Hawthorn and Geelong will renew the rivalry that just keeps on giving on Saturday morning at the MCG, in a match that will shape the top eight.
I suspect that regardless of the result in this one both sides will make it through to the final eight, but whether they scrape in or have a strong advantage could come down to who gets the four points here.
The Cats impressed last week against Richmond but were narrowly denied, while Hawthorn were on the other side of the ledger against Essendon.
My gut feel is that the Hawks will come into this one with a little more confidence and that will get them the win, but it absolutely could go either way.
There’s another finals shaper on Sunday and I’d say more is at stake when Sydney host Melbourne as there’s a good chance the loser misses out on finals.
The Dees have consistently shown an ability to beat up on bad teams, as they did against Gold Coast last week, but tend to fumble it agains the genuine contenders.
Sydney on the other hand would be buoyed by a remarkable win last week at the SCG over Collingwood – I think they can make it two in a row and put Melbourne’s September dream back in doubt.
With no Josh J Kennedy still this week and now Andrew Gaff joining Nic Naitnaui on the sidelines for the rest of the season, Port Adelaide will have no excuse if the fail to beat West Coast.
Brisbane are a dangerous side and will push Collingwood hard – as they did at the Gabba earlier this year – but the lure of finals should inspire the Magpies to victory.
It’ll be a similar case for the other Saturday night match. There’s just simply more at stake for the Giants than there is the Crows, plus they play Canberra so very well.
Essendon, Richmond, North and Fremantle are my other tips for the week – lock of the week is the Tigers to finally notch their first, and last, win outside Victoria in 2018.
TomC
Essendon, Geelong, Richmond, Port Adelaide, Collingwood, GWS, North Melbourne, Melbourne, Fremantle
I’ll back the Cats to have a bit too much firepower for Hawthorn at the MCG.
West Coast look a bit threadbare right now, and even if they go okay in South Australia as a rule, at home the Power should rebound from last week’s disappointment.
On a freezing cold Canberra night – seriously, who thought it was a good idea to play a night game at Manuka in August? – GWS will deal with the conditions and the Crows to keep their faint top two chances alive.
Melbourne should get the job done at home over Sydney, as much as both of these sides are tough to call.
Elsewhere the Bombers to overwhelm the Saints, Richmond to get a rare win interstate against the Suns, Collingwood to outlast the plucky Lions, Freo at home over the Blues.
| Round 21 | Josh E | Adrian P | Cam R | TomC | The Crowd |
| ESS vs STK | ESS | ESS | ESS | ESS | ESS |
| HAW vs GEE | HAW | GEE | GEE | GEE | GEE |
| GCS vs RIC | RIC | RIC | RIC | RIC | RIC |
| PA vs WCE | PA | PA | PA | PA | PA |
| COL vs BRI | COL | COL | COL | COL | COL |
| GWS vs ADE | GWS | GWS | GWS | GWS | GWS |
| NM vs WB | NM | NM | NM | NM | NM |
| MEL vs SYD | SYD | MEL | MEL | MEL | MEL |
| FRE vs CAR | FRE | FRE | FRE | FRE | FRE |
| Last week | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Total | 111 | 111 | 114 | 119 | 121 |
Don Freo
Guest
You are not looking and certainly not thinking. They played all the top eight sides in the first 8 games (bar one), still have already equalled last year with 2 top 8 sides to come. Easier draw? You just say stuff out of desperation. I did suggest you wouldn't come back with anything until after we knew the result. That was the best you could do? Try addressing some of the challenges we threw you? Your contradictions? Your predictions? Your sadness? Freo had yet another win. Isn't that going to cheer you up or do you stay miserable either way?
