Round 16 promises to be a fascinating one, with plenty on the line. There’s going to be a stack of footy with five games played on Saturday, so look forward to a jam-packed schedule.
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference.
Brisbane v Melbourne
Brisbane
Oscar McInerney had an incredible game in a comfortable win for Brisbane against Port Adelaide in Round 15; kicking a career-high three goals. The ‘big O’ as he’s commonly referred to, helped Brisbane control the stoppage clearances, given they had 18 more than their opposition. McInerney will face a much tougher task and that’s to control the ruck battle against Max Gawn when Brisbane takes on Melbourne.
Melbourne
Steven May played a key part in Melbourne winning the game when they took on North Melbourne in Round 15, as the key defender helped keep Nick Larkey goalless and had nine intercept possessions. The two-time All-Australian will need to be at his best against Brisbane; the 32-year-old will be up against Eric Hipwood and Joe Daniher at times.
North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
North Melbourne
Jackson Archer learned from having his colours lowered in Round 14 in a game in which Bobby Hill kicked five goals on him; in Round 15, the son of a gun kept Bayley Fritsch goalless. There’s no disputing the North Melbourne defender is a talent, but can he back it up against tough opposition in Round 16? Archer could be up against Rhylee West and Cody Weightman.
Western Bulldogs
Tom Liberatore averages the fourth most contested possessions per game of any player in the competition with 14.38. Having only featured in eight games due to concussion, Liberatore is a massive addition to the Western Bulldogs midfield; this means that Marcus Bontempelli can drift forward so the domino effect of having ‘Libba’ back in the team will cause North Melbourne plenty of headaches, with Ed Richards having the flexibility to play on the wing or a half-back flank and pinch hit in the middle sporadically.
Sydney v Fremantle
Sydney
James Rowbottom is slowly starting to get the plaudits that he deserves for the role that the Sydney midfielder plays. In the Sydney Derby, Rowbottom played on Tom Green and hurt GWS as the 23-year-old finished with the most score involvements of any player on the ground with ten, and four intercept possessions. It will be interesting to see who John Longmire chooses Rowbottom to match up on, given Fremantles’ midfield comprises of Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw and Hayden Young who are no slouches.
Fremantle
Josh Treacy is Fremantle’s leading goal kicker with 28 goals in 14 games, which is nine more than the next best. The Fremantle key forward has the capability to cause Sydney plenty of problems as he’s a strong contested mark and hits the scoreboard regularly. Along with that, Treacy averages six score involvements per game. If the 21-year-old doesn’t take a mark he must bring the ball to ground so Bailey Banfield and the other Fremantle crumbers can go to work.
Gold Coast v Collingwood
Gold Coast
Sam Flanders has had an incredible season having averaged the second most disposals per game of any player in the competition with 31.54. In Round 15 against Fremantle, Damien Hardwick moved the magnets; Flanders was moved into the middle in the fourth quarter. They may need him to be a permanent midfielder so that they can get more out of him.
Collingwood
Lachie Schultz is slowly starting to cement a permanent spot in Collingwoods’ best 22 having kicked eight goals in his last three games. There’s still plenty of upside with the former Fremantle small forward averaging 4.69 score involvements per game. It will be intriguing who he’s matched up against when Collingwood take on Gold Coast, as he could be the beneficiary of Gold Coast focusing on curtailing the influence of Bobby Hill.
Adelaide v GWS
Adelaide
Izak Rankine has plenty of X-factor and is a game changer as well as a team lifter; the former Gold Coast player has the capability to play as a crumber and on the ball at times, which means his versatility is an asset. If Rankine can perform to his optimum level, it’s going to be tough for GWS to stop him.
Izak Rankine. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
GWS
Jesse Hogan has kicked at least one goal in all 14 games so far this season. His work rate is a strong part of the former Melbourne and Fremantle player’s game. The key forward is having a terrific season and should prove tough for the Adelaide defence to curtail, given that’s their Achilles heel.
