What a season we’ve had so far!

It’s been unpredictable, unbelievable and at times … unwatchable. But that’s mainly just North Melbourne games. 

The Roos are still winless after seven attempts, while the Cats haven’t dropped a single match over the same period of time. 

Geelong looks like the team to beat, having made another statement to the footy world with a big win over Carlton at the weekend. 

The rest of the competition is chasing them, although some sides could get a lot closer with a huge round of high-profile rivalry matchups coming up this weekend. 

Are we set to be surprised again? Let’s find out. 

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Games To Watch

Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval, Thursday Night)

Showdown 58 is set to be a blockbuster. 

The game always means so much to the state of South Australia, but you get a sense it’s more important for the Crows fans this time around. 

Adelaide started the season by losing all four of its opening games, but have all of sudden turned their season around, winning two of the last three. 

They’re coming off a 57-point belting of North Melbourne down in Tasmania, with a number of star players back in top form. 

If they can find a way to record an upset win here, they’ll bring their season tally to 3-5 and keep the hope of finals alive. A loss, and it’s pretty much over. 

They’ll be confident the win is possible too, having beaten Port Adelaide both times in 2023 and the side without a couple of its star players.

Port Adelaide will be missing Aliir Alirr with concussion and Sam Powell-Pepper with a season-ending ACL injury. Remarkably though, skipper Connor Rozee is set to play after overcoming a hamstring injury he suffered last week.

Port has won five of their seven matches this season and have shown they’re good enough to finish top four come season’s end. 

Prediction

It’s a tough one to call. Set to be tight and tough, as per usual with these Showdowns. But Port’s injuries and Adelaide’s momentum could see an upset occur here.

Calling an upset — Adelaide by three points. 

Carlton vs. Collingwood (MCG, Friday Night)

In a weekend of rivalry matchups, it doesn’t get much bigger than this. 

The pair of traditional enemies meet at almost the perfect time too. Carlton have won five of their seven games this season, losing to the undefeated Geelong in a gallant effort last week. Collingwood overcame a shocking start to the season, winning three in a row before their draw with Essendon last round. 

The question marks, however, remain over both Carlton and Collingwood. 

Carlton conceded 98 points to Greater Western Sydney, 100 in the loss to Adelaide, and gave up 18 goals to Geelong in the 13-point loss. 

“We’ve conceded 118 points and that’s just too much,” Michael Voss said post-game. 

Collingwood’s concerns are more around their midfield’s consistency, particularly with some of their veteran players. 

Scott Pendlebury has made some uncharacteristic errors this season, Steele Sidebottom has struggled to gain form, Tom Mitchell has been subbed out on a few occasions and Jack Crisp only managed 11 touches last week. 

Both sides will be keen to prove all doubters wrong this Friday night, while the footy world watches one of the most anticipated games of the year. 

Prediction

Another game that is difficult to call. Collingwood goes in as slight underdogs due to their 3-3 record, although they’ve beaten Carlton three of the last four times they’ve clashed. The Blues have had inconsistent patches and are still hard to trust at 5-2. In saying that, they should still have the firepower to get over the line here. Just.

Carlton by 10 points.

Sydney vs. GWS (SCG, Saturday Afternoon)

There is a bit of spice in the 27th edition of the Sydney Derby this week. 

Not only are both sides a genuine premiership contenders, looking to claim the top spot on the ladder come round’s end, but they don’t seem to like each other either.

“They’re a bit smug,” GWS defender Sam Taylor said this week.

““There is a lot of dislike and once we get on the field, we want to beat them, we want to smack them and come home with the win.”

Taylor is expected to be one of three big-name inclusions this week after missing two games due to concussion. He’ll be joined by skipper Toby Greene and Stephen Coniglio.

GWS have lost just one game this season and are coming off a 54-point thumping of Brisbane. 

The Swans share the same win-loss record, losing only to Richmond at the MCG in one of the upsets of the year a few rounds ago. 

In their most recent outing, Sydney flexed its muscles at the MCG to come away with a huge 76-point win over Hawthorn.

Never before have the Swans and Giants met with both sides sitting so high on the ladder. It’s set to be a huge contest that will reveal a whole lot about both teams. 

