AFL Round 6 Tips & Preview

Friday’s clash between Freo and the Dogs is proving a hard one to tip as you’ve genuinely got no idea as to which versions of these two respective sides are going to turn up on the night.

Aaron Naughton is the $9 favourite to jag the first goal at time of publish but the form of Michael “Sonny” Walters has been a standout for the Dockers this year.

Walters has kicked two or more goals in seven of his last eight games (worth factoring in for a same game multi) and likes the big stage – Friday night football is perfect for Sonny to jag the first one of the night at the $10 on offer.

With Port $1.09 favourites to smash West Coast ($9) on Saturday arvo, the first goal kicker is where you could really make a decent profit.

So far in season 2023, the tall forward is averaging two goals per game and even reached a career-best against the Eagles with five in Round 6 of last season.

A two goal spurt in two minutes in the last quarter of Port’s game against the Bulldogs which got the Power back in front played a vital role in their Gather Round victory and he’s primed to get the first goal of what may be many against the hapless Eagles.

Since Cam Rayner had a stint in the backline, he’s come back to his natural habitat up forward and perhaps has become a better player for it.

After booting four goals against Collingwood on Easter Thursday, Rayner kicked two last week but still managed to make an impact while the likes of Daniher, Cameron and Hipwood feasted on North Melbourne in the Adelaide Hills.

Rayner is not the favourite for the first goal in the Lions clash against the Giants in Canberra but now that he’s back where he belongs, he can get his hands on it early and jag the first sausage roll of the afternoon.

With 22 goals already to his name, and the man in beast mode, big Jezza Cameron will relish the Cats homecoming against the Sydney Swans at GMHBA Stadium this Saturday night.

Jezza already had booted four goals by half-time last week against the Eagles at Adelaide Oval and seven the previous week against the Hawks.

It goes without saying, his second-half effort doesn’t matter, especially when we are all focused on the first goal kicker.

While this game is likely to be more of a contest compared to Hawthorn and West Coast, the former Giant is primed to sink one early and there’s a good reason he’s the shortest price first goal kicker favourite for the entire round.

The Crows are back in town, playing some of their best footy since 2017, and head down to Tassie to face Hawthorn who is always a different prospect at Launceston.

While Adelaide will be clear favourites to win, it’s a take-your-pick as to who will kick the first goal on Sunday afternoon.

Darcy Fogarty ($8.50), Izak Rankine ($9.50), and Taylor Walker ($10) are all a good chance in this but it’s worth taking note of Hawthorn forward Fergus Greene.

Greene has kicked 2+ goals in his last three games, including three last week in the Hawks narrow loss to the Giants.

Not only is he one to factor in if you’re having a same-game multi on this match, but the $12 for the former Bulldog to kick the first one of the day looks like the value option.

The Blues v Saints clash at Marvel on Sunday should be a beauty.

Both Carlton and St Kilda suffered their first losses of the season in Gather Round last week, so you would expect that will be eager to get back on the winners list.

One of the biggest strengths the Blues have is their two big blokes up forward, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.

While both had a quiet night in Carlton’s 56-point loss to the Crows last Thursday night, kicking two goals each, the extended break might do them a world of good and they’ll be keen to get on the scoreboard nice and early, especially when playing against a Ross Lyon coached side.

Charlie Curnow is favourite at $7 but I’m happy to go for Harry McKay at the $9 on offer.

The Suns v North is your classic 4:40 Sunday kind of match.

You’d expect the Gold Coast Suns to get the job done in this game, but you just don’t know which version of them will turn up.

Despite some beltings of late, the Kangaroos still look a more competitive side this season and tend to hang on until half-time – a far better effort to what we have seen in previous seasons.

Jack Lukosius will need to step up if the Suns want to make this a percentage booster and was dominant when they last graced Cararra with five goals.

He’s good value at the $10 on offer to get the first one for the day against the Roos, and if he does, it means he’s on, much to the delight of Suns fans and Stewy Dew.

Jack Riewoldt or Jack Dyer, the scenes of the blood streaming down his face were reminiscent of Captain blood or even another iconic Tiger in Francis Bourke.

It’s been a tough start to the season as Richmond works out where exactly they are as a team with the glory years past, but Jack Riewoldt is still a vital cog of experience with their mix of youth and veterans.

Melbourne is the clear favorites for this match, but Richmond can be competitive in patches still, especially early in the game.

Riewoldt kicked four in the Tigers loss to the Swans last week and is averaging 2.3 goals per game so far in season 2023.

The $11 on offer for Jack to kick the first on Anzac eve is good value for this Tiger nuff nuff writing the preview.

In what will be the first time since 2000 that both sides are in the top four heading into an Anzac Day clash, Collingwood and Essendon look set to produce another classic in one of the most important and iconic days on the Australian and footy calendar.

Last year’s Anzac medalist Jack Ginnivan is back, long sleeves and all, the blonde tips are gone but the flair is still there.

With the package Jake Stringer on one end, Miocheck, Elliott, and Ginnivan on the other – we could be in for the best Anzac match in years, and that’s saying something.

Despite the off-field dramas, I’m glad that Ginnivan is back on the footy field and him to kick the first goal with the roar of 90,000+ people at the MCG will be something to behold.