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A disappointing sequence of results last weekend appears to have all but shut the door on the finals make-up for this season. Losses to both Essendon & Hawthorn will put it beyond doubt, but could this be a round for the battlers?
FRIDAY JULY 18 AEST
Richmond vs Collingwood
Melbourne Cricket Ground 7:40 PM AEST
I'll go out on a limb here and give the Tigers the nod against all common sense and public opinion. The Tigers may be missing a few key players, but they tend to rise for games against the Magpies and if ever these players needed to show character, it is now. Collingwood have looked solid in recent weeks and have their eyes on a top four spot, but if you can match them for contested possession then you will more often than not beat them on the scoreboard. Buckley will cause all sorts of headaches, but quite often he will get a lot of possession without hurting you. The Tigers will need to blanket Tarrant & Rocca by whatever means possible and play their own game out of the centre. I can see an upset on the offing... Tigers by 12 pts
SATURDAY JULY 19 AEST
Carlton vs Sydney
Optus Oval 2:10 PM AEST
The Blues have never been lower as a club, even if they happen to be a position higher on the ladder than they finished last season. They were the only side to incur a 100+ hiding last year and it looks as if they'll repeat the (dis)honour here. Last week was their worst result in their entire history and the club looks years away from being seriously competitive. Sydney have looked solid in recent times and with their eyes firmly on a top four position, will be unlikely to slip-up here. The Swans have key players fit and firing, while the Blues have key players wounded and retiring. No contest... Swans by 38 pts
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Melbourne Cricket Ground 2:10 PM AEST
The Hawks belong in the eight, but they aren't going to get there. They got rolled by the Demons in the opening round and will need to be switched-on to avoid a repeat of that here. Yet again it finds itself minus three key talls due to injury woes, but with a bit of reshuffling can still field an imposing spine for the match. The Demons have been dismal all season, but will fancy themselves here, particularly if Neitz can fire up. Usually they have beaten Hawthorn by rolling the Hawk midfield, but this will not be easily accomplished here. The Hawks have been getting good midfield ball from Crawford, Mitchell, Vandenburg & Hodge; while Melbourne has been forced to play Yze in a central midfield role as distinct from the polished wing role that he is so well suited to... Hawks by 26 pts
Essendon vs Brisbane Lions
Telstra Dome 7:10 PM AEST
Essendon is playing for its finals life, and it probably couldn't pick a worse side to come-up against under the circumstances. Brisbane has enjoyed beating-up on the Bombers recently and I expect this to continue here. The Lions were lucky against Hawthorn last week, but good sides react well to adversity and make full use of good fortune. Matthews knows only too well that the side can make the top two if they can negotiate the following fortnight with a win from the two games. They should get the win here, particularly with the Bombers looking painfully slow in the middle and positively inept up forward. The first of several years in the wilderness begins here for the Bombers... Lions by 36 pts
Port Adelaide vs West Coast
AAMI Stadium 7:10 PM ACST
The clear match of the round as the top two sides on the ladder go head-to-head for the league leadership. West Coast won the round one fixture comfortably at home and appear to be in the better form, but I prefer Port's structure and think home ground advantage could be just as telling here. Perversely enough the Eagles have the best attacking record in the comp despite possessing (what on paper looks) a dismal forward set-up. Eventually they will get exposed in this regard, but they will be strongly competitive here in a match that will probably go down to the wire. In the end the Port side will have to much poise and run though... Power by 10 pts
SUNDAY JULY 20 AEST
Geelong vs Western Bulldogs
Skilled Stadium 1:10 PM AEST
Geelong has looked strong in recent weeks, despite lacking key position potency and overall class. The club has youthful exuberance and a sound work ethic to burn, however, and it may be enough here. I don't think it will be though, as the Bulldogs man-up the Cats well and showed enormous heart in taking Port to the line last week. The Cats lack the polish to brutally expose the Bulldogs obvious flaws and will not be able to run past the pacy Hounds like they can other sides. They also lack the across the board height that can render the Bulldogs useless. If the Hounds can't win this one then they will not win another match all season... Bulldogs by 16 pts
St Kilda vs Kangaroos
Telstra Dome 2:10 PM AEST
Same old St Kilda, same old empty hopes, same old story of a season disappearing meekly down the gurgler. The Saints have promise, but it may never be realised if they maintain Cornflakes Thomas in the coaches box! The joke wore thin over a year ago boys, time to get real about it and put a competent person in charge. Expect Rodney Eade to take the reins for 2004 if the team, as expected, goes largely winless for the remainder of the year. The Kangaroos can all but seal a finals berth with a win here, and this will be a superb effort for a side that looked genuine wooden spoon material over the summer. The club has character, although it is riding largely on the backs of hardened, experienced players with little more than a season left in the tank. The future doesn't look bright, but they're going great in the here and now... Kangaroos by 24 pts
Fremantle vs Adelaide
Subiaco 1:40 PM AWST
I may have overrated Freo a tad in the short term, although I still think they will mature into a fine side in the next couple of years. Adelaide doesn't have that sort of luxury, as it must exploit an ageing list to win a flag during the same period. Adelaide appears to have the toughest run home of all the finals contenders, but a win here would go a long way to easing the tension that Ayres would surely be feeling. I'm not a big wrap for the Crows, but they should be too hard and settled for the fading Dockers, even at Fortress Subi. I thought the Dockers were dismal with the ball last week despite having enough of it to beat the Magpies. The Crows are infinitely better in this regard and have at least as much to play for... Crows by 20 pts
