**********
Richmond v. Essendon
Saturday, 12 May 2001 - MCG 2:10 PM
They used to call Hawthorn the Mayblooms for their propensity to
peak at about this time of the year. In recent times this same
epithet could be applied to the Tigers. The Coburg-Richmond
Tigers staggering inconsistency of recent years appears to have
abated for the present, but I'm yet to be convinced that they are
top flight stuff.
They dodged and weaved and relied too heavily on their tall
forwards against the peripatetic Kangaroos. In the end the
scoreline flattered Richmond, especially considering North's
obvious vulnerability and the fact the McKernan may as well not
have turned up for all the good he did.
The Tigers show a tendency to get rattled once they fall behind,
hardly symptomatic of a champion side, and I also think they're
also a bit suspect across the half-back line.
I'll grit my teeth and say that Essendon are probably approaching
their form of last year and have, in Fletcher, someone who can
shut the enigmatic Richardson down. The Same Olds have the
personnel to exploit Richmond's weaknesses, and Sheedy will know
that if you get a good start out of the blocks against Richmond,
and if you can keep your play fluid and not let the play get
stuck in the centre or pushed around the wings, then the Tigers
will get rattled.
As much as it pains me to say it, Essendon are a champion side.
They are strong all over the park, and they do this without
having a great deal of depth. The Essendon VFL side hasn't
exactly set the world on fire.
Richmond's second XVIII, which was once the Coburg football club,
has also been experiencing some indifferent form, so there is not
a lot of pressure on this Richmond outfit, and last week's
injuries may yet take their toll. Krakouer the younger, son of
one of the Krakouer brothers, makes his debut for the Tigers this
weekend, filling one of the increasing number of gaps on the
Tigers list.
Essendon will pump them. They will pump them good. And when
Richmond stick their head up, Essendon will pump them some more.
Essendon by about ten goals I reckon.
- Phil Doyle
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
**********
Adelaide v. Fremantle
Saturday, 12 May 2001 - Football Park 7:10 PM (7:40 PM AEST)
Well after a challenge to the coach and a guarantee that his
position is safe for this match look to the Dockers to put in a
big game against the Crows this week. Isn't it funny that only
three weeks ago Gary Ayres was under threat because of the Crows
bad start to the season.
When you look through the Fremantle side there is a lot of
potential and the occasional flash of brilliance but they don't
have the confidence that they can win. They have the skill, the
height, and the pace and get into winning positions but their
self-belief and confidence is shot. They believe they are going
to be over-run and perhaps because of that when the opposition
starts to rally and get a run on in the last quarter they fumble,
and do get over-run.
Even the umpires seem to get caught up in the atmosphere and all
of a sudden the free kicks go against them. The players sense
that it's going to slip away again and get annoyed and give away
stupid free kicks. It's a vicious cycle. How do you turn around
that confidence in a team or a player? If anyone knows please
tell Damian Drum, Leigh Colbert and drop a note to Tim Watson and
Dennis Pagan.
If they could string together 3 or 4 wins the Dockers would be a
very difficult opponent, but perhaps Damian Drum is not the one
to take them to the next level. They certainly have a great on
ball and centre group with goal to goal line of some of the best
young key position players in the competition. Perhaps like the
Hawks it may take a few years for the team to
gel together and become a force.
This week I expect Waterhouse and 1 or 2 hard at it players to
return and provide that forward impetus for the Dockers. The
problem for the Dockers against the Crows is a ruckman. Pace and
aggression may not be enough against the Crows in Adelaide.
Matthew Clarke has started to strike form and with back up from
Robran, and perhaps Marsh the Crows are well served in the ruck.
Given that this will give McLeod, Riccuito and Goodwin first use
out of the centre and the Dockers will be under the pump.
Especially now that one D. Jarman has found form and provided a
defence led by Smart, Hart, Robran and Bickley with that touch of
brilliance and pin point delivery that he's so capable of
providing. This settled backline is what will give the Crows the
edge against a forward line which looks at its most potent with
Modra, Waterhouse, Fewster and perhaps Brown.
I expect that Waterhouse could be the dangerman for the Crows.
He's as strong as a bull and kick the ball long and will bust
open the packs. Smart will probably be his opponent as he has the
height and pace to go with him.
For the Crows to win they need more from their key forward line
players. Last week against the Hawks the forward line for the
Crows lacked big man strength so I expect Adam Richardson to get
his chance. From all accounts he's a man mountain at 194cm and
102kgs and a very good full forward. With Burton, Stevens and
perhaps Marsh resting in the pocket I expect the Crows forward
line to be too strong for the Dockers.
I think that with doubts over Hasleby's availability, and Bell
out injured the Crows will be too strong at home and win by 24
points.
- Amazonstud
**********
St Kilda v. Hawthorn
Saturday, 12 May 2001 - Colonial Stadium 7:40 PM
Two teams with contrasting seasons to date meet on Saturday night
at Colonial Stadium. Hawthorn are undefeated after six rounds,
and St.Kilda have won only two matches this year, but the general
feeling is the Hawks won't have it all their own way.
