Sportsbet Blog

Coming to the business end of the AFL season Round 22 shapes up to be a very intriguing one with huge consequences for sides fighting for finals spots. Below you will find all your footy tips, predictions, match previews and latest odds for Round Twenty Two.

Best Bet of Round 22 is the Hawks to get the points against the Blues between 1-39 points which is paying $2.30 at Sportsbet

Carlton V Hawthorn Friday night at Etihad Stadium

What a blockbuster this is set to be Friday night. Coming off a big win against Fremantle last week Carlton will look to consolidate their top four spot before having the bye next week. The Blues could possibly welcome back Michael Jamison if they choose to risk him but Jarred Waite is still a couple of weeks away.

The Hawks had the clubs biggest ever win last week, with a margin of 165 points against Port. They Cryril & Buddy show was in full swing last week and Hawks supporters are hoping they can carry that form into this weeks match.

I believe this match will be won by who can get on top in the midfied. The Hawks by about 4 goals for me.

Tip: Hawks by 27

Odds: Carlton 2.20 Hawks 1.68

Sportsbet’s Friday $500 Prediction: Hawks by 27

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Gold Coast V Adelaide Saturday at Metricon Stadium

Unfortunately their will be a few matches in the last 3 rounds that really don’t mean a thing, and this is one of them. If your a Suns fan this could be their last chance to get a fourth win for their season as they finish off the last 2 rounds taking on Melbourne (MCG) and Hawthorn (Metricon).

The Crows were brave in defeat against the Cats last week and showed signs of what they are capable of. They should not have any trouble accounting for the Gold Coast, especially with the likely inclusions of Ben Rutten and Kurt Tippet.

Tip: Crows by 33

Odds: Suns 4.50 Crows 1.21

West Coast V Essendon Saturday at Paterson Stadium

This is another match that could shape the top four. The Eagles will be watching the Blues V Hawks game closely Fridan night knowing that if Carlton lose and they can defeat Essendon they will jump into fourth spot and could stay there till seasons end with Carlton having the bye next week. Captain Darren Glass and vice-captain Beau Waters are both likely inclusions which will bolster the Eagles back half.

The Bombers were impressive against the Bulldogs last week and have all but secured a Finals spot. Even if they lose this week they will beat Port Adelaide next week before having the bye in Round 24, a likely finishing position of seventh for the Bombers. The Bombers could travel to Perth minus a few important players with Hurley, Fletcher, Pears & Myers all in doubt.

With the home ground advantage and the Bombers poor form interstate over the past few years I think the Eagles will get home.

Tip: West Coast by 20

Odds: Eagles 1.29 Bombers 3.65

North Melbourne V Fremantle Saturday night at Etihad Stadium

It’s do or die for both teams Saturday night with both teams in desperate need of a win to keep finals hopes alive.

The Kangaroos are looking to include ruckman Hamish McIntosh for his first game this year to help out in the ruck against Fremantles Aaron Sandilainds. Coming off the bye North should be well rested to make a final tilt at September action.

The Dockers must win this match to put some pressure on Sydney and Essendon for top spot and with a match against Collingwood next week and the Bulldogs at Etihad in the coming weeks this looms as a win or go home match. Dockers fans will be glad to see star David Mundy back this week after missing the last 8 weeks and also hard nut Adam McPhee.

With a better knowledge of the ground and being a bit fresher I think the Roos will win and put an end to Fremantles season.

Tip: North by 19

Odds: North 1.38 Freo 3.10

Collingwood V Brisbane Saturday night at the MCG

The Magpie juggernaut kept rolling last Friday with a workmanlike win over the Saints. The Pies may look at trying a few different things this week in the lead up to September. Skipper Nick Maxwell will most likely miss the rest of the Home and away season with a thumb injury but in better news Chris Dawes and Alan Toovey could return this week.

After a poor season the only thing the Lions wanted to do for the remainder of the season was to get a win over their Queensland rival Gold Coast, they achieved this last week. Don’t expect too much from the Lions this week, as long as they are competitive and hard at the ball Michael Voss will walk away happy.

Tip: Pies by 75

Odds: Pies 1.01 Lions 21.00

Sydney V St Kilda Sunday at ANZ Stadium

This is a possible Elimination final preview with 6th playing 8th on the ladder. The Swans were very disappointing against the Tigers last week and have left the door open for a couple of teams to steal their spot in the eight. Quite a few Swans players might face the axe this week after poor games last week and with Nick Malceski, Gary Rohan and Trent Dennis-Lane waiting for a call up.

The Saints were not disgraced last week against Collingwood but showed they still need some more improvement if they want to make their third Grand Final in a row. Nick Reiwoldt does not look to be the player he used to be and needs to lift late in the season for his team.

This is likely to be a low scoring hard fought game rather than a shootout with the Saints kicking a few late to beak away from the Swans.

Tip: Saints by 20

Odds: Swans 2.30 Saints 1.63

Port Adelaide V Bulldogs Sunday at AAMI Stadium

I don’t know if there is anything positive to say about Port Adelaide after back to back club record losses. They were woeful against Hawthorn last week and Matthew Primus is likely to swing the axe again at selection. Dean Brogan and Tom Logan are 2 likely inclusions but the power need a lot more help than this.

With their season effectively over the Bulldogs have now lost their coach for next season with Rodney Eade being let go. I expect this (and the opposition) to be enough to get the Dogs barking again and get their 8th win of the season. Look out for Barry Hall to have a big day in his third last game of AFL footy.

Who will be coaching the Bulldogs next year? See our whos coaching where market wrap up here.

Tip: Bulldogs by 33

Odds: Port 5.00 Bulldogs 1.18

A shout out to all the Port fans…

Melbourne V Richmond Sunday at the MCG

These two sides always seem to put on an entertaining game and with not a lot to play for for the remainder of the season this could turn into a high scoring shootout. The Demons will be looking to get caretaker coach Todd Viney his first victory and the inclusion of skipper Brad Green will be welcomed.

Richmond shocked the footy world and the Sydney Swans last week with a great win, unfortunately for Tigers fans they do not seem to back up big wins and beat teams that they should. With the race for the Coleman Medal on expect a big game from Jack Reiwoldt to get the Tigers home.

Tip: Tigers by 25

Odds: Melbourne 2.05 Richmond 1.78

Round 20 the 2011 AFL season looks to be a fairly easy one for footy tips with only a couple of hard games to make a prediction on. The bookies also have the odds fairly even in these 2 matches so make sure to follow our expert tipper in round 20 for the best results coming off a perfect week last week.

The Saints and Dockers kick of the Round Friday night with both sides desperate for a win to keep there spot in the eight. Match of the Round for me will be Essendon Vs Sydney Saturday night in what promises to be a rippa. Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn, Carlton & West Coast should all have wins to keep the top end of the ladder looking the same at the completion of the round twenty.

