Round 21 commences with Geelong and GWS doing battle on Friday night.
We look ahead to the best of the rest this weekend.
Geelong vs. GWS
August 6th 7:50pm
A home game for Geelong ensues when it meets GWS Giants on Friday night.
The Cats have plummeted in the betting markets into premiership favouritism having won five consecutive matches to sit second only by percentage to top placed Western Bulldogs.
GWS, however, has had an inconsistent year and will be without star midfielder Jacob Hopper.
Cats win this easily.
Prediction: Geelong by 38 points
Suggested Bet: Geelong -33.5 at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Geelong head to head
Leg 2: Total points scored under 148.5
Leg 3: G. Rohan 2+ goals
Leg 4: T. Hawkins 2+ goals
Combined odds = $6
Carlton vs. Gold Coast
August 7th 1:45pm
Carlton look to keep its slim finals hopes alive when it faces the embattled Gold Coast Suns.
The Blues bounced back with a commanding win over St Kilda with gun forward Harry McKay booting five goals, while the Suns were flogged by Melbourne to the tune of 98 points.
Carlton has the wood over the Suns this season having defeated them back in Round 4 and should get the job done here given the Suns will be without Brandon Ellis for another week.
Prediction: Carlton by 49 points
Suggested Bet: Carlton -24.5 at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi
Leg 1: Carlton head to head
Leg 2: C. Curnow 2+ goals
Leg 3: H. McKay 2+ goals
Leg 4: E. Curnow 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $9
Richmond vs. North Melbourne
August 7th 4:35pm
You would have been dubbed a mad man to think North Melbourne would be in better form than reigning premier Richmond at any stage of 2021.
Incredibly, that is the case as we head into Round 21 game between the Roos and the Tigers.
The Roos have played an exciting brand of footy in the last month-and-a-half and pushed Geelong all the way last week.
RIchmond, though, continue to recapture that 2020 form and has struggled in the absence of Dustin Martin.
Prediction: North Melbourne by 10 points
Suggested Bet: North Melbourne head to head at $2.86
Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide
August 7th 7:40pm
Showdown 50 adorns itself at Adelaide Oval when crosstown rivals Adelaide and Port Adelaide butt heads.
These teams sees themselves at opposite ends of spectrum with Port vying for a top four position, while the Crows attempt to keep themselves away from the bottom.
Port already boast a 49-point victory over Adelaide dating back to Round 8 this year.
It’s tough to see how the Crows stop this Port Adelaide team who is finals bound and a shot at winning the flag.
Prediction: Port Adelaide by 66 points
Suggested Bets: Port Adelaide -32.5 at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Port Adelaide head to head
Leg 2: K. Amon 25+ disposals
Leg 3: B. Keays 25+ disposals
Leg 4: T. Boak 25+ disposals
Leg 5: Total points over 160.5
Combined odds = $6.25
St Kilda vs. Sydney
August 7th 7:40pm
Sydney heads over Marvel Stadium for a clash with St Kilda on Saturday night.
The Swans won a brilliant high-scoring victory over Essendon last week to confirm their status a top four contender, while the Saints received a dagger blow to its season going by 31 points to Carlton.
St Kilda has proven it can produce quality football this year and arguably should have beaten the Swans at the SCG earlier this year if not for inaccurate goal-kicking.
The Swans did look a little rusty early against Essendon and that might be the sniff the Saints need to get up in this one.
Their tall forwards Max King and Tim Membrey can cause trouble.
Prediction: St Kilda by 1 points
Suggested Bets: St Kilda head to head at $2.82
Hawthorn vs. Collingwood
August 8th 2:10pm
Hawthorn hosts Collingwood at the MCG come Sunday afternoon in a battle of pride.
With the season all but over for both teams, it is now a question of how motivate can either team stay.
The announcement of Alastair Clarkson stepping down as Hawthorn coach sparked the hawks into a frenzy as they held on to defeat Brisbane by two goals down in Tasmania.
Collingwood also pulled off a brilliant upset by slamming the Eagles in a 45-point triumph.
Very tough game to pick.
Hawks… just.
Prediction: Hawthorn by 5 points
Suggested Bets: Hawthorn head to head at $1.94
Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon
August 8th 3:20pm
League leader Western Bulldogs will attempt to cement its spot atop of the ladder when it faces Essendon on Sunday afternoon.
The Dogs scored a comfortable victory against Adelaide last week as they continued to churn along on their merry way to finals.
Essendon, meanwhile, need to bounce back from defeat against Sydney if it considers itself a legitimate chance at making the top eight.
The problem for Essendon is the Bulldogs midfield.
Marcus Bontempelli, Jackson Macrae, Josh Dunkley. Thelist off class is almost endless.
Doggies win but Bombers can cover the line.
Prediction: Western Bulldogs by 19 points
Suggested Bets: Essendon +22.5
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Western Bulldogs head to head
Leg 2: Total points under 168.5
Leg 3: M. Bontempelli 25+ disposals
Leg 4: C. Daniel 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $4.75
Fremantle vs. Brisbane
August 8th 5:10pm
Fremantle faces Brisbane in a game that will shape the complexity of the race to the finals.
Brisbane put a huge dent in its top four aspirations with a shock loss to Hawthorn last week, while Fremantle produced a monumental win over Richmond.
Led by Angus Brayshaw and Adam Cerra, the Dockers held on for victory late in the piece to give themselves a massiev shot out at making the finals for the first time under Justin Longmuir.
Brisbane has struggled without bookends Eric Hipwood and Marcus Adams, but they have the class to bounce back here.
Prediction: Brisbane by 15 points
Suggested Bets: Brisbane -10.5 at $1.90
