2019 Multicultural AFL TV and Radio Show - Round 19

Multicultural AFL TV Show Panel with AFL Trainees

The Multicultural AFL Football TV and Radio Show – Round 19

By Fiv Antoniou

24/7/2019

NEMBC Live matchday broadcast this week in MANDARIN: 

St. Kilda v. Melbourne from Marvel Stadium, 

Saturday 7:15 pm EST on 3ZZZ Digital online.

Last week the Essendon Bombers blitzed the Adelaide Crows in a come from behind victory. Richmond did the job on Port Adelaide, Fremantle squeezed in by a point against the unlucky Swans, Carlton exacted revenge on the under-performing Suns, the GWS Giants steamrolled Collingwood - it was all over for the Magpies in the first quarter 50 points to 7 -, Hawthorn humbled the Cats by four goals, while West Coast in Alice Springs just got over the line to defeat the Demons. Ratten’s Saints played all over the Doggies for a much needed victory and the Brisbane Lions are now sitting second on the ladder after disposing of the “Roos” last weekend!

The top 8 are still quite fluid and nothing is set as yet. Teams that earlier this year showed a lot of promise have come down a notch or two like the Eagles, Cats, Magpies, and Adelaide. On the rise have been the Bombers, Hawks and the Brisbane Lions soaring with a bullet. What side is going to be in or out of September action? I would hate to speculate, let alone guess which team will emerge as Premiership favourites. I have a feeling the ‘interim coach’ clubs, North Melbourne, St. Kilda and Carlton, will have a big influence on who eventually gets in the 8 or not.

Enough speculation, the business at hand is round 19 which commences with Friday night Footy from the MCG. This is going to be a huge game as the Magpies take on the Tigers. Desperate footy all round from both teams as a win will put the victor into the top 4 one game clear of the other. Four weeks ago you would have backed the Magpies to roll all over the Tigers, but now it may be the reverse as Collingwood faces going out of the 4 and Richmond with an opportunity to go into the top 4. In front of over 80,000 spectators, the in-form Tigers will win by a narrow 7 points.

Saturday’s fixture will kick-off from Launceston with the Hawks hosting the Brisbane Lions. The Lions have been winning games home and away this year and are currently second on the ladder, one game behind the leaders, Geelong. It’s a big ask for Hawthorn to win this one as it will certainly be more difficult than their last match against the Cats at the MCG. Brisbane has to keep winning on the road and this match is no exception, it will be close, tough and physical, but by the final siren, the Lions will be on their way to playing finals footy with an emphatic victory over the Hawks.

Carlton plays the Adelaide Crows from the MCG on Saturday afternoon. The Blues have rested Charlie Curnow for the rest of the year hoping his knee mends before next year’s season opener. With or without the younger Curnow it will be an interesting game, to say the least, as the Blues these days are playing good enough to knock off the Crows. The West Coast Eagles in Perth encounter a somewhat in-form North Melbourne, but don’t hold your breath the Roos will have a mountain to climb and they may fall short. The Eagles with their home ground advantage will win!

St. Kilda under new interim coach Brett Ratten had a good start last week and will be looking to improve against the Melbourne Demons. I think the Saints have a great coach in Brett Ratten and should confirm his permanency rather than looking at Brad Scott or anyone else to lead their team next year. Saturday night’s game will be entertaining and at the moment I can’t separate these two sides at all. I will go with the curse of the ‘interim coaches’ and the Sainter’s fighting spirit against the Dogs last week. St. Kilda to win over a disappointing Melbourne side for season 2019.

The last game on Saturday night will be from the Adelaide Oval where Port Adelaide take on the GWS Giants. Port will have to make a miraculous turn-around from their losses in the past few weeks to take this game out. Rather a difficult task, as the Giants will be out to consolidate their position in the top 8 and will prevail.

Sunday’s matches range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Starting with the ridiculous first, the Gold Coast Suns at home play the Essendon Bombers. If ever there was a sure thing – the Bombers by a huge percentage building margin!

The Western Bulldogs encounter Fremantle at Marvel Stadium. Two sides that are evenly matched, although Freo have been woeful lately, the Bulldogs are out to sneak into the top 8 at the expense of the Dockers. Western Bulldogs to reach home by a narrow margin. The last game on Sunday is between the Sydney Swans who were unlucky to lose to Fremantle by a point and the Geelong Cats who had a bad day out at the hands of the Hawks last Sunday. The way both these sides are travelling right now any one of them can play exceptional footy on the day. Top of the AFL ladder, Geelong has more to lose, so the Cats will have to score a big victory to keep their top spot intact.

That’s it from me, catch you next week with more comment and tips.

Round 19, I am picking: Richmond, Hawthorn, Carlton, West Coast, St.Kilda, GWS Giants, Fremantle, Geelong and Essendon (Progressive tip score: 97) Leading AFL tipster(s) from the AGE have 95 and from Foxtel 92.

NEMBC Live match day broadcast this week in MANDARIN: St. Kilda v. Melbourne, from Marvel Stadium,Saturday7:15 pm EST on 3ZZZ Digital online.

To listen or download our regular weekly podcast, visit the NEMBC website, or NEMBC Soundcloud. The Multicultural AFL Footy Show is also available in English all around Australia on the Community Radio Network. The AFL News podcasts are available in Arabic, Sudanese-Dinka, Hindi, Greek, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish languages. You can view the Multicultural AFL Football TV Show on C31 Melbourne and Geelong on Thursdays at 7:30 pm, C44 Adelaide Friday 6:00 pm, on Aurora–Foxtel at 11:30 am Saturdays and on YouTube. 

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