Woz's Footy Preview: Round 23

Welcome back to another week of Woz's footy preview. Without delay lets go straight into it...

Correct Teams Picked last week: 3 (not a good round, hoping to do better this week)

ESSENDON V SYDNEY ESSENDON: Ins: A.Perkins, S.Weideman Outs: N.Cox (concussion), A.Davey jnr (omitted)

SYDNEY:

Ins: L.Melican, Co.Warner

Outs: Ch.Warner (calf), R.Fox (kidney)

KEY PLAYERS:

Essendon: Zach Merrett (all on the skipper now)

Sydney: Isaac Heeney (could he have been the Brownlow medalist?)

FORM: Dons: LLLWL Swans: WLLLW

The Dons have to win this game if they have any chance of making the finals. They lose and they are completely out, they still have a slight chance. Sydney are qualified so there is nothing to worry about that but one more win cannot hurt them to get into better form. It's up to Essendon to respond after last weeks after the siren loss to the Suns. A very intriguing game with lots of interesting storylines to follow.

PREDICTION: Sydney by 25

GOLD COAST V MELBOURNE:

GOLD COAST:

Ins: T.Miller

Outs: A.Sexton (omitted) MELBOURNE:

Ins: J.Bowey

Outs: C.Oliver (hand)

KEY PLAYERS Gold Coast: Mac Andrew (we all know why)

Melbourne: Simon Goodwin (not a player but his tactics and coaching is very underfire, it shouldn't all be on the skipper.)

FORM: Suns: WLLLW

Dees: WLLLL

Finals is not really an option for both of these sides now so its basically like playing for Bronze. Now Melbourne, I know a loss in this game would mean a better pick. But that does not concern me and the fans. We need a win to see the fight in this team and to silence some of the haters that are ravaging us. No offence Media but most of you are a bunch of savages that make me spin around in rage sometimes. But Melbourne needs to respond after the last months performances, and a good time to do it against a team that is very good at home. But the suns also want to win so I think the home advantage takes them over the line.

PREDICTION: Gold Coast by 11

GWS V FREMANTLE:

GWS:

Ins: T.McMullin, K.Briggs, S.Coniglio

Outs: H.Thomas (managed), X.O'Halloran (omitted), M.Gruzewski (omitted)

FREMANTLE: Ins: L.Reidy, N.O'Driscoll

Outs: M.Taberner (omitted), K.Worner (omitted)

KEY PLAYERS:

GWS: Jesse Hogan (Mr Coleman?)

FREMANTLE: (Serong and Brayshaw (gotta beat the giants midfield to win))

FORM:

Giants: WWWWW

Dockers: LWWLL

Fremantle need to win a way to bounce back after the last 2 close losses against a GWS team that is hitting form at the right time of the year with 6 wins in a row. This is a big game for both clubs as Fremantle need to assure their top 8 position from other teams with one more win and the Giants are wanting to lock up their top 4 spot to assure the second chance coming into an even finals series in what has been a very even AFL Season. Josh Treacy is a big loss to the Dockers who at the opposing end are facing Jesse Hogan. Any replacement will have one of the best defenders in the competition in Sam Taylor so good luck. Can the Dockers get it done?

PREDICTION: Giants by 17

COLLINGWOOD VS BRISBANE Collingwood:

Ins: W.Parker

Outs: J.Richards (omitted)

Brisbane:

Ins: H.Sharp, E.Hipwood Outs: J.Prior (omitted), H.Smith (omitted)

Key Players:

Collingwood: Darcy Moore (can he stop Brisbane's talls and lead his side to finals still?)

Brisbane: Lachie Neale (big guns for big games to make top 4.)

FORM:

Pies: LLWWL

Lions: WWWWL

Collingwood have a very minor chance of making finals this year but they must and I repeat MUST win this grand final rematch against a Brisbane Lions, who were in very good form, but just lost to another team in good form last week. It's all on Collingwood's midfield if they want to make finals this year. Brisbane have a bit of a advantage in the scoring department with their 2 talls, Charlie Cameron and Rayner. They must score big and blow the Pies out of the water. And exciting match this one at the MCG as both teams have something worth fighting for. I have a little mini upset here with Collingwood after losing last week by 3 points to the ladder leaders.

