45HG

Too bad it was in an ODI, ey

Not sure about that. I think sides that keep match practice/fitness up and hit finals with momentum have a massive leg-up.

Effort! Endeavour, hard tackling, hard running. Don't be afraid to take the game on and use your teammates - trust they'll be in the right position, trust them to get the ball and don't be afraid to run forward of them. Shepherd, block, bump.

Words. Nothing but sweet, sweet words that turn into bitter orange wax in my ears.

Jetta (if uncontracted) will be lucky to remain on the list. We have so many sub-par footballers it's terrifying. The ones we have above par are so bereft of confidence it's frightening. Looking back at 2010 I honestly cannot believe it's come to this. We shouldn't have knifed Mcdonald.

In 7 games, Jamar has had 20 kicks. 20. Not once has he had more than 6, twice he's had 1 and one match he had zero. He has taken 14 marks. 14. He's had 2 games where he hasn't taken a single mark. Disgusting.

Magner out? What. Is. Going. On? High performance my rear-end. If I see Pederson on Franklin that'll be it.

I'll look into it?

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

Good post - extend it to stats such as handball receives and inside 50s (which I'd like to see a similar stat inside 30s which might reveal an extra layer).

Love how an interesting observation about a potential evolution of the game is straight away brought into a Melbourne perspective. Sometimes I wish this board would open up a little and not be so afraid to talk about the rest of the competition or the game itself.

Kane Williamson is such a talent but he simply has to learnt to tick the runs over. Regularly he bats out 30/40+ deliveries only to be undone. Too often that's for about 5-10. He needs to tick the runs over to relieve pressure and place it on the opposition captain. I shudder to think what Broad and Anderson will do to our meek batting line up. We have to pray Starc, Cummins and Pattinson stay fit!

8-11 they kicked in the third from 32 inside fifties or something close. Most dominate quarter I've seen. Certainly set our standard. They always pump us on the scoreboard or kick tonnes of behinds and merely thrash us.

I missed why this game wasn't played on Friday? And will it have any ramifications for the Geelong game there next Saturday night?

Interesting. But when we played them we had 57 less kicks 44 less handballs 32 less tackles 14 less inside 50s and lost by 10 goals. I agree that a few top class mids would make us look a whole lot better. But we've gone no where in the last 18 months - and I don't think that had to be the case.

He'll be straight in next week then, I'll assume. Mind you, we'd need his speed against the Hawks.

The more I watch GC the less I'm inclined to defend Neeld. They've been coached to do the defensive side well but the young players are also given a license to attack and run forward of the footy.

I suppose the ladder was too-difficult-a-means to figure out his position?

Must've been raised on Farmer's Union.

Indeed, it was the game the Swans needed (Pies hate being favourites? Bring on QB!) And that whole Geelong hate starts. Well. Hrm.

Hopefully this incident brings to attention all the idiots at the footy who continue on their merry, racist ways and stops them in their tracks. Disappointing and a stark reminder that our community isn't as clean and tolerant as we would like to believe.

