The Multicultural AFL Football TV and Radio Show – Round 18

L-R: Vanessa Gatica, Alexya Charalambous, Habir Singh Kang and Gabriel D'Angelo

The Multicultural AFL Football TV and Radio Show – Round 18

By Fiv Antoniou17/7/2019

NEMBC Live Matchday Broadcast this week in HINDI: 

Geelong Cats v. Hawthorn from the MCG, Sunday 1:10pm EST on 3ZZZ Digital on-line.

Last week Collingwood made it back to the winner's circle with a one-point win over the Eagles in Perth. Essendon got lucky against the ‘Roos, Carlton did very well defeating the Swans at the SCG, Hawthorn dismantled the Dockers in Tassie, Richmond rolled the Giants at, where else, the MCG and the real deal Brisbane Lions crushed Port Adelaide in Adelaide. The Bulldogs defeated Melbourne in a lacklustre game, the Gold Coast Suns capitulated to the Crows by a big margin and Geelong did the number on the Saints.

Last but not least, it was coming, Alan Richardson was sacked as the Saints’ coach this week and replaced with interim coach Brett Ratten. Mind you Brett may have been in Carlton’s sights for the job before Alan’s exit - Anyone else? Brad Scott? Brendon Bolton? - The musical chairs at three clubs have just begun.

Six rounds to go of the home and away season and the AFL League ladder is still very fluid, while West Coast, Geelong and Collingwood look certainties to finish in the top four everything else is up for grabs. Richmond, Essendon and the Brisbane Lions are throwing down the gauntlet to the top teams with the Lions in a better position (3rd on the ladder) than the Bombers or Tigers. North Melbourne, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide are still vying for a place in the 8. The first to flinch will pay the price of missing out in September.

This week, round 18, has the potential to separate which teams are likely to see finals action and which are not, unless of course we get another anomaly in the scores as this round has most teams evenly matched, anyone can win which can be very tough on serious tipsters!

First up on Friday night, the Adelaide Crows at home take on the Essendon Bombers. The only thing that the Crows have for them at this stage is the advantage of playing at home, but Essendon will enter the fray full of confidence. The battle between Eddie Betts and McDonald Tipungwuti may hold the key to victory. When it comes down to the final quarter at the Adelaide Oval and the home crowd kicks in, as we have seen so many times before, the Crows are unstoppable and I have a sneaky suspicion that this may be the case this time round. The Crows to win by 9 points.

Saturday’s game from the MCG, the Tigers play host to Port Adelaide. Richmond are on the rise and are almost back to the form that won them a premiership a couple of years ago. Port Power are losing power all over the place and I don’t really believe that they have what it takes to beat Richmond at home. The Tigers to romp this one in. On the other side of town at Marvel Stadium, the Blues take on the Gold Coast Suns. Last time these sides met in round 4 the Suns just stole a win on the last kick of the day but not this time. Carlton have won three out of their last 5 games and the two they lost were by less than a goal. The Blues are playing exceptional football and it’s going to be pay-back time. Carlton to decimate the Suns!

The GWS Giants at home take on Collingwood. Tough game as both sides have long injury lists. The Magpies want to hold their tentative spot in the top four while the Giants aim to stop their recent decline in form. I was impressed by the Magpies coming from behind to beat the Eagles in Perth last week and I suspect, unlike GWS, they shall retain that form and take victory. Brisbane Lions at home to North Melbourne is another difficult one to predict as both sides are playing good footy. The Lions have impressed lately and will continue to do so with another win at the  Gabba. The Lions to hang onto that third place.

Last game on Saturday, Fremantle in Perth play the Sydney Swans. Interesting game, I would like to see Fremantle do well but we know the Swans play their best football away from home and I am going to stick with that fact. Sydney for the win!

Geelong v. Hawthorn from the MCG on Sunday afternoon is going to be a thriller because the history and rivalry between these two sides can bring on a war. It will be a close, hard fought game, but the Cats have too much to lose, so they will prevail and hold on to top spot. Melbourne plays West Coast in the NT and should see the Eagles win comfortably on the road.

St. Kilda, with new coach ‘Rats’ (Brett Ratten) at the helm, may give this game some life and scare the Western Bulldogs but the status quo will be restored very quickly and, new coach or not, the Saints have too many injuries and will eventually succumb to the Dogs. Woof Woof!!   

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

Round 18, I am picking: Adelaide, Richmond, Carlton, Collingwood, Brisbane, Sydney, Geelong, West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs. (Progressive tip score: 92) Top AFL tipster(s) form the AGE have 89 and from Foxtel 87.

NEMBC Live matchday broadcast this week in HINDI: Geelong Cats v. Hawthorn from the MCG, Sunday 1:10 pm EST on 3ZZZ Digital on-line.

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. 

For all enquiries please email: operations@nembc.org.au