Best Bet of Round 20 for me is the Bombers between 1-39 against the Swans Saturday Night which is paying $2.55 at Sportsbet.

St Kilda V Fremantle Friday night at Etihad Stadium

The Saints were not really impressive last week against the Gold Coast without skipper Nick Riewoldt who they will welcome back this week after his one week suspension. This is a crucial game for the Saints who could skip 6 points clear of eighth placed Fremantle and possibly into fifth spot if they can beat them and the Swans lose to Essendon.

The Dockers were poor last week against the Hawks with the game effectively over at quarter time before the rain come and so did the injuries for Fremantle. Surely they must get Sandilainds back in the side soon if they are serious about making finals.

The Saints should be too strong at home though.

Tip: Saints by 34 points

Sportsbet’s Friday $500 Prediction: Saints by 32

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Odds: Saints 1.13 Dockers 6.00

Carlton V Melbourne Saturday at the MCG

The Blues played a scrappy first 3 quarters last week before showing their class in the last to run over the Roos. Bryce Gibbs was superb in a week where skipper Chris Judd was a bit flat. Andrew Walker continues his stellar season up forward and it only 5 goals off leader Buddy Franklin in the race for the Coleman medal.

Not much more can be said about the Demons 186 point thrashing at the hands of Geelong last week. Todd Viney takes over from Dean Bailey in the coaches box and is sure to be telling his players to go out hard against Carlton this week after fiery Blue Mitch Robinson suggested they play “bruise free footy”after the teams met earlier this season. In some good news for Melbourne fans this week they will see the return of Aaron Davey, Tom Scully & Clint Bartram. Don’t be too surprised if there are a lot more changes after last weeks effort though.

Tip: Blues by 40 points

Odds: Blues 1.13 Demons 6.00

Geelong V Gold Coast Saturday at Skilled Stadium

The Cats smashed a lot of records last week, can they go one better this week against the Gold Coast? Nathan Vardy will be pushing for selection this week as will James Podsiadly but don’t expect too many changes after the 186 point win last week.

The Suns showed a lot of good signs against the Saints last week before falling 20 points short. Skipper Gary Ablett will make his long awaited return to Skilled Stadium after he left the Cats at the end of 2010. How will the Cats fans react to him when he runs out on Saturday? If the Gold Coast can keep the margin under 10 goals I will say they have done a good job. If the Cats want to win by over 100 points again they will, or will they take it easy on the newcomers.

Tip: Cats by 98 points

Odds: Cats 1.01 Suns 17.00

Essendon V Sydney Saturday night at Etihad Stadium

The injuries keep mounting up on the Bombers who have the longest injury list in the AFL. Essendon shocked a lot of people when they led at halftime against the Pies but run out of breath and got blown away in the second half for the second week in a row. Fitness tests to Dustin Fletcher, Heath Hocking, Michael Hurley, Nathan Lovett-Murray, David Myers and Scott Gumbleton could see a few changes at Bomberland this week.

The Swans are rested coming off they bye but know they must win these type of games to keep there final eight spot. Currently sitting sixth, with a win they can go 8 points ahead of ninth placed Essendon, with a loss they will find themselves even on points and right there in the fight for seventh and eighth spot. Expect a big game from leaders Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton and Heath Grundy.

This has the potential to be the most exciting match of the round, I think the Bombers will just get over the line in a close one.

Tip: Bombers by 3 points

Odds: Bombers 1.93 Swans 1.87

Port Adelaide V Collingwood Saturday at AAMI Stadium

Not even the benefit of a week off last week will help Port Adelaide in this one against the Magpies. Port need a win out of there remaining 5 games to get themselves off the bottom of the ladder but there is no chance it will come this week against the Pies who are getting ready for September.

Collingwood were slow out of the block against the Bombers but showed their class in the second half and took them to the cleaners. Scott Pendlebury continued his stellar season and has to now be hot favourite for the Brownlow medal. Expect Mick Malthouse to rest a few this week as this one is i the bag already.

Tip: Pies by 50 points

Odds: Power 17.00 Pies 1.01

Brisbane V Adelaide Sunday at the Gabba

Another team coming off the bye last week were the Lions who also need a win to go a game clear if the Suns. Brisbane got the job done in Adelaide earlier in the season for one of their 3 wins this season and will be looking to hand Crows stand in coach Mark Bickley his first loss.

With the news of young defender Phil Davis signing with GWS next season Adelaide will be out to prove he has made the wrong decision and that they are heading in the right direction. They showed against the Power last week that they still have a lot of good players but with speculation hanging over the heads of Taylor Walker and Bernie Vince you have to wonder if they are giving it their all in the remaining games of the season.

In a match the doesn’t really mean a lot I am tipping the home crowd to get the Lions up

Tip: Lions by 18 points

Odds: Lions 1.70 Crows 2.15

Hawthorn V North Melbourne Sunday at Aurora Stadium

The Hawks put on a show in the first quarter last week against Freo and had the game under control from there on. Even without Lance Franklin kicking a major the Hawks still got up by 51 points. Luke Hodge will be a welcome inclusion after missing last week with soreness, Shane Savage will be a chance also, but who Alistair Clarkson leaves out will be the hard decision.

The kangaroos showed some spirit in the first 3 quarters last week but got overrun by the Blues. Drew Petrie was well held so expect him to be looking to dominate against a short Hawks defence. His midfielders need to lift and get him some good delivery if the Roos are a chance in the first meeting between these two sides this year in what could be the “Tasmanian Derby” in years to come.

Tip: Hawks by 44 points

Odds: Hawks 1.14 Kangaroos 5.75

West Coast V Richmond Sunday at Paterson Stadium

After hitting teammate Josh Kennedy in the face with a tennis ball and ruling him out last week big man Dean Cox stood up when it counted most in the last quarter to get the Eagles over the line against the Dogs. John Worsfold would not have been impressed with his sides second half but will take the victory to stay in touch with Carlton and Hawthorn. Nic Naitanui should return this week after missing last weeks win.

The Tigers travel west after having the bye last week and desperately need a win if they have any hopes whatsoever of playing finals. It is a long shot but if they win their remaining five games they are a chance. I can’t see this happening, especially this week as they come up against in in form Eagles hungry for a top four spot.

Tip: Eagles by 43 points

Odds: Eagles 1.10 Tigers 7.00

Round 15 of the 2011 AFL footy season promises to make your footy tips tricky this round. Below you will find all your footy tips, predictions, match previews and latest odds to help make the right choice.

The Bulldogs will have another mini final when they face Melbourne at Etihad stadium Friday night to kick off the round. I am really looking forward to the Richmond vs. Carlton game on Saturday afternoon and the 2nd Vs. 3rd Blockbuster Sunday between Collingwood and Hawthorn before the round concludes with another must win between North Melbourne & St Kilda at Etihad.

