ROUND SEVENTEEN!
FINALLY … the Rock … has done nothing since Elimination Chamber. Poor sports entertainment reference there. Anyway, we FINALLY have nine games of football again. Hallelujah! What a time to be alive. The sprint race to the end of the season starts this week. Will your side feature in September?
Be forewarned, while I am the Mongrel Punt’s resident oracle for all things AFL, I hold no liability for your bad betting and using my predictions in your multis. So, please, gamble responsibly.
So, strap yourselves in for the Prophet’s Predictions for Round Seventeen.
The Guarantee
The SCG surface fails and the AFL is forced to apologise for again being reactionary as opposed to being proactive. Why run the risk when there have been multiple complaints made? The AFL again prioritising revenue over player safety.
Seriously, though, I think we will reach tipping point with the AFL commentators losing their minds over certain players doing basic things (like Sam Darcy and Nick Daicos). They are great at what they do, absolutely, but the commentators are almost impossible to listen too because of their failure to realise there are 40+ others on the field.
The Ultimate Nightmare (Worst Case Scenario)
North Melbourne lose by 100+ on the night of celebration. It’s a significant night for the Roos, and they would want to be competitive. They won’t win, but showing a little bit of heart – that much celebrated shinboner spirit – would be a great result for North.
A belting on this night … disastrous.
The Outsider (unexpected winner)
It just has the feel that the Blues, against all odds, might beat the Pies. Nah … not going to happen. But, what if? The Blues are copping it from every single direction. They have stars injured. They are out of form. And the Pies are flying. There is no humanly the way that the Blues win this … unless there is.
Realistically, the better bet for an outsider is Fremantle. The Swans are starting to play better football – the style we have become accustomed to with them. However, they come up against Luke Jackson and Josh Treacy (and their teammates). It should be a cracking game, and while I will tip the Swans at home, the Dockers are a legitimate chance to FIFO with four points.
The Money Maker (Bold Call)
Essendon lead the Suns for three quarters, but then their lack of experience causes them to be run down. This is unlikely, given the form and personnel disparity, but I’m still not 100% sold on the Suns away from home. The Bombers have been crippled by injuries – even losing four players against the bye last week – so, they are the Baby Bombers reincarnated. If they can be competitive, and continue to take steps forward, that is a win.
Essential Result (Must Win)
The Crows just have to beat Melbourne on Sunday afternoon. They are at home and absolutely flying, but the Demons are like the Swans – can play spoiler to finals aspirants. The Demons will want to come and disrupt the Crom push. The Crows simply just have to come hungry and ready to play at an elite level.
Most at Stake (Vulnerable)
I’m interested to see how the Hawks negotiate the loss of Josh Weddle. He has been a Mr Fix It for Hokball, playing across different lines and causing some chaos. I’m sure Sam Mitchell has his plans to fill the void, but sometimes, when you lose a key player, it can take a week to cover the loss. The Hawks need the win to stay in touch with the top four. But, they could potentially be vulnerable because of the redeployment of others. Realistically, the inclusions of Sicily and Worpel go a long way to. Covering Weddle’s absence, but it is a watch.
The Must Watch (match-up or game)
Harris Andrews v Mitch Georgiades. Both men are in great form. This presents as a tantalising match up. Andrews will want to zone off and intercept, and Georgiades, if his hands are sticky, marks everything.
Whoever wins this battle, probably wins the game for their side. When Andrews controls the game, the Lions have their way with the opposition. When Georgiades dominates, the Power are unstoppable. Should be fun to watch.
The Unexpected (underdog performance)
The Eagles continue to win some fans. While they may not be winning games, they are improving, and being competitive against the best. I expect the Giants to win, but the Eagles will push them on their home deck. The young players, when they take the game on, make footy look good and look fun. The additions of Liam Baker and Jack Graham has brought a hard, competitive edge that seems to be driving some standards. Harley Reid to kick 5+ goals is my outrageous call for the weekend.
It’s a Big Weekend For …
Richmond. They don’t often travel down the highway to the Cattery, and this week, they face the Cats off the bye. Geelong are notorious for starting slowly off a bye, so this presents a chance for the Tigers to put some scoreboard pressure on the Cats and see if they can hang around, creating unrest in Sleepy Hollow. How they show up is important for the tigers development.
The Don (player of the round)
I’m going to back in Bazlenka. The Tigers midfield has good players, but the run and spread from Baz could be a little too much for them to handle. Plus, we all want Baz polling votes to contend for the Bazlow.
The Underboss (rookie of the round)
Nate Caddy is still a rookie. Only in his second year, he has shown some glimpses. On Saturday, he will go head-to-head with Mac Andrew. Caddy’s work effort could have him lead Andrew to the ball a lot. If he can mark the ball and get good looks at goal, it could be a big afternoon for Caddy.
Individual Brilliance (predicting a stat accomplishment like x goals or marks)
I like Patrick Cripps in games when the Blues have their backs to the wall. He will get 25+ disposals, 8+ clearances, and 2+ goals to almost get the Blues across the line.
The Winners (currently on 82; last week 6)
Western Bulldogs
Collingwood
Greater Western Sydney
Gold Coast
Geelong
Brisbane Lions
Hawthorn
Sydney
Adelaide
These predictions were made with only Thursday Night teams revealed. Drop us your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned over the coming weeks to see how the Prophet goes with his predictions.
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