Essendon v Collingwood

Essendon were disappointing last week going down dismally by 76 points to Carlton to snap a two game winning streak.

Collingwood not only beat Geelong but did it convincingly to the tune of 22 points and now starting to look like genuine contenders for a minor premiership and G.F appearance.

The Ins for Essendon are: Dyson, Slattery, Melksham, Carlisle, Crameri.

Out go: Alwyn Davey (arm), Jason Winderlich (hand), Brent Prismall, Bachar Houli, Dustin Fletcher (hamstring).

The Ins for Collingwood are: Medhurst, Nathan Brown, Blair, Lockyer

Out go: Out: Leon Davis (quad), Luke Ball (hip), Ben Reid (quad), Tyson Goldsack (ankle)

Who will win: The last two recent clashes the Magpies have had the wood over the Bombers with the latest, the ANZAC day encounter being a 65 point demolition.

Since then Collingwood have improved remarkably from being a top four maybe to a genuine contender for the big cup.

Essendon have been up and down one moment looking like giant killers, the next looking more washed up than an 80′s rocker.

Defensively the Magpies are the business and should make light work of the Bomber’s forward line.

Collingwood by 53 points

Carlton v Richmond

Carlton’s ‘draw a line in the sand’ seems to have worked at least last week with a healthy 76 point win over Essendon last round.

Richmond had a struggle on their hands with Melbourne staying close for most of the match, before it ran away from them by 29 points.

Carlton has no changes.

Richmond’s Ins: Collins, Gourdis, Post, O’Reilly

The Outs for the Tigers: Luke McGuane (virus), Will Thursfield , Mitch Farmer (knee), Jeromey  Webberley

Who will win: Quite simply the Blues need to keep on winning to ensure a finals eight finish with a couple of teams breathing down their neck.

Carlton were impressive last week but do have to watch out for a Richmond team capable of an upset.

Carlton by 28 points

Fremantle v Sydney

Fremantle don’t want to admit it but missing just a few key players for them is the difference between winning and losing at the moment.

Their poor record against North Melbourne at Etihad continues with a 54 point loss last round.

Sydney just keep bobbing up with a backs to the wall attitude to surprisingly and soundly beat the in form Hawks by a comfortable 44 point margin.

Fremantle Ins: Clarke, Walters, Schammer

Freo Outs: Jay van Berlo, Rhys Palmer, Justin Bollenhagen

Sydney has no changes.

Who will win: Fremantle look a different team away from home but at fortress Subiaco the Dockers dominate most teams including Sydney.

That saying in recent years the Swans have a better record over Fremantle overall and are coming from a morale boosting win over the Hawks.

Fremantle by 9 points

Western Bulldogs v Geelong

The Bulldogs showed some toughness with a well fought  8 point win over Adelaide in trying conditions.

Geelong seemed to struggle last week getting it into their forward 50, due to a suffocating Magpie defense.

As a result the Pies pulled away in the second half and Geelong were looking at a clean pair of heels going down by 22 points.

Western Bulldog Ins: Murphy, Minson, Higgins, Ward

Bulldog Outs: Adam Cooney (virus), Ben Hudson (virus), Josh Hill, Jarrad Grant (soreness)

Geelong Ins: Hunt, Wojcinski

Geelong Outs: Cameron Ling (hamstring), Harry Taylor (shoulder)

Who will win: A full strength Dog’s outfit would take this match up to it’s limits but something is awry down at Footscray, with a virus bringing down some of their players and nobody wanting to share water bottles.

Secretly the Cats would be seething that they were statistically outplayed in every area by the Magpies last week and would duly like to correct their errors.

Geelong by 37 points

Port Adelaide v West Coast

Port Adelaide’s dream run in recent weeks has come crashing back to earth with a thud, with the Saints spoiling the party thrashing the Power by 94 points.

West Coast will be adding an unwanted wooden spoon to the bottom shelf after a close but no cigar loss to Brisbane by 5 points.

Port Adelaide Ins: Salter, P. Stewart

Power Outs: Mitch Banner, Nathan Krakouer

West Coast Ins: Adam Selwood, Waters, MacKenzie, Wilson, Shuey

West Coast Outs: Matt Priddis (ankle), Ben McKinley , Brett Jones (fractured cheekbone), Mitchell Brown (groin), Lewis Stevenson

Who will win: Port Adelaide looked rejuvenated after the appointment of Matthew Primus as caretaker coach but St Kilda burst that bubble.

West Coast at home can almost pull off a win but their record against the Power in Adelaide is miserable with a loss record that goes all the way back to 1998.

Port Adelaide by 42 points

Brisbane Lions v Adelaide

Brisbane battled hard last week against West Coast and snatched a victory by 5 points, with the help of a straight kick by Jonathan Brown right at the end of the match.

Adelaide were their own worst enemy kicking inaccurately to lose to the Bulldogs by 8 points in the wet conditions.

Brisbane Ins: Collier, Polkinghorne, Johnstone

No Outs for Brisbane.

Adelaide Ins: Sellar, Dangerfield, McKernan, Davis, Young

Adelaide Outs: Jonathon Griffin (ankle), Brodie Martin

Who will win: Not much separates these two teams, Brisbane will be hoping for a win at home for Jonathan Brown‘s 200th game and Adelaide have an okay record at the Gabba.

Adelaide have had some close encounters in recent matches but who can step up for them to be a real match winner?

Brisbane by 7 points

Hawthorn v Melbourne

Hawthorn lowered their colours to Sydney by 44 points last round, as the Swans dictated the clearances early on in the game and the Hawks never really caught up.

Melbourne had a fight on their hand with Richmond with a slender lead at the last change, but finished strongly to win by 29 points last week.

Hawthorn Ins: Skipper, Brown, Hooper, Morton, Whitecross, Peterson

Hawthorn Outs: Clinton Young (soreness), Simon Taylor, Matt Suckling

Melbourne Ins: Miller, Warnock, Morton

Melbourne has no Outs.

Who will win: Head to head in recent years there has not been much in it with the Dees winning an earlier encounter this year and the Hawks winning in 2009.

Hawthorn look to be stumbling over the line as finals beckon and Melbourne need to win to keep their finals chances alive.

The Hawks will be relying on experience to prevail but the Dees are very talented and have every chance here.

Hawthorn by 3 points

North Melbourne v St Kilda

North Melbourne have been pinch hitting some wins with their latest, coming in the form of a solid 54 point victory over Fremantle in round 19.

St Kilda smashed their way into form with a healthy 94 points over Port Adelaide last week and will be hoping that they can replicate the same this game.

North Melbourne Ins: Hale, Campbell, Warren, White

North Melbourne Outs: Jamie MacMillan (calf)

St Kilda Ins: Pattison, Miles, Steven, Stanley

St Kilda Outs: Michael Gardiner (hamstring)

Who will win: North Melbourne will be hungry to win to keep their final eight hopes alive and could get the jump on the Saints early.

St Kilda will take a lot of confidence from their latest victory and what was promising was the fact the Saints’ forwards were able to kick a healthy score.

If they can repeat a similar performance up forward, the Kangas will be left in their wake.

St Kilda by 45 points