[AFL-Preview] Round 2

2008 FOOTY TIPPING
AFL PREVIEW – ROUND 2

Just a couple of hiccups to get the season's
previews under way last week. Nothing serious
apart from missing a whole game which was the
premiership replay! Just another late night to fix the situation.

Typical first round tipping with a few unexpected
results which, as it was the first round, can
hardly be classified as upsets. This tipping game
doesn't get easier especially trying to pick
winners on Thursday night. You have to read scads
of team write-ups to try and gauge the atmosphere
around a club. Do the rest of the Richmond
players get peed off to the extent they won't
have their head right about winning because the
skipper peed on an unfortunate selection of
property on the Saturday night and now won't play
in the game against the Kangaroos? Will the
Carlton players rethink their god-like admiration
of Judd and realise that no one man can win a
game of football? Do Collingwood supporters and
players really not mind losing to Brisbane
because the Lions coach is the last successful
Magpie premiership coach? Will the Bulldogs watch
the tape of the Hawks versus Demons game and not
even bother to turn up mentally for their game
against Melbourne because it will be a lay down
misere? We, as tipsters, are really not up to
answering these questions on a weekly selection
basis because there is a distinct lack of footy
atmosphere when you're sitting in front of a
computer trying to find reason for choice!! Let's
look at the second round games and see if we can,
after close observation of last week's matches,
improve on that effort. Good luck to all except
that know-nothing tipster who scored an 8 last
week in an expensive tipping competition I am in.

Brisbane V Collingwood at the Gabba Friday night

The Pies actually looked pretty good against the
Dorks last week and might even go into this game
as favourites. And in a similar showing the
Lions, after looking like they were going to be
the season easy beats at the end of the first
quarter against the Eagles, didn't finish too
badly either even pinching the lead at one stage
of the third quarter. In an effort to even up the
ladder resulting in more heartache for
Collingwood fans the tip is Brisbane at the
Gabba. While I wondered who in the Magpies side
would stop Tarrant and Pavlich kicking goals last
week for the Dockers (I must have been dreaming)
I am far more serious working out who they will
use to stop Jonathan Brown kicking them for the
Lions this week. Brown on Brown they say? Won't work I say.

Brisbane by 19

Melbourne V Western Bulldogs at MCG Saturday arvo

In a game that could have gone either way last
week (and I was tipping the Crows) the decision
this week may not be as hard nor will the game be
as close when the Demons come out to try and
resurrect a very shaky start to the season. They
will do a lot better against the Bullies but not
to the degree they can win the game. This is the
sort of selection we talk about next Sunday
morning trying to explain to other frustrated
tipsters that teams should be swabbed after
performing 150 point turnarounds. Maybe but I say maybe not!

Bulldogs by 42

Adelaide V West Coast at AAMI Stadium Saturday arvo

The Eagles have added a couple of new faces to
their team and based on last week's effort we can
presume the new guys know how to handball in
every conceivable situation, obviously an
important selection pre-requisite!! Stats showed
the Eagles had 14,329 handballs by the end of the
third quarter and one can only wonder whether
they have been exposed to too much Gaelic
football. Should be a great game for the stats
people and as the Crows are sort of handball
happy as well both teams will have recruited
wisely and have 4 extra statisticians counting
handballs throughout the game. He who handballs
least wins I say. Speaking of stats, they say the
Crows haven't beaten the Eagles in their last 5
meetings. Let's hope that is one stat we can add to.

West Coast by 11

St Kilda V Carlton at Telstra Dome Saturday night

Hands up all those tipsters who climbed onto the
Judd bandwagon and tipped them against the Tigers
with gay abandon? Mind you, the Tigers did win
the wooden spoon last year so why wouldn't you?
Honestly, all you had to do last season was pick
against Richmond and Carlton every week
regardless and you were going to do pretty well.
Might as well start the same system this season.

St Kilda by 51

Fremantle V Hawthorn at Subiaco Saturday night

Rumour has it that Freo will be rotating Pavlich
all day during this game but not through the
bench. He will be starting at full forward so
that he can keep the Dorks in the game to quarter
time, then to centre half forward so that the
Dockers don't completely lose touch on the
scoreboard, then to centre half back to restrict
the damage, then to full back to keep the loss
under 100 points. The following week he will be
assistant coach and by week four will be writing
the game up for the local newspaper so that
Fremantle get a fair go from the press. It's all
about Freo isn't it? Not this week though!

Hawthorn by 29

Sydney V Port Adelaide at the SCG Sunday

Okay, I wrote Sydney off this season as not being
serious contenders for the top 4 and I was
thinking that Port Adelaide would improve a touch
but still not win the flag. The scoreboard showed
the Power only lost by 9 points to the Cats last
week but there wasn't any stage that I thought
Geelong would lose. In what was a wonderfully
boring game to watch and in which only about 12
goals were kicked Sydney was just pipped by the
Saints by 3 points but trying to beat the Swans
at home will be a bit harder. It's early in the
season and teams can't afford to start with two
losses from two appearances. Both of these teams
are in the same boat so safest bet is stick with the home team.

