Adelaide love Telstra Dome. Adelaide love playing St Kilda at Telstra Dome. Even with the Bassett hound missing the Crow defence looks capable of swarming over a predictable St Kilda side who for some unknown reason decided to ice the clock with 20 minutes to go last week. History shows it didn't work and history shows that the Saints aren't fond of Adelaide at home or away (unless it is September and Adelaide are minor premiers ha ha). Nope, the Saints are duds and Massie has filled in for Bassett and the Crows will win this one comfortably by 37 points.
Collingwood have the wood on the Cats and will end Geelong's impressive mid-season run of nine victories at the G on Saturday. The Cats have shown signs of leg weariness after playing a couple of matches in the slop and players such as Thomas, Swan, Heath Shaw and Didak are capbale of causing all sorts of match up problems for a Geelong side who match up better on forwards like Anothony Rocca. Collingwood have an edge in pace, are more familar with the venue and will continue their recent good run against Geelong, winning by 12 points in a cracker and yes I'm trying to jinx the bastards.
Port are another side that has a good run against this week's opponent. The West Coast are misfiring badly at the moment with Cousins not available, Kerr suspended and the Juddernaught perhaps feeling a groin in a manner that would be most familiar to the shattered Glass who last week showed that footballers can count to two. Port's nine wins from its past eleven against the Coast is no accident. The ruck pairing of Brogan and Lade matches up well against Big Cox and this week the Power appear to have the edge in midfield as well for the reasons stated above. Worse Port sides have beaten better Eagles sides at AAMI and I expect this trend to continue. Port by 32 points.
The Western Bulldogs, or what is left of them will take on what is left of Essendon in a match that is crucial to both teams' seasons. Essendon's underperforming defence will be left without inspector Gadget who had to belt Tenace because he couldn't catch him and with Davey and the spiritual leader not available for the Bombers, Essendon appear vulnerable. Scott West will be a big out for the Bullies but the bald Eagleton will step into the breach and provide plenty of drive. In a last man standing affair, it's the Dogs to have their day with a 15 point win.
Brisbane will make it two on the trot after they defeat a Melbourne side that went out of its way to make a Fevless Carlton look good last week. Only poor kicking from the Blose saved the Demons from another week in hell. Even when Melbourne win they lose with talented youngster Ricky Pettered suffering a punctured lung and almost losing his life. Perhaps the Demons could let the Docs take the field as they handle real pressure better than anyone else around the place. The Demons have sold their soul and their home game and another four points will be heading north. Brisbane by 17 points with Nigel Lappin to have another 400 possessions.
Sydney will take the four points against Carlton with ridiculous ease. Seriously, Carlton should just give up..oh hang on...LOL. It is hard to make a case for Carlton here. The Blose haven't beaten Sydney since 2000 and it is hard to see that scenario occuring this week when the Swans have worked so hard to drag themselves up to squaring the ledger at 7-7. Sorry Carlton fans, you'll have to wait another week and it'll take a better team than Carlton to derail the Swannie finals push. The gambletron 2000 says that Sydney will win by 200 POINTS? WHY YOU STUPID MACHINE. Shut up Frinky! Sydney by 59 points.
Hawthorn had a stinker against the Crows last week and a lot of that was due to the physical strength of the Blackbirds. This week the Hawks play the Paper Tigers who have more than a few players who have to run around the shower to get wet. Richmond will be plucky again but you can't keep kicking it to the oppo and expect to win games...did you hear that Shane Tuck?? I said did you hear that Shane Tuck?? If Hawthorn lose this match I reckon they are in real strife as good sides bounce back and for the majority of this year that is exactly what the Hawks have been. Hawthorn by 27 points.
Fremantle have quite rightly been slagged this season but as Tarrant, Solomon and Farmer have shown there is plenty of fight in the Dockers. What is needed now is FOCUS. Power at the ball and the man and getting that red pill down the waiting throats of Tarrant and the Pavlova. Winning that ball against the Roo machine will not be an easy task but surely the Dockers are going to show something here. While the Wanchors sink without a trace on the road at the home Port they have a safe harbour. The Roos will bound out of the blocks but days end they'll be forced to walk the plank. ARR. Fremantle by 21 points to live to fight another day.
So there you have it. Eight winners for a change....but I'm hoping for seven!
regards,
REB
