Friday, September 16Hawthorn ($1.48) vs. Western Bulldogs ($2.70), MCG at 7:50pmTeam news: The Hawks fell short to the Cats in a gruelling qualifying final last Friday night, and you can bet your last dollar Isaac Smith would have spent the entire week thinking about?that shot for goal. Meanwhile, James Sicily is expected to be named after sitting out last week with the flu.The Bulldogs were arguably the most impressive side in week one of the finals, travelling to Perth and knocking off the high flying Eagles. Their five inclusions all played well despite the speculation.The only sour note from the win was the broken collarbone suffered by Lin Jong that has ruled him out of the 2016 finals series. With a move to the Magpies on the cards for next year, Jong may have played his last match in the red, white and blue.Key head-to-head: Caleb Daniel vs. Sam MitchellThere may be 275 games of experiencing separating the Hawks veteran from the Bulldogs youngster, but expect a ferocious and evenly matched contest on Friday night.Mitchell was targeted by the Cats in last weeks qualifying final so you can expect plenty of Daniels teammates to be applying a similar sort of treatment.Daniel has been in scintillating form and may just be one of the leagues best short kicks. Like Mitchell, he rarely wastes a possession and his runner-up finish in last weeks Rising Star award was well deserved.Hawks: B Taylor Duryea, James Frawley, Shaun Burgoyne HB Luke Hodge, Josh Gibson, Grant Birchall C Isaac Smith, Sam Mitchell, Bradley Hill HF Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Cyril Rioli F Paul Puopolo, Jack Fitzpatrick, Ryan Schoenmakers FOL Ben McEvoy, Jordan Lewis, Liam Shiels I/C Ben Stratton, Brendan Whitecross, James Sicily, Billy Hartung EMG Will Langford, Daniel Howe, Matt Spangher IN James Sicily, Billy Hartung OUT Daniel Howe (Omitted), Ryan Burton (Calf)Bulldogs: B Jason Johannisen, Joel Hamling, Matthew Boyd HB Matthew Suckling, Dale Morris, Easton Wood C Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli, Liam Picken HF Jack Macrae, Zaine Cordy, Jake Stringer F Tory Dickson, Tom Boyd, Caleb Daniel FOL Jordan Roughead, Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore I/C Clay Smith, Toby McLean, Josh Dunkley, Shane Biggs EMG Tom Campbell, Lukas Webb, Roarke Smith IN Toby McLean OUT Lin Jong (Collar Bone)Key Stat: The Hawks have won eight straight matches against the Bulldogs.UBET verdict:?After a brief early run on the Bulldogs, the real money has come for the defending premiers. Cash is flowing the way of Hawthorn at a 3:1 ratio at this stage and shows no signs of slowing down. The Bulldogs were brilliant in week one, but their last win over the Hawk was six years ago.Weather: Mostly cloudy with a top of 16. No rain expected.Prediction: The Hawks continue to find a way to get matches won, but last weeks slip up could raise some concerns. The Bulldogs are in great touch and may well run Hawthorn ragged. Dont expect the young Dogs to be intimidated in this clash.Tip: Bulldogs by five points.Enter your ESPNfootytips AFL selectionsSaturday, September 17Sydney ($1.53) vs. Adelaide ($2.55), SCG at 7:25pmTeam news:Last weekends loss to the Giants has made things very tricky for the minor premier who will now need to overcome both Adelaide and Geelong for a spot in the grand final. To make things even more difficult, the Swans will be without Kurt Tippett (hairline jaw fracture) and Callum Mills (hamstring) for their clash with the Crows.Adelaide enter the match in far greater touch. The Crows booted 21 goals in a demolition of North Melbourne and will fancy themselves against the stalling Swans. Eddie Betts and Rory Sloane were named among the top six players this season as voted by the players themselves, and will both play a decisive role.Key head-to-head: Daniel Talia vs. Lance FranklinIs there a bigger assignment in football than containing Buddy in a final?While bright early on against the Giants, Franklin faded and failed to kick a goal in a final for the first time in his career. The forward will be eager to respond at the SCG, which makes Talias job all the more difficult.Also worth a mention is the Nick Smith vs. Eddie Betts match-up. The small forward is in career best form and fresh from a six-goal haul against the Kangaroos. This match may well be decided by which defender can curtail their opponent the better.Swans: B Nick Smith, Heath Grundy, Dane Rampe HB Harrison Marsh, Aliir Aliir, Jarrad McVeigh C Isaac Heeney, Josh P. Kennedy, Jake Lloyd HF George Hewett, Lance Franklin, Luke Parker F Tom Mitchell, Gary Rohan, Xavier Richards FOL Sam Naismith, Dan Hannebery, Kieren Jack I/C Jeremy Laidler, Ben McGlynn, Toby Nankervis, Tom Papley EMG Harry Cunningham, James Rose, Ted Richards IN