Forget the run into the finals. The next five weeks sees us take on five top eight aspirants (and yes, I'm including an injury depleted Adelaide in that list). Success here can really set us up for the end of the season.
While I know it's CRAZY TALK to pick results five weeks in advance, just for the hell of it I'm interested to hear other people's forecast of the period ahead. Who will we beat? Who will beat us? And why? Here's my take on it ...
Hawthorn (A) ... Both teams seem to be in a similar place. We've started well without setting the world on fire. We've both been hit by injuries and have players yet to recreate their best. Today, we sit fourth and fifth on the ladder. While we had a remarkable come-from-behind victory in the corresponding fixture last year, I'm tipping the hawks in a pretty close contest. It's at the MCG, and I suspect the Hawks will have a little more motivation ... revenge.
Fremantle (H) ... This is a really important game. It's the only time we play Freo this year, and it's our one chance to inflict some ladder damage on them. Despite being edged out by the Bombers and thumped by the Hawks, the Dockers have been ticking most of the boxes, although they might easily have dropped another game against the Tigers. At the SCG. No Pav or Sandilands (and hopefully no Ray Chamberlain). This is one we need to win. My money's on us.
Collingwood (A) ... Pies, MCG, Friday night - what a mouthwatering prospect. Cloke is on fire, although the team as a whole has been spluttering along in a very unCollingwood like fashion. They seem more susceptible than they have in the past, and I think the aura of invincibility the Pies enjoyed over us has disippated. We should really have beaten them twice last year. We should give them a good run this year. What a game. Swans by 15.
Essendon (H) ... All I can say is, thank God it's at the SCG. The Bombers seem like a team determined to prove the cynics and accusers wrong. With a healthy list, they're delivering on the potential that injury robbed them of last year. And sure, the giants gave them something to think about on the weekend. But it may just have been a case of Essendon putting their feet up. Time will tell. The Bombers look good, but I can't remember the last time we played them at the SCG. Hopefully that gets us across the line. Swans by a whisker.
Adelaide (A) ... First of two big games in Adelaide, seperated by the bye. At the start of the season, you'd have marked this down in red ink. But sadly for Crows fans, their team hasn't lived up to their expectations. And to make matters worse, their Tippett-less forward line has now lost Walker. Bigfooty subscribers will be under no illusion as to how much the Adelaide rabble hate our guts. Sadly for them, hate don't win football matches. Good guys by 15.
Over to you.
While I know it's CRAZY TALK to pick results five weeks in advance, just for the hell of it I'm interested to hear other people's forecast of the period ahead. Who will we beat? Who will beat us? And why? Here's my take on it ...
Hawthorn (A) ... Both teams seem to be in a similar place. We've started well without setting the world on fire. We've both been hit by injuries and have players yet to recreate their best. Today, we sit fourth and fifth on the ladder. While we had a remarkable come-from-behind victory in the corresponding fixture last year, I'm tipping the hawks in a pretty close contest. It's at the MCG, and I suspect the Hawks will have a little more motivation ... revenge.
Fremantle (H) ... This is a really important game. It's the only time we play Freo this year, and it's our one chance to inflict some ladder damage on them. Despite being edged out by the Bombers and thumped by the Hawks, the Dockers have been ticking most of the boxes, although they might easily have dropped another game against the Tigers. At the SCG. No Pav or Sandilands (and hopefully no Ray Chamberlain). This is one we need to win. My money's on us.
Collingwood (A) ... Pies, MCG, Friday night - what a mouthwatering prospect. Cloke is on fire, although the team as a whole has been spluttering along in a very unCollingwood like fashion. They seem more susceptible than they have in the past, and I think the aura of invincibility the Pies enjoyed over us has disippated. We should really have beaten them twice last year. We should give them a good run this year. What a game. Swans by 15.
Essendon (H) ... All I can say is, thank God it's at the SCG. The Bombers seem like a team determined to prove the cynics and accusers wrong. With a healthy list, they're delivering on the potential that injury robbed them of last year. And sure, the giants gave them something to think about on the weekend. But it may just have been a case of Essendon putting their feet up. Time will tell. The Bombers look good, but I can't remember the last time we played them at the SCG. Hopefully that gets us across the line. Swans by a whisker.
Adelaide (A) ... First of two big games in Adelaide, seperated by the bye. At the start of the season, you'd have marked this down in red ink. But sadly for Crows fans, their team hasn't lived up to their expectations. And to make matters worse, their Tippett-less forward line has now lost Walker. Bigfooty subscribers will be under no illusion as to how much the Adelaide rabble hate our guts. Sadly for them, hate don't win football matches. Good guys by 15.
Over to you.
