With just six games remaining in the Peter Jackson VFL home-and-away season, each and every game could have a bearing on the tightly contested final eight.
In a power-packed Round 14, Friday and Saturday’s games sees six finals contenders go head-to-head. Nick Duxson previews the action.
Geelong vs Collingwood
Simonds Stadium – Friday 19 July – 7 pm
It doesn’t get much better than Friday night footy under lights at Simonds Stadium. The ladder leading Cats take on Collingwood (6th) in a blockbuster, and both sides are fresh off impressive wins in the split Round 13.
Geelong hammered the Roosters by 74 points - Trent West recording 62 hit outs, Billie Smedts starring and Ryan Bathie booting four goals.
Collingwood consigned Box Hill Hawks to their second consecutive defeat, Lachlan Keeffe and Marty Clarke starring as the Pies overcame a half time deficit to win by seven points.
With four big names returning for Geelong’s AFL affiliate on an extended bench, the Cats VFL team is likely to be strengthened this week – while Goldsack and Mooney have earned promotion to the Pies’ senior side and Quinten Lynch and Alan Didak return from injury for the VFL Magpies.
In wet and tricky conditions, Geelong seem to have the advantage in defence – namely Jared Rivers and Mitch Brown – while Trent West has been in brilliant form, and his presence will be even more important tonight.
It’s hard to go past Geelong – and I am tipping them to get over the Pies in a scrap by three goals.
*Note, all gate receipts from this game will be donated to the Casey Tutungi Future Fund.
Box Hill Hawks vs Northern Blues
Box Hill City Oval – Saturday 20 July – 1.10 pm
Daniel Pratt will celebrate his 100th VFL game, as the fourth-placed Box Hill Hawks host the Northern Blues (8th) in the ABC TV Game of the Day.
It shapes as a massive game in the scheme of finals action. The Hawks have lost their past two, and now sit in a pack of four teams tied on 32 points. The Blues are clinging to their spot in the eight, sitting 10 points behind seventh, and equal on points with ninth and tenth. This is a must-win game for both sides.
Both sides have enjoyed a week off – but will be hoping to rebound from disappointing defeats. Jordan Kelly was the Hawks’ best in a seven-point loss to Collingwood, while the Blues were handed a 12-goal thumping by Essendon – Troy Menzel a shining light with three majors.
Both sides are experienced down back, but have relatively young and inexperienced forward lines. Sam Grimley and Jon Ceglar present two massive targets for Box Hill, while Carlton have high hopes for Levi Casboult and Menzel.
It could come down to the midfields – and if conditions ever suited anyone, Brad Sewell will feel at home on his return to the VFL, as will Blues’ hard nut Mitch Robinson.
With the Blues’ season in the balance, I’m tipping an upset – Northern to get over the Hawks by 10 points.
Port Melbourne vs Williamstown
North Port Oval – Saturday 20 July – 2 pm
Games between Port Melbourne and Williamstown always seem to be worth a little bit more than just four points.
The two sides will meet on Saturday afternoon at the home of VFL finals football for 2013, with the Seagulls sitting in third and the Borough in seventh.
Despite the amount of AFL-listed talent floating around at Point Gellibrand, the Seagulls suffered a surprising loss last weekend to the Zebras – despite three goals to Pat Veszpremi and ball magnets Daniel Cross and Ben Jolley finding plenty of it.
Port bounced back from three consecutive defeats with a comfortable eight-goal win over Bendigo in the first half of the split round. Josh Scipione (six) and Dean Galea (four) shared 10 goals between them, while veteran John Baird collected 36 disposals.
Battle-hardened bodies feature for both sides, and with both having featured in finals footy for a number of years, a tough slog in wet conditions won’t be a foreign feeling.
Cameron Wood and Wayde Skipper will provide an intriguing ruck duel, and both sides are pretty evenly matched all around the ground.
It may just be the home ground advantage, but I’m tipping a Port victory by two goals.
Last Modified on 19/07/2013 12:19