There's some massive games to look forward to in Round 13.
We have seven games to go through with Carlton, Brisbane, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs having byes.
Who will win and why this weekend?
Let's find out below.
Port Adelaide versus Geelong
Thursday night - Adelaide Oval
A rematch of the 2020 Qualifying Final, Geelong will be looking to get some revenge on Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.
The Power won a low-scoring thriller last year, kicking away after half-time.
Geelong will be a significantly stronger side this weekend, with Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, Cam Guthrie, Mark Blicavs and Mark O’Connor likely to return.
This will be the Cats’ strongest line-up on paper for the season and arguably a much stronger team than the Qualifying Final side, given the additions of Jeremy Cameron, Shaun Higgins and Isaac Smith.
Both teams are fresh coming off a bye and strong fortnights prior.
Port’s key defenders have had good years, but will face their toughest task yet up against Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins.
The midfield edge also goes to the Cats given the returns of Dangerfield and Duncan.
The Power are yet to truly prove their credentials against a top-four team and this looms as a chance for them to stamp their legitimacy.
Tip: Geelong by 12 points.
Nic Negrepontis
Sydney v Hawthorn
Friday - SCG
The Grand Final foes of yesteryear meet on a Friday night, some ways down the table, and likely on opposite trajectories.
Hawthorn has put up the construction fencing, but they have been the less experienced side in just four matches this season. Their youth is concentrated in offence, with their competitive base resting on a quality midfield and a scattering of wise heads.
With reports ball magnet Tom Mitchell could pursue a trade, the pain could deepen. For now, the missive is to grit their teeth, shield Changkuoth Jiath and Jack Scrimshaw as they grow, and instil a winning mentality in the likes of Jacob Koschitzke, Dylan Moore and Ned Reeves.
This Swans group’s nadir is behind them, with Callum Mills having graduated to the midfield, Tom McCartin and Chad Warner having taken a step, and draftees contributing. They play attractive football, capable of both wresting momentum from the stoppage and traversing the ground.
Their final term fadeout in the contest against the Saints tells Mitchell, likely inclusion Jaeger O’Meara and company that they’ll have a window, but they’re outpointed across the ground.
Dane Rampe and Jordan Dawson will relish marking an inexperienced forward line, Isaac Heeney and Will Hayward will create match-up headaches at the other end with it coming in fast, while George Hewett or James Rowbottom can be sent to blanket ex-Swan Mitchell if he gets hot.
Hawthorn are coming off a rest, but it will be the Swans’ third consecutive match at the SCG and their preparation has not been impacted by the Melbourne lockdown.
The hosts should fortify their position in the top six.
Tip: Sydney by 23 points
Nathan John
Fremantle versus Gold Coast
Saturday - Optus Stadium
Fremantle hosts Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon in what should be a tight contest.
The Dockers have been battered by injuries and suspension, losing Nathan Fyfe, Brennan Cox, Griffin Logue, Sean Darcy and Nathan Wilson, while Matt Taberner and Alex Pearce, who could return, may be playing through niggles.
At the same time, the Suns will get back star midfielder Matt Rowell in a boost to their chances.
Gold Coast has a good record against Fremantle, winning their last two encounters in tight contests.
Rowell was best on ground with 20 disposals and two goals in the win last year.
The Suns are a red-hot chance in this one given the circumstances, but Fremantle at home should be too good.
Tip: Fremantle by 6 points
Nic Negrepontis
St Kilda v Adelaide
Saturday - Cazaly's Stadium
The Saints and Crows meet in Cairns both coming off Round 12 losses and keen to take a win into the bye.
Both sides came agonisingly close to tasting victory last week, but were pipped at the post after perhaps having the run of play for the majority of the game.
The Crows have held sway over the Saints in recent years, winning 10 of the last 11 clashes between the two sides, with St Kilda only earning their first victory against Adelaide since 2011 last year.
Jack Steele earned the three Brownlow votes in that encounter, while key forward Taylor Walker had his best return for the 2020 season with three goals.
With Tex’s form taking a dramatic turn for the best this season, the Saints will need to limit his influence if they’re to get on top.
St Kilda will hope their midfield tandem of Steele and Brad Crouch fire again after the pair combined for 69 disposals and 15 clearances against Sydney last round. Expect Adelaide’s Ben Keays and Rory Sloane to play close attention to them at the contest.
