ROUND SEVEN
Well, it’s been yet another week of controversy in AFL Land. Seriously, can we ever go a single, solitary week without player mismanagement, tribunal/appeals board controversy, and coaches being lambasted by the media? Probably not. And where would the headlines come from if these things didn’t happen?
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 Seven.
The Guarantee
Clubs go rogue and start a non-AFL-sanctioned men’s mental health round/game/something. There is a clear push from the players, the media, and the public are calling for it, and the AFL is like, “Let’s sell the game overseas!” The head office is seemingly run by spinning a wheel of bad ideas and picking whatever gets spun up. Do better, AFL.
The Ultimate Nightmare (Worst Case Scenario)
*this was written before Thursday Nights game
The Dogs get even more injuries and have to start vetting their fans to fill their available playing list. They had an incredible start to the year, but things have become a little derailed with repeat injuries every week. Going into this one, their defence is very thin. Bont is playing injured. And they have no ruckman. If anyone else were to go down, it’d be a terrible outcome for the Sons of the West.
The Outsider (unexpected winner)
The Bombers. On ANZAC Day. Laugh at me, scoff at me, whatever … we have seen a marked improvement over the last couple of weeks from the Dons, while the Pies have been patchy at best. This shapes as an arm wrestle. If there’s ever a time for the Bombers young players to seize the moment, it’s this weekend.
I also think that the Bombers have a better ability to score than the Pies.
The Money Maker (Bold Call)
This won’t eventuate, because they never do when I make bold calls about Cats players, but I reckon Jeremy Cameron kicks a double-figure bag of goals again this week. The Cats and Cameron typically like Adelaide Oval, and despite some potential rain forecast (allegedly) I think the Cats will give Neale and Cameron enough looks to kick bags and a big score.
Essential Result (Must Win)
The Suns need to beat the Hawks. Away from home. In Tassie. Can they do it? I don’t have faith in them at the moment.
I’ve regularly commented on their seeming inability to beat good sides on the road. I know it is the same for a lot of teams, but the top tier one’s do it more often than not. Gold Coast needs to draw a line in the sand at some point and grow up as a football team.
The Hawks are flying, despite some suspensions, meaning it will take a massive effort from the Suns to get the job done.
Most at Stake (Vulnerable)
The Orange Team and Kanga Kanga Kanga … they battle each other in the nation’s capital in Sunday’s twilight fixture. North are 4-2, the Giants 2-4 yet the Giants go in as strong favourites which is intriguing to me.
Yes, it may be that some are struggling to completely trust North given recent seasons, but the Giants haven’t shown great consistency recently either. This shapes as a must win for both.
For the Giants, they need the win to stay competitive with the top clubs and to try and generate some momentum into their season. For the Roos, well, it’s about continued growth and development and continuing their form. It’d be a setback for them to drop this.
The Must Watch (match-up or game)
The Sunday afternoon fixtures seem to be providing us with fun games most weeks. On Sunday, the Lions host the Crom in BrisVegas. The Lions, obviously, play well on their home deck. They’ve had some really good performances and some disappointing ones … almost like they haven’t fully clicked as yet.
The Crows are a bit the same. We know how quickly they can score, and how they play when they have the momentum, but can they take a scalp away from home?
This match shapes up as a free flowing, high scoring affair.
The Unexpected (underdog performance)
I think the Blues midfield will hold their own against the Dockers, it’ll just be everywhere else on the ground where Doker run rampant. Jackson should dominate the ruck, and I expect their forward line to create all sorts of problems for the Blues defenders.
The blues have showed steady signs of improvement, but not enough to challenge a legitimate Premiership threat.
It’s a Big Weekend For …
The Saints … back at Marvel after a couple of weeks in Adelaide. They play well under the roof (I wonder how they go if it’s open) and like the deck there. They rightly go in as favourites against the Eagles, who have showed signs of improvement, just not capable of playing four quarters at the moment.
St Kilda need to win this. Not just win, but to find some fluency, especially across the ruck area and playing as a team. It’d be great to see them more expansive with ball in hand and be willing to try and score more.
The Don (player of the round)
Max Gawn to dominate Friday Night football. He will be the most influential player on the ground, and it won’t be close. I’m doubling down on Max, especially after Brodie Grundy’s game last night, so Max can just remind everyone he is still the man.
The Underboss (rookie of the round)
There’s big wraps on Sam Cumming at the Tigers. He’s ahd some setbacks already, but I look forward to seeing what he can do under Friday Night Lights.
Individual Brilliance (predicting a stat accomplishment like x goals or marks)
Zac Bailey, in a dress rehearsal for his possible new club, to have 22 disposals and kick 3 goals.
The Winners (currently on 35; last week 6)
Sydney
Melbourne
Hawthorn
Essendon
Geelong
Fremantle
St Kilda
Brisbane
North Melbourne
Predictions were started before Thursday Night Football. 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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