You don’t choose the hub life.
The hub life chooses you.
That’s the case for AFL 2020 as the magical mystery tour continues.
There are some cracking matches on the cards starting on Thursday night with the Cats and Pies in Perth.
Throw in Saturday’s clash between the Giants and the mighty Brisbane Lions (proudly sponsored by Neds) and there’s never a dull moment when it comes to the Western Derby.
Some games will be good, others very, very dull.
You’ve just got to roll with it.
Like the season itself, finding a winner is hard work and very unpredictable.
We’re doing everything we can to find you some value ahead of another crazy weekend of Football.
The city of Perth is in for an absolute treat this Thursday night as the second-placed Cats play “host” to Collingwood at Optus Stadium.
Geelong is currently on a three-game winning streak and would love nothing better to start their new West Australian hub life in style with a big win over the Pies.
Trailing at half-time last weekend against the Brisbane Lions, the Cats couldn’t have been more impressive kicking eight second-half goals and going on to win by 27 points.
The likes of Tom Hawkins and Patrick Dangerfield were impressive along with some vintage work from Junior.
After an eventful couple of weeks both on and off the field, Collingwood arrives in the hub coming off a much-needed 32 point win over the Hawks.
Brody Miocheck kicked four of Collingwood’s eight goals last weekend as Collingwood’s defence was ruthless and managed to keep Hawthorn to only three goals.
The Magpies are now conceding the fewest points per game this season and it will be fascinating to see how they manage Geelong’s fast-attacking style of play.
These two-sides last met in the Qualifying Final last year in which the Magpies got up by 10 points in a low-scoring affair.
Given the state of the game right now, expect something similar.
Collingwood opens as betting favourites, but there’s serious value in the Cats to get the job done in this one.
After all, you should always tip the Cats when they play at home.
Trying to find a winner in the Dons v Dogs game on the Gold Coast is proving to be a real head-scratcher.
Essendon has been nothing short of impressive of recent.
Impressive wins over Collingwood and North Melbourne in recent weeks have put them in good stead and the usual Bomber hype talk is rightfully the flavour of the week.
So far this season they are 4-1 with a catch-up game against Melbourne still to be played.
The Western Bulldogs had a bad night at the office against Carlton last weekend, but you’ve got to give them the benefit of the doubt.
They had been on a three-game winning streak prior to their 52 point loss last weekend and were conceding 39 points or fewer when they were winning.
One can only assume that Bevo will have his men back on their A-game come Friday night.
All five of Essendon’s matches have been decided by 15 points or less this season, based on that fact, we’re taking either team to win it by under 15.5 this Friday night as a value play.
We’re in for an absolute treat this Saturday afternoon with the Giants hosting the mighty Brisbane Lions (proudly sponsored by Neds)
Both teams are in the conversation to go deep into October/November/December/January or whenever this season’s finals are played.
With both teams coming off a loss last week both will be desperate to get back on the winner’s list, and being one of the major sponsors we, of course, expect that to be the Lions.
Brisbane’s first-half last week against the Cats was nothing short of outstanding.
Brownlow medal(ist) Lachie Neale had some magical moments, the midfield went like clockwork and it looked like the Lions were on the way to an epic victory with a 10 point lead at half-time.
The second half, however, was a real let down.
GWS went down to Port by 17 points last weekend and now find themselves out of the top eight with a 3-3 record.
One can only hope they’ve been working on their goal kicking this week, missing some very direct shots for a total score of 6-9 (46)
The Lions would love nothing better to get some form of revenge over the Giants after that 3 point loss in the Semi-Final last year.
If they can play four full quarters of attacking football, you should expect them to be able to get back on the winners list this weekend.
For the first time in a long time, the Gold Coast Suns will go into an away game the favourite and rightfully so.
Sydney was woeful last weekend.
While they only went down to the Tigers by eight points, they managed to score a combined total of 3-10 (26) in one of the worst games of Australian Rules Football ever staged.
With Isaac Heeny now out for the season and Josh Kennedy facing six weeks on the sidelines, you can expect the Swans to play ultra-defensive, flooding and above all else boring football with the hope of snaring an upset or at least avoid getting belted week in, week out.
The Suns go into this game having lost their past two, but are still showing signs that this a bloody good football team in the making.
Matt Rowell is last weeks news.
Everyone is now on board the Izak Rankine bandwagon.
