The Multicultural AFL Football TV and Radio Show – Round 20

L-R: Vanessa Gatica, Habir Singh Kang, Gabriel D'Angelo, Eugene Hawryszko and Terry Daniher

The Multicultural AFL Football TV and Radio Show – Round 20

By Fiv Antoniou

31/7/2019

Last week saw a further setback for the Magpies going down to the Tigers by 32 points, Brisbane continued on their merry way to the top by comprehensively defeating the Hawks in Tassie, Carlton with a rampaging Patrick Cripps on his way to a Brownlow, sent the Adelaide Crows packing with a deficit of 28 points. Over in the Perth, the Eagles annihilated the Kangaroos, while from Marvel Stadium St. Kilda prevailed over the Demons with an emphatic last quarter performance and the GWS Giants got home by a solitary point over Port Power in Adelaide.

Sunday saw the Bulldogs roll over the Fremantle Dockers, Geelong were too good for the Swans at the SCG and Essendon just got over the line in the last couple of minutes of the match and avoided humiliation after the Gold Coast Suns held the lead for most of the day.

I predicted last week that the three teams with interim coaches, North Melbourne , Carlton and St. Kilda would have a big influence on the makeup of the final 8. It is unfolding as each week goes past. All three will not make the final 8 but can beat any team inside the 8 given their resurgence in their second half of the season. If one looks at Carlton’s tight losing results of 2 games by 4 points, one game by 3 points and 2 other games by a goal or less they would be near the top by now. It’s not a joke or speculation, you work out the Math!

Similar to the Blues, if North and the Saints had 3 or 4 tight results during the year go their way, they too would be in the top 4 by now. Over the last four home and away rounds left for the year, the current top 8 sides would be shaking in their boots at the prospect of playing those three teams so close to the finals. The ensuing results could very well change the presumed finals landscape in a blink of an eye!

Round 20 will be a defining moment for many teams aspiring to finish in the final 8. Friday night football comes alive as North Melbourne take on Hawthorn from Marvel Stadium. Both teams are coming off heavy losses and have little chance of making the 8 so they will be playing for pride and, in particular, the Roos will also be playing for their new coach Rhyce Shaw. It is a difficult game to pick a winner, but I am leaning towards the Roos by 14 points.

On Saturday, also from Marvel Stadium, Essendon host Port Adelaide. The Bombers didn’t set the world on fire just getting over the line from the Gold Coast cellar dwellers. This game may not be such a foregone conclusion as Port just lost by an unlucky point against the Giants. I am going to pick the Power to prevail just on sheer desperation.

In other games on Saturday, the GWS Giants at home in Western Sydney play the Sydney Swans in the local derby for bragging rights. The Giants are now almost guaranteed finals footy in September so they would be out to win and get a percentage booster for an opportunity to play a home finals game. The Swans on the other hand, which I may add play better away than at home, need to rebuild for next year and a win, loss or draw will be valuable for their younger inexperienced players. Even though the Swans have nothing to lose, I can’t go past the in-form Giants to win by a substantial margin!

Fremantle at Optus Stadium in Perth host the Geelong Cats. Now, Fremantle have lost quite a few games running hot and cold and therefore don’t have a good record of late. Meeting the Cats travelling from Melbourne to Perth somewhat evens the odds a little, but not enough to spoil the Cat’s victory party. Another defeat to the Dockers and it may be time for their coach Ross Lyon to accept the $1 million payout and depart for greener pastures!

Melbourne vs. Richmond, co-tenants of the “G” – Simple, the Tigers are hitting their straps at the right time of year and Melbourne have been woeful, so it’s the Tigers by a country mile. St. Kilda travel to Adelaide to play the Crows who are still trying to recover from their loss to the Blues last week. This is going to be a tough game and it will test both the St. Kilda players and “Ratts”, but Adelaide has more to lose this time around and with the inclusion of some tried and true stars will do enough at home to finish over the Saints. However, leaving Eddie Betts out of the side again would give Carlton the opportunity to get him back to Ikon Park in the next trading period. Watch this space folks, it’s not just a rumour!

Sunday brings some interesting games to the fore. Injury stricken Collingwood take on the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG. If the Magpies respect their fans they will have to win well if they are to resurrect their finals aspirations. To even entertain the alternative is unthinkable. It may get close and ugly, but Collingwood will be back in the winner’s circle.

Last two games of the weekend come from Marvel Stadium and Brisbane. The West Coast Eagles travel to Melbourne to face the in-form Carlton. This promises to be a fast open game of footy as both sides have quick midfield players and defenders which love running up and down the field causing damage. Carlton gains Matty Cruzer in the ruck, while the Eagles will be without Nic Naitanui. The battles between Josh Kennedy and Liam Jones and between Jeremy McGovern and Levi Casboult, or indeed Harry McKay, are going to be crucial to the final score. The Blues are on a huge roll and, as I mentioned previously, had those close games gone Carlton’s way they would be in the top 4 by now. This game could mean a finals spot demotion for the Eagles, for a hard-fought, fourth win in a row for the Blues.

Last game of the round comes from the ‘Gabbatoir’, the super fortress home  ground (nothing comes out alive) of the Brisbane Lions who encounter the Western Bulldogs on Sunday. The Dogs have been playing good footy and have an opportunity to pounce into the 8, if they happen to beat the Lions! Brisbane has taken all before them this year and are now in equal second place on the AFL ladder, separated only by percentage and waiting for their opponents to blink. The encounter will be close early, but with key players missing, the Western Bulldog challenge will fade and at the end of the day, the Lions on home turf will carry forward another victory.

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

Round 20, I am picking: North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, GWS Giants, Geelong, Richmond, Adelaide, Collingwood, Carlton and Brisbane (Progressive tip score: 106) Leading AFL tipster(s) from the AGE have 101 and from Foxtel 97.

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