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Its getting tough now for those sides outside the eight, but all sides down to Richmond can still make it, however unlikely...
FRIDAY AUGUST 1 AEST
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne
Telstra Dome 7:40 PM AEST
Well, needless to say that these are two sides that most definitely CANNOT make the finals, but they're close enough in ability to suggest that we'll have a good game on our hands. The Bulldogs have more to play four as they desperately try to lift themselves off the bottom of the table, and they would need to win games like this to accomplish the task. Melbourne have had three exceedingly stiff weeks in a row and would not want to countenance another loss here. They're essentially playing for pride, but lowly sides have done well at this often in the past during the same stage of the season. People are writing this off as unenticing fare, but I see two sides willing to have a dip and I suspect it'll be well worth a look... Demons by 11pts
SATURDAY AUGUST 2 AEST
Carlton vs Essendon
Melbourne Cricket Ground 2:10 PM AEST
Is it time to let bygones be bygones and allow oneself to feel genuine pity and sympathy for Carlton? Maybe will let that one stay rhetorical for at least another week. Incredibly enough, the Bombers represent one of Carlton's four wins for the year and would be mortified beyond belief at the mere prospect of handing their hated arch-enemy a double. I doubt they have a lot to fear, as while Carlton normally rises to these contests, you would say the same thing about their clashes with Collingwood. The Pies smashed them last week and it was painfully clear that its not so much a case of the Blues not being able to pull up their socks, as it is Carlton not having any socks to pull up! The red & blacks have a sniff of unexpected finals action and will not let this one slip... Bombers by 57 pts
Fremantle vs Richmond
Subiaco 1:40 PM AWST
Alas poor Tigers... Back on the winners list for the first match in nine last week, only to see their slender finals hopes riding on a match against Freo at the House of Pain! They won't win the Tigers, of course not, they haven't got the wherewithal. Nonetheless, they could still prove deceptively competitive, particularly if they pursue last week's ad hoc game plan of playing Richo as a ruck rover. Freo are overly blessed with tall, mobile young defenders and the Tigers will be cactus pooptus if they decide to play safe with talls out of their goal square. They need to mix things up, play small up front, and bring weapons like Richo into the game as often as possible. Even then it wouldn't be enough... Dockers by 42 pts
Geelong vs Collingwood
Telstra Dome 7:10 PM AEST
Hmmm... Collingwood have been rolling along nicely of late, but its not as if they've been beating the big sides. They won't here either, but they can ill afford to lose momentum with some tough clashes looming large on the horizon. The Cats would fancy their chances having routinely beat the Magpies over recent years, although they were heavily beaten earlier in the season. They led at every change that day, with the notable exception of the final one, as Collingwood rolled over them in a one-way last term. Still, the Cats are eager enough and if they can get on top out of the middle early will cause Collingwood plenty of headaches. Collingwood looks to steady and solid, however, and has too much to play for... Magpies by 27 pts
Brisbane Lions vs Kangaroos
Gabba 7:10 PM AEST
The Kangaroos have been bravely clinging to a lower eight spot all season, but it was always only going to end in tears. The blue & whites will slip out of the eight this weekend and will not be able to get back in. Brisbane have been struggling, but were great against Port last week despite falling a piddling point short at the death knell. Laidley's men courageously held the Lions to a draw earlier in the season, but such heroics are beyond them here. Brisbane will be buoyant having just signed Matthews on as coach for a further three years and will be in the modd for celebration. They look oddly out of place outside of the top fourand will be bracing for a last full-on run to the line. I reckon this could get seriously ugly... Lions by 78 pts
SUNDAY AUGUST 3 ACST
Adelaide vs Sydney
AAMI Stadium 12:40 PM ACST
This game is another one with considerable appeal. Statistics show that the Crows make considerably less clangers than any other side, which means they must be doing something right with their skills. Sydney has been the revelation of the season and are certain to make the eight against all honest pre-season predictions. The Swans will find the going tough here though, particularly with key ruckman Jason Ball out for the season with injury. Adelaide have an horrendous run into the finals, but if they can get some wins up they'll be red hot going into the big games. I suspect that they can, starting with a good strong win here... Crows by 36 pts
Hawthorn vs Port Adelaide
Melbourne Cricket Ground 2:10 PM AEST
Hawthorn looked like winners in the West at halftime last week before turning in an embarrassing goalless second half. That's hardly the sort of form you want to be bringing into a game, with your finals hopes hanging by a thread, and inflicted with the Subi curse to boot! Making matters worse, several key talls are still sidelined and the Hawks will know that they struggle against Port at the best of times! Port were super impressive in Brisbane last week and will be eyeing off a bit of a percentage boost here. About the only thing in Hawthorn's favour is Port's dismal MCG record, although it is worth remembering that the Power pasted the Hawks at this venue in 2001. Too much confidence, form and sound structure the visitors... Power by 28 pts
St Kilda vs West Coast
Telstra Dome 2:10 PM AEST
I know this sounds odd, but I wasn't overly impressed with West Coast despite them running amok against the Hawks in the second half last week. The Eagles always win in Perth and normally build these wins on the back of hardball aversion and wide softball running. The depleted Hawks would've given hope to other finalists in the first half last week when they drew the Eagles into a hardball stoush and really should've been four goals up at halftime NOT four points. Whether St Kilda has the arsenal at the moment to exploit the Eagles here is an entirely different matter. Still, the Saints have the tall kpp to trouble the Eagles if they're switched-on and can get a share of good ball out of the middle. Just can't see them doing enough, alas... Eagles by 24 pts
