CAM MOONEY: Bring on the blockbuster round:
WITH JUST TWO ROUNDS REMAINING IN THE HOME-AND-AWAY SEASON, EVERY GAME STILL HAS MEANING, AND THIS WEEK OFFERS UP NINE OUTSTANDING GAMES OF FOOTY WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
MELBOURNE v SYDNEY
ARE the Demons going to finish the year as the biggest laughing stock of the AFL? Have they gone back to their basket case ways? Melbourne supporters have turned big time, so is this going to be another reason to turn even more? They can save some face here, but if they lose to Sydney, which is just going and got smashed out of the centre last week, it will round out an incredibly disappointing season.
CARLTON v ST KILDA
ST KILDA remains a very outside chance of playing finals and two caretaker coaches desperate to get the job will face each other. Everyone is intrigued with how Carlton is going and how it has turned its form around under David Teague, yet there is still talk he won’t get the job, which is bizarre. I don’t think the coach of the winning team this weekend necessarily gets the job but it is very hard not to give them the gig with how they are performing.
BRISBANE v GEELONG
THIS is more than just a topof-the-table clash. I can’t tell you the last time the Gabba was sold out, and Brisbane is arguably the most exciting team of the competition. The Lions will come up against a team trying to rediscover its form before the finals, and the Cats looked like they got a bit of that back last week. Big winning streaks are rare now because the competition is so tight, and Brisbane is up to eight now, so the football world will be taking notice of how it handles the pressure of the big stage.
ADELAIDE v COLLINGWOOD
ADELAIDE will be trying to save its season here because it has the Western Bulldogs next week at Ballarat, so lose this and it is season over. Collingwood is almost in a worse situation than Geelong in that it is trying to recapture its form before finals, and with the injury list it has, who knows where the Pies are at? The Crows have been pushed out of the eight so both South Australian teams are fighting for the one spot.
NORTH MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE
THE Power have won two on the trot and are back in some serious form. They should have beaten Sydney by a lot more, and Charlie Dixon is starting to find some form and fitness, Ryder was great in the ruck and young Ladhams is going to be a star. The Power’s inconsistency is well documented, and North Melbourne will be looking to try to bounce back from the worst possible result under a new coach.
FREMANTLE v ESSENDON
THIS has got everything. Both teams are looking to stay in the hunt, but the story is Essendon. The Bombers have been bashed from pillar to post — and rightly so, and now they go to Perth, which will be good to get away from the heat … but Fremantle is very, very good at Optus Stadium. The Dockers got a hold of Geelong two weeks back, and really, John Worsfold could be out of a job if Essendon don’t make finals, so it is a must win.
RICHMOND v WEST COAST
WE could get a Grand Final preview this week, and these two teams are arguably the best in it. The two most recent premiers at the MCG on a Sunday arvo presents so many questions. What does Richmond do with McGovern? What does West Coast do with Lynch? There are match-ups everywhere — Yeo on Martin will be brilliant to watch, and really, this could well be the Grand Final six weeks out.
GWS GIANTS v WESTERN BULLDOGS
THE recent history between these two sides is great and the Bulldogs are on fire. I don’t think anyone would not want the Dogs to keep this run going and to make finals because they are a young and exciting team. Bontempelli is a superstar in the middle and Josh Dunkley is fast becoming a star, along with Macrae. They are kicking goals and playing good footy, but the Giants are coming off the worst loss in their existence. They were embarrassed, they were called soft, and there is nothing more humiliating than that.
HAWTHORN v GOLD COAST
IT will be all about Roughy on Sunday afternoon at Marvel Stadium. Jarryd Roughead is a super human being, a super footballer and I am so glad that he gets his farewell game in the last match of the round so everyone gets to have a look. Even if you hate Hawthorn, you can’t help but love him; and he deserves to be cheered off. I am all for farewell games as long as they don’t interfere with your plans. Geelong did it really well a few years back with Johnson, Kelly and Stokes and it was one of the most memorable days for the club.