<p>The past weekend went largely as planned from a results perspective. I was giving GWS a big chance, but a second quarter blitz reminded us all why Sydney are the clearcut No. 1 seed.</p> <p>The No. 2 seed revealed themselves, as the Blues hammered an ageing and slowing Geelong squad now likely without Tommy Hawkins for most of the season.</p> <p>I also went to the MCG trying to convince myself Norths would roll the Dees - and they almost did - but the old firm stood tall. Gawn, Viney and May were key in hanging on.</p> <p>The arrival of AFL round 16 means we have nine games back on the menu – thank the lord!</p> <p>No Thursday night action, but Brisbane and Melbourne resume hostilities at The Gabba to kick off Round 16 and Super Saturday is back, with five big games on the slate.</p> <p>Here is how we’re seeing them all.&nbsp; For the latest analysis, news, odds and betting tips for all of this week’s action, check out my AFL round 16 tips and predictions below, or follow me <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/feed/profile/view/56/ist_ambassador_deeplink_action">on the feed</a> and see them there!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Lions vs Melbourne Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, June 28, 7:40pm AEST – The Gabba</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Lions are officially back in action. I wanted to wait one more week before being fully back onside with them and the assault they delivered to Port - who were aiming to celebrate the 2004 premiership - was heavy and sustained.</p> <p>They scored 11 unanswered goals, a bag to Hipwood and dominant performances from Joe, Neale and Andrews in game 200. While some of the new faces are making big impressions around the ground.</p> <p>The Dees fell in against the Roos. The overall performance was less than impressive and hardly becoming of a contending team. Which, to me, they’re not even close to anyway.</p> <p>The Lions go OK against the Dees, rolling them in Melbourne in a final and comfortably handling them at The ‘G earlier this season.</p> <p>Until three-quarter-time in that game, the Dees had 25 points to their name before saving face in the last with five cheap snags.</p> <p>The line is around five goals (as of Monday) and I’d expect the Lions to win the game by around the mark.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/brisbane-v-melbourne-8329857">Brisbane Lions by 30 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Zac Bailey 20+ disposals and anytime goal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>North Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 29, 1:45pm AEST – Marvel Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>For the first time in a long time, the Roos have had a genuine block of good form.</p> <p>The win/loss record reads 1-2 in the past three but the performances on the park have been strong.</p> <p>A win in the west then a blistering half against the champs. Admittedly, they did sleepwalk through three quarters before kick starting their game on the back of young studs, Sheezel, Wardlaw and free agent Cam Zurhaar up front.</p> <p>The Dogs are a sleeping giant according to some. To me, I still see the same old inconsistencies in each performance.</p> <p>They look outstanding when the captain dominates and he does dominate on the regular, but this team still needs more from its big forwards and more from its general ball movement between the arcs. Intercepting is also something left largely to Liam Jones.</p> <p>The Dogs will go in as heavy favourites but North’s past three weeks have shown them - and us - they’re on the path forward… finally.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/north-melbourne-v-western-bulldogs-8329856">Western Bulldogs by 24 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet: </strong>Cody Weightman 3+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Swans vs Fremantle Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 29, 1:45pm AEST – SCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The ladder tells us this could be the game of the round as first meets fifth.</p> <p>However, the Sportsbet traders tell us the No. 1 seeded Swans are so superior to anyone that Freo have almost no chance of scoring an upset in the Harbour City.</p> <p>The likelihood is, at some point, these Swans will have a period of complacency or injury or general dips in form. And Freo do have a staunch defensive line-up which could stifle some of the Swans’ electric ball use through the middle of the SCG.</p> <p>On paper the midfield contest looks juicy, but Heeney, Rowbottom, Gulden and Warner play the game in a devastating manner so the Dockers gang will need to be equally damaging to keep the purple mob in touch.</p> <p>Importantly last week, Brayshaw had his usual 30+ but kicked a goal, Serong also kicked a major and the big game-changer in the middle for Freo - Hayden Young - had 24 touches but kicked three big goals.</p> <p>The ruck contest will be a cracker also. Sean Darcy returned to form with 20 disposals, a goal and 40 H/O against Suns skipper Jarrod Witts.</p> <p>Darcy and Luke Jackson will be out to tag-team and wear out leading All-Australian contender Brodie Grundy, who went big again last week, amassing 28 touches and 31 H/O.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/sydney-v-fremantle-8329859">Sydney Swans by 27 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet: </strong>Nick Blakey anytime goal.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Suns vs Collingwood Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 29, 4:35pm AEST – Heritage Bank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Suns were my disappointments of the weekend. Even more so then Port, which is saying something.</p> <p>Yet another woeful performance on the road. They get the comforts of home this week, but they face the Pies, who are ready to rampage.</p> <p>Will Powell returned from suspension and was good last week but too much is left to too few on the Gold Coast, and without Ben King they looked awfully impotent up front.</p> <p>The Daicos boys have carried the midfield without De Goey and Pendlebury whilst Jack Crisp has chimed in nicely as well, despite a slow beginning to the season. Getting some big guns back in the forward line will be key as the season progresses.</p> <p>The Suns on the rebound, back at home, is a difficult ask for anyone but the Pies seemingly thrive on difficult tasks and will be up for this one.</p> <p>They’ll also likely have more fans in the house than the hometown Suns.