45HG

Good spot RM. I suppose my "upset" tip is based, too readily perhaps, on the odds for the round. I think I started off going off the cuff but perhaps rely too much on the betting agencies - a sad sign of the times. Mind you - I think to tip an upset is usually to understand the danger such a pick entails. I'd love to see your upset come to the fore - the Melbourne boys will need to approach the game with confidence, aggression and (dare I say as it's an underestimated quality) a bit of flare and attack. Good feedback P_Man. I rate them as such simply because their games are, largely, dull to watch. They may be exciting at the last because of the margin between the teams but, I think, this owes more to neither side being able to extend the margin and thus leaving a close margin at the end. Essentially, however, this will generally make for an exciting game and, at least, a tough game. You're right that their players play with passion and with Fyfe back they may have enough counter-attack to hurt the Swans if the Swans don't make the most from their forward opportunities. Thanks mate.

The season settles...? West Coast v North Melbourne Two decent sides will go toe-to-toe on Friday night footy. Form: Both sides getting back to some high-quality touch Form vs each other: West Coast have won the last 4 Eagles' favour: With NN back, they look potent, smooth and confident once again. The unstoppable Dean Cox loves his home patch when his ruck mate is in town and that should continue on tomorrow. West Coast's midfield is classy and multi-pronged - working in favour of their much-vaunted forward line. They should get enough opportunities to do damage with the ball coming out of the middle. Roos' favour: Daw's form with Petrie up front is ominous and their workmanlike midfield have got some deserved wins in the past fortnight. They'll be praying that their skipper gets up for the contest. Verdict: WC will get too much easily ball through the middle and their targets will be too numerous to stop. North will have their chances throughout the match and will likely take them, but the WC press will be back in full swing and they should be too good. Tip: WC by 25 Essendon v Brisbane Form: Very good v average Form vs each other: 2 and 2 and a draw from their last 5. Bombers' favour: Faced their first big challenge last week and came up short - but were hardly disgraced. Better use of the footy around goal in the middle stretch could have seen a very different result. They like this ground and should do a job with their rampant midfield. Lions' favour: May have found a bit of fight and form last week against the Eagles - pushing them for much of the game until the last 20 minutes. Hanley, Rockliff and Moloney have been dangerous but this could be a Sydney repeat for the Lions when they face a midfield that loves to attack the footy, run hard and run forward. Verdict: Essendon are in too good-a-form and have too many winners over the ground to be seriously tested against the Lions. Tip: Bombers by 58 Hawthorn v GWS Form: Very good v terrible Form vs each other: Played once. Hawks won by 162 Hawks' favour: They're the best team in the comp. Giants' favour: This game isn't being played on mainland and, hopefully for their sake, won't be seen by many. Perhaps they're riding the young team one up one down merry-go-round. Verdict: Pretty simple. This could be anything. My tip: Hawks by 157 Gold Coast v Footscray Form: Good v OK Form vs each other: Bulldogs have won all 3 Suns' favour: They have some up and about midfielders who seem to now understand their role, know where to run and how to tackle. Gold Coast know how to sneak a goal and how to work one - especially up there. Have been disappointing twice this season. Dogs' favour: In 2 out of the past 3 weeks they have seriously pushed two teams of much higher quality. Cross, Boyd, Cooney and Griffin are all in form - this allows the Bulldogs lesser lights to escape scrutiny and for the Dogs to be more competitive than they'd otherwise be. Verdict: This should be a tough game. Much will come down to the midfields and the form of Liam Jones. Added to this will be whether or not Charlie Dixon is up for the game - you'd be tempted to rush him back for it. The Dogs aren't easy to roll but I feel the plucky youngsters from up North are ready to take the next step and move to 4-4 Tip: Suns by 21 Collingwood v Geelong Form: Average v Tops Form vs each other: Collingwood won the last two but haven't beaten Geelong in an odd year since 2005. Pies' favour: On paper they're much better than they're playing. This could be the test some of their big names need to step up and play the footy they've played before. Lynch has lost some of his early form and this has halted the Pies' forwardline somewhat. Star names through the middle and handy forwards mean you can never write this mob oss. Cats' favour: They just win. 7-0 with an average winning margin of 20 and percentage of 121 points to the quality of opposition Geelong have played but also the way they simply win games of footy - whether they're playing well or not. Collingwood's propensity to leak goals and Geelong's ability to ram home multiple goals in a short space of time could, again, be what gets them over the line. It's risky business, however, and if Collingwood's defence stands up they could be in trouble. Verdict: This may be the challenge that Collingwood need but I don't think they can beat the Cats who know how to get up in the big games. Tip: Cats by 11 Sydney v Fremantle Form: Very good v BORING Form vs each other: 3-3 from last 6. Swans' favour: So much talent. So much grunt. So many ball winners who tackle hard, run hard and kick goals. Dockers' favour: Their game style works well against Sydney I feel. They close down space, don't allow easy ball forward and can take out opposition champions. Verdict: Swans, at home, will get over the line but it won't be all their own way. Tip: Swans by 15 Carlton v Port Adelaide Form: Pretenders vs Pretenders Form vs each other: Carlton have won 5 of the last 6. Blues' favour: 20 minutes of footy nearly stole a game they had no right to win. On the same ground, this should give their players enough confidence to get up. Power's favour: A great start to the year will be fresh in the players' minds and if they can lay hard tackles and play pressure footy they should get push the Blues the whole way. Verdict: Carlton have a massively soft underbelly that will be exposed time and again this season. Port Adelaide beat up on trash early on and the bubble has now well and truly burst. Tip: Carlton by 28 Richmond v Melbourne Form: Back on the winner's list vs can't find their most recent winner's list Form vs each other: Tigers have won the last 3 Tigers' favour: Back in form with a win over the Power on the road with missing talent. They have too much midfield grunt, too many goalkickers and too many skillful, passionate players who don't go to water when the slightest amount of pressure is applied (save for the standard 20 minutes of "Richmond football" that occurs each week). Dees' favour: There could be some terrible, terrible weather. Verdict: It is mind-boggling, heartbreaking and disgusting to think that, two years ago, these two teams played off essentially for the title of the incumbent rising Victorian club, with the winner going into favouritism to make finals. The Dees won comfortably by 5 or so goals. Within two years, Richmond are pushing for finals and Melbourne are a disgrace. They'll simply be far too good. Last year they won by 23 points (2.11) but they won't be so profligate again. My tip: Tigers by 78 Adelaide v St Kilda Form: Mid-table madness Form vs each other: 3-3 in the last 6 Crows' favour: Home form is always an advantage for this mob. Much-maligned this season, but their form really hasn't been that bad. Destroyed GWS, pushed Hawthorn and Carlton (with injuries) all the way, thrashed the Dogs, lead the Showdown for most of it, rolled Brisbane up North and disappointed against the Bombers. They have tough midfielders who like to attack the hard-ball. Saints' favour: Riewoldt is in career-best form and Jack Steven is a jet. Verdict: The Crows will be too good in front of their home crowd, Dangermouse will be up and about and Tom Lynch has no doubt spent all week watching highlights of Godra. Tip: Crows by 35 Game of the Round Cats Pies Thrashing of the Round Hawks Giants Toughest to Pick Suns Dogs / Cats Pies Upset of the Round Pies/Dogs Closest tip last week Missed Eagles by 1 point

