The two oldest football clubs in Australia meet at the home of football on Friday night to celebrate 150 years of football
The two oldest football clubs in Australia meet at the home of football on Friday night to celebrate 150 years of football and the AFL's Tom Wills Round. Geelong and Melbourne are at opposite ends of the ladder but the significance of this match – not to mention the Demons' desire to pay back the generosity of their members on the field – should add a real fierceness to the contest.
And don't forget the curtain-raiser of Scotch College v Melbourne Grammar, which kicks off at 3:50pm.
On Saturday, Carlton will be desperate to keep its finals hopes alive when it hosts the Power at Telstra Dome. Port Adelaide almost knocked off the Saints last week and will be hoping to go just that little bit better against the AFL's comeback kings.
The Lions face the tough trip to Tassie to take on the Hawks, who are flying after belting Collingwood last week. The Lions' season has been cruelled by narrow losses in three of its last five games and now must cause an upset over Hawthorn to remain in finals contention. And with Shane Crawford set to play his 300th game, that will prove even more difficult than usual.
Fremantle have hit the form button a little late in the season but that will still concern the Swans when the two sides meet at the SCG on Saturday night. The home team will be hoping to fend off the challenges on their top-four spot with a win, and return to a bit of form themselves.
The Collingwood v St Kilda clash is shaping as the match of the round for a whole host of reasons. Punters have leapt off the Pies since disciplinary action saw the Shaw brothers and Alan Didak suspended, and to add to the drama around the match St Kilda champion and games-record holder Robert Harvey announced he will be retiring at the end of the season. With both teams set to come out firing, it may be that old chestnut about desire that seals the match: which team will want it more?
North take on the Bulldogs in another critical game, which could see the Kangaroos in the top four by the end of the round. Of course that means overcoming the League's second-placed side, who shrugged off some indifferent form last week with a surging win over the Swans.
Crow Andrew McLeod is the other player set to join the 300-game club when Adelaide take on the Tigers. Richmond have their own milestone man in Joel Bowden (250 games) but will have to overcome a pumped-up Crows and crowd at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
And Essendon will attempt to keep their slim September hopes simmering with a win over the injury-ravaged Eagles at Subiaco. Coach John Worsfold has admitted that he will be forced to use some out-of-form players, which should suit the Bombers just fine as they aim for their second win in the west this season.
