Picks for the 2020 AFL Semi-Finals

Four teams from Melbourne will contest the 2020 AFL semi-finals this weekend hoping progress to the next stage of the 2020 AFL finals.

The prize up for grabs when Richmond and St Kilda face off on Friday is a spot in the prelims against minor premiers Port Adelaide. As for the winners of Geelong vs. Collingwood on Saturday? Well, the impressive Brisbane Lions will be waiting in the wings for the victors.

If you’re betting on the 2020 AFL semi-finals, I’ve got you covered. You can find a preview with odds and picks for both matches, below.

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Richmond takes on St Kilda at the Metricon in the first semi-final this Friday.

The Tigers faced Brisbane Lions for the second time in as many seasons at the same stage. Last year, they tamed the Lions with a comfortable 47 points cushion. This time around, Brisbane got revenge, pipping their rivals 58-42.

St Kilda scraped past Western in the second elimination final to get another bite at the cherry. The 2018 Grand Finalists fought tooth and nail, but it was the Saints that progressed with a score of 67-64.

I don’t think that I am the only one who is a little unsure about St. Kilda ahead of this match. There will be a few key absentees, with star man Paddy Ryder arguably the biggest of them all. Jake Carlisle has also left camp to join up with his wife, who is expecting their child.

Richmond and St Kilda met in Round 5 of the season, with the Saints earning a very encouraging 26 win against the reigning premiers at the Marvel. Richmond’s inconsistency at the start of the season looks to have been ironed out, and they will take a lot of heart from their late-season form.

Big game player Tom Lynch will undergo a fitness test and could return to the side as soon as Friday. If that happens, you have to fancy the Tigers to come back with a roar against the Saints.

I’ll take Richmond to cover the spread with Betway.

Things just didn’t go according to plan for Geelong last weekend. In short, they were soundly beaten by Port Adelaide in a repeat fixture of the 2007 Grand Final.

If they are to progress any further in this competition, they will need to turn things around very quickly against a Collingwood side pumped up by an amazing 76-75 upset win over West Coast Eagles.

The Magpies come into this clash with a record of 4-3 at the Gabba, which is also encouraging. Furthermore, they will be boosted by their opponents’ profligacy and hoping that the likes of Mason Cox and Brody Mihocek can recapture last week’s form down the other end of the field.

Many fans are wondering what has got into the Pies, given that they were written off by almost everyone last weekend. Could the presence of their wild supporters be responsible for their upturn in fortunes? If so, we could see them making another appearance in the Preliminary finals.

When compared to Collingwood, the Geelong boys have not been at the races in recent times. A scare against Sydney in Round 18 was ominous, and if last week’s performance is anything to go by, it could be a tough day at the office for the Cats.

Joel Selwood is expected to feature for Geelong, as is Tom Hawkins. Both guys will be crucial to preventing Collingwood making it three from three against the Cats.

I think Geelong will just about edge this one. Collingwood put in the performance of the season last week, and it’s so difficult to do that in consecutive matches. Especially for a team as inconsistent as the Pies.

We have what should be two incredible matches to look forward to this weekend. Two matches that will determine who gets to play the Preliminary finals.

Whether you are betting on the AFL this weekend, or have a strong feeling about who will clinch the title, check out the latest odds over at the top Aussie Rules betting sites. Oh, and don’t forget to leave me a comment with your prediction, below.

Good luck with your bets!