AFL Preview
Round 9
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t seems the ladder is starting to take a little firmer shape and we can start seeing which teams are likely to finish in the top 4 and which teams are going to finish in the bottom 4. Injuries to key players between now and the end of the season and the return of injured players between now and the end of the season will certainly impact on some games for some teams. For us tipsters we must continue to apply a certain amount of guesswork when we are about to pick an upset. We can expect a couple of close games in round 9 with the result going either way, also expect a couple of thrashings which are a little easier to pick and there might be room in there to select an upset. My tipping s**ks this season and I suggest you find another avenue to help you with your selections as my preview should be considered just a fun read!
Western Bulldogs versus Geelong at Etihad Friday night
Considering their form it is a distinct possibility that the Western Bulldogs could beat Geelong. Both teams are sitting at 4-4 after 8 rounds so a Bulldogs win would put them ahead of Geelong on the ladder! While there is a chance of an upset common sense tells me to pick the Cats. Does it really matter when the existing coach of one team was a coach with the opposition team? I suppose you would have some inside information on certain players and their style but the players that you are currently coaching still need to be good enough to take advantage of any of that inside knowledge.
Geelong by a 19
Richmond versus Hawthorn at the MCG Saturday
As good as Richmond is playing the Hawks are playing better. The Tigers will have to wait until they meet some of the lower teams to start amassing premiership points. The Hawks will probably win but it won't be without a fight. Don't expect a result similar to the previous meeting between these 2 teams when the Hawks won by 10 goals.
Hawthorn by a 15
Gold Coast Suns versus Port Adelaide at Metricon Saturday
Apart from the supporters of both these teams nobody really cares who wins or loses. You have to give Gold Coast every chance as neither team is doing well. Port Adelaide somehow pipped North Melbourne on the post last week so they might be favourites going into this game. But with the game being at Metricon one should not really discount Gold Coast completely. What the teams lack in skill they will certainly make up for with desperation. A draw is not out of the question.
Port Adelaide by 11
St Kilda versus Sydney at Etihad Saturday
This is a very interesting game and a difficult one from which to pick a winner even though the Saints lost to West Coast and Sydney thrashed Melbourne last week. Sydney travel to Melbourne to play the Saints at home. Both teams have reasonable form and I'm reluctant to pick against the Sydney Swans in what should be a close game. My tip is St Kilda but not with a great deal of confidence.
St Kilda by 8
GWS Giants versus Essendon at Skoda stadium
The Giants opened their new stadium this week and unfortunately they meet a red hot Essendon who is likely to give them a mother of a thrashing! The Bombers sit 2nd on the ladder due only to a lower percentage but I think this will be rectified this week and they will finish round 9 in top ladder position unless of course West Coast beat Fremantle by a similar margin. Scores to be reasonably close at the end of quarter time, Essendon to kick clear by half time, then the Bombers to consolidate and destroy the Giants over the next two quarters.
Essendon by 101
Adelaide versus Collingwood at AAMI stadium
The game is undoubtedly the match of the round with both teams in excellent winning form although the Pies are suffering some key player injury problems. This game is more a test for Adelaide than Collingwood because the Crows are trying to make us believe that they are premiership contenders this year. A win here means they have beaten both of the grand final teams from last year. A win here for the Crows also means that nobody will be game to argue that point about them being premiership material!
Adelaide by 19
North Melbourne versus Brisbane Lions at Etihad stadium Sunday
It's been almost impossible to determine what form North Melbourne is going to take into a game. If they take that bewildering form they have shown over the past couple of weeks into this game against Brisbane they are just as likely to lose. The Lions won by almost 100 points last week but the opposition was nowhere near as good as North Melbourne will be. North coach Scott would have given his team a verbal blast after last week's loss and that will still be ringing in the players’ ears when they take the field against Brisbane. But there's nothing like a bit of confidence to make a team more competitive and certainly the Lions will be full of that going into this game.
North Melbourne by 29
Carlton versus Melbourne at the MCG Sunday
It's very fortunate that Carlton will be playing Melbourne this week because that match up guarantees that they will stop their slippery slide into oblivion and finally win a game! A huge blow for the Blues with the loss of Murphy for 3 months and that injury will have a bigger impact when Carlton meets better teams than Melbourne. Demon fans have been told to bunker down and maintain support as they go through what can only be described as a horror start to the season. All they can hope for in this game is a margin under 100 points.
Carlton by 72
West Coast Eagles versus Fremantle at Paterson Stadium Sunday
The Western Derby really fires up the football supporters in WA and the press has a pretty good week promoting the game and the 2 teams, Fremantle and West Coast, seem to strive that little bit harder to be the top team in Perth until next time they meet. At the moment the Dockers are struggling and West Coast, regardless of injuries, still sits on top of the ladder. I don't think any of that will change after this game although there is a good chance that the Essendon margin against the Giants might put the Bombers on top of the ladder.
West Coast by 33
Article last changed on Friday, May 25, 2012 - 5:51 AM EDT
