Round 23

[CyberKev]

Getting in very early...

Hawthorn vs West Coast (MCG)
Geelong vs Sydney (SS)
Adelaide vs Gold Coast (AAMI)
GWS vs North Melbourne (Skoda)
Essendon vs Collingwood (MCG)
Fremantle vs Melbourne (PS)
Carlton vs St Kilda (Etihad)
Richmond vs Port Adelaide (MCG)
Brisbane vs Western Bulldogs (Gabba)

 

[CyberKev]

Plenty of ramifications to flow from these results.

There is some concern being raised about teams being unfairly positioned due to their fixture times but, frankly, I can't see that all 8 confirmed finalists wouldn't be wanting to go all out here.

It wasn't that long ago that we would have been expecting the Magpies/Bombers and Blues/Saints games to be about more than they will be.

 

[Twizzle]

ironic that those top two games will shape the finals and more specifically home finals, yet they are both being played in Melbourne

 

[James-Stewart]

Port to beat Richmond.

 

[AuckMel]

Hawthorn vs West Coast (MCG)

Hawks by 10

Geelong vs Sydney (SS)

Cats by 22

Adelaide vs Gold Coast (AAMI)

Adelaide by 54

GWS vs North Melbourne (Skoda)

North by 26

Essendon vs Collingwood (MCG)

Pies by 14

Fremantle vs Melbourne (PS)

Freo by 44
Carlton vs St Kilda (Etihad)

Saints by 10

Richmond vs Port Adelaide (MCG)

Tigers by 336

Brisbane vs Western Bulldogs (Gabba)

Lions by 34

 

[James-Stewart]

Hawthorn vs West Coast (MCG)

Hawks by 10

Geelong vs Sydney (SS)

Cats by 22

Adelaide vs Gold Coast (AAMI)

Adelaide by 54

GWS vs North Melbourne (Skoda)

North by 26

Essendon vs Collingwood (MCG)

Pies by 14

Fremantle vs Melbourne (PS)

Freo by 44
Carlton vs St Kilda (Etihad)

Saints by 10

Richmond vs Port Adelaide (MCG)

Tigers by 336

Brisbane vs Western Bulldogs (Gabba)

Lions by 34

You're going to have egg on your face Sunday evening, Auckward!

 

[IowaRL]

Auckmel, I didn't realise Richmond had such an injury list to have such a narrow predicted winning margin? I also think the North game will be at least 7 goals.

 

[James-Stewart]

Port had 18 players on their injury list last week. Just putting it out there!

 

[James-Stewart]

Looks like we're going to have a Hawthorn Collingwood qualifying final!

 

[Twizzle]

so much for Swans for minor premiers, still not good enough to win in Melbourne atm, maybe in a year or two

 

[CyberKev]

so much for Swans for minor premiers, still not good enough to win in Melbourne atm, maybe in a year or two

To win in Victoria, is what you're trying to say, I think, given that Corio is not Melbourne (yet).

In fairness, they did beat geelong at home last year and have won 5 of their past 7 at Etihad Stadium.

Its the MCG where the real challenge seems to lie.

 

[Twizzle]

yeh thats what I meant, did they beat anyone of note in those games ?

Swans have a good young squad but I dont see them bothering the heavyweights at Etihad or MCG just yet, maybe in a year or 2

Cats haven't played out of Corio for about 40-50 years, Skilled Park is in Moorabool St, Sth Geelong

 

[CyberKev]

Corio is old, World of Sport, shorthand for Geelong...

Sydney only played sides outside the 8 at Etihad this year, so its hard to read a lot into it, although that ground may be the closest thing the comp has to the SCG.

The Swans have only won 5 times at the MCG since saluting in the 2005 decider and three of those wins came in 2006 and included wins against struggling Hawthorn and Richmond sides.

Over the same period they have lost 14 games and drew 1.

Technically they've only won one of their past eleven matches at the venue.

 

[Twizzle]

sorry, you must be older than me, lol

 

[Melbourne Rabbit]

Swans still a massive chance to beat Adelaide this week and get home Prelim anyway

 

[Twizzle]

I think both Swans and Crows form has dropped off a bit in the last few rounds.

 

[CyberKev]

Swans form was fine against the Hawks a fornight ago in one of -if not the - best game of the year.

Hawthorn struggled late against the Eagles, following that hard game, and I suggested that Sydney might do likewise against the Cats, particularly with the latter easing through a soft clash against the Bulldogs the week before.

Adelaide & Swans will be fascinating.

I'm leaning toward the Crows, given that Sydney have a poor record against them, but I expect the Swans to come at them hard.