AFL Round 8 Preview
Adelaide v Richmond
The Tip: Adelaide by 44 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Andrew McLeod
Chance For An Upset: No Riewoldt, no Richmond.
Adelaide
They win if....their veteran midfielders dominate the Tigers' younger players.
They lose if...the Jericho-holics in the crowd run onto the ground and the game is forfeited.
The Good News: No new injuries and no changes made, some stars like Johncock are also close to a return.
The Bad News: The forward line is very inconsistent.
Richmond
They win if....the Tigers have studied the game tapes from the Crows versus Essendon and Collingwood.
They lose if...Richardson plays the game in the ruck, just let him run around and have Pattison or Polak go for hitouts.
The Good News: Kingsley isn't playing.
The Bad News: Riewoldt isn't playing.
Essendon v Brisbane
The Tip: Brisbane by 22 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Jonathan Brown
Chance For An Upset: A coin-flip game, very even.
Essendon
They win if....Lloyd returns and kicks a winning score, and he has done that before.
They lose if...McPhee is used as a tall defender, he needs space to work in.
The Good News: Ryder has really exploded with the move to the back line.
The Bad News: Camporeale is in the team, Dyson must be wondering why he isn't playing.
Brisbane
They win if....the Lions ruckmen stay with Hille and don't allow him to run free.
They lose if...they kick too often to Michael's opponent.
The Good News: They finally get to talk with Mal Michael.
The Bad News: Their young defenders have a big game against the veterans Lucas and Lloyd.
Geelong v Fremantle
The Tip: Fremantle by 11 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Matthew Pavlich
Chance For An Upset: Fremantle are big outsiders, but Geelong are very inconsistent so anything can happen.
Geelong
They win if....Bartel continues to run around without an opponent.
They lose if...Mooney is stopped.
The Good News: Ling is performing at a high level as he shuts down the midfield stars of the AFL.
The Bad News: Hawkins is out.
Fremantle
They win if....they again find a third forward option, it was Campbell last week.
They lose if...Sandilands can't keep up with the double-team of Blake and Ottens in the ruck.
The Good News: Schammer's recovery is ahead of schedule, he could be back in under a month.
The Bad News: They have gone from preseason favourites to win everything to now struggling to get into the finals.
Hawthorn v St Kilda
The Tip: Hawthorn by 22 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Luke Hodge
Chance For An Upset: The Saints are the favourites, but they like the roof and there isn't one to play under at the MCG.
Hawthorn
They win if....Crawford runs harder than Harvey.
They lose if...the Hawthorn forwards don't work hard to stop players like Gram and the Fishers running away with the ball.
The Good News: Mitchell has been very good this season, but last week he was great.
The Bad News: Joel Smith is playing, this does not agree with their youth policy that they have. Xavier Ellis or Moss would have been a better choice.
St Kilda
They win if....Gehrig kicks a lot of goals.
They lose if...they can't figure out who is the right player to combat Lance Franklin.
The Good News: Gwilt has improved a lot, he can slow down a key forward and also get plenty of the ball himself.
The Bad News: Another injury, this time a long-term one to Goddard.
Kangaroos v Carlton
The Tip: Kangaroos by 7 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Corey Jones
Chance For An Upset: Carlton are in a bit of a slump, but they did defeat the Kangaroos in Queensland during the NAB Cup.
Kangaroos
They win if....Edwards, Petrie and Brown continue to mark the ball, or at least bring it to ground for Harvey and Grant.
They lose if...McIntosh's influence on the game and playing time is changed with Moran there as his backup.
The Good News: They keep on winning.
The Bad News: Wells misses a month, Hale has been dropped.
Carlton
They win if....Betts and Fisher help Fevola and kick a bunch of goals.
They lose if...Koutoufides doesn't spend more time on the ground, and in the middle.
The Good News: Fevola always makes the games entertaining, but he won't need to ignite a rumble this time.
The Bad News: They have dropped Mr Kennedy, they need to play the former number 3 overall pick as he is the future.
Sydney v Port Adelaide
The Tip: Sydney by 18 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Ryan O'Keefe
Chance For An Upset: Despite only 1 loss this year the Power are the underdog here, they have won in Fremantle and on the MCG this season and they are capable of defeating Sydney at the SCG.
Sydney
They win if....Jolly and Everitt win in the ruck, a tough task.
They lose if...the players weren't listening this week when Hall was talking.