Prediction

Both sides are sitting 6-1, just four points off top spot. GWS looks marginally better, and hasn’t really put a foot wrong other than the loss to Carlton a couple of weeks back. Could be close, but Giants should do enough.

GWS by 15 points.

West Coast Eagles vs. Essendon Bombers

Last Week

West Coast lost by 37 points to Gold Coast, but were gallant in their efforts. 

After winning consecutive games against Richmond and Fremantle, West Coast put in a decent performance on the weekend. They led the home team at quarter time, and trailed by just three points at the main break, although it was the third term where Gold Coast kicked away. 

Adam Simpson’s men had been so good with their work in the contest over the past month, but were beaten in those areas at People First Stadium. 

Gold Coast controlled the match for most of the day, but West Coast showed they were at least good enough to stay in touching distance and compete.

“I did see a bit of resilience in the group,” Simpson said post match. 

“We will look at this as a learning game. It won’t be ‘bring your mouthguards on Monday’, but we’ve got to get better at the contest part.”

This Week

West Coast face Essendon this week at Optus Stadium, who are coming off a taxing draw to Collingwood on ANZAC day. 

The Bombers fought out one of the most entertaining games of the season to finish the round in seventh place with four wins and two losses, to go along with their tie. 

Essendon captain Zach Merrett won the Anzac medal for his best-on-ground performance, while Darcy Parish, Kyle Langford and Andrew McGrath were also impressive. 

The team has been one of the stories of the year too, with inconsistent performances and mixed expectations from the club and its fans. 

They’re expected to win against West Coast this Saturday night, but an upset loss wouldn’t be a massive shock. The Bombers beat West Coast by just one point the last time they met, and West Coast are a much better team this time around. 

Talking Points

Contest, contest, contest.

That just has to be the focus this week. 

The Eagles were so good in that area during their two wins this season, but let themselves down against the Suns. 

Gold Coast won the contested possession count 148-111, clearances 48-31, ground balls 49-60 and tackles 80-66.

They also allowed Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell to combine for 22 clearances between them, while ruckman Jarrod Witts was the best player on the ground with 10 clearances of his own. 

It resulted in 32 less inside 50s than they’re opponents, which made it hard to compete after half time. 

Adam Simpson mentioned they may have run out of legs, stating they, “looked pretty fatigued halfway through the third”. But they can ill afford to let it happen against Essendon. 

Essendon smashed Collingwood in clearances (40-23), centre clearances (19-8) and contested possessions (134-113). 

If West Coast allow similar numbers, they’ll have no hope of winning. 

Jake and Jack

The two big forwards, of Jake Waterman and Jack Darling, are working well for the Eagles.

Waterman is in the form of his life, slotting another four goals last week to place him third in the Coleman Medal race with 21 for the season. 

Darling, on the other hand, is continuing to work hard inside the arc to either mark the ball, bring it to ground, or occupy a key defender while Waterman leads. 

He also kicked two goals on the weekend, taking him past Peter Sumich into second place on the club’s all-time goal-kicking table with 516. 

The partnership is operating effectively, and also allowing the likes of Jack Petruccelle and Jamie Cripps to contribute when floating inside 50. 

If the Eagles can get it down there enough times, they know the forward line can do some damage. 

Yeo’s show

Elliott Yeo will run out for his 200th game this weekend in the best form of his career. 

The 30-year-old is injury-free and averaging career-highs in possessions and clearances. He’s also laying nearly six tackles per game and has kicked five goals from the midfield. 

It’s been a great sight for West Coast fans to see the premiership star burst from packs, after a number of injuries in recent times had them doubting his footy future. 

“He’s reminded a lot of people about how good a footballer he is, and how much his body let him down the last few years,” teammate Jeremy McGovern said this week. 

“I’m stoked for him to get to 200. I’m sure he’s got plenty more in him.”

The return of Harley Reid should help him out this round also, after the No.1 draft pick was rested last week. 

Reid’s big body has made a huge impact in the middle of the ground already this season, and his influence may allow West Coast to get back to their contested best against Essendon. 

Prediction

An upset win for the Eagles isn’t out of the question, but Essendon is a much better side. Can’t really tip against them here.

Essendon by 18 points.

Fremantle Dockers vs. Richmond Tigers

Last Week

Fremantle fans can breathe a sigh of relief after finally registering a win for the first time in a month. 

