Round Six in the AFL: Preview
April 25th 2008 01:32
Round six could determine the fate of as many as six clubs if results go either way. Geelong and Hawthorn could firmly entrench themselves as finals’ contenders, whilst teams such as Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Fremantle and West Coast may want to start thinking about 2009 now if a loss occurs over the weekend.
Collingwood v Essendon (Friday 25 April, MCG, 2:40pm AEST)
With so many big stars sidelined due to injuries, Essendon will be relying on their “youthful exuberance” to defeat a more-experienced Collingwood squad in the traditional ANZAC Day blockbuster. Neither team will want to lose in the biggest game of the home-and-away fixture. The Bombers will be seeking revenge on the Pies’ after last year’s unexpected loss during the same fixture, but the Pies will be hungry to avenge for their loss in Round 16. Collingwood enters the match as the one to beat, but the occasion may bring out the best out of Bombers’ Coach Matthew Knights youngsters.
Fremantle v Geelong (Friday 25 April, Subiaco Oval, 8:40pm AEST)
An undefeated Geelong travel to Perth to play a languishing Fremantle, sitting in the bottom four after promising so much before the start of the season. Geelong go into the match with an unchanged squad, hungry to keep on winning. Needing a win to keep up with the rest of the pack, the Dockers will be determined to rectify their woeful home record which has seen them win only one match. The Cats start as favourites, but the unpredictability of an ageing Fremantle squad may throw a spanner in the works.
Carlton v Adelaide (Saturday 26 April, MCG, 2:10pm AEST)
Carlton will be going for three-in-a-row against Adelaide tomorrow at the MCG – a feat it has not done since Rounds 11-13, 2004. And with superstar Brendan Fevola sitting second on the goal-kicking ladder, the Blues may present a fierce challenge to the Crows. Will Ben Rutten get the job on big FEV, or will someone else? Judd got 26 possessions and three goals last week against a hapless Melbourne, will he be able to do the same on the weekend? The Crows will have Andrew Mcleod in sensational form after he racked up 34 touches against Fremantle at AAMI Stadium. Too close to call, but am leaning towards the Crows, with the Blues to possibly provide an upset.
Western Bulldogs v West Coast (Saturday 26 April, Telstra Dome, 7:10pm AEST)
The Western Bulldogs were lucky to get away with a draw last week against a spirited Tigers’ outfit, and will want to show the rest of the competition that their dream start to the season was not a fluke. Scott West is set to return and will bolster the midfield. The possible loss of Brad Johnson with a hamstring injury will not help their cause for a victory. Last time the Eagles played the Bulldogs at the ‘Dome, they had a convincing 87-point victory. But these aren’t the same teams we saw last year, and the ‘Dogs should run out comfortable winners by the game’s end.
Port Adelaide v St. Kilda (Saturday 26 April, AAMI Stadium, 7:40pm AEST)
A repeat of the 2004 Preliminary Final, which saw the Power get up over the Saints. Different form by both teams this year makes this one a tighter contest than ladder position may say. St. Kilda don’t want to be 3-3 after six rounds, and stuck in a mid-table clash running into the middle part of the season, whilst Port Adelaide want to join the pack, so as to not languish in the bottom four. The winner of the match will be determined by which midfield combination fires up. Will the Burgoyne and Cornes’ brothers mesmerize the likes of Dal Santo and Harvey, or vice-versa. Will Tredrea, Ebert and Rodan destroy the St. Kilda defence, or will Riewoldt and Koschitzke kick away? Saints in a close one.
Brisbane v Melbourne (Sunday 27 April, GABBA, 1:10pm AEST)
Everyone has written-off Melbourne this week - and with good reason. The Lions are tough to beat at home, even if they are in indifferent form. After a disgraceful performance last week, Melbourne can only get better. Hopefully, they will salvage something out of this match. No David Neitz will put more pressure on Russell Robertson to kick a swag. The question will be, who will get the jobs on Johnathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw? Brisbane by 11 goals.
Kangaroos v Sydney (Sunday 27 April, Telstra Dome, 2:10pm AEST)
In a repeat of the 1996 Grand Final, the Kangaroos will be looking to replicate that same result. Shannon Grant was on fire last week, and inspired his team to come back in the last quarter and beat Collingwood. Add to this the tall forward structure that the Kangaroos have, and Sydney may have a few problems down back. For the Swans’, Michael O’Loughlin and Adam Goodes will need to find some of the ball – Goodes in particular after Paul Roos’ public comments during the week. Kangaroos by a couple of goals.
Hawthorn v Richmond (Sunday 27 April, MCG, 4:40pm AEST)
The Hawks may be flying after a dream start, but it has been Richmond which has been dominating the headlines. After defeating the Dockers in Perth two weeks ago, and getting a controversial draw last week against the Bulldogs, Richmond will want to end Hawthorn’s five-game winning streak. Hawthorn will want to win to keep up the pressure on Geelong, and with Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin on fire, may do so. If Richmond cannot shut him down, then the result will go in favour of the Hawks. If Matthew Richardson and Nathan Brown get good supply to them, and kick straight, then the Tigers will be unstoppable. In my opinion, Hawthorn to win, but it will be a cracker of a game.
