Macca – who would you like to see as Carlton coach next year? Do you think John Barker is the man to take them forward or do you think a coach with more experience is required.

I agree. The outside mids don’t usually get the recognition they deserve when compiling these kind of lists yet they are such a crucial part of the team. I would still rate Stephen Hill ahead of Isaac Smith his brother though. That said I would have been comfortable with any of them in the top 50.

I’m not sure how much currency those players hold. None would be worth a top 10 pick.

Gibbs and Murphy would probably be in the 11 to 20 category, but the others aren’t even close.

I think the best case scenario with Yarran is let him leave via free agency next year. If someone comes in with an overs offer (which seems to happen with free agents) let him walk and take the compo pick. I can see Freo and West Coast definitely being interested but can’t imagine they would be willing to give up anything for him via a trade.

With Kreuzer I think teams would be very cautious and reluctant to give up a high pick. He is too much of a risk. It wouldn’t be worth Carlton trading him for a pick 30 plus. They should just stick with him and hope he can stay injury free and fulfil his potential.

And I’m not sure why you mentioned Thomas, he would be worth absolutely naught. I wouldn’t even trade pick 80 for him as you would have to take on that ludicrous contract of his. I think again Carltons best option is to stick with him and hope he can finally deliver on what they bought him to the club for. That being said, I have always thought he is very overrated and only an average player at best.

Where do you get your stats from jax?? WC were not number one last year for disposal efficiency. They were 12th! Do you just make stuff up to suit your agenda?

“They are the most skilful side in the comp with ball in hand and their ball use and decision making is exquisite. They are the fittest team in the comp and they consistently outrun their opposition. They arguably have the best forward line along with the Hawks. They arguably have the best ruck duo along with Freo.”

Wow, that’s quite amazing jax. But is seems you forgot to mention they are also the shortest priced favourites in the History of the AFL to win the premiership. Because, surely a team with the best skills, best fitness, best forward line and best ruck duo in the comp is unbeatable?

Surely when you reread your comment you realised just how foolish it was? You can honestly believe you are the best team in all those categories?

This article is absolute tripe. I don’t support neither the Blues or the Power so I am neutral in my opinion of the game.

Firstly though I want to point out that umpires do not conspire against a particular team. Do you honestly think the umpires were out on the ground thinking ‘hey lets make this hard for the Power and favour the Blues”? Absolutely not. Supporters just always think their team is getting the rough end of the deal? This is usually because they see a 50/50 call and go absolutely mad if they don’t get the decision.

Back to the game. Out of those ‘top five worst umpiring calls” only number 2 and 5 have any merit. With number 5 yes I believe that was a free kick to Monfries (although he went down very easily) but Krakouer scored a goal from the pursing play so it had absolutely no bearing on the game. Your point is mute. And with number 2 yes the ball hit the ground but these incidents happen all the time. What do you want to happen in that situation? Should the umpire call a hold on play and send it up for a video review? That would be ridiculous. They have to make a split second decision and unfortunately they got that one wrong, however, is understandable given the situation.

I believe the Boak and Westhoff decisions were correct, and the ball up decision was the only outcome that could have eventuated from the set of circumstances that unfolded. Again, what do you want to happen in that situation? The ball up was the only logical outcome.

And please, are you honestly complaining that the Blues were being to physical? Are the Power, and their supporters, reallythat soft? Ridiculous.

Not sure where you get your stats from Jax considering you have already lost 15 out of 48 quarters this year?

Why do you turn everything into something about the eagles or one of their players?

And what do you mean Nic will force everyone to reconsider how they rate ruckman? People are already doing that, with a lot more emphasis on what they can offer around the ground rather than just their hit outs/tap work. And Goldstein offers a lot more then Naitanui does. I sure know who I would prefer on my team. Give me Goldstein any day.

The only representative concept style of game I can see working is an all-star/exhibition game. SOO won’t work for a number of reasons, but the most prevalent being the players and clubs concern about the players welfare. An all-star style game like the we see in the NBA will mitigate the chance of injury. The game will be more an exhibition, the players get to show off their skills and play with more flair. You play offense with about 80% intensity while trying the things you wouldn’t usually do in the regular season, and only play defence with about 20% intensity.

