcus Bontempelli demolished the Crows with 33 disposals and two goals in a 16.15.111 to 8.6.54 win.
Much of the same will probably occur here.
Prediction: Western Bulldogs by 48 points
Suggested Bet: Western Bulldogs -36.5 at $1.85
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Western Bulldogs head to head (SGM SPECIAL)
Leg 2: M. Bontempelli 25+ disposals
Leg 3: M. Bontempelli 2+ goals
Leg 4: Total points scored over 143.5
Combined odds = $5.25
North Melbourne vs. Geelong
July 31st 1:15pm
Premiership favourite Geelong meets last-on-the-table North Melbourne in what is actually set to be an intriguing contest.
Geelong rocketed into premiership favouritism after demolishing Richmond at the MCG last week, while North Melbourne put together its best performance of the year to smash the Blues by 39 points.
Ben Noble has his men in a fine vein of form but Geelong will prove the ultimate test.
Tom Hawkins and Esava Ratugolea combined for eight goals and North will need to be at their best to lock these two down.
Expecting a tightly contested game but Geelong just have too much class around the ball.
Prediction: Geelong by 23 points
Suggested Bet: North Melbourne +26.5 at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Geelong head to head (SGM SPECIAL)
Leg 2: North Melbourne +25.5
Leg 3: Total points under 153.5
Combined odds = $5
Collingwood vs. West coast
July 31st 4:15pm
It is crazy to think these two teams made a grand final only three years ago.
Fast forward to today and the Eagles pencil this in as a must win, while Collingwood is playing purely for pride with its season all but over.
West Coast had already done the deed over Collingwood this year with a 16.7.103 to 11.10.76 win back in Round 5 as Oscar Allen and Jack Darling booted 10 goals between them.
Given the Pies lack genuine gun key position options, this will likely be a comfortable Eagles victory.
Prediction: West Coast Eagles by 29 points
Suggested Bets: West Coast Eagles -8.5 at $1.90
essendon vs. sydney
July 31st 7:40pm
Lance Franklin is clear to play for Sydney when it lines up against Essendon on Saturday night.
The Swans gun forward was cited for a stray elbow in the win against Fremantle but was cleared from an initial one-week ban.
Essendon, meanwhile, coughed up a golden opportunity to remain in the eight after failing to hold off GWS last week.
The Bombers have been exciting to watch this season but ‘The Bloods’ culture and brilliant development of its youth has come to fore.
The loyal sons will go marching to victory.
Prediction: Sydney by 25 points
Suggested Bets: Sydney -19.5 at $1.89
Hawthorn vs. Brisbane
August 1st 2:10pm
Old Hawthorn mates Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan go head to head when the Hawks meet the Lions on Sunday afternoon.
This looms as a danger for the Lions given what we saw the Hawks are capable of against a genuine premiership contender in Melbourne a fortnight ago.
Brisbane won bragging right in The Q Clash against Gold Coast last week after coming from five goals down to win by 49 points.
The Hawks, meanwhile, were handed a 19-point defeat by Adelaide in Round 19 but can bounce back with a better performance here.
Prediction: Brisbane by 22 points
Suggested Bets: Hawthorn +30.5 at $1.90
Gold Coast vs. Melbourne
Melbourne are in need of a desperate percentage boost when it faces Gold Coast.
The Demons were humbled by Western Bulldogs to the tune of 20 points last week and stumbled to third on the table with a fair inferior percentage to the Dogs and Geelong who sit in first and second respectively.
Melbourne has responded strongly after every loss this year and Gold Coast will need to conjure up soemthing brilliant given the poor it found itself in last week.
The Suns led by five goals against Brisbane in the Q Clash only to be smashed in the second half to dealt a 49-point loss.
Demons should trot this in with a leg in the air.
Prediction: Melbourne by 55 points
Suggested Bets: Melbourne at the line
GWS vs. port Adelaide
Port Adelaide seeks to fortify its position inside the top four against GWS this weekend.
The Power did its top four credentials no harm in handing Collingwood a 28-point defeat last Friday as Charlie Dixon dominated with four goals.
Greater Wester Sydney will prove a difficult opponent to crack after it managed to thwart off Essendon and leapfrog itself into the top eight with a 13-point victory in a low-scoring affair.
The last time these two teams met was all the way back in round six of 2020 and it saw the Power register a 17-point win.
The Giants’ midfield is what will take it up to Port Adelaide this week, but it is the danger in key position posts at the book ends of the park that should help Ken Hinkley’s men hold its spot in the four.
Prediction: Port Adelaide by 18 points
Suggested Bets: Port Adelaide at the line
