After the storm of Western Derby 43, things have calmed only slightly here in the west.
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The Dockers are winless, giant-less and altogether hopeless as they seek to retrieve their renowned defensive grunt in a tough clash with North Melbourne at Etihad on Sunday, while West Coast come off the Derby and have spent another week in Perth, this time preparing for a desperate Tigers outfit who have won their past three games at Domain Stadium. Matt Priddis and Jamie Cripps are suspected to be late withdrawals for the Eagles.
The game of the round shapes as the Adelaide v Sydney clash at Adelaide Oval, while the toothless Magpies will face a riot from the black-and-white army if they don't beat the renewed Dees at the MCG.
And so we bring you the round four Furnace ... fanning the flames on the burning topics of the round of AFL ahead, led by dual Kangaroos premiership hero and ex-Fremantle captain and 6PR broadcaster Peter Bell.
Peter Bell (6PR presenter and footy broadcaster):
The Burning Question - For how many years will Gold Coast dominate Brisbane?
Headline You'd Like To See - Saints defeat Hawks! (Hawthorn have won 15 consecutive games in Launceston).
Pick of the Round - Look for a huge haul of goals from Tom Hawkins.
Tune In/Out - Tune in to Adelaide v Sydney. Sydney have a brilliant record at the Adelaide Oval but we have all been taken by Adelaide's style of play under Don Pyke.
Simon White (WAtoday editor and chief puppet hater):
Question - Which of the three under-the-pump teams - Collingwood, Richmond and Fremantle - will show something?
Headline - Suns top of the ladder after scorching Lions
Pick - It pains me to say, but North Melbourne against Freo. On form there's no way the Dockers get up.
Tune - into West Coast v Richmond. Love a bit of Friday night footy in Perth and this game will be closer than people might think.
Brendan Foster (WAtoday sports writer and resident hippie):
Question - How bad are the Tigers? Richmond love the open spaces of Domain Stadium and if they are serious about finals, the clubs needs to win tonight?.
Headline - Undermanned Dockers lose after the siren
Pick - Port Adelaide over GWS. The Giants have a few outs and Port for some reason loves playing them, although the Power stink at Manuka Oval.
Tune - Adelaide v Sydney on Saturday night features two of the best forward lines running at the moment and should make for a cracking, high-scoring, shoot-out.
David Prestipino (WAtoday wine writer and footy tragic):
Question - Will the umpires ease up on the deliberate out-of-bounds rule? Some embarrassing calls were made by the fleet-footed fluoro brigade last weekend.
Headline - Pav magic gets Dockers home by a nose
Pick - Adelaide (vs Sydney) and GWS (vs Port) are in good form and back at home. A Sportsbet multi on both winning 1-39pts pays a cool $6.12
Tune - into Collingwood v Melbourne (MCG, Sunday 1.20pm)... the Dees have been more than admirable so far this year and could trump the Magpies, dent their finals aspirations and send Ed really red.
