AFL Round 23 My Preview
Round 23 is the penultimate weekend of the regular season. I’m expecting it to be an exciting one. There are home finals on the line for some teams and top four spots up for grabs. For the lowly teams there is still something to play for. A win for them would make them have something to work with in preseason and give them belief. The Saints proved last weekend against the Hawks that winning isn’t everything; they clearly played for the coach and executed the game plan; all that was missing was the four points!
My choice of a definite winner for this Round: Magpies
Friday Night Game
Power v Bombers
Both sides need to bounce back from their losses in round 22.
Key matchup: Ollie Wines v Zach Merrett
Power Game Changer: Justin Westhoff
Bombers Game Changer: Dyson Heppell
My Prediction: Bombers
Saturday Games
Cats v Suns
The Cats had a resounding win last Saturday over the Dockers, while the Suns nearly pinched a victory against the Lions.
Key matchup: Tim Kelly v Touk Miller
Cats Game Changer: Sam Menegola
Suns Game Changer: Lachie Weller
My Prediction: Suns
Tigers v Bulldogs
The Tigers are the team to beat, while the Bulldogs have been performing well of recent times.
Key matchup: Trent Cotchin v Jack Macrae
Tigers Game Changer: Josh Caddy
Bulldogs Game Changer: Jack Macrae
My Prediction: Bulldogs
Dockers v Magpies
The Dockers need to bounce back and show some spirit this weekend, while the Magpies need to win to keep their hopes of a home final in the first week of September
Key matchup: Sean Darcy v Brodie Grundy
Dockers Game Changer: Nat Fyfe
Magpies Game Changer: Brodie Grundy
My Prediction: Magpies
Saturday Night Games
Blues v Crows
The Blues need the four points so that they can have something to take into preseason, while the Crows would have this game pencilled in as a win.
Key matchup: Patrick Cripps v Rory Sloane
Blues Game Changer: Marc Murphy
Crows Game Changer: Matt Crouch
My Prediction: Blues
Swans v Hawks
The winner of this contest will finish in the top four; that’s assuming that the game isn’t a draw!
Key matchup: Josh P. Kennedy v Tom Mitchell
Swans Game Changer: Luke Parker
Hawks Game Changer: Tom Mitchell
My Prediction: Swans
Sunday Games
Lions v Eagles
The Eagles need to guarantee hosting a home final and finishing in the top two.
Key matchup: Dayne Beams v Jack Redden
Lions Game Changer: Stefan Martin
Eagles Game Changer: Chris Masten
My Prediction: Eagles
Demons v Giants
The winner of the Demons game against the Giants will host a final in the first weekend of September.
Key matchup: Max Gawn v Rory Lobb
Demons Game Changer: Angus Brayshaw
Giants Game Changer: Callan Ward
My Prediction: Demons
Saints v Kangaroos
The Saints and Kangaroos will fight it out in a game that doesn’t mean anything on paper, but the winner could have something to take into their preseason as far as morale is concerned.
Key matchup: Jack Steven v Ben Cunnington
Saints Game Changer: Sebastian Ross
Kangaroos Game Changer: Shaun Higgins
My Prediction: Saints