The Good News: Kennelly is playing, maybe.
The Bad News: O'Loughlin is not a star now, maybe they need to only use him in bursts from the bench.
Port Adelaide
They win if....they continue playing how they have been.
They lose if...Tredrea and White are stopped by Barry and C Bolton.
The Good News: They are on top of the ladder.
The Bad News: It will be a big change from last week, going from a home game against Richmond to a game at the SCG with the Swans needing a win.
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood
The Tip: Western Bulldogs by 23 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Daniel Giansiracusa
Chance For An Upset: The Bulldogs are only slight favourites, the Magpies have shown they can win a big game like they did on Anzac Day.
Western Bulldogs
They win if....Cooney and Griffen help by kicking a few goals.
They lose if...Fraser is too good for Street and Darcy.
The Good News: Akermanis was good last round, he should again lift for a big game in a packed stadium.
The Bad News: They are still a short team, and Collingwood can play three tall forwards.
Collingwood
They win if....they really can match the Bulldogs for pace, and foot skills.
They lose if...Rocca and Cloke can't dominate the air.
The Good News: Malthouse says the players that were dropped last week are welcomed back now, Davis will play this week.
The Bad News: The Magpies are trying to play the Bulldogs at their game, dropping Wakelin and bringing in fast players, it won't be easy to beat the Bulldogs that way.
West Coast v Melbourne
The Tip: West Coast by 33 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Chris Judd
Chance For An Upset: None.
West Coast
They win if....the game goes ahead as scheduled.
They lose if...Judd announces before the game that he wants to play with Melbourne next season.
The Good News: Dean Cox is back playing, they are close to unbeatable when he is at his best.
The Bad News: Embley will miss another month.
Melbourne
They win if....Melbourne go there to physically intimidate the Eagles, they will need big games from McLean, Sylvia and Jones.
They lose if...Neitz doesn't kick 9 or more goals.
The Good News: It could be a look at a future Demon, if Judd wants out of the chaos in the West then Melbourne is where he wants to go, and with possibly having the first pick in the preseason draft it could be easy to do.
The Bad News: After a few close losses it could be time for a huge loss, and a visit to play the Eagles could result in a 100 point loss.
The Tip: Adelaide by 44 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Andrew McLeod
Chance For An Upset: No Riewoldt, no Richmond.
Adelaide
They win if....their veteran midfielders dominate the Tigers' younger players.
They lose if...the Jericho-holics in the crowd run onto the ground and the game is forfeited.
The Good News: No new injuries and no changes made, some stars like Johncock are also close to a return.
The Bad News: The forward line is very inconsistent.
Richmond
They win if....the Tigers have studied the game tapes from the Crows versus Essendon and Collingwood.
They lose if...Richardson plays the game in the ruck, just let him run around and have Pattison or Polak go for hitouts.
The Good News: Kingsley isn't playing.
The Bad News: Riewoldt isn't playing.
Essendon v Brisbane
The Tip: Brisbane by 22 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Jonathan Brown
Chance For An Upset: A coin-flip game, very even.
Essendon
They win if....Lloyd returns and kicks a winning score, and he has done that before.
They lose if...McPhee is used as a tall defender, he needs space to work in.
The Good News: Ryder has really exploded with the move to the back line.
The Bad News: Camporeale is in the team, Dyson must be wondering why he isn't playing.
Brisbane
They win if....the Lions ruckmen stay with Hille and don't allow him to run free.
They lose if...they kick too often to Michael's opponent.
The Good News: They finally get to talk with Mal Michael.
The Bad News: Their young defenders have a big game against the veterans Lucas and Lloyd.
Geelong v Fremantle
The Tip: Fremantle by 11 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Matthew Pavlich
Chance For An Upset: Fremantle are big outsiders, but Geelong are very inconsistent so anything can happen.
Geelong
They win if....Bartel continues to run around without an opponent.
They lose if...Mooney is stopped.
The Good News: Ling is performing at a high level as he shuts down the midfield stars of the AFL.
The Bad News: Hawkins is out.
Fremantle
They win if....they again find a third forward option, it was Campbell last week.
They lose if...Sandilands can't keep up with the double-team of Blake and Ottens in the ruck.
The Good News: Schammer's recovery is ahead of schedule, he could be back in under a month.
The Bad News: They have gone from preseason favourites to win everything to now struggling to get into the finals.
