My predictions:

Richmond v Brisbane:

Tigers looking to bounce back, but I don't rate them this year after we accounted for them without much fuss in the NAB cup.

I'll back Brisbane being the home team, and with Deledio missing.

Looking forward to watching Aish and Lewie Taylor for the home side.

Lions by 14.

Coolingwood v North:

I have trouble taking North seriously, but Collingwood are like a yoyo.

Still, I think Pendlebury's class will be the difference.

North don't have a lot of class, and miss Swallow.

Magpies by 22.

Sydney v Fremantle:

Freo have a handful of injuries and the Swans are off the boil, but jeez they are due to return to form soon.

Still, I'll go for Freo. Ruck dominance will play a part.

And the swans have been shocking, especially up forward, where Freo are strong.

Dockers by 33.

West Coast v Port Adelaide:

Eagles were very average against Geelong, missing some good players who fate conspired to have healthy for when they played us.

Port are a top 6 team this year, in my eyes. Playing in Perth doesn't help though.

Still, Port to get the chocolates.

Power by 26.

Essendon v St Kilda:

The bombers are looking pretty good so far, although a few hiccups.

Saints have surprised, but I think they are running out of momentum.

Essendon to kick on as the match gets out of reach.

Bombers by 37.

Adelaide v GWS:

Giants will be stinging after handing away the match from a winning position.

As the dees used to be quite good at, they "snatched defeat from the jaws of victory."

The crows played above themselves last week also.

Giants by 19.

Melbourne v Gold Coast:

Too much midfield class for us, I think.

Ablett will remember last season's match and be keen for revenge.

I'm expecting a huge out put from him, as we spend just as much energy worrying about Swallow, O'Meara & Prestia.

Not a great blowout though.

Suns by 24.

Bulldogs v Carlton:

The blues don't have much to inspire, while the doggies have some young blokes doing their best to become household names.

Even Liam bloody Jones looked ok at times last week.

I just can't see where the improvement is going to come from at Carlton.

Haven't respected them much in recent years though, to be honest.

I think they'll drop their heads and the dogs will push on for a good win.

Dogs by 31.

Geelong v Hawthorn:

Will be hotly contested, but I feel the Hawks have saved themselves for the big matches this year.

They obliterated Freo, and I expect them to do the same after a while against a Geelong side missing a lot of run.

Hill & Smith will keep doing what they do, running all day and picking apart the cats.

Normally I'd expect Caddy to lift as he seems to like this pressure cooker style of match, but he's out of form and I wouldn't expect to see much more out of him for the rest of the season. I reckon he's done.

Rivers to be exposed here too, like in last year's finals.

Hawks by 49.

That's just my take, if anyone is interested.

Machsy, some good thoughts in there.

I agree with many of your tips but I can't go past the Tigers tonight. They'll get the choccies over an undermanned Brisbane.

I also think North love playing the Pies and they will prove that they are a top 4 side this year, showing Collingwood to be the also rans that they are.

Can see Adelaide rolling the Giants at home - they'll get a lot of confidence from last week.

Spot on with our game, Swallow, Ablett, Prestia, O'Meara should be too much on their own. Hope for a good fight though.

Yeah, I see what you're saying about the matches you don't agree on.

I haven't spent any time looking at the INs and OUTs, just going off memory.

Really just wanted a starting point.

If the Lions can stop Cotchin, I think the game is theirs.

Rockliff could cause trouble up forward too.

1 good game for North against a Sydney team on the slide won't convince me.

I need to see more.

I don't think the Crows have enough up forward, and can't stop the Giants forwards.

We'll see. As such a young team, the Giants are very unpredictable.

I reckon it will be a fair while until Brisbane wins a game, if they do at all. This is a side that hasn't won a single quarter (!) this year. They are dreadful, and injuries have made them even worse. Shame Richmond gets an easy one this week, was enjoying their ineptitude. Oh well, it will resume next week against Hawthorn.

Real blockbuster tonight

It probably says more about how little I rate Richmond.

There's always a round where it's easy enough to get a very low score. For me, this normally happens very early on in the season. I've gone for North over Pies and I think the Tiges are a cert. in terms of a roughy, WCE over Port and Sydney over Freo. Doggies to beat Blues, Adelaide to win, Bombers to win, Hawks also and Suns. I think I'll change the last one as I don't even like admitting the tip.

