AFL Round 18 Teams and Fantasy News
Western Bulldogs v St Kilda
The Tip: St Kilda by 15 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Fraser Gehrig
Chance For An Upset: The Bulldogs seem to have become confused lately, instead of adding more height to the team they have
actually gone even smaller. Koschitzke and Clarke in the ruck for the Saints could be the difference here.
Western Bulldogs
They win if....Cross and West, who both return after missing through injury, win a huge amount of the ball at stoppages.
The Good News: Everitt impresses in every game he plays.
The Bad News: Griffen is out for the rest of the season, the Bulldogs' slump started around the time he and Cross were hurt.
St Kilda
They win if....they overload the Bulldogs with height, that could be the plan as Koschitzke is expected to spend time up
forward and with Riewoldt and Gehrig there too the Saints should kick a winning score.
The Good News: A month ago it looked like the finals were out of reach, now it seems very likely that they play in September.
The Bad News: They didn't finish off their opponent last week and the result was close at the end, they will need to make
sure they play the entire game to defeat the Bulldogs.
Carlton v Collingwood
The Tip: Collingwood by 55 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Anthony Rocca
Chance For An Upset: Carlton didn't get the win after firing their coach, something that the other teams like Fremantle were
able to do. The second game for a new coach is often a big loss, so that might happen here.
Carlton
They win if....they hold H Shaw to 10 or fewer possessions, unlikely to happen.
The Good News: There aren't many weeks to go.
The Bad News: With Kouta gone, Carlton can't put anyone on the field who has won before.
Collingwood
They win if....they do the opposite of what they did against Brisbane.
The Good News: Clement returns and their back line is now close to being complete.
The Bad News: Rocca has had a few shockers, there is a good chance that he turns it around here.
Geelong v Richmond
The Tip: Geelong by 99 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Nathan Ablett
Chance For An Upset: No.
Geelong
They win if....they have 18 players out on the ground.
The Good News: Geelong will finish in first spot.
The Bad News: King returns, that could be a problem as the Ottens-Blake combination was working so well.
Richmond
They win if....the kid from Family Ties turns up in his DeLorean and brings Jim Jess and the rest of their 1980 team to play.
The Good News: Angus Graham gets to play, which means they now have Angus Graham Polak, while the Cats will be missing their
Joel Corey Enright for this game.
The Bad News: Richmond fans are not cheering enough for Carlton to win, top pick is at stake.
Brisbane v Kangaroos
The Tip: Brisbane by 33 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Jamie Charman
Chance For An Upset: It was Leigh Brown who did the damage for the Kangaroos last time they faced the Lions, he won't be
playing in this game. Brisbane's Jonathan Brown is also kicking a lot better than he did when these teams last played.
Brisbane
They win if....someone like Patfull can stop Jones in the air and at ground level.
The Good News: Along with Geelong, at the moment Brisbane are playing better than any other team.
The Bad News: The Lions have found another potential star from Ireland but the GAA doesn't want to let him go.
Kangaroos
They win if....McIntosh has another big game with plenty of running and possessions.
The Good News: They went to Tasmania and won, so a trip North won't worry them.
The Bad News: This game is at the Gabba, when the Kangaroos won earlier in the year it was played on the Gold Coast.
Adelaide v Port Adelaide
The Tip: Port Adelaide by 2 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Kane Cornes
Chance For An Upset: These games are usually close, but Adelaide will need something special from a few players to make up
for all the players they are missing.
Adelaide
They win if....Perrie stops playing like Kent Kingsley.
The Good News: It is their home game, so they will have the crowd support.
The Bad News: More Ricciuto injury news.
Port Adelaide
They win if....Ebert and The Hoff take a few contested marks up forward.
The Good News: Some teams take 10 years to rebuild, the Power needed half a season.
The Bad News: Tredrea will miss again, but that might just mean he is rested and more effective in the finals.
