2008 FOOTY TIPPING
AFL PREVIEW – ROUND 13
Preview tipping: 71 from 96 = 73.9%
Well the tipping previews are okay but we need a big score to catch the leaders who are continuing to score just as easily. But when you get teams like Carlton beating the in - form Pies and Freo finally finding form it’s difficult, nay impossible almost, to pick a clean sweep. By the way, it’s official. Carlton’s win last Sunday has stuck in my throat like a jagged fish bone from a lightly fried Swan River bream. One week Fev’s having a p**s in public then a few weeks later he’s taking the p**s out of the Collingwood fans!! Inconsistent bladder function warrants a three year contract it appears. The argument is back about the “fair” aspect of the Brownlow after Buddy blatantly barged a Crow’s player head high. With cameras stationed all around the ground it’s impossible for a player not to be filmed picking his nose, scratching his bottom, mouthing obscenities after an easily missed goal, squirrel grabs on opponents and having a quiet, technicolour yawn in the middle of the ground a la Glass let alone be missed snotting someone with a fist or an upraised elbow or using some other jagged part of their body. Had all those cameras been used 20 years ago I can assure you Williams from Carlton would not have won two Brownlows. The fairest aspect has to stay. The AFL are strongly mooting an evening Grand Final in the coming months but there are reasons against and it was this column that pointed out that the danger of alcohol poisoning was possible for attendees to AFL breakfasts across the country if they were allowed an extra three to four hours of drinking waiting for the game to start after 5.00pm. AFL days across the nation would be ruined. It’s not a good idea. What would happen if the power suddenly went off in the middle of an AFL Grand Final game? Well, the answer to that might be found if the gas energy crisis inflicts itself on the Eagles versus Geelong game at Subiaco Saturday night and the lights go out. Do they come back and play on Sunday during daylight hours? Anyway tipsters, lots of consideration needed for this week’s games and we are looking for signs that will give us that extra point on the leaders this week. Good luck.
St Kilda V Fremantle at Telstra Dome Friday Night
The Saints are really facing some major problems with form reminiscent of a team that wins the pre-season premiership but can find little else to muster up for the real season games!! Dal Santo and Milne have both been dropped for the Saints while the Dockers have made no changes to their winning combination. Yikes, what did I just say? Now I tipped against Freo last week and while that wasn’t right you must know that tipping against them this season has provided plenty of points. I think they are a real chance in this match and with the game being played at Telstra Dome with closed roof and dry conditions I fancy them even more. It’s Fremantle’s inconsistency that makes you hesitate but then what part of St Kilda’s game inspires? I love to start the weekend off with a win but do we think Freo can continue with a winning streak? Okay, let’s try it.
Fremantle by 17
Hawthorn V North Melbourne at MCG Saturday arvo
Geez North was disappointing last week I wondered whether that was because I tipped them. It’s really hard to find a case for them coming up against one of the top teams this season but it’s times like this that Laidley seems to get them fired up and they come out thumping. The North prez made a plaintive plea to the AFL not to abandon them and he had a good point about the league losing by possible abandonment Melbourne, North Melbourne and the Bulldogs resulting in a loss of maybe 750,000 fans. What is it about North that does not enable them to gather a big fan base? They’ve won a few premierships now but they continue to struggle financially and member-wise. They switched again from the Kangaroos to their traditional North Melbourne, they have knocked back a very lucrative offer to reside on the Gold Coast and they continue to be competitive in most games. Darned if I know but they won’t win this one.
Hawthorn by 33
Port Adelaide V Richmond at AAMI Stadium Saturday arvo
The Tigers are a rubbish team and you won’t see Wallace at the helm as coach next season. You read it here first. In one quarter against the Demons they were unstoppable and for the other three quarters they went from pitiful to bearable just winning a game they had on toast. As bad as Port Adelaide are, and believe me, this team is the South Australian version of the West Coast Eagles in the way they have dropped form in one season from being premiership runners up the year before, they are still a far better team than Richmond. I’m sure the Tigers will be competitive but without going into the whys and wherefores too deeply and confusing some of you tippers who understand nought about the game anyway, they will not win. Amen.
