Fremantle v Hawthorn

Fremantle at the moment are on a red hot roll with 3 wins in a row. Beating Carlton last week had nothing to do with where the game was played. The Dockers traveled further than the Blues and still came away with a win.

The Dockers are a real chance of beating the Hawks who have been sluggish this year and look likely not to back up this year with last year’s premiership. Aaron Sandilands continues his dominance in the ruck and will be hard to match up for the Hawks. Paul Haselby has also recaptured the form of his early years and about time I say.

The youngsters for the Dockers led by Stephen Hill have played out of their skins this year already and hopefully can continue to contribute.

Hawthorn really need to start stepping it up a gear after last week’s lost to the Bombers. The Hawks were competitive at times but were over run by the young Essendon team and were fairly inaccurate in front of goals. Buddy Franklin bagged 5 but his other team mates need to lift especially in the defensive 50 if they are a chance.

Fremantle are a real chance to win, which means they will probably lose…but hey I’m tipping them to win.

Paddy Ryder with a classic speccy

Fremantle by 15 points.

Melbourne v Bulldogs

Melbourne traveled to Perth last week and nearly ground out a win. Its good to see that the Demons are still competitive at the contest even though they lack the finishing skills of most teams above them. Brad Miller and Cameron Bruce are just some of the more experienced players that have been stepping up and 1st year players like Jamie Bennell have been good contributers.

The Western Bulldogs are coming off a strong win against Adelaide after being missing in action since their road trips out west more than a month back. It was good to see Adam Cooney dominate and Jason Akermanis chip in with goals in surely what will be his last year of AFL football.

Brad Johnson just keeps on kicking on with a 27 disposal game last week and is one veteran who just puts his head down and goes about his business without much funfare.

I think Melbourne are a real chance here and the game will be close at times.  The Bulldogs need to find that spark to lift but if they can’t the Demons will be all over them.

Western Bulldogs by 24 points.

Geelong v North Melbourne

Geelong had another compromising win over the Sydney Swans last week and they are certainly a class above most of the other 15 teams in the AFL. It will be interesting to see their clash against the Saints if things continue how they are. But now to the game at hand.

The problem is with Geelong is when one star player is down another one just lifts in his absence. With Garry Ablett out the Cats looked vulnerable but up pops Stevie Johnson who can pull rabbits out of hats and goals out of thin air. With young ‘Tomahawk’ Hawkins chipping in with a few goals, the Geelong team don’t look so vulnerable attacking. The Cat’s defensive is stronger than The Iron Curtain and harder than a nut to crack.

North Melbourne notched up a win against Port by 5 points but against the Port Power as opponents in a win I don’t rate highly. Daniel Wells finally got his act together after hip injuries/mental weakness holding him back and had his best game in ages.

But I thing Geelong will lay out the Red Carpet down at Skilled Stadium and give the Kangaroos a 1st class thrashing.

Geelong by 54 points.

Brisbane v Adelaide

Brisbane held on to beat Richmond Tigers last week to over run them after the Tigers looked the more competitive team for the first half. Big Jonathan Brown looked unstoppable up front and when the game was there to be won Luke Power and Simon Black showed poise and experience counted for everything with their consistent efforts.

Brisbane still haven’t convinced me with this win but for Adelaide fans it must be alarmingly to see their predictable gameplan unravel time after time. Coach Neil Craig made the comments that he is effectively going to change the way the Crows play football after 7 rounds down and a full pre season with the one strategy. This is either going to be a master stroke of genius from the tactician or Craig will have more egg on his face.

Brisbane by 16 points

Sydney v West Coast

Sydney may have lost last week to Geelong at the Cattery but really who hasn’t. They were still plugging away like they do but Barry Hall really needs to step it up this week after a laconic effort last week. And for Sydney to win they need to kick goals. Sydney do have a good record at ANZ Stadium and especially against West Coast.

The West Coast Eagles were far from convincing last week with a nail biting win at home against cellar dwellers Melbourne. The Eagles do have a lot of youngsters that they continue to blood but their lapses in defense are inexcusable. The experience of Sydney’s team could be their downfall.

Sydney by 24 points.

Port Adelaide v Richmond

Port Adelaide are playing at home and should get over the line in this match. Losing two experienced players in Salopek and Kane Cornes will not help their cause but they were competitive last week against the Kangaroos who are a much better side than Richmond at the moment.

Terry Wallace is feeling like a coach under siege and the vultures are circling for his head. But the Tigers did show promise last week. Ben Cousins looked solid and at times looked like vintage Benny. But Joel Bowden truly had the worst 20+ possession game I have ever seen from a footballer in the history of the AFL.

Port Adelaide by 36 points

Collingwood v Carlton

Collingwood choked last week quite simply. The Saints did out play them in every area and they had a few key players out, but to lose by 88 points on a Monday night game shows they can’t play well when the heat is on.

Under Mick Malthouse the Magpie’s direction is sideways, backwards but never straight and forward, which usually from my little knowledge of the game-are where the goal posts are situated.

Carlton should of beat the Dockers last week but their immaturity shows they are not ready for a premiership, not until Fevola graduates from Pre school and grows up. The fact that the Blues heirachy are willing to put up with such behaviour shows they lack depth up forward and are too dependent on Brendon Fevola.

Collingwood would be stewing over their Monday night embarrassment and should pull a win out.

Collingwood by 18 points.

ST Kilda v Essendon

The Saints last round looked unbelievably brilliant in their thumping of the Magpies on Monday night. The Saints just had an even contribution from all areas. Michael Gardner like his mate Benny Cousins, looks to have found his spark again. Leigh Montagna had to be hospitalized with leather poisoning and the small forwards Schneider and Milne had a field day in front of the posts.

The Bombers really impressed me last week with their direct attacking win over the Hawks. Patty Ryder just keeps getting better and will be a really quality tall man for the Bombers in years to come. Lloyd and Lovett-Murray were solid in front of the sticks for Essendon with 3 a piece and at the very least the Bombers will be competitive against the Saints.

The quality of the St Kilda team should see them prevail.

St Kilda by 36 points.

Your Round Eight Tips & Observations

So what your tips for the eighth weekend of AFL in 2009? Please post them below in the comments section along with any other observations about round eight you may have.

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