C
CyberKev
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Well, I'm back from a six-day sojourn in Ballarat and ready to roll into another round of crucial AFL matches...
<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td align=left bgcolor=#f7f0de colspan=2><span>FRIDAY MAY 16</span></td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Hawthornvs Essendon </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Melbourne Cricket Ground<span>7:40 PM AEST</span> <span>The media is billing this as a last stand match for both clubs and while history is littered with instances of sides performing dismally early prior to a later surge, I suspect they may not be too far off the mark here. Essendon were as poor as they have been for many years last week and were totally mauled by a Tiger side high on confidence and playing good football. The Tigers certainly did no favours for a Hawk side that hasn't beaten Essendon since 1997 and isn't showing the form that inspires confidence that they can turn this appalling trend around. The Bombers are short on speed, missing key manpower and look disturbingly inept in attack. This latter woe is shared by their opponents, now 3-4 for the season despite getting more inside fifty ball than their opposition in every game this season. This aside, Hawthorn is not getting enough quality ball out of the centre (too many young and raw midfielders), although they should be more than capable of competing with Essendon in this area. Hawks by 8 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr> <td align=left bgcolor=#f7f0de colspan=2><span>SATURDAY MAY 17</span></td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Collingwoodvs West Coast </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Telstra Dome<span>2:10 PM AEST</span> <span>Collingwood had the luckiest win for many a year last week, but you had to admire their persistence. Malthouse would be happy to see the determination and workrate back in evidence, although their are still flaws in the side that will bring them undone at key moments throughout the season. Lack of depth and pace in the midfield, lack of diverse options up forward, lack of quality players down back... They'll still make the finals, however, and will be too good for West Coast this weekend. The Eagles are a very solid outfit and they normally push the Pies, but they looked a tad sluggish against the Cats last week and lack the workrate to seriously worry Collingwood (in Melbourne, at least). Magpies by 17 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Port Adelaidevs Kangaroos </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> AAMI Stadium<span>2:40 PM AEST</span> <span>Port Adelaide has never beaten the Kangaroos in an AFL match and if the team plays with the same laxity as they did last week then they won't alter this harsh reality this time around either. The Roos looked outmanned by the Hawks last week, but worked hard to exploit that side's lack of confidence and overall match fitness. This will be a tougher task though, as the Power looked to be getting back to near their talented best prior to last week's setback. The loss of Primus will be sorely felt, but their should be enough midfield quality and across the park talent available to get them home here. Mind you, I've been saying the same thing about these clashes for years. Power by 20 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Richmondvs Melbourne </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Melbourne Cricket Ground<span>7:10 PM AEST</span> <span>Richmond is moving along nicely and played strong last week, being quite unlucky not to win by a larger margin in a game that was crucial to them (in a psychological sense). On current form, Kane Johnson is possibly the premier midfielder in the game and he is being ably supported by gun youngster Coughlan. The team will have to guard against becoming Richo focused, as they looked far more dangerous when sharing the ball around and going to the best available option in his absence. This concern is one that is even more pronounced at Melbourne, which continues to display a perverse dependence on David Neitz up forward. The Demons were solid last week, but Richmond has its measure across the park and it is difficult to see the Tigers getting rolled here. Tigers by 38 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Brisbane Lionsvs Adelaide </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Gabba<span>7:10 PM AEST</span> <span>Both of these teams were surprise losers last weekend, and Adelaide will feel particularly aggreived at the manner in which they lost that match. It need be said that the Crows were desperately unlucky in hitting the post four times and having to endure a number of very fortunate goals going against them. Nonetheless, I do fear that the team lacks killer instinct and doesn't play particularly smart football when the game tightens-up on them. Brisbane hasn't played well all season, but last week saw it lose for the first time against a committed Swans outfit. Matthews wouldn't want to see his side ambling through games for much longer and will be revving them hard on the trackthis week. The best sides rarely thrash you (invariably they ease themselves through games doing just enough to win, as its a long season) and I was surprised when Brisbane failed to go on with it after drawing within 3 of Sydney late last week. It'll be tough, but Brisbane is the better side and will not allow itself to lose 2 on end. Lions by 22 pts </span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr> <td align=left bgcolor=#f7f0de colspan=2><span>SUNDAY MAY 18</span></td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Sydneyvs Geelong </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Sydney Cricket Ground<span>1:10 PM AEST</span> <span>I suspect that this will be the game of the round. Geelong has played hard against quality opposition without getting the points over the past fortnight and has a good recent record against the Harbor-siders. Thompson will be mindful of the averse affects that can come out of losing bravely on too many occasions and will be coveting the four points on offer even more deeply than usual here. Sydney has impressed greatly in recent weeks and will fancy its chances of getting-up against the bottom side on home turf. I think the 'Cats in the Cradle' will get enough ball out of the centre to threaten so much will depend on how well their forwards convert these chances (an area of pressing concern for the Cats all season). It was a thriller here last year and hopefully we're in for more of the same. Swans by 3 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Carltonvs