<p>AFL round 23 has a lot to live up to, as last week may have topped them all.</p> <p>An after-the-siren game-winner from Mac Andrew to give the Suns their maiden road victory of the season.</p> <p>An epic failure of form and fitness for a one-time premiership contender from Princes Park.</p> <p>A 48-point turnaround as the premiership favourite tumbles at home. The Kangas were up 13 points with 93 seconds remaining, only to cough up three goals to West Coast, who pinched victory and may have given interim coach Jarrad Schofield the gig.</p> <p>Also, let’s not forget last Friday night where the Swans’ season looked officially cooked, down 25 points with 11 minutes on the clock. Only to see them go on a tear of five consecutive snags to claim victory.</p> <p>What on God’s green can round 23 provide!? For the latest analysis, news, odds and betting tips for all of this week’s action, check out my AFL round 23 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>Essendon vs Sydney Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, August 16, 7:40pm AEST – Marvel Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The question has to be valid – are Essendon now emotionally shot?</p> <p>A month ago, they coughed up a horror to Adelaide under the lid, were rolled comprehensively by the Saints then found a way to overcome Freo by a point. Add in the Mac Andrew heartbreak and the Dons could well be cooked.</p> <p>Sydney were also not far away from joining them before turning on the turbo late to upend the Pies.</p> <p>Heeney and Warner were back, which excites Swans fans whilst big Brodie Grundy was better but still looks in need of a physical spell.</p> <p>Sam Draper kicked three last week but made some fatal errors late in the game. The two ruck play from Brad Scott is a miss for mine. I’d like to see them go small and test the opposition with dynamic bodies and versatility. What happens here – considering the recent form of both – God only knows.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/essendon-v-sydney-8461872">Sydney Swans by 11 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet: </strong>Mason Redman 20+ disposals and Kyle Langford 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast Suns vs Melbourne Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 17, 1:45pm AEST – Heritage Bank Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Suns broke their duck and now get a look at a team who is scrapping hard but simply outgunned.</p> <p>Melbourne smoked Port inside the contest, but the same old story read us another chapter and that’s their inability to convert going forward - 51 points proves that.</p> <p>Jacob Van Rooyen is competing hard but lacks clean opportunity and when Fritsch is kept under wraps, there’s not much else to fall back on.</p> <p>Sam Collins and Charlie Ballard will prove difficult to pass this week on the coast.</p> <p>It was good to see Matt Rowell collect 32 last week, including 15 uncontested possessions, which is something he needs to do more.</p> <p>Ben King looks to have the kicking boots back on, as he and the hero – Mac Andrew – combined for 7.0.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/gold-coast-v-melbourne-8461876">Gold Coast Suns by 21 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Ben King 3+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>GWS Giants vs Fremantle Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 17, 1:45pm AEST – Sydney Showground</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After dropping one that was all but in the bag a fortnight ago then slipping up at home, Fremantle are now up against it to even make the eight.</p> <p>A trip to the west of Sydney will not make life any easier at all.</p> <p>GWS overcame a 31-1 deficit in Brisbane last week in an incredibly impressive performance from the men in orange.</p> <p>Tom Green and Lachie Whitfield are All-Australian contenders whilst we know Jesse Hogan is a lock.</p> <p>However, the emergence of Aaron Cadman was the brightest spark in this game for the Giants. Three contested marks and three goals in what was his career-best game.</p> <p>Finn Callaghan is another one you need to keep an eye on in AFL round 23. He’s a gun!</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/greater-western-sydney-v-fremantle-8461885">GWS Giants by 14 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Toby Greene 3+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Collingwood vs Brisbane Lions Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 17, 4:35pm AEST – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Back to the scene of the 2023 AFL Grand Final but how the fortunes of both have changed.</p> <p>The Pies are all but gone for 2024 and Brisbane were gone, were well and truly back and are now again scrapping for their place inside the top four.</p> <p>Collingwood are relying on various goal sources with so many key players sidelined. They’ll need a cameo from someone like Bobby Hill, Jamie Elliott or former lion, McStay here.</p> <p>The Lions will be wild. Coughing up a 30-point lead at home is devastating but they should’ve been further ahead, kicking 4.7 in the opening term.</p> <p>With so much on the line for the Lions and the Pies barely clinging to life, you’d have to think the Brissy boys will be revved up around the ball and too potent inside fifty.