Three finals shaping contests take place during Round 19 of the AFL season as we enter the final few weeks of the season.
The second placed Brisbane Lions will host the ninth placed Western Bulldogs on Friday night, before a pair of important Sunday games starting with ladder leaders Collingwood taking on a Fremantle holding on to eight at the MCG as well as a battle between third and fifth as Adelaide hosts Gold Coast at the Adelaide Oval.
The majority of games will not have as many ramifications in terms of September action but there are still plenty of opportunities to make bank.
It’s hard to get excited about the winning chances of the Bombers in any football game at the moment considering their long injury list.
Season ending injuries to Sam Draper, Will Sterfield and now Nic Martin to name a few are compounded by the long term absence of Kyle Langford and Jye Caldwell.
Ben Hobbs and Nate Caddy will also miss this prime time game against the Giants.
GWS are searching for their fifth win in a row, the latest of which came over Geelong last weekend.
They have a healthy list that is playing great football and can pile on the points quickly.
The match of the round takes place at the Gabba on Friday night!
The defending premiers are looking for their 13th win of the season and their fourth in a row after defeating Geelong, Port and Carlton in successive weeks.
Aside from long term injuries to Jack Payne, Noah Answerth and Lincoln McCarthy, the Lions have little injury concerns which is paramount heading into the final part of the AFL season.
The Dogs suffered their first loss in over a month last weekend when they lost to Adelaide in a shootout at Marvel Stadium by nine points.
They have now slipped out of the top eight and their finals hopes remain in their hands.
The bonus is that they are the only team outside the eight that can play September football but they will need to keep winning in order for that to happen.
The Dogs have covered the line in their last eight straight away games following a loss and because they have the ability to score fast I give them a chance at an upset especially considering the Lions recent record at home.
The Hawks are one of five teams on 11 wins for the season but their percentage finds them in sixth spot.
Like the Dogs they suffered their first loss in over a month at the hands of Fremantle last weekend.
The loss was considerable to their finals chances with Fremantle being one of those other teams now on 11 wins.
Port’s finals chances are shot and they were given quite a scare by West Coast at home in Round 18.
Hawthorn has covered the line in their last 11 straight games at the University Of Tasmania Stadium and I’m predicting that trend continues with so much on the line.
North had a real opportunity for their fifth win of the campaign against Melbourne, especially after such a good start to the game.
They were outscored seven goals to 12 in the second half to go down by 36 points and they have to be disappointed with their last three weeks of footy after a good patch of form in the middle of the season.
The Swans have given themselves too much to do in a bid to play finals football in 2025.
Four wins in the last five weeks keep their slim chances alive to extend their season beyond August but none of those wins have been convincing or against quality opposition.
North has lost their last 21 straight games off a six day turn around and it’s tough to Sydney losing but they are far too short in the market.
Cam Zurhaar eight goals in the last four weeks and that’s the way I’m playing this one.
Both of these teams have a single win in their last five games of football and I’m unsure how good the quality will be on Saturday night at the MCG.
Patrick Cripps seems to be the only player in navy blue that is providing consistent effort and this hasn’t been his best season to say the least.
Carlton has their injury concerns but they are seemingly a long way off the mark of finals football, something that would have been a goal at the start of the season.
The form that saw Melbourne win five from six in the middle part of the season has fallen away and despite their win over North Melbourne in Round 18, they are only just going.
The Blues have covered the line in their last eight straight home games against Melbourne and if they play with any sort of effort, they are a winning chance.
It has been another nightmare season for the West Coast Eagles with just a solitary win to their name in season 2025.
A renewed energy was present in the first half against the Power last weekend but they suffered their 16th loss of their campaign when all was said and done.
Richmond recorded their fourth win of the season against Essendon in one of the worst games of football anyone has witnessed in a number of seasons.
I’m not expecting this game to be much more entertaining but the fact that Richmond have lost their last 13 straight away games has me siding with the Eagles.
Having lost to the Brisbane Lions three weeks prior, the Cats were again beaten by another contender in the GWS Giants on the weekend.
There has to be massive concerns about their ability to beat top opponents and questions over whether they are simply flat track bullies.
Scoring isn’t an issue for Geelong but they continue to put themselves in situations where the game becomes a shoot out.
Despite 10 more hitouts than the Giants, GWS had 12 more clearances, seven of which was from the center.
St Kilda lost their 12th game of the season against Sydney albeit by a small five point margin in round 18.
Despite a number of losses in a row, the margin in these games has been minimal which gives some cause for hope going forward.
The Cats have the easiest run home of any team in the competition and this is a must win at home on Sunday afternoon.
Fremantle isn’t winning by big margins but as long as they keep their momentum it doesn’t matter!
They have a 5-2 record over teams that are currently in the top eight after an impressive victory over Hawthorn last weekend and sit in eighth spot on 11 wins.
One of those losses came against Collingwood in Round 9 at Optus Stadium despite the Pies having 28 fewer inside 50s on the night.
Collingwood suffered their first loss in a number of weeks against the Gold Coast last weekend despite a last quarter surge that saw them get within a goal of the Suns at the final siren.
The Pies have won 12 of their last 13 games at the MCG and I’m predicting that trend to continue.
The second of two finals shaping games on Sunday takes place at the Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide sit in third position, a game clear of Geelong in fourth, and are on a three game winning streak which includes the Western Bulldogs last weekend.
There is no lack of attacking prowess for the Crows with Riley Thilthorpe booting 39 goals (sixth in AFL), Darcy Fogarty has 34 (10th), Ben Keays 27 (23rd) and Taylor Walker 26 (26th).
And only Geelong has scored more points this season.
The Suns produced their biggest win of the season by beating Collingwood in Round 18, a timely four points against the premiership favourites.
They are shooting for their fourth win in a row and will need to continue their winning ways with one of the toughest draws to close out the season.
Gold Coast have not one in their last 11 trips to the Adelaide Oval and this may be too big a challenge in my opinion.