Is the final 8 settled? I think it is save for one side - Port Adelaide. Collingwood v Sydney Friday night footy strikes again, I suppose that's why they call it a fixture. Form: Two big wins in a row v Just going Form vs each other: Swans won the prelim but Pies had won the previous 11 matches. Pies' favour: Last week's game against the Cats provided Collingwood with the opportunity it needed. One can't help the feeling the Collingwood needed to play a superior opponent to get the best out of itself. It delivered. Hurt by the absence of Ball, Beams and Shaw, Collingwood nevertheless seem to be gathering a bit of momentum - albeit I don't see them being right at the top. Their smalls remain dangerous and what a handy pickup Sam Dwyer has been. Swans' favour: Broke the hoodoo last year against the Pies and featuring so many quality mids, Sydney are still a tough team. What they need, however, is a return to their 22 players all-in mentality. It's what got them up last year and it's been lacking this year. The Swans have lost to the two real quality sides of the comp but rolled a side who, in North Melbourne, I'd rate as only slightly behind Collingwood. Much will depend on Jetta and the run he may provide coupled with intensity at the footy. If it's anything like their game against the Hawks they may as well not show up. Verdict: Tough one - it will depend on which side turns up. Collingwood's mids are finding form and they'll love Friday night footy in front of the army. Sydney just haven't reached the peaks of last year. Last week they were lucky to be 27 points up and woeful to give it up. They aren't travelling well but, like the Pies last week, may view this as the challenge they need to get up. My tip: Pies by 5 points Port Adelaide v Geelong Form: Crash v Crash hot Form vs each other: Cats have won the last 7 (only one of these at AAMI). Power's favour: There has been a trend this year of sides who have had consecutive wins failing twice in a row. Port were rolled by North and then flogged. Essendon were rolled by the Cats and then flogged. Could Port bring Geelong down again after their loss? Instinct says no, but if they can revive the confidence of earlier in the season and return to hitting the scoreboard they just might. Cats' favour: The return of Stevie J is a big one. He's an enigma and has been a dynamo for them in the midfield this season. He plays last week - they win. Geelong's best players all enjoy playing Port Adelaide and they're all, also, in handy form. Their experience and knack of winning will be an important factor in this game. Verdict: I view this game as closer than some for a few of the reasons listed above. I've stated previously that Port beat up on trash and their record is overly flattering - but the fact remains that at home, with a run-on, they can be tricky to handle. Two sides who hate first halves, it'll be interesting to see how they come out of the blocks. Geelong, however, with their nouse and experience will be too classy for the Power and will pull away to get the points. My tip: Cats by 26 GWS v West Coast Form: Trash v Blessed Form vs each other: West Coast 1-0 by 81 Giants' favour: Plucky last week? Still smashed but surely they'll be steeling themselves for a good showing at home? Some very handy Eagles are out with injuries and if they're not on song, the Giants fiesty mids could strike. Eagles' favour: They need a win. A big win. Sitting 11th on the ladder, WC need to do some damage to opposing teams in terms of % and this is the perfect chance. WS' form has followed a vague up-down pattern. Up last week, crashing down this week. Verdict: West Coast will be looking for blood but may not have the staying power to do an Adelaide. At home I'd be tipping 110+, away from home, not by quite so much. My tip: Eagles by 83 St Kilda v Western Bulldogs Form: Plucky v Trash Form vs each other: Saints have won the last 8 Saints' favour: They're playing the Dogs. They regain Hayes and have enough quality on their list to bury a team when the offering it there. This week, it's there. Dogs' favour: Not a lot. Some promising youngsters but it's hard to go past the dropping of Cross and the absence of Cooney. Will struggle to win enough ball. Won't be classy enough to use it up forward. Verdict: I've been on the Dogs' back for a while. Coincidently, the heat has been put upon them in recent times. This will likely put their backs up early, but the Saints will put on a clinic afterwards. My tip: Saints by 63 Brisbane v Carlton Form: Decent v Just going Form vs each other: Blues with the last 4 Lions' favour: They'll be up and about following their win on the weekend. Brissie adore their home ground and they have some hard-nosed midfielders that could well get firing if the crowd is behind them. Blues' favour: They have enough class and talent to roll the Lions. Recent form vs the Lions indicates good match ups and the return of Gibbs is a good one for them. Verdict: I don't rate Carlton. I see them as soft-bellied