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Welcome, Demonlanders, to the real round 1! My word, there are some cracking games set for this long weekend (not least the one occurring on the G on Sunday at the divine time of 1:10 - around about the time Jesus rock and rolled from his tomb). After last weeks predictions effort (picking the polar opposite results) I think I might ditch that part of the preview. Carlton v Richmond It's been said before about this game - before turning into a cash bonanza for those who stick with the Blues - but this promises to be a scorching encounter. A good old fashioned game of midfield v midfield. Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Carrazzo et al up against Cotchin, Delidio, Martin and friends. Personally, I really rate the Richmond midfield and think that Hardwick has successfully drilled into them the tough, workmanlike attitude teams need to be successful. Not only do I think that Richmond will match it in the middle, but around the rest of the ground I think the Tiges are a good thing. Their defenders have developed well but will need to watch Betts and Garlett and their forwards should be too good for anyone Carlton can match them with if the Tiges get on top in the middle. The problem for Richmond will be if the Blues get a run on. No one runs forward of the ball more often than the Blues - great when they're ahead, rubbish when headed. Tigers for me. Bulldogs v Brisbane The less said about this game (and the next two) the better I think. The Bulldogs aren't going anywhere fast in my view and Brisbane have quietly compiled a formidable midfield with goal-kicking mids and forwards. This promises to be a drubbing, possibly the biggest of the round. GWS v Sydney Battle of the who car... Bridge. Yawn. Gold Coast v St Kilda Could be a closer match than expected. Gold Coast endured a tough year, but I think have some real steel in their middle. Guys like Bennell and Swallow promise to be very hard to stop (the previous an absolute jet). I think Prestia will improve but, notably, it'll be interesting to watch how Ablett is played this year. I think GC will be very good in a handful of games this year and it'll just be a matter of which ones it'll be. St Kilda's fleet of small forwards is enough to make you sick (in more ways than one) and they still have a very slick midfield. Look for them to be too good for the Suns, but the Suns will be quite plucky. Saints under 40. Melbourne v Port Adelaide I don't even know what to say. So much will depend on the fitness of our players - but even that is a double-edged sword. If we go in with too many underdone, we could be found wanting immensely. This'll be especially so if we were to go in with an unfit Clark and Dawes. I don't think Dawes will play for the simple fact that with he and Clark not at 100% we run the risk of inside 50s not being converted. A lumbering Dawes will not help the cause. The midfield duel will be interesting. Ours has been much improved since the midseason break last year (often winning inside 50s only to lose the match) whilst theirs, with Boak, Ebert etc isn't as terrible as it was feared to have become two seasons ago. Schulz will be dangerous and there always seems to be a previously unknown player who bobs up for 3-4 so look for that to happen. On the whole, however, with our improved fitness, midfield workrate and hopefully a fit focal point up forward, we should be too good... North Melbourne v Collingwood In the mould of Richmond v Carlton for mine. This could be a scorching match. Swan, Pendlebury, Beams (superstars of the comp) etc up against Swallow, Bastinac, Wells and co. (honest triers who run all day and use the footy pretty well). Any team with Petrie is one to be careful of but I think Collingwood will have a little too much polish overall - their depth is amazing, by the way. Frustrating. Hawthorn v Geelong "You haven't beaten us since Beijing"... Cats fans seem to harp on about to Hawks fans. A bizarre reference - essentially they're saying "you haven't beaten us since October (when no football was played) 2008!" Of course, the last match played before Beijing saw the Hawks win the granny. But I digress from that banal mock. I just think Hawthorn will be too good, but then I've thought that in the last few contests between these two and they just, simply, find a way to lose. The Cats don't seem to be regressing as quickly as I'd have liked but I will, again, for some reason go with the Hawks again. Any team with Buddy is hard to deny. Game of the Round North Collingwood/Carlton Richmond Thrashing of the Round Brisbane Dogs Potential upset of the round Suns