Collingwood v Essendon (Friday 25 April, MCG, 2:40pm AEST)
With so many big stars sidelined due to injuries, Essendon will be relying on their “youthful exuberance” to defeat a more-experienced Collingwood squad in the traditional ANZAC Day blockbuster. Neither team will want to lose in the biggest game of the home-and-away fixture. The Bombers will be seeking revenge on the Pies’ after last year’s unexpected loss during the same fixture, but the Pies will be hungry to avenge for their loss in Round 16. Collingwood enters the match as the one to beat, but the occasion may bring out the best out of Bombers’ Coach Matthew Knights youngsters.
Fremantle v Geelong (Friday 25 April, Subiaco Oval, 8:40pm AEST)
An undefeated Geelong travel to Perth to play a languishing Fremantle, sitting in the bottom four after promising so much before the start of the season. Geelong go into the match with an unchanged squad, hungry to keep on winning. Needing a win to keep up with the rest of the pack, the Dockers will be determined to rectify their woeful home record which has seen them win only one match. The Cats start as favourites, but the unpredictability of an ageing Fremantle squad may throw a spanner in the works.
Carlton v Adelaide (Saturday 26 April, MCG, 2:10pm AEST)
Carlton will be going for three-in-a-row against Adelaide tomorrow at the MCG – a feat it has not done since Rounds 11-13, 2004. And with superstar Brendan Fevola sitting second on the goal-kicking ladder, the Blues may present a fierce challenge to the Crows. Will Ben Rutten get the job on big FEV, or will someone else? Judd got 26 possessions and three goals last week against a hapless Melbourne, will he be able to do the same on the weekend? The Crows will have Andrew Mcleod in sensational form after he racked up 34 touches against Fremantle at AAMI Stadium. Too close to call, but am leaning towards the Crows, with the Blues to possibly provide an upset.
Western Bulldogs v West Coast (Saturday 26 April, Telstra Dome, 7:10pm AEST)
The Western Bulldogs were lucky to get away with a draw last week against a spirited Tigers’ outfit, and will want to show the rest of the competition that their dream start to the season was not a fluke. Scott West is set to return and will bolster the midfield. The possible loss of Brad Johnson with a hamstring injury will not help their cause for a victory. Last time the Eagles played the Bulldogs at the ‘Dome, they had a convincing 87-point victory. But these aren’t the same teams we saw last year, and the ‘Dogs should run out comfortable winners by the game’s end.
Port Adelaide v St. Kilda (Saturday 26 April, AAMI Stadium, 7:40pm AEST)
A repeat of the 2004 Preliminary Final, which saw the Power get up over the Saints. Different form by both teams this year makes this one a tighter contest than ladder position may say. St. Kilda don’t want to be 3-3 after six rounds, and stuck in a mid-table clash running into the middle part of the season, whilst Port Adelaide want to join the pack, so as to not languish in the bottom four. The winner of the match will be determined by which midfield combination fires up. Will the Burgoyne and Cornes’ brothers mesmerize the likes of Dal Santo and Harvey, or vice-versa. Will Tredrea, Ebert and Rodan destroy the St. Kilda defence, or will Riewoldt and Koschitzke kick away? Saints in a close one.
Brisbane v Melbourne (Sunday 27 April, GABBA, 1:10pm AEST)
Everyone has written-off Melbourne this week - and with good reason. The Lions are tough to beat at home, even if they are in indifferent form. After a disgraceful performance last week, Melbourne can only get better. Hopefully, they will salvage something out of this match. No David Neitz will put more pressure on Russell Robertson to kick a swag. The question will be, who will get the jobs on Johnathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw? Brisbane by 11 goals.
Kangaroos v Sydney (Sunday 27 April, Telstra Dome, 2:10pm AEST)
In a repeat of the 1996 Grand Final, the Kangaroos will be looking to replicate that same result. Shannon Grant was on fire last week, and inspired his team to come back in the last quarter and beat Collingwood. Add to this the tall forward structure that the Kangaroos have, and Sydney may have a few problems down back. For the Swans’, Michael O’Loughlin and Adam Goodes will need to find some of the ball – Goodes in particular after Paul Roos’ public comments during the week. Kangaroos by a couple of goals.
Hawthorn v Richmond (Sunday 27 April, MCG, 4:40pm AEST)
The Hawks may be flying after a dream start, but it has been Richmond which has been dominating the headlines. After defeating the Dockers in Perth two weeks ago, and getting a controversial draw last week against the Bulldogs, Richmond will want to end Hawthorn’s five-game winning streak. Hawthorn will want to win to keep up the pressure on Geelong, and with Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin on fire, may do so. If Richmond cannot shut him down, then the result will go in favour of the Hawks. If Matthew Richardson and Nathan Brown get good supply to them, and kick straight, then the Tigers will be unstoppable. In my opinion, Hawthorn to win, but it will be a cracker of a game.
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Nice to see that you are reading my stuff.
Keep at it - and yes, the Dockers do suck