I tipped Brisbane to do it for brown, North to belt the pies, Freo to make finals a very big ask for the Swans, Port to continue to impress, Essendon to belt the saints, Us to sneak over the line in a tight one, Doggies by 60, and the Hawks to flex against the Cats

Spot on with our game, Swallow, Ablett, Prestia, O'Meara should be too much on their own. Hope for a good fight though.

Other than the mids I reckon we've got them covered around the ground so if we can shut down 1 of the mids down we're not without a chance.

The Brisbane v Richmond game shapes up as a shocker. We're all better off watching the replay of our game v Carlton tonight.

I tipped Brisbane to do it for brown, North to belt the pies, Freo to make finals a very big ask for the Swans, Port to continue to impress, Essendon to belt the saints, Us to sneak over the line in a tight one, Doggies by 60, and the Hawks to flex against the Cats

If tigers loose (which I hope they do) say goodnight Richmond. Carlton are also done.

we can match the Suns in the midfield

Watching the brisbane richmond match, now I know how other supporters go watching melbourne. I feel like im watching melbourne tonight in parts when we play at our worst. Brisbane are fumbling, cant get it out of there 50, letting Richmond score easily and no targets up the ground.

By the way how do you reckon Moloney is going. plays in a team last week that gets thrashed by over 100 then finds himself as sub where first gamers are getting a full game before him.

Watching the brisbane richmond match, now I know how other supporters go watching melbourne. I feel like im watching melbourne tonight in parts when we play at our worst. Brisbane are fumbling, cant get it out of there 50, letting Richmond score easily and no targets up the ground.

By the way how do you reckon Moloney is going. plays in a team last week that gets thrashed by over 100 then finds himself as sub where first gamers are getting a full game before him.

the best part is they will win and start to think they're a top 4 side again. Next three round for them include Hawks(can't see them upsetting them again)Geelong, the bye then us. After we beat them they will be 2 & 6 and season over for the overrated rabble.

Tonight's game is just awful.

We have improved....

The Brisbane v Richmond game shapes up as a shocker. We're all better off watching the replay of our game v Carlton tonight.

Or, if we are really bored (and sadly pathetic) ..... read and post on Demonland

that has to be one of the worst games i've watched so far

we could thrash either side on that performance

just deplorable

1st quarter: Brisbane were fumbly, with horrible kicking skills and unbelievable handball choices. Like watching us in 2012 and 2013.

2nd quarter: Brisbane sharpen up and immediately start to run.

Instant outcome:- Richmond fold like bad origami.

Tiges could get done here. They can be such carp at times.

You sort of what richmond to get beaten. It would be funny.

OMG both Tiger and Lions look bloody awful. Very much like MFC of the past few years. Poor disposal, poor vision and rudderless. I would hope that we could beat them both. (Add in an unexpected win over Geelong and we would have the feline quartet !)

brisbane very stiff at the start of the 3rd quarter. Never seen a more obvious deliberate then newman putting the ball over the line near brisbanes goal.

If tigers hold on they should not bother singing the song. They may win but wont be convincing.

if we win by about 22 points and adelaide, richmond, sydney and the saints get done (entirely possible) we will move to 11th on the ladder

win the following week we'll be in the 8

juuuuuuuuust dreamin' away here

I too had the Lions tonight. I thought Brown's 250 would be enough to get them moving up there, and for a while in the third it looked like they would, but then they turned off again and let the Tigers get a run on. Silly buggers.

Long year for the Paddle Pops

I notice a certain R Petterd playing a great game off half back for the Tiges tonight. Where did they get him from I wonder? His chronic Achilles problems have cleared up it seems.

So I ended up watching bits and pieces of tonight's game and what a bore? Brisbane are struggling with injuries and, after a terrible opening quarter they rallied to hit the lead in the third quarter at which point I think if I had opened the windows I might have caught a whiff of melting plastic from a neighbouring Tiger fan's microwave. To their credit, they rallied and had a good win and full credit to Ricky Petterd who was excellent for the second time I've seen him this year. Of all of the players let go by MFC in recent years he's been the best performed. On the other hand Beamer, who was the sub for the Lions, didn't do much other than prove that he hasn't learned a great deal since the time when he first crossed over from Geelong. Still refuses to lower his sights, tries to kick the ball too long or too high (effectiveness 44%) and really doesn't have a team sense. But that was obvious during his time at Melbourne. Pity and I still miss Scotty Thompson who plays his 250th this weekend.