The virus has certainly held up the competition for the last 12 weeks and it’s now back with shorter quarters (16 minutes plus time-on), a new fixture that will see regular Thursday night games and the unknown mental effect on players isolating between rounds.
I will say this early in the piece: the resurrected season with new rules and the uncharted psychological effects on teams have the potential to result in the most open grand final in many a year.
Yes, even the Gold Coast Suns have a chance at glory!
Nevertheless, NEMBC MEDIA will keep bringing you the latest AFL news, previews, reviews and everything diversity dealing with footy from the restart to the end of the season.
The season resumes on Thursday evening, as the Magpies go head-to-head with the Richmond Tigers behind closed doors from the MCG, with no supporters, remote screen calls from footy commentators in OB vans outside the ground, canned crowd noises and robotic flying seagulls for the benefit of TV audiences.
I can hear The Twilight Zone theme song ringing in my ears already... very strange indeed.
No matter what, the action in itself will be of biblical proportions and a blockbuster TV ratings bonanza to boot.
Last time out in Round 1, the Tigers won, but not before they received a huge scare from Carlton; so I pick Collingwood to continue their unbeaten run and win by 12 points.
In this post-virus AFL fixture, it will be difficult to pick winners for the next couple of weeks as sides learn to adjust to the new situation and empty stadiums.
With these X-factors in hand, Friday night’s big game will unfold at the Cattery as Geelong encounter a resurging Hawthorn side.
Both teams look very well matched on paper so watch out for the sparks to fly.
The Cats are hard to beat at home and I believe it will not be any different this week.
On Saturday, I predict Brisbane will find form at the Gabba to defeat Fremantle, while Carlton should take the victory against the Melbourne Demons.
I tip Port Adelaide to beat the Crows at Adelaide Oval, while the Gold Coast Suns, playing at home, should go down to the West Coast Eagles by a huge margin.
Sydney, coming off their first-round win even without “Buddy” Franklin, will account for the injury-depleted Essendon on Sunday afternoon at the SCG, while the GWS Giants may find the going tough against North Melbourne before finishing over the top.
The last game of the round at Docklands Stadium will pit the new-look St Kilda against the Western Bulldogs – tough game to pick!
The Saints only lost by a disappointing two points last round, so it is worth picking them to win this weekend.
2020 AFL season Round 2 tips
Collingwood
Geelong
Brisbane
Carlton
Port Adelaide
West Coast
Sydney
GWS Giants
St Kilda
Progressive tip score: 6
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