C
CyberKev
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Maybe its just me, but it seems as if the LWOS board has slowed-up a tad recently. This can't be a good thing for the board, but on the plus side this little weekly thread no longer looks so glaringly little. My tipping has crashed so spectacularly that I'm no longer even keeping score, but for what its worth, here's the oil for round 9...
<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align=left bgcolor=#f7f0de colspan=2><span>FRIDAY MAY 23</span></td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Essendonvs Port Adelaide </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Telstra Dome<span>7:40 PM AEST</span> <span>Essendon rebounded well last week, but there are obvious questions about the state of the opposition they were up against, and the Bombers will struggle to maintain form for a lengthy period minus the key players they are missing. Port invariably plays well against Essendon at any time, and while the Power has not reached the giddy heights of last season on the paddock, they are still a formidable opponent. The Power has also shown itself to be quite adept at winning in Melbourne in recent years and should be able to win comfortably here. I suspect that the Bomber forwards will struggle to kick 10+ goals (particularly if Cupido is held) and the red & blacks lack the pace to go with the Power runners all night. Power by 44 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr> <td align=left bgcolor=#f7f0de colspan=2><span>SATURDAY MAY 24</span></td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Carltonvs Brisbane Lions </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Optus Oval<span>2:10 PM AEST</span> <span>Carlton has moved up one place on the ladder to 13th and already confidence is booming. On other forums there has been discussion about the Blues making the eight if they can get over Brisbane here. This isn't so much a case of putting the cart before the horse as it is about overlooking the fact that the horse is missing altogether. Carlton is battling bravely, but Brisbane is several classes above it as a football side and will not drop this one when it is keen to get wins up in Melbourne and preserve its spot at the head of the table. Some good players coming back for the Lions and while its defence has been criticised at times this year, it is hard to see the impotent Carlton forward line exploiting it here. Too much skill across the park and too many guns in the midfield makes this equation a simple one to answer. Lions by 50 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Melbournevs Fremantle </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Melbourne Cricket Ground<span>2:10 PM AEST</span> <span>For mine, Fremantle is the most interesting side in the competition, as it has the talent to do anything, but always carries with it the likelihood of doing stuff all. Chris Connolly will be obsessed about winning a second consecutive match in Melbourne and the Demons indifferent form this season suggests that this is a distinct possibility. I do feel that Melbourne has steadied a tad, however, and should be able to get over the still fragile Dockers provided they maintain a solid workrate. The Demons will need to win more ball from the middle, or they will leave their brittle defence wide open to the tall marking Freo forwards. Freo is good enough to win, but gut feeling and home advantage is leaning me toward Melbourne here... Demons by 10 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Collingwoodvs St Kilda </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Telstra Dome<span>7:10 PM AEST</span> <span>When these sides last met late last year it was something of a thriller with the Pies sneaking home, largely on the back of St Kilda's inability to punish them up forward. The Saints have a solid core of talent beginning to bubble and are capable of more than Collingwood when totally switched on. The Pies are still the more stable option though and will win if Tarrant & Rocca decide to have one of their days on. Expect the Pies to grind away at the opposition in their usual fashion, which should be enough to get over a young Saints side that remains vulnerable to sides willing to play considered and patient football. Magpies by 15 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>West Coastvs Richmond </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Subiaco<span>7:40 PM AEST</span> <span>I never thought I'd be tipping against the Eagles at home this season, particularly not when they've been playing such resolute football. I'm going to though, as I think the Tigers can expose the Eagles in the midfield, provided Johnson & Coughlan display the touch they've been showing all season. The Eagoles have won ball from the middle too, but I don't think they're as capable with the hard in and under stuff and the Tigers have been good this season at reducing things to the lowest common denominator. This will be a huge scalp for the Tigers and I feel that they have a workrate and self belief that can get them across the line. Tigers by 16 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr> <td align=left bgcolor=#f7f0de colspan=2><span>SUNDAY MAY 25</span></td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Kangaroosvs Sydney </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Manuka<span>12:30 PM AEST</span> <span>I've been more impressed by the Swans than the Roos this season, but the Latter side is still a hard nut to crack when playing in Canberra. Roos star Glen Archer has already started the gee-up process by declaring his side soft and you can expect the red & whites to cop some physical stuff early in response to this. I also think that the sequence of Swans wins (largely unexpected) may brook enough lethargy and self-satisfaction in the Sydney unit to leave it vulnerable here. The roos will run it hard and with a supportive crowd behind it should be too tough when the games there to be won. Kangaroos by 12 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Geelongvs Hawthorn </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Telstra Dome<span>2:10 PM AEST</span> Geelong is in all sorts of trouble... Its membership levels remain anaemic, its still carrying debt, its only won 1 from 8 this year, its only won 1 from 8 in its recent games against Hawthorn, it lacks depth of talent and experience in a big way, oh woe, oh woe... Cats by 24 pts</td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
</td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Adelaidevs Western Bulldogs </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> AAMI Stadium<span>3:10 PM AEST</span> <span>When you speak of the Bulldogs you can pretty much regurgitate the above comments about Geelong. Alas there will be no smiles on the Hound dials this Sunday, with the side seemingly certain to be easily beaten by the Crows. Adelaide is not quite as good a side as the media would have you believe. It lacks a killer punch, has key defensive flaws and looks worryingly lazy at times. This being said, it can have all of these weaknesses and then some without being in danger of losing to battlers like Western. The Bulldogs are a genuine spoon challenger and will already be counting down the days remaining until season's end. I suggest that the Dog fans give this one away early and save themselves for the Hawthorn game the following week, which brings far more potential for joy. Adelaide by 60 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
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CyberKev
<table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align=left bgcolor=#f7f0de colspan=2><span>FRIDAY MAY 23</span></td></tr> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td align=left><span>Essendonvs Port Adelaide </span></td> <tr bgcolor=#f7f0de> <td colspan=2> Telstra Dome<span>7:40 PM AEST</span> <span>Essendon rebounded well last week, but there are obvious questions about the state of the opposition they were up against, and the Bombers will struggle to maintain form for a lengthy period minus the key players they are missing. Port invariably plays well against Essendon at any time, and while the Power has not reached the giddy heights of last season on the paddock, they are still a formidable opponent. The Power has also shown itself to be quite adept at winning in Melbourne in recent years and should be able to win comfortably here. I suspect that the Bomber forwards will struggle to kick 10+ goals (particularly if Cupido is held) and the red & blacks lack the pace to go with the Power runners all night. Power by 44 pts</span></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=2>
CyberKev