Best Bet of Round 15 for me is the Brisbane Lions between 1-39 which is paying 2.25 at Sportingbet.

Checkout the pro/celebrity tips for round 15 here

Western Bulldogs V Melbourne Friday night at Etihad Stadium

This is another must win for the Dogs as they look to win their third in a row. Adam Cooney was brilliant last week getting the Dogs out to a big lead in the first half before they took their foot off the gas in the second half but still won comfortably.

The Demons are in the eight after their big win against the Tigers last week. Number one draft pick Jack Watts is starting to show Demons fans why Melbourne rate him so highly and hopefully he can continue his good form for the rest of the season.

In what could be a high scoring game I think the demons can get the points to cement their spot in the eight.

Tip: Demons by 21 points

Odds: Bulldogs 2.04 Demons 1.79

More often than not Friday night footy starts with a goal as first scoring play, this looks good at $3.50

Richmond V Carlton Saturday at the MCG

Both teams are coming off losses in Round 14. The Tigers were gutsy against Melbourne but could not find a consistent goal kicker up forward. They will recall Jake King after a one week ban and may look to include midfielder Shane Tuck after some good form in the reserves in recent weeks.

Carlton were expected to win last week but were confronted by a West Coast team full of confidence. Full back Michael Jamison will be missing for the next month with a knee injury and the Blues may welcome back Jarred Waite, Ed Curnow, Nick Duigan & Brock McLean.

Tip: Blues by 17 points

Odds: Tigers 4.00 Blues 1.25

At $24 the qtr. by qtr. leaders of Carlton/Richmond/Carlton/Carlton looks very appealing to me

Fremantle V Gold Coast Saturday at Patersons Stadium

The Dockers were slow starters last week against Brisbane but got the points in the end with skipper Matthew Pavlich leading from the front. They will again be without All Australian ruckman Aaron Sandilands after he reinjured his foot.

The Suns fought the game out to the end last week and only went down by 22 points when it could have easily been another 80 point blowout. They will go into this game as heavy underdogs again and will need everyone to play the game of their life to get the points here. Brandon Matera & Trent McKenzie should be additions to the side as the Gold Coast will continue to rest young players throughout the season.

Tip: Dockers by 67 points

Odds: Dockers 1.10 Suns 7.25

Fremantle to win between 60-69 is a risky bet but at $9.00 could be worth putting a few dollars on

Essendon V Geelong Saturday night at Etihad Stadium

Five weeks ago many would have pencilled this in as a Blockbuster against top four sides. The Cats are still undefeated but since then Essendon have lost 5 in a row and look to be lost out on the field.

Will the acquisition of Bomber Thompson from Geelong over the summer help Essendon here? Maybe a little, but they will need a lot more to go right if they are to get close to the Cats.

Watson, Lonergan & Myers are out for Essendon with injuries and the Cats will likely recall Bartell, Ottens, Kelly, Stokes, Hunt & Vardy. Enough said.

Tip: Cats by 46 points

Odds: Bombers 7.50 Cats 1.09

Essendon got away to a flyer against the Hawks with a goal inside 20 seconds, if they can repeat this against the Cats and score the opening Goal before any other score it is paying a healthy $4.50 at Sportingbet.

Sportingbet give you a massive $150 free bet just for depositing $30 and using the promo code BETFREE when joining! See more details on the Sportingbet site here.

Adelaide V Sydney Saturday night at AAMI Stadium

The Crows showed some good signs late against Geelong last week which will please their coaches and fans. David MacKay and Richard Tambling are possible call ups at the expense of Henderson, Schmidt, Jaensch & Symes.

The Swans showed against Collingwood that they can still match it with the best only falling short by a goal. Their never say die attitude keeps them in every game. Goodes, Bolton & McViegh will lead from the front as they should get the points against the Crows.

Tip: Swans by 35 points

Odds: Crows 2.95 Swans 1.40

Adelaide/Sydney/Sydney/Sydney quarter by quarter leaders is paying $8.50 in this one.

Brisbane V Port Adelaide Sunday at the Gabba

This will be the only game of the Round that will not any effect on the rest of the competition. Both teams are desperate for a win for their fans and will come out firing.

The Lions with home ground advantage will prove too strong for Port Adelaide.

Tip: Lions by 28 points

Odds: Lions 1.40 Power 2.95

It’s a 50/50 bet at $1.95, choose either even or odd for the total score of the match combined.

Collingwood V Hawthorn Sunday at the MCG

This will be an absolute ripper. Second Vs. Third on the ladder and a possible finals preview. Expect a huge crowd at the MCG on Sunday.

Collingwood let a 5 goal lead slip against Sydney and found themselves trailing in the last quarter before rallying to win by a goal. Alan Didak will miss a couple of weeks through injury but the Pies could welcome back premiership stars Darren Jolly & Brent Macaffer.

The Hawks blew away Essendon last Friday night without spearhead Lance Franklin who will come back in after his one match ban. They will be without Jordan Lewis for 2 weeks through suspension, while Cyril Rioli & Brad Sewell have been added to the Hawks ever growing injury list.

Tip: Pies by 12 points

Odds: Magpies 1.31 Hawks 3.50

The Hawks have had some big first halves this year and the Magpies are the dominant team in finishing games, The Hawks halftime leaders/Collingwood full time leaders is paying a healthy $6.80

North Melbourne V St Kilda Sunday at Etihad Stadium

The Roos are one of the form teams of the competition in the last month and will need another win to stay in touch with the top eight. Drew Petrie is in All Australian form and their younger players are starting to stand up.

After a week off with the bye St Kilda will come back refreshed and ready for a second half push to make the eight. They will need their leaders to have a stellar second half to the season if they are any chance of finals. They will be forced to make at least one change with Justin Koschitzke out for 2 weeks through suspension.

Tip: Saints by 3 points

Odds: Kangaroos 2.00 Saints 1.82

The Halftime margin of St Kilda leading between 1-12 is paying $4.10 and could be worth looking at.

Round 14 of the 2011 AFL footy season will be one that may shape the top eight. For all your footy tips, predictions, match previews and latest odds read on

Friday night at the G this week will be a blockbuster with bitter rivals Hawthorn and Essendon doing battle in what could be another “line in the sand game”, this time for the Bombers. A few other matched promise to shape the way the eight looks at the end of the round, Richmond V Melbourne Saturday should be a ripper, Carlton V West Coast has a lot riding on it and the twilight match Sunday evening could see the Roo’s just outside the 8 at the end of Round fourteen.

See the Expert/Celebrity Round 14 footy tips here

Best Bet of Round 14 for me is the Hawks between 1-39 against Essendon which is paying 2.25 at Sportingbet.