As long as he doesn't go the Mclean route...

The Dogs' "form" is a bit of a misnomer IMO. Griffin, Cross, Boyd and Cooney have been their best performed players this year. That's four top class midfielders with over 750 games experience between them. Put four quality, experienced mids into our side and we'd look better immediately. It also shouldn't be forgotten that they, also, have only one win, their average losing margin is over 48 and they've had terrible efforts against the Crows, West Coast, Richmond - a Melbourneesque (if we could get close enough) fadeout against the Roos and a pathetic start against Freo which cost them any shot. I'm not saying this to compare form to ours. Our form is unacceptable. The Bulldogs' form is also unacceptable I'd have thought.

When we won the second half by 70 and Neitz kicked 8(?). Round 20, 2006?

Round 19, 2007. 42 point win over the Dogs who, at the time, were pressing for finals. Cost us NN?

2 Vic teams we've beaten since the end of 2007. Richmond and Essendon 4 Vic teams we've beaten since the end of 2006. Richmond, Essendon, Carlton and Footscray. 6 Vic teams we have not beaten since 2006.

Absolutely. It's gone so far that I find it hard to see how even the players can turn it around. They play with such little excitement/confidence that I feel it's almost certain that this stigma will stick with them. Confidence can turn - but something is rotten at this club and it's infiltrated the playing group through their development, coaching and management. I just hope against logic that what's being instilled at some level is a long-term mentality that will begin to click over as players get more time. Seeing the players that were brought in, however, does not fill me with any confidence. Whatsoever.

Sylvia - ha

Run hard, tackle hard and use the ball well. I don't care what game plan is being implemented - these are cornerstones of good teams. They are the fundamentals and foundation we should have been drilling into our team over the years. It's never too late.

Essendon won the stats tonight (including nearly doubling the clearances) but lost by 28...

Great, and underrated, point. The handball to Johnson in the 3rd quarter and the handball to Smedts in the 4th underscore this point. Creative, confident play that backs teammates hard running and ability.

