Welcome to The Profits round 9 analysis with Drew and Euan.
You can find Full teams from the AFL website here – www.afl.com.au
You can find an up to date Injury List here – http://www.injuryupdate.com.au/afl-injury-list.php
Western Bulldogs ($5.25) vs Geelong Cats ($1.16) – Friday 7:50pm EST – 25/05/2012
Recent clashes: Geelong 23.10 (148) d Western Bulldogs 13.9 (87), round 11, 2011 at Simonds Stadium
Game preview: We believe this opening game could be a close one. Considering their form it is a distinct possibility that the Western Bulldogs could beat Geelong. Both teams are sitting at 4-4 after 8 rounds so a Bulldogs win would put them ahead of Geelong on the ladder! While there is a chance of an upset common sense tells me to pick the Cats.
Geelong by 35 points
Line: Geelong -29.5
Richmond ($3.65) vs Hawthorn ($1.28) – Saturday 1:45pm AEST – 26/05/2012
Recent clashes: Hawthorn 17.13 (115) d Richmond 6.16 (52), round three, 2011 at the MCG
Game preview: As well as Richmond is playing the Hawks are playing better. The Tigers will have to wait until they meet some of the lower teams to start amassing premiership points. The Hawks will probably win but it won’t be without a fight.
Hawthorn by 11 points
Line: Richmond +22.5
Gold Coast Suns ($2.60) vs Port Adelaide ($1.50) – Saturday 2:10pm EST – 26/05/2012
Recent clashes: Gold Coast 15.14 (104) d Port Adelaide 15.11 (101), round five, 2011, at AAMI Stadium
Game preview: Apart from the supporters of both these teams nobody really cares who wins or loses. You have to give Gold Coast every chance as neither team is doing well. Port Adelaide somehow pipped North Melbourne on the post last week so they might be favourites going into this game. But with the game being at Metricon one should not really discount Gold Coast completely.
Gold Coast Coast by 16
Line: Gold Coast Suns +13.5
St Kilda ($2.00) vs Sydney Swans ($1.80) – Saturday 4:40pm EST – 26/05/2012
Recent clashes: Sydney Swans 12.10 (82) d St Kilda 8.9 (56), Elimination Final, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
Game preview: This is a very interesting game and a difficult one from which to pick a winner even though the Saints lost to West Coast and Sydney thrashed Melbourne. Sydney travel to Melbourne to play the Saints at home. Both teams have reasonable form and I’m reluctant to pick against the Sydney Swans in what should be a close game.
St Kilda by 10 points
Line: St Kilda +2.5
Greater Western Sydney Giants ($17.00) vs Essendon ($1.01) – Saturday 7:40pm EST – 26/05/2012
Recent clashes: First meeting
Game preview: The Giants opened their new stadium this week and unfortunately they meet a red hot Essendon who is likely to give them a mother of a thrashing! The Bombers sit 2nd on the ladder due only to a lower percentage but I think this will be rectified this week and they will finish round 9 in top ladder position.
Essendon by 100+ points
Line: Essendon -70.5
Adelaide ($1.47) vs Collingwood ($2.70) – Saturday 7:10pm EST – 19/05/2012
Recent clashes: Collingwood 20.15 (135) defeated Adelaide 14.8 (92), round 9, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
Game preview: The game is undoubtedly the match of the round with both teams in excellent winning form although the Pies are suffering some key player injury problems. This game is more a test for Adelaide than Collingwood because the Crows are trying to make us believe that they are premiership contenders this year. A win here means they have beaten both of the grand final teams from last year. A win here also means that nobody will be game to argue that point about a possible premiership!
Adelaide by 22 points
Line: Adelaide -13.5
North Melbourne ($1.27) vs Brisbane Lions ($3.75) – Sunday 1:10pm AEST – 27/05/2012
Recent clashes: North Melbourne 17.20 (122) d Brisbane Lions 11.11 (77), round 18, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
Game preview: It’s been almost impossible to determine what form North Melbourne is going to take into a game. If they take that bewildering form into this game against Brisbane they are just as likely to lose. The Lions won by almost 100 points last week but the opposition was nowhere near as good as North Melbourne will be.
North Melbourne by 32 points
Line: North Melbourne -23.5 points
Melbourne Demons ($9.50) vs Carlton Blues ($1.05) – Sunday 3:15pm AEST – 27/05/2012
Recent clashes: Carlton 21.8 (134) d Melbourne 7.16 (58), round 20, 2011 at the MCG
Game preview: It’s very fortunate that Carlton will be playing Melbourne this week because that match up guarantees that they will stop their slippery slide into oblivion and finally win a game! A huge blow for the Blues with the loss of Murphy for 3 months and that injury will have a bigger impact when Carlton meets better teams than Melbourne. Demon fans have been told to bunker down and maintain support as they go through what can only be described as a horror start to the season. All they can hope for in this game is a margin under 100 points
Carlton by 75 points
Line: Carlton -51.5 points
West Coast Eagles ($1.38) vs Fremantle ($3.05) – Sunday 2:40pm WST – 20/05/2012
Recent clashes: Saints have won 5 of the last 7 including a 21 point win at ES in round 17 last year.
Game preview: The Western Derby really fires up the football supporters in WA and the press has a pretty good week promoting the game and the 2 teams, Fremantle and West Coast, seem to strive that little bit harder to be the top team in Perth until next time they meet. At the moment the Dockers are struggling and West Coast regardless of injuries still sits on top of the ladder. I don’t think any of that will change after this game.
West Coast by 38
Line: West Coast – 18.5
Betting
West Coast 1-39 at $2.25
Geelong -13.5 at 1.40
Richmond +34.5 at 1.50
Essendon -60.5 at 1.56
St Kilda -7.5 at 2.33
Please note
All of the above are the opinions of the author and are not recommendations or advice.
All lines quoted are taken from Centrebet
