Back for another year, the SEN.com.au team gives you an insight into how every game will play out across the weekend.
Labelling something a ‘certainty’ in any sport is fraught with danger.
But we’ll attempt to find some anyway.
Here is what we consider certainties for the Round 7 Anzac Day clashes between Essendon and Collingwood as well as GWS versus Brisbane.
Essendon v Collingwood
De Goey 25+ disposals
Collingwood star Jordan De Goey has found some serious form in the last two weeks.
The midfielder received 19 coaches votes for his performances in Collingwood’s last two games as he has picked up 31 and 27 touches in those outings.
Up against Essendon, the Pies will be relying on De Goey to be one of their main men at stoppage again and he should get plenty of it.
While they may use Sam Durham as a stopper, surely he goes to Nick Daicos given the young star’s outing last week against Port Adelaide and his dominant Anzac Day last year that saw him claim the medal.
If Daicos is clamped, De Goey should run relatively free and reach 25 touches.
Merrett 30+ disposals
Essendon star Zach Merrett has been dominant in 2024.
The skipper has picked up between 27 and 36 disposals in each game so far and has passed the 30-touch marker in four of those appearances.
Up against a Collingwood side that won’t tag, Merrett should run relatively free.
He picked up 36 in Round 24 against the Pies last year and had returns of 36 and 38 disposals both times he played them in 2022.
30 disposals should be no problem for him in this one.
Lachlan Geleit
GWS v Brisbane
Briggs to earn 25+ hitouts and 5+ clearances
Brisbane’s Oscar McInerney is in the concussion protocols and Chris Fagan will need to find another option to combat the force that is Kieren Briggs.
Briggs’ start to the season is flying under the radar but only two midfielders to have played multiple games in 2024 are averaging more clearances.
The 201cm Giant was collectively beaten in the ruck last week by Blues Marc Pittonet and Tom de Koning but still collected six clearances and 26 hitouts.
Expect him to monster whoever he lines up against on Thursday night.
Zorko for 25+ possessions and 3+ inside 50s
The former Lions captain is relishing a move to half-back to cover for Keidean Coleman in 2024.
Zorko is averaging 28 possessions a game across the last month playing a largely outside role and handled the slippery conditions better than most last week against Geelong.
In a team where not much is going right, Zorko is Chris Fagan’s pinup for positional calls made this year and as a leader of the Lions, he’ll work overtime to ensure Brisbane doesn’t go 2-5.
Seb Mottram
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