I CAN'T believe I'm saying this but the Cats look a tad vulnerable.
There are so many things running against them as they head to Brisbane for Saturday night's clash at the Gabba.
Last weekend's cracker against St Kilda would have taken a lot out of them and it's always tough work jumping on a plane to take on any team.
Add the fact that Brisbane will be looking to atone for the smacking they received at Skilled Stadium in round five, and you can bet the Lions will provide every bit the contest St Kilda did last week.
Losing Matty Scarlett and Darren Milburn would be a huge blow at any time but when you're facing Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw, it's bad news.
Throw Gary Ablett into the 'outs' and it's a disaster.
You find that the really good players tend to lift when their team loses a few big names but how much more can they get out of Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel and Paul Chapman?
I still think the Cats will win – they still have good depth across the park despite the injuries – but few teams will have as good an opportunity to knock them off as the Lions do this weekend.
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood
We've been a bit spoilt lately and Friday night's game between the Pies and the Bulldogs was another belter.
Collingwood has surprised me a bit this year. I thought they were on the right track but still a shade or two off the top couple of sides. As a spectator, they have been one of the better sides to watch over the past couple of months.
Everyone has been talking about how well St Kilda have been able to move the ball from defence to attack but Collingwood hasn't been far off them.
This week they faced one of the best offensive teams in the business, and it was their biggest test for a while.
The Bulldogs have really worked on this side of their game – Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross and Brad Johnson are just three players who are excellent one-out with an opponent – but I just think the Pies have the edge in this area.
Both teams are steadily making ground on the top two and even the loser will take something from the game.
Hawthorn v North MelbourneWhat's going on at Hawthorn? All I can see at the moment is a lot of finger-pointing and players arguing among themselves.
That unquestioning devotion to the game plan that took them so far last season seems to have just disappeared.
A bit like the Saints are playing this year, the Hawks had a style that required 100 per cent commitment from every member of the team in 2008. They did everything right, almost as if it was hardwired into them.
They are so far from that at the moment it's not funny. You wonder if there's ever been a team that has fallen so far so quickly.
Alastair Clarkson will be rapt to have Cyril Rioli back on deck this week against the Roos. He offers so much to his team, whether it's a run-down tackle, a desperate smother or a miraculous goal.
Having said that it's a worry when you are hanging out for the services of a 19-year-old, no matter how special he is.
North has been playing alright despite their run of losses but it's now or never for the Hawks. Mark them down for this one but they should just be thankful they aren't playing a confident side with more to play for.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