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/gold-coast-v-collingwood-8329858">Collingwood by 10 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet: </strong>Josh Daicos 25+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Geelong vs Essendon Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 29, 7:30pm AEST – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Geelong are in strife. Tom Hawkins is down. Mark Blicavs looks sore. Patrick Dangerfield is challenging a suspension. Tom Stewart cannot break the tag. Ollie Henry has gone quiet, and it looks like Tyson Stengle may be on the move.</p> <p>But it’s never as bad as it seems, or so they say.</p> <p>The Dons fended off a cheeky Eagles squad at Docklands last week with Jake Stringer kicking a bag and the usual names doing the business around the ball.</p> <p>I’m not sure Jye Caldwell is getting the credit he deserves for assisting Sam Durham and Zac Merrett in transforming this Essendon on-ball crew.</p> <p>Mason Redman, Andy McGrath, Jordan Ridley and Nic Martin (when down there) form a lethal foursome down back. They can run, gun and kick the ball. I like what Essendon have to offer and getting Xavier Duursma back on the wing will only help.</p> <p>Expect to see more youth in the hoops, but make no mistake, Chris Scott will not be rolling over in season 2024.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/geelong-v-essendon-8329860">Essendon by 23 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet: </strong>Kyle Langford 3+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Adelaide Crows vs GWS Giants Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, June 29, 7:30pm AEST – Adelaide Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The city of Adelaide is exploding with both its AFL teams performing terribly.</p> <p>Adelaide gets its chance to atone by rolling the struggling Giants. GWS exploded out of the gates this season but have fallen to sixth on the ladder since.</p> <p>Some of their better players are not performing as well as earlier in ’24. Toby Greene’s season has been fascinating. Tom Green also.</p> <p>The defensive group has fallen considerably as well and not having Sam Taylor for the foreseeable future will only add to the worry.</p> <p>The Crows need to use the remainder of the season to sort out who can help the next climb up the ladder and who will need to be moved along.</p> <p>Darcy Fogarty has performed quite well without Tex Walker’s presence whilst Izak Rankine continues to perform as a game-breaking mid-forward type.</p> <p>They’ll need more from Rachele, O’Brien in the ruck and whoever plays midfield for the remainder of the season.</p> <p>On paper the GWS mids look head and shoulders above. Green, Kelly, Ash, Callaghan and Briggs v Dawson, Laird, Berry, Sholl and Rankine.</p> <p>We shall see which of these two teams has something left to offer in the season.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/adelaide-v-greater-western-sydney-8329862">GWS by 20 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> SGM – Lachie Ash 20+ disposals, Finn Callaghan 20+ disposals and Toby Greene 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St Kilda vs Port Adelaide Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, June 30, 1:10pm AEST – Marvel Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Hard to get too enthused here but the game is on, and fans will tune in. as will some neutrals.</p> <p>The Saints have been among the disappointments of the season, whilst Port’s season seems to be falling from the sky, with their fans wanting the man in charge gone.</p> <p>Between the lines, both teams will arrive confident of a victory. Jack Sinclair back in defence looks the go, as he played well against Brisbane before the bye. He was somewhere close to his back-to-back All-Australian campaigns.</p> <p>Rowan Marshall began the season like a rocket but has slowed with some saying his camp is exploring options beyond the Saints in 2025.</p> <p>The Power on-ball group has been under pressure this week after copping a hiding last week. They’ll be out for revenge, and they do look like a handful for the likes of Steele, Ross and even Owens.</p> <p>Ollie Lord will improve as a young forward, so Hinkley should persist there, and we’ve seen enough from Georgiades to know he’s talented.</p> <p>That does leave Todd Marshall as the main man, something he has been unable to nail down to this point.</p> <p>I’m calling this game, so I’ll be locked in, otherwise I can honestly say the interest levels would be low, very low.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/st-kilda-v-port-adelaide-8329863">Port Adelaide by 21 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet: </strong>Zak Butters 30+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Richmond vs Carlton Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, June 30, 3:20pm AEST – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The old foes at the MCG in the middle of winter! Problem is, this looks a proper mismatch with Carlton in sparkling form and Richmond doing things tough, despite pinching a win in Adelaide a fortnight ago.</p> <p>Tom Lynch has re-injured a hammy so he’s going to be absent for another few weeks. The pain continues.</p> <p>The Blues will undoubtedly smell the blood of the old rival, because Richmond showed no mercy when the shoe was on the opposite foot!</p> <p>Cripps, Walsh, Kennedy and Hewett demolished Geelong’s mids whilst Tom De Kooning has exploded into a force. His past month has been extraordinary.</p> <p>With proper focus and attention to the task, Carlton should win here and win big.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/richmond-v-carlton-8329861">Carlton by 41 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet: </strong>Harry McKay 3+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>West Coast Eagles vs Hawthorn Prediction</h2> <p><strong><em>Sunday, June 30, 4:40pm AEST – Optus Stadium</em></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>AFL round 16 wraps when the Hawks jet out west for a date with the Eagles, who are easy beats no more.</p> <p>They tackled Essendon at Marvel in bold fashion. The Jake Waterman and Oscar Allen combo should become a lethal 1-2 punch as they continue to play inside fifty.</p> <p>For the Hawks, their smalls are doing so much damage. Ginnivan, Moore, MacDonald and Breust (when he is out there).</p> <p>All four can score, all four can create and all four are brash in the way they play the game, except maybe the veteran.</p> <p>I’d expect the Hawks to keep rolling but West Coast should see this as a real opportunity to claim win No. 3 on the season.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/west-coast-v-hawthorn-8329864">Hawthorn by 11 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet: </strong>Jack Ginnivan 15+ disposals and 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>AFL 2024 Premiership Odds</h2>