AFL GameDay Squad Round 14 Preview | Best Matchups, PODs & Key Trends
- The Goal Practitioner
- Jun 12
- 6 min read
The AFL GameDay Squad Round 14 Preview is here, bringing you the latest insights to help you dominate this week’s matchups. As we continue into the bye rounds, we lose four teams this week – but interestingly, we don't lose too many top-tier fantasy options (aside from Nick Daicos)
This round is shaping up as a high-scoring one, with heaps of relevant options jumping off the page. Honestly, I’ve been working overtime trying to pick a side. Matchups are great, form lines are strong, and the big names are mostly available. The problem? Too many players look like a play this week.
So instead of trying to convince you who to pick, let me walk through my dilemmas. Who I like, who’s on the edge, and who might just be a coin toss.
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AFL GameDay Squad Round 14 Preview - Positions
AFL GameDay Squad Round 14 Preview- Defenders
This week the defence is spoilt for choice, and I think it’s gonna mean we leave out some serious scoring potential. So this week, I’m going to focus on them.
Let’s start with the blokes I think could be a bit suspect:
Harry Sheezel – He is an undeniable fantasy star and, in the right matchup and role, unfadeable. However, Clarko came out and said he’s moving away from his juicy halfback role back to a mid/fwd split. We saw this to start the game vs West Coast, and his scoring suffered massively before he pumped out a great score. Can you fade him? If there were fewer options, I’d say no – but it has to be considered.
Lachie Whitfield – I feel dirty writing this, but is this guy a fade? He’s not been his usual self, playing much higher up the ground, and Ash looks to be the man distributing the ball (despite coughing it up a bit vs Port Adelaide). If this role continues, despite scoring well, he might find himself outside the top 7 and, as a result, a fade. Watch teams – if Greene, Callaghan, and Daniels are all playing, I’m sticking fat.
Nic Martin comes into the game as the D1 of a 5-round average. He’s going to share the game spotlight with Max Holmes, the D3 over the last five. The question here is: will either get attention to reduce their influence? Missing Martin when he goes big is nearly a round-losing move. Max is similar – both with colossal ceilings.
These four guys are in my “maybe” zone, and it will come down to playing a few of them. The top guys in NWM and Sinclair I love under a roof. Bailey Dale I love under a roof vs the Saints – tick, tick. And Zorko is still a stud. So really, it comes down to how do you want to play it this week.
AFL GameDay Squad Round 14 Preview - Midfielders
After the defenders, I thought it might get easier… but it just doesn’t. The week is dominated by pairs of players from teams that I find hard to split – so maybe we just have both?
Brayshaw & Serong – Love the Freo boys this week. North is a great matchup at home and has given up more to inside mids. It’s about time Serong hit form again, and we might just be seeing a return to how he started 2024.
Butters & Rozee – Port’s on the ropes, but they come up against Melbourne, who are fighting themselves (see: Max Gawn and Steven May). My only concern here is a Jack Viney tag or Ed Langdon going to Butters. Still, both are great options.
Ed Richards & Marcus Bontempelli – The Bulldogs demolished St Kilda last time they played. It’s under the roof, and it will be a scoring fest in my opinion. It takes a brave man to not have a share in this game tonight. I think both are looking great – but if anything, Richards > Bont.
So our midfield is set at 6 players, but there are others we haven’t even looked at:
Zach Merrett – Dominated the season, but somehow has lost midfield rotations in a Dons team that, frankly, sucks. Is it time to move away from a guy who’s been a staple?
Jordan Dawson – Been amazing. When he’s not racking up disposals, he’s stacking tackles (11 last week in the wet). But Tassie games always worry me – cold, windy, often wet. In a week with so much choice, the conditions could be what gives Dawson the week off for me.
Sam Walsh – The smoky. He’s been bog average all year, but he’s had a week off to freshen up. Could destroy West Coast like he did in Adelaide. I’ve got him 125+ this week easily.
Community announcement – Lachie Neale is getting tagged – don’t play him.
