Sportsbet Blog

Round 4 we be looked back on as one of the season builders this year with the cream of the crop doing battle against each other along with the cellar dwellers.

In my mind there are two matches of round four. St Kilda (1) V Freo (2) and Brisbane (3) V Bulldogs (5). Both should be cracking games and should go down to the wire.

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West Coast V Essendon Friday Night at Subiaco Oval

Tip: West Coast

Odds: West Coast 1.63 Essendon 2.54

I predict west Coast to win at home, they play a decent brand of footy in the West and with McVeigh out for Essendon I think the task will be out of their reach. I will be interesting to see how Hurley goes for his first game of the year, he will be out to make his mark on the game after serving a club imposed sanction.

North Melbourne V Sydney Saturday at Etihad Stadium

Tip: Sydney

Odds: North Melbourne 2.70 Sydney 1.54

Sydney are my surprise club of the year so far winning 2 from 3 and nearly knocking off St Kilda in round 1. They have changed their game plan this year and are playing a more exiting game which is seeming to work for them.

They should continue their winning for at the Docklands this weekend over the Roo’s who haven’t quite found their feet as yet.

Adelaide V Carlton Saturday at AAMI Stadium

Tip: Adelaide

Odds: Adelaide 1.94 Carlton 2.02

This should be a hard fought game with both clubs struggling early in the season, especially the Crows who are yet to get a win on the board and were expected to be a top 8 side this year.

The Crows regain Johncock to their side that will bolster the back line and could be the difference at the end of the day. Even with Judd back in the side for the Blues I think Adelaide will get their act together and find a win.

Lions V Western Bulldogs Saturday Night at the Gabba

Tip: Lions

Odds: Lions 2.08 Western Bulldogs 1.91

The battle of the big guns. Hall, Brown and Fev all in one game? This time last year I would have said you were dreaming! It should be a great spectacle in a high scoring match.

It will be a matter of who gets more inside 50′s that will win the game and I think the Lions have shown in the last few weeks they have both speed and strength in the midfield and should get over the line. My prediction is the Lions by 12 points.

Collingwood V Hawthorn Saturday Night at the MCG

Tip: Collingwood

Odds: Collingwood 1.67 Hawthorn 2.44

The Pies looked guttered after their loss to St Kilda last weekend and with all the bad press about their Coach Mick Malthouse this week I think they will be out to change the headlines.

Forward Lance Franklin and Backman Josh Gibson are out for the Hawks and Heath Shaw is in for the Pies. It will make the challenge all that more difficult for Hawthorn and I expect the Pies to get a comfortable win.

Richmond V Melbourne Sunday at the MCG

Tip: Melbourne

Odds: Richmond 3.75 Melbourne 1.35

Looking back I think it was 2007 since Melbourne went into a game as favourites and at 1.35 it reflects how bad Richmond are traveling.

The Tigers are without club leaders Chris Newman (leg) and Ben Cousins (club suspension) for the match. I think someone need to tell Richmond that tanking just wont work this year with all the top draft picks going to the new clubs. They are debuting Troy Taylor (South Alice Springs/NT Thunder), Matthew Dea (North Ballarat), David Astbury (North Ballarat) for the game and will struggle to get a flowing game going. Melbourne by 35 points.

Geelong V Port Adelaide Sunday at Skilled Stadium

Tip: Geelong

Odds: Geelong 1.17 Port Adelaide 6.80
Skilled Stadium and Geelong go hand in hand and this match wont be an exception. They will be ruthless on Sunday an wont stop until the final siren after the surprise loss to Freo last week. the Cats have recalled Mooney, Milburn and Ottens for the game and will bounce back with a win.

Look out for Port Adelaide’s Dean Brogan and David Rodan who both are rejoining their club and should be the shining light for Port.

St Kilda V  Fremantle Sunday Afternoon at Etihad Stadium

Tip: St Kilda

Odds: St Kilda 1.35 Fremantle 3.65

1 v 2 and a great match to finish off round 4. The winner here could end up a game clear on top of the ladder with a decent percentage. A restructured St Kilda forward line will see Michael Gardiner the goto man after Nick Riewoldt’s now famous hamstring giving way last week and Justin Koschitzke another week on the side lines due to suspension.

The key to the game will be in the middle with 3rd tier ruckman Rhys Stanley getting the call up along with Steven King to go against giant Aaron Sandilands, if Sandilands can dominate the match it may be a closer game that one might expect.