Will the Saints be able to overcome an increasing number of injuries to keep in touch with the top four?
Will Port Adelaide find the firepower needed to score a winning marker? And can the GWS avoid a season-ending defeat to its fierce rival?
The hot question from all the clubs before round 14, as well as the commentators on each Fox Footy game in our final weekly preview: The blower!
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AFL ROUND 14 FIXTURE (All hours AEST)
RICHMOND v CARLTON
Thursday, June 16, 7:20 p.m. at MCG
How to see Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 6:30 p.m., with Sarah Jones, Jason Dunstall, David King, Leigh Montagna, Brad Johnson and Jon Ralph.
The burning question of tigers: Do ancient tigers really return?
Richmond has been winning lately, winning five of his last six games to climb the ladder and return to the final frame. It is rumored that the Tigers, after losing the final last year, could return to their best form in recent years and potentially able to tilt another flag with their aging group. In such a balanced season, the flag race is really open, especially because the Demons have stumbled. A win over Carlton would not only make up for Richmond’s 1-round loss to his old rivals, it would also certify the Tigers’ credentials, after defeating only one team currently in the top eight this year (Collingwood in the round). 8) to have equality. third worst record against the current top eight teams. And it would give the perfect statement that Damien Hardwick’s team means business and would further boost his momentum in the second half of the season as he regained eighth place in the Magpies in the process.
The Blues’ hot question: How do you handle your poorly manned defense?
Carlton’s defensive actions have been very successful in recent weeks, with unfortunate backman Caleb Marchbank, the last member to be shot down in his first AFL game after more than 1,000 days. With the size of Jacob Weitering (shoulder), Mitch McGovern (hamstring), Oscar McDonald (back) and Luke Parks (foot) also on the sidelines, the Blues’ manned defense will be seriously tested after calling the recruit mid-season Sam Durdin. 15 days after being picked up by the club. Durdin will accompany Lewis Young on a Carlton backline loaded with great work against Tom Lynch. “The risk is that now it’s Carlton lite … This leaves them with a smaller version of themselves,” Gerard Whateley warned AFL360.
McStay doesn’t rush into contract talks 01:31
ST KILDA V ESSENDON
Friday, June 17, 7:50 p.m., at Marvel Stadium
How to see Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 7pm, with Garry Lyon, Jonathan Brown, Kath Loughnan and Jon Ralph followed by Fox Footy Live with Drew Jones, Cameron Mooney and Ben Dixon
The saints’ hot question: How will they cope with the rising number of injuries?
After a good start to the season, St Kilda are starting to have a big challenge, especially in terms of injuries. It seems almost certain they will lose three other soldiers, with Daniel McKenzie and Mitch Owens already ruled out by a concussion, and Zak Jones with serious doubts after finishing the game against the Lions on the bench due to a hamstring problem. Mason Wood also struggled to watch the match with an ankle complaint. Inspiring captain Jack Steele (shoulder) is still one week away, while Jarryn Geary (shoulder) and Jack Bytel (foot) are not available after being injured in the VFL. And of course, Nick Coffield and Jack Hayes have already been ruled out for the season due to knee injuries. They face an Essendon team that is struggling badly, but is approaching full health as Andrew McGrath (groin) and Kyle Langford (hamstring) approach the returns. However, star player Darcy Parish (knee) is under a cloud. Jack Billings and Hunter Clark could return for the injured Saints, who will have to be on guard because they intend to keep in touch with the top four.
The hot question from the bombers: Will Jake Stringer answer the Rutten rocket?
Essendon coach Ben Rutten raised some eyebrows in the final round after his team lost to Carlton when he targeted superstar Jake Stringer. The old Bulldog was disappointing at least against the Blues, picking up just nine discards. “He had a poor game and as a senior player for us, we need more of him,” Rutten said. Former Melbourne champion Garry Lyon told On The Couch that he found Rutten’s comments “targeted” and also “strange”, mainly because it was Stringer’s first game after a six-match dismissal due to a hamstring injury. . But Triple Lion Prime Minister Jonathan Brown saw the comments as a vision of Rutten’s frustrations with Stringer’s preparation. “Very rarely do you see a coach put on a player, especially when it’s the first return match. I think there are things behind the scenes, “Brown said.” Stringer’s response to Rutten’s challenge will be fascinating to see.
