Round 17 Preview

Wow round 17 is upon us! Who would have thought! And this week it's rivalry round, and hasn't there been some beauties over the years!

Carlton vs Collingwood (MCG) Friday Night.
This game would have to be one of the biggest if not THE BIGGEST! These two teams traditionally hate eachother (almost as much as Victoria and South Australia) and they have games that prove it! Grand Finals, Brawls, fights you name it, Carlton and Collingwood have been through it. These two team do give out great games that we will remember for a long time. For instance what about the 1979 Grand Final. Was that out? I'm still undecided but a lot of Collingwood and Carlton supporters will argue that one forever! Ok to this game tonight, man who do you go for. Last time round it was Carlton getting the chocolates in a great performance from Chris Judd. But when you look at Collingwood's form of late, apart from the hickup last week, it's been really good. On paper these two have put out really good sides with the exception of Jarrod Waite (Carlton) and Josh Fraser (Collingwood) but both teams back this up well. In tonights game it will be the Pies getting the chocolates and winning by 24 points.

Geelong vs Hawthorn (MCG) Saturday.
Wow another tough game! These two teams have an extensive rivalry that takes them back to the 1960's. Playing in Grand Finals and in tough matches there is no love lost between these two sides. I think that the rivalry was twice fold in the last three or four matches that these two sides have played. Round 17 last year was a beauty with the Cats winning by 11 points. Then who could forget last years Grand Final (us Cats supporters are trying to) with the Hawks winning by 26 points. Then earlier this year the Cats winning by 8 points even though Franklin kicked 5 goals. This time round the year has been different for both sides. It's been up and down for Hawthorn with them finding some much needed form against Collingwood. Meanwhile for Geelong they dropped two games in a row and to me have lost momentum even though they won against Melbourne last week. This game will test where both sides are at. Hawthorn need it for any chance at playing finals and Geelong need it to say that Hawthorn definately did get arsey last Grand Final day. Whatever the result is it's going to have an important bearing on the eight. I did say at the start of the year that whoever wins round 1 will lose round 17 and that means I must tip Hawthorn. However during the week the Geelong Cheersquad lost one of its own Chanelle Rae, Rest in peace dear girl! And maybe that will have a bearing on the result. Tough one to tip, Hawthorn just by 7 points.

Fremantle vs West Coast (Subiaco) Saturday.
Ah the Western Australian Derby! These things are so interesting to watch! There has been a lot of feeling in this game over the years and I reckon this one will be no acception! West Coast are positioned better than the 16th place Dockers who are in the need of a win. Fremantle played at home in the wet last week while the Eagles played a tough game at AAMI Stadium. Both teams will need really good preparation for this game. Freo will welcome back Matthew Pavlic which if he fires against Darren Glass then Fremantle will be in for a good show. But if West Coast can play with heart then it's game on. The most interesting factor is that the Dockers have won the last four games and will make it five, winning by 14 points.

Brisbane vs North Melbourne (GABBA) Saturday night.
I am looking forward to this game. It's not going to be a landslide like people think, I personally think that this game will have a lot of bite in it. Brisbane coming off a gruelling match in Western Australia and losing Bradshaw and Brennan and North Melbourne coming off a draw which they nearly snatched from the jaws of defeat! Both factors could come into play but I do believe that the home ground advantage will be the deciding factor and Brisbane will win by 38 points.

St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs (Etihad) Saturday Night.
Wow another tough game! St Kilda are 16 and nothing, what a record! Western Bulldogs however have some really good form coming into this game. I love the rivalry between these two sides, they have provided us with some awesome duels over the years. St Kilda have Koschitzke and Dawson out which will cause a minor hickup, but I reckon they will cover because they have the depth to back it up. If the Dogs can exploit this and match up really well then they can cause an upset. Again I think that this game should be won in the midfield and if the Dogs can stop the supply going into the St Kilda forwardline then it should be an interesting game. I do believe the it's Nick Reiwoldt that will be the key and if the Dogs can't stop him then they won't stop St Kilda. I don't think they will, the Saints will win by 10 points.

Melbourne vs Sydney (Manuka Oval) Sunday.
Hmm. This game has interesting potential in it. The whole tanking debate has reared it's ugly head again and someone has suggested that Melbourne are doing it with the players they have out like Grimes, Robertson, McLean, Jamar but you know I think that they are just genuine injuries. It will be intesting to see how the young players go of Melbourne as I thought that they played not too badly last week. Sydney on the otherhand have come off a ten goal loss to Carlton a side that hasn't beaten them since 2000 and will be looking at making emmends. I personally think they will and will win by 32 points.

Essendon vs Richmond (MCG) Sunday.
The Kevin Sheedy cup LOL! These two have great rivalries going back a long time! Even though Essendon won the last game earlier on in the year, Richmond had won the last four. What a game this turns out to be! Last week the Bombers went down to a very good Western Bulldogs team by 33 points and Richmond had that famous draw after leading by 42 points at half time (they should have won, cost me eight right damn Tiges!) so it does play out to be a good match. In this case I am going to tip Essendon to win by 56 points.

Adelaide vs Port Adelaide (AAMI Stadium) Sunday.
Ah the Showdown! Speaking of two teams hating eachother! This goes further than you can imagine! I had spoken to a Port Supporter and asked her whether the rivalry was as fierce as they say it is and she said DEFINATELY! I would say that the Adelaide supporters would have felt that Port was invading when they came into the competition. Another thing was that I had heard that the Port Adelaide supporters were known as the blue collar workers and Adelaide Tie and shirt, that's what I heard anyway. Either way you look at it, these two teams put on a great show whenever they play! The last one had Port Winning well but now Adelaide have strung together some great form. Between these two sides I would say that along with the Carlton Collingwood matches would have to have produced as big rivalry. I am going to tip Adelaide in this game to even up the stakes in the year by 16 points.

Well that's my tips for rivalry round. I'm hoping I don't get eight right this week I don't want Hawthorn to win. Knowing my luck it probably would happen this round. We'll see what happens!

Catch ya!