St Kilda will be primed to pounce on a West Coast side that looks a bit light on for midfield talent with Judd and Kerr to miss and Cousins perhaps not back to full fitness. The blowtorch will be applied to players such as Priddis, Rosa and Hurn but at least the Eagles won't have to contend with serial niggler Steven Baker who was given the old heave ho by the MRP last week. St Kilda have more hands on deck and should record their second win over West Coast this season by 17 points.
Kangaroos will get the Roo show back on the road against the untippable Blues (as I found out last week GRR). The Shinboner of the century threw everything into it last week against the Cats and his team mates will repay the favour in his record breaking 307th match for the mighty Roos. Without Fevola, it's hard to make a case here for Carlton...except a coffin. Kangaroos by 41 points to make the top four nervous.
Fremantle will win the 'who cares' match of the round. Freo's season ended last week and Melbourne's year was finished months ago. With no players or milestones to lift those who are left on the park for the Dees, I can see the unfettered Dockers really pounding the Demons here. Pavlich will take about 300 marks and Fremantle will infuriate their fans with another polished performance at home when it's all to late. Freo by 76 points.
Sydney will continue Collingwood's frustrating win-loss sequence for another week in one of the harder matches to pick this weekend. The Pies match up quite well against the Swines but Sydney look a little more settled. Barry Hall can't play as badly against the Pies as he did last time the sides met and Adam Goodes will have the pace and space to burn the Pies who look a little tired to me at the moment. The Pies will have a nervous last week of the season as they succumb to the Swannies by 14 points at home.
Adelaide will grind out a win for Mark Ruccuito and the adoring faithful at home against the Brisbane Lions who haven't worked out they aren't supposed to make the finals this season. Stopping Jonathon Brown remains the obstacle for Adelaide but Truck Rutten did quite well on the big Gorilla last time and Nathan Bock is also considered a strong chance to come to Rutten's aid or even have first crack on the Lions' key man. This could be a similar game to the Brisbane v Sydney game but this time the Lions are on the road and as such it's the Blackbirds for mine. Adelaide by 8 points.
Hawthorn will rebound from last week's heartbreaking (well not for me ho ho) loss in Tassie by cleaning up the Bulldogs at the Dome. The Dogs will have enormous problems attempting to contain Roughead, Franklin and Boyle and Hawthorn appear to have the Pups covered in midfield too. Hawthorn may not be playing as well as earlier in the year but the Bullies are doggone and the Hawks will win this by 35 points.
Geelong will make it sweet sixteeen perhaps because of rather than despite Choco's midweek pronouncements. Port might have had a chance to somehow fly under the radar despite being second but Choco may just have woken up the Cats with that poke in the ribs with that stick. Port's chances have been enhanced by the news from the Geelong Addy that James Bartel will miss for Geelong due to appendicitis but I think that Geelong has too much depth and despite Port having everything to play for, they won't triumph at Cat Park. Geelong to tough out a finals type match to win by 22 points.
Essendon will send of the patriach of the club and spritual leader in one of the great minor round clashes of recent years against a Richmond side that has improved in recent weeks. This will be a close game, Richmond might even lead for the majority but when it comes down to the last few minutes there will be no way that players such as Hird, Lucas, Lloyd and an underdone Fletcher will let this one slip. If the Bombers were playing a team that had the winning habit it might be a bit of a worry but Richmond cannot be described as such a team. Essendon to win by 11 points.
Looks like a top round. Good luck to your team this week unless you barrack for Port!
regards,
REB
The eagles wont win the flag on tonight's effort.
