The Blowtorch Spherical 19 preview, each membership’s burning query, evaluation, Fox Footy commentators, TV Information, fixture, newest information

Might Collingwood take into account transferring its celebrity to a well-recognized position?

Plus Carlton’s ongoing ruck dilemma has been labelled its “largest situation” amid a large open premiership race.

Each membership’s burning query forward of Spherical 19, in addition to the commentators for each Fox Footy recreation, in our final weekly preview: The Blowtorch!

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ESSENDON v ADELAIDE CROWS

Friday July 19, 7.40pm at Marvel Stadium

How you can watch on Fox Footy: From 6.30pm on Channel 504 with Garry Lyon, Jonthan Brown, Jordan Lewis, Nathan Buckley, Brad Johnson (Boundary) & Jon Ralph adopted by Fox Footy Dwell

Bombers’ burning query: Can they deal with high-pressure video games?

Whereas Essendon is at present sixth on the ladder and has been within the prime 4 for key phases this yr, it’s nonetheless failed challenges towards a number of the greatest sides. And general, the Bombers have performed within the third-lowest strain score video games on common this yr together with going 3-1-4 in excessive strain video games and 7-2 in low strain video games (over/below 180). It contains Essendon dropping groundball in current losses to Carlton (-19), Geelong (-17) and Melbourne (-15) to attract questions from Saints nice Leigh Montagna on whether or not Brad Scott’s facet is able to rising when the strain is at its hottest. “They’ve failed the take a look at now three out of the final 4 instances. Are they powerful sufficient towards contest and finals-like groups? You’ve acquired to begin to query in the event that they’re laborious sufficient or determined sufficient,” he stated on Fox Footy’s The First Crack.

Crows’ burning query: Simply how good can Riley Thilthorpe be?

Adelaide younger gun Riley Thilthorpe made his long-awaited AFL return final week towards St Kilda and also you solely needed to watch his small stint because the substitute to get excited concerning the expertise he could possibly be at AFL degree. Taken at decide two within the 2021 Nationwide Draft, the 201cm key ahead regarded harmful in powerful circumstances towards the Saints, booting two targets and clunking a few marks. Thilthorpe was all of the hype out of West Lakes within the pre-season, however a knee harm within the dying phases of a pre-season match meant the 22-year-old spent the primary half of the season on the sidelines. Put moderately than dwell on the harm, Thilthorpe went to work within the gymnasium and the way possesses a physique that may see key defenders tremble for years to return. He may properly and actually gentle up Marvel Stadium on Friday night time and convey the Bombers again right down to earth.

GWS GIANTS v GOLD COAST SUNS

Saturday July 20, 1.45pm at ENGIE Stadium

How you can watch on Fox Footy: From 1.30pm on Channel 504 with Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo, Gerard Healy, Alastair Lynch & David Zita

Giants’ burning query: Are they again?

After showing susceptible to lacking the finals a couple of weeks in the past, the Giants have gained two video games in a row to re-enter premiership calculations. Maybe extra promising than something is that Toby Greene, each the Giants’ non secular and literal chief, returned to his greatest kind towards Richmond with 4 targets. And when the GWS skipper is at his greatest, the Giants are a special facet. The one actual concern is Stephen Coniglio being bothered by a shoulder situation that’ll trigger him to overlook this weekend. However Adam Kingley’s facet may be very a lot trending in the precise path, with its highly effective offensive recreation (averaging 112 factors over the past two video games) again on present. “They weren’t sensible and I feel there will likely be rather a lot they’ll need to repair up, notably defensively and across the contest. However offensively — after they acquired their movement going and tsunami from half again going inside 50 — it was the Giants we all know,” Saints legend Leigh Montagna stated on Fox Footy’s The First Crack. Requested if they’ll proceed rising, Montagna stated: “I do, they’ve nonetheless set to work on some issues defensively. Their system may be very identifiable, it’s laborious to cease however they’ll get scored towards the opposite method.”