Melbourne v Sydney
The Tip: Sydney by 123 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Nick Davis
Chance For An Upset: No Bruce, no MCG, no chance for Melbourne.
Melbourne
They win if....Sheedy arrives to coach and brings a couple of big forwards and an extra big defender.
The Good News: Round 22 could be one of the most intriguing games of the season, against Carlton, and it isn't a long wait.
The Bad News: It's Melbourne's home game but it is a long way away.
Sydney
They win if....it doesn't snow, although it could be cold in Canberra for the game.
The Good News: They have one of the best ruck duos in the AFL, and they can thank Melbourne for providing half of it.
The Bad News: Leo Barry is out again, that should not be a problem.
Hawthorn v Essendon
The Tip: Essendon by 13 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: David Hille
Chance For An Upset: Essendon have some momentum behind them, they might keep it going.
Hawthorn
They win if....Franklin and Mitchell play and are at their best.
The Good News: Lewis was reported but he is available to play this week.
The Bad News: They brought back Vandenberg and then lost, maybe it is just a coincidence.
Essendon
They win if....their tall, versatile players like McPhee and Lovett-Murray take up space in front of Hawthorn's big forwards.
The Good News: They are back in the finals race.
The Bad News: Their current coach is better than whoever they bring in for 2008.
Fremantle v West Coast
The Tip: West Coast by 8 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Dean Cox
Chance For An Upset: The Dockers don't have a lot to play for, in terms of finals, but they will want this win more than any other over the last month of the season. It could be close but the Dockers may not have enough in the ruck to get the win.
Fremantle
They win if....Pavlich takes Glass into the midfield to unbalance the Eagles' back line.
The Good News: They win half their games with their new coach.
The Bad News: Sandilands is out for the rest of the year.
West Coast
They win if....they don't get caught in too much physical stuff.
The Good News: Wirrpanda and others are back, although there may not be room in the team for all their possible inclusions.
The Bad News: Due to losses at home against the Saints and Lions, the Eagles will have to keep winning to get second spot.
The Tip: St Kilda by 15 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Fraser Gehrig
Chance For An Upset: The Bulldogs seem to have become confused lately, instead of adding more height to the team they have
actually gone even smaller. Koschitzke and Clarke in the ruck for the Saints could be the difference here.
Western Bulldogs
They win if....Cross and West, who both return after missing through injury, win a huge amount of the ball at stoppages.
The Good News: Everitt impresses in every game he plays.
The Bad News: Griffen is out for the rest of the season, the Bulldogs' slump started around the time he and Cross were hurt.
St Kilda
They win if....they overload the Bulldogs with height, that could be the plan as Koschitzke is expected to spend time up
forward and with Riewoldt and Gehrig there too the Saints should kick a winning score.
The Good News: A month ago it looked like the finals were out of reach, now it seems very likely that they play in September.
The Bad News: They didn't finish off their opponent last week and the result was close at the end, they will need to make
sure they play the entire game to defeat the Bulldogs.
Carlton v Collingwood
The Tip: Collingwood by 55 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Anthony Rocca
Chance For An Upset: Carlton didn't get the win after firing their coach, something that the other teams like Fremantle were
able to do. The second game for a new coach is often a big loss, so that might happen here.
Carlton
They win if....they hold H Shaw to 10 or fewer possessions, unlikely to happen.
The Good News: There aren't many weeks to go.
The Bad News: With Kouta gone, Carlton can't put anyone on the field who has won before.
Collingwood
They win if....they do the opposite of what they did against Brisbane.
The Good News: Clement returns and their back line is now close to being complete.
The Bad News: Rocca has had a few shockers, there is a good chance that he turns it around here.
Geelong v Richmond
The Tip: Geelong by 99 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Nathan Ablett
Chance For An Upset: No.
Geelong
They win if....they have 18 players out on the ground.
The Good News: Geelong will finish in first spot.
