Adam Bailey
DeanoHarmoShow Us Your Tips - AFL, July 20-22
July 20th 2007 08:20
Category: No Category
Ben Cousins returns for the Eagles, in what promises to be another thriller against the Swans
Geelong v Western Bulldogs
Telstra Dome, Friday 7:40pm
Will it be the Bulldogs who break Geelong's winning streak? A lot's changed since the opening round, when the Bulldogs recorded a 20-point win over the Cats. Geelong's form continued last week with an impressive performance when they shook off the Magpie challenge to take out the points; recording 10 wins in a row for the first time since the 1960s. The Bulldogs recorded a comfortable enough win over Essendon to maintain their position in the top 8; but the class and confidence of Geelong should be too great a hurdle for the Bulldogs to jump over.
Collingwood v Essendon
MCG, Saturday 2:10pm
On Anzac Day, Collingwood got on top in the third term to take the points over the Bombers; and the Magpies will go in as favourites here. It's been an up and down season for both clubs, but the Magpies are doing enough to hang on to their spot in the 8. The continued rise of young talent such as Dale Thomas presents exciting signs for their future. Meanwhile Essendon risk losing touch with the finals after their loss to the Bulldogs last week. It's been an improvement from last season, but the ongoing loss of James Hird has brought the Bombers down a touch. But it's now or never for Essendon, and although it's an upset I'll tip Kevin Sheedy to have a trick up his sleeve to get the Bombers the points.
Adelaide v Fremantle
AAMI Stadium, Saturday 3:10pm
Changing coaches mid-season has often seen teams lift and give their new coach a first-up win. It happened as recently as a few weeks ago when Mark Rielly's first game with Melbourne saw the Demons get the points. But the away trip to Adelaide will be tough for the struggling Dockers. Adelaide remain in the running for a finals berth, despite a narrow loss to St Kilda last week in a game they should have won. But with a huge home crowd, a midfield in good form and Jeff Farmer seemingly also gone from Fremantle for good; even with the new coach factor it's hard to see the Dockers getting up here.
St Kilda v Hawthorn
Telstra Dome, Saturday 7:10pm
St Kilda's Matt Hudgton plays his 200th game here, in a game of high stakes for his club. The Saints kept themselves in the finals race after a thrilling 2-point result over Adelaide last week, but will have to maintain that form to stay in the running. It won't be easy against Hawthorn, a side on the rise in 2007. The twin towers of Franklin and Roughead have given the Hawks marking power up forward, which has enabled Hawthorn to beat the flooding tactics of opposition defences. The stakes are high for the Saints, but the Hawks should have too much class here.
Russell Robertson plays his 200th for the Demons
West Coast v Sydney
Subiaco Oval, Saturday 7:40pm
The on-field rivalry between these clubs in recent years has been amazing. The last 6 games between these games having gone off by a total of 13 points; 4 of those games have been finals; 2 have been grand finals. The last 3 meetings have been decided by a point. But a lot has changed since the season opener. The Swans had a form lapse earlier in the season, and have only just returned to the top 8 last week. West Coast have also had recent struggles, and were thrashed by Port Adelaide last week. Another point of interest in this match will be the possible return of Ben Cousins, in the hope his drug woes are behind him. But whether he is match-fit remains to be seen. This should be another close contest, but with the home ground advantage the Eagles should just scrape home.
Brisbane v Carlton
Gabba, Sunday 1:10pm
It doesn't get any easier for the Blues - after a big loss to the Swans on the road last week, the doomsday double continues with another interstate trip. A season that promised something with the pre-season cup is quickly unravelling. Meanwhile, Brisbane are looking in their best form for some time, with wins over West Coast and Melbourne in the past fortnight seeing the Lions going for a 3-match winning streak for the first time since 2004. Captain Jonathan Brown has returned to form in style in the last couple of weeks, and with Brown spearheading the charge the Lions should be far too strong for a demoralised Carlton.
Richmond v Port Adelaide
MCG, Sunday 2:10pm
This game features two 250-game milestones. Richmond's Matthew Richardson will play his 250th game for the Tigers, while this game marks Port Adelaide's 250th game since joining the AFL in 1997. Richardson's time at the Tigers has been a struggle, with up-and-down form in a team that has struggled to produce any success. Port Adelaide, on the other hand, have gone from strength to strength; including a premiership in 2004. In a microcosm of the 250 games for each, the Power should have the edge here, and even with a large pro-Tigers crowd it should be Port recording a comfortable win.
Kangaroos v Melbourne
Telstra Dome, Sunday 5:10pm
The Shinboner spirit is alive and well at North Melbourne, with pre-season predictions of doom and gloom not eventuating. Instead the club is resurgent, with a thrilling win over Fremantle at Subiaco taking the Kangaroos into the top 4. Melbourne, on the other hand, have had a season to forget; only a handful of wins seeing the Demons struggling in 15th place. But when the sides played earlier in the season, the Demons made the front-running and only went down by a point. With Russell Robertson playing his 200th game, the Demons will have motivation to lift for the occasion; but a finals position is too strong a lure for the Kangaroos to drop this. It will be close, but the Kangaroos should do enough to get up.
A club milestone, with Port Adelaide playing their 250th game since joining the AFL
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