What was next was anybody’s guess, as the media and footy public waited for the consequences of the Essendon Football Club’s virus tests.

Last Thursday, the Richmond Tigers took on the Hawthorn Hawks and lost badly at the MCG, while on Friday night, the Western Bulldogs humbled the GWS Giants at Marvel stadium.

The weekend was young, and there were two unexpected results already.

Saturday wasn’t much fun for the professional tipsters either and caused trauma for Geelong fans, as Carlton won by two points after waiting for 24 years to beat the Cats at their home fortress. 

Not to be belittled, on the other side of town, the Sydney Swans caused another topsy-turvy result in defeating the punters’ favourite, North Melbourne, at Marvel Stadium.

Then came the grim news, that Essendon’s favourite Irishman Conor McKenna had tested positive for the coronavirus. 

A disaster was quickly unraveling as no one had any idea how deep the contagion had infected the club. 

The League immediately postponed the Demons-Bombers clash to a later date, while the AFL investigated the situation and reassured footy fans that the show would go on!

The rest of the weekend’s games were walkovers: Brisbane defeated the West Coast Eagles by a hefty margin, Port Power beat the Fremantle Dockers with an even greater result, and the surprise packet, the Gold Coast Suns rolled the Adelaide Crows big time!

So, welcome to Round 4.

Basking in last week’s victory over North Melbourne, the Swans may just catch the Western Bulldogs napping on Thursday night. 

On Friday evening, the Giants will host the travelling Collingwood Magpies. 

This game will be a test of character for the two sides.

I don’t think the Giants have it in them yet, so I am going for the Magpies to notch up win number four by a margin of 28 points!

Saturday’s fixture has Port Adelaide up against the West Coast Eagles from Carrara on the Gold Coast.

It will take a complete reversal of form if the Eagles manage to even come close to Power. 

St Kilda will take on Richmond at Docklands – the Tigers are down but not out. 

It’s going to be a tough game, but in the end I think Richmond will find some goals and their old form to win.

Essendon will play Carlton at the MCG on Saturday night. 

The Bombers are going through a crisis now but they have already delivered two wins so far. 

Carlton decimated Geelong in the first three quarters last week and are on a high, so it’s more than likely they and the fast Eddy Betts will take the victory on Saturday night. 

The in-form Gold Coast Suns, who are at home this weekend, should make short work of taking the win from the Dockers.

From the Gabba on Sunday, the Brisbane Lions will host the disappointing Adelaide Crows.

Simply put, the Lions are far better than the Crows and will take the points comfortably. 

Melbourne will play Geelong at the MCG. 

The Cats have to redeem their embarrassing defeat last weekend and should expose Melbourne’s shortfalls, even if the Demons are fresh coming off an extra week’s rest due to their match being postponed last round. 

The Cats’ meow will ultimately prevail!

The game of day will come from Marvel Stadium, where the Hawks will go head-to-head with the Kangaroos. 

Yes, Hawthorn did a good job on the low-scoring Tigers last week. 

But while North Melbourne lost to Sydney, they did come back in the last quarter but just failed to win. 

I’m going to stick my neck out here and go for the “Shin-Boner” ‘Roos!

​2020 AFL SEASON ROUND 2 TIPS

Sydney Swans

Collingwood Magpies

Port Adelaide Power

Richmond Tigers

Carlton Blues

Gold Coast Suns

Brisbane Lions

Geelong Cats

North Melbourne Kangaroos

Progressive tip score: 15

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