What AFL fans want to see in every Round 10 match
Jaidyn Stephenson kicked a torpedo goal from 60m at the MCG last week. Tonight we want to see him have a crack from the centre square. What do you want to see from your club in Round 10?
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We’re almost halfway through the AFL season and the finals picture is starting to become clearer.
We’ve pondered what fans from all 18 clubs will want from Round 10, as well as delving into some of the most memorable meetings between the each of the combatants this weekend.
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What do you want to see from your club this weekend?
Leave a comment below or send us a message on Twitter @superfooty.
SYDNEY V COLLINGWOOD
What Swans fans want to see: George Hewett keeping Adam Treloar to fewer than 20 disposals in a shock Sydney win. Hewett was absolutely superb in the Swans’ victory over North Melbourne with 29 disposals and five tackles but surely will be deployed in shutdown role tonight.
What Collingwood fans want to see: Jaidyn Stephenson unleashing another barrel from the centre square — the smaller dimensions of the SCG will give the Magpies young gun an opportunity to launch from well beyond the 50m arc, as he did against St Kilda.
What we’d like to see: Buddy! We haven’t seen the Swans superstar since he was a late withdrawal ahead of the Sydney derby in Round 6 and he couldn’t pick a better time to return than under the Friday night lights against the Magpies.
Remember the time: Round 10, 1999. Goalkicking legend Tony Lockett leads young Collingwood defender Mal Michael to the ball, kicks his 1300th career goal and is mobbed by jubilant Swans supporters.
Last time: Round 18, 2018 — Sydney 11.7 (73) def Collingwood 10.11 (71) at the SCG.
Betting: Sydney $2.75, Collingwood $1.45
(odds courtesy of TAB)
HAWTHORN V PORT ADELAIDE
What Hawks fans want to see: More from Jack Gunston. Such a reliable contributor in recent years, Gunston has averaged 15 disposals and six marks this year but hasn’t had his usual impact on games.
What Power fans want to see: More Brownlow votes for Travis Boak. The former Port skipper is having a career-best season and should figure prominently in voting in the early rounds. Could he be a smoky to challenge Patrick Cripps, Tim Kelly and Co?
What we’d like to see: Jack Trengove given a crack in the seniors. The ex-Melbourne captain is absolutely dominating in the SANFL, averaging 37 disposals a game this year, plus nine marks and six tackles. Surely he can’t be doing much more to impress Ken Hinkley.
Remember the time: Preliminary final, 2014 — Hawthorn holds off a final-term surge from Port Adelaide to qualify for another decider under Alastair Clarkson. Andrew Moore missed a late chance with 30 seconds to play as the Hawks prevailed by three points.
Last time: Round 11, 2018 — Hawthorn 9.10 (64) def Port Adelaide 9.7 (61) at Launceston.
Betting: Hawthorn $1.80, Port Adelaide $2.05
(odds courtesy of TAB)
WESTERN BULLDOGS V NORTH MELBOURNE
What Bulldogs fans want to see: Tom Liberatore to return to his barnstorming early-season form. Libba had no fewer than 25 disposals in each of the first four games but a reduced midfield role has caused his output drop in recent weeks. Throw him back in the middle Bevo!
What Roos fans want to see: More support in the middle for Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington. North Melbourne’s leaders have given their all in the past month, but clearly they can’t will their side to victory on their own. Ziebell had 35 disposals and 10 marks last week in one of the better individual games this year.
What we’d like to see: More high-flying heroics from Aaron Naughton. When one of the AFL’s genuine rising stars is climbing above packs, it’s a joy to watch.
Last time: Round 21, 2018 — Western Bulldogs 13.14 (92) def North Melbourne 12.13 (85).
Remember the time: North Melbourne and Footscray battled out a high-scoring draw in Round 20, 1987 as Phil Krakouer kicked four goals for the Roos and Simon Beasley for the Bulldogs. The teams finished tied on 18.17 (125) apiece in front of 18,921 fans at the MCG.
Betting: Western Bulldogs $1.65, North Melbourne $2.30
(odds courtesy of TAB)
ADELAIDE V WEST COAST
What Crows fans want to see: Tex kick a bag. Taylor Walker has had a good season but has kicked multiple goals in only three games, with a high of four against St Kilda. If he can snag at least that many it will go a long way to kicking a winning score against the Eagles’ all-star defence.
What Eagles fans want to see: Nathan Vardy letting his footy do the talking. Vardy was monstered by Max Gawn last week and didn’t earn any fans for shoving the Demons star when he was winded. With Tom Hickey out, Vardy will carry the ruck against Crows No.2 Reilly O’Brien.
What we’d like to see: Flyin’ Ryan standing on someone’s head. We don’t care who.
Last time: Round 15, 2018 — Adelaide 12.16 (88) def West Coast 12.6 (78).
Remember the time: Daniel Kerr (31 disposals) and Dean Cox (18 disposals, 14 marks) inspired the Eagles to a 16-point victory in the 2005 preliminary final over the Crows. West Coast went down by four points in a gripping Grand Final against Sydney the following week.
Betting: Adelaide $1.60, West Coast $2.40
(odds courtesy of TAB)
GOLD COAST V GEELONG
What Suns fans want to see: Ben King given a chance to show his talents. The No.6 draft pick played his first game last week but couldn’t have picked worse conditions for a key forward, finishing with just one kick in a downpour. The forecast for the Gold Coast tomorrow is 24 and mostly sunny.
What Geelong fans want to see: More respect given to Mitch Duncan. While he’s been rated behind Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett and Patrick Dangerfield in past seasons, Duncan is one of the in-form players in the competition in the past month.
