Back for another week, the SEN.com.au team gives you an insight into how every game will play out across the weekend.
Labelling something a ‘certainty’ in any sport is fraught with danger.
But we’ll attempt to find some anyway.
Here is what we consider certainties for the six remaining games in Round 12.
Port Adelaide versus Hawthorn
Zak Butters 30+ disposals
Zak Butters has been in white-hot form of late and that should continue on Saturday.
Expect him to dominate the younger Hawks midfield and find plenty of the ball both on the inside and outside.
Butters has been the in-form midfielder of the competition and you can expect that to continue.
Mitch Lewis 2+ goals
Mitch Lewis is the focal point of the Hawthorn forward line and will absolutely get two looks at goal in this one.
The question will simply be whether he converts.
Expect Lewis to take advantage of a Port Adelaide backline that can struggle with big key forwards.
Nic Negrepontis
West Coast versus Collingwood
Oscar Allen to kick two or more goals
West Coast forward Oscar Allen is having a strong season despite his side’s struggles, kicking 29 goals from 11 games.
That currently puts the Eagle at seventh on the Coleman Medal rankings, a serious effort given his side has by far the worst offensive statistics in the league.
Given the Eagles will be looking to their key forward more often than not inside 50, expect Allen to hit the scoreboard at least twice.
Even if it might not result in a win, there’s every chance Allen kicks a fair portion of the Eagles’ score.
Ash Johnson to kick two or more goals
At the other end, Collingwood’s forwards will hope to have a fill-up against the bottom-ranked Eagles.
With the likes of Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox set to receive significant attention from the likes of Tom Barrass and Josh Rotham, x-factor forward Ash Johnson could get off the leash.
The 25-year-old has goaled in each of his games this season, expect him to kick at least two goals as he plays his first AFL game in his home state of WA.
Lachlan Geleit
Western Bulldogs versus Geelong
Marcus Bontempelli to have 25+ disposals
The Western Bulldogs star is going to turn it up at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
Bontempelli attends the most centre bounces for the Dogs week in and week out alongside Tom Liberatore.
But with the Cats midfield missing its stars, expect Bontempelli to have touches both in and outside the contest as well as a few clearances.
He’s averaging 26 disposals this year, so expect him to play a large role in Saturday’s contest.
Tyson Stengle to kick a goal
The Bulldogs defence has been one of the best across the competition in the last six weeks and it’s hard to guarantee much from any Cat at the moment.
Stengle’s kicked at least one goal in each of his last four games and in five of seven contests this year.
The 24-year-old is also showing signs that he’s getting back into his All-Australian form from last year, a campaign where he only went goalless twice after Round 3.
With the apparent lack of a prime matchup for Stengle, expect him to manage at least a goal.
Seb Mottram
Gold Coast versus Adelaide
Matt Rowell to have 20 or more disposals
Matty Rowell is playing some of the best footy he's played in his career and he's finding more and more of the footy each week.
A contested football beast, the former No.1 draft pick will rellish the slippery conditions and find the pill more than 20 times.
Averaging over 21 disposals this year, the Darwin conditions are made for Rowell, lock it in rogi.
Jodran Dawson to have 25 or more disposals
One of the game's best midfielders, Jordan Dawson will have more than 25 disposals in Darwin on Saturday night.
The conditions in Darwin are made for clean, silky midfielders and there’s no one silkier in the competition than Dawson.
The last time he took on the Suns, the Crows skipper gathered 27 disposals and 17 kicks and was clearly one of the Crows’ best.
Expect a repeat performance against a young Gold Coast midfield.
Hugh Fitzpatrick
GWS versus Richmond
Greene and Daniels to combine for 3+ goals
GWS captain Toby Greene booted four goals in his 200th game against Geelong last week.
He has now kicked 26 for the season across nine games and has kicked 10 in his last five against the Tigers.
Brent Daniels has only kicked two goals in five games against Richmond, but has found some scoring form of late, booting three against the Cats after two against St Kilda the week prior.
We’ll go with the Giants’ small forward pairing to kick at least three goals between them against the Tigers this weekend.
Taranto to have 25+ disposals, 3+ clearances, 3+ tackles
Tim Taranto has been outstanding for the Tigers this year, particularly in recent weeks.
In last week’s loss to Port, he had 33 touches, seven tackles, seven clearances and also kicked an equal career-high four goals.
This year for Richmond he averages 30.8 disposals, 6.9 tackles and 6.8 clearances.
Taranto meets his former club the Giants for the first time on Sunday and if the Tigers are to get up, they’ll need their prized recruit to fire.
We’re backing the former GWS best and fairest to pick up at least 25 touches, and we’ll throw in at least three clearances and at least three tackles into the mix for good measure.
Andrew Slevison
Essendon versus North Melbourne
Zach Merrett to have 30 or more disposals
Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett is in some serious form.
Averaging 29 disposals a game in 2023, Merrett has seen his output spike in recent weeks with Darcy Parish out of the team with tallies of 39 and 32 touches in the last fortnight.
Merrett picked up 38 disposals and kicked a goal in his last clash against North.
He could go near those numbers again.
Cameron Zurhaar to kick at least one goal
Cameron Zurhaar hasn’t been as potent in front of goal as usual in 2023 as he collects more footy up the ground.
Despite this, he’s still averaging 1.4 majors a game and he’d expect to kick at least one against the Bombers.
Having kicked four against the Dons in Round 20 of last season, Zurhaar will hope to have a similar impact in this clash.
Lachlan Geleit