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Hawthorn V Essendon Friday night at the MCG

The Hawks will go into Friday night’s blockbuster without spearhead Lance “Buddy” Franklin after he accepted a one match suspension from the AFL tribunal. Hawthorn will look to young forwards Luke Bruest to continue his goal kicking form but will need something else up forward to get over the line against the Bombers. Look for Luke Hodge to play forward in this one to give the Hawks a target.

The Bombers inaccuracy cost them last week as they had 4 more scoring shots than the Kangaroos but still fell short by 21 points. David Hille is expected to return but the Bombers will be without defender Cale Hooker (hamstring) and Kyle Hardingham through suspension. This looms as a must win for the Bombers; if they lose they will fall out of the top eight.

Tip: Hawks by 9 points

Odds: Hawks 1.55 Bombers 2.45

If you fancy a bet on this match then I would look at the Halftime/Fulltime double of Essendon/Hawthorn which is paying a generous $7.00

Gold Coast V Western Bulldogs Saturday at Metricon Stadium

The Suns put up a good fight against the Hawks last week in the first half, trailing by just 17 at half time but were eventually blown out by 71 points. The form of forward Tom Lynch was promising booting 3 goals and Gary Ablett once again led from the front with 34 possessions. Gold Coast will welcome back star rookies David Swallow and Zach Smith who both missed last week.

The Bulldogs finally got their fourth win of the season last week to keep their slim finals hopes alive. The form of Robert Murphy is the best I have seen it in years as he continues his stellar season. Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney made a return last week as the substitute and had an impact in the last quarter, expect him to play the whole game this week.

The Bulldogs should win this one easily but never underestimate these Gold Coast kids.

Tip: Bulldogs by 46 points

Odds: Suns 5.50 Bulldogs 1.15

For me the Dogs should be winning by 5 – 6 goals at the half, Western Bulldogs between 25-36 at halftime is paying a healthy $5.40

Richmond V Melbourne Saturday at the MCG

This could be the match of the round for mine. The Demons were fantastic against Fremantle last week but need to string 2 wins together to be a legitimate Finals contender. They should be bolstered by the return of All Australian ruckman Mark Jamar and could possibly take 3 ruckman into the game. The only sour note from their big win last week was an injury to key defender Colin Garland, if he doesn’t come up for this week’s game I expect Melbourne to include Matthew Warnock into the side.

The Tigers will be back in Melbourne for the first time in a month after 3 interstate games and a bye. Dustin Martin led them to a big win against the Lions last week at the Gabba. Jake King could miss the game through suspension may force Damien Hardwick to make a forced change. I expect this to be a high scoring affair that could be a nail biter and possibly for the winner a spot in the top eight.

Tip: Richmond by 13 points

Odds: Tigers 1.90 Demons 1.90

The Draw is paying $51.00 in this one and could be worth putting a dollar or two on

Sydney V Collingwood Saturday at ANZ Stadium

The Swans were beaten by the better side last week in Carlton and it does not get any easier this week against the defending premiers. To make matters worse they will be without ruckman Shane Mumford through suspension. The Swans have not beaten the Pies at ANZ Stadium since 2005, a trend I think will continue.

After the week off with a bye the Pies travel interstate for the first time this season. Darren Jolly will line up against his old side, Dane Swan will return better from the trip to Arizona and Daisy Thomas after a week’s suspension. This alone is a daunting task for any side; expect it to be enough to get the Pies the 4 points.

Tip: Collingwood by 35 points

Odds: Sydney 5.25 Collingwood 1.16

Expect the Magpies to come out of the blocks looking to score early with the first goal of the game, which is paying $2.80

Fremantle  V Brisbane Lions Saturday night at Patersons Stadium

The Dockers were very poor at the MCG last week against Melbourne, getting blown away by 89 points. The only positive from the game was that Michael Barlow got through injury free and has pulled up well. Superstar ruckman Aaron Sandilainds is a chance to return, as are key forwards Kepler Bradley and Hayden Ballantyne. This will give Fremantle the experience it desperately needs to play a four quarter game.

The Lions were fast starters last week against the Tigers but got reeled in to easily. The loss of Mitch Clark and Todd Banfield will hurt the Lions who I do not think will be able to pull off the upset over in WA.

Tip: Dockers by40 points

Odds: Dockers 1.20 Lions 4.60

I think Fremantle will dominate this from start to finish, that’s why I am putting $10 on them winning between 40-59 at $4.60

Geelong V Adelaide Sunday at Skilled Stadium

The Cats at Skilled Stadium are unbeatable over the last 5 years and the Crows will not be able to pull off the upset of the round by defeating the Cats at the cattery. Jimmy Bartell may miss the match after being knocked out by teammate James Podsiadly last week, as will Darren Milburn and James Kelly with injuries and Matthew Stokes and Josh Hunt through suspension. Geelong should not take any chances with the injuries to such important players as the depth of the side will be more than enough to cover against the Crows.

Adelaide booted 6 goals in the opening term last week but could only manage another 4 for the game as the Dogs overrun them. Coach Neil Craig’s head has to be on the chopping block, a few possible inclusions he could bring in will be Richard Tambling, Brodie Martin, Brodie Smith & rookie Ian Callinan for his debut. Will he risk exposing the youngsters to a possible hiding down in Geelong though or stick with his senior players for one more week?

Tip: Cats by 87 points

Odds: Cats 1.05 Crows 10.00

Any bet you have must be on the Cats in this match, one that stood out to me which was good value is a halftime margin of 37+ points at $2.95

Carlton V West Coast Sunday at Etihad Stadium

Carlton would have looked at this match at the start of the season and pencilled in a victory against last year’s wooden spooners. This though is no sure thing for the third placed Blues up against the fifth placed Eagles. The form of ruckman Matthew Kruezer in only his second game back from knee surgery was super last week, with fellow number one draft picks Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs also starring.

The Eagles have been the surprise packet of the competition this season and notched up another victory last week against Port Adelaide. This will be a real test of where they are at though coming up against the inform Carlton. They will need big games from the likes of LeCras, Cox, Embley, Kennedy & Pridis if they are to overcome the Blues at Etihad though. This will be a cracker but Carlton with the home ground advantage will get over the line.

Tip: Blues by 22 points

Odds: Blues 1.25 Eagles 4.00

The Blues and Eagles showed last week that the second quarter was when they could really put a score on the board, if this is the highest scoring quarter of the game it is worth a punt at $3.70

Port Adelaide V Kangaroos Sunday at AAMI Stadium

The Power showed signs of what they are capable of in the second half last week but the game was already too far out of reach. David Rodan should return to the side along with Steven Salopek to give the Power a boost.

North Melbourne showed last week that they are a threat to the top eight and with a win this week could find them on the brink of breaking in after a horrid start to the season. Drew Petrie looms as the Kangaroos most important payer along with Brent Harvey and Daniel Wells, if these 3 can stay fit I can see the Kangaroos getting the points in this one, just.

