Three cracking games to kick-start round 19 begins with Friday night's Essendon v Sydney clash, where the result will have big ramifications on the top eight.
The game of the round comes on Saturday afternoon, with first-placed Richmond playing third-placed Collingwood in what is looking like a potential grand final preview.
Finally, the young and in-form Lions face a near insurmountable task when they travel to Geelong to take on the Cats.
AFL Odds: Essendon $1.78 (-3.5) / Sydney $2.05 (+3.5)
The opening game of Round 19 sees a team in fine form play host to a club that has lost three of their last four.
With Essendon's top eight hopes potentially on the line in this fixture, they'd be hoping that their good form will stack up against a Sydney side struggling to find their best.
After the so called "upset of the decade" last week, the Swans need to come out firing against the Bombers.
A 24-point defeat on their home turf against the Gold Coast Suns can be credited to complacency, and a lack of a win-at-all-costs mentality.
However, the Swans seem to play their best footy as underdogs, so the Bombers should be wary.
In a game where so much is on the line for both clubs, not the least the Swans' pride and Essendon's finals hopes, this match will likely go down to the wire.
James Stewart (Essendon, likely)
Shaun McKernan (Essendon)
Under the closed roof at Etihad Stadium, the atmosphere will be electric.
AFL Stats in Focus
While Essendon create more chances in front of goal, they aren't as clinical as the Swans who make the most of their limited entries.
Key AFL Stat
2011 was the last time Essendon beat the Swans, triumphing by 1 point.
AFL Betting Tip: Either team to win by less than 15.5 points @ $2.50
Reasoning: Both of these clubs look to very evenly matched.
You know the Swans will turn up after last week's embarrassment, while the fact that the Bombers have won five of their last six suggests that they'll be right in this.
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Played on Saturday afternoon like the big dance in a couple of months, there's a sense that this fixture could very well be the grand final rehearsal.
Both of these clubs are fierce rivals and playing some of their best football in the past decade, so expect a huge crowd to pack out the MCG.
Speaking of the home of Aussie Rule footy, the Tigers have won seventeen straight at the ground, and will look to continue this phenomenal streak.
The Pies will have to pull off something special if they are to nab the four points and throw the race for the minor premiership wide open.
They were brilliant in last week's demolition job on top eight aspirants North Melbourne, winning by a whopping 66 points.
Taylor Adams has found his best and along with skipper Scott Pendlebury, will need to play at their peak against Dusty in the middle of the park.
The reigning Brownlow medalist also looks to be hitting his straps with the finals on the horizon. The battle in the midfield will go a long way towards deciding the outcome here.
Bachar Houli (Richmond, likely) Darcy Moore (Collingwood, likely)
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70% chance of fine weather, which will only enhance this spectacle. Perhaps favours the Pies more, who base their game on high-disposal, clean footy.
AFL Stats in Focus
Against Richmond's insane pressure, you can't see the Magpies maintaining their level of disposal efficiency and uncontested possessions.
This game will likely come down to a combination of who wins the contested possessions, and which players thrive in the big moments.
The game is built for Dusty.
Key AFL Stat
The Tigers have covered the line in 8 of their 10 matches at the MCG this year: Richmond to cover the -15.5 point line @ $1.92
AFL Betting Tip: Richmond to cover the -15.5 point line @ $1.92.
Reasoning: The Tigers have just been the best team all year, especially when playing at home.
With last year's grand final experience, they are better equipped to deal with the high-pressure atmosphere that this game will generate. In fact, they feed on it.
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While it wasn't to be for Lions fans who were longing for four wins in a row, their young team gave everything against a much more experienced Adelaide outfit last week, only going down by less than a goal.
They travel to the Cattery for this game, which last week saw a Houdini effort, with Geelong escaping the clutches of defeat with an after-the-siren goal by defender Zach Tuohy.
Geelong are a team that thrive when playing down in Geelong, really invoking a siege-mentality and repelling just about every visiting team.
But don't dismiss Brisbane, who are in a great spell of form and have already proved themselves more than capable of pulling off an upset this season.
Their first task will be to stop the big 'Tomahawk' Tom Hawkins, who is fresh off a 7-goal game and looking to make a late charge for the Coleman medal.
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Fine conditions down in Geelong. The Cats could capitalise and rack up the points if they're in the mood.
Key AFL Stats
Brisbane have covered the line in 5 of their 7 away games, after playing in Queensland in the previous round this year: Brisbane to cover the +33.5 point line @ $1.92
The Cats have won 14 of their last 16 games at GMHBA Stadium:Geelong to win head-to-head @ $1.18
Geelong have won their last 5 matches against the Lions, all by a margin of at least 56 points: Geelong to win by 40+ points @ $2.10
AFL Betting Tip: Geelong to cover the -33.5 point line @ $1.92.
Reasoning: While it won't get as ugly for the Lions as it has in past meetings between these sides, the Cats have too much strike power and should win handsomely.
Jul 26, 2018 12:57 PM
AAP
James Stewart (Essendon, likely)
Shaun McKernan (Essendon)
Under the closed roof at 
AFL Stats in Focus
AFL Betting Tip: Either team to win by less than 15.5 points @ $2.50