Jeremy Laidler, Toby Nankervis OUT Kurt Tippett (Jaw), Callum Mills (Hamstring)Crows: B Luke Brown, Daniel Talia, Rory Laird HB Brodie Smith, Kyle Hartigan, Kyle Cheney C Rory Atkins, Rory Sloane, David Mackay HF Eddie Betts, Taylor Walker, Charlie Cameron F Jarryd Lyons, Josh Jenkins, Tom Lynch FOL Sam Jacobs, Matt Crouch, Richard Douglas I/C Brad Crouch, Scott Thompson, Jake Lever, Mitch McGovern EMG Riley Knight, Paul Seedsman, Andy Otten IN No ChangeKey Stats: The last time the Crows won two consecutive finals they were premiers (1998). They have played 21 finals since then.UBET verdict:?Adelaide confined North Melbourne to the scrap heap last week and the early money trail suggests the Crows can do another number on the Swans. Adelaides the only team in commission at this stage and first goal scorer punters are lining up to back Eddie Betts.Weather:?Mostly sunny with a top of 21. No rain expected.Prediction: The Crows enter this match off the back of a strong win and will cause the Swans all sorts of issues if their forward line is functioning. If Sydney is to get over the line they must restrict the Adelaide forward line supply.Tip:?Swans by one point.Enter your ESPNfootytips AFL selections D.J. Reed Jersey . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Freddie Solomon Jersey . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/custom-john-brodie-jersey-large-1088d.html . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Gary Lewis Jersey . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Tarvarius Moore Jersey . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". The NFL has concluded that officials should have penalized the Arizona Cardinals for an illegal hit Sunday on Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, a league source told ESPNs Ed Werder.The play in question, which Newton complained about after Carolinas 30-20 victory, was a low hit by Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who dove at the reigning league MVP and hit him low while he was in the pocket.Newton acknowledged Sunday that late hits like the one from Campbell are taking the fun out of the game for me and said he wants to speak with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about the issue.?Panthers coach Ron Rivera said that he has had ongoing discussions with Goodell, although he would not reveal how recently he had talked with the commissioner. But a league source told Werder that Rivera spoke to Goodell and at least two other league executives Monday.Goodell promised Rivera in their conversation Monday, the source told Werder, that he would speak directly to Newton, who also expressed concerns that I dont even feel safe while playing. A high-ranking Panthers source told Werder that Newton and Goodell did speak Tuesday, but it was not clear what was discussed.Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman also spoke to the league office Monday about his concern for protecting Newton, according to the source.Opponents havent received a roughing-the-passer penalty against Newton this season, except for one that was offset by an intentional grounding penalty in the season opener at Denver. This is despite Newton being hit an NFL-high 212 times during that span.Rivera said the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Newton gets treated like Hall of Fame NBA center Shaquille ONeal because of his unusually large size for his position.ddddddddddddes a bigger guy for that position, as opposed to some of the smaller guys, Rivera said Monday. When they get hit, they roll around to the ground. When he gets hit, he absorbs them and it doesnt look as bad.I think sometimes that might be part of the reason that he doesnt get the calls he deserves or should get.Some around the league, including Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert, do not agree that Newton is treated unfairly.Gilbert, citing teammate Ben Roethlisberger, said Monday that larger quarterbacks should embrace the sports physicality just like other players and suggested that Newton should have the Panthers change their game plan if he doesnt want to get hit.Hall of Fame pass-rusher Kevin Greene, who spent three seasons with the Panthers, also weighed in Tuesday.Thats just football, Greene said. You never saw Joe Montana and Dan Marino and John Elway bitching about getting hit too much in the pocket.Cam shouldnt be doing that. He is a football player. Everybody knows hes running that zone-read stuff, and hes a runner, too. ... The game is physical. Its played by tough men. This is professional football and its predicated on physical brutality. Thats going to occur to you, Cam, whether youre inside the pocket or outside the pocket.ESPN Panthers reporter David Newton contributed to this report. ' ' '