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Port Adelaide has been in very ordinary form lately and is still missing some good players, although it has beaten Geelong in five of its past six encounters, and could be expected to find touch sooner, rather than later. The Cats returned to the winners list last weekend, at the expense of poor opposition, but havent done too much wrong this year to date. The blue & whites certainly have the physical mettle to mix it with the Power, but Im quite concerned about gun midfielder, Cameron Ling, who is clearly troubled by his back problem. Ling is very much the barometer for this side and, regardless of Ports insipid form; the Cats really need him on song for these types of games. A loss here would take the Power to the brink of crisis, but Im expecting the side to give us a timely reminder of why theyre the reigning premiers.
Port Adelaide by 16 pts
The Kangaroos and Hawthorn will don commemorative jumpers to mark their 80th anniversaries, recalling memories of the seventies when their rivalry was the most prominent in the game. Hawthorn had the better of this bygone rivalry, but it is the Kangaroos who have dominated this fixture recently, winning four of the past five. Theyve been rock solid the Roos, winning all games theyve played thus far, and revelling in games that have invariably been tough and tight. Hard winning form is fab form and the Kangas deserve favouritism here. That being said, Hawthorn was great last week and appears to have happened upon an intoxicating mix of classy experience and vibrant youth. A repeat of last weeks aggressive, full-on, in your face, possession at any cost showing will get the Hawks the points here, but can the side repeat such showings consistently? Terrible memories of the last clash between these sides remain frighteningly fresh, but Ill risk it and go as a biscuit
Hawthorn by 23 pts
Carlton travels west to Subiaco knowing only too well that it hasnt been able to best the Dockers since Freos annus horribilus of 2001. Thats four from four to the Perth-siders, but God theyve been awful of late! There was no disgrace in losing to a rejuvenated Tiger side last week, but it was a display that reiterated the softness of this troubled team that most football observers believe should be a walk-up start for the finals. Carltons form has also been indifferent, to say the least, and its hard to see them getting up at Fortress Subi unless all of its key players are on their game. While a draw with Port was a good result last week, it was achieved with Lappin & Whitnall down on form, and both players will need to improve markedly for this one. I think the Fremantle gameplan is absolutely atrocious and, until they make a coaching change, theyll be having a good many more losses like the one endured against Richmond. They should be able to negotiate this one though
Fremantle by 24 pts
Sydney are 5-1 against Melbourne in recent years, and this is as good a reason as Melbourne's weakened playing list for tipping the Swans this time around. Not that Sydney can claim to be at full strength either, with Paul Williams (for mine) their most important player, not being able to take the field. I certainly prefer Melbourne as a side, but Sydney is nonetheless capable of performing better than it has been, and will be hellbent on shoring-up its ladder stocks before the season starts to get away from it. The Demons sorely felt the loss of Cameron Bruce last weekend and will find him impossible to cover over the next 6 weeks. Melbourne has the greater talent (with or without Bruce), but Sydney should have the resilience and home ground confidence to nail an important win here...
Sydney by 15 pts
Adelaide has won its last four matches against the Hounds, but it need be remembered that 3 of these games were played in the City of Churches. The Crows have been the surprise packet of the season thus far, defying early predictions of a serious spoon challenge to win three on end, following a tight and unlucky loss to West Coast in round 1. Structurally, they don't look a lot different to last year, so either Neil Craig is a genius or the side has merely entered a confidence-inspired purple patch. I suspect its the latter (no offence to Neil) and that the side will take an overdue hit this weekend. The Bulldogs have been a bit disappointing of late, but will surely be hard on their game in a full-on bid to give stalwart champion, Chris Grant a present for his 300th game. The Hounds have the run in their legs and the talent to surprise, and I just think they'll get themselves up better for this one...