While Adelaide has been dominant head to head, the ground serves no history for either side, with both yet to play at Cazaly’s Stadium for premiership points in their respective histories.
With no clear form line to go off, it’s set to be a tight one, but I liked what I saw last week from St Kilda slightly more than what Adelaide dished up against Collingwood.
Tip: St Kilda by 12 points.
Lachlan Geleit
North Melbourne versus GWS
Sunday - Blundstone Arena
Fresh off a bye last week, North Melbourne and GWS travel to Tasmania for Sunday’s match at Blundstone Arena.
It’s a game the Giants simply must win if they’re to keep their finals hopes alive.
Coming off a 10-goal belting at the hands of the Brisbane Lions in Round 11 with several players sidelined through injury, GWS’ season has reached an important juncture.
The Giants (5-6) are currently two games outside the top eight, a victory over the Kangaroos is paramount to stay in touch with the likes of eighth-placed Richmond (7-5) and seventh-placed West Coast (7-5).
Veteran Giant Sam Reid plays his 100th game after 12 years and nine months in the AFL. It’s the longest a player has had to wait to reach the milestone in 93 years.
Since breaking through for their first win of 2021 in Round 9, North Melbourne were comfortably beaten by Essendon and St Kilda in the following two weeks.
Sitting last on the ladder, coach David Noble will demand a four-quarter effort from his players after the Roos finished strongly against the Saints with a five goal to one final term.
North Melbourne shocked GWS by 20 points in their previous meeting at Giants Stadium – just one of three wins they recorded last season.
It looms as somewhat of a danger game for Leon Cameron’s side as the Roos can provide plucky resistance on the Apple Isle.
Tip: GWS by 8 points.
Alex Zaia
West Coast versus Richmond
Sunday - Optus Stadium
These two sides were initially set to have a bye in Round 13 but with Richmond currently out of Melbourne due to the COVID outbreak, it was forced to be rescheduled.
It actually comes at a very good time for the Tigers as West Coast has a number of key players still sidelined by injury, which has been compounded by the concussion sustained by Brad Sheppard last weekend.
There could soon be some sort of respite on the personnel front for the Eagles, provided things go their way, but there is no doubt Adam Simpson’s outfit is undermanned at present. However, that didn’t stop them beating Carlton in round 12 and providing the tonic they needed after two straight defeats to GWS and Essendon.
In the yellow and black corner, they had lost Dion Prestia to another soft tissue injury, but he is now expected to play in what is a major bonus which comes as Kane Lambert returns after missing six weeks with a calf issue.
West Coast has defeated Richmond by 47 and 68 points in their past two meetings in Perth (the latter was at Subiaco), but the Tigers have the last two encounters in their pocket, including a commanding win in Round 14 last year.
They also got a look at Optus Stadium last weekend in the Dreamtime game and come into this fresh off a scintillating final term where they put Essendon to the sword.
With a stronger team on paper, the Tigers should see this out, even on enemy territory.
Tip: Richmond by 14 points.
Andrew Slevison
Melbourne versus Collingwood
Monday - SCG
It’s Queen’s Birthday with a twist in 2021 as the traditional game moves from the MCG to the SCG as a result of Victoria’s latest COVID outbreak.
Both these sides are coming off wins in Round 12 – the Pies’ younger brigade were impressive in their victory over Adelaide while the Dees keep on keeping on after recording a highly-impressive win over Brisbane.
It’s also of course Nathan Buckley’s final game as Collingwood coach, after he and club announced on Wednesday morning that they would be parting ways.
Melbourne’s defence has been the standout this year and that’ll test Jamie Elliott principally, who kicked a career-high six goals last week. He’ll have a tougher task this weekend against the might of Steven May and Jake Lever.
The ladder-leading Dees look every bit the premiership favourite as it stands and the Pies will have their hands full in trying to pull off one of the upsets of the season on Monday afternoon in Sydney.
On a day where Neale Daniher’s promotion of FreezeMND will rightly be at the forefront in the pre-game, the side he used to coach will be overwhelming favourites to make it 12 wins from 13 rounds.
It’s set to be an emotional afternoon at the SCG as the Buckley era comes to an end so it’s impossible to discount the Pies pulling off a major upset.
Tip: Melbourne by 24 points.
Laurence Rosen
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