AFL (Aussie Rules)-A Month of Defining Clashes

The Western Bulldogs have hit the top of the Australian Football League's table at the end of the first week of the split Round 14. Admittedly, the 'Dogs may enjoy that lofty spot for just one week as Adelaide host Geelong in one of the two ladder-shaping matches that remain in the round.

At their home away from home, the Western Bulldogs' 54-point thumping of the Port Adelaide Power at Marrara's TIO Stadium in Darwin finally sees fans and pundits alike admitting that they are a genuine premiership winning chance. The "Darwin Dogs", as they are known by Northern Territory fans, have so far drawn once and lost once for the 2008 AFL season – and that loss was by just 3 points, where a kick at goal after the final siren could have won that game against North Melbourne in Round 9.

The Bulldogs' nearest rivals and 2007's all-conquering powerhouse premiers, the Geelong Cats, have also lost one match this season – an 86-points mauling at the hands of Collingwood also in Round 9 – that has proved to have snapped them out of their early season patchiness.

Crows and Cats

This Friday night, July 4, the Cats will face the Adelaide Crows at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide in the first match of a testing month for the blue and white hoops – they'll then face the Fremantle Dockers, Skilled Stadium; Western Bulldogs, Skilled Stadium; Hawthorn Hawks, MCG.

In the last half dozen matches this season, the Cats are on a four-match winning streak after that loss to Collingwood, while the Crows have won three out of the last six, including the last two where they narrowly lost.

Head-to-head since 2005, the Cats have won three out of four. Last year, they won by 33 points at home in Geelong and a 7-point win at AAMI Stadium. Notably, the Cats lost to the Crows by 92 points in 2006 at AAMI Stadium. The Crows may draw some confidence from that 2006 thrashing – along with their narrow loss last year at home – and will be hunting the Cats to stay in contention for the all-important fourth spot.

Following the Cats' clash, the Crows also face a tough July – Collingwood Magpies, MCG; Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium; Sydney Swans, SCG.

Swans and Magpies

Not to be overshadowed by the Geelong‑Adelaide match, the Sydney and Collingwood match this Saturday night July 5 at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney is equally important.

On a 6-match winning streak, the Swans have a chance to further consolidate or even go further ahead of the lower half of the ladder should the Crows lose.

Meanwhile, the 'Pies are on the cusp. Like the Crows, they have lost the last two matches although they'd won the previous four; but, this weekend's could see them close to slipping out of the eight or pushing up the ladder towards the four.

Acknowledged as one of the best back-to-the-wall clubs going around, the walls closed in around Collingwood in Round 13 when injuries took their toll and they capitulated to the Bulldogs by 10 points. Their spearhead, Anthony Rocca, was arguably rushed back into the team ahead of time and is unlikely to play again this season as he suffered further complications with the ankle that he had previously had surgery on.

Sydney doesn't have quite the same injury worries. The recent return of Barry Hall from suspension and broken wrist is offset by the one-week suspension to dual Browlow Medal winner Adam Goodes. Ruckman Peter Everitt is one week away from returning from a hamstring strain.

Head-to-head Collingwood have beaten Sydney in the last 4 out of 5 of their matches since 2005 by an average of 10 points.

This weekend's match is the beginning of a tough July for the Swans – Hawthorn, MCG; Carlton Blues, Telstra Dome; Adelaide, SCG.

Meanwhile, Collingwood's July is marginally easier – Adelaide, MCG; North Melbourne Kangaroos, Telstra Dome; Essendon Bombers, MCG.

Battle of the top three

While this weekend's two remaining Round 14 matches promise to be terrific clashes, looking through the AFL fixture – with key spots in the top eight up for grabs – July appears to have one season defining match after another for most clubs.

The outcome of Round 16's long anticipated 'Dogs–Cats fixture along with Round 17's Cats–Hawks one will, however, be a big piece of the AFL's 2008 supremacy puzzle. All season it's been difficult to draw a line between the top three teams and July will see last year's Grand Final winners play off against their nearest 2008 rivals for the first time this season. For the record, in the first leg of the supremacy triangle, the 'Dogs defeated the Hawks by 32 points in Round 10 at Aurora Stadium in Tasmania.

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AFL Ladder-Split Round 14/22