Western Bulldogs by 18 pts
West Coast will enter this game full of confidence, having won four of their past five clashes with Brisbane (including the last two clashes at the Gabba). The Eagles are far from unbeatable, but they're doing nicely at the moment, courtesy largely of the very fast and skilful players the club has accumulated in the midfield. Brisbane struggles to man-up on the Perth-siders, and this won't be helped by the continuing CHF gap left by Jonathon Brown. The Lions would have been mortified by last week's result, particularly due to the lack of grunt displayed by key players when the tide of the match turned against it. Brisbane still has talented players, but they are ageing beyond their years and IMHO are, in many cases, well sated by years of ongoing success. West Coast still has key flaws, especially in key positions, but it has momentum and confidence and will surely make it a third straight win at the Gabba (I'd be surprised if any other club has achieved such a feat)...
West Coast by 31 pts
Richmond has only bested St Kilda in one of its previous five clashes but, as with Adelaide, has performed better than expectation to this point of the season and will fancy itself against a Reiwoldt and Penny less Saints outfit. The reason for Richmond's winning run has been easty to identify, with star players Richardson & Brown playing out of their skins every week. I suspect St Kilda will struggle to contain both players, but will nonetheless chance its arm at outscoring the Tigers in a full-on shootout. The fabulous form of the aforementioned Tigers has obfuscated the vulnerable state of the Richmond defence, and (even without Reiwoldt), St Kilda is well positioned to land heavy blows in this regard. Richmond will be brave and more than competitive, but the greater class inherent in the Saints side should prevail on the day...
St Kilda by 28 pts
Essendon leads 4-1 on the ledger of recent clashes between these proud clubs and should be able to extend this sequence here. Collingwood was stiff last week, but with: Buckley, Rocca, Fraser & Didak all missing from the Magpie line-up its hard to warrant tipping them. Hard, but not impossible, given the poor form of the Bombers, who can consider themselves very fortunate to not be entering this clash winless. Essendon has some injury woes of its own and its ruck division is nothing short of a disaster. These two sides would be arguably the weakest two clubs in the competition at the moment, but their relative evenness (plus the extra meaning of the occasion) will all but ensure a tight and engrossing contest. The Bombers retain an edge in available playing personnel though, which should get them the points this time around...
Essendon by 8 pts
Bloody hell, I wouldn't call anyone a certainty for any of these games! Early signs are suggesting that this is as tough a tipping season as I've been through. Hope I don't get pantsed this weekend.
Port Adelaide by 16 pts
The Kangaroos and Hawthorn will don commemorative jumpers to mark their 80th anniversaries, recalling memories of the seventies when their rivalry was the most prominent in the game. Hawthorn had the better of this bygone rivalry, but it is the Kangaroos who have dominated this fixture recently, winning four of the past five. Theyve been rock solid the Roos, winning all games theyve played thus far, and revelling in games that have invariably been tough and tight. Hard winning form is fab form and the Kangas deserve favouritism here. That being said, Hawthorn was great last week and appears to have happened upon an intoxicating mix of classy experience and vibrant youth. A repeat of last weeks aggressive, full-on, in your face, possession at any cost showing will get the Hawks the points here, but can the side repeat such showings consistently? Terrible memories of the last clash between these sides remain frighteningly fresh, but Ill risk it and go as a biscuit
Hawthorn by 23 pts
Carlton travels west to Subiaco knowing only too well that it hasnt been able to best the Dockers since Freos annus horribilus of 2001. Thats four from four to the Perth-siders, but God theyve been awful of late! There was no disgrace in losing to a rejuvenated Tiger side last week, but it was a display that reiterated the softness of this troubled team that most football observers believe should be a walk-up start for the finals. Carltons form has also been indifferent, to say the least, and its hard to see them getting up at Fortress Subi unless all of its key players are on their game. While a draw with Port was a good result last week, it was achieved with Lappin & Whitnall down on form, and both players will need to improve markedly for this one. I think the Fremantle gameplan is absolutely atrocious and, until they make a coaching change, theyll be having a good many more losses like the one endured against Richmond. They should be able to negotiate this one though
Fremantle by 24 pts
Sydney are 5-1 against Melbourne in recent years, and this is as good a reason as Melbourne's weakened playing list for tipping the Swans this time around. Not that Sydney can claim to be at full strength either, with Paul Williams (for mine) their most important player, not being able to take the field. I certainly prefer Melbourne as a side, but Sydney is nonetheless capable of performing better than it has been, and will be hellbent on shoring-up its ladder stocks before the season starts to get away from it. The Demons sorely felt the loss of Cameron Bruce last weekend and will find him impossible to cover over the next 6 weeks. Melbourne has the greater talent (with or without Bruce), but Sydney should have the resilience and home ground confidence to nail an important win here...
