3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2021 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.

CARLTON V WEST COAST

Sunday 6 June @ SCG

Much like last year, your wildest dreams could never imagine the old Blue Baggers taking on the Coasters at a far flung SCG. It's almost akin to the Sydney Derby of 2020 being fought out at Optus Stadium.

And while this isn't last chance saloon, especially for the Eagles, it becomes an Elimination Final for Carlton considering they sit at 4 and 7.

While they were OK in total and quite decent at times during the match against Sydney at this ground last Sunday, they needed to better take their chances.

There were stages of it when, had they transposed the dominance into scoreboard pressure, they would have made life very difficult for the younger Swans.

Patrick Cripps had probably his most forthright game in an injury-impacted season with 27 and 3 goals while his partner in crime Sam Walsh had more but might not have been as influential as he had been.

You can see Cripps starting to take control and he could twist that into a big one this week. The smaller confines up and down the middle of the ground might just help there.

As we mentioned last week if Harry McKay kicked five or more then they were a show. As it turned out his kicked three but missed five with many of them very gettable.

Against better teams you need to take all chances and they didn't do that. The week's experience on the ground and the fact they won't fly but West Coast do is also in their favour even if it's not at the MCG.

Those rivals have some sorting out to do. A season could well sneak away very quickly with some shoddy defeats. Unable to get over an undermanned GWS, they go home and lose to Essendon in one they'd normally bank in the wins column.

They now face Carlton on foreign soil and have the prospect of Richmond, Western Bulldogs, Sydney before it softens up a bit. They could be well and truly out of contention for Top 4 after that and maybe finals as well.

Injuries, both long and short term, have begun to hit West Coast hard. Kelly's knee and the Allen concussion complicate matters when you are looking to bounce back. You need all hands on deck – especially away from Perth.

Can Elliot Yeo back and the likes of Sheed, Gaff and Redden cover for others missing? Those big men up front need supply because they can't come into the midfield for a change up unlike other teams with more flexible forwards.

Reckon this game has Carlton winning written all over it. A hard, competitive but disappointing result it was sure against Sydney but if they take chances here, West Coast are vulnerable.

Even though the Eagles have been winning these fixtures lately they haven't been by blowouts so a change of venue, focus and necessity sees the Blues on top here for mine.

Match Selection: Carlton by 24 points

Suggested Bets: Carlton -14.5 @ $2.05