No Melbourne - I'm back!

Carlton v Hawthorn

Recent Form: Soft pretenders vs League's best?

Form vs each other: Hawks with the last 9 and 14 of the last 16 with the only two losses by under two goals

Blues' Favour: Some handy ball users got on top for most of last week's game and, when they lowered their eyes, managed to hit a lot of targets inside 50. Enough name players not to be dismissed out of hand and they'll look to this game as season-defining as they sit currently at 6-5. Haven't been blown away all year.

Hawks' Favour: Impeccable form and a much better side. So many goal-kickers, so many hard-nosed midfielders who use the footy well and a solid back 6 that plays well together.

Verdict: I'm torn. My natural inclination is to think that the Hawks will do a demolition job on the Blues. The Blues I view as soft, outsiders who like easy footy and are too-heavily dependant on Waite. Hawthorn, on the other hand, relish the hard ball and would love to show up their bunnies. On the other hand, the bye can do funny things to a side - often leaving them to come out listless and rusty. Hawthorn have had 4 byes in a row. Added to this is Carlton's record this year - they have lost 5 games but none by more than 17 and even a couple of them they have the other hand. As such, I think I'll split the middle with a favour to the Hawks running away with it.

Tip: Hawks by 40

Richmond v Adelaide

Recent form: Hard to read vs unAdelaide

Form vs each other: Tigers with 2 of the last 3 (Crows 5 before that)

Tigers' favour: Have they finally arrived? They'll love getting Conca back and their stifling defence should be too much for the inept Crows forwardline. Riewoldt will love a return to the G and the only man they'll really have to watch is Dangerfield.

Crows' favour: A proud club will not let a loss like last week's define them - they will come out wanting to prove a point and return to the winner's list.

Verdict: Toughie in so much as what to make from their last outings. Were Richmond unreal in thrashing the Eagles away or are the Eagles pretenders? Are Adelaide that bad? Do they have the capacity to bounce back? I think the answers for both are somewhere in between. Richmond aren't at the tip of the comp level (yet) and Adelaide aren't that bad but are a shadow of their 2012 version.

Tip: Tigers by 17

Fremantle v Brisbane

Recent form: Starting to cook vs ok

Form vs each other: Freo with the last 4

Dockers' favour: They're loving Ross Lyon's style. They're very hard to score against and have enough players will to run hard to score at their end. Punishing of turnovers, opposition find it hard to escape the defensive 50 - especially at Patersons.

Lions' favour: Returning Rockliff, Leuenberger and Rich will be handy additions (if not amongst a sea of inclusions). Have shown enough patchy form to suggest that, on their day, they can trouble sides.

Verdict: Fremantle will dismantle the Lions

Tip: Dockers by 57

Essendon v Gold Coast

Recent form: Ok vs Smoking

Form vs each other: Essendon 2-0. The last 7 quarters go by the scores of 31.22.208 to 21.19. 145. The preceding quarter 15.4.94 to 0.1.1

Bombers' favour: Experience and home ground advantage could be crucial in this encounter. If they can get away to a flier they could be impossible to catch. However, first quarters haven't been their strength and, as Brisbane showed, if you can stay close, you're a chance against this mob.

Suns' favour: They're playing tough, aggressive, fun footy and - at the moment- seem to have forgotten how to play uncompetitively. It's not just Ablett doing the damage anymore and I dread future Suns' sides. They still have Ablett - though.

Verdict: This will go two ways. It'll be a fizzer or a cracker. If the Bombers get away early they won't be caught. If the Suns keep it close early and apply the press that worked so well against North, they're in with a very big chance.

Tip: Bombers by 11

GWS v Port Adelaide

Recent form: poor (aside from a plucky 3 quarters against a disinterested Geelong) vs poor

Form vs each other: Would you believe, tied at 1-1 (Giants won the first 5 quarters between the sides by 45 points).

Giants' favour: They generally have a dip and, just as importantly, they have Jeremy Cameron. He is, simply put, incredible.

Power's favour: A season of two halves already - first half good, second half deplorable. It slipped to new depths when they lost to the Dogs. However, they've performed well against under-par sides this year. Beating the two newbies and a terrible Melbourne each by over 6 goals.

Verdict: Power will enjoy coming back after the bye and will look to play some tough footy. As mentioned previously, however, the bye can be a cruel mistress and, if the Power don't come to play, the Giants boys will be the to make them pay.

Tip: Power by 37

Collingwood v Bulldogs

Recent form: Up and down vs finding spark

Form vs each other: Pies with the last 5.

Pies' favour: Their last two outings have seen them strike a bit of form. They're not a terribly great unit, but they seem to know which sides they're better than and duly salute.

Dogs' favour: They're showing what influence quality, experienced players can have on youngsters (unlike another Victorian side...). Griffin is amazing and is leading the likes of Libba, Wallis, Hvorat, Stevens, Johannisen and co to believe that they can play daring, winning football in a team environment.

Verdict: The Pies will be too good. They know how to beat lesser sides and very really succumb to them. Often, they're hardly tested. Having said that, the Dogs have pushed the Pies on their last 2 outings and if they let Griffin run free, as they tend to let opposition players do, you never know what the Dogs could produce. They've been plucky a number of times this season and don't mind that Stadium. Collingwood will be too clinical, however.

Tip: Pies by 43

Game of the Round

Bombers Suns

Thrashing of the Round

Freo Lions

Upset of the Round

Crows?

Closest Tip Last Week

Missed Bombers by 12 (for the second time in 3 weeks)

I'm really tossing up on the Bombers/GC. Could be an upset brewing.

Upset of the round could be the Suns, or the Dogs even (if Collingwood play like they did on Monday, they're beatable by any team not called Melbourne).

Don't think the Crows can get a win in their current form at the G, but Richmond is exactly the team you'd back to beat West Coast in Perth and back that up by losing at home to Adelaide.