outsiders who only enjoy the easy footy. No backline to speak of and many forwards who don't put in enough hard yards. If Brisbane turn up to play, a boilover is well on the cards here. The crowd behind them and some goals from Rich and co. and I think they'll put Carlton away. Show up like they did against the Swans and they're no hope. My tip: Lions by 11 Richmond v Essendon Intrigue thy name is Richmond v Essendon. Handy ins, a bit of form, a bit to play for, a bit of arrogance and a bit of attacking flair make for an even match-up and a hard to read game. Form: Good v dwindling Tigers' favour: Ball winning mids who use the footy well, spear-headed by an ace forward, help the Tigers' tick the score along consistently. Continuously they have periods of "Richmond" footy - where intensity dissipates and interest dissolves. Bombers' favour: They'll be up for this game. Early in the season their intensity was second to none. Recent weeks, after their ANZAC triumph, have seen their form and intensity drop considerably. This will be the game where the Bombers get back to attacking the footy and driving through the middle. A couple of handy ins and back at the G will be good news for the Bombers. Verdict: Essendon's two games at the G have yeilded 46 and 148 points wins. They love the ground and will be up and about. Richmond are 3-2 at the ground but two of the wins have been against trash and the one win was mildly lucky. If Essendon aren't up to scratch, however, Richmond will be there to pounce. I feel that the Bombers tick a few more boxes but it'll depend on whether they turn up. Last year, Richmond were the better side but Essendon got the cherries. My tip: Essendon by 17 Hawthorn v Gold Coast The anti-intrigue Form: Unreal v Decent Form vs each other: Hawks 3-0 Hawks' favour: Really? Suns' favour: Gold Coast youngsters are starting to show the talent that will make them a super-power in years to come. The absence of Bennell and Smith will hurt as leg speed around the ground, especially from half back, can be used to hurt the Hawks. Ball-speed, however, is more important and quality users of the footy like O'Meara will be a gift that keeps giving for the franchise. Verdict: The young Suns have been up for a while and they've been inflated for a while. They've got some wins, but only against trash. This match will be a reversal of their previous trip to the Home of Football. My tip: Hawks by 73 North Melbourne v Adelaide Form: Cracking/desperately unlucky vs hitting their straps Form vs each other: North with the last 3 Roos' favour: No team, not even the most unfortunate, could possibly continue this run of down and out luck. 3 times they've been better than top 8 teams only to come away without the chocolates. Last week they were robbed and with 9 days break they will return to the ground they love with fire in their bellies. The fire resides because losing this match will cook this season for them. They won the corresponding fixture easily last year despite being comparatively down on form and they'll be too good again on Sunday. My tip: Roos by 24 Fremantle v Melbourne Form: Working the system v disgusting Form vs each other: Freo 3 of the last 4 and the last 7 at home by an average of about 40. Dockers' favour: They're clicking under Lyon and showed, in 15 minutes of blistering footy, that they can score when they want (further proof lies in the first term versus Collingwood). The previous 3 and a half quarters also showed that they can outplay quality opposition away from home. All of that is about the opposite of what they face this weekend. They'll get the chance to experiment with their forwardline and will probably get lots of practice. Demons' favour: A spirited performance against the Tigers has set the bar for the Dees for the rest of the season. The return of Jack Watts adds some much needed polish but the Dees hate to travel. Verdict: The Dees' shocking use of the footy will be exposed mightily against the hard-pressing Dockers side. Melbourne have a tendency to suck teams down to their level and, potentially, a scoring-wise-disinterested Freo side could be the next to fall. The problem for Melbourne is that, even better intensity will not equal scoring opportunities. Dawes will be a handy foil for Clark but won't be able to do much on his own. The Dees will struggle to get it into 50 - let alone score often from those entries. The Dockers will romp it in. My tip: Freo by 73 Game of the Round Richmond v Essendon Thrashing of the Round Hawks/Eagles/Dockers/Saints Toughest to Pick Richmond v Essendon Upset of the Round Lions Closest tip last week Missed Crows by 5 (damn Saad!)

Barrett is a mind-boggling terrible writer. How these flogs get paid to write is way beyond me to answer. This article appears more as notes from an interview rather than a carefully thought-out piece. As they all do.

Whoever has Anderson...?

If you don't think Jack Watts would've kicked that, you've got rocks in your head. One of the better kicks in the league.