Suns’ burning query: Can star, just like the crew, replicate epic residence kind?

The Suns’ contrasting kind in residence video games (9-0) and on the highway (0-8) this season has been broadly mentioned — and there’s maybe not a participant who’s embodied that variance greater than Noah Anderson. The star midfielder is the very best rated participant within the competitors based mostly on residence video games this season, averaging 32.7 disposals, 13.7 contested, 7.8 clearances, 4.3 tackles and eight.6 tackles. Nonetheless Anderson’s numbers “dramatically decline” in away video games, as put by Saints nice Leigh Montagna on Fox Footy’s The First Crack, the place he simply hasn’t produces on the similar degree. So if the Suns are to lastly get that first win on the board in enemy territory below Damien Hardwick they so desperately have to show themselves and make a real run at finals, Anderson might want to begin replicating his sensible residence heroics on the highway.

ST KILDA v WEST COAST EAGLES

Saturday July 20, 1.45pm at Marvel Stadium

How you can watch on Fox Footy: From 1.30pm on Channel 503 with Mark Howard, Nathan Buckley, Brad Johnson, Sarah Jones & David Zita

Saints’ burning query: Can any extra younger weapons emerge?

After a severely promising patch from Mattaes Phillipou following his return to the AFL facet and transfer to the midfield, the previous Decide 10 will now be sidelined for as much as 4 weeks as a result of a hip harm in an premature blow. Whereas the timing couldn’t be worse for Phillipou given he was lastly producing on the prime degree, it opens up a possibility for an additional younger participant to return into the crew and present their value. Might Hugo Garcia or Angus Hastie get one other alternative or Olli Hotton are available for his debut? The Saints need as many as these varieties to return out as their constructing blocks for the long run.

Eagles’ burning query: Can Schofield actually throw his hat within the ring for teaching position after robust first displaying?

It appears like a lot discuss surrounding the subsequent full-time Eagles coach has been round different candidates. Dean Cox, Jaymie Graham, Josh Carr, Ash Hansen, even Fox Footy’s personal Nathan Buckley. However have we underestimated the person who is ready to take the reins in Adam Simpson’s absence for the subsequent six weeks? The Eagles had been actually courageous of their slender loss to Brisbane in Schofield’s first recreation in cost and it was a efficiency that might certainly have piqued the curiosity of Eagles powerbrokers. Schofield is perceived all through the trade as somebody who has a tough edge, however his capacity to hook up with his gamers can also be one thing he’s developed whereas being an assistant on the Eagles and at Port Adelaide below Ken Hinkley. It’s by no means straightforward being a caretaker coach – you’re basically attempting to boost your credentials whereas needing to blood youth – however the alternative is there for Schofield. The subsequent six weeks are a costume rehearsal for the previous Eagle and will his facet proceed to point out indicators of progress, he’ll should be thought-about for the mantle completely.

HAWTHORN v COLLINGWOOD

Saturday July 20, 4.35 on the MCG

How you can watch on Fox Footy: From 6.30pm on Channel 504 with Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Garry Lyon, Cam Mooney & David Zita

Hawks’ burning query: Can Ginnivan kick a bag towards his previous facet?

Think about this. Hawthorn’s pleasure machine Jack Ginnivan kicks 5 targets to basically get rid of Collingwood from the finals race in 2024 and sink their hopes of back-to-back flags. It will be becoming, wouldn’t it? Ginnivan had an ‘nearly recreation’ again in Collect Spherical when the Hawks fell to a five-point defeat on the Adelaide Oval, booting two majors from eleven disposals, however he confirmed glimpses of tearing that recreation aside. “He’s determined to play towards his previous crew and get on the market, get below their pores and skin in typical Jack trend,” Hawthorn veteran Luke Breust stated through the week. Lots has been fabricated from Collingwood’s low season, the place they traded Ginnivan and recruited former Docker Lachie Schultz to the membership to play the same position. Each livewires have comparable numbers this yr, with many consultants questioning whether or not the load of draft worth they gave up for Schultz was value it. However Collingwood’s trash has been Hawthorn’s treasure. If Ginnivan was to be the matchwinner for the Hawks come Saturday afternoon, that might completely break Collingwood hearts.

