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[b]North Ballarat[/b] vs Frankston @ North Ballarat Oval The ABC TV game for round 9 shapes as an intriguing encounter, the second placed Roosters are undefeated at home this season and the Dolphins have reeled off massive wins in their past two outings. Frankston will feel the break has come at the wrong time of their season, whilst North Ballarat have several players returning from representative duties with points to prove after the VFL’s ten goal drubbing at the hands on the SANFL. The Roosters smashed an inform Tasmania after returning from their Round 5 rest. The Dolphins were skittled comfortably by Port at TEAC Oval. Tasmania vs [b]Port Melbourne[/b] @ Bellerive Oval What a week it’s been for the Devils, they enter Saturday’s season defining game without a coach following Daryn Creswell’s shock resignation mid-week, mid-season. Wherever the stats man, or the superstitious man, I get the two mixed-up sometimes, easy to do, has his little book with the figures on teams winning the following week after their coach is sacked or departs. Their season rests on a knife edge, the only team at 3-5, along with a terrible percentage and having lost three in a row – the Devils need to stand-up and their determination to play for their state. Port have only beaten cellar-dwellers Box Hill away from home this season, and have looked suspect away from TEAC all season. It also stacks as a crucial game for Port, at 5-3 they’re on the cusp of breaking into the top 4, this is a game they cannot afford to let slip from their clutches. Northern Bullants vs [b]Williamstown[/b] @ Princes Park Northern have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the VFL this season, it’s this simple, produce the same form shown against the Roosters and Williamstown will falter under the heat, anything less and risk falling to 11th position on the table at the halfway mark of the season. Williamstown, on the other-hand, have displayed fantastic consistency throughout the season to date. Geelong at Skilled, is the toughest task in the VFL, their only blemish on a near perfect season. Street has been dominating in the middle, Galea running rampant up forward, Cloke controlling the game across half-back and the midfield working wonders, they should roll the Ants, but funnier things have happened, complacency didn’t do the heir any favours, Teague’s men will come out firing. Werribee Tigers vs [b]Coburg Tigers[/b] @ Chirnside Park Headline, ‘The Rumble in the Jungle,’ You can just picture this clash, magnificent suburban style ground mixed with the country atmosphere, being next to the river and all, for a contest that will determine who is top tiger. Ah, brilliant, I should be spinning lines for the Sun. Anyway back to the footy, Werribee were impressive last start against a resurgent Collingwood who tried hard for three quarters, they have also not been defeated at home this season in only three starts. Coburg has only beaten Geelong away from home this season and that was in the wet at the MCG. Flip a coin – mine landed on tails – Coburg. It’ll be an absolute beauty, easily the match of the round, pound for pound. These are two sides at different stages of their season, Werribee need a victory to stay in touch with the eight. Coburg will want to continue their run of good form that’s seen them win four in a row, a win would consolidate their chances of a top 4 finish. [b]Casey[/b] vs Geelong @ Casey Fields Casey are another undefeated team at home this season and Geelong have one of the best away records in the VFL, depending of Geelong’s AFL selection, the Cats have the cattle to counter the impact of the Scorpions young stars Wall, Silvagni, McEvoy and Allen. Their greatest task will be quelling the supply into the forward-line, a facet they have struggled with on bigger grounds at times this year. They are met with Casey team that was dealt a blow by the Borough last week, the home ground advantage and bigger bodies were the downfall of the Scorpions. Back to the comfort of wide-open spaces at Casey Fields will allow the Scorpions to run all over the top of the Cats, who, it must be said, are beginning to find the going tough against highly fancied opposition. [b]Sandringham[/b] vs Collingwood @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval No state players last week, look out Collingwood. There is no doubt the Zebras will be disappointed not a single player from the club represented the VFL last week, however, it proves one thing, the Sandy boys are a sensational ‘team’. The bad thing is, for Collingwood, Sandy have a habit of smashing sides when they’ve got points to prove. The Zebras have become a custom to beating teams heavily in the past month, they inherit the most superior percentage in the VFL (145.06%). Sunday will be no exception, hopefully Collingwood can stop the anticipated bleeding, inflicted by a much classier outfit, and trudge to the quarter time huddle only five goals a drift. [b]Box Hill[/b] vs Bendigo @ Box Hill City Oval If ever there was a time for the Hawks to win their first game of the season it would be against fellow cellar-dwellers Bendigo. Both teams have had horrid seasons and have all but ruled out finals aspirations. Both have similar percentages, haven’t won a game in the past month and have talented midfields, Box Hill, only on the basis of home ground advantage, the loyal fans deserve a triumph.