AFL Round 1

West Coast V Brisbane - Saturday Night (Subiaco)

Brisbane over West Coast @ $2.80

Brisbane +15.5 @ $1.90

Brisbane thrashed the Eagles last time here late last year. Brisbane have a stronger team for that that won last time. Last time they only had Brown and Brennan in the forward line and Mitch Clark. A forgotten man for Brisbane, Daniel Bradshaw returns after missing a year with a knee reconstruction. This bolsters Brisbane's forward line and helps Brown out big time. Teams now can't double team Brown. Travis Johnstonne bolsters Brisbane's midfield. Lappin, Power, Adcock, Black - good solid midfield who have played pre-season.

West Coast don't have Judd and West Coast don't have Cousins. Kerr has missed the pre-season so he could be underone. He's their main player. They have a good young midfield but I edge the midfield battle to Brisbane. Whoever wins the midfield will win the match. If Brisbane win the midfield battle, they have the forwards in Brown, Bradshaw and Brennan to get the job done. Brisbane to win.

Hawthorn V Melbourne - Sunday Afternoon

Hawthorn are a good young team. They have strength all over the park. Melbourne are a young team who struggled last year with injury. I can't see Melbourne troubling Hawthorn much. Hawthorn need a good start to the year and I think they get the job done with Franklin up forward.

Hawthorn -19.5 @ $1.90

Carlton V Richmond - MCG - Thursday Night

Carlton have Judd. Carlton don't have a strong forward line. Carlton are an improved team. Richmond should take the wooden spoon out this year. This will be a close game. Carlton will want to show their fans they are on the up. I can't see how Richmond can win this game in all honesty. They suck! They will suck for many more years to come. They have no player depth and they don't have a good list. Carlton on the other hand have a solid midfield in Stevens, Judd, Carazzo, Gibbs and Murphy. Who will win? Carlton

Carlton to win @ $1.71

Treble

Hawthorn X St.Kilda X Geelong @ $3.20

Hawthorn - see above.

St.Kilda - should account for Sydney

Geelong - should account for Port Adelaide.

Good luck!

Bolar,

 

Very good picks and I am likely to play the same myself for the exact same reasons you state. Thinking Sydney however against Sainters.

 

Brisbane and Happy Hawks will suprise this year.

 

ps. Carlton DO have a strong forward line

looking into richmond personally... lot of hype about carlton and they havn't shown anything yet... yes they have judd but really midfield is unproven for most part.  Carrazzo is more a defender and picks up a lot of useless possessions, stevens isn't too damaging with all his  handballs and 20mtr kicks.  They've a few guys that can mark it up forward but most clubs have a few talls up forward, Richmond are certainly not short of talls up forward either...

 

Personally for mine, it will be the demons for wooden spoon.

good luck bolar slight lean to blues and with the hawks waiting till half time as theyre missing hodge crawford and a couple of others so might get a better line or stay away

GL Bolar, agree with your analysis, hope you have a very profitable season.

 

I'm surprised its not closer to a pick em in the Lions game. Eagles should be favourite due to home ground but travel shouldn't be a concern for the Lions as its the first game. Expect S. Black to dominate the start of the season similar to how he started last year. I think Brisbane is close to the pick of the round for me. Followed by the Hawks.

 

St Kilda, going from a poor ruck division to the strongest in the league should be too tall all over the ground for an aging Sydney. But I would expect Sydney to be competitive and -18 is too much IMO.

One thing about the Blues match, while I think they should win the tigers for the majority of last season remained competitive, sure barely won more than a game but competitive with good sides. I don't think they'll get the spoon. That should go to the Demons

I think Hawks are missing Crawford, Lewis and Hodge plus one other through suspension. Fair bit of quality mid field.