The Bombers face the Bulldogs in a battle between 7th and 8th. The 2nd place Power hosts the ladder-leading Pies, and the Lions, sitting in 3rd, take on the Cats. It’s a massive round of AFL with Finals implications abound.
All our best tips and analyses are below.
game of the week: Power vs. magpies
22nd July 7:40PM
Saturday night will play host to the game of the week – and quite possibly the match of the year – when Port Adelaide and Collingwood go head-to-head in a top-of-the-table clash at the Adelaide Oval.
It comes one week after the Power lost their first game in 14 weeks, with the Blues ending an unbelievable 13-game winning run. The health of their list is likely to improve, with Charlie Dixon and Jason Horne-Francis both expected to return, while Brownlow Medal fancy Zak Butters will undergo a test after he hurt his groin in the fourth quarter.
As for the world-beating Pies, it was another week and another cruisy win as they dispatched the Dockers by 46 points at the ‘G. The Daicos brothers combined for 67 disposals, while Jamie Elliot returned to his best with four goals. Darcy Cameron and Brody Mihocek are possible returnees for the Pies as they attempt to go two games clear on top.
An arm wrestles if Dixon and Horne-Francis are passed fit to play; otherwise, it could just be another chapter in Collingwood’s dream season.
TIP: J. Elliot first goal scorer @ $10
bombers vs. Bulldogs
21st July 7:50pm
Everything is on the line for both these sides after each suffered potential season-defining losses over the weekend and jeopardised their positions in the top eight. The Dogs will go in as $1.67 favourites and regain Bailey Smith from a bout of illness, but it’s Tim English who will likely have a field day as Sam Draper remains sidelined for the Bombers.
TIP: Western Bulldogs to win @ $1.67
tigers vs hawks
22nd July 1:35pm
It’s hard for non-Richmond supporters to stomach, but the finals are still well and truly on the cards for the Tigers. Their 38-point triumph over the Eagles made it five from six, positioning them in 11th and just half a game behind three sides currently in the top eight – the Saints, Dogs and Bombers. Dusty is on, Ivan Soldo filled in for Nank superbly, and they need a percentage.
TIP: Richmond 1-39 @ $2.12
blues vs eagles
22nd July 2:10pm
OK, we’re happy to finally admit that Carlton is back. In a big way. Michael Voss and his chargers recorded their fourth consecutive win with a 50-point thumping of Port Adelaide, ending their 13-game winning streak. It wasn’t all positive news with Harry McKay’s knee injury, but that won’t matter one iota against the 18th-placed Eagles.
TIP: Carlton (-65.5) @ $1.90
LIONS VS CATS
22nd July 4:35PM
In one of the games of the round, 3rd does battle with 5th. The Lions must overcome the heartbreak of Friday night’s one-point loss to the Demons (but how?), while the Cats are riding an unbeaten four-game streak following their dismantling of the Bombers. Back at the Gabba and Josh Dunkley returning, expect the Lions to bounce back.
TIP: Brisbane to win @ $1.46
dockers vs. swans
22nd July 7:40PM
While nobody expected the Dockers to do much against the Magpies, their 46-point loss makes it three in a row and puts them in 15th spot on the ladder. With finals basically out of the equation, they’re just playing for pride. And after an innocuous injury to star ruckman Sean Darcy, their pride might just take another hit here.
TIP: Sydney (+0.5) @ $1.90
giants vs. suns
23rd July 1:10PM
Not one, not two, not three or four, but five straight victories for Adam Kingsley and Greater Western Sydney. One of many teams vying for a top-eight spot after turning their season around, their 14-point win over the Crows in Adelaide was certainly a season highlight. The Suns put a tough week behind them under interim coach Steven King, but we’re not sure even a fit Touk Miller can get them past the big, big sound from the west of the town.
TIP: GWS to win @ $1.52
demons vs. crows
23rd july 3:20pm
After weeks of low scores and unattractive footy, the Demons pieced together one of the most memorable wins in living memory when they came from four goals down and sank the Lions with a Jake Melksham goal at the 28th-minute mark on Friday night. With that confidence and after Adelaide’s disappointing home loss to the Giants, it’s easy to see them winning their third game on the trot.
TIP: Melbourne to win first quarter $1.56
saints vs. kangaroos
23rd July 4:40PM
No team needs the North Melbourne confidence booster quite like the Saints following their fourth loss in five games over the weekend. Ross Lyon was ropable at his side’s lack of effort, and there’s little doubt they have the quality to respond against the embattled Roo boys, especially with the impending return of Jack Higgins and Jack Billings.
TIP: L. Davies-Uniacke 25+ disposals @ $1.50