CyberKev
FRIDAY JULY 18 AEST
Richmond vs Collingwood
Melbourne Cricket Ground 7:40 PM AEST
I'll go out on a limb here and give the Tigers the nod against all common sense and public opinion. The Tigers may be missing a few key players, but they tend to rise for games against the Magpies and if ever these players needed to show character, it is now. Collingwood have looked solid in recent weeks and have their eyes on a top four spot, but if you can match them for contested possession then you will more often than not beat them on the scoreboard. Buckley will cause all sorts of headaches, but quite often he will get a lot of possession without hurting you. The Tigers will need to blanket Tarrant & Rocca by whatever means possible and play their own game out of the centre. I can see an upset on the offing... Tigers by 12 pts
SATURDAY JULY 19 AEST
Carlton vs Sydney
Optus Oval 2:10 PM AEST
The Blues have never been lower as a club, even if they happen to be a position higher on the ladder than they finished last season. They were the only side to incur a 100+ hiding last year and it looks as if they'll repeat the (dis)honour here. Last week was their worst result in their entire history and the club looks years away from being seriously competitive. Sydney have looked solid in recent times and with their eyes firmly on a top four position, will be unlikely to slip-up here. The Swans have key players fit and firing, while the Blues have key players wounded and retiring. No contest... Swans by 38 pts
Hawthorn vs Melbourne
Melbourne Cricket Ground 2:10 PM AEST
The Hawks belong in the eight, but they aren't going to get there. They got rolled by the Demons in the opening round and will need to be switched-on to avoid a repeat of that here. Yet again it finds itself minus three key talls due to injury woes, but with a bit of reshuffling can still field an imposing spine for the match. The Demons have been dismal all season, but will fancy themselves here, particularly if Neitz can fire up. Usually they have beaten Hawthorn by rolling the Hawk midfield, but this will not be easily accomplished here. The Hawks have been getting good midfield ball from Crawford, Mitchell, Vandenburg & Hodge; while Melbourne has been forced to play Yze in a central midfield role as distinct from the polished wing role that he is so well suited to... Hawks by 26 pts
Essendon vs Brisbane Lions
Telstra Dome 7:10 PM AEST
Essendon is playing for its finals life, and it probably couldn't pick a worse side to come-up against under the circumstances. Brisbane has enjoyed beating-up on the Bombers recently and I expect this to continue here. The Lions were lucky against Hawthorn last week, but good sides react well to adversity and make full use of good fortune. Matthews knows only too well that the side can make the top two if they can negotiate the following fortnight with a win from the two games. They should get the win here, particularly with the Bombers looking painfully slow in the middle and positively inept up forward. The first of several years in the wilderness begins here for the Bombers... Lions by 36 pts
Port Adelaide vs West Coast
AAMI Stadium 7:10 PM ACST
The clear match of the round as the top two sides on the ladder go head-to-head for the league leadership. West Coast won the round one fixture comfortably at home and appear to be in the better form, but I prefer Port's structure and think home ground advantage could be just as telling here. Perversely enough the Eagles have the best attacking record in the comp despite possessing (what on paper looks) a dismal forward set-up. Eventually they will get exposed in this regard, but they will be strongly competitive here in a match that will probably go down to the wire. In the end the Port side will have to much poise and run though... Power by 10 pts
SUNDAY JULY 20 AEST
Geelong vs Western Bulldogs
Skilled Stadium 1:10 PM AEST
Geelong has looked strong in recent weeks, despite lacking key position potency and overall class. The club has youthful exuberance and a sound work ethic to burn, however, and it may be enough here. I don't think it will be though, as the Bulldogs man-up the Cats well and showed enormous heart in taking Port to the line last week. The Cats lack the polish to brutally expose the Bulldogs obvious flaws and will not be able to run past the pacy Hounds like they can other sides. They also lack the across the board height that can render the Bulldogs useless. If the Hounds can't win this one then they will not win another match all season... Bulldogs by 16 pts
St Kilda vs Kangaroos
Telstra Dome 2:10 PM AEST
Same old St Kilda, same old empty hopes, same old story of a season disappearing meekly down the gurgler. The Saints have promise, but it may never be realised if they maintain Cornflakes Thomas in the coaches box! The joke wore thin over a year ago boys, time to get real about it and put a competent person in charge. Expect Rodney Eade to take the reins for 2004 if the team, as expected, goes largely winless for the remainder of the year. The Kangaroos can all but seal a finals berth with a win here, and this will be a superb effort for a side that looked genuine wooden spoon material over the summer. The club has character, although it is riding largely on the backs of hardened, experienced players with little more than a season left in the tank. The future doesn't look bright, but they're going great in the here and now... Kangaroos by 24 pts
Fremantle vs Adelaide
Subiaco 1:40 PM AWST
I may have overrated Freo a tad in the short term, although I still think they will mature into a fine side in the next couple of years. Adelaide doesn't have that sort of luxury, as it must exploit an ageing list to win a flag during the same period. Adelaide appears to have the toughest run home of all the finals contenders, but a win here would go a long way to easing the tension that Ayres would surely be feeling. I'm not a big wrap for the Crows, but they should be too hard and settled for the fading Dockers, even at Fortress Subi. I thought the Dockers were dismal with the ball last week despite having enough of it to beat the Magpies. The Crows are infinitely better in this regard and have at least as much to play for... Crows by 20 pts
CyberKev