Sydney by 19

Geelong V Essendon at Telstra Sunday

The Bombers managed a 75 point turn around in
their game against the Kangaroos last week but
this week they will be lucky to kick a total
score of 75. The Cats tired badly in the last
quarter against The Power but had the game
wrapped up a lot earlier. They will have learnt
from that but better not give the young Essendon
side too much leeway. I think Geelong will be too
good for Essendon and I didn't get a chance to
watch them for very long last week so I can't
gauge their potential. The loss of Lucas for the Bombers is a bad blow.

Geelong by 33

Richmond V Kangaroos at MCG Sunday arvo

The Kangaroos would have thought seriously about
pencilling in as a win that game against the
Bombers last week. I know I did damn it! Richmond
unexpectedly (for some) won their game last week
against the Blues. Will both teams, this week,
play to the form we expected from them in round
1? Hope so otherwise like Kane Johnston I'll be peed off!!

Kangaroos by 29

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[AFL-Preview] Round 1 - The Final Tip

Port Adelaide V Geelong at AAMI Stadium Thursday Night

I bet most of you are thinking that this replay of last year's grand final will bring the same result. Geelong have about 5 missing from that line up and Port have 3, the game is being played in front of 40,000 feral Port supporters who will be baying for Cat blood after the thrashing Power received and regardless of what Port coach
Williams says the memories of that grand final debacle will still be fresh in the minds of players. Ottens is a big loss for Geelong and will give the Power ruck ascendancy but you would have to think that the overall ability of Thommos' Cats will still be enough to win the game. Look for the Port supporters leaving early in the last quarter.

Geelong by 38

Fw: [AFL-Preview] Round 1

2008 FOOTY TIPPING
AFL PREVIEW ­ ROUND 1

Hello to all you AFL footy fanatics out there who
have been absolutely hanging out for the start of
the season proper, putting up with a very hot
summer of Aussie cricket, motor racing, motorbike
racing, yachting, surfing, golfing with the
Tiger, basketball and some athletics and swimming
in preparation for the Beijing Olympics.

You would have had to be asleep under a tree like
Rip Van Winkle to have missed the retirements,
the draft, the drug taking, the bashings, the
public urinating, the pub fights, the finger
pointing, the marriage break-ups, pre-season
injuries, overpaying of AFL CEO's, coaching
changes, NAB cup games and we haven't even
mentioned Cousins and Carey, a couple of 'C'
words best left out of footy at this early stage.

To try and recap those madcap 6 months as a lead
in to this preview would be insane and maybe we
need to have a monthly off season newsletter
offering commentary on some of this stuff to help keep it all in perspective.

It has been my tradition to start the season with
a poem and why muck about with tradition? Let me
get in early to apologise for those occasions I
might annoy the reader but no apologies will be
offered for incorrect tipping selections. Those
of you who consistently finish in the middle
(basically nowhere) in your tipping comp could do
a lot worse than follow these weekly selections.
Arrogance and accuracy go hand in hand you know.
Also, please excuse my weekly rants against
umpires, my slight favouritism of the Mighty
Magpies when under pressure and my shameless
bagging of the Dockers who, when they play to
their expected potential, will be dutifully left alone.

Have a great 2008 season and may your tips be
thoughtful, mostly correct, on time, without bias
and a lot of fun. Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!


It's an Easter weekend bounce down to start AFL 08,
But religiously they kept Good Friday free,
We have four great days of football spread across the states
As tipsters mark their cards so nervously.
No longer can you say the Blues will definitely lose
Cos Juddy's now their captain for the year
But then again with Brendan still p**sing on his shoes
Carlton's tipping for each game remains unclear!!

The Demons look a monty to win the wooden spoon
But not without a fight from Terry's mob
If Richmond haven't won one as the season comes to June
You can bet Wallace as the coach won't have a job!
And what about the Saints, our NAB cup champs?
Will their potential help win their second flag?
And mutterings of unrest coming from the Kanga's camp
No Gold Coast move? Hope they're not left like a rock beneath a shag!

Freo Heave Ho! Freo Heave Ho! Dockers not so great
What a tipping nightmare for us folk
If Harvey can't get this team to make the final eight
They'll remain the west's most bad expensive joke!
Lethal's Lions will be a mediocre side
As long as Browny doesn't kick 10 goals a game
Expect the Hawks to have another finals ride
And the Bulldogs? They'll finish about the same.
Sheedy where are you mate? We need to stop Martians attacking
And let Lloydy train another Jimmy Hird
And give our Bomber Knight a chance to work without your backing
But Essendon will still finish last but third.

