Round 16

Friday Night: Collingwood Magpies vs. Adelaide Crows

The Magpies dominated three quarters against Carlton (only losing the first quarter) and Adelaide only for half a game against West Coast before Josh “the King” Kennedy stepped up and put the nail in the Crows coffin. This will be Adelaide’s last chance to make an attempt to play finals, lose and it will be a season ending defeat. The Magpies need a win to hold their place in the eight safe for another week, and will probably get it even though the Crows now that their season is on the line.

My tip: Magpies by 20 points.

Saturday Afternoon: Port Adelaide Power vs. Hawthorn Hawks

The Hawks are now locked in a fierce battle for top spot with Geelong after their loss last week while Port need to win avoid a possible drop out of the eight. AAMI Stadium, while a fortress for Port at the moment, Hawthorn have only lost to Geelong this season and the defeated the Crows at AAMI so the ground won’t provide much of an advantage for the Power.

My tip: Hawks by 45 points.

Saturday Afternoon: Geelong Cats vs. Melbourne Demons

This game will be over before it begins. The Cats are simply too good for the Demons to win. The only way Melbourne could possibly beat Geelong is if Geelong played blindfolded, and even then they’re no certainty to win. Easy win for the Cats.

My tip: Cats by 70 points.

Saturday Afternoon: Richmond Tigers vs. Gold Coast Suns

While recent form says an easy win for the Tigers, the Suns have humiliated the Tigers before, plus the Tigers were humiliated by North Melbourne, a team that the Suns defeated in Queensland. Despite being played in Cairns, Queensland, the Suns are the away team and I’m fine with that because unlike Collingwood, the Suns don’t play 15-17 games at Metricon each season, they may have in their first season (I can’t remember back that far) but, the Tigers will be looking to make amends for last week’s 62 point flogging.

My tip: Tigers by 15 points.

Saturday Night: Carlton Blues vs. Saint Kilda Saints

Carlton seems to be on an unbreakable losing streak. They kicked 8 straight goals before they kicked a behind against Collingwood and still managed to lose. The Blues stay in the eight by only a win a few percent more than West Coast, and I can’t really take anything away from the Saints because they led Fremantle by about three goals. For a team that’s third from the bottom of the ladder (above only the Giants and Melbourne) that is a very good lead and having Riewoldt back in the side will help them. If Carlton are going to break their losing streak, they have to do it here otherwise finals will be off the cards.

My tip: Blues by 9 points.

Saturday Night: Brisbane Lions vs. North Melbourne

The Lions won over the Suns convincingly, by the Kangaroos nearly doubled that margin against a much better team, if they bring that performance against the Lions this week, it will be another 10 goal win. A loss for North however would be season ending making it nearly impossible to make the eight.

My tip: North by 45 points.

Sunday Afternoon: Sydney Swans vs. GWS Giants

Similar to Geelong vs. Melbourne. Easy win in the Battle of the Bridge for the Swans.

My tip: Swans by 80 points.

Sunday Afternoon: West Coast Eagles vs. Fremantle Dockers.

It’s the game where Perth sits divided. For West Coast fans it’s the Western Derby, for Fremantle fans it the Grand Final and I’d put the probability for either side to win at about 50/50, maybe the Eagles as slight favourites because having no Luke McPharlin will hurt the Dorkers more than having no McGinnity will hurt the Eagles. On the subject of McGinnity, his three-match suspension is an absolute joke. By the rules that the AFL wrote, the offence is a reprimand to one week with a bad record, not three. The MRP is mad with power. I could deal with the three weeks if McKernon had gotten about 6 weeks for his elbow to head of Sheppard. His two-week suspension is basically saying what Patty did is worse than an elbow to the head. Anyway, back to the Derby, with Wellingham likely to be in, Fremantle’s attack is limited to only two players as the likely match ups are Glass/Pavlitch, McKenzie/Ballantyne, Schofield/Walters and Wellingham/Mayne. That means that Fremantle’s goal scoring ability will rely heavily on their mid-field which is also out matched with Shuey, Priddis, Nic Nat, Cox, Sheppard and Scotty Selwood to make his return this week, add Dalziell into that mix and the Eagles have a powerful midfield. Once upon a time, Sandilands might’ve been able to handle the Ruck power of Cox and Natinui, but not now, he’s simply missed too many games this season to be able to compete properly. Still it will be a close game, but as always, I’ll tip an Eagle win.

My tip: Eagles by 14 points

Sunday Afternoon: Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon Bombers.

Despite my hatred for the Bombers, they are simply too good for the Dogs, even without their drugs. Easy win for the Bombers, even if Jobe doesn’t return.

My tip: Bombers by 25 points.