PREVIEW OF AFL ROUND-10 MATCHES (all times AEST):
FRIDAY, May 25
Collingwood v Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm
Head to head: Magpies 106 Bulldogs 47 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 1, 2017 – Bulldogs 15.10 (100) bt Magpies 12.14 (86) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet odds: Magpies $1.43 Bulldogs $2.85
William Hill: Magpies $1.41 Bulldogs $2.95
You wouldn’t blame Bulldogs players for burning the boots they wore last week. They faced a tough task against the Crows in Adelaide and blew any chance of winning by kicking 2.14. The defeat ended a three-game winning streak, and left the Bulldogs precariously placed at 4-5. Jordan De Goey booted six goals last week to guide Collingwood to a 28-point win over St Kilda. The Magpies welcome back Ben Reid and Levi Greenwood, but Alex Fasolo (ankle) and Daniel Wells (rested) will miss the match. The Bulldogs have called up former Lion Josh Schache.
Key: Accuracy. De Goey booted 6.0 for Collingwood last week to be the difference. In contrast, the Bulldogs couldn’t hit a barn door.
Tip: Magpies by 12 points
SATURDAY, May 26
Richmond v St Kilda at MCG, 1.45pm
Head to head: Tigers 109 Saints 71 drawn 3
Last clash: Round 23, 2017 – Tigers 19.8 (122) bt Saints 12.9 (81) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet odds: Tigers $1.08 Saints $8
William Hill: Tigers $1.07 Saints $8.50
The Tigers were given a big wake-up call during last week’s 47-point loss to West Coast. Even Dustin Martin wasn’t immune to the intense pressure, with the Brownlow medallist caught holding the ball twice in the third quarter. St Kilda haven’t tasted victory since round one, and forward Tim Membrey has a serious case of the yips. Membrey has booted a combined 1.8 in his past two matches. St Kilda coach Alan Richardson made five changes, with Jake Carlisle and Paddy McCartin among the inclusions.
Key: Tiger reaction. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is confident his team will use last week’s disappointment to kick them back into gear. If the Tigers regain their hunger, St Kilda stand little chance.
Tip: Tigers by 44 points
Brisbane v Sydney at Gabba, 4.35pm
Head to head: Brisbane Lions 11 Swans 22 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 7, 2017 – Swans 20.15 (135) bt Lions 12.9 (81) at SCG
Tab Sportsbet odds: Lions $3.75 Swans $1.28
William Hill: Lions $3.80 Swans $1.27
Brisbane have lost their past 10 matches to Sydney, with the bulk of them by big margins. But the Lions will enter this match rejuvenated following last week’s 56-point demolition of Hawthorn. Sydney spearhead Lance Franklin made a successful return from injury in last week’s 59-point win over Fremantle, booting three goals. The Swans can’t afford to lose to a lowly team like Brisbane if they want to be a serious top-four threat.
Key: Stopping Buddy and company. Sydney’s forward line is more than just Franklin now, with Ben Ronke also capable of kicking big bags.
Tip: Swans by 35 points
Geelong v Carlton at GMHBA Stadium, 7.25pm
Head to head: Cats 99 Blues 117 drawn 2
Last clash: Round 19, 2017 – Cats 18.15 (123) bt Blues 8.10 (58) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet odds: Cats $1.05 Blues $10
William Hill: Cats $1.05 Blues $10
Geelong coach Chris Scott described last week’s 34-point loss as inexplicable, vowing to go over the defeat with a fine tooth comb. The Cats managed just three goals in the first three quarters, with star midfielder Garry Ablett tallying just 17 disposals for the match. Blues coach Brendon Bolton is also searching for answers after his team’s 109-point loss to Melbourne, which came just one week after a breakthrough win over Essendon. Blues skipper Marc Murphy is out with a foot injury, but Jacob Weitering is back.
Key: Coaching rockets. Both Geelong coach Chris Scott and his Carlton counterpart Brendon Bolton were left seething following last week’s shellackings. No doubt they would have both read their players the riot act this week. But will it work?
