Round 19 begins with an intriguing clash between Richmond and Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Friday night, as the Tigers look to keep their spot in the eight.
The Dockers are pushing for a top four finish with their eyes set on a home qualifying final but must win games like this.
Port Adelaide host Geelong on Saturday afternoon in a do-or-die clash for Ken Hinkley's men, whose season remains alive despite an 0-5 start to the year.
Brisbane and Gold Coast face off in their 22nd QClash at the Gabba in what could be the closest one we've seen yet.
The second edition of the 2021 Grand Final rematch is also set to take place on Saturday evening, with Western Bulldogs and Melbourne battling under the roof at Marvel Stadium.
The in-form Essendon also take on Collingwood, who are looking to make it nine wins in a row.
Here at The Sporting News, we've put together our betting predictions for round 19:
Odds courtesy of TAB.
Last week, we scored three of our nine predictions.
Josh Bruce, Shai Bolton, Tom Hawkins, Mitch Lewis and Peter Wright didn't hit the mark with goals kicked.
Andrew Brayshaw was unable to hit his 30-disposal range.
Richmond (8th) vs Fremantle (4th)
The Tigers have lost back-to-back games against Gold Coast and North Melbourne in heart-wrenching fashion while also losing to Geelong by three points a month ago.
Fremantle struggled against Sydney at home and will need to bounce back if they are to remain in the four, with Collingwood, Carlton and the Swans hot on their heels.
Andrew Brayshaw performed below his usual output in the loss to Sydney and will be keen to rectify his bad game.
Averaging a touch over 30 possessions, the Brownlow fancy is expected to respond, leading his team toward their 13th victory.
Andrew Brayshaw 30+ disposals - $1.80
North Melbourne (18th) vs Hawthorn (13th)
North Melbourne broke the 14-game losing streak with a breathtaking win over Richmond by four points, with Cam Zurhaar being the hero kicking six goals.
Hawthorn have won back-to-back matches against Adelaide and West Coast and are looking to make it three in a row.
Taking place in Hobart at Blundstone Arena, the Kangaroos will be keen to keep their impressive form going and look to level out the win-loss record with the Hawks, after falling short by 20 points in round 1.
For the Hawks to win, Mitch Lewis is usually the man to bring them home, however was kept goalless by Tom Barrass last week. It was only the second time this season.
However, when Lewis was previously kept off the scoreboard, he returned with five majors against the Crows in a scintillating performance.
Expect him to do it again.
Mitch Lewis 3+ goals - $1.40
Sydney (6th) vs Adelaide (16th)
Sydney have shot right into top four calculations with an impressive victory over Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Adelaide fell to 16th after a heartbreaking loss to Collingwood by five points and have now lost three on the trot.
The Swans are playing some inspired football and are tipped to win big against the struggling. Crows.
Chad Warner has been the main reason for their improvement, with his uncanny ability to win the footy in close and break from stoppage to set up teammates to score.
Isaac Heeney is another Swan whose year has been superb, putting his name in the ring for the All-Australian squad, having kicked 35 goals thus far.
Isaac Heeney 3+ goals - $2.10
Port Adelaide (11th) vs Geelong (1st)
Port Adelaide's season is hanging by a thread and a loss to Geelong would almost seal their fate.
The Cats have been the most in-form team in the competition, winning eight in a row and looking to make it nine for the first time since 2011.
Geelong have beaten Melbourne and Carlton in consecutive weeks and by the competition's standard, will now look to an easier run before the finals.
However, as history suggests, no game is easy and the Power will make the Cats work for the win, especially seeing their playing for their year.
Chris Scott's men have been too good the past two months and that won't change this weekend.
Expect a nail biter but Geelong to win.
Geelong to win - $1.58
Brisbane (3rd) vs Gold Coast (12th)
The 22nd edition of the QClash couldn't have come at a better time, with Gold Coast needing a win to remain in the hunt for their first finals appearance.
Brisbane's form of late has been inconsistent, donning a win-loss pattern since round nine.
The Lions have won the past six encounters with the Suns and more recently have put them to the sword, blowing out the margins passed 45 points on five occasions.
Stuart Dew has taken steps forward with Gold Coast in 2022 and Izak Rankine is the one of the reasons for that, becoming a dangerous small forward.
Rankine has kicked 23 goals from 14 outings and will need to fire if the Suns are a chance to cause an upset.
Izak Rankine 2+ goals - $2.00
Western Bulldogs (9th) vs Melbourne (2nd)
Melbourne took home the four points in round one in the first Grand Final rematch back in March.
Brownlow favourite Clayton Oliver is set to return after he fractured his thumb against Geelong a fortnight ago.
The Western Bulldogs are only percentage out of the top eight after defeating St Kilda and will be seeking redemption for the last two encounters, including the 2021 Grand Final.
Oliver has led the charge in the Demons' pursuit of back-to-back premierships and is a much-needed inclusion, especially against Tom Liberatore, Jack Macrae and Marcus Bontempelli in the middle.
Aaron Naughton is also ready to give a big boost in the Dogs forward line, returning from a minor knee injury to join Josh Bruce and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
Kysaiah Pickett had his best game in his short career so far last week, kicking six goals and snatching victory from Port Adelaide.
Generally hits the scoreboard often.
Kysaiah Pickett 2+ goals - $1.75
Carlton (7th) vs GWS Giants (15th)
Carlton's top four chances are hanging by a balance but a strong win over GWS will put them back into the calculations.
The Giants were disappointing in the past fortnight and will want to respond heading into the final rounds of the year.
Harry McKay was kept goalless for the first time this season last week and is no surprise the Blues lost to the Cats.
Michael Voss will hope his twin towers up forward, Charlie Curnow and McKay will run the Giants defence ragged and being too much for them to handle.
Curnow averages over three goals a game, while his partner in crime (McKay) is good for two and a half per match.
Charlie Curnow 3+ goals - $1.75
Collingwood (5th) vs Essendon (14th)
Collingwood are currently on a eight-win streak and will look to extend that to nine, hoping to beat enemies Essendon.
The Bombers are playing a rejuvenated brand of football, winning their last three with a fast-paced, chaotic movement that catches opposition teams out.
The Anzac Day clash earlier in the year was a thriller, with the Pies walking away as victors by 11 points, one of many games they've won under 12 points.
Father-son and first year sensation has been the talk of the town after his 40-possession, three-goal game against the Crows and should definitely expect attention from the opposition.
The Rising Star winner (based on a betting company already paying out punters) has been averaging 27 touches, including five games over 30. We think he'll make it six.
Nick Daicos 30+ disposals - $2.05
West Coast (17th) vs St Kilda (10th)
Both sides are coming into the clash with one win in their past five matches, whilst St Kilda will be fighting to assert themselves into eighth spot (depending on other results).
West Coast loom as a danger side for the Saints, who travel to Optus Stadium for the Sunday afternoon clash.
Jack Sinclair's 2022 campaign has been arguably the best as a half back and it would be no surprise if he was rewarded with an All-Australian jacket.
Averaging 28 possessions a game, Sinclair has been pivotal to St Kilda's year thus far and will need to have a big game if they're to get their season back on track.
Jack Sinclair 30+ disposals - $2.25
More: Want more AFL? Watch Warriors On The Field celebrating Aboriginal Australia and its long history and association with the AFL. Streaming on AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
