Odds taken from www.centrebet.com

Single bets as follows:

Melbourne to defeat Brisbane @ 2.05

Hawthorn to defeat Port Adelaide @ 1.33

The reasoning:

After the 73 point drubbing Melbourne handed out to an understrength Sydney the Dees head north to take on Brisbane at the GABBA. The Lions den was a fortress early in the season but they spectacularly collapsed on the back of injuries to skipper Jonathan Brown, Josh Drummond, Jarrod Brennan and  Brandon Fevola. Despite the return of three of these key players the Lions look to have given up on season 2010 and will instead be looking to improve in 2011.

Champion player Luke Hodge provides a much needed link in the Hawks defence

The Demons on the other hand are still an outside chance to make the finals for the first time since 2006. With plenty of youth in the side the demons should have the legs to run the Lions off their feet and move the ball quickly. Stalwarts  Colin Sylvia, Brad Green and Cameron Bruce are all in excellent form and with the younger generation including James Frawley, Jordie McKenzie and Cale Morton all playing accountable footy I think the Demons might sneak home by 2 or 3 goals.

After last weeks draw the Hawks will be looking for another win to add to their solid track record over the last two months. With the teams leaders in Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Brad Sewell contributing and recruit Shaun Burgoyne seamlessly slipping into the midfield the Hawks look to be decent premiership contenders come September. If Lance Franklin can play disciplined footy and do what he does best by kicking a bag the Hawks can take alot out of this game and provided added incentive to have a crack at the top 4.
Port Adelaide played well last week in the SA showdown but have lost 4 out of their last 5 games and have a 3-5 record playing at home this season. Domenic Cassisi, Kane Cornes, Troy Chaplin and Travis Boak all got plenty of the ball last week but I can’t see them playing as well as they did in the showdown. The retirement of hard man Josh Carr is also an advantage for the Hawks who tend to play a tough game of football. The Hawks should win here by 4 or more goals and should do so comfortably, stitching the game up by half time.

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