Round 8: Game Reviews/Previews + General Discussion

[hearts on fire]

FRIDAY 16th MAY

St. Kilda vs Collingwood @ Telstra Dome - 7:40pm

SATURDAY 17th MAY

Hawthorn vs Port Adelaide @ Aurora Stadium - 2:10pm

Richmond vs Geelong @ Melbourne Cricket Ground - 2:10pm

Carlton vs Brisbane Lions @ Telstra Dome - 7:10pm

North Melbourne vs West Coast @ Gold Coast Stadium - 7:10pm

SUNDAY 18th MAY

Adelaide vs Melbourne @ AAMI Stadium - 12:40pm

Sydney vs Essendon @ ANZ Stadium - 2:10pm

Fremantle vs Western Bulldogs @ Subiaco - 2:40pm

[Thiele]

power unchanged

Crows ins Rutten,Jericho,Maric,Reily, Kenny

Out Douglas, (knee) Sellar (omited)

[hearts on fire]

THE TEAMS:

ST KILDA v COLLINGWOOD

ST KILDA
B: Leigh Fisher, Max Hudghton, Sean Dempster
HB: Jason Gram, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Nick Dal Santo, Luke Ball, Leigh Montagna
HF: Adam Schneider, Charlie Gardiner, David Armitage
F: Fraser Gehrig, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Steven King, Lenny Hayes, Robert Harvey
I/C: Michael Gardiner, Jason Blake, Shane Birss, Raphael Clarke
EMG: Matthew Ferguson, Jarryn Geary, Andrew McQualter
In: Blake, L Fisher, King, Hudghton
Out: Nick Riewoldt (knee), Xavier Clarke (hamstring), Matt Maguire (foot), Steven Baker (knee)

COLLINGWOOD
B: Heath Shaw, Shane Wakelin, Rhyce Shaw
HB: Nick Maxwell, Nathan Brown, Heritier O’Brien
C: Scott Pendlebury, Scott Burns, Tarkyn Lockyer
HF: Alan Didak, Anthony Rocca, Paul Medhurst
F: Dane Swan, Travis Cloke, Dale Thomas
Foll: Chris Bryan, Shane O’Bree, Leon Davis
I/C: Martin Clarke, Ben Johnson, Sharrod Wellingham, Cameron Wood
EMG: Ryan Cook, Tyson Goldsack, Ryan Lonie
In: Bryan, Rocca, Wellingham
Out: Josh Fraser (knee), Ryan Cook, Tyson Goldsack



HAWTHORN v PORT ADELAIDE

HAWTHORN
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Rick Ladson
HB: Campbell Brown, Trent Croad, Grant Birchall
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Chance Bateman
HF: Mark Williams, Lance Franklin, Clinton Young
F: Michael Osborne, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli
Foll: Robert Campbell, Brad Sewell, Shane Crawford
I/C: Stuart Dew, Xavier Ellis, Ben McGlynn, Simon Taylor
EMG: Tim Clarke, Josh Kennedy, Cameron Stokes
In: Bateman
Out: Luke Hodge (hamstring)

PORT ADELAIDE
B: Michael Pettigrew, Alipate Carlile, Jacob Surjan
HB: Peter Burgoyne, Toby Thurstans, Dom Cassisi
C: Travis Boak, Adam Thomson, Kane Cornes
HF: David Rodan, Warren Tredrea, Brett Ebert
F: Daniel Motlop, Justin Westhoff, Brendon Lade
Foll: Dean Brogan, Steven Salopek, Shaun Burgoyne
I/C: Troy Chaplin, Danyle Pearce, Tom Logan, Robert Gray
EMG: Paul Stewart, Damon White, Nick Lower
No changes



RICHMOND v GEELONG

RICHMOND
B: Luke McGuane, Will Thursfield, Jake King
HB: Chris Newman, Graham Polak, Kelvin Moore
C: Matthew Richardson, Shane Tuck, Joel Bowden
HF: Matt White, Jack Riewoldt, Mitch Morton
F: Richard Tambling, Brett Deledio, Nathan Brown
Foll: Troy Simmonds, Kane Johnson, Nathan Foley
I/C: Jordan McMahon, Chris Hyde, Shane Edwards, Adam Pattison
EMG: Jay Schulz, Trent Cotchin, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls
In: Bowden, Polak
Out: Jackson, Schulz

GEELONG
B: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Josh Hunt
HB: Darren Milburn, Harry Taylor, Corey Enright
C: Cameron Ling, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Paul Chapman
F: James Kelly, Tom Hawkins, Ryan Gamble
Foll: Mark Blake, Gary Ablett, Joel Corey
I/C: Shane Mumford, Andrew Mackie, Max Rooke, David Wojcinski
EMG: Brent Prismall, Travis Varcoe, Shannon Byrnes
In: G Ablett
Out: Stokes (suspended)



