Sydney. While we cannot talk much against the Bombers, it must be said that they are the only side this season to have never trailed in a match, after Collingwood trailed St Kilda early in their Round 3 match at the MCG last week. Marlion Pickett’s struggles since his breakthrough grand final showing last year continued, being largely ineffective against the Hawks, while Tom Lynch’s embarrassing missed shot at goal from five metres out in the final quarter summed up the Tigers’ dismal night. Nobody in a million years could have predicted the 2020 Grand Final would be played at the Gabba, and the Lions simply have to take advantage of what's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 2020 AFL season: Round 4 preview. The star Lion has been sensational in 2020, particularly earlier in the season, and would be a worthy winner of the award. Coach Chris Fagan could be seen on the sidelines exclaiming “You effing beauty” after the Lions kicked eight goals to three in the second half, moving up to fifth place in the process, just below Essendon whose match against Melbourne was postponed. NS: If we're to believe the bookies and experts, it's Lachie Neale and then daylight, right? Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work Clickbait and hot takes: How do fans navigate today's footy media? Can the Tigers turn things around? AFL Round 4: Teams, tips, odds - everything you need to know for the weekend. If they were to lose to the Cats, it would be three losses from four finals in the last two years and some serious questions would start being asked... Matt Walsh: If you're the team which sits atop the ladder from Round 1 until the end of the home and away season, then surely you're under the most pressure to make the Grand Final. In fact, in all of their three matches this season, Nathan Buckley’s side have restricted their opposition to only five goals, which doesn’t make for good reading for the Giants which could only manage four against the Bulldogs. JR: Lachie Neale, Jack Steele and Patrick Dangerfield. At this stage, we do not know if the Saturday night clash between Essendon and Carlton will proceed, due to Conor McKenna’s positive COVID-19 test causing the Bombers’ Round 3 match against Melbourne to be postponed. JR: You have to give it to the Coleman medallist - he's been outstanding this season and is coming off a strong four-goal performance against the Pies. Stay on current site or go to US version. Download the app now. They were led brilliantly by Marcus Bontempelli, who notched up his first win as full-time captain after assuming the role from Easton Wood at the end of last season. Having said that, the expectations are now high, so what can they do this offseason to make them even better? And don't be surprised if umpires' favourites Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin poll better than expected! Carlton, meanwhile, led from start to finish to upset the Geelong Cats at Kardinia Park last Saturday night, notching up its first win at the Cattery since 1996 in the process. Standing 201 centimetres, Xerri looms as a big presence in North’s forward half, and another option to assist Todd Goldstein in the ruck. Get the ESPN App from the Google Play Store to get the latest sports scores, news and videos. It put an end to a 14-match undefeated streak which stretched over twelve months, and was also their first defeat at the MCG since their loss to the Geelong Cats in Round 12 last year. "These are just a few of the facts, and the reason why our club is in a strong…. North Melbourne has named two debutants for Sunday’s clash against Hawthorn. JM: Let me start with the Saints. The 34th overall pick at last year’s NAB AFL Draft, Mahony impressed during the pre-season, gaining valuable experience in the Marsh Series. • Download ESPN from iTunes App Store That possibility could be used as motivation but the importance of the opportunity could also be weighing heavily on their minds - imagine letting this slip! However, I can’t see the Pies being beaten here. Prediction: North Melbourne by six points. Niall Seewang: The more I think about it, the more I think the Lions might be under the most pressure, simply because no other non-Victorian team will be in a position to host a Grand Final at their home ground - at least until (if) the AFL's MCG contract ever winds up. Both the Saints and Tigers will want to lift for this match, with both sides having only won one game each this season. But either way I see Hawkins having a big say in the game. Otherwise, next week’s Crows-Dockers match on the Gold Coast could decide which team remains