[AFL-Preview] Round 9

2008 FOOTY TIPPING

AFL PREVIEW – ROUND 9

 

Preview tipping: 51 from 64 = 79.7%

I hope you are enjoying these previews dear readers because they’re getting awfully accurate. Another score of 8 last week, a result that tends to make one a bit cocky. It’s getting to the stage where we are hoping for an upset so that we can collectively hear the groans of anguish echo across the tipping nation after another day of AFL footy! Mind you, there were a couple of moments during last week’s games when a score of 5 or 6 correct seemed the likely result. Hawthorn were allowed out of jail by Port Adelaide who are jostling with Fremantle as the choking team of the year. Collingwood won a close contest against the Saints, North Melbourne ditto against the Eagles and of course the Bulldogs applied the choker leash to the Dorks. With just a kick in it for two of the games the win count could have been a very different story.

Speaking of stories the West Australian newspaper just won’t let up on the unlucky Fremantle. Yes they were 3 goals up in the last quarter but there was plenty of time to go and it was the 14^th team against an unbeaten 3^rd team so it’s hardly a choke.

It’s indigenous week in the AFL and each year there have been more aborigines playing the game than ever and some of them are exquisitely good. Aborigines to AFL football is like the American negro to basketball, or should that be African / American? Not sure what is politically correct there but I’m sure you get my drift.

Anyway tipsters, there are a couple of difficult selections this week so a score of 8 for round 9 would be a miracle. Good Luck.

 

Collingwood V Geelong at MCG Friday Night

 

Is this one of the 3 games that the Cats will lose this year? It’s possible as the game is at the MCG and Mick can usually get those Magpie boys up for a challenge this big. However, until Geelong actually lose a game and show a bit of vulnerability it’s impossible to go past them when tipping. Hope I’m wrong but….

 

Geelong by 37

 

 

Carlton V Fremantle at Telstra Dome Saturday arvo

 

Here’s the first tough pick of the weekend as in normal circumstances you would expect Fremantle to beat the Blues as they have done for the past 7 or 8 years or whatever that useless statistic is. I am very unsure of the result in this game. Pavlich, Bell, Pavlich, McPharlin, Pavlich, Farmer, Pavlich, Tarrant against Judd, Fevola, Judd, Murphy, Judd, Stevens. Seems like more Pavlich’s than Judds.

 

Fremantle by 11

 

 

Port Adelaide V Sydney at AAMI Stadium Saturday Arvo

 

Well, if you got the previous tip wrong then this one will really be tough to pick and make up that lost point. The Swans are playing pretty good football at the moment but then again so is Port Adelaide for most of the game. The loss of Burgoyne for the Power is both regrettable and ridiculous and I sympathise with Choko Williams on the suspension. And 3 weeks at that!! There would be some tough guys of footy turning in their graves over that tribunal result believe me. Port playing at home in front of a home crowd tends to make me lean their way. Please lord, no fade outs.

 

Port Adelaide by 16

 

 

West Coast V Adelaide at Subiaco Saturday night

 

Kinder critics of the West Coast Eagles saw some improvement in the team last week against North Melbourne but those amongst us with an experienced eye would have put that down to a drop off in the standard by North. And what about that sensational crowd? Just over 6000 turning up for a game of AFL footy??? You can’t educate and preach righteousness to heathens and those surfies and good timers on the Gold Coast shouldn’t really be exposed to the beauty of Aussie Rules. Indi cars and meter maids are about all that those folk can handle and I don’t envy the job Voss and the AFL will have in trying to introduce football to that section of the Australian public. I mean they don’t even have the imagination to come up with a brand name for beer!! Still, it’s a nice place to go for holidays. And the tip? Well, Adelaide beat Melbourne by almost 100 points and while this will be a little harder the end result will be the same.

 

Adelaide by 31

 

 

Essendon V Richmond at MCG Saturday night

 

I’m looking forward to the Essendon versus Melbourne game which will give me the opportunity to plan something else for the day. What an introduction to coaching for Matthew Knights. Did the Bomber committee chuckle to themselves when they gave him the job? Did knights actually have to prepare an application and be interviewed for the job? Ever seen that show on Foxtel about the worse jobs in the world? Because both teams are average it might be close which will be the only saving grace for this as a game.

 

Richmond by 49

 

 

Brisbane V St Kilda at Gabba Sunday

 

Here’s the third game of the weekend that is not easy to pick. The Lions look like they might sneak a top 8 place this season after being out of finals for the last few years. Reiwoldt is back for the Saints who were not shamed in their loss to the Pies last week. Brisbane really only beat the Blues in that first quarter blitz last week so, while they did win, it was far from salubrious. I’m going to go for the Saints to get their season back on line and beat the Lions at home. Dangerous pick you say? Nah, Saints are a better team really.

 

St Kilda by 21

 

 

Melbourne V Hawthorn at MCG Sunday

 

David Neitz was a monument to the game and to the Melbourne football club. And abandoning ship during a major disaster is the act of a good captain. I wonder if his injury is because he cops it in the neck continually. I think Buddy Franklin, Roughead and Williams will kick a bigger score than the whole Demons team.

 

Hawthorn by 88

 

 

Western Bulldogs V North Melbourne  at Telstra Dome Sunday

 

This is the year of draws. We haven’t seen the last of them yet. As good as Laidley thinks his team is they are not as good as the Bulldogs. However, a return from the west and a hard come from behind game against the Dockers may not leave the Bullies in as good condition as they would like. Surely though they have the talent. I find North rather unpredictable in games like this. They start off like a train but still lose the game. Still, like the Cats, until the Bullies actually lose one it’s hard to tip against them.

 

Western Bulldogs by 15