AFL Football Round 6 - Preview
A huge test for The Blues when they tackle the Adelaide Crows at the MCG on Saturday. Out of the team goed Bannister (hamstring), Bentick, and S.O’hAiplin, and you would think that O’hAiplin is finished. In comes Browne, Gibbs, and Hartlett. After 2 wins in a row the Blues will chock full of confidence and the Big FEV is on fire. He will not have it all his own way this week when he comes up against Ben Rutten. Chris Judd had his best game for the year last week with 26 touches and three goals, while for the Crows their main man Andrew Mcleod was outstanding with 34 touches and will need to be watched like a hawk. The Crows have brought back Knights in place of Jacky and he will add a bit of run to the midfield.
The midfield battle will be a good one to watch and both teams have a young Ruck Department. The midfield will be the key and with Judd slowly starting to gain some form their are promising signs for them. But with Ben Rutten on Fevola I think he will find it hard to kick enough goals to get his team over the line.
Adelaide by 19 points.
No G-Train Again
The Saints have decided to leave Fraser Gehrig back in Melbourne again this week as they prepare to take on the Port Adelaide Football Club at AAMI Stadium this week. The Saints have not beaten Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium since 1997 I think so this will be a big test if they think they are top 4 material. Port Adelaide are relieved that they got their first win on the board last week against the West Coast Eagles and their confidence will now be up. There is no change to the Port side but St Kilda have brought in Baker, Birss, Rix at the expence of Gilbert (shoulder), King (hamstring), Clinton Jones who has been dropped.
Again the Saints forward line is a worry for the Power with Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke up there and will be interesting to see if Steven Milne can get a kick away from the Telstra Dome. If the two big men are up and about then they will be hard to stop and Carlile and Thurstans will have their work cut out. Sam Fisher or Max Hudgton will get the job on Tredrea and it the Power are to win he needs to have some presence at CHF. Brett Ebert was the target inside 50 last week for the Power and will need to be watched closely alon with David Rodan around goals. The Power need to expose the lack of pace in the St Kilda midfield with the Burgoynes, Salopek, Cornes all needing to run and carry the footy.
The Saints Forward line looks to strong for the Power and because of that I will go with the Saints in a close one by 7 points.
The $6 Million Dollar Man
Who have Melbourne go to stand the 2 Brisbane Lion Forwards in Jonathon Brown and Daniel Bradshaw. The later is having a purple patch in front of goal this year and I have said it before he is a hard match up and when a player of his quality is getting the second and third best defender then he will always get on top. The problem for the Demons is that their second or third best defenders are probably equal to the 4 or fifth best defender at other clubs. Bradshaw has kicked 17 goals in the past three weeks, seven of which came last round. Look for the Brown Dog to tear this game apart this week. Travis Johnstone will be up against his former club and will be out to show the Demons that they made a huge mistake to trade him. I am sure the Demons would love someone that can actually hit a target by hand and foot at the moment.
Begley (quad) and McGrath have been omitted for The Lions and they have brought in Collier, Dalziell, Harding, Henderson, Polkinghorne. For the Demons they have brought in Bate, Buckley, Garland, Miller, Warnock and have left out Neitz (neck), Whelan (suspended). Brad Miller is back in and it will be interesting to see what type of game he dishes up. Brad Green finally got some footy and was the Demon best last week with 25-possession, four-goal effort against Carlton. The Ruck duel should be a good one with young gun Leuenberger up against Jeff White. But I think the Brisbane midfield will be to strong for the Demons and Jonathon Brown will have a dominant game.
Brisbane at home by 53 points.
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