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Collingwood (9) v Carlton (MCG - Friday night)
Richmond v Sydney (16) (MCG - Saturday)
West Coast (34) v Melbourne (Subiaco Oval, Perth - Saturday)
Brisbane(55) v Kangaroos (Gabba - Saturday night)
St. Kilda (62) v Fremantle (Telstra Dome - Saturday night)
Adelaide v Port Adelaide (13)(AAMI Stadium, Adelaide - Sunday)
Essendon (30) v Western Bulldogs (Telstra Dome - Sunday)
Geelong (24) v Hawthorn (Skilled Stadium, Geelong - Sunday)
All the talk is of a Carlton win against Collingwood this evening, but my gut tells me that Collingwood will squeeze them out in what should be the match of the round (in terms of tightness of margin, at least). Collingwood remain a gritty customer, and their biggest susceptibility is to sides with class on tap. For all of Carlton's recent fight, they still lack quality across the board. If Fevola fails to fire then its hard to see them doing enough, and I think the Pies can do what's required to keep him in check.
It is thought that Sydney will win easily against Richmond, but this belies the fact that the Swans never look comfortable at the MCG, regardless of the opponent. As such, Richmond will be in this one up to its ears, particularly given that it is Frawley's send-off game and I'm sure he'll want to go out a winner. The Swans have more dash and poise, and clearly have a lot more to play for, but if Richardson can fire-up one last time for the year, an upset wouldn't be out of the question.
Melbourne will be desperate to get back in a winning mood prior to the finals after enduring an horrific last 3 weeks. Beating a resurgent Eagles side in Perth is hardly an ideal way to return to confidence, and with Neitz missing from the Demon side, its difficult to see them getting up. West Coast is, ever and always, unconvincing, but on home soil it utilises plenty of pace to create space and has a tendency to run non-WA sides off their feet in normally warm Perth conditions.
The Kangaroos must beat Brisbane and rely on Essendon losing to the Bulldogs (and Freo losing to St Kilda) in order to sneak into the eight. They don't really deserve to be there, however, given the amount of chances they've had to seal a berth and the amount of times they've blown these chances. Brisbane were in a suitably mean mood against the Saints last week and will want to enter another finals series in the usual fashion (ie. by coffee scrolling a desperate opponent). I expect the Kangaroos to stick with them for a fair portion of the game, but the superior strength and class of the Lions will see the home side scoot away late in the game.
St Kilda needs to get a win up here to restore its now shaky confidence prior to a rare (for the club) finals campaign. There are some that are saying that the Saints will be thinking about throwing this one so as to avoid having to play Brisbane at the Gabba the following week. This thought presumes that Adelaide is no chance of rolling Port ( a nonsense notion, given the history of these derbies) and elides the reality that sides want to enter finals series in winning form. Frematle need to win to make the eight, but given their horrendous record in Melbourne and their pathetic recent form, they don't have it in them and really shouldn't be playing finals football anyway!
Adelaide was fab in disposing of Geelong last week and will push Port all the way here. I think this is a fantastic lead-in game for Port who should be able to get the points and earn a third successive minor premiership. Adelaide remains light-on in key defensive and attacking posts, while Port is steady across the park and has superior strength and pace. The Adelaide derby ensures a passion in both sides that invariably results in a princely contest, and I don't expect this one to be any different.
Many argue that the Bulldogs will beat the Bombers this week, and while I'd love to see it happen, I'm not confident of seeing the Hounds get up. It is true that the Bombers look a tad vulnerable, but with a club record 7th straight finals series up for grabs and the reality that at least 4 players will be playing their last home and away game prior to retirement, I think they'll do enough to get home. Like all the sides competing for 8th spot, the Bombers do not deserve to be there, but they have an edge in talent and experience on their competitors that will see them through to another September. All eyes will be on the Bulldog youngsters, however, (Cooney in particular) as a continuation of their recent lively form represents Western's best chance of bringing Essendon undone.
'Solarium Boy' was in the Herald Sun yesterday expressing his fervent fear that Hawthorn might throw Sunday's game in order to get bottom possie and top access to draft picks, but history suggests he has no cause for concern. Hawthorn will very much be playing to win on Sunday and knowing Donald McDonald he will very much be fancying his chances. Geelong is unbeaten at home this year, but looked shaky at the knell last week, whilst Hawthorn is playing with vigour and perserverance. A win would almost certainly hand McDonald the Hawthorn coaching job, but I supect Geelong's edge in talent will be enough to get them home. The Cats love playing at Silled and wouldn't want to enter the finals with 2 successive losses. It is also true that the last 2 games between these sides have resulted in 50+ wins to the Cats, so you'd have to run with them again here.