CyberKev
FRIDAY AUGUST 1 AEST
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne
Telstra Dome 7:40 PM AEST
Well, needless to say that these are two sides that most definitely CANNOT make the finals, but they're close enough in ability to suggest that we'll have a good game on our hands. The Bulldogs have more to play four as they desperately try to lift themselves off the bottom of the table, and they would need to win games like this to accomplish the task. Melbourne have had three exceedingly stiff weeks in a row and would not want to countenance another loss here. They're essentially playing for pride, but lowly sides have done well at this often in the past during the same stage of the season. People are writing this off as unenticing fare, but I see two sides willing to have a dip and I suspect it'll be well worth a look... Demons by 11pts
SATURDAY AUGUST 2 AEST
Carlton vs Essendon
Melbourne Cricket Ground 2:10 PM AEST
Is it time to let bygones be bygones and allow oneself to feel genuine pity and sympathy for Carlton? Maybe will let that one stay rhetorical for at least another week. Incredibly enough, the Bombers represent one of Carlton's four wins for the year and would be mortified beyond belief at the mere prospect of handing their hated arch-enemy a double. I doubt they have a lot to fear, as while Carlton normally rises to these contests, you would say the same thing about their clashes with Collingwood. The Pies smashed them last week and it was painfully clear that its not so much a case of the Blues not being able to pull up their socks, as it is Carlton not having any socks to pull up! The red & blacks have a sniff of unexpected finals action and will not let this one slip... Bombers by 57 pts
Fremantle vs Richmond
Subiaco 1:40 PM AWST
Alas poor Tigers... Back on the winners list for the first match in nine last week, only to see their slender finals hopes riding on a match against Freo at the House of Pain! They won't win the Tigers, of course not, they haven't got the wherewithal. Nonetheless, they could still prove deceptively competitive, particularly if they pursue last week's ad hoc game plan of playing Richo as a ruck rover. Freo are overly blessed with tall, mobile young defenders and the Tigers will be cactus pooptus if they decide to play safe with talls out of their goal square. They need to mix things up, play small up front, and bring weapons like Richo into the game as often as possible. Even then it wouldn't be enough... Dockers by 42 pts
Geelong vs Collingwood
Telstra Dome 7:10 PM AEST
Hmmm... Collingwood have been rolling along nicely of late, but its not as if they've been beating the big sides. They won't here either, but they can ill afford to lose momentum with some tough clashes looming large on the horizon. The Cats would fancy their chances having routinely beat the Magpies over recent years, although they were heavily beaten earlier in the season. They led at every change that day, with the notable exception of the final one, as Collingwood rolled over them in a one-way last term. Still, the Cats are eager enough and if they can get on top out of the middle early will cause Collingwood plenty of headaches. Collingwood looks to steady and solid, however, and has too much to play for... Magpies by 27 pts
Brisbane Lions vs Kangaroos
Gabba 7:10 PM AEST
The Kangaroos have been bravely clinging to a lower eight spot all season, but it was always only going to end in tears. The blue & whites will slip out of the eight this weekend and will not be able to get back in. Brisbane have been struggling, but were great against Port last week despite falling a piddling point short at the death knell. Laidley's men courageously held the Lions to a draw earlier in the season, but such heroics are beyond them here. Brisbane will be buoyant having just signed Matthews on as coach for a further three years and will be in the modd for celebration. They look oddly out of place outside of the top fourand will be bracing for a last full-on run to the line. I reckon this could get seriously ugly... Lions by 78 pts
SUNDAY AUGUST 3 ACST
Adelaide vs Sydney
AAMI Stadium 12:40 PM ACST
This game is another one with considerable appeal. Statistics show that the Crows make considerably less clangers than any other side, which means they must be doing something right with their skills. Sydney has been the revelation of the season and are certain to make the eight against all honest pre-season predictions. The Swans will find the going tough here though, particularly with key ruckman Jason Ball out for the season with injury. Adelaide have an horrendous run into the finals, but if they can get some wins up they'll be red hot going into the big games. I suspect that they can, starting with a good strong win here... Crows by 36 pts
Hawthorn vs Port Adelaide
Melbourne Cricket Ground 2:10 PM AEST
Hawthorn looked like winners in the West at halftime last week before turning in an embarrassing goalless second half. That's hardly the sort of form you want to be bringing into a game, with your finals hopes hanging by a thread, and inflicted with the Subi curse to boot! Making matters worse, several key talls are still sidelined and the Hawks will know that they struggle against Port at the best of times! Port were super impressive in Brisbane last week and will be eyeing off a bit of a percentage boost here. About the only thing in Hawthorn's favour is Port's dismal MCG record, although it is worth remembering that the Power pasted the Hawks at this venue in 2001. Too much confidence, form and sound structure the visitors... Power by 28 pts
St Kilda vs West Coast
Telstra Dome 2:10 PM AEST
I know this sounds odd, but I wasn't overly impressed with West Coast despite them running amok against the Hawks in the second half last week. The Eagles always win in Perth and normally build these wins on the back of hardball aversion and wide softball running. The depleted Hawks would've given hope to other finalists in the first half last week when they drew the Eagles into a hardball stoush and really should've been four goals up at halftime NOT four points. Whether St Kilda has the arsenal at the moment to exploit the Eagles here is an entirely different matter. Still, the Saints have the tall kpp to trouble the Eagles if they're switched-on and can get a share of good ball out of the middle. Just can't see them doing enough, alas... Eagles by 24 pts
CyberKev