An interesting round ahead. Some mouth watering clashes surrounded by enough games to keep the footy fan interested, with really only a couple of non-events. Geelong v Essendon Friday night footy strikes. First v Second on a Friday night for the first time since 1486 promises to be a free-flowing, attacking frenzy of skill, guile and complete arrogance. Recent form: Both teams undefeated. Recent form v each other: The Cats have won 7 of the last 8 (the loss being the game where the guy dropped a million (?) on the Cats). Cats' favour: They're a slick, confident mob who know how to win and can burn teams off with a flick of the tail. People rave on and on about the young kids at Geelong but, really, it's the old boys who continue to get the job done - with Johnson, Kelly, Bartel and Chapman tearing it up. Add handy names Selwood, Stokes, Duncan and they're bloody tough to beat even at their worst. They know how to win. Bombers' favour: Undefeated and riding high, the Bombers have played frenetic football this year lead by some out and out guns of the competition in Stanton, Heppell, Watson and some bloke in No. 4. Many have waited for them to wilt under the investigation and it'll be fascinating to see if this is the week (after the interviews) or if the players come out strongly again. Verdict: The Cats will be too classy against a Bombers side that have been high for too long. Essendon will have set themselves for the clash, however, as evidenced by their pathetic turnout against the Giants. They'll be up and about early but can't stack up against the Cats. My tip: Cats by 21 Port Adelaide v Richmond An intriguing clash that could, strangely, give a good insight into the finals hopes of both sides. Port are yet to really prove themselves (though a win here may still not achieve that) and the Tiges have blown their wonderful start with some off-the-pace performances (how lucky are they that Yarran couldn't finish the job in round 1? Recent form: Power have beaten trash, Tigers have lost to decent sides. Recent form vs each other: 3-3 and a draw from their last 7. The last four wins have come from the away side (two each). Power's favour: Their fitness is immense. They are never out of a game and, playing at home, are hard to top. Their midfielders get enough footy and they have some handy goalkickers (including the blokes running through the guts). Tigers' favour: They'll treat this is a must win. 3-3 and some losses to good sides leaves Richmond sitting in 9th. They'll be comfortable there - like returning to your favourite sofa after a long holiday - but they won't be happy. They trounced the Power over there last year and have a dangerous mid/forward combination. As usual, they need to stop the passages of "being Richmond." Verdict: The Power's bubble has burst. They will lose some confidence from last week and will have to front up to a determined Richmond outfit. Despite their comebacks this year, I think the start is crucial. Edit: Cotchin, Vickery and Grimes out could be very costly and enough to swing the match. My tip: Richmond by 7 Edit: Power by 12 Brisbane v West Coast Have these been the two most disappointing sides of this year? Brisbane were Melbourneesque in the first quarter last week. Recent form: terrible v terrible Recent form vs each other: 2-2 from last 4. Lions' favour: they're at home? Eagles' favour: With NN back, they're up and about. Verdict: WC have too much class through the midfield and too many goalkickers not to get up. My tip: Eagles by 27 Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne Uh oh. Recent form: Terrible/plucky v cruelly by the fixtures. Recent form vs each other: 2-2 from last 4. Dogs' favour: They've been plucky twice this year. Flogging Brisbane (which doesn't look as great now) and annoying a disinterested Cats. People also forget that they have some classy, classy experienced players. Griffen, Cross, Cooney and Boyd are leading the way - they're playing good footy and, without them, the Dogs would be absolutely disgusting. Roos' favour: They're a much better side and will be buoyed by the win (against a flying side). They'll enter this game with the confidence that, three weeks ago they destroyed another terrible team at the same venue. Verdict: North will be far too classy and it'll depend on how interested they stay. My tip: North by 67 Hawthorn v Sydney Here it is! Two rough and tumble teams with fiesty midfields and work-aholic captains face off in the Grand Final replay. Two teams that are used to having their own way and not being pushed around. This should be a cracker. Recent form: just going v just going Recent form vs each other: Hawks have won 5 of the last 9 but Sydney have the big one. Hawks' favour: On their home turf the Hawks