ROUND THIRTEEN
It is Buddy Franklin Round and we have some intriguing games across this weekend. Will someone emulate Buddy’s THIRTEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNN? And can some sides bounce back from disappointing losses? Let’s check out this weeks matches.
Why do we have five weekends of footy impacted by teams having a mid-season bye? Why do we even have a mid-season bye? The AFL is again making strange decisions and us, the fans, are the ones who must endure the consequences.
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 Thirteen.
The Guarantee
Melbourne do it for Neale! After the sad passing of Neale Daniher, the annual Big Freeze at the ‘G carries greater meaning on Monday. The Pies and the Demons come face-to-face on the King’s Birthday, with both needing a win, for different reasons.
Given what Neale has meant to the Melbourne Footy Club over the journey, I just know they will be up for the fight!
The Ultimate Nightmare (Worst Case Scenario)
All of Carlton’s goodwill and form amounts to nothing as they lose to the irrelevant and floundering Bombers. Sure, the Blues beat the Cats last week – they do it every year so it’s nothing all that special – but a loss to the Bombers might see them sack a second coach in the same season. They couldn’t, could they?
The Outsider (unexpected winner)
I find it interesting that Port are the favourites against the Eagles, in Perth, with the Eagles higher on the ladder AND having won this fixture already in Adelaide. So, because they are the apparent underdogs, my outsider is for the Eagles, who should be favourites, to beat the Power and continue to show improvement and highlight Port’s idiocy in sacking Ken Hinkley.
The Money Maker (Bold Call)
Cody Weightman plays AFL footy for the first time since 2004 and my bold call is that he comes out and kicks 3+ goals and leads the Dogs to an upset win over the 3rd placed Hokball on Friday Night.
Essential Result (Must Win)
This weekend almost looms at the Lions last stand! Having lost three in a row, and playing Carlton into form, the Lions are clinging to a wildcard spot. A loss, and pending other results, could see them outside the wildcard spots as they head to their bye.
If the Lions are going to salvage their season and give themselves a chance, then they need to go to the Gold Coast and win the Pineapple Grapple.
Most at Stake (Vulnerable)
Simultaneously North Melbourne and Fremantle. North sold a Melbourne based home game to play in Bunbury Western Australia, and now host a WA based team there in Fremantle. This is not a once off for North, so they’d want to win, or, at the very least, be competitive in this one or the decision is going to look farcical.
For the Doker, well, they want to keep top spot and this is a game they should win. Some of the Mongrel team are Dockers tragics who would say it would be very Dockery for them to lose this one. Keep an eye on what happens in Bunbury this weekend.
The Must Watch (match-up or game)
I’ll go with Thursday Night Footy as it looms as an interesting game. The Crows are fresh off their bye, and cop a Cats side travelling interstate of a six day break and a farcical loss to the Blues. There are big ramifications for both sides for a loss and big upside with a win – Chrome become entrenched in the 8, and the Cats drop out of the top four.
This is a must win for both teams. The forecast is grim, so perhaps watch for a late change or two to get some more smalls and strong bodies into the contest.
The Cats have a good record in this fixture, but rain and a rest are great equalisers. The Crom are in this up to their eyeballs.
The Unexpected (underdog performance)
The Dees are marginal underdogs on Monday. I’m liking what Harvey Langford has been doing and the season he is putting together. They play the MCG really well, so expect the Demons to put the foot down and play some really fun footy that will stretch the Pies.
It’s a Big Weekend For …
The AFL’s insane fixturing. Numerous sides face each other for a second time this weekend, despite not having played every side. And some of those, are sides who have to travel interstate, off short breaks, to play a side off their bye. No doubt there will be some media commentary if trends start to emerge from this.
The Don (player of the round)
While Charlie Curnow finally turned up in 2026 kicking a big bag against the injury ravaged Tigers, facing the Saints offers him Cal Wilkie. So, I’m going to back in Wilkie to get the better of Curnow and be the most impactful player on the ground.
The Underboss (rookie of the round)
Jai Murray had big wraps on him before being drafted. He’s navigated some injuries and is now set to debut in the Pineapple Grapple for the Suns. Keep an eye on what he does.
Individual Brilliance (predicting a stat accomplishment like x goals or marks)
Expect Brodie Grundy to come back in and to put TDK in his place and firmly remind TDK that he’s a boy in a man’s world, when it comes to the leading rucks in the comp!
The Winners (currently on 74; last week 5)
Geelong
Hawthorn
Fremantle
Gold Coast
West Coast
Sydney
Carlton
Melbourne
Predictions were submitted with only the Thursday Night Football teams named. Drop us your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned over the coming weeks to see how the Prophet goes with his predictions.