The coaching merry go round continues as Rodney Eade and the Western Bulldogs decide to call it a day.

It seemed very mutual which makes one ponder what both parties have up their sleeves. Eade will coach next year – I have no doubt, but will it be in Adelaide or in Jimmy Stynes' camp?

Both clubs will be a good fit for him as they have young lists and his old fashioned disciplinary style would flourish. I’m tipping the Dees!

Eade took the Bulldogs to three preliminary finals in his seven year tenure and though he never took them to the promised land – he got pretty close! Maybe Jason Akermanis could put his money where his mouth is and jump in the coaches box to see what it’s like to deal with high maintenance, opinionated rabble like himself.

Maybe that was Eade’s downfall – employing a Brownlow medallist well past his peak whose mouth was at times even more inflated than his ego – if that’s possible!

The top eight took shape on the weekend with Essendon almost consolidating a spot and Sydney looking shaky after being smashed by Richmond. Yep you read it right, a club got smashed by Richmond – a top 8 club!

The Tigers have found some late form and decided to help shape the eight. There’s no such thing as ‘too little too late’ for Richmond fans – they’ll take anything that remotely reflects success!

It might be the loss Sydney reflect on as their season killer, however, as Freo are lurking for that last finals spot.

St Kilda couldn’t make it seven wins in a row but showed they are no longer that far off the pace by competing with Collingwood for 3 and a half quarters. I like how they are playing right now and they’ll be a nuisance for someone in the finals – one would think Geelong would struggle with them right now.

Hawthorn are still lurking as a serial pest as well and must be given respect. Collingwood are still the one’s to beat – somebody please beat the Pies (with the last kick of the day in the last game of the year).

This week's winners

Richmond; Where did that come from?
Essendon; Sealed Eade’s fate!
Darren Lockyer; All class as usual for his milestone game!
West Coast; Where is this fairy tale year going to end?
Aussie Boomers; Shaping nicely for London!
Cadel Evans; Worthy of another mention!
Adelaide Crows; Showing some fight again!

This week's losers

Port Adelaide; Simply woeful!
Gold Coast; Labelled by their own coach as ‘uncompetitive’!
Sydney; Crucial loss!
Geelong; A shaky win on the eve of finals!
Cowboys; Couldn’t stop the milestone boy!
Western Bulldogs; Hope you have plan B sorted (Leon Cameron?)

Next week we’ll take a look at the NBA lock out and how negotiations are going for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.