Roughly 11 teams are left competing for the 8 finals spots in the 2017 AFL season. Round 19 is critical for some of those teams to keep their finals hopes alive, while others are jostling for top 4 positioning, and a few more teams are simply trying to blood youth and determine who they need to keep on their lists next season. Here is your full round preview.
Hawthorn vs Sydney Swans (Friday at the MCG)
Hawthorn won this matchup in round 10, but Sydney has been red hot since. Having won 10 of their last 11, the only loss coming against Hawthorn. The 7-9 Hawks are at 88% and would need to win out to realistically make finals, the Swans at 10-7 and 116% have at least some chance at making the top 4 given the congested ladder this year. Neither team made serious list changes, and Sydney has the better list. This should be close, but Sydney has the better forward line, and a superior midfield, as long as the Swans can contain Tom Mitchell. Swans by 12
North Melbourne vs. Melbourne (Saturday in Tasmania)
North Melbourne beat the Demons in round 9, but the Kangaroos have been in full collapse lately. Whether it’s an intentional effort to get the top draft pick or not, North has been terrible, while the 10-7 Demons are on track for finals and can’t afford to get tripped up. North has dominated Melbourne in the head to head, and they do get some key players like Robbie Tarrant back, but Melbourne should finally figure out how to beat North this time. Tom McDonald and Clayton Oliver should be key to their win. Demons by 24
GWS Giants vs. Fremantle (Saturday at Spotless Stadium)
GWS hasn’t won a game in 4 rounds (2 draws, 2 losses), but they still sit third in the ladder at 10-5-2. Fremantle fell out of finals contention last week, and has dropped four of their last five games. The Dockers look gassed and are missing Michael Walters. Even though Toby Greene and Shane Mumford are out for GWS, the Giants should again find a way to win with a depleted list, Fremantle doesn’t have firepower outside of Connor Blakely. Giants by 19
Port Adelaide vs. St. Kilda (Saturday at Adelaide Oval)
Dropping to 9-9 and below 100% would likely doom St. Kilda’s finals hopes, the Saints have lost two straight, and must beat Port on the road to stay in contention for the top 8. The Power at 10-7 have a great chance at top 4, and although they are missing forward Chad Wingard, they are mostly healthy. The Saints are missing Leigh Montagna, Nick Riewoldt, and Koby Stevens, those losses should doom their attack and allow Port to kick more goals by some margin. Power by 38
Gold Coast Suns vs. Richmond (Saturday at Metricon Stadium)
Two teams heading in opposite directions, the home Suns only have a single win in their last 5 games, Richmond has won 4 of their last 5 and sit in the top 4. Gary Ablett returns for the Suns, and should give them some spark, but their list has been inconsistent this year, the Tigers have the Brownlow favorite Dustin Martin, and Bachar Houli returns. Richmond should run riot, when the Suns backline collapses again. Tigers by 64
Carlton vs. Geelong Cats (Saturday at Etihad Stadium)
The young Blues finally hit a wall this season and are in terrible form. The Cats could be the minor premiers this season, and need to win this game to enhance those chances. Geelong has five list changes this week but none of them are major. Bryce Gibbs copped a tag last week and it hurt the Blues. Dangerwood should help the Cats win big. Cats by 44
Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon (Sunday at Etihad Stadium)
Two straight wins for the Dogs, and three straight wins for the Bombers has made this the matchup of the round. Both teams have finals hopes, and their odds are only separated by percentage, not record. Travis Cloke could return for the Bulldogs this week. Essendon hasn’t made any major changes, but their midfield should give them the edge. That and Joe Daniher, one of the best forwards in the game. The Bulldogs are missing that same class in the forward line. Bombers by 28
Collingwood vs. Adelaide Crows (Sunday at the MCG)
Collingwood has shown a bit of life recently with two straight wins, but they’d need to win out to make the finals given their 7-10 record. The Crows have won four of their last five. Even with Brad Crouch and Eddie Betts out, Adelaide is just too good to lose to a Collingwood side that is missing their captain, and still doesn’t have consistency up front. Crows by 26
West Coast Eagles vs Brisbane Lions (Sunday at Domain Stadium)
A must-win game for 9-8 West Coast, the Lions would love to play spoiler in this one, but traveling out west is never easy, especially for a young team like Brisbane. Josh J. Kennedy should wake up, and Dayne Zorko is out for the Lions. West Coast should figure it out. Eagles by 13
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