will be looking to exact some small revenge on the Swans for their Grand Final loss. Hodge is an inspiration. Despite playing below par against two reasonably tough opposition and without Buddy kicking a goal in the past two weeks, they've still got up in the last fortnight. Rioli is a big miss but they still have so many good, tough footballers that use the ball so well. Swans' favour: They're unfazed by any opposition or situation and have a wealth of character and strength in their team. I love absolutely everything that Jack, Hannebury, McVeigh, O'Keefe and Kennedy do (to name a few) and they've all been doing the job for the Swans over the weeks. You get the feeling that they stepped it up a notch last week in preparation for this weeks' game. Verdict: This will be hard to split but I have a definite leaning. There are so many great players playing but I simply lean to Hawthorn's home ground advantage, anger at the Swans and the probability that they won't kick as badly again as they did in September (though, that's what everyone said after their Prelim). My tip: Hawks by 17 Fremantle v Collingwood This promises to be one of those low-scoring, it'd be mind-numblingly boring if it weren't so close/interesting games. Recent form: meh vs ok Recent form vs each other: Pies have won the last 4. Dockers' favour: Ross Lyon has successfully installed his terrible(ly effective) gameplan and his players are responding. They were good against the Suns, or the Suns were just disappointing, and they fell over the line against the Tigers. No Fyfe hurts but getting Hill back should help. Pies favour: They absolutely love to travel and this is a big game for them. They were good against the Tigers and did the job against the Saints but are, overall, just going. Star players get a lot of ball but aren't damaging enough and many of their players are found out too easily. A lot rests on Cloke but Swan/Pendlebury/Sidebottom should love the surrounds of Perth. Verdict: This will be close. Freo are 1 and 1 from close games and the Pies love the road. My tip: Pies by 13 GWS v Adelaide Meh. Form: terrible (save for a very gutsy half against the Dons) v mediocre Form against each other: Adelaide have pumped them twice. Giants' favour: it's at home and the game will end. Crows' favour: they're bigger, tougher, angrier and too good for the kids. Verdict: Adelaide will destroy them. My tip: Adelaide by 80+ Melbourne v Gold Coast Well - I don't know what's left to say. We're a skilless rabble and they're a one man band apparently training at the G this week for an imminent Grand Final. Form: terrible v dissapointing in the last couple of weeks. Form vs each other: Dees are 3-0 but the last, a 7 goal win at the MCG, was a terrible display and was saved by a quarter. Dees' favour: It's at home, Melbourne players walk taller against trash and we haven't lost to an expansion team yet. Despite the terrible result last week, Melbourne played well through the middle and lead the inside 50s for much of the game and, with some greater composure, could've forced a different result. Dawes will not be the in that we are all hoping for. Suns' favour: Gary Ablett is immense, they've been competitive in most games this year and they dominate areas of the ground where Melbourne struggle. Dixon must come up for them I feel to get up and guys like Prestia, O'Meara and Bennell will be great for them. Verdict: Melbourne generally walk taller against these teams. The extra experience in some players really stands out against the inexperienced kids and with good ball use through Dawes and the midfield, Melbourne should be too good. My tip: Melbourne by 18 St Kilda v Carlton Monday night footy to end the round - not a massive fan. Form: plucky v overrated Form vs each other: Saints have won 3 of the last 5 after winning the previous 50 (or something). Saints' favour: They've been plucky against better opposition of late and Jack Steven will be a gun. If they can get enough grunt in the middle they could be dangerous. Carlton sans Waite could be a massive boost for the Saints. Blues' favour: Confidence. I think the Blues think they can topple teams and, for the most, they're thereabouts. They're a better team than the Saints but last week showed them to be largely soft. They'll run forward of the ball when they're up and hate a tackle. Verdict: The bookies see this going only one way. I'm not so sure. Carlton haven't had it all their own way and have been hard to read and the Saints, while passed it, still have enough talent to win a game if they're on. My tip: Carlton by 11. Game of the Round Hawks Swans Thrashing of the Round Crows/Roos Toughest to Pick Tigers Power Upset of the Round Tigers possibly Saints Closest tip lat week Missed Pies by 3

