Collingwood v Geelong Cats

1st vs 2nd and an anticipated match for many an AFL fan, as this will be a real indicator of how far Collingwood have improved and whether they can challenge a Geelong team that almost seems bored with regular season football.

Collingwood turned it on in the 3rd quarter – ‘the championship quarter’ against the highly fancied Fremantle Dockers last week.

While the Dockers copped some criticism for self capitulating, we forget that Micky Malthouse has been molding this current Pies team over some years now.

When you look at the Collingwood lineup this weekend a lot of the players are still young but have benefited from a few seasons under their belt ( Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas) to name but a few.

Travis Cloke has seemingly found his radar kicking 5 goals last week and if he can team up with the promising Chris Dawes, any team will find their forward line a handful.

What impressed me with the Magpies last week was their defensive pressure around the ball carrier.

They laid 93 tackles ( 26 more than Fremantle ) and are ranked 2nd in the league for total tackles in the AFL.

And they will need it against the Geelong team that ravaged the Brisbane Lions up at the GABBA last week by 81 points.

The Cats seem to be firing on all cylinders with the usual suspects Paul Chapman (34 touches), Jimmy Bartel (32), Joel Selwood (32) and Gary Ablett (31) given more space to roam than a bunch of free range chooks.

The silky delivery the Cat’s midfielders supply their forwards with makes it easier for Geelong to function predominantly with a small forward set up.

Collingwood need to contain the Cat’s midfield and need more consistency out of players like Didak and Davis to play big games on the big stage more often.

Geelong just look too irresistible at the moment.

Geelong by 22 points

North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs

North Melbourne have been plugging away and only just sit outside the top eight after a well fought win against Adelaide last week.

Brent Harvey is in vintage touch and just keeps motoring along contributing 3 goals and 24 disposals, but overall the Kangaroos were sporadic and an Adelaide fightback in the last quarter almost undid all their hard work.

The Bulldogs have cleaned out the cobwebs against Sydney last week, putting in a solid performance to win by 38 points.

The win pushed Rodney Eade‘s men into the top four now with 5 wins and 3 losses and such an even spread of performers would of pleased the coach.

Daniel Cross is having an outstanding season and backed it up with another dominating display ( 32 disposals ), Barry Hall bagged 5 goals to add to his impressive total so far and even Brian Lake crept up forward with a couple of goals of his own.

Ryan Griffen has been named in the team to further bolster the strength of a Western Bulldogs team that is slowly getting it together.

The Roos have fought above their belt before but with too many plugs to fill from a very even Bulldogs team, it might just spread the Shinboners too thin.

Western Bulldogs by 46 points

Sydney Swans v Fremantle

Sydney would be disappointed with their performance against the Bulldogs last week.

The withdraw of Daniel Bradshaw last week just shows how much they need the key forward to be fit if they are to bee a competitive unit.

Luckily for them he has been named in the team this week to take on a Dockers side, that would be looking to bounce back after a disappointing week on and off the field.

The loss of Luke McPharlin and Greg Broughton to injury and suspension of Michael Johnson will hurt a Fremantle team looking to forge a win against the Swans at the SCG.

With the announcement that it will be Brett Kirk‘s last season of AFL this week, the Swans will be fired up for this important clash.

If the Dockers can win at the SCG it will show just how far the Dockers have come in recent seasons.

Without Seaby and Mumford in the ruck for the Swans, Fremantle have a huge advantage with Aaron Sandilands imposing his huge frame on the game.

Still Sydney are not a team you can write off easily…

Sydney by 13 points

Essendon v Richmond

Dreamtime at the G sees the Tigers take on the Bombers and this clash could be a lot closer than most people would anticipated.

Richmond got so close to a win they could smell it cooking in the kitchen but the Hawks just got away from them by 3 points, and no doubt the Tigers will be hungry for a win this week.

Jack Riewoldt led the way with 4 goals and Daniel Jackson did an admiral job on Sam Mitchell, collecting 31 possessions and winning a number of clearances.

The Tiges will be missing Jackson due to suspension but have a habit of stepping up against Essendon, winning last time they met by 5 points and have a 7 win 2 loss record against the Dons from the last 9 clashes.

The Bombers had a terrific win over St Kilda last week by two straight kicks and will take a great deal of confidence going into this weekend.

The big men stood tall for the Bombers with both David Hille (4 goals) and Paddy Ryder (3 goals) leading the way up front and using their height around the ground.

The Bombers have shown they can match the intensity of rival top eight teams but need to look at stringing together wins, meanwhile the Tigers might have the hunger but despite this their skills let them down.

Essendon by 32 points

Melbourne v Port Adelaide

Melbourne have been the great improver this year but were disappointing against West Coast last week losing by 29 points.

