Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs

Adelaide Oval, 7:20pm Thursday June 14

Team news: The Dogs swung four changes, with Zaine Cordy, Mitch Wallis, Lukas Webb and Shane Biggs coming in for Dale Morris (Injured), Jordan Roughead (Omitted), Matthew Suckling (Injured) Tory Dickson (Injured).

Jack Hombsch, Todd Marshall, Lindsay Thomas headline three changes for Port, with Jake Neade (Omitted), Tom Jonas (Injured) and Jack Watts (Omitted) making way.

Injury Watch: The Bulldogs’ bionic man, Dale Morris has gone down with a knee injury that could see him miss the rest of the year. At 35 years of age, he could have played his last AFL match.

Prediction: Unless Port Adelaide’s big win over Richmond last week has significantly flattened them, they should just win this. Port Adelaide by 40 points.

 

Sydney vs West Coast                    

SCG, 7:50pm Friday June 15

Team news: Swans veteran Kieran Jack was rested last week and should return this weekend.

The Eagles gain Luke Shuey back for the trip to Sydney. Chris Mastern and Liam Ryan are also available for selection. They have also confirmed that Jarrod Brander will debut.

Injury Watch: Lewis Melican and Sam Reid are on track to return from injury after the Swans’ bye.

Prediction: A cracking Friday night game between two of the leading premiership contenders this year. Hard to separate these teams but Sydney at the SCG is a tough test (unless you’re North Melbourne). Sydney by four points.

 

Carlton vs Fremantle

Etihad Stadium, 1:45pm Saturday June 16

Team news: The Blues are expecting to have Levi Casboult back in the team this weekend.

Fremantle will have their captain Nat Fyfe back from suspension and Aaron Sandilands and Taylor Duman are likely to be available. They lose Michael Walters and Alex Pearce and veteran Michael Johnson is unavailable due to a WAFL suspension.

Injury Watch: Carlton’s Alex Silvagni and Jarrod Pickett could return from injury in the VFL this week. Skipper Marc Murphy is two to three weeks away from being fit and Caleb Marchbank is a week away.

Brad Hill (Fremantle) is likely to be ready to return to football at the end of July but his first game back will be in the WAFL due to a club-imposed suspension.

Prediction: Another tough game to predict because Fremantle have been poor outside of Perth this year. You would still think they can beat Carlton with the inclusion of Fyfe and Sandilands. Fremantle by 10 points. 

 

Gold Coast vs St Kilda

Metricon Stadium, 4:35pm Saturday June 16

Team news: Gold Coast will be swinging the axe after last week's poor performance. Expect Jarryd Lyons and Sean Lemmens to come in.

St Kilda will have Jake Carlisle back from suspension, and after 54 touches in the VFL last weekend, Jack Billings is a near certainty to return to the senior side.

Injury Watch: Pearce Hanley has started training with the main group again and could return to the Suns’ line up in a month’s time.

Saints defender Nathan Brown must overcome concussion to be included in the side this weekend.

Prediction: Another game that is tough to predict. Gold Coast are going terribly at the moment and St Kilda aren’t going much better. Alan Richardson is in trouble if the Saint’s lose this. St Kilda by 13 points.

 

Hawthorn vs Adelaide

MCG, 7:25pm Saturday June 16

Team news: Hawthorn were expecting to have Cyril Rioli back this week but he has returned to Darwin for personal reasons.

Luke Brown (ankle) will miss for the Crows, while Rory Laird (hand) and Tom Lynch (side strain) are unlikely to return, but will be given the chance to prove their fitness at training on Thursday.

Injury Watch: The Crows are hoping to have Rory Sloane back from his foot injury after the bye.

Prediction: Adelaide’s injuries are really hurting them at the moment and unless they have some big inclusions, Hawthorn should get the win at home. Hawthorn by 17 points.

 

Geelong vs Richmond

MCG, 3:20pm Sunday June 17

Team news: The Cats will be without Aaron Black for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury. Lincoln McCarthy was a late out last week but will be right to go against Richmond.

Richmond are likely to bring Daniel Rioli back in for his first game of the year. Dustin Martin should be ready to go and Jacob Townsend is a chance to come back in but David Astbury is touch and go to be fit to play after sustaining a minor ankle injury during last week’s match.

Injury Watch: Geelong fans can expect Harry Taylor back into the team after the bye next week.

The Tigers are crossing their fingers to have Dion Prestia and Bachar Houli fit to play after the bye.

Prediction: Geelong are going well but Richmond will be looking to bounce back after their tough loss to Port Adelaide last week. It would be a different story if this game was played in Geelong but it’s been a while since the Tigers lost at the ‘G. Richmond by 14 points.

 

Point to prove:

St Kilda. If St Kilda don’t beat Gold Coast this week then they really need to evaluate where they’re at as a club. Richardson’s job must come into question, the board need to be evaluated and the recruiting staff must start recruiting elite talent.

They have only missed the finals on percentage in the last two years and you look at this current side and wonder how. Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna were big losses at the end of last year but they can’t use that as an excuse, every club loses good players every year.

One win (narrowly against Brisbane) and a draw isn’t good enough for a side who have been pushing to be finals contenders over the last few years. They have young talent on their list, but guys like Seb Ross, Jack Billings and Jade Gresham have all lost confidence and have gone into their shells. They have nothing left to lose this year and they need to start playing like it.

 

Struggle street:

Goal review system. The score review system is a straight up shambles at the moment. When the CEO of the league comes out and says the system “pisses him off”, you know there’s a serious issue. In Essendon's clash with Brisbane game on Sunday, the score review system overturned the field and goal umpires call of a touched behind and ruled it as a goal.

The footage was not conclusive and even Jake Stringer thought the ball was touched off the boot. Thankfully for the review umpire, Brisbane have next to no supporters but had that call been made against Collingwood, he would have been in a lot more strife. Maybe the AFL need to call upon Cricket Australia for some help because their review system rarely gets a call wrong.

 

Quote of the week:

“We don’t talk to one another like that, alright? It’s OK.” – ‘Razor’ Ray Chamberlain to Shaun Grigg during Richmond’s match against Port Adelaide

 

Photo of the week: