NORTH MELBOURNE v COLLINGWOOD
Andrew Mcleod returns for the Crows in their Derby
North Melbourne had a spirited win against Port Adelaide last week in South Australia. At their best this season the Kangas have been hard working and disciplined, but I don’t believe they are a top eight side. They rely too much on their aging stars and its time for players like Daniel Wells to finally step up.
Nathan Thompson has been drop while Shannon Grant and Corey Jones will be handy inclusions.
Collingwood have made no changes to the side that soundly defeated Adelaide at the MCG last week. The Magpies on their day can really produce and it helps when you can get the best out of recruits like Paul Medhurst who since leaving the Dockers, looks like a new player.
Collingwood win.
GEELONG v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Geelong are looking solid at the business end of the season with a rough but well fought out win against Fremantle last week. The fall out from that game though, means that both Cameron Ling (Cheekbone) and Gary Ablett (ankle) will be missing in this week’s fixture.
Geelong should have enough cover to compensate for their loss but Ling and Ablett are the type that can produce a win when the game is on the line.
Western Bulldogs are looking fairly settled in second place and this could be match of the round. Obviously beating Melbourne last week was no mean feat but the Bullys look like a refined unit and could push Geelong to their limits. Geelong should prevail though.
Geelong win.
RICHMOND v ESSENDON
Both teams are coming off great high scoring wins and this could be a really competitive game. There is not much between both Richmond and Essendon. The Tigers have made no changes to the side that humiliated West Coast by 77 points. And Essendon have named a similar side that upset Brisbane at the Telstra Dome last week.
This will be a close one but I am tipping the Tigers who impressed me last week. The Bombers can be quite attacking but they lack the defensive discipline that Richmond has.
Richmond win.
BRISBANE LIONS v WEST COAST
Brisbane should win this game against West Coast after their disappointing defeat in Melbourne last week. The Eagles look like they would struggle to complete training drills let alone compete in a game of AFL.
By the looks of some of the ins and outs for West Coast (in: Selwood, MacKenzie, McNamara outs: Jones, Braun) the Eagles are looking to be culling some older players at the end of the year. Woosha and co. must be trying to blood their youngsters in an attempt to see if there is any light at the end of the tunnel.
Brisbane win.
ST KILDA v HAWTHORN
Hawthorn had a comprehensive win against Sydney last week but Buddy’s kicking could be the difference between them winning and losing when playing against stronger opposition. Franklin’s kicking is a perfect analogy for Hawthorn as a team. The Hawks like Buddy’s wayward kicking, are almost there but both are lacking maturity and composure at the moment to take that next step up.
St. Kilda should be where Hawthorn are and have under achieved, or maybe we just over estimate their talents .
Hawthorn win.
CARLTON v SYDNEY SWANS
Sydney are lacking a big quality forward since Barry Hall was last in good form. And with his indefinite suspension, it could be the end of quite a successful partnership Hall and the Swans had at one time.
Carlton also have a ill disciplined but much younger forward in Brendon Fevola. He is coming out of contract at the end of the year and letting every man and his dog know about it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him give out group hugs to the Swans at the end of the game. The Swan’s mascot might even get a kiss.
Sydney should have a much all round game to combat the brilliance of Judd and curb Fevola’s influence up front.
Sydney win.
PORT ADELAIDE v ADELAIDE
This should be a fiery clash. Last time these two teams met it was a pearler of a game with spot fires breaking out everywhere. The Power and Crows have as much love for each other as rival Mafia gangs have.
Both Port and Adelaide have had a shocking month not winning a single game, so this a vital game in more ways than one. Adelaide are going to missing two key forwards in Burton and Porplyzia but in comes McLeod and McGregor, which are valuable contributers.
At the moment, Adelaide have more to play for with a finals berth beckoning. Port have been disappointing this season.
Adelaide win.
FREMANTLE v MELBOURNE
Fremantle should win…but thats a saying we hear too often. It should be their catch cry. It wouldn’t surprise me if Melbourne come up and win, after all the Dockers are more interested in kicking the man in the balls while he is down rather than kicking the ball down.
At least Solomon goes hard but somehow his timing is more off than a misfiring car’s engine. If the Dockers concentrate on winning they should win convincely.
Fremantle win.
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
July 18th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Collingwood - Like you say the Roos (like St Kilda) have too many passengers
Bulldogs - Bulldogs have had some luck this year playing sides who are missing stars and I think their luck will continue.
Richmond - They were indeed impressive against the lowly West Coast last week and should defeat Essendon. Tigers just have too many options up forward.
Brisbane - West Coast will play them into form which will do them some good coming into the run home into finals.
Hawks - St Kilda are improving and this will show just far they still have to go.
Adelaide - Adelaide needs a win. McLoed will help
Freo - But like JT, would not be surprised to see them loose, its just the Freo way
Jermayns last blog post..The Love Guru
July 18th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Cats
Bombers
Brissy Lions
Hawks
Swans
Port
Dockers
July 19th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
It was good to see some of the ‘young’ guns for the Roos excel last night with the duo of Thomas and Campbell as well as Wells playing the best game I have ever seen him play.
and boy was not the Geelong v Bulldogs game a flop? I think them failing especially up forward brings up the old argument about needing a gorilla to kick to up again.
Jermayns last blog post..The Love Guru