Sydney Swans vs Carlton Blues @Sydney Cricket Ground, Saturday 4:35

Stat Fact: Sydney have become the first team in AFL history to start a season zero-six to make the finals.

Big Talking Point: Sydney are in the finals and ready to do some serious damage after their last-start win over first placed Adelaide. Everyone doubted Sydney but they came back strong and now they will be featuring in September footy and determined to go one better than last season. Who knows how far they could advance into the season given a first-round match up with Melbourne is what likely awaits them.

Meanwhile for Carlton there have been reports linking them to GWS star Josh Kelly. Given Kelly being 22 years of age and the player he is, combined with Carlton’s youth movement would make this a match made in heaven. If the reports prove to be true, then start salivating Carlton fans.

What Will Happen: Sydney’s stingy defence coming into play once again. On average Sydney’s defence only concedes 75 points per game, good for best in the league. Against a Carlton side that isn’t renowned for its attacking prowess expect it to be on full display once again this game. Carlton may very well score 30 or under in this clash.

What Won’t Happen: Carlton finishing their year off on a positive note. For the season they have only six wins and have gone two-eight in their last 10 games. A rampant Sydney is in store for this encounter.

Our Tip: Sydney by 70.

Geelong Cats vs Greater Western Sydney Giants @Simonds Stadium, Saturday 7:25pm

Stat Fact: The last time these two teams met it was a 68-all draw in Round 15 of this season. A closely contested clash should be expected this time around as well.

Big Talking Point: Geelong have re-signed Jake Kolodjashnij along with Wylie Buzza and Jordan Cunico. Kolodjashnij has played 32 games for Geelong since making his debut for them in 2015 and is a promising young talent. While playing in the VFL he finished fourth in Geelong’s best and fairest. Cunico is only 21 years of age but is only yet to play one game for Geelong. This while Buzza has played only two games for the Cats but has scored two goals. Another young talent that if given the proper opportunity, could perform well.

What Will Happen: Controversy reigning supreme with free kicks. Geelong are first in the league in this category receiving an average of 20.7 per game. Geelong are rightfully in 3rd spot of their own accord but if they end up winning the game and as a result 2nd spot because of a free kick then their will become a lot of people questioning Geelong’s legitimacy as a contender if they have to get the refs to win them the big games.

What Won’t Happen: A blowout score-line. Four of the last five games between these two sides have been decided by 13 points or less. Expect history to repeat itself in what should be a very tight clash.

Our Tip: GWS by seven.


Port Adelaide Power vs Gold Coast Suns @Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7:10pm

Stat Fact: The last clash contested between these two teams was in China and it was a monstrous 72-point win to Port Adelaide.

Big Talking Point: Gary Ablett will reportedly retire if he can’t get a trade to Geelong at the end of the season. Ablett is without a doubt a top player in his own right and will be remembered and watched by generations of fans to come. But if this report proves to be true then this is quite a low move. The Gold Coast have helped him with all his current injury problems and he was bought to the Gold Coast in the hope of being a leader and playing well for the club. This is not the type of move that a leader would do, abandon ship when things get tough and he hasn’t played a great deal for the Suns either to really be worth the investment. Time will tell if this move plays out or not and whether there is any truth to it or not.

What Will Happen: The Gold Coast (just like their NRL counterparts) have dealt badly with distractions all season and this one should prove no different. Port Adelaide should give them a fair walloping to top of what has been a miserable year for the side.

What Won’t Happen: The Gold Coast’s first ever win was in the AFL was against their opponents for this game, since then they have never beaten Port Adelaide. Nothing about that will change for this game.

Our Tip: Port Adelaide by 90.