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Personally, I'd prefer to forget that round 1 happened at all, given that it was a disaster for me on a number of levels, save for the win that I had with my fantasy footy side. Nonetheless, one can't just take the Sherrin and go home, so here we go with round 2.
The Blues kick things off tonight with what should be another tight clash with an Essendon side that is clearly in decay. Fascinatingly enough, while the results of recent clashes run 3-2 the Bombers way, none of these contests have been won by the designated "home" side. A bad omen for Carlton? Perhaps, but they do lift markedly for these games and have shown a lot more to this, admittedly early, stage of the season. While the Blues lost last week, they would have been delighted with the showing by Koutifides and it will be difficult for Essendon to contain him, along with Fevola and Whitnall. Young Bradley showed fab signs for Essendon at CHB last week, but they're certainly getting little else from their youth faction.
Carlton by 16 pts
Hopes are high out Footscray way that the region's beloved Bulldogs may finally be set to break free of the dreaded bottom four. I'm almost certain that they will accomplish this, but I can't see them getting much joy from this particular game. Melbourne hold a convincing 4-1 lead on recent clashes, and while the margins haven't been large, I like the look of the Demons who are playing with real purpose and confidence. I'm expecting a high standard game here, with Melbourne moving a step closer to a top four finish.If Richmond & Hawthorn are looking for inspiration, they could do worse than look to the Demons, who looked washed-up a couple of years back, but are surging back due largely to the presence of a capable youth brigade.
Melbourne by 27 pts
Geelong looked solid against feeble opposition last week and should find West Coast much more of a challenge at Fortress Subi. The last five clashes between these sides have retruned two wins apiece, plus a draw. Subi is no fun for any side, but Geelong was unlucky to lose by 2pts in adverse conditions last season, and did belt the Eagles by 70pts there as recently as 2001. That being said, you have to back the fleet-footed Eagle brigade almost every time at Subiaco. The side was very average in getting a lucky win against Adelaide last week, but is more than capable of taking things up several notches on home soil. I'm expecting a top game here, possibly the best of the round.
West Coast by 12pts
The Kangaroos vs Sydney will be an intriguing encounter, with Sydney leading 3-2 in recent clashes, including a fine 51pt result at this venue (Canberra) last season. The Kangaroos did fight back to win a thriller at the SCG later in the season, but I'll still plum for the Swans in this game. Sydney comfortably overran an insipid Hawk side last week, and while they'll certainly find stiffer resistance here, the confidence gleaned from getting a win up will help their cause enormously. The Kangaroos also won well against Carlton, but there is a vulnerability inherent in this side, and the pace and endeavour of Sydney will go along way to exposing it here.
Sydney by 20pts
There hasn't been a lot made of the Grand Final "replay", but this could be a consequence of the game not involving any VIC-based sides. Brisbane leads 3-2 on recent results, including a tight 10pt win in their only meeting at this venue. It need also be said that Port struggled yesterday, while Brisbane had a strong win against fine opposition in St Kilda. Despite this, I'm going to break ranks and tip the reigning champions at home. Brisbane covered the absences of key players Brown & Black brilliantly last week, but against a rebounding Power outfit away from home, they shouldn't fare as well. Port will be desperate to get back in winning mode and will want to maintain a vestige of psychological dominance over the side they vanquished so impressively last September.
Port Adelaide by 15pts
St Kilda leads Fremantle 3-2 in recent clashes and should be able to move further ahead here. This is not to suggest that the Saints don't have their fair share of worries, of course. The loss to Brisbane wasn't a disgrace by any means, but with Reiwoldt going down and Gehrig remaining plagued by back problems, the side does look more vulnerable than usual up forward. By contrast, Freo played well last week and should head to Tasmania with renewed confidence. That being said, I remember how awful Freo was in going down to a brittle Hawk outfit at this venue last year, and I doubt that they have the mental fortitude to win games like this awy from home.
St Kilda by 34pts
Collingwood holds a superb 5-0 recent record over Adelaide and will rightly fancy its chances of extending this on the weekend. Adelaide is a very ordinary outfit, but to its credit it worked West Coast well last week and was unlucky to lose in the end. Collingwood is reeling from the bad news received regarding Nathan Buckley and will also struggle this season, with both sides likely to finish bottom four. Collingwood looks the steadier proposition, given the game is being played in Melbourne and should be able to close the Crows out of the contest.
Collingwood by 17pts
What can one say about the Hawthorn vs Richmond blockbuster? Richmond leads 3-2 in recent contests, with winning margins ranging from a solitary point to four whole goals. They will start very slight favourite here and fancy their chances, but its not a result that can be confidently predicted either way. Hawthorn's attack is dismal, but the same can be said of the Tiger defence. Hawthorn's capacity for making poor ball delivery choices is near legendary, but you won't find a more inaccountable unit than Richmond. While both sides were terrible last week, Hawthorn was slightly moreso. Mediating this, however, is the return of Mitchell, Barker & Beaumont for the Hawks which should provide a healthy boost. I'll go for Hawthorn in this one purely out of a desperate, hopeful bias.