What we’d like to see: For all our SuperCoach teams, Patrick Dangerfield missing just one week.
Last time: Round 23, 2018 — Geelong 22.10 (142) def Gold Coast 5.10 (40).
Remember the time: Deep into Gold Coast’s Round 10 clash with Geelong in 2013, then-Suns star Gary Ablett produced an audacious snap from 40m out on the boundary which sailed through against all odds. Even the Cats fans had to applaud the little master.
Betting: Gold Coast $5.20, Geelong $1.16
(odds courtesy of TAB)
RICHMOND V ESSENDON
What Tigers fans want to see: A Rising Star nomination. Sydney Stack, Shai Bolton, Noah Balta and Liam Baker would all be worthy candidates, with some Tiger fans calling jokingly (we think) for a Royal Commission into why none have earned a nod so far.
What Bombers fans want to see: A Tom Bellchambers masterclass. With Richmond’s top two ruckmen both out he’ll be up against raw teenagers Balta and Callum Coleman-Jones. Time for Tom to throw his weight around.
What we’d like to see: Sydney Stack blitzing his first Dreamtime at the G, earning the Yiooken Award for best on ground — and a Rising Star nomination, even if it’s just to appease the Tigers supporters.
Last time: Round 22, 2018 — Richmond 12.9 (81) def Essendon 11.7 (73).
Remember the time: Dean Polo dominated the Dreamtime game on debut in 2006, logging 28 disposals and three goals in a match Champion Data still records as its best first game in history. Richmond won a thriller by two points.
Betting: Richmond $1.46, Essendon $2.70
(odds courtesy of TAB)
MELBOURNE V GWS GIANTS
What Demons fans want to see: A game with no injuries. Melbourne had 17 players on its injury list earlier this week after Alex Neal-Bullen, Tim Smith and Christian Salem suffered concussion in their loss to West Coast.
What Giants fans want to see: A win at the MCG. GWS won’t get many better chances for a victory at the home of footy and questions will rightfully be asked if it flops again.
What we’d like to see: Angus Brayshaw back in the middle. Brayshaw finished third in the Brownlow Medal last year playing predominantly as an inside midfielder and just hasn’t had the same impact since being shifted to a wing.
Last time: Round 23, 2018 — Melbourne 15.12 (102) def GWS Giants 8.9 (57).
Remember the time: Round 19, 2013 — the first time the Giants defeated the Demons. Callan Ward was inspirational with four goals and 31 disposals, while Devon Smith and Jeremy Cameron were influential in a 37-point GWS triumph.
Betting: Melbourne $2.35, GWS Giants $1.62
(odds courtesy of TAB)
ST KILDA V CARLTON
What Saints fans want to see: Greater accuracy in front of goal. The Saints had their opportunities to blow Collingwood away in the first three quarters last week but ultimately paid the price for keeping the Magpies in the contest.
What Blues fans want to see: Is it too simple to say a win? The Blues were terrible against GWS last weekend and after their effort was questioned for the second time in three rounds, the right attitude from the first bounce would be a good starting point.
What we’d like to see: St Kilda sends Jack Steele to Patrick Cripps after he was blanketed by Matt De Boer, but the Blues skipper responds with a matchwinning performance after a week when the heat has been on his club.
Last time: Round 17, 2018 — St Kilda 16.20 (116) def Carlton 7.10 (52).
Remember the time: Round 10, 2004 — Carlton had no answers for Fraser Gehrig and Stephen Milne, who combined for 15 goals in a 108-point trouncing. This match is perhaps best remembered for Blues full-forward Brendan Fevola being sent into defence to try and halt a rampaging G-Train.
Betting: St Kilda $1.35, Carlton $3.25
(odds courtesy of TAB)
FREMANTLE V BRISBANE LIONS
What Dockers fans want to see: A quiet game from their former hero Lachie Neale. In his first season at the Lions, Neale is one of the Brownlow Medal favourites after averaging 34 disposals to Round 9. Does Ross Lyon let skipper Nat Fyfe go head-to-head with his old teammate?
What Lions fans want to see: Cam Rayner to answer suggestions of second-year blues with three goals in a Lions win on the road. The No.1 draft pick only needs some confidence to turn his season around.
What we’d like to see: Give us Fyfe v Neale toe-to-toe for four quarters please. That would revive memories of the epic Fyfe v Dangerfield battle in 2015 (when they combined for 78 disposals, 55 contested possessions and 346 SuperCoach points) and make the last game of Round 10 compulsory viewing.
Last time: Round 15, 2018 — Brisbane Lions 18.11 (119) def Fremantle 9.10 (64).
Remember the time: Round 7, 2010 — Fremantle almost kicked itself out of a victory against the Lions, logging 6.14 after halftime but holding on for a 13-point win at the Gabba. Matthew Pavlich booted 3.4 and Anthony Morabito 1.4 but their inaccuracy did not stop the Dockers prevailing 15.23 (113) to 15.10 (100).
Betting: Fremantle $1.77, Brisbane Lions $2.05
(odds courtesy of TAB)
Marinoff masterclass leads Crows in Giant demolition
Ebony Marinoff continued her stunning form as the Crows dismantled the Giants, while North Melbourne’s brilliant season has continued with a big win over the Swans in Hobart.
Clubs in tight tusstle for Bombers’ pick 9
North Melbourne has made a play for Essendon’s pick 9 in an attempt to bring Dan Houston to the club, but JON RALPH reports another club is set to swoop as the Bombers brace for an early bid on Isaac Kako.