Two hardest tips for the round - (WB vs Melb) and (NM vs StK)

[Power King]

The two hardest tips this round in my opinion are:

Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne (Etihad)
North Melbourne vs St Kilda (Etihad)

Who will win, and WHY?

 

[Lemma]

Melb
NM

 

[Wooljay]

Melb
NM

You missed a bit.

Melb & NM. Both 50/50, but I'm going on form - even thought that doesn't really matter for Melbourne for some reason. North have been looking real hungry of late and I think they know that they can't afford to drop games to bottom sides (which sadly StK are) if they want to make the eight.

Bulldogs are just rubbish, and they've lost Sherman now who was showing a bit up forward for them where they've been lacking, but they've also gained two goal kickers from the VFL, so maybe the point is moot. I'm liking Melbourne's football post-QB and I reckon they have the wood to get over the line against an out of form and relatively insipid Dogs outfit.

 

[FootyJunkie]

Depends on which Melbourne shows up, but would probably back the Dogs at the Dome.

Saints to make an assault for September, will get up.

 

[SM]

Melbourne can't win at the Dome, Dogs can, therefore Dogs for me.

On the other hand, Saints have had an upswing in form, and reckon Montagna and Reiwoldt will have heavily benefitted from the bye and come out firing for a Saints win.

 

[The Wrecker]

If Melb and the Bulldogs was at the G, you'd back Melb to win by six goals. At the Dome, back the Bullies by four or more.
Still have a feeling the Saints have something to offer though North is in decent form.

 

[crownie]

Melbourne comfortably after Rockets team selections for the game

 

[AlibiMonday]

The system's got St.Kilda at 52% likelihood, which essentially means it's line ball. While Melbourne are at 58%.

Since publishing the likelihoods (from Round 8) it's got an 83% correct record for close games with likelihoods under 60% (5-1). That game lost was North v Sydney - which North really should have won.

Hopefully it will continue.

 

[Tulip]

Dogs, Saints. Experience will overcome two young sides on an unnatural high.

 

[syl]

The dees and the kangas for mine.

Melbourne have reversed their form since beating essendon, bar losing to a far better side in Collingwood and the last game we won at Corporate stadium was vs the bulldogs IIRC. Also, the changes for the bullies are terrible, hope we can break the hoodoo!

If you have watched the last month of footy that the kangas have put up you would know that they aren't just beating struggling sides, but their structures are better, like the dees, and they are looking very hungry!

A very good acid test for both of the sides, if they can survive this, they put themselves in poll position for the final spots in September for mine.

Will be great, definitely going to both matches! Could be a great weekend or a very depressing one for me.

 

[lewigie]

Saints will pants them.

 

[syl]

Saints will pants them.

Man, BF experts seriously underestimate the kangas. There's people who have tipped against kangas every week for the last month on here... fools.

 

[100action]

melbourne will win by ~40 points

 

[MaddAdam]

North will win. Structures are very good, midfield is very good and getting better every game, Petrie in white hot form, Goldstein will dominate ruck. North team on way up and Saints on way down and this will confirm it.

(Collingwood will do us week after though)

 

[syl]

North will win. Structures are very good, midfield is very good and getting better every game, Petrie in white hot form, Goldstein will dominate ruck. North team on way up and Saints on way down and this will confirm it.

(Collingwood will do us week after though)

What a man! I've met him, very shy but seems very nice.

 

[pacman]

North are the best side to win cash off very under estimated.
Dees up and going the poor Dogs are struggling.

 

[Teffy]

North are no certainties, as they are a young side and are prone to go missing at times, but I just can't see how StKilda could be viewed as favorites when you look at their line up and take in to account their game plan. Can I get some answers for these questions?

1) Who will St Kilda put on Petrie, and can they do the job?

2)StKilda have to contend with Pederson, Edwards and Hansen. Who will stop them clunking marks?

3) How will St Kilda limit the influence of Goldstein and his supply to the in form Swallow, Wells and Ziebell?