The Dockers beat the Bulldogs by 24 points, kicking over 90 points for just the third time this season. 

Fremantle were also elite in the midfield, with the duo of Nat Fyfe and Caleb Serong combining for an incredible 74 possessions and 24 clearances.

While the home side was the better team for the majority of the contest, the game was still alive late in the final term, before Bailey Banfield slotted two consecutive goals to ice the match. 

The win was Fremantle’s fourth for the season, putting them in eighth spot on the ladder, and it feels like things are back on track after a mini-crisis. 

“I thought we played as a team with the right mindset,” Justin Longmuir said post-match.

The supporters are hoping that mindset will help them play some consistent footy for the remainder of the season. They’re still having nightmares about that Western Derby loss a couple of weeks back.

This Week

Fremantle takes on the wounded Tigers at the MCG this Sunday. 

Richmond has arguably the worst injury list in the AFL, missing a host of key stars that has resulted in them picking up just one win this season. 

Richmond’s most recent game resulted in a big defeat to Melbourne last Wednesday night in the ANZAC Day Eve match. The side went down by 43 points after managing just five goals for the game. 

Fremantle won’t want to treat them lightly though. 

Despite their lowly position of 16th on the ladder, Richmond has been competitive in almost every game they’ve played this year and defeated one of the premiership favourites in Sydney a few weeks back. 

Richmond has only lost once to Fremantle over the last seven times they’ve played.

Fremantle should win, but it could be a ‘danger game’ away from home. 

Talking Points

Banfield Barometer  

Bailey Banfield has constantly been the whipping boy for Fremantle, but supporters should lay off him after last week’s performance. 

He became the unlikely hero with two consecutive goals in the final term to seal the game, making it three for the match to go alongside his 22 disposals and 17 pressure acts. 

He did register 0.4 in Freo’s loss to West Coast a week earlier, but proved he’s able to learn from his mistakes and handle the critics. 

“To stand up under pressure and deliver when we needed it is great,” Justin Longmuir said post game.

It’s been a big turnaround for the 26-year-old too, after fighting hard to keep his spot in the side. He’s now almost a barometer for the team, and gives maximum effort every time he’s out there. 

He’ll be hoping for another big performance this week to prove his consistency.

Let’s see if he can produce. 

High Fyfe performance 

Nat Fyfe is back! Or at least it looks that way. 

The dual Brownlow Medallist picked up 37 disposals, seven clearances and one goal in the team’s 24-point win over the Western Bulldogs, which was his highest possession count since round 13, 2019.

After struggling with four injury-plagued seasons, fans weren’t hopeful we’d see the Fyfe ‘of old’ ever again. But after a trip to India in the offseason and a solid start to the year, things are looking promising. 

“I lost a lot of confidence. Felt like I was trying absolutely everything that we could … Western medicine got to the end of that,” Fyfe said post-game.

“Went to India, did a bunch of things over there and I found a few people here in Perth, helping me with my healing journey and helping me to get more confidence with my body, which helps my craft.”

If Fyfe and Serong can get on top in the midfield once again, along with Andrew Brayshaw who had 30 possessions of his own last week, Richmond won’t have a chance. 

Let’s see if it can be another high Fyfe performance. 

Goals win games

In three of Fremantle’s four wins this season, they’ve kicked over 90 points. The exception was the victory over Adelaide, although they kept the Crows to just four goals for the game with their brilliant backline. 

We all know the Fremantle defence is elite, but question marks have remained over their ability to kick goals. 

At the weekend, they proved they could slot a decent score. They achieved 95 points for the game, with Banfield, Josh Tracy, Luke Jackson and Michael Frederick kicking multiples. Even debutant key forward Patrick Voss got on the scoreboard with an impressive performance. 

The unfortunate thing for Freo, is scores like this are uncommon, and having key forwards perform well has been an issue. 

Richmond’s backline is depleted and their midfield inefficiencies should allow Fremantle to get it inside 50 often. 

The fans will be hoping for another big score to get some goal-kicking momentum for the remainder of the season. 

PREDICTION

Richmond at the MCG is unpredictable, but the Dockers must win if they really want to make a play at finals this season. They’ll surely be able to handle the Tigers with the amount of key players they’re missing.

Fremantle by 10 points.

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