WHEN sides like Carlton and Essendon play each other there's always a lot of talk about the historical rivalry the teams share.

No doubt there are Essendon fans who will always want to see their boys get one over Carlton no matter where their teams are on the ladder, and vice versa.

But as much as players appreciate these rivalries I'm not sure how much stock they place in them when they come to play. That said, they would definitely look forward to some games more than others.

What really got me going as a player – especially through the 1990s, when North Melbourne seemed to be near the top of the ladder more often than not – was playing a team we thought was on a par with us.

I reckon that's how the Blues and Bombers players will look at tonight's game. Both clubs have a stack of young talent and will be hoping that 2009 is a platform from which they can launch an era of sustained success.

I see a lot of similarities between these teams and the needle that existed between Geelong and St Kilda in the middle part of this decade.

It may have taken a little longer than we anticipated but it's interesting to see five years after the Cats and the Saints squared off in a pre-season grand final – which was supposed to herald the dawn of a fierce new rivalry – that these teams appear destined to square off in September.

I see a lot of St Kilda 2004 in today's Carlton. Both teams came out of a long period without success and have the high draft picks to show for it.

And like Geelong, Essendon has been through some bleak periods without ever having to really bottom out.

They've also done well out of the father-son rule. I had my doubts on Jobe Watson early on but he looks a beauty. He's well complemented by a string of hard-running mids the Bombers have stockpiled in recent drafts and is crucial to his team's success.

So to tonight's result: as much as I think the Bombers are on the up, I reckon Carlton's more experienced players have it over their Essendon counterparts. It should be another tight contest but I think Brendon Fevola and Chris Judd can haul them over the line.

Adelaide v Sydney Swans
The Swans are a bit of a worry at the moment. Look at their team and you see the same elite players that have done so well for them over the years but they are the same players in name only.

Adam Goodes has held up remarkably well so far this year, but you'd have to wonder how much more they can drag out of players like Brett Kirk, Michael O'Loughlin and Barry Hall.

One thing you can be sure of is that their motivation won't wane. They are all still obviously playing for their coach and that 2005 flag is far enough away for them to be hungry for more. Unfortunately, time catches up with all of us and that's the way things seem to be going with the Swans.

Adelaide has surprised me this year and they'll be too strong for a proud team in decline.

Geelong v Port Adelaide
What does Mark Williams do with his under-performing side? The polar opposite between their best and worst is something I don't think I've ever seen, but they've always been capable of that.

Even back in their flag year of 2004 I remember we beat them by 15 goals at Docklands and we were just a run-of-the-mill side that season.

I really can't see them getting anywhere near the Cats at Skilled Stadium. When they last beat them in 2007 they were able to flood the middle corridor of the ground through hard work and discipline. The team that did that doesn't seem to turn up as often as Choco would like these days.

I just can't see how the Power can avoid a belting as Geelong looks to warm up for its big clash with the Saints next weekend.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.