Round 11 - Halfway Review (Top 8)

Round 11 Review

Brings us to the half way mark. Probably as good a time as ever to undertake a review of the top 8.

Cats
I had em towards the bottom of the top 4. Definitely a quality team, but not sure another year on whether they would lose a bit. No way predicted they'd unearth the j-Pod and have Lonegan doing so well across half back. A few injuries may bring em back a peg?

Pies
Always looked top 4 with the recruits of Jolly and Ball. Super team that is super even. Daisy having a big year - but lapses in the Pies intensity is a worry. Will play in a Prelim in 2010 - fingers crossed for more.

Saints
Reiwoldt is a massive torpedo for the Sinners. No more critical player in that team. Impressive to be sitting 3rd. The loss of Reiwoldt has exposed Kosi. Disappointing thus far.

Freo
The Purple Haze are the bolters in 2010. Barlow is a gem and many of the lesser lights are having ripper seasons. Shouldn't be totally unexpected for any team with Pavlich and Sandilands to be sitting in the top 4.

Blues
Have some impressive scalps this year. Judd is a superstar. Setanta O is rubbish. Murphy, Gibbs and Kruzer all good players. Big surprise to be up this far on the ladder.

Dogs
Way too low for mine. I have em as one of my Grand Final teams. Their best footy would have them all over the Cats. Trouble is they've got some injuries and the second level players aint in the class of Boyd, Cooney and Cross. Need a few games from their skipper in the second half of the season.

Swannies
Must say the Swannies always give it a crack. Goodes is elite. Malceski is back to near best form and I love to see the "ginge" on display. Enter the Ro-han. Got him in the SuperCoach. Lock the Swannies into the 8.

Hawks
I'm not alone when I say that the Hawks surely were expected to be top 4. Injuries, suspensions and Roughie kicking with what appears to be a dead-leg. Burgoyne yet to ignite - but with the Hawks back in the 8 - you'd think they'll be hard to knock out.

The Rest
The Crows and the Lions are the most notable ommissions from the top 8 if you wish to ask.

The Lions have two superstar forwards in Brown and Fev. Expected big scores. Both have sore groins - but when fit capable of kicking 8+ each.

Crows played like a top 4 side last week. Lets see whether it was flash in the pan type stuff. Cant understand why Tyson Edwards pulled the pin to be honest. Appears to have thrown the baby out with the bathwater upon hearing he may have a run around in the 2's?

The Nipster