Round 14

Thursday Night: West Coast Eagles vs. Essendon Bombers

West Coast’s second game of the “nightmare” run home before they get a reprieve by playing Adelaide next week. Last Friday night’s loss to Hawthorn was a good start and if we can bring that style game to the table against Essendon and win, it will be sending a clear message to the rest of the competition: the Eagles are back in force with a late charge towards the 8 in toe. We’ll have to win without Embely but he wasn’t particularly instrumental in the Hawthorn game with no goals and only 10 disposals. Essendon will also be distracted by Jobe Watson admitting he took what he thought were legal but turned out to be banned substances.

My tip: Eagles by 10 points.

Friday Night: Sydney Swans vs. Carlton Blues

A shock loss to the Power was something the Swans wouldn’t have been expecting but they will have learned, they will be fired up and a premiership favourite rarely make the same mistake twice. Carlton will be fresh off a bye and have to win to move into the eight. The SCG though is a fortress for the Swans with only a loss to Hawthorn and a draw with the Dockers there (the rest being wins), still, it will be close.

My tip: Swans by 20 points.

Saturday Afternoon: Gold Coast Suns vs. Adelaide Crows

The only game I’m undecided on. Part of me thinks that the Crows will win easily, but the other part thinks that the Suns could get over the Crows at Metricon. Both teams had a loss before their bye and even scored the same against the respective opponents. I don’t know who could win this game, so i decided to go based purely on ladder position for this one.

My tip: Crows by 4 points.

Saturday Afternoon: Port Adelaide Power vs. Collingwood Magpies

Both teams defending their place in the eight, Collingwood need the win more to stand a chance of making the four. Port needs a win to move to 7^th, 6^th at the most. Normally I’d say Collingwood in a landslide win, 

but given that Port beat Sydney, I think it could be relatively close.

My tip: Magpies by 30 points.

Saturday Night: Geelong Cats vs. Fremantle Dockers

It’s a battle for second and worthy of the Friday Night status. Going to be much more exciting than Sydney vs. Carlton. If Fremantle win, they will have attained the highest they have ever sat on the ladder at this stage of the season, beating their 3^rd place in 2006. Fremantle stumped the Cats in a Semi-final at Skilled Stadium (I don’t like calling it Simmonds Stadium in the same way I try and avoid calling Subiaco Oval “Patersons Stadium”) but the Cats will be better prepared this time, knowing what to expect. But they’ll have to do it without Stevie J and Crowley will have a very close eye on him. It will be a very close game.

My tip: Cats by 5 points.

Saturday Night: Melbourne Demons vs. Western Bulldogs.

Not going to bother with this one too much. New coach but similar story, but with a little more fight.

My tip: Bulldogs by 40 points.

Sunday Afternoon: Hawthorn Hawks vs. Brisbane Lions

Hawthorn must win to hold 1^st place if the Cats win by 1 game. If they fail then they continue to battle it out with Geelong for 1^st and will hold it only percentage. The Lions pulled a stunning 5 point win over Geelong, but a win against Hawthorn will require something else other than luck.

My tip: Hawks by 46 points.

Sunday Afternoon: North Melbourne vs. GWS Giants.

It’s a must win game if North Melbourne want to keep Brad Scott as coach. As I said previously, I doubt he’ll survive a loss to the Giants after his team only scored 29 points against Fremantle. North Melbourne won’t be taking any chances against a Giants side who has come off a bye and Sheedy still having a few tricks up his sleeve.

My tip: Kangaroos by 15 points.

Sunday Afternoon: Richmond Tigers vs. Saint Kilda Saints.

This will be short. Should be an easy win for the Tigers. Not much to talk about here.

My tip: Tigers by 24 points.