We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.

BRISBANE v ESSENDON

Saturday 13 May @ the Gabba

This looks a straight forward game and yet in some ways it is hard to be confident.

Brisbane has won all those games on the trot while Essendon have lost three on the bounce. And yet not completely sure Essendon hasn't got winning form.

The Lions did well against Carlton even though the Blues handed much of it to them. Tight for a while, they made their move after half time and held it all the way late.

Rolls Royce mids did the job which was critical as they were facing big names on the opposite side of the centre square and never let it get by.

Josh Dunkley put a nice down payment on repaying his move north. Not only did he have 33 but also had 13 tackles and 11 marks. Had he have kicked some goals it was as good as it gets.

While they are at home, they won't get it all their way as Essendon has played so well three times and come up short.

In a winning spot over Collingwood, constantly trying to get back an early Geelong lead and then a late flourish in Adelaide. With any luck they could certainly have won two of them.

Parish and Merrett were excellent but for them to win big games not only do they need that quality in the middle, they need Stringer to not just be an impactful player but a 4 quarter player. He is very sporadic.

Weideman, Perkins and Langford could well get onto one soon but it will come against a weaker side not Brisbane you'd think. Parish and Ridley out hurts as well.

One team who the Lions have not had a grasp of at home is the Bombers. They usually have their way on the Gabba but not so Essendon. That includes 5 losses since 2011.

So for that reason thinking Brisbane wins but not by a significant margin at all. Take the start.

Match Selection: Brisbane by 20 points

Suggested Bets: Essendon +31.5 @ $1.90