View UniBet’s preview of Round 12 of the 2016 AFL home and away season below.
Essendon v Hawthorn | Friday, June 10, 7.50pm (AEDT), Etihad Stadium
Not much to be said here. The Hawks are below their best but are still registering wins, while Essendon are in a weekly battle just to be competitive.
The poor old Bombers managed to lose by 13 goals to a team that had lost 10 matches on the trot.
This week they play the-three time premiers and have to overcome the trip back from Perth.
Assuming the Hawks pick the best team available, a big win is assured.
Unibet Odds: Essendon 17.00 Hawthorn 1.01
Last time they met: Rd 13, 2015 – Hawthorn 114 def Essendon 76
Tip: Hawthorn
Line tip: Hawthorn -68.5
Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs | Saturday, June 11, 1.10pm (AEDT), Adelaide Oval
Port Adelaide are playing a much better brand of football of late. They’re running much harder for longer and applying defensive pressure.
They’ll need all that and more against the relentless Bulldogs who are fresh off a tough win over fellow premiership contenders West Coast.
We’ll know if Port’s recent good form is genuine if they can stand up to the Bulldogs’ pressure.
If not, then turnovers will occur in their own defensive zone and the Bulldogs will crush Port.
Unibet Odds: Port Adelaide 1.98 Western Bulldogs 1.83
Last time they met: Rd 19, 2015 – Western Bulldogs 128 def Port Adelaide 64
Tip: Western Bulldogs
Line tip: Western Bulldogs -3.5
Brisbane v Fremantle | Saturday, June 11, 4.35pm (AEDT), Gabba
The Dockers finally registered their first win of the season against the lowly Bombers at home.
Their midfield guns Lachie Neale, David Mundy and Michael Barlow moved the ball around the field nicely albeit against very weak opposition who applied very little pressure to the ball carrier.
Brisbane have been struggling of late but a return to the Gabba should see a sharp improvement.
Midfielder Tom Rockliff had an amazing 48 disposals on the weekend against Carlton and if he can get some support from just a few of his teammates, then the Lions can roar.
Unibet Odds: Brisbane 2.08 Fremantle 1.76
Last time they met: Rd 14, 2015 – Fremantle 84 def Brisbane 48
Tip: Brisbane
Line tip: Brisbane +4.5
Geelong v North Melbourne | Saturday, June 11, 7.25pm (AEDT), Etihad Stadium
The Cats returned to the winner’s list with a tough win at home against the emerging GWS with the help of captain Joel Selwood’s standout final quarter.
The previous two games saw them lose to Collingwood and Carlton.
This week they travel to Melbourne to take on the top of the ladder Kangaroos without suspended key-forward Tom Hawkins.
Kangaroos ruckman Todd Goldstein should return from injury to take on the improving Zac Smith at the centre bounces.
Goldstein has a good record against Geelong averaging 125 ranking points in their last four games. North in a thriller.
Unibet Odds: Geelong 1.85 North Melbourne 1.95
Last time they met: Rd 15, 2015 – North Melbourne 120 def Geelong 79
Tip: North Melbourne
Line tip: North Melbourne +1.5
West Coast v Adelaide | Saturday, June 11, 7.40pm (AEDT), Domain Stadium
A fascinating encounter between the ‘flat track bullies’ West Coast and the exciting, high-scoring Crows.
They’re Flat track bullies as the Eagles’ away form is about as credible as a politician’s attempts at sincerity.
Fortunately they’re back at Subiaco where they’re a six goal better side.
Apart from home wins against the Swans and GWS, Adelaide have fallen short against the good sides and will have their work cut out again on Saturday.
Assuming super ruckman Nic Naitanui is fit to play, he should provide the Weagles midfielders like Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff and Matt Priddis with plenty of quality possession at the stoppages.
Unibet Odds: West Coast 1.41 Adelaide 2.90
Last time they met: Rd 22, 2015 – Adelaide 126 def West Coast 69
Tip: West Coast
Line tip: West Coast -16.5
St Kilda v Carlton | Sunday, June 12, 1.10pm (AEDT), Etihad Stadium
Betting on this match will swing on the fitness of Saints champion Nick Riewoldt.
He copped a knock to his knee early against Adelaide, but battled on manfully for the remainder of the match.
Much has been made of St Kilda’s massive recent losses to West Coast and Adelaide, but they’re a young team that tends to fall away when making a bad start against good sides.
Back at home against a similarly ranked team they should improve.
The Blues are getting the most out of themselves and are playing a good style of football under Brendon Bolton and can expect to go well again.
Unibet Odds: St Kilda 2.35 Carlton 1.61
Last time they met: Rd 4, 2015 – St Kilda 81 lost to Carlton 121
Tip: Carlton
Line tip: Carlton -9.5
Richmond v Gold Coast | Sunday, June 12, 4.40pm (AEDT), MCG
The Suns hold a 3-2 advantage over the Tigers and will fancy their chances here.
All their wins have been in Queensland, but Richmond were very ordinary against North and injuries are starting to mount at Punt Road.
Steve Morris is gone for the season, Ben Griffiths will most likely miss and back man Dylan Grimes must be in doubt after pulling out at the very last minute in Hobart with a dodgy hamstring.
Gold Coast put in their best performance for some time against the formidable Swans even though they went down by six goals.
Dion Prestia, Gary Ablett, Matt Rosa and Michael Rischitelli found plenty of the ball and a repeat again this Saturday will put the Suns in with a shout.
Unibet Odds: Richmond 1.16 Gold Coast 5.50
Last time they met: Rd 20, 2015 – Richmond 138 def Gold Coast 55
Tip: Richmond
Line tip: Gold Coast +34.5
GWS v Sydney | Sunday, June 12, 4.40pm (AEDT), Spotless Stadium
The Giants will welcome being back home after tough away losses to Adelaide and Geelong.
The task doesn’t get any easier though against flag favourites the Sydney Swans.
The midfield battle will be fascinating as the Swans tough nuts, Daniel Hannebery, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Kieran Jack are in stellar form and will be fully tested against the flashy Giants mids.
One area the Giants have an advantage is their running defenders.
Heath Shaw and Nathan Wilson are in great form and if they can link up effectively the likes of Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio and Dylan Shiel then the Giants can get back into the winner’s circle.
Unibet Odds: GWS 2.00 Sydney 1.82
Last time they met: Rd 3, 2016 – Sydney 93 def GWS 68
Tip: GWS
Line tip: GWS +2.5
Melbourne v Collingwood | Monday, 3.20pm (AEDT), MCG
Recent form suggests the Demons will be way too good for the injury-riddled Magpies.
Melbourne already hold a decision over Collingwood with an easy win in Round 4.
Coach Nathan Buckley got his side into a pickle last week after selecting Travis Cloke and Jesse White in the same forward set up.
Both are not currently up to AFL standard and were woeful when flogged at home by Port Adelaide.
The defensive back six is also a worry who don’t seem to know when to play a zone or to stay with their man.
They’re in an awful mess and Melbourne just need to maintain their current form to win this easily.
Unibet Odds: Melbourne 1.57 Collingwood 2.40
Last time they met: Rd 4, 2016 – Collingwood 67 lost to Melbourne 102
Tip: Melbourne
Line tip: Melbourne -10.5