AFL GameDay Squad Round 13 Preview | Best Matchups, PODs & Key Trends

Round 13 is upon us, being the second bye week. We’re only missing St Kilda and Fremantle this week, but it means we lose a lot of defensive options.

Byes are an interesting time for GameDay Squad coaches, making PODs and the right non-meta players the key to weekly and season-long success. They always test our depth.Coaches who can get it right will leapfrog the leaderboards, as the points differences can be huge between the final few players on each line.

Let’s take a look at options for Round 13!Don’t forget – use our exclusive code BOBAFL at sign-up to unlock free packs and kickstart your squad. Let’s get into the AFL GameDay Squad Round 13 Preview and identify the must-have players for the week!

AFL GameDay Squad Round 13 Preview – DEFENDERS

Player	Matchup	Quick thoughts...
Dayne Zorko	+1.74	In byes and he’s playing; Crows don’t tag – lock.
Lachie Whitfield	-4.26	Port do tag but we look like a poor team – lock.
Max Holmes	+7.24	Loves GMHBA. GCS give up bulk points to inside mids.
Nic Martin	-1.06	Carlton, like Port, look bad. I don’t think they’ll tag Martin or Merrett.
Lachie Ash	-4.26	Lock based on form.

Others to Consider:

• John Noble +1.57 – Very thirsty defender, and doesn’t hurt the opposition, so no attention.

• Harry Sheezel – Role uncertain, but lock vs West Coast.

• Matt Roberts +9.7 – Swans are “a rabble” and have to respond. Might be about to destroy a struggling Tiger side – Roberts will be amongst it.

Byes:

• Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera

• Jack Sinclair

Defenders are rock solid. This week we lose two of the best to byes, but it just makes it easier to squeeze others into lineups. At this point, it’s nearly set and forget – just don’t forget the byes, and get on the great matchups. The Tigers are giving up plenty, and Matt Roberts is our boy.

AFL GameDay Squad Round 13 Preview – MIDFIELDERS

Player	Matchup	Quick thoughts...
Jordan Dawson	-4.01	Amazing form over the season. Tough matchup, but he’s at home. Hard to fade.
Zach Merrett	-1.6	God he’s good, but he’s playing everywhere to avoid attention. He can junk with the best. Hurts to miss. Hewett tag?
Josh Dunkley	-6.38	Worst matchup, away from home, and might stand Dawson – but he’s still an option.
Nick Daicos	+4.62	Lock.
Connor Rozee	-8.92	Worst designated kicker matchup, but he’ll still be great, I think.

Others to Consider:

• Noah Anderson +0.81 – The question is Mullin; otherwise, it’s an amazing matchup.

• Isaac Heeney +5 – Could explode vs Richmond.

• Tim Taranto +4.75 – Do they tag him? His scoring at stoppage has been amazing, his spread horrendous.

Bye:

• Andrew Brayshaw

Byes aren’t much of an issue here with only St Kilda and Fremantle out. Some interesting matchups – Sydney vs Richmond and North vs West Coast – means LDU or even Tom Powell could be options. I like Heeney a lot and am not put off by Taranto this week. We have 4–5 locks and then room for a POD or two.

Ed Richards deserves his own sentence – he’s been that good in the last five. His value is incredibly low and I think he goes big – again.

AFL GameDay Squad Round 13 Preview – RUCKS

Player	Matchup	Quick thoughts...
Tristan Xerri	+15.63	Throw away the key.
Max Gawn	—	Gets the spot based on form.

Others to Consider:

R1 this week is Tristan Xerri – lock him in and don’t look at him again. Play his Legend if you’ve got it (not yet packed). Set and forget.

R2 is a raffle. This week Gawn gets the nod on form, but I’m not sold. TDK, Grundy – who was great against a tough matchup – are legit options.

AFL GameDay Squad Round 13 Preview – FORWARDS

Player	Matchup	Quick thoughts...
Bailey Smith	+7.24	He’s going huge – 160+.
Kysaiah Pickett	-0.06	I hate this guy. I fade – he’s great. I play – he sucks. I’m fading, so you should play.
Izak Rankine	-4.01	Lock – but it’ll be tough.
Shaun Mannagh	-1.4	Keeps getting it done. At home, so an option.
Gryan Miers	-1.4	Form is A1. Was surprisingly bad at home last year.

Others to Consider:

• Toby Greene -5.56 – Port can be hard to score against. He was bad last week, but he may destroy Port.

• Jeremy Cameron +3.06 – Great matchup and saved it late last week.

• Riley Thilthorpe -5.16 – If the Swans were better, he’d be huge. Subbed on 103 for ¾. Best key in the game right now, but tough week.

• Charlie Curnow -0.73 – Quietly finding GDS form. Against a decimated Bombers defence, he could be very good.

Interesting week – still missing a few obvious picks due to injury and byes. North vs West Coast seems like an opportunity. Could be back to the future with Caleb Daniel and Jy Simpkin in teams. I don’t trust Luke Parker, but he too could go big.

Rolling the Geelong boys again this week is also a legitimate option. At this stage, I’m looking at both closely.

Last Week’s POD Picks Review – Round 12

1. Hugh McLuggage – Anyone say cash money? 171, thank you. Second-highest score.

2. Toby Nankervis – 113 is a pass.

3. Jack Steele – 120, very solid.

4. Jesse Hogan – 42. Yep, 42. My god, he was bad. Fail.

5. Jack Graham – 68. Also very poor given the options. Fail.

POD Picks – Round 13

1. Matt Roberts

2. Isaac Heeney

3. Caleb Daniel

4. Ed Richards

5. Charlie Curnow

Weather Round 13

Thursday, June 5

Western Bulldogs vs. Hawthorn

• Venue: Marvel Stadium

• Time: 7:30 PM AEST

• Forecast: Dry conditions expected under the roof (Marvel Stadium is a closed roof venue).

Friday, June 6

Adelaide Crows vs. Brisbane Lions

• Venue: Adelaide Oval

• Time: 7:10 PM AEST

• Forecast: Showers likely (2–15 mm), around a 90–95% chance of rain during game time.

Saturday, June 7

Richmond vs. Sydney Swans

• Venue: MCG

• Time: 1:20 PM AEST

• Forecast: Showers increasing through the afternoon, 90% chance of rain.

Geelong Cats vs. Gold Coast Suns

• Venue: GMHBA Stadium

• Time: 4:15 PM AEST

• Forecast: Showers increasing into the evening, 80–90% chance of rain.

GWS Giants vs. Port Adelaide

• Venue: Manuka Oval

• Time: 7:35 PM AEST

• Forecast: Cloudy with a shower or two, 50–60% chance of rain, light falls expected.

Sunday, June 8

North Melbourne vs. West Coast Eagles

• Venue: Hands Oval (Bunbury)

• Time: 1:20 PM AEST

• Forecast: Partly cloudy, minimal chance of rain (less than 20%).

Carlton vs. Essendon

• Venue: MCG

• Time: 7:20 PM AEST

• Forecast: Mostly clear and dry, around 10–20% chance of showers.

Monday, June 9

Melbourne vs. Collingwood

• Venue: MCG

• Time: 3:20 PM AEST

• Forecast: Partly cloudy, low chance of rain (20%).

Starter team for Round 13

Final Thoughts

Round 13 shapes as another challenging but exciting week, with byes, tricky matchups, and plenty of POD potential. Coaches who nail the balance between form, matchups, and risk will be well positioned to surge up the rankings.

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Good luck, legends!

The Goal Practitioners