CARLTON v BRISBANE LIONS

CARLTON
B: Jarrad Waite, Michael Jamison, Kade Simpson
HB: Andrew Carrazzo, Paul Bower, Shaun Grigg
C: Heath Scotland, Richard Hadley, Jordan Russell
HF: Bryce Gibbs, Brad Fisher, Marc Murphy
F: Eddie Betts, Brendan Fevola, Setanta O’hAilpin
Foll: Cain Ackland, Nick Stevens, Chris Judd
I/C: Adam Bentick, Steven Browne, Matthew Kreuzer, Simon Wiggins
EMG: Mark Austin, David Ellard, Shaun Hampson
In: Ackland, Hadley
Out: Cameron Cloke (wrist), David Ellard

BRISBANE LIONS
B: Robert Copeland, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull
HB: Ashley McGrath, Joel Macdonald, Jed Adcock
C: Anthony Corrie, Simon Black, Tim Notting
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, Justin Sherman
F: Rhan Hooper, Daniel Bradshaw, Mitch Clark
Foll: Jamie Charman, Luke Power, Albert Proud
I/C: Matthew Leuenberger, Cheynee Stiller, Troy Selwood, Jared Brennan
EMG: Scott Harding, Lachlan Henderson, Tom Collier
In: McGrath, Clark, Selwood, Proud
Out: Travis Johnstone (hamstring), James Polkinghorne (knee), Lachlan Henderson, Scott Harding



NORTH MELBOURNE v WESTCOAST

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Michael Firrito, Shannon Watt, Josh Gibson
HB: Ed Lower, Drew Petrie, Leigh Harding
C: Matt Riggio, Daniel Wells, Brady Rawlings
HF: Lindsay Thomas, Nathan Thompson, Alan Obst
F: Matt Campbell, Corey Jones, Scott McMahon
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Daniel Harris, Brent Harvey
I/C: Sam Power, Shannon Grant, Adam Simpson, David Hale
EMG: Jess Sinclair, Ben Davies, Josh Smith
In: Riggio, Gibson, Obst, McMahon
Out: Pratt (groin), Brown, S Thompson, Josh Smith
New: Alan Obst (Central Districts)

WEST COAST
B: Brett Jones, Darren Glass, Will Schofield
HB: Mark Nicoski, Jamie Graham, Adam Selwood
C: Andrew Embley, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa
HF: Chad Fletcher, Josh Kennedy, Brad Ebert
F: David Wirrpanda, Quinten Lynch, Mark Seaby
Foll: Dean Cox, Tyson Stenglein, Chris Masten
I/C: Michael Braun, Ryan Davis, Ben McKinley, Brent Staker
EMG: Steven Armstrong, Scott Selwood, Beau Wilkes
In: Davis, Priddis, Seaby, Staker
Out: Chad Jones (ankle), Beau Waters (thigh), Jamie McNamara (thigh), Steven Armstrong
New: Ryan Davis (NorthShore, NSW)



ADELAIDE v MELBOURNE

ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Nathan Bassett
HB: Michael Doughty, Nathan Bock, Scott Stevens
C: David Mackay, Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo
HF: Simon Goodwin, Brett Burton, Bernie Vince
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Chris Knights
Foll: Jonathon Griffin, Andrew McLeod, Tyson Edwards
I/C (from): Kris Massie, Jarrhan Jacky, Robert Shirley, Ken McGregor, Ivan Maric, Luke Jericho, Brent Reilly
In: Jericho, Maric, McGregor, Reilly, Rutten
Out: Richard Douglas (knee), James Sellar

MELBOURNE
B: James Frawley, Colin Garland, Daniel Bell
HB: Clint Bartram, Jared Rivers, Cameron Bruce
C: Brad Green, Brock McLean, Matthew Bate
HF: Cale Morton, Russell Robertson, Brent Moloney
F: Aaron Davey, Brad Miller, Austin Wonaeamirri
Foll: Jeff White, James McDonald, Nathan Jones
I/C (from): Jace Bode, Simon Buckley, Nathan Carroll, Mark Jamar, Paul Johnson, Shane Valenti, Matthew Warnock
In: Buckley, Bode, Johnson, Valenti
Out: Wheatley (calf)
New: Shane Valenti (Sandringham)



SYDNEY SWANS v ESSENDON

SYDNEY SWANS
B: Tadhg Kennelly, Leo Barry, Martin Mattner
HB: Craig Bolton, Ted Richards, Kieren Jack
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Brett Kirk, Amon Buchanan
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Jarred Moore
F: Paul Bevan, Michael O’Loughlin, Peter Everitt
Foll: Darren Jolly, Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton
I/C (from): Luke Ablett, Ed Barlow, Craig Bird, Luke Brennan, Nick Malceski, Henry Playfair, Nick Smith
In: Ablett, Brennan, Malceski, Smith
Out: Ben Mathews

