3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2020 AFL Season.

We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.

COLLINGWOOD V HAWTHORN

Friday 10 July @ Giants Stadium

The second match before the Perth hubbers get on their bikes pits two Victorians against one another in Sydney. I guess they must feel what it is like for the interstaters to have to do some travelling.

As a result of last weekend, both sit outside the eight and both come off losses – disappointing ones at that.

Collingwood could not have started better than they did against the Bombers but that is their way. They are fast starters and in this condensed season with shortened quarters, a fast game is a good game.

However by golly they have the ability to go for long periods without much scoring. Between ¼ time and ¾ time they kicked five behinds.

That makes life hard if you need to make up a deficit or if in front – by trying to run the clock down.

Then you add on all the extra-curricular activities that could derail a season. De Goey, Sidebottom off the park and Howe on it are much more Becher's Brook than the Tozer Road double.

On top of these, they now have to Hub firstly in Perth and probably then into Sydney or Brisbane thereafter with Melbourne out of bounds to all until mid-August.

Knowing the Magpies, that could galvanise them as they are often a good travelling team. Makes you wonder why they are so precious about defending wanting to play all their games at home – OOPS!!

The potential positive is that they meet another fellow traveller who had their moments at this very ground last Sunday but could not quell the Orange Tsunami.

Strangely GWS were not pumping balls into the forward line but were rather more circumspect. They took their chances so well.

No question GWS are a better team than the Hawks. But there were a lot of even players for the losers that night. O'Meara and Mitchell are always likely to head up the stats but they need more and also seven goals won't win the biggest of games.

Their reconstituted players Wingard and Scully have to contribute more. They can't always rely on their coach to conjure plans which hog-tie oppositions every single week.

You can then add the loss of Luke Breust, who has been a rock for them not only through the Premiership years but post them too, and scoring could be grim.

Is it possible for a NIL-ALL Draw? Like most teams in the comp through this mad season, the troops are getting thin already.

So many leading players are sidelined. The AFL talks of cutting lists. At this rate, the current calls for the nuclear option of reducing the number of players on the field, in order to ease congestion, will become a reality of its own accord in 2020.

Having trouble seeing this as much of a quality game. Both teams have played the ground in recent weeks. Neither kicked a score.

Hawthorn has had a good trot over the Pies in recent years. Brodie Grundy won't have it all his own way with McEvoy creating the contest. Burgoyne rested is a concern re his leadership.

Still tipping them in a close but low scoring match.

Match Selection: Hawthorn by 4 points

Suggested Bets: Total points Under 119.5Pts @ $1.90