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/collingwood-v-brisbane-8461887">Brisbane Lions by 33 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Kai Lohmann 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Port Adelaide vs Adelaide Crows Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 17, 7:30pm AEST – Adelaide Oval</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A Showdown is always a throw down!</p> <p>No matter what the ladder says and no matter who is healthy or injured we get the best punch from both squads.</p> <p>The Power are rolling, having won four impressive games on the spin, whilst the Crows will turn up here desperate to ruin Port’s double chance hopes and keep the Showdown plaque.</p> <p>Darcy Fogarty bagged five in game 100 last week and Riley Thilthorpe looked promising with some big marks inside fifty.</p> <p>I’d expect they’ll release Izak Rankine into the middle this week, despite spending plenty of time ahead of the ball last week.</p> <p>This does look a mismatch inside, though, with Butters, Rozee, Horne-Francis, Wines and Drew all in sparkling form.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/port-adelaide-v-adelaide-8461890">Port Adelaide by 18 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet: </strong>Ollie Wines 25+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>St Kilda vs Geelong Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, August 17, 7:30pm AEST – Marvel Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Saints hammered the hapless Tigers last week, rebounding off one of the poorer performances of 2024.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Geelong keeps on keeping on, going to Perth in Jezza’s 250th and claiming the points.</p> <p>Captain Dangerfield was huge in the final term, whilst newbies Shannon Neale and Shaun Mannagh kicked four between them, including Mannagh’s sealer.</p> <p>Rowan Marshall went big last week, 23 disposals, 11 marks and three sausage rolls, so Rhys Stanley will have his work cut out for him to curtail the gun Saint in round 23.</p> <p>Cal Wilkie will handle Cameron, in a match-up that could decide the game.</p> <p>The Saints trouble Geelong at Docklands, so whilst this looks a gimme on paper I’d expect this to be dour and difficult.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/st-kilda-v-geelong-8461891">Geelong by 4 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet: </strong>Geelong big win little win 1-39.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, August 18, 1:10pm AEST – Marvel Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>An atrocious cough up from the Roos in Tassie was matched by an awful performance from the Dogs in SA.</p> <p>Both will be on the rebound but the boys from the ‘Scray need to get things corrected to ensure September includes them.</p> <p>Aaron Naughton and Cody Weightman were unsighted against the Crows, whilst Sam Darcy had an almost game, kicking 1.5 from his 19 disposals.</p> <p>Larkey, Comben and Zurhaar up against Jones, Lobb and Khamis will be fascinating whilst we know both these on-ball brigades are powerful.</p> <p>With both squads breathing fire, expect this to be a quality game early on a Sunday afternoon.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/western-bulldogs-v-north-melbourne-8461892">Western Bulldogs by 14 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Cody Weightman 2+ goals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Hawthorn vs Richmond Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, August 18, 3:20pm AEST – MCG</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>They’re in. Finally.</p> <p>From zip-five, the Hawks have rallied and are among the most in-form teams in the AFL. They relentlessly hammered Carlton last week when the Blues were down troops.</p> <p>The creativity, run and gun from Moore, Ginnivan, MacKenzie, MacDonald, Morrison, Amon, Impey and others gives this squad a real point of difference. They can all kick goals, create goals and run from contest to contest – which is such a key part of today’s AFL.</p> <p>The Tigers will limp to the line, you figure.</p> <p>The kids are in and the veterans are wounded and probably weighing up the future overall. This could get proper ugly!</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/hawthorn-v-richmond-8461893">Hawthorn by 50 points.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Shall we get cheeky and have something small on HAWKS 100+!?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>West Coast Eagles vs Carlton Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, August 18, 4:40pm AEST – Optus Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The final contest of AFL round 23 is the ultimate banana peel game for the men in navy blue (although they’ll be wearing white).</p> <p>Curnow down, Jack Martin out. Fogarty also wounded. Where do the Blues go next?</p> <p>There comes a point in time where the next man up mentality falls flat because we know player 33 cannot replace player 10.</p> <p>No one can replace Curnow, and no one can adequately replace guys like Fogarty otherwise they’d have been in the team beforehand.</p> <p>Expect the Eagles to take no prisoners, especially off the back of a spirited win in Hobart last week.</p> <p>For the Blues to claim victory and keep their September hopes alive, P. Cripps and S. Walsh will need to collect five of the six Brownlow votes available.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/west-coast-v-carlton-8461894">Carlton by 1 point.</a></p> <p><strong>Best bet:</strong> Sam Walsh 30+ disposals and Patrick Cripps 30+ disposals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>AFL 2024 Premiership Odds</h2>