Port Adelaide by 36
West Coast V Geelong at Subiaco Saturday night
Can 17 players from the West Coast Eagles premiership team of 2006 beat the all-conquering Cats who are making their second journey to Perth in a couple of months? Hmm, interesting thought as the Eagles have been very competitive playing at home the past couple of games. Thrashed the Crows and they were only a poor umpiring decision away from beating the Swans. Geelong has been impressive since losing to Collingwood but a bit of pressure and a West Coast home crowd should see this as a closer game than many might think. I’ve already tipped one of the WA teams to win and wins by both teams in the West will have the state forgetting about the energy crisis, they will be talking up finals again!! Statistics clearly state that you should pick the Cats because your chances of being right far outweigh the chance of being wrong with them. The opposite holds true for West Coast who have made 5 changes to the team from last week which helps feed the “tanking” proposition, a tactic that does not sit with me comfortably having played for 20 seasons and not being able to even contemplate playing a game to lose....regardless of the reward in draft picks! I think West Coast will give this game a good effort and although a win by them would not surprise it’s not a statistically smart pick. So -
Geelong by 13
Brisbane Lions V Adelaide at Gabba Saturday night
The Lions were totally outclassed and outplayed last week in their game against the Bulldogs and it was a bit of a reality check for them. They remain one of the fringe dwellers of the top eight and that makes this game all the more important for Lethal and his crew. I have a problem with Adelaide in that against good defensive teams they really don’t have the fire power in front of goals while the Brisbane Lions are well endowed with Brown and Bradshaw and a raft of smalls who contribute consistently. Just to stuff up a sound argument the Crows see the return of the ‘birdman’ Burton in front of goals while Bradshaw remains out of the Brisbane line up with injury. Should be a good game and after a heart stopping loss against the Hawks at home last week Adelaide need to find that something extra to ensure a win and a comfortable stay in the top eight. Even if Brisbane lose they will hold down 7th spot while a win puts them just outside the top four. Lots to play for guys. Could be the third draw of the season because the result will really depend on which team is better prepared mentally. The tip should be the home team but I am thinking the Crows will rebound from the disappointment of last week while the Lions, although a much improved team, are still a work in progress and will find this a bit harder.
Adelaide by 11
Melbourne V Sydney at Manuka Oval Sunday
We have the Canberra factor in this match and I know the AFL has a reason for doing this type of scheduling but in all honesty I just can’t see what it is. We are having cold mornings in Perth, as low as 3 and 4 degrees but it will be a colder day in hell before the Demons can singe the wings of this Swans team. I’ve already spent too much time on this match preview.
Sydney by 59
Carlton V Essendon at MCG Sunday
Will Carlton be on a high after a lucky win against the Magpies last week and consider themselves unbeatable? A sure thing? Well as much as I dislike them I think they might be right. Even though Essendon notched up their 3rd win of the season they will find the Blues a harder contract than the Eagles. These teams nearly drew last time they played (didn’t they?) and I’m thinking it will be a pretty close affair again. Couple of marvellous forwards in Lloyd and Fevola at each end but the Fev will have the tentacles of ‘Mr Gadget’ to contend with so his 8 goals last week might be a dream this week. If it was at all possible that both teams could lose I would be overjoyed but the bream bone is still stuck in my throat as is the prediction. Caaaarrrghhhlton it is.
Carlton by 29
Collingwood V Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome Sunday Arvo
The poor old Magpies are not travelling too well all of a sudden but a win by Carlton and a loss by Brisbane will see them stay in 6th position on the ladder due to a great percentage. Can I find a case for Collingwood to win this game? Nope. It does not help Collingwood’s cause when Josh Fraser Leon Davis are out injured and Cloke has been suspended. Some good returns in Rocca and Goldsack but the Pies will have to be as fired up as they were against the Cats to have a realistic chance in this game. Hahn, Murphy, Johnson and Akermanis up forward are a bit much for the Magpie backline and Cooney and Griffen are both playing well. It’s a tip I hope I get wrong but sorry Pies.
Western Bulldogs by 28
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