anon
Roar Pro
They haven't improved. They have the same wins as last season despite buying one of their home games. They've had a far more favourable draw playing mainly weak opposition at home.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You're wrong. Freo has played all season without 10 first picked players for most of that season yet, despite that circumstance, have improved on last year. Everything about Freo is positive. The youth, the key positions returning from long term injury, the young and the experienced rucks learning/mentoring. The midfield generators such as Fyfe, Blakely and the Hills to return and work together and 10 players under 20 games to grow into that set up. That is no struggle. You will only have Jonboy and 13th Man agree with you. What company to identify with! A struggle is what the teams below them are doing...or a team like Adelaide that played a GF last year and miss the 8 this year. Now, THAT'S a struggle. It seems, from your tone, that finding some joy in football is a struggle for you.
anon
Roar Pro
I tipped them last week as well champ. I tipped your team to struggle back in the 2016 preseason. How right I was.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
We were talking about last week and your "if they didn't win, they would have lost' silliness. We were right...you got that one wrong. Most of us tipped Hawthorn for this week but that was not the conversation. You are so easy to dismiss because you forget the conversations
anon
Roar Pro
What were you saying, champ?
Jonboy
Guest
Have to agree with your points, inside 50 were good Cox missed two sitters he has to lmprove on that, no crumbers up forward whatsoever. Matera should be left in the pocket that’s his strength close to goal he is not a midfielder, he will kick goals if left there. H.B.is giving nothing, look at Ryan, Rioli and Cripps last week Freo got none of that. Hopefully Switkowski and Giro can improve that non existent area.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Mind you it stopped being about 2018 a while back. The age demographics of the team mean they are going to be up and down game to game and even quarter to quarter. Hopefully this week provides the opportunity to build form as a team and especially some forward line fluidity with Taberner, Cox and McCarthy. Last week they weren't too bad with general field play and generated a fair degree of F50 entries, they were just woefully inefficient in converting that to scores (I think it worked out to about 35% or something. Whatever the end result. Getting more gelling, Darcy working his way to better match conditioning and playing such a young team among other things, it'll be hard to judge that investment (externally at least) until next year.
Downsey
Guest
Figuratively speaking.
Don Freo
Guest
You have balls?
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
:D
Don Freo
Guest
'Distracted the heat of Lyon...'? That makes no sense. No one would have said that...apart from you. 5 people didn't say that. It is garbled nonsense. Get a translator.
Downsey
Guest
Your approval is discomforting. I now fear your disappointment and ensuing ball breaking.
Downsey
Guest
I wrote it on another thread, but I do think there'll be a Lyon reckoning if we go down to Carlton, irrespective of team dynamics.
Jon Boy
Guest
Distractions ? not only me but 5 other people said this week the Gaff incident distracted the heat of Lyon after the ninth upwards of 10 goals thrashing we are still 2 wins away from improvement on last year. We could or should beat the worst team of the last 5 years this week.. Hopefully get within 5 goals of Geelong and Collingwood, for a little respect.
Jon Boy
Guest
i doubt he is capable of mentoring either. Interesting Hinkley dropped Powell-Pepper saying his numbers have dropped i like coaches who don't reward mediocrity .H.B has had not had a good game all year. Looking forward to see young Switkowski play.
Don Freo
Guest
Not out there at all. Sensible and logical. A bit more thoughtful than Jonboy's bitterness. 'Distractions'?
Downsey
Guest
A bit out there, but perhaps Lyon is keeping him in for the last few games to get the most out of his mentoring of the younger players, especially with Switkowski's inclusion.
Jon Boy
Guest
At home Freo surely can take it up to Carlton you would think.? Lyon will have no distractions if they drop this one . Matera had 17 disposals and 4 tackles in the derby. Ballantne (11) disposals ( most for the .year), zero ( 0) tackles in the derby, his fifth game this year without laying a tackle. Matera 6 years younger has not been setting the world on fire but gets dropped and Ballantyne is playing before other youngsters. Lyon is shooting himself in the foot.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
One thing for sure Dimma and the Tigers will be hoping the Cats get done. Won't want to meet them in the finals. Cats to really put the wind in the sails with a fantastic 19 point win.