You end up with a game where both teams score around 150 points but that’s what the concept is all about. High scoring, high skills and extravagant play. You can divide the teams however you want, but the most logical would be Vic based clubs v the rest of the clubs. If you move clubs then you change who you represent, just like what happens in the NBA.

Any style of representative game where you want the players to play with 100% intensity and win at all costs just won’t work.

Good article as always Ryan. I think it’s going to be a cracking game. Richmond should win but as DingoGray alluded to, this has all the makings of a perennial Richmond letdown. I can’t wait!

The biggest winner this week will be Essendon.. not havening to put up another embarrassing loss.

Hansen is an interesting prospect. If you had asked me two years ago if North got a good deal I would have been very sceptical. But he is now starting to prof his worth. He seems to be one of those players who needs to find the perfect position and get their confidence up before they can blossom as a player. North tried him as a key defender and key forward without great success. One reason being he was crippled with injuries early in his career (he still has chronic groin problems). He never had continuity and there was huge expectations on him being drafted at pick 3.

However, the emergence of Ben Brown last year was a blessing for Hansen (who had been playing as a key forward in 2012 and 2013). While he was showing improvement I don’t think he was ever going to make it as a forward. He has always been more comfortable as a defender and now playing as the lose man we are finally seeing his potential come through. His biggest asset is his marking and he is constantly intercepting attacks from the opposition. He is finally becoming a vital cog in the North team.

All this said though, whilst North are starting to get the rewards from Hansen the simple answer to your question is no, I would not redraft him if I had the chance. The simple answer being, Joel Selwood.

I take your point that you may not have watched North very often but Wells is definitely one of Norths most valuable players.

The thing with Wells is he only needs to have 15 to 20 possessions to be damaging and best on ground. The reason being he is the one who is able to break the lines, when he gets the ball he explodes with his pace then has the ability to deliver a prefect 50-60 meter pass. This is the reason he’s so valuable to North, as they don’t have other players who can do this.

I guess the problem, and frustration for fans, is he is very inconsistent. He can easily go from best on ground one week to no existent the next. This may be the reason people who don’t watch North play often get your perception. But at the end of the day I think he is a very good player, and North certainly got the better end of the Carey deal out of it.

Are you really rating the swans game a 50/50? If it was in Melbourne maybe a 60/40 game in Sydney’s favour, but at the SCG it’s more like an 80/20 game.

I still wouldn’t count the Roos out. They have got the tough part of their draw out of the way and have a dream run home. Their next 8 games are GWS, Gold Coast, Geelong, Essendon, Brisbane, Carlton, Melbourne and St Kilda. Realistically they go in favourites in all those games, but as we know nothings a given with North.

Their last 3 games are tougher, but certainly winnable against Freo, Bulldogs and Richmond, as all 3 are at Etihad.

I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see them make a run in the second half of the year.

Here’s some substance. Essendon are simply no good and no one in their right mind would tip them this week. They are in absolute shambles and ‘the chosen one’ looks like he has no idea what to do next. They have no chance against the Eagles, who I don’t even rate, so I’m not sure what that says about Essendon. Their forward line is just awful and incapable of kicking a winning score. But hey, if you can at least get a goal in the first half this week it will be an improvement.

Port v Cats – Port at home but I’m predicting a close game. Can’t wait for this one, should be a belter.

GC v Freo – I’m going with Ryan’s mantra, no other words needed. “Freo by many, many points”

WC v Bombers – I’ve been saying it all year, Essendon are incapable of kicking a winning score. WC at home should also score around the 100 plus mark, and if they do this could get very ugly like last week’s game. Surely the ‘chosen one’ will have to start coming under some serious pressure if that’s the case.

North v Swans – I’m going with North (with no confidence) in another close game. Match of the round for mine. North would have built some confidence on the back of last week’s win. The games also at Etihad where they are a different prospect. If they do get up will it leave question marks over Brad Scott’s head?

Collingwood v GWS – an absolute 50/50 game. I think GWS are the better team but Collingwood have home ground advantage. GWS just in anther close one.

St K v Melbourne – The saints have been mightily impressive this year and I’m tipping them at Etihad. If it was at the ‘G’ I would have gone with the Dees. It should be another close game to round out the week but the Saints should have just enough attacking weapons to get them over the line.

Good team but Dustin Martin has to be in the starting midfield. He was the best player of the round.
Other than that I tend to agree. Glad to see Ward in the team. Such an underrated player.