The black and white army need success from Mick's 'Hot Pies!"
But with Bucks, Clement, Licuria no longer there
Let's hope the Magpie faithful don't make anguished cries
Because another runner up they couldn't bear!
No Ben, no Judd, the Eagles nest has been under scrutiny
Like no other club that supporters can remember
But failing injures real bad or a player mutiny
This team will still be playing in September!

Sydney might just make it but on that Roos won't bet
And the Power needs to restore lots of pride
While their sister team the Crows might be good enough - not yet?
But they'll both be there these South Australian sides.
This year, like last, will see the Cats go for another flag
Hope Thommo doesn't let complacency slip in
They get called the "Handbag" team by some funny wags
But believe me it's the premiership they'll win.


Carlton V Richmond at the MCG Thursday night

Although the Blues have Nick Stevens back and of
course Chris Judd in the side you have to
remember that the Tigers have a fit Nathan Brown
and a fit Simmonds and Richo is still up at full
forward. My initial reaction was to ignore
anything about the Tigers and just pick Carlton.
Having thought about it some more that's what I
will still do and recommend, but, tipsters could
do worse than pick Richmond. Or maybe not.

Carlton by 27


Collingwood V Fremantle Dockers at MCG Saturday arvo

Freo's whole season hinges on this ultra
important game!!! (I thought I'd get that in
before the newspaper footy writers who love a bit
of early drama.) Actually this game is of no
significant importance to anyone other than The
Pies or the Dockers. That figures. There are some
new young faces making debuts for both teams (I
think, assuming they get picked) and Freo is
starting to look like the Essendon reserves but
all that aside it should be an entertaining game
and could go either way. Dockers should dominate
the ruck and the absence of Clement will make it
a bit harder for the Collingwood backline. If the
Pies can bring onto the field the attitude that
got them that win against the West Coast in Perth
last year they will win it but I can't see the
game being a blow out. Freo really need a good
start to the season for a change so the tip is
the Dorks because I think they have more goal
kicking power and the Pies don't have the players
to hold both Pavlich and Tarrant.

Fremantle by 11


West Coast V Brisbane Lions at Subiaco Saturday evening

Jonathan Brown can't kick 10 goals against the
Eagles. I'm tipping this to be a rout and with 30
degrees plus for the day it's going to be a hard
day at the office for all players. Pretty hard to
go against the West Coast in this game so let's not think on it too long.

West Coast by 48


St Kilda V Sydney at Telstra Dome Saturday night

One would think that the Saints can carry their
pre-season form into at least the first round of
the real season but as we all know dear tipsters,
winning the pre-season competition can be fraught
with danger. Past history shows Carlton won a
couple so should we say more? Still, we also know
that St Kilda is nothing like Carlton and should
they, the Saints, have a better run injury wise
this year they should make a good showing for the
2008 season. Sydney is its usual under prepared
early in the season self that we are all getting
used to and no doubt they will win about 2 or 3
of the first 7, be written off and storm home to
finish in the top 6 by September. Based on that
type of preparation the tip is St Kilda in what
should be an entertaining game as long as Roos
doesn't send his backline up forward with the
instruction not to kick any goals!!

St Kilda by 29


Western Bulldogs V Adelaide at Telstra Dome Sunday early arvo

Johnson's 300th game so you have to give the
Bullies a chance and to do that you would also
have to disregard pre-season form as they
certainly had an average one of those. On the
other hand Adelaide were unlucky to lose the nab
cup against St Kilda and they played some
reasonably good footy getting to that point of
the season. Don't you hate it when you have to
give high emotion some consideration so early in
the season? I mean players aren't even breaking
even on hard ball gets or hitting targets with
left side handballs and we're asking them to
basically crawl over broken grass for their mate Johno? Sheesh!

Adelaide by 19


Hawthorn V Melbourne at the MCG Sunday later arvo

Okay, it's Sunday afternoon and due to the time
differences here in the west I haven't even had
to sacrifice the earlier game today because
Sunday Easter lunch at the local tavern fitted in
beautifully between these two scheduled games
also leaving enough time in the early morning to
have found a couple of Cadbury eggs amateurishly
hidden in the garden. Ya gotta love Easter!!
Assuming the wine intake had been less than 5
standard glasses at lunch a person may be able to
keep his eyes open long enough to watch this game
without nodding off once the Hawks' lead blew out
to more than 10 goals. Maybe I said but I doubt it.

Hawthorn by 71


Kangaroos V Essendon at Telstra Dome Monday arvo

This is that other game that will cause tipsters
to fitfully sleep on Sunday night if they have so
far picked 7 from 7. On pre-season form I would
opt for the Kangaroos but any team that has Lloyd
and Lucas in their attack line up should be given
a reasonable chance to win. And remember, Archer
is on the bench in some TV footy show not
prowling the Essendon forward line looking for a
body to smash. With a new coach in Matthew Knight
the Bombers remain a bit of an unknown so best to
put them on hold in the first round and wait and see.

Kangaroos by 31