Hawthorn by 8pts[/b]
The Blues kick things off tonight with what should be another tight clash with an Essendon side that is clearly in decay. Fascinatingly enough, while the results of recent clashes run 3-2 the Bombers way, none of these contests have been won by the designated "home" side. A bad omen for Carlton? Perhaps, but they do lift markedly for these games and have shown a lot more to this, admittedly early, stage of the season. While the Blues lost last week, they would have been delighted with the showing by Koutifides and it will be difficult for Essendon to contain him, along with Fevola and Whitnall. Young Bradley showed fab signs for Essendon at CHB last week, but they're certainly getting little else from their youth faction.
Carlton by 16 pts
Hopes are high out Footscray way that the region's beloved Bulldogs may finally be set to break free of the dreaded bottom four. I'm almost certain that they will accomplish this, but I can't see them getting much joy from this particular game. Melbourne hold a convincing 4-1 lead on recent clashes, and while the margins haven't been large, I like the look of the Demons who are playing with real purpose and confidence. I'm expecting a high standard game here, with Melbourne moving a step closer to a top four finish.If Richmond & Hawthorn are looking for inspiration, they could do worse than look to the Demons, who looked washed-up a couple of years back, but are surging back due largely to the presence of a capable youth brigade.
Melbourne by 27 pts
Geelong looked solid against feeble opposition last week and should find West Coast much more of a challenge at Fortress Subi. The last five clashes between these sides have retruned two wins apiece, plus a draw. Subi is no fun for any side, but Geelong was unlucky to lose by 2pts in adverse conditions last season, and did belt the Eagles by 70pts there as recently as 2001. That being said, you have to back the fleet-footed Eagle brigade almost every time at Subiaco. The side was very average in getting a lucky win against Adelaide last week, but is more than capable of taking things up several notches on home soil. I'm expecting a top game here, possibly the best of the round.
West Coast by 12pts
The Kangaroos vs Sydney will be an intriguing encounter, with Sydney leading 3-2 in recent clashes, including a fine 51pt result at this venue (Canberra) last season. The Kangaroos did fight back to win a thriller at the SCG later in the season, but I'll still plum for the Swans in this game. Sydney comfortably overran an insipid Hawk side last week, and while they'll certainly find stiffer resistance here, the confidence gleaned from getting a win up will help their cause enormously. The Kangaroos also won well against Carlton, but there is a vulnerability inherent in this side, and the pace and endeavour of Sydney will go along way to exposing it here.
Sydney by 20pts
There hasn't been a lot made of the Grand Final "replay", but this could be a consequence of the game not involving any VIC-based sides. Brisbane leads 3-2 on recent results, including a tight 10pt win in their only meeting at this venue. It need also be said that Port struggled yesterday, while Brisbane had a strong win against fine opposition in St Kilda. Despite this, I'm going to break ranks and tip the reigning champions at home. Brisbane covered the absences of key players Brown & Black brilliantly last week, but against a rebounding Power outfit away from home, they shouldn't fare as well. Port will be desperate to get back in winning mode and will want to maintain a vestige of psychological dominance over the side they vanquished so impressively last September.
Port Adelaide by 15pts
St Kilda leads Fremantle 3-2 in recent clashes and should be able to move further ahead here. This is not to suggest that the Saints don't have their fair share of worries, of course. The loss to Brisbane wasn't a disgrace by any means, but with Reiwoldt going down and Gehrig remaining plagued by back problems, the side does look more vulnerable than usual up forward. By contrast, Freo played well last week and should head to Tasmania with renewed confidence. That being said, I remember how awful Freo was in going down to a brittle Hawk outfit at this venue last year, and I doubt that they have the mental fortitude to win games like this awy from home.
St Kilda by 34pts
Collingwood holds a superb 5-0 recent record over Adelaide and will rightly fancy its chances of extending this on the weekend. Adelaide is a very ordinary outfit, but to its credit it worked West Coast well last week and was unlucky to lose in the end. Collingwood is reeling from the bad news received regarding Nathan Buckley and will also struggle this season, with both sides likely to finish bottom four. Collingwood looks the steadier proposition, given the game is being played in Melbourne and should be able to close the Crows out of the contest.
Collingwood by 17pts
What can one say about the Hawthorn vs Richmond blockbuster? Richmond leads 3-2 in recent contests, with winning margins ranging from a solitary point to four whole goals. They will start very slight favourite here and fancy their chances, but its not a result that can be confidently predicted either way. Hawthorn's attack is dismal, but the same can be said of the Tiger defence. Hawthorn's capacity for making poor ball delivery choices is near legendary, but you won't find a more inaccountable unit than Richmond. While both sides were terrible last week, Hawthorn was slightly moreso. Mediating this, however, is the return of Mitchell, Barker & Beaumont for the Hawks which should provide a healthy boost. I'll go for Hawthorn in this one purely out of a desperate, hopeful bias.
Hawthorn by 8pts[/b]
