I'VE HEARD a lot about how this year's Geelong side is showing signs of Essendon's 2001 unit.

There might be merit in that but from my own perspective, I can see a lot of similarities between the Cats and the North Melbourne team of 1997.

That was the year after our 1996 flag and from the first round – when Wayne Carey dislocated his shoulder in a shock loss to Melbourne in driving rain at the MCG – it seemed we were never destined to repeat our success from a year prior.

The medical room had a revolving door and although most of our big names played 20-plus games for the year, it seemed they were always either underdone or not quite right when they came back.

Added to that, I can recall that as soon as we got someone like Corey McKernan back in the side, we'd lose someone like David King at the same time.

That's how the Cats have been this year. This week offers no better illustration of how they just can't seem to get any continuity with their very best players.

Any team would love to have Paul Chapman, Darren Milburn and David Wojcinski on their list of inclusions but how many would be able to cover the loss of quality players like Steve Johnson and Tom Harley?

Consider that Brad Ottens is still on the sidelines and there's some prized talent watching from the stands.

That's why I'm going to tip the Doggies tonight. My only worry is that their defensive pressure needs to be operating at 100 per cent, and with a guy like Daniel Cross missing, that'll be really difficult against a side with so many midfield stars.

Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide
I have to admit I take a perverse pleasure in watching Port Adelaide play each week. You never quite know which Port Adelaide is going to turn up from week to week and for any neutral observer, it's that unpredictability that we love so much.

They do have a significant inclusion when they travel to the Gabba to take on the Lions on Saturday night, as Daniel Motlop returns from a long layoff after injuring his ankle.

But in a strange way, adding a player like him to their line-up only worsens their issues with fluctuating form.

As talented as he is, Motlop is still one of those players who can be brilliant in one instant and uncompetitive the next.

So which team turns up in Brisbane? At their best, the Power are capable of a big upset but I think this game is more about the Lions and what they will bring to the table.

They haven't won in their last three games but Daniel Bradshaw now has a couple of runs under his belt and their backline is improving with every outing. That should get them over the top.

Collingwood v Sydney Swans
It's one of those quirks of AFL football that some sides have their bogeys. For some reason, the Swans' is Collingwood.

I think part of the reason for that is that the Pies don't mind taking the ball wide of the corridor – in fact they are very good at it.

Most sides like to make it hard to bring the ball through the middle of the ground but for the Swans, their game is based on it.

They love to cause a stoppage – why wouldn't you when you have a ruckman like Darren Jolly and clearance players than Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk – and clogging up the middle of the ground is a good way of creating ball-up opportunities.

But Collingwood don't care if they're forced wide – they have that many blokes who can score from anywhere inside forward 50 that you could park a couple of buses in the attacking arc and they'd still kick a winning score.

They'll extend that winning run over the Swans this week but you know the Swans will go down with a fight.

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