AFL Round 10

[45HG 1,539]

Getting mighty tired of this season.

That and report-writing will lead to a shorter-than-usual post.

Brisbane v Collingwood

Form: Reasonable last 3 weeks v scratchy

Form v each other: Pies with 4 of the last 5

Lions' favour: Have been much improved since a terrible first quarter against the Swans. Pushed WC all the way, beat the flying Bombers and were competitive against Carlton in a strange match. Have enough busy mids to keep an opposition on their toes.

Pies' favour: An away-trip couldn't have come at a better time for this mob. Collingwood absolutely love playing interstate and will enter this game with confidence. They're 5 and 4 but, really, haven't got going at all this year and - for much of it - have looked fairly average.

Verdict: Collingwood will be too strong on the road but Brisbane should be up for this one for the most.

Tip: Collingwood by 21

Carlton v GWS

Form: Just going v Shocking

Form vs each other: Blues 1-0

Blues' favour: They're better.

Giants' favour: Blues are soft.

Verdict: Carlton are too soft to obliterate a team that tackles and wins clearances. Giants are due a plucky performance and Carlton probably won't get it all their own way but will get it done.

Tip: Blues by 53

Adelaide v Fremantle

Form: Steadily improving v looking ominous

Form v each other: Adelaide 4 of the last 5

Crows' favour: They've been alright this season. Not reaching the lofty heights of last year, they've been pretty good save a last half against Port and second half round 1. Managed to use a get out of jail free card last week.

Dockers' favour: They're clicking. A demolition of the Dees followed a great show against the Premiers and a dismantling of the Pies.

Verdict: Tasty little match this. Possessions will be tough, it'll be about who uses the ball best and what they do with it going forward - especially on the scoreboard. The Dockers, for mine, will be too good around the ground and will have too many goal-kickers to shut down. Freo owe Adelaide for last year's Walker show and will be up for this one.

Tip: Dockers by 11

Sydney v Essendon

Form: Getting the job done v fading?

Form v each other: The last four of their games have been decided by under 10 points, the last 3 by under a goal.

Swans' favour: Hit their straps on the big show last week and will enjoy a battle against their nemesis. They get up for big games and will love the challenge of a Watson-led Bombers.

Bombers' favour: They have Watson.

Verdict: Sydney will, again, be up and about. I'm torn between thinking the Swans will do what they did last week and waltz it in and the recent history of the sides playing close, tight and tough matches that have been enthrawling to watch. Their last 3 weeks haven't been great but Sydney, and this match in particular, might get them up for it.

Tip: Swans by 16

Geelong v Gold Coast

Form: Wow v Impressive

Form vs each other: Cats 3-0, last by 14 but the only at the Cattery 150.

Cats' favour: They're alright at footy

Suns' favour: For the first time in their short history they've hit genuine form. Won three of their 4 before pushing Hawthorn for 3 and a half quarters - even leading by 3 goals 10 into the third.

Verdict: Geelong will be keen to show off their new toy at the Cattery. They love that place and, I assume, have had the benefit of training there. I assume wind is less of a factor there at night usually? We'll see. I still feel the young Suns have been up for a while and the Cats wouldn't mind dealing out a bit of a lesson.

Tip: Geelong by 60

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide

Form: Performed under media spotlight v Early season glory a distant memory

Form vs each other: Dogs with the last 6.

Dogs' favour: I've written this every week, but they still have so many good, experienced players. Under intense scrutiny last week, it was the youngsters who took it up to the Saints and got over the top of them late for the impressive comeback win.

Verdict: Port haven't beaten much, but the Dogs have still been terrible and beating St Kilda, this year, isn't much chop. Recent form versus Port has been good but Port have played often up there over the past few years. A tough game to read, it'll depend which side shows up for each side. Port hate first halves, Dogs have hated both halves. I feel Port will be too good, however.

Tip: Power by 27

Melbourne v Hawthorn

Form: Disgusting v whatever gear they like

Form vs each other: Hawks either kick straight an annihilate us or kick inaccurately and annihilate us but not by as much on the scoreboard.

Hawks' favour: They're playing Melbourne.