CyberKev
Richmond v Sydney (16) (MCG - Saturday)
West Coast (34) v Melbourne (Subiaco Oval, Perth - Saturday)
Brisbane(55) v Kangaroos (Gabba - Saturday night)
St. Kilda (62) v Fremantle (Telstra Dome - Saturday night)
Adelaide v Port Adelaide (13)(AAMI Stadium, Adelaide - Sunday)
Essendon (30) v Western Bulldogs (Telstra Dome - Sunday)
Geelong (24) v Hawthorn (Skilled Stadium, Geelong - Sunday)
All the talk is of a Carlton win against Collingwood this evening, but my gut tells me that Collingwood will squeeze them out in what should be the match of the round (in terms of tightness of margin, at least). Collingwood remain a gritty customer, and their biggest susceptibility is to sides with class on tap. For all of Carlton's recent fight, they still lack quality across the board. If Fevola fails to fire then its hard to see them doing enough, and I think the Pies can do what's required to keep him in check.
It is thought that Sydney will win easily against Richmond, but this belies the fact that the Swans never look comfortable at the MCG, regardless of the opponent. As such, Richmond will be in this one up to its ears, particularly given that it is Frawley's send-off game and I'm sure he'll want to go out a winner. The Swans have more dash and poise, and clearly have a lot more to play for, but if Richardson can fire-up one last time for the year, an upset wouldn't be out of the question.
Melbourne will be desperate to get back in a winning mood prior to the finals after enduring an horrific last 3 weeks. Beating a resurgent Eagles side in Perth is hardly an ideal way to return to confidence, and with Neitz missing from the Demon side, its difficult to see them getting up. West Coast is, ever and always, unconvincing, but on home soil it utilises plenty of pace to create space and has a tendency to run non-WA sides off their feet in normally warm Perth conditions.
The Kangaroos must beat Brisbane and rely on Essendon losing to the Bulldogs (and Freo losing to St Kilda) in order to sneak into the eight. They don't really deserve to be there, however, given the amount of chances they've had to seal a berth and the amount of times they've blown these chances. Brisbane were in a suitably mean mood against the Saints last week and will want to enter another finals series in the usual fashion (ie. by coffee scrolling a desperate opponent). I expect the Kangaroos to stick with them for a fair portion of the game, but the superior strength and class of the Lions will see the home side scoot away late in the game.
St Kilda needs to get a win up here to restore its now shaky confidence prior to a rare (for the club) finals campaign. There are some that are saying that the Saints will be thinking about throwing this one so as to avoid having to play Brisbane at the Gabba the following week. This thought presumes that Adelaide is no chance of rolling Port ( a nonsense notion, given the history of these derbies) and elides the reality that sides want to enter finals series in winning form. Frematle need to win to make the eight, but given their horrendous record in Melbourne and their pathetic recent form, they don't have it in them and really shouldn't be playing finals football anyway!
Adelaide was fab in disposing of Geelong last week and will push Port all the way here. I think this is a fantastic lead-in game for Port who should be able to get the points and earn a third successive minor premiership. Adelaide remains light-on in key defensive and attacking posts, while Port is steady across the park and has superior strength and pace. The Adelaide derby ensures a passion in both sides that invariably results in a princely contest, and I don't expect this one to be any different.
Many argue that the Bulldogs will beat the Bombers this week, and while I'd love to see it happen, I'm not confident of seeing the Hounds get up. It is true that the Bombers look a tad vulnerable, but with a club record 7th straight finals series up for grabs and the reality that at least 4 players will be playing their last home and away game prior to retirement, I think they'll do enough to get home. Like all the sides competing for 8th spot, the Bombers do not deserve to be there, but they have an edge in talent and experience on their competitors that will see them through to another September. All eyes will be on the Bulldog youngsters, however, (Cooney in particular) as a continuation of their recent lively form represents Western's best chance of bringing Essendon undone.
'Solarium Boy' was in the Herald Sun yesterday expressing his fervent fear that Hawthorn might throw Sunday's game in order to get bottom possie and top access to draft picks, but history suggests he has no cause for concern. Hawthorn will very much be playing to win on Sunday and knowing Donald McDonald he will very much be fancying his chances. Geelong is unbeaten at home this year, but looked shaky at the knell last week, whilst Hawthorn is playing with vigour and perserverance. A win would almost certainly hand McDonald the Hawthorn coaching job, but I supect Geelong's edge in talent will be enough to get them home. The Cats love playing at Silled and wouldn't want to enter the finals with 2 successive losses. It is also true that the last 2 games between these sides have resulted in 50+ wins to the Cats, so you'd have to run with them again here.
CyberKev