Tip: Roos by 6 points

Odds: Power 2.50 Kangaroos 1.53

Taking a look at this there was no standout bet so I am taking a punt and putting a few dollars on “Time first Goal kicked” between 4.01 & 5.00 minutes paying a massive $7.60

Round 12 of the AFL season is spread over 4 days of fantastic footy. There are a few games that could go either way this week starting with the Saints & Bulldogs Friday night at Etihad. Match of the Round for me will be Saturday night at the MCG when the top of the table Geelong take on third place Hawthorn in what should be a super match.

Round 12 concludes Monday with the Queen’s Birthday match between Melbourne and Collingwood, a match I predict to be a lot closer than some people think, especially after last year’s 1 point Magpie win in Round 2 and a draw in Round 12.

A welcome return last week with the prediction of the Blues by over 40 points against Port Adelaide coming through at a healthy $2.35. My best bet of round twelve is Essendon to beat Fremantle between 1-39 which is paying $2.70 at Sportsbet where they give you a $200 free bet bundle just for signing up. See more info here.

St Kilda V Bulldogs Friday night at Etihad Stadium

The Saints have won the last 5 against the Bulldogs including the 2009 and 2010 Preliminary Finals. Reiwoldt has to come good soon if they Saints are to make a charge at Finals; this could be his game against the undermanned Dogs defence.

The dogs were simply no good against the Cats last week. One player who can hold his head high was Daniel Giansiracusa after kicking 5 goals but he will need a lot of help from his mates this week. One move I liked was moving Brian Lake forward; I think Rocket Eade should start Lake at full forward this week. My prediction is for this to be a low scoring tight game with the Saints getting over the line.

Tip: Saints by 15 points

Odds: St Kilda 1.56 Bulldogs 2.45

Fancy a punt on this game; I think the Western Bulldogs halftime lead, St Kilda full time leading is a good bet paying $7.00

Adelaide V West Coast Saturday at AAMI Stadium

Adelaide will be glad to be playing at home this week but must start to play well in front of their home town fans to give them anything to cheer about. The Crows were never in the game last week against the Roo’s and my prediction is they will struggle again this week against the upbeat Eagles.

West Coast’s first quarter was enough last week to put away the Suns. Although they got outscored in every quarter after that I think they took the foot off the gas a bit and started looking to this weeks game.

Tip: Eagles by 19 points

Odds: Adelaide 2.35 West Coast 1.60

I will be putting a few bucks on West Coast to win between 1 and 24 in this one, which is paying a healthy $3.20

Gold Coast V North Melbourne Saturday night at Metricon Stadium

This is a big chance for the Suns to get their first win at their home ground. If they can put together a four quarter effort they may just sneak another win.  An interesting matchup would be brothers David & Andrew Swallow matching up on each other.

North plays big in milestone games as they showed last week when Boomer Harvey equalled the club record for games played. This week he breaks the record, expect the Kangaroo’s to do it for boomer in and entertaining game.

Tip: Kangaroos by 24 points

Odds: Gold Coast 3.23 North Melbourne 1.35

In front of their home fans I think the Gold Coast might just snag the opening score, a goal, against the Kangaroos, paying $3.80 at Sportsbet

Geelong V Hawthorn Saturday night at the MCG

This is definitely match of the Round for me. Back in Round 5 the Cats overran the Hawks in the second half to come up 19 point victors. With Stevie Johnson in the best form of his career and Brad Ottens having a day out last week expect the undefeated Cats to go into this game full of confidence.

The Hawks 8 goal last quarter to turn a 26 point deficite into a 22 point win against Fremantle last week will give them plenty of confidence also heading into this blockbuster. With serious doubt over Buddy Franklin I am not sure the Hawks will have enough firepower to get over the line against the Cats.

One thing is for sure, these teams hate losing against one another so it will be a very tough game.

Tip: Cats by 11 points

Odds: Cats 1.43 Hawks 2.85

I am looking for a big win on this one, the Cats do not get outscored in the third and fourth terms that’s why I think a good bet might be the quarter by quarter leaders bet with the combination of Geelong/Hawthorn/Geelong/Geelong which you can get $24 for.

Carlton V Brisbane Sunday at Etihad Stadium

Carlton may have found a new spearhead in former number 2 draft pick Andrew Walker. He has booted 25 goals this year, his 6 last week against Port the most impressive of the lot. Carlton’s fitness showed through in the last half against the power overrunning them in a dominant performance.

After 2 wins on the trot Brisbane were brought back down to earth against the Swans in Round 11 in front of their home town crowd. Expect a better effort this week but the Blues will be too strong in this one.

Tip: Blues by 43 points

Odds: Blues 1.08 Lions 8.00

Lay all your money into this game on Blues bets, especially the Blues to win between 40 – 59 which is paying $4.10

Sydney V Richmond Sunday at the SCG

Sydney put in its best performance of the season last week, smashing the Lions and reminding the rest of the competition what they are capable of. Ben McGlynn sits eight on the goal kickers list in a breakout year for the former Hawk.

The tigers come off the bye and will be out to change the trend of the way teams perform after having a week off. I wonder which Tigers team will show up to play, the one that beat the Bombers, or the one that lost to Port Adelaide. A 4 quarter effort will be needed if they are a chance.

Sydney has won 8 of the last 9 between these 2 teams so I think I will stick with them for my footy tipping.

Tip: Swans by 21 points

Odds: Swans 1.28 Tigers 3.72

The Time First Goal Kicked is always a risky bet, if you want to take the risk like me consider the timing to be between 3.01 – 4.00 minutes, a nice payout of $7.60 could be yours.

Fremantle V Essendon Sunday at Paterson Stadium

The Dockers may have thought they had done enough against the Hawks when they were leading by 26 points 5 minutes into the last quarter, from that point they got overrun and looked very flat. Mark Harvey will be outing them through a tough week on the track trying to iron out the creases in their game.

The Bombers let one they thought they should have won get away against the Demons last week showing how much they rely on Captain Jobe Watson. With Watson expected back this week I think James Hird can lift his side to get a rare interstate win for the Bombers in a close one.

Tip: Bombers by 11 points

Odds: Dockers 1.77 Bombers 2.05

I expect this one to be a pretty tight match, with possibly the scores being all tied up at the half, $31 for that bet at Sportsbet.

Melbourne V Collingwood Monday at the MCG

Melbourne gave their fans hope last week with an amazing performance against the Bombers. Young guns Scully and Trengove were superb leading the Demons to the upset. They will need to step it up another notch this week against the reigning premiers.

The Magpies decision to send players overseas half way through the season to get their injuries right means they will go into the Queen’s Birthday game without superstar Dane Swan. They will also miss the hottest player in the comp over the last 3 weeks Daisy Thomas who is out through suspension. Collingwood should have enough talent to cover this though I feel.

