Sportsbet.com.au presents “Crashing the Banner”………an early bird look at the weekend’s AFL.
Round 7 kicks off at AAMI Stadium on Friday night with the out of form Port Power hosting the Hawks. On Saturday the Bulldogs and Sydney meet in Canberra, while the brothers Scott go head to head at Skilled Stadium where the Cats will take on the Kangaroos.
The Tigers face the Dockers in a twilight match at the MCG before the two Queensland teams, Brisbane and Gold Coast meet for the first time at the GABBA. Sunday sees the Bombers reacquaint themselves with the Eagles, while Melbourne will be keen to atone for last week’s effort when they host the Crows. Round 7 wraps up on Monday evening at Etihad where Riewoldt and the Saints face Juddy and the Blues.
The Hawks are a talented unit whose form has been patchy this season. Port were expected to redeem themselves last week against the Kangaroos after the embarrassment of losing to the Gold Coast the week before. Instead they put in an insipid performance emphasized by a season low tackle count of 38. Hawthorn had a bye last week but that shouldn’t stop them from beating the Power comfortably.
Of the 22 games played between Port and Hawthorn, the Power have taken the points 15 times including an 8 point win the last time the clubs met.
Port Adelaide 4.90 1.92 (+30.5)
Hawthorn 1.18 1.92 (-30.5)
The Dogs should regain the services of Ben Hudson this week, but Sydney will be without Kieren Jack who is dealing with an ankle injury that will see him on the sidelines for up to 6 weeks. Both teams have lost their last 2 games and will desperate not to let this one slide. Brian Lake has been dropped to the VFL. Expect a close encounter, with the Dogs doing just enough to take the points.
The Bulldogs have won 4 of the 5 games they have played at Canberra’s Manuka oval, while the Swans form at this ground has been disappointing, winning only 1 of their last 4 starts there.
Western Bulldogs 1.75 1.92 (-4.5)
Sydney 2.09 1.92 (+4.5)
Saturday will be the first time in AFL history that identical twins coach against each other. The teams they coach however are far from identical, with Geelong looking the most likely challenger to the all conquering Magpies, while the Kangaroos celebrated their first win for the season last week against the imploding Port Adelaide. North’s Ben McKinley or Cameron Pedersen may replace Lachie Hansen who hurt his lower back crashing head first into the Etihad Stadium fence. It will take a major upset for the Kangaroos to grab the points from the Cats at Skilled stadium.
The Cats have won their last 24 games at this venue and one more win will see them set a new league record.
Geelong 1.07 1.92 (-48.5)
North Melbourne 8.50 1.92 (+48.5)
Richmond have secured back to back wins against two bottom four teams but will need the likes of Dustin Martin (35 possessions last week) and Nathan Foley (40 possessions) to reproduce their recent form if they are to take the points against Fremantle. Docker’s players, Jay Van Berlo, Kepler Bradley, Nat Fyfe and David Mundy, all played well in the win against the Bulldogs a fortnight ago. Coming off last week’s bye, coupled with the trip to Melbourne is not the ideal way to go into a game but Fremantle’s class should see them take the chocolates.
Richmond 2.35 1.92 (+9.5)
Fremantle 1.60 1.92 (-9.5)
Brisbane and the Gold Coast, occupying the bottom two places on the ladder, go head to head in the inaugural Queensland Derby. Both teams endured disappointing losses last week – The Lions fourth quarter fade out against Richmond was another blow to Michael Voss, while the Gold Coast 139 point thrashing at the hands of Essendon must have been downright embarrassing for Guy McKenna. There’s pride, bragging rites and four premiership points at stake in this one but the experience and size of the Lions players should prove too much for the kids at the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast 8.50 1.92 (+51.5)
Brisbane 1.07 1.92 (-51.5)
The Eagles make their first trip to Melbourne this year, after a notable win against the Demons last week. Generally young teams find interstate travel difficult and West Coast are no exception, having lost 17 of 20 interstate games during the 2009/10 seasons. Essendon coach, James Hird mindful of the Eagles tall forward line may play Hurley in the backline alongside veteran defender Dustin Fletcher who returns from a knee injury. Fletcher celebrates his 36th birthday on Saturday and should celebrate a 3 to 4 goal win over West Coast on Sunday.
The Eagles claimed last year’s wooden spoon and won only four games for the season –two of them against Essendon!
Essendon 1.20 1.92 (-30.5)
West Coast 4.70 1.92 (+30.5)
Dean Bailey is starting to feel the heat after his Demons insipid performance against The Eagles last week. Senior players Aaron Davey and Brad Green need to find form and fast. The teams first quarter last week was woeful to say the least. Mark Jamar was one of the few Demons to hold his head up and will need to replicate that form against The Crows. Adelaide are yet to win a game on the road this year and go into this match without Richard Tambling (suspension), Andy Ottens and Phil Davis (injured). The Crows looked good in last week’s victory over The Saints. They should continue that form and get a narrow win at the MCG on Sunday.
Melbourne 1.77 1.92 (-3.5)
Adelaide 2.08 1.92 (+3.5)
Chris Judd is having such a good season there is already talk of him winning a third Brownlow medal. Carlton as a team are also enjoying a terrific start to the year, sitting third on the ladder with only one loss and that was against the might of Collingwood. On the other hand, nothing seems to be going right for The Saints. They have lost Lenny Hayes for the season and sit thirteenth on the ladder with just 1 win, 1 draw and 3 losses. Their forward line has only outscored Brisbane and the Gold Coast and the players look lethargic. Do they have anyone that can stop Judd? It’s doubtful!
St Kilda 2.85 1.92 (+17.5)
Carlton 1.43 1.92 (-17.5)