Forget one week at a time, it’s one day at a time!
Brace yourselves for 33 games in 20 days as this football feast begins with Round 9 of the 2020 AFL season kicks off this Wednesday night.
Some games are set to be thrillers, some are not.
There will be upsets.
There will be boilovers.
There will probably be some shellackings as well.
Tipping is a nightmare, backing a winner is hard but we’ve done what we can to find the best value for punters ahead of this round of matches.
The feast of footy kicks off with a game that’s a bloody hard one to get a read of if to be perfectly honest.
The Western Bulldogs are currently sitting sixth on the ladder with a 5-3 record and go into this game coming off a thrilling five-point win over the Suns in the wet.
Bailey Smith, Caleb Daniel and Jack Macrae found plenty of the footy and the Dogs have been able to keep their opponents to 51 points or less in five out of their last six games.
Richmond had plenty of opportunities to get the job done over the Giants last week but was incredibly wasteful going down by 12 points.
A positive for the Tigers is that Dustin Martin is starting to step up in terms of form and they will very much be grateful to have skipper Trent Cotchin and David Astbury back in the team this week.
While Richmond has been the dominant team in the last three years, the Western Bulldogs have actually won five out of their past six against them.
They are a good value bet at $2.10 head to head but while the Tigers aren’t in premiership winning form just yet, you can’t write them off.
Port will be hurting after their 29 point loss to the Saints at home and the Dees will only have four days to regroup after going down to the mighty Brisbane Lions (proudly sponsored by Neds) by four points.
There’s little between the sides head to head going into Thursday nights match but the microscope will very much be on Port Adelaide who last quarter fade-out last Saturday is cause for concern.
Melbourne most certainly kept some credibility when they gave the Lions a scare after trailing by 18 points early in the last quarter.
Christian Petracca, Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver are playing some of their best footy in years and will play a vital role if the Dees are to roll the Power.
Another hard one to tip, but perhaps Port having that extra 24 hours up their sleeve might just put them in good stead to get the job done Thursday night.
For the first time in the age of social media, smartphones and the history of this company Carlton are the clear favourites in their match against Hawthorn.
It was quite possible bookmakers were offering fractional odds the last time the Blues were hot favourites against the Hawks.
Carlton is a good team now.
The Blues managed to keep North Melbourne at bay last week after a dominant first quarter.
Patrick Cripps has been at his brilliant high-marking best and Marc Murphy is proving highly reliable and efficient in the later years of his career.
Hawthorn has been woeful of recent.
Losing to an undermanned Sydney by seven points last week including scoring only two goals in the second half, Clarko can have all the excuses he wants in his post-game press conferences but the brown and gold glory days are over.
Perhaps the fact the Blues have won only one out of their past 17 against Hawthorn is something to go by but these are strange times.
This game is being played on a Friday afternoon in Perth and the Blues are favourites.
Carlton will get the job done.
Both the Dons and Lions were lucky to snatch the W last week but they’ve both banked the points and will go into this Friday nights clash with plenty on the line.
Essendon did everything they could to lose to the Crows last week but managed to hang on for a three-point victory.
The mighty Brisbane Lions (proudly sponsored by Neds) held off a fast-finishing Melbourne but got the job done by four points.
Lachie Neale had 33 disposals to his name and basically has the 2020 Brownlow medal hanging around his neck.
Brisbane needs to work on their goal kicking.
They’ve kicked more behinds than goals in five out of their past six games and would love nothing better to give their old rivals from back in the day a spanking.
After all, if it bleeds you can kill it.
North Melbourne is on a six-game losing streak.
Adelaide is yet to win a game.
This match could be anything in what is being dubbed as a battle for the wooden spoon.
Both sides will take confidence from their efforts last week going into this match.
The Crows showed they have some ticker going down to Essendon by three points.
North put on a decent second-half fightback against the Blues to only go down by seven points.
We’re either going to see two teams desperate for a win having a serious crack or learn there’s a stark contrast between 17th on the ladder and 18th.
It’s a toss of a coin to pick a winner in this one, and we’re going each way hoping it’s a thriller.
Coming off an emphatic win over Port at Adelaide Oval, the dead-eye-dick Saints who kicked 12-1 (73) including five unanswered in the last quarter will be out to really stamp their place in the eight against the Swans at the Gabba this Saturday.
St Kilda is currently sitting in fourth place and has been one of the most exciting teams to watch this season.
Brad Hill, Zak Jones along with Jack Steele and Dan Butler have been outstanding for the Saints.
Sydney goes into this game coming off a gusty win over Hawthorn.
Four sausage rolls from Tom Papley along with Jake Lloyd and Dane Rampe suffering a case of leather poisoning (59 disposals) played a huge roll in snapping the Swans four-game losing streak.
St Kilda has not beaten the Swans since 2012, but they will easily snap their 10 game losing streak against John Longmire and his men this Saturday.
The Tim Kelly Cup at Optus Stadium this Saturday should be a beauty!
West Coast is starting to look scary.
Trailing by 14 points at quarter time, the Eagles implemented this radical attacking style of play with a focus on scoring goals.
Josh Kennedy booted seven of them.
Nic Nat dominated over Brodie Grundy.
Tim Kelly easily played his best game since crossing over to the Eagles.
Much interest will surround how he fares against his old side.
Geelong got the job done in trying conditions on Monday night over Freo but are very much at midstrength.
The debut of Cam Close was a highlight, Tom Hawkins booted three with the likes of Cam Guthrie and Mitch Duncan amongst Geelong’s best.
With a nice long streak at home and plenty of confidence back in the team, the West Coast Eagles should be able to stamp their authority against the Cats this Saturday night.
This is easily the most anticipated matchup between the two expansion clubs since they joined the AFL.
Both the Gold Coast Suns and the GWS Giants will desperately want to win this clash to remain in the hunt for the 2020 season.
Gold Coast have lost three out of their past four but have been highly competitive in every match they’ve been in.
This team has a lot of potential, no longer considered easy beats and have clearly turned the corner.
A brilliant five goals from Toby Greene and the Giants were able to capitalize on Richmond’s wastefulness gaining a 12 point win.
This was the win GWS had to have after two losses in a row.
Both of these sides met last year with the Giants winning by 83 and 72 points.
That won’t be the case this Sunday.
You’d expect GWS to win, but the Suns can put up a fight and I think they can cover the line in this one.
After a debacle last weekend against the Eagles, expect Collingwood to come out all guns blazing as they face Freo this Sunday.
The Dockers kicked only two goals for the entire game on Monday night in very wet conditions.
Collingwood kicked only two goals in the last three quarters and conceded 16 to the Eagles.
The Pies are a far better team than what was dished up Sunday against West Coast and you would give them the benefit of the doubt in having a bad day at the office.
It is unknown if Nat Fyfe will return to the Fremantle side at this stage, even then you’d still expect Collingwood to win this one.
Magpies by plenty.