Game 1: Kangaroos v Nomads
The match of the round is at Tamworth's No.1 oval this week, with 1st v 3rd. The Nomads are coming off the long road trip to the Cattery and a 53 point for this game. After the longest home streak ever they now have the longest away streak in history and last weeks win was a must to keep their 1 game buffer at the top of the ladder. The Kangaroos have really settled into the season after their inauspicious start against the Saints. They are now firing well and the hard fought win over the Swans last week is just what they needed for a crack at the top of the table Nomads. The Kangaroos were down by 2 goals at half time last week after a goalless second quarter before they got their act together kicking 5 goals in each of the 3rd and 4th quarters. The Nomads didn't have it all their own way against the Cats either. Yes they were 27 points up at half time but it took until the third quarter before they cut lose. The worring part is they took their foot off the pedal in the last quarter and were out scored by the Cats. At 69 points up going into the last quarter the Nomads need to learn that killer instinct to put their foot down. I would have thought at that far up they should have won by 90 points at least. The Kangaroos' Joey's are really coming of age and if the whole Kangaroo team can squeeze the Nomads on the smaller No.1 Oval they sould go close to winning.
Tip: I think the Kangaroos will win here and square the ledger for the season by 19 points.
Game 2: Saints v Cats
These 2 teams are coming off extemely different ends of the spectrem as far as last weeks reults are concerned. When the Cats had to travel to the Nomads earlier in the year they managed to scrap together the bare minnium 14 players required to play. Hopefully it won't be as bad for their trip to Varley Oval but I won't be holding my breath. The Saints got back on track last week with their 101 point win (I tipped 100) against the Bulldogs. The Saints have the second best defence in the competition conceding just 77 points a game and they held the Bulldogs to 75 points. But they have to tighten up their defence a lot if they want to get to where the Nomads are conceding just 57 points a game. That said they do have the most impressive forward line scoring an average 143 points a game which is 10 points better a game then the Nomads. If the Saints want to finish on top of the ladder they not only need to win this game but win it well. In reality the Cats are fighting for 4th spot and this game won't worry them to much.
Tip: The Saints will win this game by 120 points.
Game 3: Bulldogs v Swans
What do we make of the Bulldogs season so far? 2 weeks ago they win by 118 points at home and last week they lose by 101 points away and this is their problem when their good there bloody good, but when they lose there bloody ugly. The Swans have been unlucky at times this year and could have at least 2 more wins then they have with the right bounce of the ball. The Swans are sitting in 4th spot on the ladder with a better percentage than the Cats but a worse percentage then the Bulldogs. And 4th spot is what the Swans, Cats and Bulldogs are playing for this year and the winner in this game will either claim it or keep it. The Swans won the earlier encounter between these two by just 1 point at No.1 Oval after the Bulldogs kicked 9 second half goals to the Swans 5 goals. Games between these two over the past few years have been good contests and this one also promises to be another close one. The Swans will not only need to be on top in the midfield but will need to put a hard tag on Chris Gee. Gee is sitting third in the race for the Gerry Griffiths Medal with 22 goals and this from a team that has won only one game.
Tip: This is a really hard game to tip. If the Swans take their best team and play 4 quarters then they win. If the Bulldogs play like they did at the Kennel against the Cats then they win. In the end I will go for the Bullies because it is at the Kennel by 4 points.
Last Modified on 03/06/2012 11:55