I will be very surprised if WC embarrass North. I know you can only beat who you play but I’m far from convinced on the Eagles. I think they will be exposed when they start playing the better teams. Is North a better team? Well that depends on what North side shows up. If they do show up, which they have a tendency to do after an embarrassing loss, then they will win this one comfortably. Time will tell.

Freo v Richmond – Freo are just in another league. I feel sorry for teams who have to face them in Perth this year. I do agree with Ryan though.. the tiges look like their back on track and set for another ninth place finish.

Carlton v Adelaide – Carlton are the worst team we have seen since a tanking Melbourne. Adelaide will make a mockery of them.

Gold Coast v Sydney – Things are about to go from bad to worse for Gold Coast. Triple figure loss coming.

Essendon v Geelong – Who knows. Both teams have been bitterly disappointing this year. I can’t see Essendon kicking a winning score but I can’t see Geelong winning on the back of trip out West. Flip a coin. I’m going Geelong.. just.

Port v Bulldogs – Port at home. But if the Bulldogs show up we could be in for a cracking game.

GWS v Brisbane – I think this will be a close game but GWS will be too good at home.

North v West Coast – North will win this comfortably in Tassie. I’m surprised all the experts have gone with West Coast.. they aren’t the real deal. And if we know one thing about North they will get up and win just when everyone starts tipping against them.

Saints v Hawks – I have been impressed with the Saints this year but the Hawks will be way to good. I hope the Saints are competitive but I can see this one being a blowout.

Melbourne v Collingwood – I genuinely feel this is a 50/50 game. I’m not convinced on the Pies. They were comprehensively beating in the first half last week.. and had it been any team other than North they would not have won that game. I think the Dees might just get up in this one.

Equal third with Kennedy, Franklin and Roughead on 2.9. Just behind Cloke who finished first (3.1) and Cameron in second (3).

“After Round 8, is that still the general feeling?” Yes.

Their midfield doesn’t come close to the best in the comp and will be the thing that holds the team back. Most teams would dream of a forward line containing Kennedy, Darling (when fit) and LeCras but they become ineffective if you lose the midfield battle. It’s the reason why the Eagles have been labelled flat track bullies, because when their midfield can get on top of the poorer teams and give their forwards first use they dominate the game. As soon as they come up against the better teams their midfield is exposed, and they simply can’t win.

While I agree Yeo has been a bit of a revelation (and yes its still early days so I’ll reserve judgement) the Eagles are still yet to beat anyone of note this year. Yes they have beat the teams put in front of them but the real tests are still to come.

50/50 Games
Melbourne v Port – Melbourne just with the combined score not to crack the ton.
Bulldogs v GWS – Giants should be to good but if the Bulldogs show up this will be game of the round.
Richmond v Essendon – The most 50/50 game of the season so far. Literally flip a coin.. Tigers for me.
Brisbane v St Kilda – Brisbane.. home ground advantage.
West Coast v Geelong – I’m not convinced on the Eagles.. or the Cats. Who knows? Eagles on home ground advantage alone.

60/40 Games
Adelaide v Fremantle – Fremantle should win but you can never count Adelaide out at AO.
Collingwood v North – Again North should win but you can never count on them actually winning.

100/0 Games
Sydney v Carlton – New coach same results. Their hand was forced but could they have picked a worse first game for the new coach!
Hawthorn v GC – This could get ugly. Hawks by 100 plus.

How anyone thinks Collingwood are any good is beyond me. They have only had four real challenging games this year against Adelaide, Essendon, Geelong and Richmond. They are 1 and 3 in those games and their only win was against Essendon who absolutely capitulated in rain. Their other wins have come against Brisbane, St Kilda, Carlton and Gold Coast, all of whom will most likely round out this year’s bottom four.

And while I do agree you never know with North, they should go in warm favourites. They also have a tendency to bounce back from a bad lose with a win. North comfortably for me.

Why is Collingwood so overrated? They haven’t beaten anyone of note, their position on the ladder is flattered by the draw. North will win easy.

I tend to agree with your other predictions, although I think Richmond will beat Essendon. I think it will be close but Essendon still have serious issues up forward (kicking 21 goals against Brisbane at home isn’t really anything to hang your hat on).