The Bad News: King returns, that could be a problem as the Ottens-Blake combination was working so well.
Richmond
They win if....the kid from Family Ties turns up in his DeLorean and brings Jim Jess and the rest of their 1980 team to play.
The Good News: Angus Graham gets to play, which means they now have Angus Graham Polak, while the Cats will be missing their
Joel Corey Enright for this game.
The Bad News: Richmond fans are not cheering enough for Carlton to win, top pick is at stake.
Brisbane v Kangaroos
The Tip: Brisbane by 33 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Jamie Charman
Chance For An Upset: It was Leigh Brown who did the damage for the Kangaroos last time they faced the Lions, he won't be
playing in this game. Brisbane's Jonathan Brown is also kicking a lot better than he did when these teams last played.
Brisbane
They win if....someone like Patfull can stop Jones in the air and at ground level.
The Good News: Along with Geelong, at the moment Brisbane are playing better than any other team.
The Bad News: The Lions have found another potential star from Ireland but the GAA doesn't want to let him go.
Kangaroos
They win if....McIntosh has another big game with plenty of running and possessions.
The Good News: They went to Tasmania and won, so a trip North won't worry them.
The Bad News: This game is at the Gabba, when the Kangaroos won earlier in the year it was played on the Gold Coast.
Adelaide v Port Adelaide
The Tip: Port Adelaide by 2 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Kane Cornes
Chance For An Upset: These games are usually close, but Adelaide will need something special from a few players to make up
for all the players they are missing.
Adelaide
They win if....Perrie stops playing like Kent Kingsley.
The Good News: It is their home game, so they will have the crowd support.
The Bad News: More Ricciuto injury news.
Port Adelaide
They win if....Ebert and The Hoff take a few contested marks up forward.
The Good News: Some teams take 10 years to rebuild, the Power needed half a season.
The Bad News: Tredrea will miss again, but that might just mean he is rested and more effective in the finals.
Melbourne v Sydney
The Tip: Sydney by 123 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Nick Davis
Chance For An Upset: No Bruce, no MCG, no chance for Melbourne.
Melbourne
They win if....Sheedy arrives to coach and brings a couple of big forwards and an extra big defender.
The Good News: Round 22 could be one of the most intriguing games of the season, against Carlton, and it isn't a long wait.
The Bad News: It's Melbourne's home game but it is a long way away.
Sydney
They win if....it doesn't snow, although it could be cold in Canberra for the game.
The Good News: They have one of the best ruck duos in the AFL, and they can thank Melbourne for providing half of it.
The Bad News: Leo Barry is out again, that should not be a problem.
Hawthorn v Essendon
The Tip: Essendon by 13 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: David Hille
Chance For An Upset: Essendon have some momentum behind them, they might keep it going.
Hawthorn
They win if....Franklin and Mitchell play and are at their best.
The Good News: Lewis was reported but he is available to play this week.
The Bad News: They brought back Vandenberg and then lost, maybe it is just a coincidence.
Essendon
They win if....their tall, versatile players like McPhee and Lovett-Murray take up space in front of Hawthorn's big forwards.
The Good News: They are back in the finals race.
The Bad News: Their current coach is better than whoever they bring in for 2008.
Fremantle v West Coast
The Tip: West Coast by 8 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Dean Cox
Chance For An Upset: The Dockers don't have a lot to play for, in terms of finals, but they will want this win more than any other over the last month of the season. It could be close but the Dockers may not have enough in the ruck to get the win.
Fremantle
They win if....Pavlich takes Glass into the midfield to unbalance the Eagles' back line.
The Good News: They win half their games with their new coach.
The Bad News: Sandilands is out for the rest of the year.
West Coast
They win if....they don't get caught in too much physical stuff.
The Good News: Wirrpanda and others are back, although there may not be room in the team for all their possible inclusions.
The Bad News: Due to losses at home against the Saints and Lions, the Eagles will have to keep winning to get second spot.
