The Roar’s AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 16

The extra issues change, the extra they keep the identical.

You’d have thought me having simply three tips in frequent with Dem Panopoulos and Liam Salter would both end in me overtaking the pack to take a shocking lead, or spinning out badly and being left hopelessly adrift.

Instead, all of us scored 5 factors and the leaderboard stayed precisely because it was. Dem leads the Crowd by one, they lead Liam by one and he leads me by two.

The season could possibly be thrown into utter chaos any second now, so I gained’t waste any extra time with the intro. Let’s tip Round 16!

Stirling Coates

Richmond, Geelong, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Sydney, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs

Not even the chap who runs that wretched ‘AFL News Trade Rumours Results’ web page would have actually predicted St Kilda thumping Richmond by 40 factors – though he most likely did blame the umpires for the 86-point thumping his Saints copped in Round 5.

The Tigers have a humorous behavior, nonetheless, of shedding to St Kilda and happening to do particular issues. In Round 16, 2017, they have been down 92-10 at half time in an eventual 67-point loss, however misplaced simply as soon as extra all season and gained their first premiership in 37 years. Last yr, they misplaced to the Saints in Round 4, dropping them to 1-1-2, earlier than bouncing again into their imperious kind and accumulating one other flag.

Will final Friday’s consequence spur them to a 3rd consecutive premiership? Maybe, however it is going to positively encourage them to a straightforward win over the sloppy Suns.

Essendon are taking part in their first sport in Geelong in my lifetime, whereas solely Cale Hooker, David Zaharakis and Michael Hurley had been born final time they gained at floor. I’ve had sufficient life firsts during the last 18 months for an additional one to get added to the checklist. Cats by 20.

Saturday’s 4 video games all look fairly minimize and dry. Melbourne are a a lot better facet than Greater Western Sydney – particularly on the MCG, the place the Giants play like their 2013 selves each time they step on the turf. Demons by seven objectives.

I’d’ve critically been tempted to choose Adelaide over Brisbane given the Adelaide Oval has been a contender’s graveyard this season, however the venue change means the Lions actually shouldn’t be concerned.

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Fremantle shedding dwelling floor benefit for his or her date with the Blues makes issues a bit extra fascinating, however the Dockers have improved lots since their thumping at Carlton’s fingers earlier this season. The identical can’t be mentioned for David Teague’s facet.

Hawthorn are a lot improved because the bye – North Melbourne are critically fortunate they performed them once they did as they’d nonetheless be winless in any other case. Unfortunately for the Hawks, Port love beating up on backside ten sides and will do it once more on Saturday night time.

The AFL has thrown Sydney an enormous bone by shifting their dwelling sport in opposition to West Coast to Geelong. The Swans are the one staff Cats followers hate seeing flip up at Kardinia Park, whereas the Eagles have acted as blue and gold visitors cones on the floor for 15 years. Sydney ought to take benefit and solidify their finals spot.

The umpiring choice was a shocker, however Brayden Maynard turning it right into a 50-metre penalty is all on him. I have to be a foul luck appeal for him, as a result of at any time when I see him play he all the time does essentially the most silly issues.

I do know I shouldn’t get sucked in by the Saints once more, however that thumping of the Tigers was fairly spectacular. Oh, okay; I’ll tip them once more and get up alone on Monday questioning how I may’ve been so foolish.

Finally, I sincerely hope North Melbourne do lots higher in opposition to the Western Bulldogs than absolutely the debacle on Good Friday – however that match remains to be my Shoe-In of the Week.

Dem Panopoulos

Richmond, Geelong, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Sydney, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs

First and foremost, I’d wish to apologise to Richmond followers for jinxing the staff right into a 22-point show in opposition to a mean staff.

There was loads of shut footy final week, outcomes fell on both facet of the fence however the enjoyment of getting 9 video games within the spherical was a vibe that was matched by the standard.

Lots of fixturing points now exists, it’ll be fascinating if we are able to get by way of the subsequent couple of weeks with out a break.

