Ablett injured, Geelong & St Kilda undefeated and two games ahead of the nearest club after six rounds while the Bulldogs, Port, Hawks, Collingwood & Carlton imo just provide the numbers.

Aaron Edwards provided a target up forward but surely they need another forward & not just a spare ruckman

Collingwood defeated Kangaroos by 52 points

Collingwood bounced back well from their shock loss in round 5 with a dominate 8 goal second quarter and then restricted the kangaroos to 4 goals in the 2nd half.

Problem with the Kangaroos is the fact that their forward line is very hit and miss and while Edwards kicked 4 and McIntosh 2, no one else managed more than two. Surely it must be time for Robbie Tarrent to get a game and to build the team around a forward line of Tarrent, Edwards (only 25) & Hale with small forwards of Thomas & Campbell.

Hawthorn defeated Carlton by 4 points

This game was touted by many the champs verses the contenders and Carlton or Hawthorn did not disappoint with Carlton never giving up with Fevola kicking 8 along with Judd providing great drive through the middle. Buddy again was kept quite but that just meant that Roughead was allowed to kick 8 as Carlton still lack a few quality backmen to cover both Buddy & Roughead.

While Fevola kicked 8, his wayward kicking again came to ruin their chances as they had the last 3 scores/ all behinds including a poster by Fevola 20m out. All of a sudden both Carlton & Hawthorn are 3-3 but both seem shaky and improvement is needed for them to get into the top four with noth Geelong & St Kilda only getting better.

Fremantle defeated West Coast by 13 points

West Coast’s pressure/ forward line & overall game was brilliant for the first half but with wayward kicking (2.7 in the second quarter) meant that Fremantle where still in the contest and on the back of Halesby (BOG), Schammer (11 disposals in 3rd Quarter), Sandilands (2 goals) & their best game ever from Duffield & Hill they ended up kicking away and won.

West Coast will not be happy, they had their chances with 20 behinds, including many that where kickable. Forwards Hansen, Staker & Lynch again did  not perform and I think its time to bring in Kennedy (ex-top 4 pick) and let him make CHF his own.

Brisbane defeated Essendon by 43 points

Its amazing what a week can do for teams. Essendon where on a super high with a 3 goal in the last 3 minute win against Collingwood and Brisbane where given a football lesson by Geelong.

This week Essendon where given a lesson as Brisbane easily defeated Essendon who seemed flat & uninterested. Ryder was beaten by Breanen & Clarke & Lloyd looked old and Lazy and Lucas could not catch a cold. Even with a some-what quite night, Bradshaw kicked 4 with Brown the BOG with 5 goals. Selwood & Power provided good run and helped answer the small forwards worry with 4 between them.

Salopek has stepped up this year to show why he was a high draft pick a few years ago

Port Adelaide defeated Adelaide by 26 points

Last week Adelaide where average but won against bottom side Melbourne but this time against a possible top four side in Port Adelaide they never looked a chance. Adelaide’s forward chances rest on Porplyzia who always provide a good target but its time for their other forwards to step up along with some of the senior players who tend to be struggling already.

Which team is the real Port Adelaide? The won who has four wins or the one who struggled against St Kilda & humbled against a bottom 8 side in West Coast? Problem with their forward line is that it is very up and down like their form.

Sydney defeated Richmond by 19 points

This game was of interest mainly because of a Canadian who played his first real AFL game and from reports did not look out of place with cleaver taps and strong marks. While Lloyd kicked his 900th goal, Richardson also kicked his 800th with a loss and his groin injury seemed to get worse. Why would they play him injured? Seems bad coaching to me.

Sydney look so much better with O’Loughlin & Hall in their forward line but surely these old farts are on their last legs and continueing to rely on them is not smart. Or is coach Roo’s going to jump ship at the end of the season and let a new coach take the pressure of blooding a new forward line?

