Semi Finals time and this week sees some interesting and hopefully excitingly close games of footy.

Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions

This match could be billed as the “Key Forwards vs Even Spread Goalkickers” game.

Last week the teams that finished higher on the ladder won and that’s a simple and easy theory to stick by.

Can the Bulldogs play at their best this week to overcome the Lions?

Geelong were better than the Bulldogs last week but the boys from the western suburbs wasted a few opportunities that could of fast-tracked them to a G.F.

Meanwhile Carlton capitulated after a 30 point lead to the Lions in the last quarter!

Did the Blues lose or did Brisbane step it up when it counted?

Well its a little of the former and the latter. The Blues seemed to panic and for the Lions the twin towers (Bradshaw and Brown) took control and Daniel Rich accurately booted the pigskin off the Sherrin.

The Bulldogs have a very settled side and coach Rodney will have certainly put a ‘rocket’ up a few of them after a wasteful game last week.

But hey in the end it was only a 14 point loss.

The in for the Doggies is Tim Callan and talented forward Josh Hill misses out.

For the Lions there are injury clouds over a few players and Jed Adcock, Tim Notting and Josh Drummond have been named to come into the squad but whether they play is another question.

Joel McDonald is listed as an emergency.

There’s a lot of talk from one eyed Doggie supporters about no need for a key forward with such an evenness of talented running goal kickers in the side.

And really with that style of game-plan it leaves little room for error, so players like Akermanis and Cooney have to nail the certainties and others that have been quiet lately like Daniel Giansiracusa need to chip in with a few.

For Brisbane their reliability on both Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw to fire is almost boringly predictable but its up to players like Brennan, Sherman and Notting to step up an kick a bag.

Enough of the talk, its time to walk the walk for the Doggies.

Will they win this game? Yes…..Will they win this year’s premiership?……That I’m not so sure about.

Western Bulldogs by 21 points

Collingwood v Adelaide

The Magpies aren’t exactly thrilled that they finished above Adelaide and ended up with a shorter break between games…..and they may be onto something for once.

But lets not forget they only travel once every four years (leap year) and actually had a second chance finishing top 4.

Last week’s 28 point loss to St Kilda was the Magpies at their worst. The Saints weren’t playing great football but Collingwood’s effort was terrible.

They are better than that and quite a few of their key players were M.I.A.

And Micky’s experiment with playing pensioner Anthony Rocca didn’t go quite to plan.

Malthouse would be smarting over a lost chance to advance and Neon Leon Davis, Dane Swan and Medhurst need to find the leather if the Magpies are to win.

Adelaide totally outplayed a ruck-less Essendon team who should get a nomination for Best Supporting Role, for their lacklustre performance that only help to boost the Crow’s confidence.

When Neil Craig was reassessing his team’s play after a ordinary few rounds at the start of the season he said he was going to completely change their game-plan…and it seemed like Craig could of been losing the plot.

Leon Davis needs to fire if the Magpies are to win.

But in the space of a season, Adelaide have gone from playing some of the most dull, predictable football to being an absolute high scoring, exciting team.

The forward line of Knights, Hentschel, Vince, the Porpoise, Tippett and Burton gets a big mention and rightly so.

But it is the slick rebounding from defense by McLeod, Johncock, Stevens and Doughty that gives the Crows’ Forwards a quick one out marking opportunity.

The ins for the Crows are Robert Shirley and out goes Ricardo Douglas.

For the Magpies in come Dick, Goldsack, Macaffer, Wellingham and Wood while out go Dayne Beams, Josh Fraser, Scott Pendlebury and Anthony Rocca (injuries) while John McCaarthy just misses out.

Last time these two teams met Collingwood beat the Crows convincingly in round 19 – but now cue to the present and with a few injuries to key players and sub par performances the Magpies don’t look so red hot anymore.

Adelaide did beat an easier opponent last week but have been upping the ante of late.

I smell an upset.

Adelaide by 13 points

Your AFL Semi-Finals Tips & Observations

So what are your tips & observations for the Semi-Finals of  2009? Do you agree with Johnny? if yes or no please post your tips and observations about the second week of finals in the comments section.

We include the total correct tips of the Kick2Kick writers & readers, so here they are (updated every week). If your doing better than any of us, let us know and include your own finals correct tip score.

1. Martynkai: 4
2. Geoff: 3
3. Craig: 3
4. Jermayn: 3
5. JohnnyTruent: 2
6. Deano: 2
7. Mike: 2
8. Princess of the Cats: 2