Without question the matchup at Pasadena will be the match of the round. As has been discussed in previous threads there are plenty of intriguing matchups. I say Tigers by 5 or so. Eastern to beat North comfortably, 10+. Let's hope Trebilcock breaks out of his funk & rips Hambour up. Woodville also pretty comfortably over Norwood. Unless of course Norwood can utilise their thuggery skills yet again. West will beat South, Paul Bell will confuse Souths big men, and score 20+ as is the norm. Pero, BC, Sully & Reesy to beat Centrals convincingly.

In the girls.... Sturt to beat a disjointed Tigers unit by 40 or so. North to beat Eastern by 25. Norwood SHOULD get the nod over Woodville, but this one could be an upset. South to beat West by 10-15. Deanna to get the weeks highest score (going out on a limb there) and Forestville to beat Centrals by 60-odd with the refs enjoying at least one out-of-the-blue spray from the hapless Lions outfit. You know it's the refs fault they lose each week, right?

My advice : Steer clear of Starplex, and get your ass to either Pasadena for the Mens matchup of the round, to Hillcrest for the 2nd most intriguing matchup of the Mens round, and Easterns bodysuits OR go to South v West if you'd like to see a good quality girls game & Shane Crothers trying his best to stir up the South big men!!

Well with the exception of 2 games, this round will not be one for the spectators.

For those who like to watch WWE RAW IS WAR, i would suggest Norwwod vs Woodville at 8:15pm at Mars. To those people, i would also suggest disconnecting Foxtel.

For the polar bears, i think Fville vs Centrals @ Starplex could be both freezing in temperature and secondly, one of the most cold blooded beatings in league history for both the men and women. I dont envy the eagles supporters this week.

South vs West is a dead rubber but not easy to pick. I would think Paul Bell can give South sufficient headaches to help West take this one comfortably.

That leaves two games for the Basketball purists'. North Adelaide need to cement a top 5 spot and this week could be a good chance. The Mavs are hot and cold beating league leaders and losing to an undermanned sturt. This one could go either way but Blue Collar believes that the Mavs have the guns to take the points.

The game at 'El pasedena' is the closest the Tigers have come to a final in recent times and with all their finals experience, the sabres might have an edge. The other threads have picked this one apart, so i will refrain except to say, Tigers by 12.

Regardless, bring you lunch pails boys and girls, and if your heading to Starplex... take the THERMOS ;)

For my 2 cents worth...

I'll tip the men's only...

North vs Mavs...Mavs coming off beating league leaders Woodville should be able to continue their run with a hard fought victory.

Centrals vs Forestville.....yeah well. Forestville, then daylight, then daylight again, and then Centrals.

Norwood vs Woodville. The Warriors wont like the thought of losing 2 in a row, and have travelled well on the road this season, so I would expect they will pick this one up.

South vs West. Will be a close game, maybe the turmoil down the Port this week will spur the Cats on for this one.

And of course the El Pussycatto Battle at El Pasadeno. Sabres with home court advantage should fall over the line for this one.

My thoughts......

Men

North Adelaide Rockets Vs Eastern Mavericks (Hillcrest)
-North, just. They have a bit more depth......

Central Districts Lions Vs Forestville Eagles (Starplex)
-The eagles in a canter.....

Norwood Flames Vs Woodville Warriors (Mars)
-Woodville. They wont lose 2 in a row with the finals just around the corner.....

South Adelaide Panthers Vs West Adelaide Bearcats (Marion)
-South. They have found form again and beat west last time with a full crew which included Nash and it was at Pt Adelaide..

Sturt Sabres Vs Southern Tigers (Pasadena)
-Sturt, just. Should be an awesome game considering what is on the line for both clubs! Not sure who southern have to stop the Big O if he is in the right frame of mind. Will go to the wire....

i think this is one of the easier weeks to tip for the year...
woodville....easy.
forestville easier
south at home, but a close one.
north to beat estern at hillcrest, i actually think the mavs might end the season with a thud, desptie an easy run home, they defintely depend too much on holmes and davis, and think they will come unstuck very quickly once the finals start.
southern to get home against the sabres. the absentees of williams and bauer would hurt any team in the league.
thoughts??

Bauers back

the game at pasadena should be one hell of a game, and I will be very surprised if there isnt a massive crowd urging on their teams.

At guard, there will be bauer and clarke going 3 for 3, and gerlach taking on martin tom-james should be a tight match up. I think that the Tigers will have the edge in the guards department, considering the sabres dont really have a strong guard coming off the bench, and the tigers have the 'franchise'set to explode.

at forwards, i think that the tigers take the cake once more. i honestly do not rate todd gower and justin wilkee hasnt seemed to fit in real well at pasadena. paul pochintesta back to full fitness and starting to hit his ridiculous jumpers once more, combined with ben 'cheap and nasty' hodges should take care of wilkee and todd goverrated.

at centre, bowley hitting top flight will give the 'big o' a good run for his money, and this will be a classic 'chamberlain vs russell' match up. i think forman might just have the edge in this crucial keyway clash, but the tigers will have the slight advantage when hoban comes on to join bowley in the paint.

the tigers obviously have a huge advantage when it comes to the bench depth. timmy hodge, luke hoban, jo ingles and tristan braithwaite will provide major headaches for ninnis' boys when you compare it to the sturt bench consisting of shepherd......................and ninnis calling the shots.

all in all, the tigers fitness and depth, and simply the hunger for some finals action should see them prevail against the fading sabre-toothed kitties. tight game for the first 2 and a half quarters, before the tigers blow it out by 20 in the 2nd half. GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!! ITS SHOWTIME