Geelong v Essendon
Geelong
Tom Stewart needs to focus on breaking a tag because Geelong need him at his best if they’re any chance of making finals, which is remarkable considering that they won their opening seven games of the season. A big part of their decline has been opposition teams putting time into stopping Stewart from having an influence on the game.
Essendon
Sam Durham has become an important part of the Essendon midfield; the 22-year-old has missed one game this season through injury and it’s no coincidence that Essendon lost that game against Port Adelaide by a 69-point margin in Round 4. The Essendon midfielder has averaged 5.08 score involvements per game, which shows he is giving them bang-for-buck as Durham was taken by Essendon at pick No.9 in the 2021 midseason draft. He has taken his opportunity with Darcy Parish being injured and is being selected ahead of Will Setterfield and Elijah Tsatas. If Geelong choose to tag him, then Zach Merrett could get off the chain.
St Kilda v Port Adelaide
St Kilda
Max King has kicked just 19 goals in 11 games so far this season. The St Kilda key forward won’t get a better opportunity to kick a bag against a Port Adelaide defence that’s been lacklustre. The King twin needs to bring the ball to ground at the very least and not drift out of the game.
Port Adelaide
Dan Houston provides plenty of run off half-back, as the 27-year-old has averaged 5.21 score involvements per game. Along with that, Houston is also important defensively, given he has an average of 5.71 intercepts per game, which is the third highest of any Port Adelaide player this season.
Richmond v Carlton
Richmond
Tim Taranto needs a good run without injury, as the former GWS midfielder has only played seven games this season. What Richmond needs is for him to play out of his skin when they take on Carlton as Taranto will go head-to-head with Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps at times. The 26-year-old is a competitor and should be up for the challenge.
Carlton
Charlie Curnow will get an opportunity to kick yet another bag against a Richmond team that Carlton should beat, but you never know in sport, as Richmond remain the only team to have beaten Sydney this season. The Carlton key forward will need to limit the impact of Nick Vlastuin and Noah Balta at different times by bringing the ball to ground so the Carlton small forwards can go to work.
West Coast v Hawthorn
West Coast
Harley Reid should be a welcome addition after serving a two-game suspension. The number one draft pick could go head-to-head with Jai Newcombe at times against Hawthorn. The 19-year-old can burst through stoppages and has the ability to hit the scoreboard. What Reid also provides, besides kicks, marks and tackles, is the intangible youthful exuberance he’s blessed with.
Hawthorn
Jack Scrimshaw has gone from strength to strength this season. He has averaged the eighth most intercepts per game of any player in the competition with 8.15. The only game that Scrimshaw has missed this season was when Hawthorn suffered a one-point loss to Port Adelaide in Round 10. In Round 16, it’s a season-defining game for Hawthorn when they take on West Coast.
Brisbane Lions
v
Melbourne Demons
AFL : Head To Head
Fri, 28 Jun 2024, 19:40
North Melbourne Kangaroos
v
Western Bulldogs
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 29 Jun 2024, 13:45
Sydney Swans
v
Fremantle Dockers
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 29 Jun 2024, 13:45
Gold Coast Suns
v
Collingwood Magpies
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 29 Jun 2024, 16:35
Geelong Cats
v
Essendon Bombers
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 29 Jun 2024, 19:30
Adelaide Crows
v
Greater Western Sydney Giants
AFL : Head To Head
Sat, 29 Jun 2024, 19:30
St Kilda Saints
v
Port Adelaide Power
AFL : Head To Head
Sun, 30 Jun 2024, 13:10
Richmond Tigers
v
Carlton Blues
AFL : Head To Head
Sun, 30 Jun 2024, 15:20
West Coast Eagles
v
Hawthorn Hawks
AFL : Head To Head
Sun, 30 Jun 2024, 16:40
* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check PlayUp Website For Latest Odds
What are you prepared to lose today?
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au