REB's Rubbish Round 10
Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 10:29 pmStarting to pick a few more now but still kicking myself for not getting on the Hawks at Tassie, a mistake I won't be repeating any time again this season. Teams that are are donut and plenty can't seem to get over the line as Richmond and Melbourne found out last week and both appeal this week too just quietly. Up to 45 for the year now but still seeking consistency, unfortunately this is probably not the round where tipsters are going to finish with six plus.
Fremantle have a good record against Collingwood at the MCG and with inclement (not the Collingwood defender who won't be playing in this match) weather conditions suiting players such as Bell, Haselby, Josh Carr and Troy Cook they could spring a surprise on a Collingwood unit who might suffer a bit of a let down after a rare win at the Gabba. I have a sneaking suspicion that Chris Tarrant is about to put on a clinic on Prestigiacomo - a Pie fan's nightmare! I can also see Sandilands having a good game in the ruck and key position players Pavlich and McPharlin having the better of their Pie opponents en route to an upset 11 point victory at the G.
Melbourne will open their account against an Adelaide unit that is vulnerable in the rucking division and is embarking on their second consecutive road trip. Melbourne won't win this game because they 'are due', they will win it because White and Johnson can control the centre square and give the Melbourne runners first use of the ball, thus giving Russell Robertson and David Neitz plenty of scoring opportunities with Aaron Davey there to shark the packs. The positives for Adelaide include the return of Mark Rucciuto and McLeod and Edwards will bounce back from a rare quiet one last week. Melbourne to ditch the donut and defeat the road weary Crows by 25 points.
West Coast will bring an abrupt end to the Kangroos winning streak of six, currently the longest in the league so far this season (equaling West Coasts early season salvo). Daniel Chick comes back into the Eagles side to add some grunt while Ashley Hansen is to miss with a finger injury (some unkind souls may suggest that this further adds to the Eagles grunt for this match). West Coast do look down on strength but only the Bulldogs have recorded a victory at Putriaco amongst Victorian clubs since 2002 and the Roos look to be falling over the line at present..something they won't do in WA. West Coast by 20 points.
Brisbane can get their season back on track by defeating the luckless Tigers at the Telstra Dome on Saturday night. Coach Matthews has rung the changes with Brennan and Hooper returning to the side and no doubt the riot act was read in no uncertain terms after an ordinary effort against Collingwood last week. Richmond are tempting here but I'm sticking with my 'don't back the Tigers' policy, they are a bit like the Australian Cricket team of the 1980's at the moment, can get into a winning position but lack that killer instinct. I don't see any large bodies to stop Jonno Brown who must be due a bag at the Dome. Brisbane by 17 points.
Sydney have had some trouble with Essendon in recent seasons but at the SCG they appear the more appealing prospect from a tipping point of view. Bringing in Laycock, Welsh and Bolton in for this match has a 'rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic' feel about it in a match where the Swans have brought back Kennelly and Davis. Once the Swans start winning games they get into a real groove and Essendon haven't been anything close to consistent this season. Sydney by 32 points.
Port have had the wood over the Hawks in recent years and have done so quite easily but it won't be as easy this time round for Choco's boys. Many signs point to a Hawk victory here but writing off the Power at home is just not wise. Port will be stung by its last two efforts and I can see them hitting back hard here. Hawthorn aren't as strong in the ruck as Sydney and Geelong and here is an opportunity for Port to get their running game rolling again. In this match Port will roll up their sleeves and ground out a victory against an opponent that might be on good terms with themselves and be slightly off the boil. Port by 9 points in a real slog.
Western Bulldogs will be the latest side to be pushed but not beaten by the Carlton Blues who simply don't have the midfield rotation depth of its rivals, a factor which could even cause another wooden implment to be delivered to Craptus Oval by the end of the year. Like McLeod and Edwards, Scott West rarely plays two bad ones in a row and he'll get over 30 possessions for all of you dream team fans. The return of Griffen, McMahon and Minson will provide the advantage over a gallant Carlton. Western Bulldogs by 29 points.
Geelong should continue on its winning way against St Kilda at Telstra Dome on Sunday afternoon. This one won't be a flogging, St Kilda have too many good players for that and this game might have been saved from a flooding point of view by the inclusion of six players for St Kilda, mostly in defence with Gram, Hudgton, Thompson and the Clarkes all named. Hopefully, this will lead to an agressive approach from St Kilda but if even half of these guys are underdone then Geelong will get away from them in the end. Geelong also have named a few coming back in Harley and Chapman and have included Hawkins to play under the roof. Geelong by 18 points with St Kilda running out of legs towards the end.
