With three startling rounds of Australian Rules Football being played out already in the 2014 season, the fourth round looks likely to produce some more upsets in what is a close round of footy.
Many issues are swirling this round, with the largest build up being around the games contested between Collingwood and Richmond and Fremantle and Essendon. I will talk about the big issues surrounding footy this round and give my tips on each match.
Can Cloke repeat the massacre in his 200th?
Two matches couldn’t be more different for Travis Cloke. Tonight Cloke is taking on a team he succeeds against in Richmond, with Cloke kicking seven and three goals against the Tigers in their last two meetings. But last week against Geelong (and really for this whole season) Cloke has been atrociously out of form, with the fans not even having to wait nervously for a set shot from their number 32 as he can’t mark the ball.
Last week Tom Lonergan killed him and stabbed him in the back (literally, a few frees were missed) because Cloke stayed at home and barely caught a ball all night. But you never know with Cloke, as he lines up in his 200th, ready to kick another bag.
Can Melbourne record an upset first win?
After all of the talk that Carlton have produced, they have gone 0-3 on the win-loss ratio and have dropped two important forwards in their match against Melbourne. Even though Waite and Garlett have been out of form recently, they are still key cogs in a somewhat partially running Carlton.
Melbourne were hit with the retirement of perennially injured Mitch Clark, but another forward has stepped into the team, with big Chris Dawes ready to produce a couple of matches in a row without getting injured. You never know, with the coaching duel being Paul Roos v Mick Malthouse, it could be Melbourne’s day.
Will Essendon continue their Western Australia streak?
For two years running Essendon have managed to just edge out the Dockers and beat Freo at their home ground, a phenomenal effort by any team, especially a team that was covered in controversy (this time last year). Fremantle are just coming off a harsh loss to the reigning premiers and may be fired up ready to go.
It is sad that this game isn’t being broadcasted onto free-to-air television, because the game sure looks like it will be a cracker.
How good are Gold Coast?
With last year’s efforts being superb for Gold Coast, can Ablett and his young chargers pull out an upset and beat the superstar team of the competition in Hawthorn?
It seems highly unlikely, but last year at the MCG Gold Coast were in front early on and were right in the match until Hawthorn broke away in the second half. It was scary to see how Gold Coast stood up against the eventual premiers. Now they are playing at Metricon Stadium, a fortress for the Suns. Can Ablett lead his team to victory or are they still too inexperienced to beat a class outfit?
Tips:
Collingwood v Richmond- Collingwood by 29 points
Carlton v Melbourne- Carlton by 13 points
Port Adelaide v Brisbane- Port Adelaide by 51 points
GWs v Western Bulldogs- Bulldogs by 34 points
Geelong v West Coast- Geelong by 47 points
Gold Coast v Hawthorn- Hawthorn by 52 points
Sydney v North Melbourne- Sydney by 21 points
St. Kilda v Adelaide- St. Kilda by 10 points
Fremantle v Essendon- If Chapman and Fletcher are fit- Essendon by 7 points. If one or both aren’t- Fremantle by 2 points.
Stayed tuned for my review on Round 4 early next week.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Jack Ziebell was playing his first match for Avondale Heights when he was yellow-carded for headbutting an opponent during a scuffle following a late…
"It looked like it was gonna go for miles - and then it went nowhere!"
Footy's getting closer and closer to taking over the US!
What on earth was this question from BT!?!
Mitch Georgiades' mates have no chill!
On the scoreboard, it looks like a creditable St Kilda performance. A loss to a Port Adelaide outfit many see as a premiership contender…