Magpies’ burning query: Ought to Daicos transfer again behind the ball?

Whereas Nick Daicos is having an unimaginable third season within the midfield as one of many main Brownlow contenders, reigning premier Collingwood has slid right down to twelfth and simply does not look the identical crew as final yr. It contains the Pies missing their ordinary slingshot from half again and skill to transition the ball from defence to ahead 50. In truth, Craig McRae’s facet has dropped from being ranked first within the competitors final yr to sixteenth in transferring the ball from half again to inside 50 proportion, with Daicos’ time in defence falling from 41 per cent to 12 per cent amid his everlasting midfield transfer. Granted, Collingwood’s midfield has additionally been down. Nonetheless, former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley contemplated whether or not the membership can be contemplating transferring Daicos behind the ball once more to assist with its transition recreation. “It’s the alternative of what the Cats have finished with Tom Stewart … can Daicos begin as a half again and be dealing with the targets and the choice maker? That first kick breaks that first line of strain, the selections are simpler after that first one. I simply surprise if it’s of their ideas,” Buckley stated on Fox Footy’s On the Sofa.

GEELONG v WESTERN BULLDOGS

Saturday July 20, 7.30pm at GMHBA Stadium

How you can watch on Fox Footy: From 7.20pm on Channel 504 with Ben Dixon, Jack Riewoldt, Eddie Betts, Brad Johnson & David Zita

Cats’ burning query: Is Hazard nonetheless the person?

Once you watch Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield in motion proper now, it’s laborious to imagine that he’s 34 years previous. The Cats have a win-loss document of 7-1 when Dangerfield performs and a document of 4-5 when he doesn’t, highlighting the true significance the skipper has to their facet. “I nonetheless assume he’s their barometer; I feel how far the Cats go in September centres round how properly Patrick Dangerfield performs,” St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna instructed Fox Footy’s First Crack. “It’s not a lot concerning the amount anymore of his numbers, it’s the affect of what he does,” he stated. Whereas Dangerfield’s numbers are down from seasons passed by, his work across the contest remains to be elite and he makes his Geelong teammates stroll taller when he’s match and firing. The Cats are combating for a prime 4 berth and Dangerfield nonetheless stays an integral piece of the puzzle for Chris Scott and his teaching employees. The query is, can Dangerfield stick with it because the season goes on and spearhead his facet into yet one more finals marketing campaign?

Bulldogs’ burning query: Is Jamarra the ‘distinction’?

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan final week responded to being barely down on kind, booting 4 targets from a career-best 20 disposals to guide the Canine to an enormous win over the Blues. It would properly have been the previous No. 1 draft decide’s greatest ever AFL outing in an actual assertion efficiency the place he put the Canine on his again. And it importantly got here with out Aaron Naughton by his facet up ahead as Ugle-Hagan confirmed he will be the person. Kangaroos legend David King on Fox Footy’s The First Crack stated it “was a special beast to what we’d seen the final month or so,” questioning if the Canine copped a “little clip” from Luke Beveridge after the crew’s heavy loss to Port Adelaide. Saints nice Leigh Montagna: “It’s the psychological side, I reckon he had the kick up the bottom. Now it’s as much as him to remain at that constant degree … that’s the expertise he’s acquired. He’s going too be the distinction for the Canine and the way far they go.”

PORT ADELAIDE v RICHMOND

Saturday July 20, 7.30pm at Adelaide Oval

How you can watch on Fox Footy: From 7.30pm on Channel 503 with Dwayne Russell, David King, Mark Ricciuto, Kath Loughnan & David Zita

Energy’s’ burning query: Have they got a ‘drawback’ with the Hornet?