AFL GameDay Squad Round 14 Preview- Rucks
Another position, another week where we could easily field two teams. I’ve split my ruck thoughts into three categories:
The Ground
Rowan Marshall vs Tim English – Marvel is one of the best tracks to score on, and both of these blokes love it. They also tend to let opposition rucks score well. Both have to be considered.
The Matchup
Tristan Xerri vs Freo – Gotta like this. He’s very good, despite an underwhelming game vs West Coast. I think he bounces back and puts up a very respectable score.
The Form
Max Gawn – He is a GDS stud and loves to demolish a smaller or junior ruck. If Port plays Visentini, you should be playing Gawn everywhere. If Sweet comes in, I’m a little less keen – but he’ll still be good.
AFL GameDay Squad Round 14 Preview - Forwards
Some are locks, and we know who they are – so let’s move along.
Jack Macrae – Presents an interesting choice. Is he fit? How bad were his fractures? Three weeks is a short turnaround. But he easily has top 7 scoring ability at Marvel. I’d watch, wait, and check teams closely – he feels like a sub risk.
Charlie Curnow vs West Coast – Big option. Literally. Depends which Carlton shows up. He could dismantle them and kick a bag. Or the Blues could fall over. I’ll roll the dice here. I also like McKay, but I have zero trust in him.
The others in the mix: Caleb Daniel, Rankine, Pickett, JHF, Jackson, Cameron, and Miers – all have strong form or juicy opponents. I just don’t know yet. Waiting on teams and weather.
POD Picks – Round 14
Tom Liberatore
Caleb Serong
George Hewett
Sam Walsh
Adam Cerra
POD Review – Round 13:
Matt Roberts – Late out (illness)
Isaac Heeney – Okay, not great
Caleb Daniel – 120+ – tick
Ed Richards – Good early, faded late
Charlie Curnow – Similar story. Still worth it
Tag Watch
Here are my expected tags this round:
Windhager → Richards
Bedford → Neale
Mullin → Merrett
Viney/Langdon → Butters
Taggers have become more relevant again this year, and identifying those pressure roles can be the difference in nailing a big week or sinking a pod.
Weather & Venue Watch – Key Conditions for Round 14
Before locking in your squad, consider these weather and venue factors that could impact.
🌧️ AFL Round 14 Weather Forecast (June 12–16, 2025)
Thursday, June 12
St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs
· Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne (7:30 PM AEST)
· Forecast: Indoor venue — no weather impact
Friday, June 13
Hawthorn vs Adelaide Crows
· Venue: UTAS Stadium, Launceston (7:40 PM AEST)
· Forecast: Partly cloudy, slight chance of light showers in the evening (20%)
Saturday, June 14
Brisbane Lions vs GWS Giants
· Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane (1:20 PM AEST)
· Forecast: Mostly sunny, very low chance of rain (10%)
Essendon vs Geelong Cats
· Venue: MCG, Melbourne (4:15 PM AEST)
· Forecast: Cloudy, with a high chance of showers (70%) in the afternoon and evening
North Melbourne vs Fremantle
· Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth (5:35 PM AWST)
· Forecast: Cloudy, medium chance of rain (50%) — possible light evening showers
Sunday, June 15
Port Adelaide vs Melbourne
· Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (2:50 PM ACST)
· Forecast: Cloudy, with a high chance of showers (70%) during the game
West Coast Eagles vs Carlton
· Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth (4:10 PM AWST)
· Forecast: Partly cloudy, slight chance of rain (20%)
📝 Summary – Wet Weather Watch
· Likely Rain-Impacted Games:
o Essendon vs Geelong (MCG)
o Port Adelaide vs Melbourne (Adelaide Oval)
o North Melbourne vs Fremantle (Optus Stadium)
· Likely Dry Conditions:
o Marvel Stadium (indoor)
o The Gabba
o UTAS Stadium (minor chance)
o West Coast vs Carlton (light chance only)
Wrap Up
Round 14 is all about depth and decisions. The stars are mostly playing. The matchups are juicy. The byes have taken a back seat to strategy. Whether you chase ceiling, play it safe, or roll the dice on a pod – there’s plenty of value across every line.
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Good luck legends. May your uniques go 130+.
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