[babytiger2001]

With the ladder taking shape in terms of teams jockeying for position, and a race of its own having emerged for the all-important double-chances in the finals, we have a fair number of "mini-finals" on our schedule this week that will give us a look forward to September.

This weekend's fixtures:

Friday, 24 July
Carlton v Collingwood -- at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (M.C.G.) -- 7:40 p.m. Melbourne time

Saturday, 25 July
Geelong v Hawthorn -- at the M.C.G. -- 2:10 p.m. Melbourne time
Fremantle v West Coast -- at Subiaco Oval -- 2:10 p.m. Perth time (4:10 p.m. in Melbourne)
Brisbane v North Melbourne -- at The Gabba -- 7:10 p.m. Brisbane time (same in Melbourne)
St. Kilda v Western Bulldogs -- at the Docklands stadium -- 7:10 p.m. Melbourne time

Sunday, 26 July
Melbourne v Sydney -- at Manuka Oval -- 1:10 p.m. Canberra time (same in Melbourne and Sydney)
Essendon v Richmond -- at the M.C.G. -- 2:10 p.m. Melbourne time
Adelaide v Port Adelaide -- at AAMI Stadium -- 4:10 p.m. Adelaide time (4:40 p.m. in Melbourne)

And the games slated for viewing on Setanta Sport USA, for our U.S. audience, are:

• Geelong v Hawthorn, live
• Essendon v Richmond, live

In addition, as discussed on another thread in this forum, all games originating on free-to-air stations here are streamed live from this site. This week's schedule:

• Carlton v Collingwood, live
• Geelong v Hawthorn, live
• St. Kilda v Western Bulldogs, live
• Essendon v Richmond, live

All the news, information and squads to be contained here, as the week unfolds.

And for those involved in our weekly tipping competition, the deadline for getting your tips in is just ahead of Friday night's Carlton v Collingwood match at the MCG.

Enjoy the footy, everyone!!

[el-capitano]

Sydney- blah!

[babytiger2001]

"Ladder With The Lot" -- Herald Sun's "SuperFooty" site

Losses last weekend by Collingwood and Adelaide have created an even tighter race for the double-chance, as four teams now can stake claims towards fourth spot on the ladder, with just six weeks remaining in the home-and-away season.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn has found itself back from the dead, and right in the thick of the race for a top-eight place, and finals footy in September. Currently, last year's premiers are within a four-team pack chasing the last two finals places.

Oddly enough, Carlton are embroiled in both of these chases -- depending on their upcoming results, time will tell which class they'll finish in.

[babytiger2001]

Updating all the key news so far this week, that will have an impact on the round ahead of us...

Starting with the findings from the Tribunal, and it's not good news for St. Kilda, and a couple of their big men in particular. Key defender Zac Dawson challenged his proposed one-match ban for rough conduct and lost, which means he will miss the Saints' next two matches against the Western Bulldogs and Sydney, and teammate Justin Koschitzke -- who pleaded guilty to his striking charge and thereby accepting a one-match ban -- will just miss the match against the Bulldogs.

But there may be some good selection news for the unbeaten Saints, as Matt Maguire may be set to face the Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Geelong looks set to welcome back several key players from injury -- coach Mark Thompson has admitted that Jimmy Bartel and James Kelly will come back into the Cats' fold to face Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon at the MCG, and only tests will confirm that gamebreaking forward Steve Johnson and key defender Tom Harley could be joining them.

Carlton may have a full squad to pick from, and coach Brett Ratten's decisions have been complicated by the possibility of players such as Andrew Walker, Setanta O'hAilpin, Simon Wiggins, Robbie Warnock and Michael Jamison could be available for selection to face Collingwood on Friday night at the MCG.

Melbourne will miss ruckman Mark Jamar for the next fortnight, Richmond could gain both Ben Cousins and Trent Cotchin for the Tigers' match on Sunday at the MCG against Essendon, Shaun Burgoyne looks set to return for Port Adelaide against Adelaide on Sunday at AAMI Stadium, and Fremantle will give both Paul Hasleby and Chris Tarrant every opportunity to prove their fitness ahead of the Dockers' match against West Coast.

[el-capitano]

Here we go!

Carlton v Collingwood
Geelong v Hawthorn
Fremantle v West Coast
Brisbane v North Melbourne
St. Kilda v Western Bulldogs
Melbourne v Sydney
Essendon v Richmond
Adelaide v Port Adelaide

[ChrisH]

Collingwood
Geelong
West Coast
Brisbane
Western Bulldogs
Sydney
Essendon
Adelaide

[ScouseCat]

Carlton
Geelong
Fremantle
Brisbane
Western Bulldogs
Sydney
Essendon
Port Adelaide

[RichardL]

Carlton v Collingwood
Geelong v Hawthorn
Fremantle v West Coast
Brisbane v North Melbourne
St. Kilda v Western Bulldogs
Melbourne v Sydney
Essendon v Richmond
Adelaide v Port Adelaide

[babytiger2001]

The squads for the weekend were announced last night...

Teams story: Saints recall Hudghton -- sportal.com.au

[babytiger2001]

My tips...

Carlton v Collingwood
Geelong v Hawthorn
Fremantle v West Coast
Brisbane v North Melbourne
St. Kilda v Western Bulldogs
Melbourne v Sydney
Essendon v Richmond
Adelaide v Port Adelaide