The third part of the bye is upon us and it is shaping up to be the best of the three.
Terrific games such as Geelong versus North Melbourne, Collingwood versus West Coast and Port Adelaide versus Hawthorn look to be season-defining fixtures.
The ladder will start to take a clearer shape after this round. Here is a preview of big games, combined with tips.
Will the Kangaroos dish out back-to-back losses where it hurts most?
Over the past couple of years the North Melbourne versus Geelong clash has been a sparkling and entertaining affair, with the Roos being one of the few teams able to beat the Cats in their era of dominations.
Previous premiership-winning brothers at the Lions Chris and Brad Scott have coached both teams brilliantly since 2011, with Chris picking up a premiership in his first year at the Cats and Brad leading the Roos into a finals series in 2012.
A huge clash looms as Friday night footy turns to the cattery. The Cats have to make sure that their season doesn’t collapse into a large pile of kitty litter as they look to reach the top four again, while the inconsistent Roos look to stage an upset on their way to another finals series.
A cracker is expected. Geelong by 10 points.
Can the Pies return to the winning feeling at their titanic home?
Pies fans would have been supremely disappointed after last Thursday’s measly second-half showing. I know I was. No controversial three-quarter-time goal could have saved the Maggies and given them something to blame it on, as Collingwood did well to stay in front at half time.
The side dropped their heads and couldn’t rely on youngsters such as Lachie Keefe in defence, falling to the Adelaide side that had changed dramatically since their dismal showing against Melbourne.
Now the Pies need to regain their previous form which saw them rise into the top four and beat the Eagles, who have risen up the ladder quietly to be sitting one spot outside the eight, with Kennedy in looming form after an accurate display against the Giants.
The MCG will be alive and teeming for a rare Collingwood twilight clash, with the symmetrical clash two years ago being a cracker – the Pies won by three points in what was a predicted early grand final. I think that the Pies will win but you can never be sure what happens in our great game.
Collingwood by 27 points.
Can Port prove their worth?
If Port Adelaide thought that hosting Geelong and Fremantle at their new home in successive games was a big task, then they have reached the pinnacle in the Hawks, the reigning premiers.
The Hawks lose Cyril Rioli, Josh Gibson and Jarryd Roughead, but are always an extremely tough team to face. The Power will play in front of yet another packed house as they look to fully cement their worth as the best team in the comp.
The hard running and incredibly skilful team take on a sied that is under siege but possess a mixture of champions and young guns. Something tells me that Port have some real ticker this year.
Power by 14 points.
Tipping:
Geelong by 10 points
Greater Western Sydney by 33 points
Collingwood by 27 points
Port Adelaide by 14 points
Gold Coast by 36 points
Adelaide by 22 points
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