18, 450

Does Grimes have to miss 8 weeks or 8 rounds? Would love him back for the Dogs! Also - does anyone else think we may believe Clark's injury to not be that bad (I.e. less than 8 weeks hence he wasn't put on the LTI.)

What's the word on Charlie Dixon?

Worst 7 goal win in history.

Can't be bothered looking through - which comments?

What I can't stand is the high hack out of the back line. If you're not kicking to a target keep the bloody thing low/along the ground if needs be. Our players seem to have little awareness of where opposition players are and a number of times blindly kicked the ball down their throat. I love the way Terlich goes about it but by gee he turns it over straight out from goal at least once a week. Toward the city end yesterday he missed a clear target above his head by about two metres. Again, I'd say keep it low. If you miss you target, miss it at their bootstraps not 5 metres over their head - at least that way you can contest and you lessen the chance for an intercept. I suppose it's just another area of the game where we are struggling. With confidence and more time together for the players, however, it will improve. Some weeks it will seem to have improved immensely, others it will feel like a complete regression. Either way there must be a steady increase of overall disposal quality. I'll never as long as I live understand the way Melbourne prepare for a game. We all hear that the physios say there's no time for goal kicking practice during the week - yet in the 15 minutes before a game every single player is sinking (or missing) pot shots from 40 like it's the 1980s. Surely there's a better way to spend your time to prepare for a contact sport than having 70% of players that won't even have a shot at goal practicing their goal kicking. I suppose the only reason it makes sense is that the players don't get to practice goal kicking during the week - they have to practice some time!

I saw enough today... No - not enough for me to give it away. I saw enough attack at the footy to think that the players still have drive inside them. I saw enough chains of disposal to believe that, as this group plays more games together, we will become a more cohesive unit throughout the year. I saw enough discipline in players playing their roles to hope that Neeld's message may get through to the whole playing group in time. I saw a team who desperately want to do what it needs to do to win, but can't. A team that could get its hands on the footy but couldn't use it through half forward (especially in the second term). A team that was burnt on the turnover. I saw a team who is a few high quality mids from improving dramatically (though, I suppose, all teams are). I saw a massively overrated team who will, in time, get found out against better opposition and will probably be lucky to make finals. I saw a team that should head into next week as favourites - if only just!

We are the only team in the league not to have scored first in a match this year. We are the only team in the league not to have kicked the first goal of a game this year. We play with such little flair/excitement it's bordering on depressing to watch. Hopefully that tide turns and the players run hard/work hard for each other. Those things shouldn't need to develop over time. They should have been engrained from Neeld's first day at the club. Unfortunately, we've become a sterile club that speaks and thinks in rhetoric and cliche - far removed from the passion and aggression required in the sport.

Do you think he's done enough to earn a recall for Gold Coast at the G next week? Add that to the fact that Coburg are wearing Essendon jumpers and Essendon are wearing their own clash jumper...

I'd say it's because the two were so closely rated that it was quite hard to split them. When comparing two such evenly ranked players, you've then got to look for a killer blow that holds one above the other. If you'd seen the prelim, you may understand the recruiter's quote. Trengove was immense in that game - against men.

And he freed up the cash for us to get Clark. Not that I see a whole lot in Barry, but that's still a good take in anyones book. We need quality mids badly, nonetheless.

And some on here call us moderators flogs. Get a load of this "journo"!