The mid-season break in the 2010 AFL season has arrived. While six teams will have the weekend off, ten teams will battle it out across the country to try and gather some kind of momentum before they too rest up themselves.
But before we look at this weekend’s action, let’s reflect on an enthralling round 12.
Five things we learnt from Round 12:
1. Opinion is still divided about whether the draw should stay in the home-and-away season
2. Hawthorn are gathering momentum and are beginning to look dangerous
3. Kicking 10 goals is still a possibility
4. North Melbourne’s Lindsay Thomas is one of the most improved players in the competition this year
5. St.Kilda are still the Geelong’s number one contender
Remaining Round 13 Matches:
Carlton v Fremantle: Saturday- 7.10pm at Etihad Stadium
Two teams struggling for consistency this season will go head-to-head on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium in what should be the game of the round.
When you look at the ladder, Carlton are having a more than
reasonable season. But the big issue for coach Brett Ratten and his team is that they just can’t seem to string wins together.
Four times this year they have won two in a row then lost the next week. Against North Melbourne last week, they had one of those nights where nothing worked.
They had little to no forward structure and Setanta O’Hailpan looking dazed and confused. Eddie Betts tried super hard with five goals, but you can’t rely on a man of his height to be your main target inside 50. Fremantle have been brought back to reality a little themselves, losing their last two games to Adelaide and St.Kilda.
The big concern is that some of their younger players are starting to show signs of fatigue and that the physical effects of an AFL season are starting to take their roll.
And we’re only half way through the year.
The Dockers’ record at Etihad Stadium is atrocious, winning just eight of their 31 appearances at the ground.
Yes, Fremantle are a different side, but they cannot wait for their mid-season break to come in what has been an exciting year for them to date. Carlton should bounce back, although Matthew Pavlich is due for a big game.
Brisbane vs Richmond: Saturday- 7.10pm at Gabba’
If these two teams met in round five earlier this year, you would’ve tipped the Lions without a hint of hesitation.
But now, both teams seem evenly matched on form and tipsters are unsure of which way to lean.
It’s fair to say the Lions are in disarray after their loss to the Western Bulldogs last week. They are now also without star forward Jonathon Brown, as well as five defenders who would normally be walk up starters if they were fit. Conversely, Richmond are on a massive high after their second win of the season against West Coast last Sunday. Jack Riewoldt booted 10 goals- a rare feat in today’s modern game- and continues to impress the football world.
The Tigers are up and about, but the Lions are a different and much more confident team at the Gabba, Brisbane…just.
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide: Sunday- 1.10pm at Etihad Stadium
For the Kangaroos to make a profit from playing a home game at Etihad Stadium, at least 25,000 must make their way through the turnstiles.
They might not make a profit this Sunday, but they could certainly put on a show worthy of viewing from your lounge room chair.
North had their best win of the season last week with a 29 point victory over Carlton in their first and only Friday night game for the year.
The man that stole the show was Lindsay Thomas, who kicked seven goals from 20 possessions and announced himself as one of the most improved players in the competition. Port Adelaide are known as the ultimate enigma.
But they’ve now lost their last five games in a row and questions of coach Mark Williams are starting to be raised.
North Melbourne to win pretty easily.
West Coast v Western Bulldogs: Sunday- 4.40pm at Subiaco Oval
The final game of this first week of the split round should be a walk in the park.
But looking at some of the inconsistent form of both of these sides, who knows what’s going to happen?
The Bulldogs got back on the winners list last week with a comprehensive 65 point thrashing of the Lions.
Barry Hall was at his menacing best booting six goals and he took the crippled Brisbane defence to the cleaners. It only gets better for the Bulldogs too with the inclusion of captain and veteran Brad Johnson into the team.
Two weeks ago, the Eagles pushed Geelong to their absolute maximum, only to go down by four goals. But last week they were annihilated by Richmond to the tune of 49 points in one of the most insipid performances for the year.
Like many interstate sides, West Coast are a much better side when they are playing on home soil.
But the Western Bulldogs are too good a side to let this game slip and should win comfortably.
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Not often you see Marcus Bontempelli miss a chance like this!
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