For a team that gets within a slither of beating Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, the Dees should of made light work of West Coast last week.

It might be too much to ask too soon but Dean Bayley needs to find a way in which Melbourne can bring the same intensity from the bigger matches, to the ones they are now expected to win.

But the Demons are still generally a young team and asking them to back it up week in- week out just might be taking its toll.

Port Adelaide are looking to rebound from a last quarter fadeout that cost them the game against Carlton last week.

Part of the Power’s success has been their even spread of contributers in attack but they need to concentrate on finishing strongly.

Kane Cornes had a tidy game adding 27 possessions to a defensive job well done on Mark Murphy, and the rest of the team could take a leaf out of his book on how to keep a tight leash on the opposition.

It should be an interesting match with the game being played up in the Northern Territory, which makes it a more even playing field for the Port Boys who have a lot more experience playing in the top end.

The Demons would have been a favourite for a win if the game was at the MCG but with trying conditions up north, it could just tip the game in the Power’s favour.

Port Adelaide by 9 points

Adelaide v Brisbane Lions

Adelaide showed a bit of fight in last week’s loss but it was too little- too late as they went down by 9 points against the Kangaroos.

To rub a bit bit of salt into the wounds the club imposes suspensions on a trio of players ( Bernie Vince, Matthew Jaensch and Graham Johncock ) to further deplete the playing stock that Neil Craig has to choose from.

The writing may be on the wall for the coaching staff at Adelaide, and they would have to fancy themselves of a chance against a down and out Brisbane team.

Brisbane have now lost 4 games in a row and it doesn’t help that their two important forwards Brendon Fevola and Jonathan Brown are carrying injuries.

Playing an unfit Fevola is about as useful as applying a band-aid to a broken leg and there are concerns that the GABBA’s surface might have contributed to his and other Lion’s injuries.

Andrew Demetriou and the AFL do a great impersonation of an ostrich when it comes to the trickier issues, so don’t expect much to come of these concerns.

An 81 point hiding by Geelong last week should be enough to ensure Brisbane come out firing this week and have a rare win in Radelaide.

Brisbane by 16 points

Carlton v Hawthorn

Carlton finished strongly last week against Port Adelaide to come from behind to win by 26 points, and a strong last quater is characteristic of how the Blues have been playing their football this past month.

Winning 5 of their last 6 games with huge wins against Geelong and St Kilda, must bolster the belief that the Blues are starting to find the consistency needed to make a serious challenge this year.

Setanta O’hAilpin (3 goals) is improving every week and providing a much needed target up forward and the Blue’s midfield is starting to come together led by skipper Chris Judd.

Hawthorn just scrapped through for a win against Richmond last week to win by 3 points.

A hard fought win against cellar dwellers Richmond is nothing to boast about, but at least the Hawks fans would of been pleased by Shaun Burgoyne‘s solid debut for his new club.

The difference between the Blues and Hawks at the moment is night and day, with Carlton building on every win while Hawthorn can barely register 4 points.

The Blues should easily account for the Hawks.

Carlton by 42 points

West Coast v St Kilda

West Coast will be full of beans after pulling off an upset win against Melbourne last week at the MCG.

Its been a long time between drinks since West Coast have won at the MCG ( 3 years ) and now the Eagles have strung 2 wins in a row and face a struggling St Kilda side at home.

But the wins have been against Hawthorn and Melbourne and skill wise haven’t set the world ablaze with these examples.

The Eagles will be missing their skipper Darren Glass which is a big blow considering he adds a lot of experience in defense against a Saints side out to make amends.

The Saints now have lost 2 in a row ( Carlton, Essendon ) and now will be desperate to recapture some form that they had earlier in the year.

In terms of last week’s loss against the Dons there really wasn’t much in it statistically and coach Ross Lyon knows they just have to be more efficient with their ball use.

The Eagles are a much better side at home but don’t let that cloud your judgement that overall the Saints are a more developed and established team than the Eagles.

St Kilda by 21 points

Your Round 9 Tips & Observations

So what are your tips & observations for round 9 of the 2010 AFL season? Do you agree with Johnnytruent? If yes or no please post your tips and observations about the round in the comments section.

We will keep a running tally of the tips throughout the year, so make sure you get your tips in on time & you never know there could be a prize for the winner. If you have not added your tips yet that is ok, please feel free to add them and what your ongoing tally is.

1) the_Tony: 47
2) Geaghs: 46
3) Johnnytruent: 42
4) craig eyles: 42
5) Mike: 41
6) Jermayn: 41
7) Princess of the Cats: 41
8 ) Martynkai: 38