 | | As the other teams pull each other back, the Coast have jumped clear at the top. |
by Libby Grounds
Carlton vs Geelong
The Blues will be going into Friday night’s game a little embarrassed but with a renewed vigour after their 85-point loss last round to the Tigers. They will be aiming to produce a better first half then last week – which shouldn’t be hard after they only managed one major for that period. They have hit an all time low and are barely keeping their September hopes alive. The Cats on the other hand are fairing much better as they sit at third on the ladder. They have been doing well injury wise and are improving on the road. They should be able to easily get one over the out of form Blues. Prediction-Cats Hawthorn vs Melbourne
The Demons will be happy with their performance so far in 2005. They are sitting second on the ladder and have been working hard as a team with their set combinations. They will be weak up forward this week as they are missing their skipper David Neitz with a hamstring injury along with other key forwards. They will need to put strong men to the front to kick accurately and keep the score line ticking over. The Hawks on the other hand have had some bad luck so far this season. Although they’ve only registered one win, they’ve come close time and time again but have just fallen short. But I don’t think this round will be the time they’ll notch up their second win of the season. May be next round. Prediction-Melbourne West Coast vs St Kilda
The Eagles overcame a week of scandal to clench a win in Tasmania against the Tigers and are now sitting two games clear of the competition and on top of the ladder. They will be missing one of their goal kickers this week in Phil Matera after he took a one-week suspension for striking. The Saints will regain Fraser Gehrig after he served a one-week suspension, but will be missing Aussie Jones, Robert Harvey and Justin Koschitzke. They will be on the road to the Eagles home ground and will be suffering with a few missing links in the field. If the home side plays their cards right, they could get their eighth consecutive win. Kangaroos vs Western Bulldogs
The Roos have dropping two in a row and will be none too happy. They were going strong at 5-0 before dropping the last two games – both in Adelaide. Questions were being raised about their commitment to the competition, and they will want to prove to the critics that they are back on the road to the finals. They have the smallest injury list in the competition, so will have no problems with staff and fresh legs. The Bulldogs are yet to register two in a row and will be firing after their win against the Lions last round. They have been hot and cold and haven’t been able to show much in the way of consistency. Will they want two in a row badly enough or will the Roos be too overpowering? Prediction-Kangaroos Adelaide vs Brisbane Lions
The Crows will be coming out all guns blazing in front of their home crowd when they take on the Lions on Saturday night. They have been working hard this season and will be proud of their achievements so far. The Lions will be feeling the opposite as they sit at the bottom end of the ladder and haven’t shown any of their fighting spirit the competition has been used to. They are sorely missing forward Alastair Lynch as they’ve been lacking up forward. Their mid field has veteran players from past premierships that are looking tired and unable to cope with the pace. They need to get their act together now before it’s too late, or can the younger Crows teach the veterans a valuable lesson. Prediction-Crows Sydney Swans vs Port Adelaide
The Port will be hoping that last rounds win signals a new beginning and they’re back in the competition. They will be trying their theory this weekend as they travel to the SCG to face the Swans. The home side is plagued with injury with holes being left by players forward, in the midfield and in the ruck. This one will be a fight to the finish game and one of the most difficult to predict this round. Both sides have had their highs and lows and it will be a nail biter that’s for sure. Prediction-Port Adelaide Collingwood vs Richmond
The Tigers have certainly become a different team under the new coaching of Terry Wallace. They have become more attacking and have a good goal kicking combination in Matthew Richardson and Nathan Brown. The Magpies are sitting at the bottom of the ladder, and try as they might they seem to be stuck. They will need to overcome a trip to the west and injury worries to gain a win over the Tigers. For the Tigers who are going for their sixth consecutive win, they seem to have a lot more to fight for. Prediction-Richmond Essendon vs Fremantle
The Dockers will be flying high after they thrashed bottom of the ladder Collingwood at home. They have been slowly improving and will be going into this week with the aim to improve their statistics on the road. They will be all but fully staffed and will go into Sunday’s game with confidence. The Bombers will be taking the field without their captain James Hird who is still a couple of weeks away from returning. They haven’t been playing too well so far this season and are sitting in 14th place on the ladder. It’ll be a case of who wants it more. Prediction-Fremantle E-mail the author
source: MasterTips
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