Tip: Cats by 41 points
GWS v Essendon at Spotless Stadium, 7.25pm
Head to head: Giants 3 Bombers 4 drawn 0
Last clash: Round 11, 2017 – Giants 18.9 (117) bt Bombers 15.11 (101) at Spotless Stadium
Tab Sportsbet odds: Giants $1.45 Bombers $2.75
William Hill: Giants $1.44 Bombers $2.80
Essendon eased the pressure on coach John Worsfold with a 34-point win over Geelong. The way they suffocated the Cats was impressive, and a vast improvement on the sloppy form they produced during their recent four-match losing run. GWS’s top-four hopes are looking vulnerable following a three-match losing streak. Injuries are hurting them big time, but they will be boosted by the return of star midfielder Josh Kelly from a groin injury.
Key: Hardness. The Bombers looked like a different team last week. But can they maintain that hardness and pressure? If so, they will climb the ladder quickly.
Tip: Giants by 9 points
SUNDAY, May 27
Hawthorn v West Coast at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm
Head to head: Hawks 23 Eagles 26 drawn 0
Last clash: Round 5, 2017 – Hawks 19.11 (125) bt Eagles 11.9 (75) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet odds: Hawks $2.25 Eagles $1.65
William Hill: Hawks $2.20 Eagles $1.68
West Coast are the hottest team in the league following an eight-match winning run. Their 47-point demolition of Richmond last week was impressive, putting them one game clear on top of the ladder. The Eagles haven’t beaten Hawthorn in Melbourne since 2006. But most of those losses came at the MCG, where West Coast have traditionally struggled. Hawthorn will be aiming to bounce back from last week’s shock 56-point loss to Brisbane. Defender James Frawley and midfielder Jaeger O’Meara are in line to return for the Hawks.
Key: Stopping Jack Darling. The Eagles spearhead is in the form of his life, booting six goals against the Tigers last week. His contested marking has also been a highlight. If Hawthorn can’t limit the supply to Darling, they will find it hard to win.
Tip: Eagles by 21 points
Melbourne v Adelaide at Traeger Park, 3.20pm
Head to head: Demons 13 Crows 24 drawn 0
Last clash: Round 17, 2017 – Crows 17.14 (116) bt Demons 10.10 (70) at Marrara Oval
Tab Sportsbet odds: Demons $1.70 Crows $2.15
William Hill: Demons $1.74 Crows $2.10
Melbourne showed they mean business with last week’s 109-point demolition of Carlton, but this week’s clash will give them a true gauge of where they sit in the overall pecking order. The 6-3 Crows are shaping up as a top-four team yet again, but they are still without skipper Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane. If the Demons can get over the line here, a top-four finish beckons. Adelaide are set to be boosted by the return of club champion Matt Crouch.
Key: Battle of the rucks. Melbourne’s Max Gawn and Adelaide’s Sam Jacobs are in hot form. The winner of this ruck battle will give their team a crucial edge.
Tip: Crows by 3 points
Fremantle v North Melbourne
Head to head: Dockers 12 Kangaroos 17 drawn 0
Last clash: Round 16, 2017 – Dockers 13.8 (86) bt Kangaroos 12.10 (82) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet odds: Dockers $1.85 Kangaroos $1.95
William Hill: Dockers $1.85 Kangaroos $1.95
There’s no place like home for Fremantle. The Dockers have been a force at Optus Stadium, with their only loss there coming against the white-hot Eagles. But they have been weak as a kitten on the road, where they have lost all four games by an average of 54 points. Luckily for them they are at home this week, but the Kangaroos will be no pushover. North Melbourne have surprised everyone with their 5-4 record, and they were impressive in last week’s 43-point win over GWS.
Key: North’s big three. Kangaroos spearheads Ben Brown, Jarrad Waite, and Mason Wood combined for 11 goals last week. Curbing them will be a huge challenge for Fremantle’s defence.
Tip: Kangaroos by 5 points