PREDICTION: Collingwood by 4

PORT ADELAIDE VS ADELAIDE:

PORT ADELAIDE:

Ins: R.Burton Outs: T.Marshall (concussion)

ADELAIDE: Ins: L.Gollant

Outs: T.Walker (eye)

KEY PLAYERS: PORT ADELAIDE: Jason Horne-Francis (was very good last week)

ADELAIDE: Izak Rankine (big game player)

FORM: Crows: WWLLW

Power: LWWWW

The showdown is always a huge rivalry game that captures people from all over South Australia and even all over Australia with their pure hate for each other. Hot take, but this is the best rivalry in the league. While the crows can't make finals, they won against the dogs last week at Adelaide Oval, and they could win again against the power. A win for the crows and a loss for the Power would be awful to Port's top 4 hopes. A win to port here will lock in a top 4 spot most likely and confirm their status as premiership contenders. Big game players and names on every line for both teams makes this a big game and one to watch, no matter if one of the teams cannot make finals.

PREDICTION: POWER by 13

ST KILDA V GEELONG:

ST KILDA:

Ins: H.Garcia

Outs: A.McLennan (omitted)

GEELONG:

Ins: M.Knevitt, G.Rohan

Outs: Z.Tuohy (managed), T.Bruhn (concussion)

KEY PLAYERS: Saints: Paddy Dow (is it just me or have we not heard about him this year?)

Cats: Jack Henry (continue to lock down the defence)

FORM: Saints: LWWLW

Cats: WLWWW

If the cats win this game then a top 4 spot is looking very likely. If the saints win this game they take another scalp and salvage at least something out of this season. That's about all there is to it.

PREDICTION: Cats by 23

WESTERN BULLDOGS VS NORTH MELBOURNE:

WESTERN BULLDOGS:

Ins: J.Freijah, H.Gallagher, A.Jones, A.Keath, J.Macrae, J.O'Donnell

Outs: N.Coffield (omitted), T.English (ankle), R.Garcia (omitted) NORTH MELBOURNE:

Ins: D.Stephens, Z.Fisher, G.Wardlaw, K.Dawson

Outs: H.Sheezel (ankle)

KEY PLAYERS:

Bulldogs: Bont (brownlow?)

North Melbourne: Cameron Zurhaar (show the footy world he has shinboner spirit)

FORM:

Dogs: WWWWL Roos: LLLWL

The dogs need to win this one especially after what happened last week against the Crows. Their spot in the top 8 is not secured until they win one more game, and next week is a crunch clash against the giants. Its up to North to show their improvement as a team and to see if they can knock of a high-quality team.

PREDICTION: Dogs by 33

HAWTHORN VS RICHMOND

HAWTHORN: Ins: F.Maginness, J.Serong, J.Ward

Outs: Nil

RICHMOND: Ins: J.Ross, M.Coulthard, J.Blight

Outs: Nil

KEY PLAYERS:

Hawthorn: Sam Frost (if Barrass comes does he still have a spot in the side?)

Richmond: Jack Graham (does he stay or go?)

FORM:

Hawks: WWWLW Tigers: LLLLL

FlagHok. Mic Drop.

PREDICTION: Hawks by 76

WEST COAST VS CARLTON:

WEST COAST:

Ins: H.Edwards, J.Petruccelle, J.Hutchinson

Outs: Nil

CARLTON:

Ins: Le.Young, J.Binns, C.Lord, J.Carroll, C.Durdin, H.Lemmey, B.Wilson, A.Moir, D.Akuei

Outs: A.Saad (hamstring), H.McKay (quad), J.Martin (hamstring), L.Fogarty (collarbone), C.Curnow (ankle), J.Boyd (adductor) (Jesus)

KEY PLAYERS:

West Coast: Tom Barrass (last game in front of eagles faithful?) Carlton: Patrick Cripps (All on the skip)

FORM:

Eagles: LLLWW

Blues: LWLLL Do me a favour and check these two things. Carltons injury list, and their place on the ladder. Since when is a game between a cellar dweller and a should be finals contender so spicy, so important. This game is the biggest of the year for Carlton, this is for finals, for the emblem. They were injured and shown up by the hawks last week, and the eagles should have a lot of confidence after two wins in a row. And now they get to face a banged up Carlton, nice! Patrick Cripps is the only real thing Carlton have now, he must stand up for the team as the skipper. There is no other way...

PREDICTION: Eagles by 7