Western Bulldogs </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Optus Oval<span>2:10 PM AEST</span> <span>Hmmm... The hapless Hounds have endured a real 'Hawthorn' of a week from the press and one would expect them to burst out of the blocks strongly here. Carlton will be suitably rapt by this, having to front-up twice in three weeks against an opposition mauled by the media and baying for blood. The Blues have been similar to the Cats, having lost bravely to Hawthorn and St Kilda by small margins over the past fortnight. This really could go either way and wile Carlton looks stronger on paper, I have a sneaking suspicion that the Dogs will be at their hardest following last weekend's insipid showing. The classy Darcy was dismal last week, but if he plays anywhere near his best this time around then it should be enough to make the difference. Bulldogs by 9 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Fremantlevs St Kilda </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Subiaco<span>3:40 PM AEST</span> <span>The Saints have won three on the trot without looking especially wonderful and while they are certainly a side on the rise, they will find this too tough a test at this stage of their development. Fremantle is a much maligned outfit, but I honestly believe that anything less than a finals berth should be seen as a failure by the Dockers this season. The Freo team has exciting young talent that most sides will have difficulty dealing with when switched on. The acquisition of Headland as spruced-up an already capable midfield and there is no shortage of mobile tall timber to keep opposition defences second guessing. St Kilda will give a good account of itself, but, as per last season, I suspect that Freo will be nearly unbeatable at home this season. Connolly will have to ensure that the team doesn't suffer a letdown having finally broken through for a Melbourne win last week though! Dockers by 30 pts</span></td></tr></tbody></table>
The Gripes of Kev I'm not normally the sort of supporter who will call for a coaches head during the course of an AFL season, but this may be about to change come Saturday morning. Hawthorn is clearly a troubled club at the current time and while uncontrollable misfortune has contributed heavily to this scenario over the past 18 months, there still comes a time when excuses become the crutch on which an errant club is doomed to lean on with unacceptable permanence. The Hawk side is almost back to its best structurally, but lacks confidence and crucial experience in the midfield. This latter problem will continue throughout the season regardless of other factors, and I am concerned that Schwab is incapable of dealing with this effectively. Young midfielders will not improve when they are constantly being dragged from the ground for long spells and dropped back to Box Hill after a subpar showing. Young players become better footballers through exposure to champion players and players like Hodge, Mitchell, Johnson, Ries, Greene & Ladson need to be given ample spells for the remainder of the season to be able to progress. This will result in defeats and may even cost a finals position, but it needs to be done for the future good and I don't think Schwab will do these hard yards as he is too concerned (justifiably) with saving his own arse. A loss to Essendon this weekend would effectively bottom out the club and I don't think it is in the position where it can afford to merely drift for the remainder of the year. The Hawk board isn't known for its savagery, but perhaps the time has come for some full-on blood letting at Glenferrie... CyberKev
<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td align=left bgcolor=#f7f0de colspan=2><span>FRIDAY MAY 16</span></td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Hawthornvs Essendon </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Melbourne Cricket Ground<span>7:40 PM AEST</span> <span>The media is billing this as a last stand match for both clubs and while history is littered with instances of sides performing dismally early prior to a later surge, I suspect they may not be too far off the mark here. Essendon were as poor as they have been for many years last week and were totally mauled by a Tiger side high on confidence and playing good football. The Tigers certainly did no favours for a Hawk side that hasn't beaten Essendon since 1997 and isn't showing the form that inspires confidence that they can turn this appalling trend around. The Bombers are short on speed, missing key manpower and look disturbingly inept in attack. This latter woe is shared by their opponents, now 3-4 for the season despite getting more inside fifty ball than their opposition in every game this season. This aside, Hawthorn is not getting enough quality ball out of the centre (too many young and raw midfielders), although they should be more than capable of competing with Essendon in this area. Hawks by 8 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
The Gripes of Kev I'm not normally the sort of supporter who will call for a coaches head during the course of an AFL season, but this may be about to change come Saturday morning. Hawthorn is clearly a troubled club at the current time and while uncontrollable misfortune has contributed heavily to this scenario over the past 18 months, there still comes a time when excuses become the crutch on which an errant club is doomed to lean on with unacceptable permanence. The Hawk side is almost back to its best structurally, but lacks confidence and crucial experience in the midfield. This latter problem will continue throughout the season regardless of other factors, and I am concerned that Schwab is incapable of dealing with this effectively. Young midfielders will not improve when they are constantly being dragged from the ground for long spells and dropped back to Box Hill after a subpar showing. Young players become better footballers through exposure to champion players and players like Hodge, Mitchell, Johnson, Ries, Greene & Ladson need to be given ample spells for the remainder of the season to be able to progress. This will result in defeats and may even cost a finals position, but it needs to be done for the future good and I don't think Schwab will do these hard yards as he is too concerned (justifiably) with saving his own arse. A loss to Essendon this weekend would effectively bottom out the club and I don't think it is in the position where it can afford to merely drift for the remainder of the year. The Hawk board isn't known for its savagery, but perhaps the time has come for some full-on blood letting at Glenferrie... CyberKev
