PREVIEW OF ROUND 18 MATCHES (all times AEST)
FRIDAY, July 19
Adelaide v Essendon at Adelaide Oval, 7.50pm
Head to head: Crows 19 Bombers 19 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 1, 2018 – Bombers 14.15 (99) bt Crows 12.15 (87) at Marvel Stadium
Five wins from their past six games have put Essendon on track to play finals football. They needed a last-gasp goal from Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti to get over the line against North last week. The Crows rebounded from their disappointing Showdown loss by beating Gold Coast by 95 points.
Key: McDonald-Tipungwuti. The small forward has become a barometer for Essendon. When he scores multiple goals, they generally win.
Tip: Bombers by 7
SATURDAY, July 20
Richmond v Port Adelaide at MCG, 1.45pm
Head to head: Tigers 12 Power 18 Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 4, 2019 – Tigers 15.9 (99) bt Power 14.8 (92) at Adelaide Oval
You get the feeling the Tigers are starting to purr. Last week’s 27-point win over GWS was their third triumph in a row, and importantly they are starting to get their star players back on the field. Port’s topsy-turvy season continued last week when they lost to Brisbane by 48 points.
Key: Tom Lynch. The Tigers spearhead booted six goals against Port earlier this season, and will be aiming to inflict a repeat dose.
Tip: Tigers by 29
Carlton v Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium, 2.10pm
Head to head: Blues 6 Suns 5 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 4, 2019 – Suns 8.11 (59) bt Blues 8.9 (57) at Metricon Stadium
Believe it or not, Carlton are now one of the form teams of the competition. The Blues have won three of their past five games, with their two losses being by a combined eight points. The Suns have lost 12 straight games and appear destined for the wooden spoon unless they can win this one.
Key: Stopping Patrick Cripps. The Carlton midfield bull is a stoppage king and will need to be curbed if the Suns are to have any chance.
Tip: Blues by 31
GWS v Collingwood at Giants Stadium, 4.35pm
Head to head: Giants 2 Magpies 6 Drawn 0
Last clash: Semi-final, 2018 – Magpies 9.15 (69) bt Giants 9.5 (59)
Three straight losses have seen the Giants’ premiership hopes plunge, with the knee injury to Stephen Coniglio another bitter blow. Collingwood revived their top-two hopes with their thrilling one-point win over West Coast, but Darcy Moore (hamstring) is among four Pies players out with injury.
Key: Midfield battle. With Coniglio out, do the Giants still have enough star power in the middle to counter Brodie Grundy and company?
Tip: Magpies by 11
Brisbane v North Melbourne at the Gabba, 7.25pm
Head to head: Lions 16 Kangaroos 20 Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 2, 2019 – Lions 16.11 (107) bt Kangaroos 13.9 (87) at Marvel Stadium
The Lions have shot up to third spot on the back of four straight wins, including last week’s 48-point demolition of Port Adelaide on the road. North’s finals hopes are hanging by a thread following their heartbreaking five-point loss to Essendon.
Key: Curbing Lachie Neale. Port put too many resources into the star Lion last week, meaning they won the battle but lost the war.
Tip: Lions by 31
Fremantle v Sydney at Optus Stadium, 8.10pm
Head to head: Dockers 14 Swans 19 Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 9, 2018 – Swans 17.9 (111) bt Dockers 7.10 (52) at SCG
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is under huge pressure following four straight losses. If the Dockers are to have any hope of playing finals, they need to win this one, but the loss of Nat Fyfe (elbow) makes the job harder. The Swans (6-10) are merely battling for pride following their upset loss to Carlton.
Key: Ruck battle. Fremantle’s Sean Darcy should have a clear edge against an injury-hit Swans ruck department.
Tip: Dockers by 16
SUNDAY, July 21
Geelong v Hawthorn at MCG, 1.10pm
Head to head: Cats 90 Hawks 74 Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 5, 2019 – Cats 17.11 (113) bt Hawks 13.12 (90) at MCG
Geelong beat St Kilda by 27 points last week, but they still don’t look like a team that are two wins clear on top of the table. Hawthorn’s 31-point win over Fremantle has kept their slim finals hopes alive.
Key: Can Tim Kelly bounce back? The star Cats midfielder has waned over the past fortnight, denting his Brownlow hopes.
Tip: Cats by 24
Melbourne v West Coast at Traeger Park, 3.20pm
Head to head: Demons 17 Eagles 35 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 9, 2019 – Eagles 13.7 (85) bt Demons 9.15 (69) at Optus Stadium
West Coast’s one-point loss to Collingwood was compounded by the devastating loss of Nic Naitanui to a potentially season-ending ankle injury. Melbourne’s disappointing campaign continued with an eight-point loss to the Bulldogs.
Key: Ruck demolition. Max Gawn tallied 56 hitouts the last time he played West Coast’s Tom Hickey. Can Hickey limit the damage this time?
Tip: Eagles by 17 points
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, 4.40pm
Head to head: Saints 81 Bulldogs 76 Drawn 3
Last clash: Round 20, 2018 – Bulldogs 15.13 (103) bt Saints 9.14 (68) at Marvel Stadium
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson was sacked after last week’s 27-point loss to Geelong, with Brett Ratten handed the reins on an interim basis. The Bulldogs are now just one win adrift of eighth spot following three victories on the trot.
Key: The new coach effect. Carlton and North Melbourne have enjoyed remarkable resurgences since sacking their coaches. Will the same thing happen at St Kilda?
Tip: Saints by 4 points
