AFL Football Round 5 Preview – Part 2
The Collingwood v North Melbourne game should be a belter. Both teams are sitting at 2-2 after 4 rounds and the Magpies will be determined to get back onto the winners list after somewhat of a shock loss to Carlton last week. While the North Melbourne side had a pretty easy day a the office against the Melbourne Football Club.
Heath Shaw has been in some hot form and is playing some great consistent football at the moment and providing some great run from the defensive have of the ground, North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley will be needing to negate the influence he has on this game. Brodie Holland comes back into the side for his first game for the year and may step straight in and take Kangaroo play maker Brent Harvey. Harvey had been in some rare touch of late and the Pies are going to need to put a good stopper on him if they want to win this game. The Pie forward line of Anthony Rocca, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak, Thomas and Medhurst need to lift this week. The Magpies are ranked last in the AFL for the number of Handballs Per Game which may indicate that there is a lack of run and quick movement of the footy. With a forward line like that they need to get it in their quick and give Rocca and Cloke an opportunity to compete one out.
The North Melbourne team are great at pressuring the opposition and will need to do that this week. Nathan Thompson is getting better and better this week and you would think Wakelin will get the job on him this week. Aaron Edwards needs to step up and lift his game for the Kangaroos he has been a bit disappointing I reckon so far and needs to get on his bike. Sam Power is one that may not get the recognition he deserves he has been in great form for the Roos but his not really spoken about and has been very consistent. Looking at the stats and the Kangaroos are not a high possession side and pride themselves on pressuring the opposition the Magpies will be trying to get the out and use their run to break the lines this week. Should be a close one if the Kangaroos can stop that from happening, they are building themselves up for this one the Roos but I think they may just fall short. To many big guns,
Collingwood by 11 points.
Melbourne vs Carlton
The Blues broke through for a win last week and stopped their 14 game losing streak. It was great performance against the Pies and they will be looking to make it two in a row against the hapless Demons. The Demons may just give themselves an opportunity this week and is their best chance so far. Brad Miller the Melbourne “wanna be” tough man is out suspended and will probably help the Demons.
The Blues found some form last week and The Fev was on fire again, I just don’t know who the Demons have got to play on him. Nathan Carroll has been named at full back but I don’t think he is the answer, Jarred Rivers maybe. Nevertheless Fev might have another day out I think. I think The Blues will win the mid field battle, obviously Judd will have a heavy tag but Stevens, Murphy, Gibbs, Carazzo will come up against McLean, McDonald, Jones, Green, Bartram. Jeff White has been in good touch for the Demons and he an Nathan Jones are probably the standouts in a shocking start to the year. They will need some help this week if they are going to get near the Blues. Carlton for me in this one and will make it two in a row.
Blues 23 points.
Western Bulldogs vs Richmond
Well after the masterful move to play Matthew Richardson on the wing will we see more of the same from coach Terry Wallace this week. After their performance against The Dockers last week then you would think so. 2 weeks ago you would have tipped The Bulldogs easily but after last week things are a bit different, the Tiger will have their tails up and now have a bit of confidence. Joel Bowden looks like he is still out of favor at Punt Road and has not been named. Along with Richardson, Nathan Foley is in some great form and he is they key for the Tigers at stoppages. The little man that can do 300 push ups Jake King need to give the Tigers some drive from defence and the rest of the defenders will need to be tight on the dangerous Bulldog forwards. Esepeically Jason Akermanis, who is coming into the game in great nick. Akermanis is averaging 18 touches and more than two goals a game so far this season and just doesn’t not miss when shooting at goal.
Adam Cooney has listened to my calls to be more consistent and cope with the tags that he will be reveiving. Cooney is averagin 26 touches so far this season and has worked on his skills and is now using the footy very well. Daniel Cross is one that goes under opposition teams radars a bit and he leads the Bulldogs in disposals this year with an average of 27. Scott Welsh was a standout last week against The Bombers with 17 disposals (15 kicks and 2 handballs), 11 marks and 3 goals and will take some stopping this week. The mid field battle will be the decider in this game and I just think the Bulldogs have to may tricks.
Doggies by 32 points.
West Coast Eagles vs Port Adelaide
The Eagles have some big INS this week with Embley, Fletcher and Wirrpanda all returning. Port Adelaide will be celebrating Brendan Lade’s 200th Game this week and we all know that teams get up for these type of games. Brent Staker is still suffering from the Barry Hall hit and will not play and Ashley Hansen has a hamstring injury and is out as well. Mark Williams will be seething after last week loss which put them 0-4 and they will no doubt come out ready to play this week.
The Eagles have unearthed a promising forward in Ben McKinley, he kicked 4 of the 5 Eagles goals last week and looks like a good talent. Matt Rosa was also good last week with 23 disposals. The Eagles need to lift their game in the middle of the ground and will be up against some quality this week. If they can do the job in their then they will win the game. The Power are a front running team and if the Eagles start to get on top at Subiaco then goodnight Port. But for most of the game last week the Power got back to their fast, attacking style of play and looked good. The Power will need the Cornes Brothers, David Rodan, and the Burgoyne’s all to fire this week.
Because of the fact this is in WA I am going to go with the Eagles here by 20 points.
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Fantastic play by medhurst fraser and didak Swanny was a great soldier as was heath the umps bounce left alot to be desired as did some decisions as usual however they [roos] have some awesome players in harvey aaron edwards and even shannon grant was impressive our boys were in front and should have held the lead although i think we can only improve and if injuries are staved off we are definate finals contenders as geelong will ultimately run out of steam!go pies08