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North and Collingwood open the round tomorrow night at Telstrihad Stadome. Both teams are at an early crossroads, with two wins and three losses each. This game could be definitive for either team; if Collingwood are going to snatch the top four spot widely expected of them earlier this season they absolutely must win, and North would want to win this game if they're going to make finals because they always seem to make it hard for themselves by losing to dross like Richmond and then pushing actual teams. Both teams are missing their best player tomorrow night; however Alan Didak's injury is obviously much shorter term. Brent Harvey will miss half the season. Collingwood are coming off one of the best games of footy this year and previously to that a good win at the Gabba against Brisbane, North are coming off a frankly pathetic loss to a previously hapless Richmond and a ground out win achieved by playing ugly anti-footy against Essendon. Collingwood really should win this.
Hawthorn and Carlton provide probably the most tantalising match up of the round on Saturday afternoon. Hawthorn are yet to really kick start their premiership defence, looking lackluster and downright awful at times but still showing glimpses of the talent that saw them stand prevalent as victors last September. At 2-3 and coming off a very ugly win against West Coast and an embarrassing home loss to Port Adelaide, they've already nearly lost as many games as they did for all of 2008 and they really need to start winning soon. Another loss here would be very damaging to their back to back aspirations. Carlton, however, are looking quite ominous after knocking off the Bulldogs, with quite a few of their younger players really looking like they were born to be there. Brendan Fevola's kicking is obviously key to to Carlton's chances this weekend given the frailty of Hawthorn's defence. If Fev has a good day and synchs up well with the midfield Hawthorn could be in trouble of really getting belted by him. On the other hand, Carlton's defence is also arguably quite deficient, and Hawthorn apparently have a couple of blokes that can kick goals as well. Carlton will be wanting to do it for a certain liar, criminal and philanderer we all know, but I have a feeling Hawthorn are intending to get serious this weekend.
West Coast and Freo are next up with another battle of the west at Subi. How exciting. West Coast's home form has been good this season, with a commanding win over the Dogs one of the notches in their belt, but poor away from home, as evidenced last week in their game against Hawthorn which would have been one of the worst games of the year had it not been for the travesty that was Melbourne v Adelaide the next day. Still, you'd have to assume they'd easily account for a Freo side who've been sub par at best and absolutely pathetic at worst. However, assumption can be a killer with Fremantle, who, with last week's effortless dismantling of Sydney, have proven that they're capable of absolutely anything. Palmer is a big out for them.
Brisbane and Essendon kick off the Saturday night games at the Gabba. Brisbane are sitting at 2-3 and it seems like they're going to have another one of those seasons where they hover between 7th-11th but miss out on finals. Essendon are flying at 3-2 with nail biting wins against arch rivals Collingwood and Carlton under their belt. I honestly thought they were a chance to finish last this season but you'd have to say they probably already have too many wins for that. I don't think finals is a realistic scenario for them but they'll probably be happy with a season like Brisbane have been having for years. For Brisbane getting the ball to Brown and Bradshaw is the key, but it seems as if teams have managed to find a way to largely quell that danger given that Brisbane are the team with the lowest marks inside 50 this year. Essendon's forward line will be an issue for them as well, with Lloyd struggling to have an impact and Lucas probably in the worst form of his career. Brisbane are coming off a serious shellacking in the wet at Kardinia Park and Essendon are coming off a classic inspiring ANZAC Day victory but I think the home ground advantage should be enough to get Brissy over the line.
Another local derby at AAMI Stadium on Saturday, with Port and Adelaide going toe to toe. This one's much harder to tip I feel. Port are still largely an unknown quantity. They had a rousing win over the reigning premiers in Melbourne but then capitulated meekly at the feet of St. Kilda at home. Adelaide are similar, they took it to Geelong but ultimately got crushed, and looked absolutely abysmal against Melbourne but still won. This one's a bit of a raffle really. I'd suggest Port will take this one simply because they've looked harder and are a bit more mature than a still very young Crows outfit. I'd like to expand on this more but it's late and I really don't know very much about these teams. They're in Adelaide and that.
Sydney host Richmond at the SCG in the early Sunday game, and you'd really have to go with Sydney in this one. They're still tough as old leather boots. And old as old leather boots as well. Especially at the SCG. They've had a couple of wins this season, one against a much better side in Carlton, and they look good when Hall is firing and the midfield is contesting. Richmond on the other hand have looked like a complete shower this season. They had a win over a very poor and depleted North Melbourne side last week when it was basically win or the coach is sacked. Other than that they've looked tremendously poor, with turnovers and mistakes being made across the entire field, and with a loss to an extremely. extremely bad Melbourne team under their belts. Key for Richmond will be, as usual, Richo. They're still waiting on some important players to come back in Cousins and Cotchin. Sydney should canter it in.
The 2.10 game is at the G and is poor old Melbourne hosting Geelong. Honestly it's hard to see anything but a demolition. Melbourne are just unable to play football and Geelong are the best team in the league who are just starting to hit their straps. It's probably gonna be brutal. That's really all you need to say. Ablett should dominate.
The last match of the round is fairly intriguing as well. The Bulldogs have really hit the skids after jumping out of the blocks early and the Saints are just flat out dominating the league. Again I'd like to expand on that but it's like 2am and I really just wanna sleep.
Vent Your ANGER!@#! Footy 2009 - Login
Originally Posted by Strife 
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