Three goals in an impressive debut against Melbourne last weekend and the Suns were in the hunt for most of the match.
Brace yourselves for Sydney to play some really ugly football because they have to.
If the Suns can somehow break the flood and shake the tag, the viewers would be thankful.
They just need to get the win though. Which they will.
If this were a preview for an upcoming round in the world game, I’d be writing about Richmond’s impressive 4-3 win over Sydney last weekend.
This isn’t the world game though and Richmond managed to win the worst game of Australian Rules Football ever staged.
After scoring the first three goals of the game in the first 10 minutes, Richmond only scored one more for the rest of the day but still won.
The Tigers are still dominant when it comes to inside 50s and turnovers in their forward half.
If they can try to capitalise on it more where it matters most – the scoreboard they should be back to their dominant best.
Don’t completely rule out North Melbourne.
Despite losing four straight, the Kangaroos have a pretty decent record over Richmond winning eight of their last 11 against them including that impressive 37 point win when they met last time.
North is struggling right now, especially up forward and giving up junk time goals is becoming a horrible habit.
Richmond is back winning and look to be on track to get things back to their dominant best.
Tigers should get the job done and I’ve got them to beat the line.
This game between the Blues and Port at the Gabba could very much be the match of the round.
Carlton could not have been more impressive and fun to watch last week in their 52 point win over the Western Bulldogs.
A vintage performance from their new/old recruit Eddie Betts kicking four goals, three from their big man Harry McKay.
The Blues implemented this radical tactic having a focus on scoring goals and became the first team to score 100 points in a game since Round 2.
This groundbreaking method could really change the foundations of Football which is apparently now all about defending.
Port was pretty damn good in their win over the Giants last weekend.
After finding themselves two goals up at half-time, the Power looked to have the game on their terms and got the job done by 17 points.
Currently sitting on top of the ladder, Port Adelaide is beginning to think this could be their year and a nice, long string of home games could give them a real buffer.
However, this is 2020 and nothing is certain.
I’m taking an absolute risk here, and it could backfire, but I think just maybe a major upset is on the cards at the Gabba this week.
Going to back the Blues at the $2.95 price.
I’m either a fool or an absolute genius.
Hoping for the latter.
Hawthorn has had a good turn at being the team that’s in the firing line this week.
Back to back losses and some pretty ordinary displays will do that.
However, you need to remember that the Hawks are 3-3 this season and are known to come out of nowhere when everyone writes them off.
The Hawks will be desperate to bounce back on this weekend, but Melbourne should have that extra spring in their step after an impressive 17 point win over the Suns.
Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca are back to some of the best form of recent and were magnificent for the Dees last weekend.
Apart from their loss to Richmond in Round 5, Melbourne has actually been quite competitive in most games they’ve played in this year.
Hawthorn goes in the favourite in the head to head market but based purely on recent form, you’d have to go with Melbourne.
The Hawks have been far too ordinary.
Take Melbourne to cover the line.
The two West Australian teams return from their stint in hub-life and meet for a very special edition of the Western Derby.
30,000 fans will be allowed into Optus Stadium this Sunday in what will be a glorious sight to behold.
Fremantle goes into this game coming off their best win in years.
36 points down at quarter-time, the Dockers went on to kick 10 of the next 11 goals to claim an amazing win over the Saints at Metricon Stadium.
Micheal Walters and Nat Fyfe were absolute stars.
West Coast has also managed to find some form.
Two wins on the trot and finished off hub-life in Queensland with a comfortable and dominant win over the hapless Adelaide Crows.
Can Freo back it up this weekend remains to be the biggest question going into this game?
The Eagles should be able to get the job done, however, with the line set at -16.5 Freo looks a good value bet to cover it.
The Crows have won their past 10 games against St Kilda.
That stat is the only hope they’ve got right now.
Adelaide will be glad to have returned home to SA and a long streak of matches at Adelaide Oval awaits them, which is also a major bonus.
However, they go into this game with a 0-6 record and are by far the clubhouse leader for the worst team in the AFL for 2020.
St Kilda has won three out of four games since the season resumed but threw away a big lead against the Dockers last weekend.
In what was a serious implosion, they were up as far as 31 points before throwing it all away.
Perhaps we can give them the benefit of the doubt that this is a once-off performance as they have been a joy to watch so far this season.
This game will prove to be a great opportunity for St Kilda to get their season back on track.
The tips is pretty straight forward – Saints. By plenty.