Dees' favour: Hawks might not care this week, either? We'll do the old up-down trick that we produced under Bailey?

Verdict: Hawthorn will be livid with their performance last week. Buddy has been a disinterested [censored] this season but still dominates and they'll be absolutely salivating at the prospect of ripping Melbourne apart.

Tip: Hawks by 108

North Melbourne v St Kilda

Form: Desperately unlucky v over the hill

Form vs each other: Saints four of the last 5, North won the last by 33.

Roos' favour: They'll be fuming. Absolutely livid. They should be top 4. They're out of the 8 and, potentially, better off preparing for next season. Still with too much talent under their belt, however, they'll be out to (again) prove a point. Harvey's 350th will inspire them to dominate.

Saints' favour: A lot of talented ball getters and users remain, they'll have their backs up after last week's loss.

Verdict: North are too good, too young, too quick and too feisty for the Saints.

Tip: Roos by 35

West Coast v Richmond

Form: Improving v dwindling

Form vs each other: 3-3 from the last 6

Eagles' favour: They're back. NN is flying, the forwardline is clicking and the midfield is strutting. Surely, they can't kick as they did against the Blues.

Tigers' favour: Getting out of Melbourne could be a blessing. Home form has been patchy but a trip to AAMI yielded an impressive win and their last visit to Patersons an unlucky loss.

Verdict: The Eagles and Tigers, in my opinion, are fairly evenly matched. Similar midfields (WC get the tick with NN), similar backs and forwardlines with a couple of big spearheads (Eagles get the tick with Cox adding his body to the space). As I see it, WC get the points due to the NN/Cox link and their formidable home press. Patchy home form is their worry. 3 shocking early-season losses, a lucky win over the Roos and a demolition of a trash Dogs outfit has been surprising for this mob. The Monday night element will, also, be a strange part of this game. I feel WC tick too many boxes but wouldn't write Richmond off.

Tip: Eagles by 33

Game of the Round

On past form, Bombers Swans would be the one to watch, that or Adelaide Freo for mine. Largely forgettable round looming?

Thrashing of the Round

Hawks

Toughest to Pick

Dogs Power/Freo Adelaide

Closest tip last week

Missed Essendon by 12 in a poor round of tipping

[jazza 1,323]

cant you schedule some more difficult games to make tipping harder

[45HG 1,539]

cant you schedule some more difficult games to make tipping harder

I'll look into it?

[RalphiusMaximus 6,053]

Who voted for us to beat the Hawks?

[bing181 9,237]

Watching Collingwood. Scary.

[Whispering_Jack 30,132]

Watching Collingwood. Scary.

Haven't been watching but does anyone think Beamer looks captaincy material tonight?

[Adam The God 30,259]

Yeah. Shouting down players for not giving him the ball in an easy position, instead of running harder to present an even better option next time. Crucify me, but I prefer both Jack's as captains. It was the right decision by Neeld and I thought so at the time. I remain steadfast on it too. If we'd had more experienced genuine leaders then sure, but we didn't. I don't think Trengove's game has been affected by the captaincy. It's been affected by Neeld's game plan (and copious injuries that have hampered his preparation).

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Was Moloney injured last night?

[jazza 1,323]

Was Moloney injured last night?

yep

[45HG 1,539]

Watching West Coast v Richmond reminds me of the power of confidence and form.

It is a very fickle thing.

In the first quarter, Richmond we lucky to be close - turning the ball over continually and looking like it was just a matter of time before they were blown away.

Suddenly, Richmond are now hitting every target, every time the ball is going in the WC forward 50 suddenly all Tigers defenders are composed and the ball seems to almost bounce their way, WC are turning the ball over and being obliterated all over the field.

Tigers have won the quarter 6.1. 39 to 0.3. 3. In Perth, that's almost unheard of, especially after WC dominated the first quarter.

[Little Richard 6,262]

How I envy the tiges. I can't believe how much has changed since we were clearly ahead of them a couple of years ago, it's just sad. Vlastuin looks to be a great pick up by them.

[Return to Glory 8,441]

Suddenly Worsfold may be free at years end