While Round 6 only just ended, footy fans are gearing up for a big Round 7 which kicks off on Friday night at Marvel Stadium.
With exciting games across the weekend, here’s who we’re tipping in each matchup and why.
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St Kilda v Port Adelaide
Friday - 7.50pm - Marvel Stadium
St Kilda are in serious contention to be the best side in the entire competition right now.
With just a single loss on their record, the Saints sit proudly atop the ladder heading into Round 7, as Ross Lyon’s stellar tactics have turned the squad into a juggernaut.
St Kilda’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end at the hands of Collingwood in Gather Round, yet they immediately bounced back with a convincing win over Carlton last week.
While things haven’t been quite as rosy for Port Adelaide so far, the Power have certainly been playing some good footy.
Following the back-to-back losses in the early rounds of the season, Port have won three on the trot, proving that Ken Hinkley’s men are no slouch this year.
The story for St Kilda has clearly been their defensive dominance, with the highest score they have conceded this season being the 74 points Essendon put up in their Round 3 clash.
Yet the Saints aren’t winning simply by just stopping opponents from scoring. Their own attack has proven to be effective despite the rough run of injuries, largely through their impressive ability to efficiently transition from defence to offence, even with that heavy defensive focus.
While Port started out the season looking like a high-energy, run-and-gun-type team, their recent wins have seen the Power play a much grittier style.
This adjustment is one that is needed against the Saints, as the wall Ross Lyon builds with his squad is all but guaranteed to stop even the most potent of attacks, forcing Port to slow their game down and grind out a win.
Port Adelaide certainly has the talent to take it to this St Kilda side, however the Saints’ defence has yet to be beaten convincingly.
It will take a huge effort for the Power to accomplish that on St Kilda’s home turf.
Tip: St Kilda by 8 points
Jack Makeham
Brisbane v Fremantle
Saturday - 1.45pm - Gabba
This match has all the makings of a blowout.
A potent Lions forward line coming up against a Dockers defence bereft of confidence.
The Dockers’ undermanned, dysfunctional forward line has also lost some much-needed speed with Michael Frederick set to miss at least three games with an adductor injury.
In good news for Freo fans, forward-midfielder Sam Switkowski and defender Heath Chapman are both a chance to return from injury for the match on Saturday.
In bad news though, the Lions' forward line is in ominous form. Over the past three weeks the Lions have averaged 125 points per game with small forward Charlie Cameron kicking 17 goals over his last three games.
Brisbane’s key forwards Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood have both bounced back with eight goals apiece over the past three weeks after they were subject to strong criticism following their loss to the Dogs in Round 3.
If the Dockers are any chance of pulling off a massive upset, they need to open up the game and let their players play to their strengths.
No one expects you to win, so you may as well let your players show why you drafted them.
Realistically, the Lions should go into the match unchanged and should expect to win comfortably at home.
Tip: Brisbane by 38 points.
Marcus Beeck
Sydney v GWS
Saturday - 2.10pm - SCG
This clash between the Swans and the Giants will demonstrate desperation from both sides as they both are coming off unfortunate losses.
Saturday night’s Grand Final rematch saw an injury-riddled Swans side dismantled by Geelong, leaving Sydney itching to place that result behind and get back in the win column.
Sydney hopes to regain Lance Franklin this weekend after a stint on the sidelines, causing some potential worry for a Giants side who have lost key defender Sam Taylor to a hamstring injury in last week’s game.
There is also a possibility of Dane Rampe and Tom McCartin returning for the Swans this week as a fierce battle against a strong GWS forward line is beginning to take shape.
Giants supporters will be pleased as Tom Green returns following a week out for suspension, who should provide plenty of grunt to go against a youthful Swans inside group.
A strong contest between these midfield groups will be on display come Saturday, as Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio are also showing elite form for the Giants this year.
Despite a skilful on-ball unit, the debilitated Giants backline could ultimately prove costly this weekend. If the Giants can continue their strong centre clearance ability and provide scoring chances for their key forwards, they may have a chance to put some pressure on last year’s runners-up.
However, a strong Sydney side, who may regain some forward assets, should be too comfortable and confident at home against the wounded Giants.
Tip: Sydney by 26 points.
Oliver Williamson
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn
Saturday - 4.35pm - Marvel Stadium
After a slow start to the season, the Western Bulldogs are beginning to build having gone 3-1 over the last month.
While they’ll go in favourites in this game, Hawthorn are probably tracking better than their recent record suggests with defeats by two and three points over the last fortnight.
Last time out, the Bulldogs were too strong in Launceston but the recent record between the two sides at Marvel Stadium is favourable to the Hawks who have won five of the last six against the Dogs at the venue.
In this game, they’ll hope to get back Mitch Lewis to add some extra firepower up forward and if they’re at their best there’s no doubt they can trouble a Bulldogs side that’s often hot and cold.
While the Bulldogs are somewhat hard to get a read on, they should have too much class around the ground against a Hawthorn side that’s clearly rebuilding.
With Marcus Bontempelli’s form increasing by the week, could this be another three-vote game that sees the skipper enter genuine Brownlow contention?
Tip: Western Bulldogs by 31 points.
Lachlan Geleit
Melbourne v North Melbourne
Saturday - 7.25pm - MCG
Melbourne continues to assert themselves as one of the early premiership coaches in 2023, despite their setback against Essendon in Gather Round.
