3 minute read
Collingwood and Richmond will face off in a Friday night blockbuster to kick off round 19 of the AFL season.
PREVIEW OF ROUND 19 MATCHES (all times AEST)
FRIDAY, July 26
Collingwood v Richmond at MCG, 7.50pm
Head to head: Magpies 119 Tigers 90 Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 2, 2019 - Magpies 17.8 (110) bt Tigers 10.6 (66) at the MCG
A top-four berth is within reach of the Tigers after stringing together four straight wins. Richmond are now just 4.4 per cent adrift of the fourth-placed Magpies, whose 47-point loss to GWS last week was their third defeat from their past four games.
Key: Listening to the starting gun. Collingwood conceded eight goals to one in their heavy loss to GWS. Another slow start could cost them dearly again.
Tip: Tigers by 21
SATURDAY, July 27
Hawthorn v Brisbane at York Park, 1.45pm
Head to head: Hawks 17 Brisbane Lions 16 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 11, 2019 - Lions 12.13 (85) bt Hawks 10.6 (66) at the Gabba
Brisbane are shaping up to be this year's Cinderella story, with their five-match winning streak catapulting them into second spot. It's their best winning run since 2007, and has generated huge buzz around the club. Hawthorn kept their finals hopes alive with an impressive 24-point win over Geelong.
Key: Curbing Lachie Neale. The star Lions midfielder has been targeted in recent weeks. If Hawthorn can keep him quiet, it would boost their victory hopes.
Tip: Lions by 5
Carlton v Adelaide at MCG, 2.10pm
Head to head: Blues 18 Crows 20 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 23, 2018 - Crows 26.9 (165) bt Blues 8.13 (61) at Marvel Stadium
Adelaide (9-8) are only just clinging to eighth spot following three losses from their past four games. Last week's defeat to Essendon at home has increased pressure at the club, and Eddie Betts has been sensationally dropped. Carlton's revival under caretaker David Teague continued with a 24-point win over Gold Coast.
Key: Carlton's midfield bull. Patrick Cripps was quiet in the win over Gold Coast, tallying just 18 disposals. He needs a better game if the Blues are to beat Adelaide.
Tip: Crows by 9 points
West Coast v North Melbourne at Optus Stadium, 4.35pm
Head to head: Eagles 27 Kangaroos 22
Last clash: Round 19, 2018 - Kangaroos 12.9 (81) bt Eagles 6.5 (41) at Bellerive Oval
West Coast produced a strong final quarter to beat Melbourne by 13 points in Alice Springs last week. A bad umpiring decision with less than two minutes to go cost North Melbourne the chance for victory against Brisbane, but their efforts have been superb under interim coach Rhyce Shaw.
Key: Darling magic. With Eagles spearhead Josh Kennedy out of form, Jack Darling has become a huge figure up forward. If the Kangaroos can keep him quiet, it will give them a shot at victory.
Tip: Eagles by 29
St Kilda v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, 7.25pm
Head to head: Saints 93 Demons 121 Drawn 1
Last clash: Round 5, 2019 - Saints 15.5 (95) bt Demons 7.13 (55) at the MCG
The new-coach effect struck again last week when St Kilda notched a 27-point win over the Bulldogs under caretaker Brett Ratten. Melbourne were brave but were made to pay for some critical errors in their 13-point loss to West Coast.
Key: Ruck battle. Rowan Marshall is growing into a fine ruckman, but the 23-year-old Saint faces a daunting assignment against Max Gawn.
Tip: Saints by 3
Port Adelaide v GWS at Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm
Head to head: Power 4 Giants 5 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 18, 2018 - Giants 11.14 (80) bt Power 8.10 (58) at Adelaide Oval
Losses to Brisbane and Richmond have seen Port Adelaide slip out of the top eight, and they face another tough assignment this week. GWS were simply awesome in their 47-point win over Collingwood, booting eight goals to one in the opening term.
Key: Toby Greene. The former bad boy was outstanding in the midfield for GWS last week, tallying 27 disposals and two goals as the stand-in skipper.
Tip: Giants by 24
SUNDAY, July 28
Western Bulldogs v Fremantle at Marvel Stadium, 1.10pm
Head to head: Bulldogs 15 Dockers 16 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 6, 2019 - Dockers 13.10 (88) bt Bulldogs 9.15 (69) at Optus Stadium
Fremantle eased the pressure on coach Ross Lyon with a scrappy one-point win over Sydney. The return of skipper Nat Fyfe from an elbow infection is a massive boost. The Bulldogs' finals hopes were dealt a huge blow in a 27-point loss to an inspired St Kilda.
Key: Dockers defender Joel Hamling kept emerging star Aaron Naughton scoreless in round six. Can he do the smothering job once again?
Tip: Bulldogs by 11
Sydney v Geelong at the SCG, 3.20pm
Head to head: Swans/South Melbourne 101 Cats 123 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 11, 2019 - Cats 13.7 (85) bt Swans 8.15 (63) at GMHBA Stadium
Alarm bells are starting to ring at Geelong following three losses from their past five games, including a 24-point defeat to Hawthorn last week. Sydney are aiming to bounce back from their one-point loss to Fremantle.
Key: Ball movement. Geelong's normally slick work in this area has become stagnant. Can they regain their mojo?
Tip: Cats by 16
Gold Coast v Essendon at Metricon Stadium, 4.40pm
Head to head: Suns 2 Bombers 7 Drawn 0
Last clash: Round 17, 2018 - Bombers 13.17 (95) bt Suns 6.15 (51) at Metricon Stadium
Essendon are shaping as a premiership smoky following six wins from their past seven games, with John Worsfold's men now just a win adrift of fourth spot. Gold Coast's losing run has now stretched to 13 matches, and they face a tough task to end it this week.
Key: Confidence. The Suns are bereft of it. Can coach Stuart Dew find the magic ingredient to fire up his charges?
Tip: Bombers by 41.
