The cracking footy continues on Saturday night, with the Showdown at twilight sure to be a bruising affair at the Adelaide Oval.
Well out of the top eight race, both St Kilda and the Bulldogs have local bragging rights to play for.
But the story of the round will take place at the SCG, when Alex Johnson makes his return for the Swans, after last playing during the victorious 2012 Grand Final.
Missed our preview of the early games? Read it here
AFL Odds: Adelaide $2.08 (+3.5) / Port Adelaide $1.75 (-3.5)
The second Showdown of the year promises to be as fiery as ever, especially with the ramifications it will have on which Adelaide-based team qualifies for finals footy.
After last week's loss to the Demons, the Crows can wave their finals chances goodbye if they can't get the four points here.
Standing in their way is cross-town rivals Port, who steadied what looked to be a sinking ship with a scrappy victory over the mediocre Bulldogs last round.
The first Showdown in 2018 was arguably the best ever, with Port's Steven Motlop kicking a goal in the final minute to win the game after a see-sawing affair.
Revenge will be on the Crows' minds as they look to salvage their season.
Brodie Smith (Adelaide), Dougal Howard (Port)
Paul Seedsman (Adelaide), Mitch McGovern (Adelaide, likely)
Medium chance of showers with strong winds about. Scoring could prove tricky.
Key AFL Stats
Adelaide have won 71% of their home matches after a loss in the previous round since 2015.
The Crows have won 5 of the previous 7 Showdowns: Adelaide to win head-to-head @ $2.08
Port Adelaide have covered the line in only 2 of their last 7 away matches as a favourite: Adelaide to cover the +3.5 point line @ $1.92
AFL Betting Tip: Adelaide to win head-to-head @ $2.08
Reasoning: Not only the stats, but the extra motivation of revenge will give the Crows the edge in this one.
AFL Odds: St Kilda $1.67 (-8.5) / Western Bulldogs $2.20 (+8.5)
With so many Melbournian teams enjoying success in 2018, this fixture pits two of Melbourne's underperformers against each other.
Both the Saints and Dogs only have pride and local bragging rights to play for, as both clubs look to next season.
Often, games like this where so much depends on who turns up when there's nothing to play for are hard to predict.
However, with a few genuine stars in the Bulldogs' line-up, the team from Footscray should be winning.
While St Kilda's first half performance against the Giants in Round 19 showed promise, the Saints have struggled to put good performances back-to-back all year.
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The closed roof at Etihad Stadium provides ideal conditions for goal-scoring.
AFL Stats in Focus
When two teams look to be evenly balanced, the contested possessions and clearance numbers tend to provide a good indication of who will get on top and dominate from the stoppages.
Players like Marcus Bontempelli and Lachie Hunter will likely prove too good in the midfield.
St Kilda's safe, high uncontested possessions style won't trouble the Dogs here, who also have good uncontested numbers.
Key AFL Stat
The Bulldogs have won 3 of their last 4 matches against the Saints: Western Bulldogs to win head-to-head @ $2.20
AFL Betting Tip: Western Bulldogs to win head-to-head @ $2.20
Reasoning: On top of everything else, the Dogs are due for a good performance.
AFL Odds: Sydney $1.87 (-1.5) / Collingwood $1.95 (+1.5)
Sydney fans are surely worried because it looks like the Swans have lost their mojo.
Four losses from their past five games, and with plenty of key players underperforming, has the Swans sitting in unfamiliar position outside the top eight.
They are in desperate need of a boost, and that arrives this week in the form of Alex Johnson.
Johnson makes a miraculous and emotional return from injury after 12 knee operations and 5 total knee reconstructions. His last game of AFL footy was the Swans 2012 Grand Final triumph over the Hawks.
If that doesn't lift the Swans, nothing will.
Unfortunately for them, they come up against a Collingwood side that are having a phenomenal year.
The Pies will do everything in their power to spoil Johnson's return and sure up a top four spot.
Alex Johnson (Swans), Jarrad McVeigh (Swans, likely)
Zak Jones (Sydney), Matt Scharenberg (Collingwood)
A fine night in Sydney, so a big crowd is expected for this must-win clash.
AFL Stats in Focus
The Swans have struggled for points of late and this table shows why.
They will be up against it again, with the Pies not only getting the ball inside 50 more often, but making better use of these entries than the Swans.
Key AFL Stat
These teams last played each other in Round 3 2017, where Collingwood prevailed by 1 point at the SCG:Collingwood to win by a margin of 1-2 points @ $23
AFL Betting Tip: Collingwood to win by a margin of 1-39 points @ $2.50
Reasoning: As motivated as the Swans will be to turn their season around and with Johnson's return, the Pies will just have too many points and likely scrape over the line.
Aug 03, 2018 12:57 PM
AAP
Brodie Smith (Adelaide), Dougal Howard (Port)
Paul Seedsman (Adelaide), Mitch McGovern (Adelaide, likely)
Medium chance of showers with strong winds about. Scoring could prove tricky.
Key AFL Stats
AFL Betting Tip: Adelaide to win head-to-head @ $2.08