Jason Horne-Francis has taken his recreation to new heights in his third AFL season — and second marketing campaign on the Energy. Nonetheless Kangaroos legend David King believes Port has a “drawback” with the previous No. 1 decide together with his self-discipline. Whereas not doubting the 21-year previous’s on-field expertise, King thinks Horne-Francis nonetheless must mature to turn out to be the perfect model of himself — and to assist the Energy. “They’ve acquired an issue that they haven’t actually needed to speak about for a short time. Everybody defends Jason, he’s an exquisite participant, he’s an excessive expertise — however he’s gettable now. You will get below his pores and skin, you’ll be able to draw 50-metre penalties, and you may draw targets. “He spends plenty of time speaking to the coach .. however sooner or later, he must take this example by the horns himself and simply, emotionally, stay in verify,” King stated on Fox Footy’s The First Crack.

Tigers’ burning query: Will we ever see Dusty in yellow and black once more?

Dustin Martin has been sidelined for the reason that Tigers’ Spherical 16 loss to Carlton as he offers with a nagging again harm that’s even stopped the champ from coaching – although that’s not the one purpose. Seven reported on Thursday night time Martin spent this week in New Zealand, lacking the facet’s Sunday loss and solely returning to the nation on Tuesday night time. It meant he was by no means an opportunity of proving his health for this Saturday – which begs the query of what the membership is letting the 33-year-old get away with, as they await his determination on 2025 and past. Adem Yze stated the 33-year previous may return towards Collingwood subsequent week, and maybe we’ll see him again and yellow black. However maybe not. The three-time Norm Smith medallist’s contract is because of expire at season’s finish as rumours swirl round his future together with a possible transfer to the Suns to reunite with Damien Hardwick or retire altogether. And the longer this again concern lingers and we don’t see Martin in motion, the extra you query if his legendary 301-game profession on the Tigers has already had its final chapter written.

BRISBANE LIONS v SYDNEY SWANS

Sunday July 21, 1.10pm on the Gabba

How you can watch on Fox Footy: From 1pm on Channel 504 with Anthony Hudson, Jonathan Brown, Gerard Healy, Alastair Lynch & Jon Ralph

Lions’ burning query: Might Neale win a record-equalling third Brownlow?

There’s solely a dozen individuals within the historical past of the sport who’ve gained a number of Brownlow Medal’s, and Lachie Neale is considered one of them. Regardless of this, the star midfielders nonetheless manages to sneak below the radar, with the 31-year-old now in such good in good n he may properly make a late run for medal quantity three. The third-highest rated participant within the league since Spherical 10, Neale has reignited this Lions outfit after a sluggish begin to the yr; with Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage working very properly in tandem with the South Australian. It’ll be a pleasure to look at the trio, led by Neale, conflict with Sydney’s personal engine room on Sunday in nearly actually match of the spherical. “His high quality stands out … I nonetheless assume he replicate on him the way in which we should always (regardless of two Brownlow’s),” David King stated on Fox Footy’s First Crack. Leigh Montagna added. “I feel we nonetheless in all probability underrate what he has finished, as a result of he doesn’t have the attributes and appear like Dusty and Bontempelli; his precise output stacks up with any of them … he’ll get remembered as one of many all-time greats of the fashionable period.”

Swans’ burning query: Will this actually their largest take a look at to this point?

The clear primary crew within the competitors in 2024, the Swans endured their first actual bump within the highway with back-to-back losses in throughout Spherical 16 and 17. They misplaced to a rising Fremantle and their anomaly loss to the Saints, however exterior of that they haven’t been examined for 4 quarters in over final three months. With the inclusion of Heeney into their midfield and Cunningham in defence, the Swans are crazily solely getting higher – and moreover McInerney, at the moment are enjoying their greatest 23. That being stated, Brisbane are arguably the in-form crew of the competitors within the final six weeks, and look to be peaking on the proper time. In what must be their largest take a look at to this point, the Swans can’t afford a sluggish begin to the Lions – particularly on their residence turf.

