Schedule Preview & Breakdown
North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium, Sunday Afternoon
The Lions are finally getting it together and have a bunch of talented kids destined to make them a real force in years to come.
The Lions were very competitive against the Swans last week in conditions that did not suit them at all.
Brisbane will cause a few upsets in the 2nd half of the year and would fancy their chances against North Melbourne here.
The Kangaroos however are the surprise packet of 2018 so far.
Brad Scott has got them playing to their strengths and built the team around 2 gun tall Forwards in Brown and Waite.
I keep expecting them to fall over but they continue to beat teams lower than them on the ladder and shock teams more highly rated than them.
The win against a Fremantle side that are a 10 goal better team in Perth was exceptional and they have given no indication that they are dropping off.
For that reason I expect they will get the job done against the Lions but I am really looking forward to some of the match ups.
Zorko has got his confidence back and is finally seeing off the taggers but how will he go against the best tagger of them all, Jacobs?
This is not a match up Zorko needs right now and I don't think he will be getting much sleep this week.
Harris Andrews is fast becoming a star down back for the Lions and recently broke the spoiling record in a match.
His battle with either Brown or Waite will be great to watch.
Gardiner is fast becoming a very good number 2 down back and his job on Buddy last week was brilliant.
If those two can get the better of the Kangaroos twin towers that could go a long way to Brisbane winning this match.
I think the Lions have the weapons in the Midfield to worry North and will win their fair share of the ball but their Forward line is still very much a work in progress.
Charlie Cameron has been the recruit of the year for mine and Hipwood is getting better and better but they meet the leagues stingiest Defence this week.
I just can't see the Lions having enough avenues to goal against Scotty Thompson & Co down back for North and I think this will be the difference in the end.
Prediction: Kangaroos by 12 points
Collingwood v Fremantle at the MCG on Sunday Afternoon
The Pies under Buckley seem to of finally clicked into gear.
Collingwood have won their last 2 and find themselves in the top 8 despite injuries being a constant at the club.
Their pressure on the Dogs in the 2nd half last week was elite and they kept them goal less for the whole 2nd half.
Their Midfield is finally playing up to its potential with Treloar in devastating form, Pendles ageless and Sidey cutting teams up with his foot skills.
You can add running machine Tom Phillips to the A grade column as his ball use and two way running is elite.
Such are the riches of the Magpies in the Midfield that they have the luxury of playing Adams off the wing/half back and Hoskin Eliott up Forward where he is a real threat in the air, not to mention De Goey.
De Goey is fast becoming a star and has kicked bags of 7 and 6 in matches this year.
He is just as deadly in the air as he is on the ground and adds another dimension to the Pies up Forward.
Mason Cox is a really interesting one as well.
The only thing stopping him dominating up Forward is himself, as the opposition can't get high enough to spoil him!
Cox just seems to find a way to drop it at the last second, just after you think he has it.
When those marks start sticking and they will as his experience/confidence grows, he will have some big days.
Looking at the Dockers and they will be desperate to start performing on the road as their home form and away form are poles apart.
The job just got a lot harder this week as well with news Sandilands will miss with concussion.
Dockers meet a red hot Grundy with a possible first gamer in Apeness, talk about a baptism of fire for him.
Fyfe is a beast and will keep the Dockers competitive in the middle but too much will be left for him, Neale, Walters and
Mundy to do and I can't see the Dockers having enough weapons to stay with the Pies.
Ross Lyon certainly has his work cut out for him this week.
Prediction: Collingwood by 32 points
Adelaide v GWS at Adelaide Oval, Sunday Afternoon
The last game of the Round pits two teams together who had shocking losses last week.
The Crows whilst a little undermanned were completely out of character and put up no resistance to Melbourne in a 91 point smashing.
GWS with Josh Kelly back in the side and the team returning home to Spotless Stadium were expected to be too tough for Essendon.
Instead a low on confidence Giants outfit succumbed a little to easily to the Bombers pressure and lost by 35 points.
The GWS were still missing Captain Davis, Deledio, Scully and Greene but this is no excuse as they had the players on the park to do a lot better.
Essendon themselves were without their bookends Daniher and Hurley not to mention travelling interstate.
GWS's last 6 matches have seen them lose 4, win 1 and draw the Saints who are without a win since Round 1.
As a result they have slipped out of the 8 and into 11th on the ladder, 6 points off 8th.
It is almost becoming must win time for them.
The Crows had a shocker last week in Alice Springs but for the most part they have been exceptional given the injury crisis that has befallen them.
No doubt that is what led to that aberration last week as you can only survive being under manned for so long.
Guys like Greenwood, Ellis-Yolman, Atkins and Doedee have stood up this year to give the Crows some much needed depth.
The recruitment of Gibbs has been a huge success as he has shouldered a lot of the work in the middle in the absence of Sloane and the Crouch boys.
The Crows are still missing Sloane and skipper Tex this week but will regain Seedsman at least.
Jenkins and Tom Lynch will be sure to of had some acid put on the from the coach this week and they need to lift their output.
The Midfield battle this week is going to be a great watch with Gibbs, M Crouch, Seedsman, Greenwood and Ellis Yolman taking on Coniglio, Ward, Shiel, Kelly and Taranto.
Whilst I think the Giants have the class to more than match the Crows in the middle of the park, Adelaide just have more depth around the Ground and will be sharper back at home this week.
I think the Crows will come out breathing fire and I would like to see GWS do the same but I can't see it happening at this point in time for them.
Prediction: Adelaide by 24 points
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