Dons coach hit to call | 02:52
PORT ADELAIDE v SYDNEY
Saturday, June 18, 1:45 pm at Adelaide Oval
How to see Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 1:30 p.m., with Sarah Jones, Dwayne Russell, Gerard Healy, Jordan Lewis and Mark Ricciuto
The burning question of power: can they stop attacking impotence?
Port Adelaide faces a must-see match against one of the competition’s fitness teams in Sydney. The Power are three games out of the top eight (with one game in hand); a defeat with nine rounds to the end would almost end their chances of a final. However, if Ken Hinkley’s men want to challenge the odds and knock down the Swans, they will have to produce an out-of-the-box performance, as they face competition in 15th place in the league by points scored, 13th by points billing. , 17th for points from spending and 16th for string for scoring percentage. It’s a trend that has led Lyon to call them “saturates,” and Brown agreed. “It simply came to our notice then. They started 0-5, and then they started and you thought, “Now Charlie Dixon is back, that helps them a lot.” But they have nothing to define themselves, if you look at the season they’ve had … reasoning or averaging right now and it’s a little worrying for Kenny Hinkley. “And St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt said it was unfair to expect veterans Robbie Gray and Travis Boak to provide the spark.
The hot question of swans: what to do with the “Buddy” riddle?
It’s a good thing to have. Sydney is set to welcome one of the top scorers in match history with $ 10 million star Lance Franklin after a week of suspension. And while he was the winner of his last game with five goals in an exciting comeback win over Richmond, there is no denying that his absence from Melbourne in round 12 saw a marked improvement over his team-mates Sam Reid and Logan McDonald. Reid played one of the best games of his career against the Demons, with 16 eliminations (12 contests), five marks (four), 10 tackles, nine scorers and three goals, while McDonald earned a Rising Star nomination. with 16 depositions. three goals and nine participations. Lyon reflected on the importance of Franklin’s absence, especially for McDonald’s. “For a young striker, when you’re out there and looking around, sometimes your tendency is, ‘I’ll defer to the superstar.’ When the superstar isn’t there, you take a step,” Lyon said. To be fair, McDonald also played well against Carlton with Franklin on the team, recording 14 eliminations, 10 marks and three goals. But in the last two seasons, the Swans have won six of seven games when Franklin has been down (86 percent), instead of winning 17 of 28 with him on the team (61 percent). What impact will the king’s return have on McDonald’s and Reid’s this time around? Everything will be revealed on Saturday.
JHF must “get his head out” | 02:46
WEST COAST EAGLES v GEELONG CATS
Saturday, June 18, 4:35 pm at Optus Stadium
How to see Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 4:30 p.m., with Adam Papalia, Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Nathan Buckley and Matthew Pavlich
The Eagles’ hot question: Can they take advantage of the momentum of the last game?
We all know it’s been a hell of a season for the West Coast who are on their way to their worst year in the club’s 36-year history. They sit at the bottom of the ladder with just one win in 12 games and have lost the last eight by an average of 74 points, which is really horrible. It’s his worst streak of equal losses, and his worst since losing eight in a row 21 years ago. A loss on Saturday will secure a record outing for the Eagles. But after nearly two months of basically non-competitive football production, West Coast finally showed some signs of life in the second half against Adelaide in round 12. After losing 46 points at the end of the third quarter, the Eagles showed a some struggle for the former. time since his victory over Collingwood, scoring five of the next six goals to recover to 21 points. The final margin was 31, but can Adam Simpson’s men rely on this hefty fight as a platform to attack the second half of the season? Your goal will no doubt be to add some respectability to your bad reputation and avoid your second wooden spoon. “There are no excuses for me from the point of view of the game … they have 13 players who have played in the Premier League that I hope to play this weekend,” Paul Hasleby told SEN.
The hot question for cats: How do they all fit together?
Geelong coach Chris Scott will not complain, but as his injury list slowly but surely shrink, he will face several difficult match committee meetings in the near future, starting this week. . Star quartet Jack Henry (foot), Sam Menegola (knee), Jake Kolodjashnij (Covid) and Shaun Higgins (pain) could be available this week, while Patrick Dangerfield (knee) and off-season recruit Jon …