Schedule Preview & Breakdown
Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs
The Power are coming off a stunning victory over the reigning premiers and will be high in confidence heading into this clash against a struggling Bulldogs team.
Confidence is not something the Dogs have an abundance of and news has only got worse with Dale Morris having further surgery on his knee.
The Dogs are currently in 14th place on the ladder and 3 games out of the 8.
Another loss here may just be the final nail in their coffin for 2018 and its hard to make a case for them in this one.
One potential positive is that they will be well rested after having the bye last week.
The Bulldogs had lost 3 in a row prior to the bye so maybe it was a chance for them to reset and freshen up.
On paper the Dogs Midfield of the red hot Macrae, the Bont, Hunter, the recalled Wallis and Mclean can more than match Powers Ebert, Rocky, Polec, Wines and Wingard.
The problem with the Dogs is their Forward line is just not functioning and their scoring is suffering.
They lack power in the air and their pressure at ground level is nowhere near their high of 2016.
Down back the Dogs have battled manfully and are often undersized.
They will be thankful to have Cordy back but will still struggle against Dixon and Westy in the air.
Suckling's absence is also a blow as they will miss his left boot setting up the play off the half back flank.
All in all I think the Power Forwards are in for a fun evening.
Prediction: Port Adelaide by 40 points
Sydney v West Coast Eagles
The Swans on the back of a 7 goal burst from Buddy are the only team to defeat West Coast so far this year and that was way back in Round 1.
The Eagles have since won 10 in a row and are sitting pretty on top of the ladder.
Its not all roses at the Eagles after a nasty ankle injury to Darling compiled with news during the week that Barrass is out means the Eagles go into this game light a key defender and a key forward who has been starring.
Combine that with the fact the they meet Sydney at the SCG means the Swans will start favourites in this one.
Sydney's formline while not as strong as the Eagles, is still very good and they have now won 5 in a row to sit 3rd on the ladder.
What's even more impressive is that Sydney have achieved this with Hannberry way down on his best and still working his way back to %100 fitness.
As always the Midfield battle will be important and the Eagles will relish having Shuey back in the mix to help give the ascendancy.
The Ruck battle between Nit Nat and Sinclair will be all important as well and Sinclair must find a way to stop his old team mate generating clearances for the Eagles.
While the Eagles may edge the Swans in the middle of the Park I think Sydney' Buddy let Forward line will be the difference in this one.
Hayward and Ronke have been revelations in there this year for Sydney and speedster Rohan is working his way back to top form.
Rohan's speed makes him very hard to stop on the lead and his hands are brilliant.
I think the Eagles big winning streak is about to come to an end.
Prediction: Sydney by 12 points
Carlton v Fremantle
The Blues have been freshened up courtesy of the Bye last week and for Cripps in particular, it came just in time as he was playing very sore against the Swans in a performance he'd rather forget.
Fremantle will be full of confidence after a morale lifting victory over Adelaide last week which was even more special given it was achieved without arguably their two most important players in Fyfe & Sandilands.
The Dockers regain those two this week as well as Stephen Hill and will fancy their chances against a Blues team that is still without their skipper Murphy.
Carlton do regain big Forward, Levi Casboult this week who will have his work cut out for him against the Dockers in form Defensive duo of Ryan & Hamling.
Taking a look at the all important Midfield battle and you can't help but like the Dockers chances here with Fyfe back in the middle.
The Dockers are starting to build some real depth in the middle of the ground now with the emergence of Langdon and Cerra complimenting Fyfe, Neale, Mundy & Blakely.
Cripps's battle with Fyfe in the middle will be worth the price of admission alone but I am also interested to see how
Silvagni goes and whether he can back up his great game in the Midfield last time out.
The Blues are screaming out of more Midfield depth and will be using the time left in this season to build some more depth in there.
With Charlie Curnow up Forward the Blues look to have more goals in them than the Dockers and will benefit greatly by the home ground advantage.
Brennan Cox is emerging as a real find up Forward for the Dockers but it is still a problem area for them.
I think the Dockers Midfield will conjure up enough goals to scrape home in this game but the Blues will run them very close.
Prediction: Fremantle by 6 points
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