Geelong defeated Melbourne by 43 points

Melbourne played very well and if the game was only played for 20 odd minutes they could have won but alas for the Demons and Stynes (who is doing a great job) the game is played for 120 odd minutes and their young bodies just could not keep up. Davey, Robertson, Mooney & Petterd all showed glimpses and if they can get Bleese & Watts playing im sure their is light at the end of the tunnel.

Geelong where again wayward (like a lot of other clubs) and while it did not affect this game, it surely is an issue. Mooney & Hawkins can mark, play but they cannot kick. Hawkins looks absotly rubbish in front of goal and cannot kick a behind 20m out on a slight angle. All of their forwards except Rooke have an accuraccy rate less than 60% which surely is an issue.

St Kilda defeated Western Bulldogs by 28 points

3 losses in a row is a bad sign for the Bulldogs who really are struggling to find a forward focus with Johnson not kicking anything and Higgins playing up in the midfield more and more. Williams is out injured yet again and Grant, Roughead (jnr) & others are just too skinny and inexperienced to provide a consitent forward target. Do they blood them or do they continue to let them play in the VFL?

St Kilda along with Geelong have now opened up a two game lead only 6 games into the season. Riewoldt is finding great form with another four goals and Kosi/ Gardiner continue to get better with every game they stay injured free from.

Top 8 Ladder after Round Six

1. St Kilda
2. Geelong
3. Port Adelaide
4. Carlton
5. Collingwood
6. Western Bulldogs
7. Sydney
8. Hawthorn

Round Six Talking Points

Please give us your thoughts in the comments section below or add your own round 6 talking points. The questions will asked in bold and my response will be un-bolded under them.

Brownlow betting & DreamTeamers are now all making Ablett jnr's groin the most watched in the AFL.

1. Is injury the only thing that can stop Gary Ablett? & will is keep him out for longer than a week and cost him yet another Brownlow?
   • I am sure everyone who has money on him for the Brownlow & if he is in your DreamTeam was worried. I think injury and playing 3 players on him (like what Melbourne did) is about the only way.
     
2. Which teams can provide the most challenge to St Kilda & Geelong who are two games ahead after only 6 rounds?
   • Carlton has too much of a weak defense, Collingwood loose to many unloose-able games (Sorry Malthouse but no one believes you) & Bulldogs have a weak forward line. I would say only Hawthorn is the real chance but I think their weak defense (How come Boyle does not get a game?) is a worry especially when they have to put Hodge, Campbell & Mitchell to strengthen it up.
3. Do Essendon continue with Neagle (who has yet to prove himself) or stick with Lucas?
   • Lucas is finished, Essendon gave up kicking it to him on the weekend. So would Neagle provided a better more confident target? I doubt it as he looks average to me but so does Lucas.
4. After six rounds and Hill’s best game of his life so far. Can we say that Freo did pick the right WA player?
   • Rich is a ready made player and this argument will continue for the rest of their playing career especially that Hill looks a Peter Matera type of player and Hill like a Voss/ Halesby type of player. However Hill’s game against the Eagles was amazing, his run in the 2nd & 3rd quarters helped them get back in the game and I am thinking he may now be favourite to be this years Rising Star.
5. Is Dean Cox playing DreamTeam football & not making himself dangerous by kicking goals and providing a target up forward?
   • Dean Cox again got over 100 DreamTeam points while Sandilands only got 80 odd but Sandilands going forward, kicking the sealer and having two by the end of the game imo meant he won the battle between the two. IMO he also got beaten when playing against Gardiner (who kicked 2) earlier on in the year. The Eagles needed him to kick goals and provide a marking target up forward but failed.
     
6. Grant Thomas applogising? Now is he the one pulling out of a contest and being weak?
   • I am no Thomas fan, I think he is dull/ annoying and a waste of space as a coach & ‘expert commentator’ however I do agree he was spot on with his call on Fraser who again was defeated by McIntosh this weekend and is soft. However him pulling out of the contest and apologising is just as weak and insipid imo.

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