AFL Round 7 will be key in determining the pecking order of the top 7 teams on the ladder as Port Adelaide will battle West Coast at the Adelaide Oval, and Richmond looks to bounce back at Etihad against the Western Bulldogs, who also lost last week. Round 7 will start with Friday night footy, as GWS is up on Friday night for the second week in a row, taking on the young St. Kilda Saints. Here is your full preview for the round.
St. Kilda vs. GWS Giants (Friday at Etihad Stadium)
The 5-1 Giants have found form and look very difficult to beat. Although St. Kilda has momentum in their own right, the 3-3 Saints have struggled to find consistency this season and have dropped three straight against the Giants. The Giants forward line and a solid defense that gets Phil Davis back in the backline are the key to their success, and although key forward Toby Greene is missing because of a suspension Jon Patton and Jeremy Cameron should be able to pick up the slack. Nick Riewoldt, Josh Bruce and company will be able to get marks forward as well, but I trust GWS backline more than St. Kilda, and that should give the Giants a key advantage in this one. Saints midfielder Jack Steele is facing his old club this week in an interesting subplot. Giants by 24
North Melbourne vs. Adelaide Crows (Saturday in Tasmania)
North Melbourne won their first game of the season last week, but the Crows are undefeated and are shredding teams on both sides of the ball. The Crows look likely to run a young North side ragged to win their third straight against the Kangaroos. North Melbourne’s backline is simply not good enough to contain Tex Walker, Eddie Betts, and the rest of the Crows potent attack. Everything would have to go wrong for Adelaide to lose this one. Crows by 68
Collingwood vs. Carlton (Saturday at the MCG)
This traditional rivalry will be played for more than pride this week as both clubs are looking to move to 3-4 on the season, to stay within striking distance of top 8. Collingwood has won seven of the last eight against the Blues and more is expected of this team than Carlton’s young list, but the upset minded Blues have won two big games this season and their backline including NAB Rising Star nominee Caleb Marchbank, Sam Docherty, Alex Silvagni, and Kade Simpson will look to keep a Magpies forward line in check that has struggled to convert and kick goals this season. The Pies get Jordan De Goey back and they’ll need his presence, but Alex Fasolo and Darcy Moore are likely more important. Collingwood still has a clear midfield edge, and they should have enough to pip a win here, particularly after shocking the Cats last week. Magpies by 23
Port Adelaide vs. West Coast (Saturday at Adelaide Oval)
West Coast has won two straight against the Power, and this is a separation game for both teams, one of whom will move to 5-2. Travis Boak comes back for the Power, and as the dark horses of the competition they haven’t gotten as much of the spotlight through seven rounds. Port can score at an efficient rate though, and also though West Coast has their own guns like Josh Kennedy and Elliot Yeo, I back the two Gray’s (Robbie and Sam), plus Charlie Dixon, Jackson Trengrove, and young Sam Powell-Pepper to generate enough goals to snatch a win at home in front of supporters. I have more confidence in Port than I do West Coast right now, and I have the Power winning their third straight. Power by 13
Gold Coast Suns vs. Geelong Cats (Saturday at Metricon Stadium)
After two weeks of promise. the Suns have dropped two straight and look to be falling down the ladder, rather than climbing up it. Geelong dropped their first game last week after cutting it close in previous matches. The Cats dropped Tom Stewart this week, while Brandon Parfitt, one of their most promising youngsters, will be out for a while with an injury, and Sam Menegola is also omitted. In their place, Daniel Menzel returns and the entire Geelong side, particularly Dangerfield and Selwood, along with their forwards including Tom Hawkins will need to improve if they are going to get back to their winning ways.
Despite Gary Ablett’s massive performance last week the Suns still came up short and although this side has plenty of talent, they can’t be trusted to be consistent. Look for the Cats to set themselves straight this week. Cats by 37
Western Bulldogs vs Richmond (Saturday at Etihad Stadium)
Despite the fact the Tigers are 5-1, the thumping they got at the hands of the Crows last week would suggest the Bulldogs at 4-2 are better positioned to grab the win here. This is a somewhat even matchup but the Tigers will be without Dion Prestia and have lost three straight against the Dogs. With Reece Conca and Toby Nankervis also out, a reduction in list quality should be too much for Richmond to overcome. That’s assuming the Bulldogs can finally kick some goals and the likes of Jake Stringer and Liam Picken can start converting possessions into major points. Bulldogs by 17
Sydney Swans vs. Brisbane Lions (Sunday at the SCG)
Despite the fact the Swans are struggling and winless, having had a miserable time in the midfield and kicking goals, Brisbane, which is missing captain Dayne Beams this week, got thumped last week and is probably in worse shape than the Swans, who will soon be playing with nothing to lose, and will hopefully give it their all this week. Although Gary Rohan is out for the Swans, I see them responding to adversity and getting their first win, in large part because the Lions defense is not the most impressive and they have a poor recent history against Sydney. Swans by 38
Melbourne vs. Hawthorn (Sunday at the MCG)
The Hawks have won 13 of the last 14 against Melbourne but at 1-5 Hawthorn looks to be in miserable shape and are underdogs against the Dees who at 3-3 are battling to stay in the top 8. The Demons will be reinforced by the return of forward Jesse Hogan this week, while Jordan Lewis is taking on his old club, where he remains a fond memory for Hawks supporters, and perhaps could have helped the Hawks prevent the disaster that has been this season. Lewis, along with Jack Watts, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney and the rest of the Demons midfield should prove enough to surpass a Hawks side that has struggled to produce goals and looked slow all season. Melbourne’s control of the pill will be key. Demons by 25
Fremantle vs. Essendon (Sunday at Domain Stadium)
Winners of three straight vs. the Bombers, the Dockers are glad to be playing at home and could really use a win as they struggled last week, the Bombers doing the same in a losing outing where their goal kicking was horrible. The Dockers need a strong first quarter and will look for Lachie Neal and Nat Fyfe to step up, while Jobe Watson, and Andrew McGrath are out for the Bombers who are also 3-3. These are two sides that were incredibly poor last year and are clearly much improved this season. They still struggle to find consistency though, and the veterans on both sides will be key to determining the winner. That said, unless Joe Daniher finds his kicking form, the Dockers should edge this one. Look for Shane Kersten and Cam McCarthy to be their primary goal kickers. Dockers by 13
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