FREMANTLE DOCKERS v MELBOURNE

Sunday July 21, 3.20pm at Optus Stadium

How you can watch on Fox Footy: From 3pm on Channel 503 with Kelli Underwood, David King, Nick Dal Santo & Jon Ralp

Dockers’ burning query: Can they ‘rip the center’ out of Dees once more?

Final time these groups met in Spherical 12, the Dockers put Melbourne to the sword in Alice Springs in a 92-point smashing. It was arguably Justin Longmuir’s facet’s greatest efficiency this season given it confirmed it could possibly actually put harm on the scoreboard after at instances being criticised for being too defensive minded. So can they rediscover such a killer intuition once more towards a extra in-form Demons outfit again at their Optus Stadium fortress? “They’re a frustration for me as a result of I really like after they play just a little little bit of specific. Usually they don’t go and rip the center out of the opposition and say: ‘We’re going to play win this recreation’. With 5 and a half minutes left towards Hawthorn they nonetheless needed to play in a managed method and it irks me just a little bit … you’ve acquired to take a danger and regulate with what the scoreboard is telling you when you have to rating,” Kangaroos legend David King stated on Fox Footy’s The First Crack.

Demons’ burning query: How essential is Rivers to their finals hopes?

He’s not fairly Christian Petracca but, however my phrase has Trent Rivers crammed a void for Melbourne these final weeks. With Petracca out for the season and Oliver dreadfully out of shape, coach Simon Goodwin desperately wanted another person to ship within the engine room with Jack Viney – and Rivers appears to be that man. Registering 29 disposals in every of his final two matches, the 22-year-old has taken flight within the position with damaging kicking by the center of the bottom. This weekend towards Fremantle will likely be one other step above the Eagles and Bombers midfields he’s performed within the final fortnight, however in entrance of his residence crowd it might be becoming for the younger gun to make it three out of three weeks as Melbourne’s greatest on floor and get his facet one step nearer to finals.

CARLTON v NORTH MELBOURNE

Sunday July 21, 4.40pm at Marvel Stadium

How you can watch on Fox Footy: From 4pm on Channel 504 with Dwayne Russell, Jack Riewoldt, Jordan Lewis, Sarah Jones, Ruby Schleicher & Jon Ralph adopted by Bounce and First Crack

Blues’ burning query: The place to now with their ruck scenario?

Having misplaced their final two video games, the Blues might want to recapture their kind this weekend towards North – however is that this the final likelihood they’ll rectify their ruck dilemma? Tossing and turning between younger gun Tom De Koning and skilled campaigner Marc Pittonet, the membership remains to be but to land on their most popular fight of assault. AFL greats David King and Leigh Montagna mentioned the choice on First Crack final Sunday night time.

“I feel it’s the largest situation at Carlton that they should deal with at appropriate,” King stated.

“He (Pittonet) is solely answerable for (their) first possession profile … he doesn’t convey the rating, (however) he brings the flexibility so that you can begin with the ball.”

“It’s laborious to argue with what he does as a ruckman,” Montagna added.

Whereas it’s broadly accepted that De Koning offers extra run and affect across the floor generally play, the duo highlighted Pittonet’s superb faucet work final week towards the Bulldogs, the place his midfielders had been in the end unable to transform from stoppage. With six weeks to go till an impending finals look, do the Blues decide youth and pace, or expertise and deft contact?

Kangaroos’ burning query: Can they present they’ve discovered from final week?

To return up towards the primary and second-ranked sides within the competitors as North Melbourne in back-to-back weeks is unfortunate in some methods, but it surely’s additionally an effective way to point out what they’ve discovered from final week. Sydney smashed them after quarter time on the SCG, however within the opening time period they regarded up for it. And the Blues are susceptible too; as least as a lot as they ever have been this season, rating fourth-worst within the competitors for factors towards. On the again of two losses, Carlton gained’t need to slip up towards a Roos facet that has regarded a totally completely different crew for a lot of the final month.