The Saints played some good football last week in beating the
highly-fancied Sydney Swans, partly inspired by veteran Stewart
Loewe playing his 300th game, himself putting in a blinder.
Ruckman Peter Everitt also had a welcome return to form,
outpointing Swan counterparts Adam Goodes and Greg Stafford. The
task this week looms as a more difficult one for big Spider, who
has to contend with the in-form Shaun Rehn, and the mobile Nathan
Thompson. The Hawks were a little disappointing last week as they
outclassed the lowly Adelaide Crows at Launceston, but couldn't
put them away, eventually running out winners by only 13 points.
The Hawks appear to have a more attacking midfield set-up with
better ball carriers and possession winners than the Saints.
Harford, Bowyer, Smith and skipper Crawford set up many attacking
moves last week against Adelaide. St.Kilda's midfield lacks
experience and class in the absence of Harvey, and are probably
best off playing predominantly defensive roles on the Hawks'
playmakers, a role which the likes of Thompson, Moyle and Baker
should be able to fill comfortably.
The game will most likely be won by the Hawks' superior forward
line. Their firepower is quite impressive with Thompson, Croad,
Dixon and the unassuming Barker providing a diverse array of
marking targets and sharp shooters. St.Kilda do not appear to
have the height in defence to cope with the Hawks forward
targets, and the third and fourth forwards will provide a
mismatch which should win Hawthorn the game.
St.Kilda's forward line could also provide a few headaches for
Peter Schwab as he will have to blanket Hall and Hamill
permanently (possibly with Hay and Graham), and save one tall
defender (probably Rawlings) for Loewe and Everitt who will most
likely rotate between the ruck and the forward line. Another
option for Schwab is to send Croad or Barker to defence, but this
would prevent the Hawks, missing Nick Holland, from exploiting
St.Kilda backline's height deficiency. It may cause a bit of re-
shuffling on Schwabby's part, but he has enough aces in the deck
to overcome the Saints this time around.
The verdict : Hawks by 27 points, with Barker or Dixon bobbing up
for four or five goals, as Blight struggles to match the Hawks'
marking power up forward.
Head to Head : Played 134, Hawthorn 70, St.Kilda 63, Drawn 1.
Last 10 Matches : Hawthorn 6, St.Kilda 4.
At Colonial Stadium : Never played.
Last Time : Hawthorn 27.9.171 d. St.Kilda 13.8.86 at MCG, Rd 14,
2000.
St.Kilda have not beaten Hawthorn since Round 4, 1998, when they
triumphed by 8 points at Waverley.
- Dark Avenger
http://www.afltips.com/people/darkavenger.html
Richmond v. Essendon
Saturday, 12 May 2001 - MCG 2:10 PM
They used to call Hawthorn the Mayblooms for their propensity to
peak at about this time of the year. In recent times this same
epithet could be applied to the Tigers. The Coburg-Richmond
Tigers staggering inconsistency of recent years appears to have
abated for the present, but I'm yet to be convinced that they are
top flight stuff.
They dodged and weaved and relied too heavily on their tall
forwards against the peripatetic Kangaroos. In the end the
scoreline flattered Richmond, especially considering North's
obvious vulnerability and the fact the McKernan may as well not
have turned up for all the good he did.
The Tigers show a tendency to get rattled once they fall behind,
hardly symptomatic of a champion side, and I also think they're
also a bit suspect across the half-back line.
I'll grit my teeth and say that Essendon are probably approaching
their form of last year and have, in Fletcher, someone who can
shut the enigmatic Richardson down. The Same Olds have the
personnel to exploit Richmond's weaknesses, and Sheedy will know
that if you get a good start out of the blocks against Richmond,
and if you can keep your play fluid and not let the play get
stuck in the centre or pushed around the wings, then the Tigers
will get rattled.
As much as it pains me to say it, Essendon are a champion side.
They are strong all over the park, and they do this without
having a great deal of depth. The Essendon VFL side hasn't
exactly set the world on fire.
Richmond's second XVIII, which was once the Coburg football club,
has also been experiencing some indifferent form, so there is not
a lot of pressure on this Richmond outfit, and last week's
injuries may yet take their toll. Krakouer the younger, son of
one of the Krakouer brothers, makes his debut for the Tigers this
weekend, filling one of the increasing number of gaps on the
Tigers list.
Essendon will pump them. They will pump them good. And when
Richmond stick their head up, Essendon will pump them some more.
Essendon by about ten goals I reckon.
- Phil Doyle
http://www.afltips.com/people/phildoyle.html
**********
Adelaide v. Fremantle
Saturday, 12 May 2001 - Football Park 7:10 PM (7:40 PM AEST)
Well after a challenge to the coach and a guarantee that his
position is safe for this match look to the Dockers to put in a
big game against the Crows this week. Isn't it funny that only
three weeks ago Gary Ayres was under threat because of the Crows
bad start to the season.
When you look through the Fremantle side there is a lot of
potential and the occasional flash of brilliance but they don't
have the confidence that they can win. They have the skill, the
height, and the pace and get into winning positions but their
self-belief and confidence is shot. They believe they are going
to be over-run and perhaps because of that when the opposition
starts to rally and get a run on in the last quarter they fumble,
and do get over-run.
