Geelong v North Melbourne @ Simonds Stadium, Friday 7:50PM
While Geelong have had North’s number in recent years, winning eight of the past 10, the indifferent Kangaroos have claimed two of the past three and get the Cats six days after a frustrating trip across the country.
Stevie Johnson will also be out of action after succumbing to the antics of Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley and Geelong have a bit to prove after having lost to top four contenders Port and Fremantle in the space of the month. Meanwhile, the Kangaroos have claimed a number of impressive scalps of their own in recent weeks, namely knocking off both Sydney and Freo in their last five.
Regardless of form, Geelong have won astounding 45 of the past 47 at Simmonds and North have some issues to deal with. The Kangaroos lack of scoring opportunities in 2014 (15th in AFL) are a result of a near league-worst ranking in clearances, and will need a blinder from Todd Goldstein against ex-Roo Hamish McIntosh and Dawson Simpson, who were convincingly beaten by Aaron Sandilands in Perth.
Geelong: Matthew Stokes and Jesse Stringer replace Taylor Hunt (omitted) and Stevie Johnson (suspended)
North Melbourne: Michael Firrito replaces Scott McMahon (omitted)
Collingwood v West Coast @ the MCG, Saturday 4:40PM
The battle for eighth place on the AFL ladder will see Collingwood host the Eagles at the MCG, an unfriendly venue for the visitors in recent seasons.
West Coast overturned a bitterly disappointing four-game losing streak, after winning their opening three of the season, ahead of last weekend’s bye courtesy of a 111-point against a hapless Giants outfit. They will need that same confidence against the Magpies in Danye Beams’ 100th game at the MCG where the team has managed just one win against Collingwood from their previous 10 attempts.
The Eagles may have feasted upon lesser opponents thus far in 2014, but they are yet to win against top eight side. That needs to change against the Pies, a team who until last week were surging up the AFL ladder with four on the trot.
Both teams are evenly matched- the Eagles average just three more possessions per contest, one more clearance and one less inside 50, however despite Collingwood’s recent history against the Eagles they remain the most inaccurate team in the league despite the story line of poor set shot shooting that dogged the Eagles in the early going.
Collingwood:Nathan Brown and Alex Fasolo replace Sam Dwyer (omitted) and Lachlan Keeffe (omitted)
West Coast: Josh Hill replaces the suspended Mark LeCras
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn @ Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7:10PM
Port have to be quietly confident heading into Round 10- they have a home stand at a tough venue for visiting opponents, catch the reigning premiers all beaten up and missing some top level talent and have a chance to go two games ahead of the Hawks at the top of the ladder.
The Power brushed aside top four competitors Freo and Geelong in recent weeks and are an established title contender. The Hawks have the clear advantage in the ruck and are the AFL’s most accurate club, but the absence of Josh Gibson (pectoral), Sam Mitchell (hamstring), Cyril Rioli (hamstring) and Brian Lake (calf), plus the suspended Jarryd Roughead, makes life extremely difficult.
The Power are obviously no slouches- they aren’t far behind the Hawks in goals per game (19-17), lead the inside 50 count and combined a fantastic mix of midfield of experience and youth. Kane Cornes and Travis Boak have fired in 2014 while youngsters Olly Wines and Jared Polec have impressed mightly. Throw in Gray, Hartlett, Ebert and White and this becomes a team hard to keep up with.
Port: Matthew Lobbe replaces Brent Renouf (omitted)
Hawthorn: Luke Hodge, Liam Shiels, Brad Sewell and Jonathon Ceglar replace Kyle Cheney, Rioli, Roughead and Gibson
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