Australian football Hall of Famer Terry Wallace has made his tips for Round 1 – assuming it goes ahead.
The former Hawthorn star is tipping a few upsets, including the Gold Coast Suns, and you can see them below.
Richmond versus Carlton
“Carlton supporters have been waiting for Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay to grow and blossom both of them are not there, the excitement of Eddie Betts coming back to the club, those three missing in the front half and they’re playing as professional an outfit as there is with the Tiges,” Wallace told *SEN’s Dwayne’s World.”
Collingwood versus Western Bulldogs
“The Bulldogs have almost been the ‘it’ side of the pre-season and now they have got to put it on the board, it’s a home game for them too. I’m actually sticking with Collingwood in this one. They’ve been an inch away to either win a Grand Final or go to another Grand Final, the Bulldogs have still got to prove that, obviously Adam Treloar not there is a bit of a disappointment from there point of view. I’m watching this game with a lot of interest because both teams could have exciting years.”
Essendon versus Fremantle
“I think Fremantle are going to do it fairly tough for the year, they’re fairly inexperienced and they rely so heavily on Michael Walters and Nathan Fyfe to get the job done. A few of their recruits are doing a good job so we’ll watch them with interest, but I have been pleased with Essendon. I think they have shown that they have really changed up their style of play, it looks like everyone is on the same page and I haven’t always been able to say that about the Bombers. They’ve had, to me, a pretty good pre-season and should be ready to go at home.”
Adelaide versus Sydney
“I’m going Adelaide. No Lance Franklin. We don’t expect him to play. We haven’t seen Sam Reid on the track. They’ve had a really makeshift forward line so it has been a bit of a battle for them to get their right blokes on the park. So to expect that to flip around very quickly is difficult. I’m expecting it to be a tough year for both sides so normally you go the home side, but we don’t really know how that dynamic will play out (in an empty stadium).”
GWS versus Geelong
“I’m tipping GWS with a fair bit of confidence. I think GWS will get it done. I think they’ve been one of the best pre-season sides and they have a point to prove after last year. I’ve been a little disappointed with what Geelong has been able to stump up, I know Chris Scott said you won’t know us come Round 1, well he’s got the chance to show us that. It’s a hard place to win. The Bombers went up there in Round 1 last year and got the ears scrubbed off them.”
Gold Coast versus Port Adelaide
“I am (tipping Gold Coast). That’s probably the tip that’s unusual, the reigning wooden spooner, I think they have shown enough over that period of time to sort of say that they’re ready for a reasonable showing. They are playing a side that is up and running as well in Port Adelaide and we know Port have high inside 50s and they do most things right, Charlie Dixon becomes such an important player for them if he can get his game up and going. I just like the pressure that Gold Coast has shown in their games and I think from an early point of the year, what they’ve shown in the pre-season can sustain itself, but again it is very early days.”
St Kilda versus North Melbourne
“A month back I probably would have tipped North Melbourne. I just thought the connection with St Kilda with so many changes might have just taken them a few weeks to get themselves playing their best footy, but they look pretty sound about the way they’re going about it at the moment so for me I’m going St Kilda. Ben Brown out of the North Melbourne line-up hurts them. It’s a real risk with a calf injury to get someone to play in that first one.”
Hawthorn versus Brisbane
“I just trust in what I have seen from Brisbane last year. Guys like Cam Rayner should be able to take a step up, Jarryd Lyons, guys like that. I think they’re in a pretty good position at the moment. Hawthorn had a pretty strong finish to last year … but I just think Brisbane are a sharp enough team that they can come to the MCG and get a result. They’ve done it to Hawthorn before, they really run them off their legs. Hawthorn has to be in front at half-time if they want to win.”
West Coast versus Melbourne
“I think West Coast. They’re going to be right up there and very difficult to beat over in Perth. Melbourne has a point to prove and actually made the finals by beating the Eagles in Perth in 2018. A lot of their players will go over there saying they’ve done it before. Nic Naitanui back, Tim Kelly into the line-up, I think that will be enough for the Eagles.”