AFL: Pies fighting to save their season

Collingwood are running out of time to rescue their season as they prepare to take on Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.

 The reigning premiers are outside of the AFL top eight and need to string some wins together to have any chance of making finals.

They are priced at 15.00 to make the eight, which says a lot, but nothing other than a big win over the struggling Tigers will do.

Hawthorn on the other hand are flying and they will be out to keep their run of form going when they travel to Adelaide to take on the Crows.

The Hawks have won nine of the last 11 matches, but there is still work to be done to make the eight and four points at the Adelaide Oval would help.

They can be backed at 2.10 to force their way in and play finals.

Pies desperate to arrest slide

. What: Collingwood v Richmond
. Where: MCG, Melbourne
. When: 13:10 (AEST), Sunday 28th July
. How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel
. Odds: Collingwood 1.22, Richmond 4.35

Collingwood have lost the last four games on the bounce, and unless there is a big turnaround, the reigning premiers will miss out on finals.

With the top three sides in the competition on the horizon, it means a win against the Tigers is a must.

They beat the Tigers by 30 points earlier in the season and can be backed at 5.00 to win this game by 25-36 points.

Richmond have lost their last five games by an average of 45 points, so a margin of 37-48 points at 6.00 could also appeal.

The Tigers have won just two games all season as they look to rebuild, so winning the first quarter of the game would be a start for them.

They can be backed at 3.25 to start well and win the first quarter by 1-18 points, while Shai Bolton is available at 13.00 to kick the first goal.

Hawthorn out to break Adelaide hoodoo

. What: Adelaide v Hawthorn
. Where: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
. When: 16:10 (AEST), Sunday 28th July
. How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel
. Odds: Adelaide 2.02, Hawthorn 1.80

The Adelaide Oval has not been a happy hunting ground for Hawthorn, who have lost their last two trips to the venue.

However, they are currently bang in form and a return to Adelaide should hold no fear for them.

They also beat the Crows by 27 points when the two sides met in Melbourne in Round 12 this season.

The Hawks lost on their last away day at Geelong, but have knocked over West Coast and Richmond on the road in recent weeks.

Sam Mitchell’s men can be backed at 6.00 to win this one by 1-12 points.

Adelaide’s top-eight chances look to have slipped away, but at least they can take heart from three wins in the last four games.

The run includes a two-point win at Essendon last week, so they should be full of confidence ahead of the Hawks clash.

Darcy Fogarty booted four goals in that win to take his tally for the season to 33 and he can be backed at 11.00 to boot the first of the game.