Hawthorn v St Kilda
The Tip: Hawthorn by 22 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Luke Hodge
Chance For An Upset: The Saints are the favourites, but they like the roof and there isn't one to play under at the MCG.
Hawthorn
They win if....Crawford runs harder than Harvey.
They lose if...the Hawthorn forwards don't work hard to stop players like Gram and the Fishers running away with the ball.
The Good News: Mitchell has been very good this season, but last week he was great.
The Bad News: Joel Smith is playing, this does not agree with their youth policy that they have. Xavier Ellis or Moss would have been a better choice.
St Kilda
They win if....Gehrig kicks a lot of goals.
They lose if...they can't figure out who is the right player to combat Lance Franklin.
The Good News: Gwilt has improved a lot, he can slow down a key forward and also get plenty of the ball himself.
The Bad News: Another injury, this time a long-term one to Goddard.
Kangaroos v Carlton
The Tip: Kangaroos by 7 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Corey Jones
Chance For An Upset: Carlton are in a bit of a slump, but they did defeat the Kangaroos in Queensland during the NAB Cup.
Kangaroos
They win if....Edwards, Petrie and Brown continue to mark the ball, or at least bring it to ground for Harvey and Grant.
They lose if...McIntosh's influence on the game and playing time is changed with Moran there as his backup.
The Good News: They keep on winning.
The Bad News: Wells misses a month, Hale has been dropped.
Carlton
They win if....Betts and Fisher help Fevola and kick a bunch of goals.
They lose if...Koutoufides doesn't spend more time on the ground, and in the middle.
The Good News: Fevola always makes the games entertaining, but he won't need to ignite a rumble this time.
The Bad News: They have dropped Mr Kennedy, they need to play the former number 3 overall pick as he is the future.
Sydney v Port Adelaide
The Tip: Sydney by 18 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Ryan O'Keefe
Chance For An Upset: Despite only 1 loss this year the Power are the underdog here, they have won in Fremantle and on the MCG this season and they are capable of defeating Sydney at the SCG.
Sydney
They win if....Jolly and Everitt win in the ruck, a tough task.
They lose if...the players weren't listening this week when Hall was talking.
The Good News: Kennelly is playing, maybe.
The Bad News: O'Loughlin is not a star now, maybe they need to only use him in bursts from the bench.
Port Adelaide
They win if....they continue playing how they have been.
They lose if...Tredrea and White are stopped by Barry and C Bolton.
The Good News: They are on top of the ladder.
The Bad News: It will be a big change from last week, going from a home game against Richmond to a game at the SCG with the Swans needing a win.
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood
The Tip: Western Bulldogs by 23 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Daniel Giansiracusa
Chance For An Upset: The Bulldogs are only slight favourites, the Magpies have shown they can win a big game like they did on Anzac Day.
Western Bulldogs
They win if....Cooney and Griffen help by kicking a few goals.
They lose if...Fraser is too good for Street and Darcy.
The Good News: Akermanis was good last round, he should again lift for a big game in a packed stadium.
The Bad News: They are still a short team, and Collingwood can play three tall forwards.
Collingwood
They win if....they really can match the Bulldogs for pace, and foot skills.
They lose if...Rocca and Cloke can't dominate the air.
The Good News: Malthouse says the players that were dropped last week are welcomed back now, Davis will play this week.
The Bad News: The Magpies are trying to play the Bulldogs at their game, dropping Wakelin and bringing in fast players, it won't be easy to beat the Bulldogs that way.
West Coast v Melbourne
The Tip: West Coast by 33 points
Best-On-Ground Guess: Chris Judd
Chance For An Upset: None.
West Coast
They win if....the game goes ahead as scheduled.
They lose if...Judd announces before the game that he wants to play with Melbourne next season.
The Good News: Dean Cox is back playing, they are close to unbeatable when he is at his best.
The Bad News: Embley will miss another month.
Melbourne
They win if....Melbourne go there to physically intimidate the Eagles, they will need big games from McLean, Sylvia and Jones.
They lose if...Neitz doesn't kick 9 or more goals.
The Good News: It could be a look at a future Demon, if Judd wants out of the chaos in the West then Melbourne is where he wants to go, and with possibly having the first pick in the preseason draft it could be easy to do.
The Bad News: After a few close losses it could be time for a huge loss, and a visit to play the Eagles could result in a 100 point loss.