ESSENDON
B: Darcy Daniher, Mal Michael, Dustin Fletcher
HB: David Myers, Patrick Ryder, Kyle Reimers
C: Brent Stanton, Jobe Watson, Henry Slattery
HF: Sam Lonergan, Jay Neagle, Leroy Jetta
F: Bachar Houli, Matthew Lloyd, Jason Laycock
Foll: David Hille, Andrew Lovett, Mark McVeigh
I/C (from): Ricky Dyson, Tom Hislop, Courtney Johns, Angus Monfries, Adam Ramanauskas, Andrew Welsh, Jason Winderlich
In: Fletcher, Laycock, Lonergan, McVeigh, Ramanauskas, Reimers, Winderlich
Out: Atkinson, Lovett-Murray (suspended), McPhee (suspended), Nash



FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS

FREMANTLE
B: Roger Hayden, Luke McPharlin, Paul Duffield
HB: Steven Dodd, Michael Johnson, Scott Thornton
C: David Mundy, Rhys Palmer, Garrick Ibbotson
HF: Shaun McManus, Chris Tarrant, Dean Solomon
F: Jeff Farmer, Matthew Pavlich, Marcus Drum
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Ryan Crowley, Peter Bell
I/C (from): Kepler Bradley, Robert Warnock, Adam Campbell, Byron Schammer, Brett Peake, Andrew Foster, Heath Black
In: Bradley, Warnock, Campbell, Hayden, Peake, Duffield, Black
Out: Mark Johnson (suspended), Daniel Gilmore, Brock O’Brien, Ryan Murphy

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Dale Morris, BrianLake, Tim Callan
HB: Ryan Hargrave, Cameron Wight, Lindsay Gilbee
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Brad Johnson, Mitch Hahn, Robert Murphy
F: Scott Welsh, Will Minson, Jason Akermanis
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C (from): Dylan Addison, Daniel Giansiracusa, Josh Hill, Farren Ray, Wayde Skipper, Stephen Tiller, Callan Ward
In: Ray, Skipper, Ward
Out: -

[hearts on fire]

My Tips:

Collingwood
Hawthorn
Geelong
Brisbane
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Sydney
Fremantle

[the joker]

Alan obst is gunna make his debut for the roos this week

[Wedgie]

Fairly easy to pick tips this week but very hard to find some good value for betting.

[brod]

My Tips:

Collingwood
Hawthorn
Geelong
Brisbane
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Sydney
Fremantle

6 the same here HOF - differences St Kilda & WBulldogs

[NFC]

St.Kilda. Win/win. I hate the Saints so will be glad to see the pretenders lose, but if they win I get the tip.
Hawthorn. Should just get up but the match of the round.
Geelong. Should comfortably win.
Carlton. I have a feeling they're in for another good win.
North Melbourne. WCE are getting worse by the week, the Roos don't lose these types of games.
Adelaide. Should be a % booster for Adelaide.
Sydney. The easist game of the round to tip.
Fremantle. They have to win, if they don't respond after the nightmare 2 weeks ago...

[Rik E Boy]

Freo are shit. Who is going to win the ball out of the centre against Cooney, Cross, Griffen and Hahn? Who is going to curb Aker, Johnson, Welsh and Murphy in the forward line? As they have had their heart questioned they will come out firing but the Bulldogs showed against better opposition in Sydney they can give up a start and haul in a side away from home.

Bulldogs by about four or five goals.

regards,

REB

[blink]

I wouldn't go that far REB, Freo are a completely different beast when playing at home.

If this game was outside WA, the Bulldogs would win comfortably. However, at home I think it will be a close one.

WB certainly don't have a solid record away from Victoria either over the past few seasons....


Having said that, the Bullies will just get over the line in the end though, but would not be suprised on iota if Freo got up.

[Rik E Boy]

Freo are NOT a different beast at home. In fact, in 2008 they are the same old lame duck - they have now lost three matches to Victorian sides at Subi this year. This match will be similar I believe to the match against the Hawks. They'll have some good periods, some poor periods and periods when they look like they will win the match but in the end they won't. The reason why they won't is because they don't have the defensive options to cover a multi pronged forward line.

The Bulldogs are too strong in midfield and have multiple scoring options while Freo have, er, Pav, er Pav, er Pav..better kick it to Jeff...Oh hang on there's Pav.