Tip: Pies by 22 points

Odds: Demons 5.00 Pies 1.17

The Pies get a lot of shots on goal and are not always that accurate, that’s why I am outing 10 bucks on the first scoring play to be a Collingwood point which is paying $3.20.

After a few days to catch our breath from 14 games in 11 days over Rounds 5 & 6 we kick off Round 7 Friday night at AAMI between Port Adelaide & Hawthorn & conclude Monday night at Etihad with St Kilda taking on Carlton.

Geelong will look to stay undefeated with the Pies to set up a huge top of the table clash next week while Gold Coast and Brisbane will do battle on Sunday to see who goes into Round 8 on the bottom of the AFL ladder.

Don’t forget to claim your free St Kilda jumper just for making a $50 with Centrebet. The offer ends at the end of May so be quick! To see more info on this offer or to make a Centrebet account see their site here.

My best bet of Round Seven is Carlton between 1-39 against St Kilda which is paying $2.10 at Sportsbet where they give you a $200 free bet bundle just for signing up. See more info here.

Port Adelaide V Hawthorn Friday night at AAMI Stadium

Port Adelaide’s form over the last 2 weeks has been woeful and they will need to turn it around quick if they want to have any chance against the rested Hawks.

Hawthorn have lost Cameron Bruce for the next month with a knee injury but will welcome 2011 recruits Isaac Smith and Paul Puopolo to make their AFL debut. Hawthorn will have too much class all over the ground and should get the win easily.

Tip: Hawks by 45 points

Odds: Port 4.90  Hawks 1.18

Western Bulldogs V Sydney Saturday at Manuka Oval

The Dogs looked good in patches last week until Collingwood blew them away with 10 minutes of extraordinary football. Giansiracusa, Higgins & Hudson are all looking to break back into the side after injuries. Boyd, Murphy & Gilbee were among the dogs best last week & new recruit Justin Sherman is starting to fit in and kick some goals at his new club.

Sydney have lost 2 in a row and will be looking to rebound strongly against the dogs. They need to get more out of Adam Goodes in the midfield with the loss of reigning best and fairest winner Kieran Jack. Expect Sydney to try and slow down the pace of the game and keep it low scoring.

Tip: Bulldogs by 4 points

Odds: Western Bulldogs  1.75 Sydney 2.10

Geelong V North Melbourne Saturday at Skilled Stadium

The Cats are rested after the bye last week and will go into this match hot favorites. Chapman, Scarlett & Bartell were all terrific against the Hawks on Easter Tuesday and will take great form into the match.

The Kangaroos got their first win of the season last week against a very disappointing Port Adelaide. The Roos will fight hard but will not be able to win the one on one contests against Geelong all over the ground and will lose easily.

Tip: Cats by 79 points

Odds: Geelong 1.07 North Melborne 8.50

Richmond V Fremantle Saturday at the MCG

This could be the match of the round for me. The young Tigers fought hard last week for their win over Brisbane with Foley, Cotchin & Martin all superb. Brett DeLedio is in the best form I have seen him in and feel he is crucial to a Tigers win here.

Fremantle have the longest injury list in the AFL but still have a lot of class all over the ground. A hard fought come from behind win against the Bulldogs with their last start shows that they will not give up on games like in years past. Sandilainds, Pavlich, Hill & Mundy all need to dominate to get Freo over the line in Melbourne.

Tip: Dockers by 8 points

Odds: Richmond 2.35 Fremantle 1.60

Gold Coast V Brisbane Saturday night at the Gabba

The first battle between the 2 Queensland sides promises to have a lot of feel after Simon Blacks comments this week. Brisbane showed last week that they can play good football but need to do it for 4 quarters. With captain Jonathan Brown still 3 weeks away the lions look to get their first win of they year and put the Gold Coast on the bottom of the ladder.

Gold Coast got another expected flogging last week by the Bombers. I thought they fought the game out after a woeful start but they can’t let teams get to 50 point leads in the first quarter or it is going to be very hard in any game. My prediction is Brennan & Rischetelli will have standout games against their old club but will also be the target of some heavy hits from the Lions.

Tip: Brisbane by 42 points

Odds: Gold Coast 8.50 Brisbane 1.07

Essendon V West Coast Sunday at Etihad Stadium

The Bombers broke a first quarter record last week with 15 goals against the Suns, don’t expect to see this again though. Riemers found some form with 8 goals, Tom Bellchambers continues to impress and young gun Dyson Heppell is showing that he belongs on the senior list.

West Coast took care of Melbourne easily last week as they continue to impress this year. The Eagles beat the Bombers at Etihad last year with Marc LeCras kicking 13 goals. I don’t think James Hird will allow this in 2011. If the Eagles can show the same pressure they showed against the Hawks a few weeks back they will have a chance of a big upset.

Tip: Bombers by 34 points

Odds: Essendon 1.20 West Coast 4.70

Melbourne V Adelaide Sunday at the MCG

The Demons looked flat in Perth last week and will need a win to keep the pressure of coach Dean Bailey. Mark Jamar is having another big year in the ruck and Jack Watts showed a few signs last week of his potential. They will need a full team effort to beat a well drilled Crows side.

The Crows were impressive against the Saints last week but still need to show that they can put together 2 good games in a row. The Crows will need to shut down Moloney, Jones & Green to win this one.

Tip: Demons by 17 points

Odds: Melbourne 1.77 Adelaide 2.08

St Kilda V Carlton Monday at Etihad Stadium

I gave St Kilda one last chance last week and they let me down so I am forced to go against them this week. I am not sure what exactly has happened to the Saints this year but even superstars Reiwoldt, Goddard & Montagna do not look like the same players as last year.

Carlton on the other hand have turned things around and look to be a legitimate top 4 contender. Chris Judd was amazing in the wet last week against the Swans and is looking ominous for a 3rd Brownlow Medal. Play like they did last week and the Saints shouldn’t bother them.

Tip: Blues by 22 points

Odds: St Kilda  2.85 Carlton 1.43

Round 3 promises to be another great round of footy starting Friday night at the MCG between traditional rivals and 1st vs 2nd, Collingwood vs Carlton and concluding Sunday evening at Etihad with another blockbuster between the Saints and Bombers.

Round three looks to have a few blowouts on the cards also with some predicted top 8 sides taking on some tipped bottom 4 sides.

Best Bet of Round 3

My best bet this week is to take Hawthorn by 40+ points at 2.70. With the Tigers defense in tatters after injuries and suspensions and the Hawks having 42 scoring shots last week expect this week to be much of the same.

Collingwood v Carlton Friday night at the MCG

Tip: Collingwood  by 38 points

Odds: Collingwood 1.28  Carlton 3.75

Collingwood will unveil their 2010 premiership flag at the MCG Friday night in front of an expected crowd of more than 80,000 at the G.