Even the umpires seem to get caught up in the atmosphere and all
of a sudden the free kicks go against them. The players sense
that it's going to slip away again and get annoyed and give away
stupid free kicks. It's a vicious cycle. How do you turn around
that confidence in a team or a player? If anyone knows please
tell Damian Drum, Leigh Colbert and drop a note to Tim Watson and
Dennis Pagan.
If they could string together 3 or 4 wins the Dockers would be a
very difficult opponent, but perhaps Damian Drum is not the one
to take them to the next level. They certainly have a great on
ball and centre group with goal to goal line of some of the best
young key position players in the competition. Perhaps like the
Hawks it may take a few years for the team to
gel together and become a force.
This week I expect Waterhouse and 1 or 2 hard at it players to
return and provide that forward impetus for the Dockers. The
problem for the Dockers against the Crows is a ruckman. Pace and
aggression may not be enough against the Crows in Adelaide.
Matthew Clarke has started to strike form and with back up from
Robran, and perhaps Marsh the Crows are well served in the ruck.
Given that this will give McLeod, Riccuito and Goodwin first use
out of the centre and the Dockers will be under the pump.
Especially now that one D. Jarman has found form and provided a
defence led by Smart, Hart, Robran and Bickley with that touch of
brilliance and pin point delivery that he's so capable of
providing. This settled backline is what will give the Crows the
edge against a forward line which looks at its most potent with
Modra, Waterhouse, Fewster and perhaps Brown.
I expect that Waterhouse could be the dangerman for the Crows.
He's as strong as a bull and kick the ball long and will bust
open the packs. Smart will probably be his opponent as he has the
height and pace to go with him.
For the Crows to win they need more from their key forward line
players. Last week against the Hawks the forward line for the
Crows lacked big man strength so I expect Adam Richardson to get
his chance. From all accounts he's a man mountain at 194cm and
102kgs and a very good full forward. With Burton, Stevens and
perhaps Marsh resting in the pocket I expect the Crows forward
line to be too strong for the Dockers.
I think that with doubts over Hasleby's availability, and Bell
out injured the Crows will be too strong at home and win by 24
points.
- Amazonstud
**********
St Kilda v. Hawthorn
Saturday, 12 May 2001 - Colonial Stadium 7:40 PM
Two teams with contrasting seasons to date meet on Saturday night
at Colonial Stadium. Hawthorn are undefeated after six rounds,
and St.Kilda have won only two matches this year, but the general
feeling is the Hawks won't have it all their own way.
The Saints played some good football last week in beating the
highly-fancied Sydney Swans, partly inspired by veteran Stewart
Loewe playing his 300th game, himself putting in a blinder.
Ruckman Peter Everitt also had a welcome return to form,
outpointing Swan counterparts Adam Goodes and Greg Stafford. The
task this week looms as a more difficult one for big Spider, who
has to contend with the in-form Shaun Rehn, and the mobile Nathan
Thompson. The Hawks were a little disappointing last week as they
outclassed the lowly Adelaide Crows at Launceston, but couldn't
put them away, eventually running out winners by only 13 points.
The Hawks appear to have a more attacking midfield set-up with
better ball carriers and possession winners than the Saints.
Harford, Bowyer, Smith and skipper Crawford set up many attacking
moves last week against Adelaide. St.Kilda's midfield lacks
experience and class in the absence of Harvey, and are probably
best off playing predominantly defensive roles on the Hawks'
playmakers, a role which the likes of Thompson, Moyle and Baker
should be able to fill comfortably.
The game will most likely be won by the Hawks' superior forward
line. Their firepower is quite impressive with Thompson, Croad,
Dixon and the unassuming Barker providing a diverse array of
marking targets and sharp shooters. St.Kilda do not appear to
have the height in defence to cope with the Hawks forward
targets, and the third and fourth forwards will provide a
mismatch which should win Hawthorn the game.
St.Kilda's forward line could also provide a few headaches for
Peter Schwab as he will have to blanket Hall and Hamill
permanently (possibly with Hay and Graham), and save one tall
defender (probably Rawlings) for Loewe and Everitt who will most
likely rotate between the ruck and the forward line. Another
option for Schwab is to send Croad or Barker to defence, but this
would prevent the Hawks, missing Nick Holland, from exploiting
St.Kilda backline's height deficiency. It may cause a bit of re-
shuffling on Schwabby's part, but he has enough aces in the deck
to overcome the Saints this time around.
The verdict : Hawks by 27 points, with Barker or Dixon bobbing up
for four or five goals, as Blight struggles to match the Hawks'
marking power up forward.
Head to Head : Played 134, Hawthorn 70, St.Kilda 63, Drawn 1.
Last 10 Matches : Hawthorn 6, St.Kilda 4.
At Colonial Stadium : Never played.
Last Time : Hawthorn 27.9.171 d. St.Kilda 13.8.86 at MCG, Rd 14,
2000.
St.Kilda have not beaten Hawthorn since Round 4, 1998, when they
triumphed by 8 points at Waverley.
- Dark Avenger
http://www.afltips.com/people/darkavenger.html