AFL Finals Week 1 Tips & Predictions

<p>The AFL regular season has been run and won and now only eight remain. The finals are locked and loaded and the race for the flag is about to begin.</p> <p>Collingwood finished top of the pile and have set up a mouthwatering Qualifying Final against Melbourne at the MCG.</p> <p>The other qualifier sees Brisbane host Port Adelaide, while two of Carlton, Sydney, St Kilda and GWS will be sent packing in the two elimination finals.</p> <p>So, who moves on and takes one step closer to the flag and whose season comes to an end? Check out our expert AFL Finals Week 1 tips and predictions below.</p>

<h2>AFL Qualifying Finals Tips &amp; Predictions</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>During the first week of the AFL Finals, there are two types of matches – qualifying finals and elimination finals.</p> <p>Qualifying finals are played between the teams who finished in the top four. First plays fourth and second plays third. The winner of each tie goes straight through to the preliminary finals and gets the second week of the finals off.</p> <p>The loser gets a second chance and plays the winner of the corresponding elimination final in the second week of the finals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood v Melbourne Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, September 7, 8:20pm AEST – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Finals footy this year starts with an <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/collingwood-v-melbourne-7592450">absolute cracker between Collingwood and Melbourne at the MCG.</a></p> <p>The Magpies finished top of the pile after a dominant season but did suffer a few late season slip ups that will have supporters a little worried.</p> <p>To further heighten the anxiety of their faithful, young gun Nick Daicos has officially been ruled out, failing to recover from his knee injury in time.</p> <p>The good news is that skipper Darcy Moore is back on deck and his inclusion sets up an interesting battle with Melbourne’s Bayley Fritsch.</p> <p>As for the battle between the two sides, we’re actually tipping Melbourne to win this one. There are a few reasons for this.</p> <p>The Dees have come home with a wet sail, led by the form of skipper Max Gwan who has been monumental over the past six or so weeks.</p> <p>Secondly, Melbourne are far more experienced when it comes to this time of year, they’ve been here before the past few seasons, whereas Collingwood have not.</p> <p>Finally, Nick Daicos has been so crucial to Collingwood’s best footy this year, that we think his absence will be exploited by Melbourne in a big way.</p> <p>It won’t be easy however, this has all the makings of an absolute classic, one we think Melbourne will win, just.</p>

<h2>Brisbane v Port Adelaide Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 9, 8:25pm AEST – The Gabba</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Port Adelaide will find themselves a long way from home when <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/brisbane-v-port-adelaide-7592451">they face the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in the second qualifying final</a>.</p> <p>That distance could very well be the difference in this one, with Brisbane’s record at home this year being more than formidable.</p> <p>Their win over St Kilda in the last round of the regular season completed a perfect 11-from-11 home record for the year.</p> <p>Port did win the one match they played this season, but yes that was some 2000km away at the Adelaide Oval.</p> <p>The Power’s ridiculous winning run ended some time ago and since then they’ve become very beatable and even ended up surrendering a top two finish to the Lions.</p> <p>With a perfect home record this season, there is no way we can bet against Brisbane as they look to make it 12 from 12 at the Gabba this year and continue their assault on the flag.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>AFL Elimination Finals Tips &amp; Predictions</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Elimination finals unlike qualifying finals are do or die. The teams that finished fifth through eighth get paired up, with fifth playing eighth and sixth playing seventh.</p> <p>The losers of each are eliminated, while the winners live to fight another day and will play the losers of the qualifying finals next week.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Carlton v Sydney Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, September 8, 8:50pm AEST – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The first of this weeks must win matches <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/carlton-v-sydney-7593084">takes place at the MCG between Carlton and Sydney.</a></p> <p>Last year’s beaten grand finalists have done mighty well to be playing finals footy after an impressive last six weeks to soar into the top eight.</p> <p>Speaking of impressive, Carlton seemed destined for the bottom four midway through the season, before Michael Voss slammed the big blue car in reverse and rocketed back up to fifth on the ladder thanks to a nine-game winning streak.</p> <p>A final round loss to GWS may have halted their momentum, but there is a belief it’s good to get a loss out of your system before your must win matches and they’ve done just that.</p> <p>If the Swans are to upset Carlton, it will be <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl/news/afl-legend-lance-franklin-calls-it-quits">without the services of superstar Lance Franklin who hung up his boots about a month ago.</a></p> <p>His experience in situations like this would have been invaluable and without him and away from home, we have to go with heavy favourites Carlton to win this one and move on to week two of the finals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St Kilda v Greater Western Sydney Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, September 9, 4:20pm AEST – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The last game of week one of the AFL finals is another big one at the G, as <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/st-kilda-v-greater-western-sydney-7593085">St Kilda and GWS fight for their respective lives.</a></p> <p>The Saints have marched all the way to the finals in Ross Lyons first year back at the helm, while the Giants erratic yet entertaining style of footy was enough to slide into seventh.</p> <p>The spotlight will undoubtedly be on GWS captain Toby Greene who has just been named the All-Australian Captain after a stellar season.</p> <p>He has booted 60 goals in just 21 games so far this season and is the one man St Kilda will need to stop if they are to win this game.</p> <p>The brunt of this responsibility will likely fall on the shoulders of another All-Australian, defender Callum Wilkie.</p> <p>While Wilkie is a talented defender, sometimes some players are just simply unstoppable and at the moment Greene is one of those players.</p> <p>It has been one hell of a return for Ross the Boss, but we think this is the week the St Kilda dream comes to an end.</p>