They were challenged by a brave Richmond side last week, but ultimately prevailed on the back of young forward Jacob van Rooyan heroics in the final term.
The Dees now sit in third spot, just behind the competition pace setters so far in St Kilda and Collingwood.
On the flipside, their opponents on Saturday in North Melbourne have had a difficult few weeks as they settle into the season.
The Roos badly need to find defensive shape following a poor fortnight in that area. They’ve shown promise in the first couple of weeks under Alastair Clarkson, so will take heart in the fact that if they play at their absolute maximum, they should be somewhat competitive.
We’re still expecting Melbourne to win easily and continue building momentum.
Tip: Melbourne by 48 points.
Laurence Rosen
West Coast v Carlton
Saturday - 7.30pm - Optus Stadium
The critics are out in force for Carlton after successive losses to Adelaide and St Kilda exposed the cracks of the opening month of the season. However, they now come up against a West Coast team decimated by injuries and have the chance to regather some momentum.
The Eagles will be without Luke Shuey, Dom Sheed, Jamie Cripps, Jeremy McGovern, Liam Ryan, Nic Naitanui, Elliot Yeo, Tom Cole, Elijah Hewett, Harry Edwards, Campbell Chesser and more – though Shannon Hurn likely returns.
Even with the game being in Perth and with Carlton having beaten West Coast once since 2014, the Blues go in as raging favourites given the lack of firepower.
Carlton won comfortably in 2022 116-53, with Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay combining for 10.6. While the key forward pairing might not dominate to that extent again, it’s hard to see the Blues not winning similarly again.
They have their own injury issues, but are close enough to full strength. The Blues simply must win this game to earn a short reprieve from the pressure.
Tip: Carlton by 35 points.
Nic Negrepontis
Essendon v Geelong
Sunday - 1.10pm - MCG
On Sunday, we learn exactly how good Geelong is at this point of the season.
Essendon has proven they can compete with the best following a Round 5 win over Melbourne and a narrow defeat on Anzac Day against the Magpies.
But exposed form is much harder to read for Geelong. Wins against injury-ravaged sides in Sydney and West Coast followed a second-half demolition of the lowly Hawks.
If Geelong wins and wins well, they’re back. If not, Chris Scott’s side is arguably back among the chasing pack of the sides hoping to fill the lower levels of the top eight.
However, the Cats are favourites and it’s not hard to see why. Stars in Jeremy Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Stewart are firing on all cylinders, Tom Hawkins is back in form and against Sydney, Geelong had no passengers.
With their quick ball movement and surge mentality, Geelong is well placed to break down the Bombers’ defensive woes that allowed Collingwood to go coast to coast too often late on Anzac Day.
But Essendon’s system is no easy one to break down and this battle might be won in the coaches’ box.
Brad Scott versus Chris, brother versus brother. The latter seemingly has too many in-form weapons in his arsenal.
Tip: Geelong by 21 points.
Seb Mottram
Richmond v Gold Coast
Sunday - 3.20pm - Marvel Stadium
Richmond ‘hosts’ Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon, a venue they’ve struggled at in recent times.
The Tigers have failed to win in their last five attempts there and we know how much Richmond people apparently hate the venue.
The Suns have won their last two over the Tiges, one which came at Marvel in 2021, and the most recent which was the unforgettable Noah Anderson after-the-siren goal at Metricon Stadium last year.
Stuart Dew’s Suns enter this on the back of a 43-point win over North Melbourne at home, a timely confidence booster which ended a run of two straight defeats. They will have to navigate the next little period without co-captain and star midfielder Touk Miller though.
Over in the Richmond camp and they find themselves with an absolute must-win match in front of them due to an unenviable 1-4-1 record which has their season slipping away. They will get important defender Nathan Broad back from suspension.
Damien Hardwick’s side was good for 75 per cent of the game against Melbourne and arguably should have won if they kicked straight in the second half. It was a much improved performance and one that will fill the coaching staff and playing group with an enormous amount of confidence.
It certainly won’t be easy as the Suns are a tough nut to crack, but if the Tigers want to reignite their season, it must start this weekend.
Tip: Richmond by 14 points.
Andrew Slevison
Adelaide v Collingwood
Sunday - 4.40pm - Adelaide Oval
AFL fans will have to wait until Sunday night for the match of the round and what a contest its shaping up to be!
Collingwood are understandably the favourites having beaten two top four sides in recent weeks but will the four-day back-up slow Craig McRae's side?
As for the Crows, they return home after snatching the four points in a classic against Hawthorn on Sunday in Tasmania.
Their form at the Adelaide Oval is elite, but there are rumours floating around that Rory Laird might miss with an injury.
If he misses, that would make it bloody hard for Matthew Nicks' side.
Collingwood's record over the Crows is dominant, they've won their last six games by an average of 31 points.
In fairness to the Crows, this a different playing group that won't remember those losses, but it still provides context for this article.
Is it time coaches swallow their pride and actually put someone on Nick Daicos? Last year's Rising Star is the talk of the football world and rightfully so considering the numbers he’s putting up each week.
Will someone like Ben Keays sacrifice his own game and sit on Daicos the whole game? If they opt against tagging, they won’t win, simple as that.
The Pies will welcome Taylor Adams and Nathan Murphy back into their fold and with stars littered throughout their line-up, we’re tipping Collingwood in a classic.
Tip: Collingwood by 12 points.
Hugh Fitzpatrick