4) Will Nicky Dal be able to overcome the close checking of Levi Greenwood (Who has kept Dal Santo to 9 and 21 possessions in their two meetings)?

5) How will St Kilda get through the North press?

IMO, St Kilda will need to kick 100+ points to beat North at Docklands and they have only averaged 89 points a match v all comers in 2011. I honestly can't see the Saints getting up without 8 or more goals coming from Reiwoldt, Milne and Scheider, the loss of Koschitzke exposes Reiwoldt to greater scrutiny and North have a very good shut down option for Milne in Brady Rawlings.

Thoughts?

 

[MaddAdam]

North are no certainties, as they are a young side and are prone to go missing at times, but I just can't see how StKilda could be viewed as favorites when you look at their line up and take in to account their game plan. Can I get some answers for these questions?

1) Who will St Kilda put on Petrie, and can they do the job?

2)StKilda have to contend with Pederson, Edwards and Hansen. Who will stop them clunking marks?

3) How will St Kilda limit the influence of Goldstein and his supply to the in form Swallow, Wells and Ziebell?

4) Will Nicky Dal be able to overcome the close checking of Levi Greenwood (Who has kept Dal Santo to 9 and 21 possessions in their two meetings)?

5) How will St Kilda get through the North press?

IMO, St Kilda will need to kick 100+ points to beat North at Docklands and they have only averaged 89 points a match v all comers in 2011. I honestly can't see the Saints getting up without 8 or more goals coming from Reiwoldt, Milne and Scheider, the loss of Koschitzke exposes Reiwoldt to greater scrutiny and North have a very good shut down option for Milne in Brady Rawlings.

Thoughts?

Agree. For mine, the goals that will hurt the Saints will come through Boomer and LT. Both are capable of kicking goals quickly and with the Saints having to shut down Wells and Swallow as first priorities, I just don't see how they can quell Boomers class. Reckon Lindsay will get a few "over the top" goals.

Would like to see Ziebell go to Goddard too. Just run with him all day.

 

[Teffy]

Would like to see Ziebell go to Goddard too. Just run with him all day.

Outside of the potential goal kickers I also think Goddard is Norths greatest threat. IMO, the Saints will attempt to sit Goddard at half back and a kick behind the ball in order to navigate through the press. Ziebell is important in the middle to expose St Kildas lack of heavy bodies at the clearances so i'd go with McMahon on Goddard for this reason.

Jones is the one that interests me. I wonder who he will go to?

 

[Alexwce]

Tipping the Dogs and Saints.

Dogs vs Demons - I still believe that the dogs will come good eventually, they have too many really good players too just keep losing and the Demons record at Ethiad is atrocious.

St Kilda vs North Melbourne - St Kilda are a better team right now.

 

[Dazb86]

Dees should win. The only thing making this less than a 100% certainty is it's being played at Etihad.

 

[MaddAdam]

Outside of the potential goal kickers I also think Goddard is Norths greatest threat. IMO, the Saints will attempt to sit Goddard at half back and a kick behind the ball in order to navigate through the press. Ziebell is important in the middle to expose St Kildas lack of heavy bodies at the clearances so i'd go with McMahon on Goddard for this reason.

Jones is the one that interests me. I wonder who he will go to?

I thought he was better placed in the forward line Tef? <stern face:>

In that regard, couldn't Jack go to him on the HB line and play a negating role that can turn attacking when the play comes our way?

 

[Boppo]

Not only tough to pick but such important points up for grabs. The battle for positions 7 & 8 this year will go down to the wire.

Dogs and Saints for me. And Saints to make the eight.

 

[Aussie Assault]

Dees & NM.

Wouldnt have ever thought that at the start of the year though.

 

[Territory Magpie]

I've been agonising over this one for a day or 2. Two tough tips, but for mine Melb (better exposed form) and NM (St K coming off the dreaded bye, and I think only 2 teams this year have won after the bye when playing against a team that played the previous week).