Gold Coast in opposition to Richmond at Marvel on a Thursday, it’s gone from a really possible consequence to a certainty with the venue change. A Tiger bounce again.

Geelong have been uncovered in opposition to the Lions however ought to actually demolish the Bombers on Friday night time. I’ve a chunk breaking down why we have to cool down on these child Bombers tomorrow and it’s video games like these that present the truth examine.

Turns out the Giants simply can’t actually deal with the strain away from dwelling, making the fixture in opposition to Melbourne the third straightforward tip in a row.

The Lions have a horrible file on the Adelaide Oval and used to hate taking part in the Crows, however I’ll all the time be backing my premiership favorite on this kind of contest.

Fremantle have a proper to be upset. This sport in opposition to Carlton was a close to certainty at dwelling, to maintain them inside stepping distance of a prime eight spot, however now will apparently should hub on the Eastern facet of the nation for no less than a fortnight.

At time of writing, I don’t know the place the sport is. I’ll keep on with Fremantle whatever the 10-goal swing in venue.

Hope you all determined to take a greater take a look at the Hawks from earlier than the Swans sport, we thought they may be half first rate. This is a difficult sport for Port, whose sample suggests a loss is on the playing cards at Marvel. You’d suppose they’ve simply sufficient to win this contest.

Sydney and West Coast play in Geelong, as we anticipated at first of the season. Both groups really want a win, however the Swans have a surprisingly good file on the venue. The shift from the SCG truly favours them!

To wrap it up, the Saints ought to beat Collingwood and Josh Bruce will most likely break Fred Fanning’s file, he loves taking part in in opposition to North Melbourne.

Liam Salter

Richmond, Geelong, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Sydney, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs

A conflict between the Suns and a out of the blue poor Richmond is our opener tonight – now at a floor that rips dwelling benefit from one facet and infuriates the opposite’s coach.

The Suns confirmed a smidgen of struggle in opposition to North final week, however to counsel they’re a practical probability in opposition to Richmond – who’d be livid with their embarrassing effort final weekend – isn’t one thing I’m snug doing.

Geelong versus Essendon is a greater primetime match. The Cats have been additionally pummelled final week, whereas the Bombers have been aggressive in opposition to the Demons. Essendon haven’t performed a home-and-away season sport at Kardinia Park since 1993 – not to mention gained one there. That’s an imposing file, notably in opposition to a Geelong facet who haven’t misplaced there this yr. Cats to win.

Three out of 4 video games on Saturday appear comparatively clear minimize. The Giants all the time appear to have the ability to threaten once they wish to however, recency bias or not, final week’s efficiency doesn’t give me a lot hope. It’s apparent Melbourne are very good this yr, and they need to be capable of see them off.

That’s the identical because the Brisbane-Adelaide sport, which needs to be the Lions’ to lose.

The Hawks successful over Port does appear to be a humorously possible state of affairs however, with the tipping neck and neck, I can’t take foolish dangers. The Power to win a detailed one.

The Fremantle versus Carlton match petrifies me. The Blues tend to beat Freo, usually by small margins, having gained the earlier three encounters. The Blues appeared much more cohesive in opposition to the Crows, however the Dockers have appeared glorious previously few weeks and appear to be constructing to one thing – they’ll snap the shedding streak.

Sunday’s clashes – like most Sundays – are an fascinating bunch. Sydney taking up the Eagles in Geelong is fascinating. The Eagles have a horrible file there, with recollections headed again to their 97-point loss to the Cats just some months in the past.

Neither facet has been spectacular currently however, once you’re weighing up kind, it’s clearly the Eagles who look extra lacklustre. I’ll go the Swans.

The two remaining video games don’t strike me as notably thrilling. You’ll be juggling Collingwood’s very good latest file over the Saints with the St Kilda’s shock resurgence. The Pies are slender favourites, however I’m going to again the Sainters for the victory. North broke by way of for a win final week, however to duplicate that in opposition to the very good Bulldogs? Nah, not occurring.