Carlton go into the game sitting in 2nd spot on the ladder, only behind the magpies on percentage. Expect them to be outclassed by the pies Friday night who will be bolstered by the return of skipper Nick Maxwell.

Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Saturday at Etihad Stadium

Tip: Bulldogs by 66 points

Odds: Bulldogs 1.01  Gold Coast 17.00

The Bulldogs got there first win against the Lions last week and should easily make that 2 in a row against the AFL newcomers.

Gold Coast were OK after half time last week but I expect it to be another 6 to 8 weeks before they will be competitive against other AFL sides. Bulldogs easily for me.

Adelaide v Fremantle Saturday at AAMI Stadium

Tip: Adelaide by 15 points

Odds: Adelaide 1.52  Fremantle 2.55

After a disappointing loss to the Cats in Perth last week Fremantle will be looking to bounce back against the Crows who had the bye last week.

Adelaide’s ever-growing injury list is a concern but big man Kurt Tippet is a chance to play and will be welcome in the forward line after the loss of 2009 leading goal kicker Jason Porplyzia for 4 – 6 months with a shoulder injury.

The Crows will benefit from a rest after just one round and their home crowd should see them sneak over the line in a close one.

Richmond v Hawthorn Saturday night at the MCG

Tip: Hawks by 47 points

Odds: Richmond 3.75  Hawks 1.28

Richmond surprised a lot of people last week drawing with the Saints even without spearhead Jack Reiwoldt after he left the ground with concussion in the 1st qtr.

The Hawks could have blown Melbourne away by over 100 points had they kicked straight in Round 2. I expect the Hawks to have to many answers up forward for the Tigers who will be missing tall defenders Rance & McGuane through suspension. Look for a big bag between Franklin & Roughead.

West Coast v Sydney Saturday night at Patersons Stadium

Tip: Swans by 7 points

Odds: West Coast 1.91  Sydney 1.91

These 2 teams usually put on a close match and looking at the odds this week many expect this to be the same. The Eagles have had a great start to the season with 2 wins but will miss Vice Captain Beau Waters for 10 weeks with an elbow injury.

The swans didn’t give up all day against Essendon and snatched the points late. I expect the experience and form of leaders Jude Bolton and Adam Goodes to get Sydney over the line just.

Melbourne v Brisbane Sunday at the MCG

Tip: Melbourne by 48 points

Odds: Melbourne 1.18  Brisbane 5.00

Melbourne need to bounce back from a very disappointing second half fade out against the Hawks and at the moment there is no better team to take on when you need a win than the Lions.

Traveling to Melbourne twice in a row will not make Michael Voss too happy but I expect the Lions to head back up to Brisbane with their tales between their legs for a second week in a row.

Geelong v Port Adelaide Sunday at Skilled Stadium

Tip: Geelong by 60 points

Odds: Geelong  1.09 Port Adelaide 7.60

The cats have shown they don’t need Gary Ablett with 2 superb wins early in the season. They are at Skilled Stadium for the first time this year where traveling sides find it very difficult to win.

Port will be without captain Dom Cassisi for 8 weeks which will not help their cause. With the cats set to regain Selwood, Mooney & Scarlett expect them to cruise to victory in this one to go 3-0.

St Kilda v Essendon Sunday at Etihad Stadium

Tip: Saints by 12 points

Odds: St Kilda 1.82  Essendon 2.00

The match of the round for me. The Saints desperately need a win in Nick Reiwoldt’s 200th and need to find a way to win for the rest of the season without superstar Lenny Hayes.

The bombers come back to earth last week after not being able to put away Sydney and paying the price in the end. Essendon have had the edge over the Saints of late winning the last 3 meetings, a streak I think will come to an end this week narrowly.

*See Round 1 2011 Tips Here

 

Round one of the 2010 AFL season is upon us and footy tipping will be very tough this year with the gap between the top four clubs shortening in what could be a very interesting year. Once again the team at Sportsbet Blog will give you our expert tips for every round this year along with a few good betting tips along the way.

It’s always hard to tip round 1 as so much can change during the off season but luckily I predict a fairly straight forward round.

The game of round 1 is defiantly the Western Bulldogs V Collingwood. Both teams have recruited well over the summer with the Bulldogs picking up the “Big Bad” Barry Hall who has shown what the year could bring booting 7 fine goals last week in the NAB Cup grand final. Collingwood had picked up ex St Kilda captain Luke Ball who has impressed in the preseason games and star ruckman Darren Jolly who at his 3rd club has be chosen in the Pies leadership group this year. It will be interesting how the new players go this week and should make for a very interesting game.

Don’t forget to join the 2010 Million Dollar Footy Tipping. Checkout our tipping review or to join see the Sportsbet site here. They also give you up to $200 worth of free bets just for joining!

Best Bet for Round 1

This week I like Adelaide for the straight win. With odds of $1.78 at Sportsbet, I think there plenty of value to be had especially against the weaker Freo side.

Richmond V Carlton Thursday Night at the MCG

Tip: Carlton

Carlton: $1.45

Richmond: $2.80

The season opener should see Carlton get a early win on the board. Richmond looks like they may have another tough year starting at round one.

They will be without the important Jake King after being suspended during a NAB Challenge match against Collingwood last week (why get worked up in a preseason game!). Also the one and only Ben Cousins who isn’t 100% after being admitted to the hospital with gastric inflammation will not at his best.

Geelong V Essendon Friday Night at the MCG

Tip: Geelong

Geelong: $1.23

Essendon: $4.25

The Cats should roll the Bombers on Friday night. Essendon will have to make up for Leroy Jetta (Hand Injury) and Michael Hurley (Club Suspended) both will be out with Hurley to miss the first 3 rounds after a drunken incident in the Grand Final week last year.

Geelong should be at full strength and will be out to start off on a good note after a early drop out from the NAB Cup.

Melbourne V Hawthorn Saturday at the MCG

Tip: Hawthorn

Melbourne: $5.20

Hawthorn: $1.16

Unfortunately it could be history repeating itself for the Hawks with numerous injuries leading into the season proper. They should be able to hold Melbourne off this week but will take alot of perseverance from the Hawthorn midfield.

The Hawks will be without Buddy Franklin, Cyril Rioli, Simon Taylor (long term) and clouds of doubt over Jarryd Roughhead  and Glen Moss who will be 50/50 to play. Wayde Skipper has also been rubbed out for six to eight weeks with a damaged hamstring.

That being said I think they will regroup and beat Melbourne who are still in rebuilding stages.

Sydney V St Kilda Saturday Night at ANZ Stadium

Tip: St Kilda

Sydney: $2.70

St Kilda: $1.48

The Saints play well against Sydney and have a good record at ANZ Stadium. Last year (round 1) St Kilda kept Sydney goalless for 2 quarters of footy at ANZ stadium to run out 15 point winners in a low scoring game.