Sydney by 15 pts
Adelaide has won its last four matches against the Hounds, but it need be remembered that 3 of these games were played in the City of Churches. The Crows have been the surprise packet of the season thus far, defying early predictions of a serious spoon challenge to win three on end, following a tight and unlucky loss to West Coast in round 1. Structurally, they don't look a lot different to last year, so either Neil Craig is a genius or the side has merely entered a confidence-inspired purple patch. I suspect its the latter (no offence to Neil) and that the side will take an overdue hit this weekend. The Bulldogs have been a bit disappointing of late, but will surely be hard on their game in a full-on bid to give stalwart champion, Chris Grant a present for his 300th game. The Hounds have the run in their legs and the talent to surprise, and I just think they'll get themselves up better for this one...
Western Bulldogs by 18 pts
West Coast will enter this game full of confidence, having won four of their past five clashes with Brisbane (including the last two clashes at the Gabba). The Eagles are far from unbeatable, but they're doing nicely at the moment, courtesy largely of the very fast and skilful players the club has accumulated in the midfield. Brisbane struggles to man-up on the Perth-siders, and this won't be helped by the continuing CHF gap left by Jonathon Brown. The Lions would have been mortified by last week's result, particularly due to the lack of grunt displayed by key players when the tide of the match turned against it. Brisbane still has talented players, but they are ageing beyond their years and IMHO are, in many cases, well sated by years of ongoing success. West Coast still has key flaws, especially in key positions, but it has momentum and confidence and will surely make it a third straight win at the Gabba (I'd be surprised if any other club has achieved such a feat)...
West Coast by 31 pts
Richmond has only bested St Kilda in one of its previous five clashes but, as with Adelaide, has performed better than expectation to this point of the season and will fancy itself against a Reiwoldt and Penny less Saints outfit. The reason for Richmond's winning run has been easty to identify, with star players Richardson & Brown playing out of their skins every week. I suspect St Kilda will struggle to contain both players, but will nonetheless chance its arm at outscoring the Tigers in a full-on shootout. The fabulous form of the aforementioned Tigers has obfuscated the vulnerable state of the Richmond defence, and (even without Reiwoldt), St Kilda is well positioned to land heavy blows in this regard. Richmond will be brave and more than competitive, but the greater class inherent in the Saints side should prevail on the day...
St Kilda by 28 pts
Essendon leads 4-1 on the ledger of recent clashes between these proud clubs and should be able to extend this sequence here. Collingwood was stiff last week, but with: Buckley, Rocca, Fraser & Didak all missing from the Magpie line-up its hard to warrant tipping them. Hard, but not impossible, given the poor form of the Bombers, who can consider themselves very fortunate to not be entering this clash winless. Essendon has some injury woes of its own and its ruck division is nothing short of a disaster. These two sides would be arguably the weakest two clubs in the competition at the moment, but their relative evenness (plus the extra meaning of the occasion) will all but ensure a tight and engrossing contest. The Bombers retain an edge in available playing personnel though, which should get them the points this time around...
Essendon by 8 pts
Bloody hell, I wouldn't call anyone a certainty for any of these games! Early signs are suggesting that this is as tough a tipping season as I've been through. Hope I don't get pantsed this weekend.
gets the job on him because as evidenced by the game against Brisbane last year and the job he did on one J Brown, he is clearly up to the task and would give us exceptional run and big penetration out of the back half. 