Some real tough ones in there. Kudos to whoever bags eight for this round! I reckon a 2 is posisble! There also seems to be more than a few injured blokes running around at the moment and their ability to run out four quarters is a key factor in selecting winners for the round.
regards,
REB
Fremantle have a good record against Collingwood at the MCG and with inclement (not the Collingwood defender who won't be playing in this match) weather conditions suiting players such as Bell, Haselby, Josh Carr and Troy Cook they could spring a surprise on a Collingwood unit who might suffer a bit of a let down after a rare win at the Gabba. I have a sneaking suspicion that Chris Tarrant is about to put on a clinic on Prestigiacomo - a Pie fan's nightmare! I can also see Sandilands having a good game in the ruck and key position players Pavlich and McPharlin having the better of their Pie opponents en route to an upset 11 point victory at the G.
Melbourne will open their account against an Adelaide unit that is vulnerable in the rucking division and is embarking on their second consecutive road trip. Melbourne won't win this game because they 'are due', they will win it because White and Johnson can control the centre square and give the Melbourne runners first use of the ball, thus giving Russell Robertson and David Neitz plenty of scoring opportunities with Aaron Davey there to shark the packs. The positives for Adelaide include the return of Mark Rucciuto and McLeod and Edwards will bounce back from a rare quiet one last week. Melbourne to ditch the donut and defeat the road weary Crows by 25 points.
West Coast will bring an abrupt end to the Kangroos winning streak of six, currently the longest in the league so far this season (equaling West Coasts early season salvo). Daniel Chick comes back into the Eagles side to add some grunt while Ashley Hansen is to miss with a finger injury (some unkind souls may suggest that this further adds to the Eagles grunt for this match). West Coast do look down on strength but only the Bulldogs have recorded a victory at Putriaco amongst Victorian clubs since 2002 and the Roos look to be falling over the line at present..something they won't do in WA. West Coast by 20 points.
Brisbane can get their season back on track by defeating the luckless Tigers at the Telstra Dome on Saturday night. Coach Matthews has rung the changes with Brennan and Hooper returning to the side and no doubt the riot act was read in no uncertain terms after an ordinary effort against Collingwood last week. Richmond are tempting here but I'm sticking with my 'don't back the Tigers' policy, they are a bit like the Australian Cricket team of the 1980's at the moment, can get into a winning position but lack that killer instinct. I don't see any large bodies to stop Jonno Brown who must be due a bag at the Dome. Brisbane by 17 points.
Sydney have had some trouble with Essendon in recent seasons but at the SCG they appear the more appealing prospect from a tipping point of view. Bringing in Laycock, Welsh and Bolton in for this match has a 'rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic' feel about it in a match where the Swans have brought back Kennelly and Davis. Once the Swans start winning games they get into a real groove and Essendon haven't been anything close to consistent this season. Sydney by 32 points.
Port have had the wood over the Hawks in recent years and have done so quite easily but it won't be as easy this time round for Choco's boys. Many signs point to a Hawk victory here but writing off the Power at home is just not wise. Port will be stung by its last two efforts and I can see them hitting back hard here. Hawthorn aren't as strong in the ruck as Sydney and Geelong and here is an opportunity for Port to get their running game rolling again. In this match Port will roll up their sleeves and ground out a victory against an opponent that might be on good terms with themselves and be slightly off the boil. Port by 9 points in a real slog.
Western Bulldogs will be the latest side to be pushed but not beaten by the Carlton Blues who simply don't have the midfield rotation depth of its rivals, a factor which could even cause another wooden implment to be delivered to Craptus Oval by the end of the year. Like McLeod and Edwards, Scott West rarely plays two bad ones in a row and he'll get over 30 possessions for all of you dream team fans. The return of Griffen, McMahon and Minson will provide the advantage over a gallant Carlton. Western Bulldogs by 29 points.
Geelong should continue on its winning way against St Kilda at Telstra Dome on Sunday afternoon. This one won't be a flogging, St Kilda have too many good players for that and this game might have been saved from a flooding point of view by the inclusion of six players for St Kilda, mostly in defence with Gram, Hudgton, Thompson and the Clarkes all named. Hopefully, this will lead to an agressive approach from St Kilda but if even half of these guys are underdone then Geelong will get away from them in the end. Geelong also have named a few coming back in Harley and Chapman and have included Hawkins to play under the roof. Geelong by 18 points with St Kilda running out of legs towards the end.
Some real tough ones in there. Kudos to whoever bags eight for this round! I reckon a 2 is posisble! There also seems to be more than a few injured blokes running around at the moment and their ability to run out four quarters is a key factor in selecting winners for the round.
regards,
REB