It will be interesting if the Saints will bounce back to their normal 2009 self after a lackluster NAB Cup series winning 2 games by a point (one of them against Sydney) and getting thrashed by the Bulldogs in the final.

The game will be won in Sydney’s forward line. With two of their top 5 goal kickers from last year in Hall and Jolly leaving the Swans players like Jesse White will have to step up and try and break the usually solid Saints back line.

Brisbane Lions V West Coast Saturday Night at the GABBA

Tip: Brisbane Lions

Brisbane: $1.36

West Coast: $3.20

The Lions, with their new look team and new “Paddle Pop Lion” logo will be one to watch this year if they can stick to the game plans and gel together. Brisbane now boast the most powerful forward line with Brendan Fevola and Jonathon Brown which should see them easily take care of West Coast at the Gabba on Saturday night.

Players like defender Josh Drummond and Justin Sherman have both had great preseasons and will be ones to watch.

Port Adelaide V North Melbourne Sunday at AMMI Stadium

Tip: Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide: $1.45

North Melbourne: $2.80

After an impressive NAB Cup campaign I expect big things from Port this year starting with the Kangaroos on Sunday.

Port impressed in their narrow loss to the Bulldogs a few weeks ago with Daniel Motlop and Justin Westhoff the shining light. They were on top of the Bulldogs for 90% of the game and if they can replicate the flare they played with they should run out easy victors over North Melbourne who will be with out Cruize Garlett, Majak Daw, Levi Greenwood and Ed Lower.

Western Bulldogs V Collingwood Sunday at Etihad Stadium

Tip: Western Bulldogs

Western Bulldogs: $1.64

Collingwood: $2.30

This weeks match of the round will attract a massive crowd and should be a great contest. Both teams are expected to do well this year and Collingwood will be out to knock off the NAB Cup winners and get off to a positive start.

I don’t think they can do it. The Bulldogs now have Barry Hall, the goto man and my Coleman Medal winner prediction. They look to be a near perfect side with the run through the middle and strength and height at either end. My prediction is for the Bulldogs to win by around 28 points.

Keep an eye out for Luke Ball for the Pies, he will be out to impress with his new club. He has racked up the possessions and kicked a few goals in the preseason cup.

Fremantle V Adelaide Sunday at Subiaco Oval

Tip: Adelaide

Fremantle: $2.00

Adelaide: $1.83

Adelaide haven’t had the best start into round one with numerous injuries to their senior players. Vince, McLeod, Burton, Edward, Thompson, Maric and Sellar have all had limited match time over the last few weeks but all are expect to play against Freo on Sunday afternoon.

I really can’t see where Freo could win this match, they are a young side who are still growing and will struggle with the skills of the Crows side. Good luck to coach Mark Harvey in what could be his last year at Freo with his contract running out at the end of the year.

Round 9 saw the Western Bulldogs give Geelong their toughest test of the season so far, but they couldn’t quite get over the top of them losing by just two points. They did have a chance to grab the victory when Brad Johnson took a late mark giving himself a goal scoring opportunity. But like Carltons Brendan Fevola in round 6 Johnson choked under the pressure sealing the 116 to 114 win for Geelong. The Bulldogs looked good though and showed that will be one of the teams to watch when the finals come around after they fought their way back from 37 points down in the third. For the Cats, brownlow medal favourite Garry Ablett was in superb form on his return from injury, as was Steve Johnson who scored five majors. Can anyone stop Geelong powering to another title? At $2.05 you can get your freebet on them at sportsbet.com.au.

Carlton put in a disasterous 1st half display scoring only 5 points in their round 9 tie against Adelaide. It was a game that saw the worst of Carlton as they made a number of elementry mistakes, while Brendan Fevola sulked his way through another game fueling speculation that he won’t be at the club next year. Adelaide took their foot off the accelerator in the third quarter, but the truth is that Carlton were never in it. At sportsbet.com.au you can get odds of $3.00 that Carlton will miss out on the top eight all together.

The West Coast Eagles had started the year off pretty well, but now find themselves in the bottom four after they had the life squeezed out of them by Collingwood in their round 9 clash. Collingwood were missing five first choice forwards and were hoping that someone would step up to the plate and dominate play.  It was Leon Davis who took up the challenge taking 32 possesions and scoring three goals. Collingwood have had mixed start to the year and now sit in mid table, but at sportsbet.com.au you can get odds of $501.00 for the magpies to finish with the woodenspoon.

Fremantle were leading going in to the half time break but got over run in the second losing by 13 points against North Melbourne. North are struggling to attract crowds to their games at the moment and after watching this display it is pretty hard to understnd why. The Kangaroos showed a lot of heart and determination as well as some skill to claim a 98 to 85 victory in round 9. This victory is their fourth of the year and keeps them in the hunt for a finals spot. If you like the way that North Melbourne are playing at the moment why not back them to finish in the top four, you can get odds of $51.00 and a free bet at sportsbet.com.au

Another horror week ended in another defeat for the Richmond football club. The Tigers actually led their round 9 tie against Essendon at half time, but they seemed to implode as Essendon turned on the style in the second half to win 125 to 85. Jason Minderlich was outstanding for The Bombers as was Patrick Ryder who took a screaming mark over the heads of three Richmond players in the fourth quarter. At $1.95 Essendon are dead cert to be in the top eight at the end of the season go and get your free bet on them at sportsbet.com.au.

Sydney were simply sensational in the first quarter of their round 9 tie against Port Adelaide. They scored 8 goals 1 and restricted Port to just one goal. Barry Hall was back to his devastating best creating a host of opportunities and scoring two goals. the 123 to 68 victory leaves the Swans in 5th place on the ladder and looking good to be in the finals. Can Sydey actually go on to win the flag? Sportsbet.com.au has them at $41.00 to do just that.

St Kilda were lucky not to be rolled over by The Brisbane Lions after some inacurate kicking saw them go in to the fourth quarter 3 points behind. But in the end they just had too much power up fron with Nick “Dangerbolt” Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke both scoring four while Leigh Montagna worked his socks off finishing with 33 possesions. Get you free bet on Dangerbolt winning the brownlow medal at sportsbet.com.au.

The reigning premiers Hawthorn haven’t had the best start to the season, but their round 9 victory over the Demons seemed to show that they are finally hitting their stride. Lance Franklin scored four goals while Jarryd Roughhead scored three and both of them porved to be too much for the Demons defence to deal with. Their had been question mark over the hunger or lack of it this year from Hawthorn but with some big names still to come back from injury they are now looking like they could be the team to beat in the second half of the year. At sportsbet.com.au you can get odds of $5.00 for The Hawks to win back to back flags.