Nah. Anchors are designed to sink and that is what will happen to all tipsters who select the Dockers this weekend. All the best for anyone contemplating it. DON'T DATE ROBOTS...I mean, DON'T TIP FREO. It's tipping law!

regards,

REB

[westozfalcon]

As a Lions supporter I see the Carlton v Brisbane match as a season-defining game for the Lions.

This is the type of game we must win if we are going to be a serious contender for the 8. With Josh Drummond and Jason Roe returning to defence and Jonathan Brown, Simon Black and Travis Johnstone back we should have our strongest side on the field so far this year. There will be no excuses.

Chris Judd looms as a major ace in the Blues pack as he has an uncanny ability of producing his best football against Brisbane.

And Daniel Merrett will have his work cut out trying to keep Fev under control.

Shapes as an interesting game though my optimism for this season will be severely dented if the Blues knock us off.

[Rik E Boy]

As a Lions supporter I see the Carlton v Brisbane match as a season-defining game for the Lions.

This is the type of game we must win if we are going to be a serious contender for the 8. With Josh Drummond and Jason Roe returning to defence and Jonathan Brown, Simon Black and Travis Johnstone back we should have our strongest side on the field so far this year. There will be no excuses.

Chris Judd looms as a major ace in the Blues pack as he has an uncanny ability of producing his best football against Brisbane.

And Daniel Merrett will have his work cut out trying to keep Fev under control.

Shapes as an interesting game though my optimism for this season will be severely dented if the Blues knock us off.

You'll win. Waite will go to Brown and hold him reasonably well but Bradshaw will kick a swag of goals against Jamison who is less experienced and nowhere near as strong as Daniel who will no doubt relish not having Scarlett in his face.

The Blues midfield is their strength but I believe the Lions have the advantage in this area with the return of Black and Johnstone to help out Notting, Power and the in form Joel McDonald. Factor in that the Lions rucks look very solid and that Hackland has been brought back (Cloke's gone again) and there is a midfield advantage for the Lions.

You mentioned that Merrett might struggle on the Fev but I disagree. Merrett is one of the most underrated defenders in the comp and I reckon he can restrict the Big Blue's effectiveness. And we all know what happens to Carlton once Fev starts to struggle. I also have my doubts about the Carlton forward line's ability to hold the ball in their forward 50 and with Roe back into the side that is another rebounding defender to partner up with Brennan to set up attacking raids from the half back line.

The Blues have won three of their last four but those wins have come against Melbourne, Collingwood and West Coast, none of which are in form. The Lions have been an honest combination all year long and with plenty of rested players coming back into the side will win at Telstra Dome by about three goals with Bradshaw being the matchwinner.

regards,

REB

[Baron Greenback]

As a Lions supporter I see the Carlton v Brisbane match as a season-defining game for the Lions.

This is the type of game we must win if we are going to be a serious contender for the 8. With Josh Drummond and Jason Roe returning to defence and Jonathan Brown, Simon Black and Travis Johnstone back we should have our strongest side on the field so far this year. There will be no excuses.

Chris Judd looms as a major ace in the Blues pack as he has an uncanny ability of producing his best football against Brisbane.

And Daniel Merrett will have his work cut out trying to keep Fev under control.

Shapes as an interesting game though my optimism for this season will be severely dented if the Blues knock us off.

You're spot on Falcon. There are no excuses for them losing this one.

I'm picking Brown to return to form though and kick 6 or 7.

[Dirko]

Brisbane will SMASH Carlton...

Too big & too strong up forward...

Midfield matches up OK, but down back and up front the Lions shite all over the baggers....

Hope Hadley has a good game against his old mob though...

[Interceptor]

Pies Reckon they can respond better than the Aints in this 'must win' match
Hawks Easily -a reality check for Port who have only beaten crap teams
Geelong No brainer
Brisbane Too experienced and skillful. Carlton not there yet.
Roos Pretty easily in a match that may be lucky to get 5000
Crows Simply too good for the Dees
Sydney Will outclass the Dons
Dogs A very hard to shake side and will be too good for the Shockers

[Thiele]

Collingwood
Hawks
Geelong
Carlton
Kangaroos
Adelaide
Sydney
Western Bulldogs

[Thiele]

Watson out for the Bombers

[Rik E Boy]

Pies Reckon they can respond better than the Aints in this 'must win' match
Hawks Easily -a reality check for Port who have only beaten crap teams
Geelong No brainer
Brisbane Too experienced and skillful. Carlton not there yet.
Roos Pretty easily in a match that may be lucky to get 5000
Crows Simply too good for the Dees
Sydney Will outclass the Dons
Dogs A very hard to shake side and will be too good for the Shockers

Snap!

[Thiele]

1/4 time

Saints 6.3.39

Collingwood 5.1.31