winless after Round 5, and facing a massive mountain to climb for the remainder of the year. SCG, Thursday June 25, 7:40 pm AEDT. !Stream the latest @ESPNAusNZ#AFL podcast here.https://t.co/b9ShlxDIFs. Make sure you get on board our Best of Triple M Footy playlist so you never miss anything! Who tops the "coaching pressure power rankings"? Still, I think the Cats should bounce back from their loss to the Blues and heap some more misery on the Dees. After joining the club as a delisted free agent, it didn’t take long for Josh Walker…. Round Table: Who has been the most disappointing player of 2020. • Download ESPN from Google Play Store Though they would keep the red and white goalless in the final quarter, a stretch of three goals in six minutes was not enough as they crashed to yet another loss against the men from the Harbour City in either Melbourne or Hobart. Meantime, the Eagles’ struggles in the Gold Coast hub continued as they were beaten by five goals by the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba last Saturday night. Friday night football comes to Giants Stadium for the first time as the GWS Giants attempt to revive their season against Collingwood. Just as the Cats went forward, Eddie Betts channelled his inner Fraser Brown to prevent a Cats surge at goal, and seal an upset victory for his side, ensuring they didn’t go 0-3 for the eighth consecutive year. While the Blues should start favourites, you never know what will happen in any match between Essendon and Carlton, given the number of surprising results that have unfolded between the two clubs in recent years. That came after they only managed seven majors against St Kilda in Round 2, and five against the Pies in Round 1. Richmond and West Coast have made a combined eight changes to their teams ahead of the round 4 action. • Get AFL news and more in your inbox MW: What happened when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? Why the Blues must go all-in on blue-chip stocks. B: Jake Lloyd, Dane Rampe, Robbie FoxHB: Aliir Aliir, Callum Mills, Ollie FlorentC: Jordan Dawson, Luke Parker, Harry CunninghamHF: Isaac Heeney, James Rowbottom, Ben RonkeF: Lewis Taylor, Nick Blakey, Will HaywardFOLL: Callum Sinclair, Josh Kennedy, Tom PapleyI/C: George Hewett, Hayen McLean, Sam Naismith, Justin McInerneyEMG: Ryley Stoddart, Ryan Clarke, Sam Gray, Colin O’RiordanIN: Ben Ronke, Sam Naismith, Justin McInerneyOUT: Colin O’Riordan (Omitted), Tom McCartin (Concussion), Sam Gray (Omitted), B: Bailey Williams, Alex Keath, Caleb DanielHB: Jason Johannisen, Zaine Cordy, Hayden CrozierC: Ed Richards, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack MacraeHF: Bailey Dale, Josh Bruce, Toby McLeanF: Mitch Wallis, Aaron Naughton, Sam LloydFOLL: Tim English, Tom Liberatore, Bailey SmithI/C: Rhylee West, Louis Butler, Laitham Vandermeer, Pat LipinskiEMG: Callum Porter, Tory Dickson, Lachie Young, Jordon SweetIN: Rhylee West, Louis Butler, Pat LipinskiOUT: Lin Jong (Injured), Josh Dunkley (Injured), Matt Suckling (Omitted), Giants Stadium, Friday June 26, 7:40 pm AEST, B: Shaw, Corr, DavisHB: Williams, Taylor, HaynesC: Perryman, Ward, WhitfieldHF: Kelly, Greene, de BoerF: Daniels, Cameron, FinlaysonFOLL: Mumford, Hopper, ConiglioI/C: Ash, Hately, Green, HimmelbergEMG: Hill, Langdon, Galdwell, JacobsIN: Kelly, Greene, Mumford, GreenOUT: Lloyd, Jacobs, Caldwell, Langdon (all omitted), B: Crisp, Roughead, HoweHB: Maynard, Moore, NobleC: Daicos, Pendlebury, Hoskin-ElliottHF: Stephenson, Mihocek, C.BrownF: De Goey, Cox, ElliottFOLL: Grundy, Adams, SidebottomI/C: Mayne, Wills, T.Brown, PhillipsEMG: Madgen, Thomas, Cameron, SierIN: CoxOUT: Cameron (omitted), Metricon Stadium, Saturday June 27, 1:45 pm AEST, B: McKenzie, Clurey, BonnerHB: Hartlett, Jonas, Byrne-JonesC: Westhoff, Wines, AmonHF: Powell-Pepper, Marshall, RozeeF: Butters, Dixon, GrayFOLL: Lycett, Houston, BoakI/C: Ebert, Rockliff, Motlop, FarrellEMG: Lienert, Georgiades, Ladhams, BergmanIN: FarrellOUT: Duursma (injured), B: Sheppard, Barrass, HurnHB: Jetta, McGovern, DugganC: Gaff, Yeo, SheedHF: Ah Chee, Darling, ReddenF: Ryan, Kennedy, CrippsFOLL: Naitanui, Kelly, ShueyI/C: Brander, Hickey, Cole, JonesEMG: Waterman, Petruccelle, Schofield, RothamIN: McGovern, Hickey, Cole, JonesOUT: Rotham, Schofield, Petruccelle, Allen (all omitted). Saints fans will be stinging from the loss to the Tigers but there's plenty of joy just up the road I would expect. As for the Pies, what's more to say? AFL Rising Star Stats for Round 18 2020: 2020 Rising Star Nominees JM: It's going to be an all-star battle but I'd probably give the Hawk a slight edge here.