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 eight remaining games in Round 23.
Richmond versus North Melbourne
Cotchin to have 20+ disposals and Riewoldt to kick 2+ goals
Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt will both play their final game for Richmond on Saturday.
Three-time premiership captain Cotchin has averaged 16.3 disposals in his last season. In 15 games against the Kangaroos over his career, Cotchin has averaged more than 24 touches.
We’ll go with Cotchin to pick up at least 20 disposals.
11-time leading goal kicker Riewoldt has returned 31 goals from 20 games in 2023 and has kicked multiple goals against North in four of his last five.
We’re going with Riewoldt to kick at least two goals in his final act.
Ziebell to have 20+ disposals
Another retiring star is North’s Jack Ziebell.
The former Roos skipper averages 22 disposals and has had 20 or more touches on 15 occasions in 2023.
He has found form in his last two outings, tallying 59 disposals in those two weeks.
We’re banking on Ziebell to also finish on a high with at least 20 touches in his final match for the Kangas.
Andrew Slevison
Gold Coast versus Carlton
Jarrod Witts wins the most hit-outs on the field
Jarrod Witts has had some dominant performances against Carlton, finishing with 45 hit-outs and 42 hit-outs in their last two meetings.
The Gold Coast captain will need to dominate for the Suns to have any chance of winning, particularly given how strong Carlton’s clearance game has been.
Also, Tom De Koning and Marc Pittonet will split the ruck work while Witts will do the vast majority alone.
Naturally, he will finish with the most hit-outs. It’s a certainty.
Blake Acres 20 disposals
Blake Acres has been one of the best value-for-money trade additions of the 2023 season.
He has been a reliable cog for Carlton all season on the wing and has only dropped below 20 disposals four times in 2023.
He has also been on a streak of 20+ since Round 14 and should have no issues doing so again on Saturday afternoon.
Nic Negrepontis
GWS versus Essendon
Tom Green to have 25+ disposals
GWS midfielder Tom Green is having a prolific season.
The young bull is averaging 32 disposals a game and will hope to have a big say against the Dons.
Brad Scott doesn’t have a tagging option in his side and Green found plenty of it in Round 4 against the Bombers, collecting 34 touches.
25 should be easily gettable for the 22-year-old.
Mason Redman to have 20+ disposals
Essendon defender Mason Redman is having a huge season.
The dashing runner is averaging 22 disposals a game in 2023 and has had at least 20 touches in each of his last five games.
Up against GWS, Redman should cruise past the 20-touch mark given that he had 27 last time he faced Adam Kingsley’s side.
With Essendon’s season still alive, a lot rests on Redman’s shoulders as they look to go 2-0 across the next fortnight.
Lachlan Geleit
St Kilda versus Geelong
Brad Crouch for 25+ disposals, 5+ clearances
Barring last week and not many others, Crouch has been St Kilda’s best midfielder throughout the 2023 season.
Excluding Round 22, the last time Crouch had under 25 disposals was back in mid-May.
The Cats don’t have any accumulators in the centre of the ground, while Chris Scott’s midfield has been belted for the majority of the last month.
Crouch also has 28 and 36 disposals in his last two games against Geelong.
Gryan Miers for 2+ goal assists
Miers may be the most in-form high half forward in the league, but not for the reason many others would be.
The Cats speedster has been a goal assist machine in 2023, directly setting up 39 majors through 21 games this year.
If he’s going to beat Jason Akermanis’ record of 44 goal assists in a year, Miers needs at least a few in Round 23.
Miers is so much of what Geelong does going forward and if he starts racking up the footy, he’ll have a massive say on Saturday’s result.
Seb Mottram
Adelaide versus Sydney
Izak Rankine to kick 2+ goals
Adelaide forward Izak Rankine returns against the Swans after three weeks out with a hamstring injury.
Before he suffered the injury, Rankine was in fine form with 35 goals from 18 games.
While he already averages nearly two majors a game, his stats at home are even more impressive as he averages 2.3 goals each time he steps onto the Adelaide Oval in 2023.
With this game at home and Adelaide fighting for a finals spot, expect Rankine to have a big say.
Logan McDonald to kick 2+ goals
Sydney froward Logan McDonald was strong in the win over Gold Coast last week, kicking three goals.
As the Swans’ key tall inside 50, McDonald will get plenty of opportunities on the Adelaide Oval, particularly with both Nick Murray and Jordon Butts out of the side.
He should get a few chances on goal and nail at least two.
Lachlan Geleit
Western Bulldogs versus West Coast
Marcus Bontempelli 30+ disposals, 6+ clearances
The Bont is going to absolutely fill up on Sunday afternoon.
Facing off against some less than impressive competition and with a finals spot on the line, the Bulldogs’ skipper will be wanting to send a message.
His running mate Tom Liberatore will be missing the clash due to concussion, so Bontempelli will carry an even bigger load on his capable shoulders.
Expect the superstar to dominate this clash.
Liam Duggan 20+ disposals
Eagles defender Liam Duggan is quietly having one of the best seasons of his career.
Averaging a career-high 23.5 touches per game, he has been incredibly consistent for a West Coast side that has struggled all year long.
Since a slow first four games, Duggan has failed to hit the 20-disposal mark just three times in 2023.
He’s a strong chance to hit that mark again.
Jack Makeham
Melbourne versus Hawthorn
Jack Viney for 25+ disposals
The inside bull knows how to find the footy on a consistent basis and shouldn’t have any issues this week against this young Hawthorn midfield.
With the likelihood of both Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca gaining some attention from some notable Hawthorn taggers in Conor Nash and Finn Maginness, Viney should thrive in this situation and dominate in the contest which he has proven to do all season long.
Luke Breust to kick 2+ goals
The veteran small forward has enjoyed a magnificent year in front of goal this season and has been able to amass 43 goals in a very inexperienced side.
With the absence of spearhead full forward Mitch Lewis this week, expect Breust to play a major role for the Hawks if they are able to take another big scalp this week against a Demons defence which is seen as one of the best in the league.
Zac Sharpe
Fremantle versus Port Adelaide
Willie Rioli to kick at least two goals
Rioli has had a strong year in his first season at Alberton and should relish a chance to get back to Optus Stadium against the Fremantle Dockers
He’s only gone goalless once since Round 12 and not in his last four games. He's kicked multiple majors in three of those four.
In a game Port Adelaide will be eying a tune up before finals, Rioli would love to be front and centre and is the best-placed Power forward for a big game.
Andrew Brayshaw for 28+ possessions
Brayshaw has enjoyed a remarkably consistent back half of the 2023 season, particularly when it comes to Optus Stadium.
At the Dockers’ home ground, Brayshaw’s last eight games for possessions read 33, 29, 26, 32, 29, 29, 33 and 34.
With Fremantle’s renewed form, expect him to be among the Dockers’ best again.
Seb Mottram
What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au