AFL PREVIEW
ROUND 14 2008 SEASON
Preview Tipping to date: 76 from 104 = 73%
There were a few blatant errors in last week’s preview and I am surprised nobody picked up on them. It was stated, and rather incorrectly I admit, that the West Coast Eagles had a smidgin of a chance against Geelong. Well, if 135 points is a close game then a thrashing would yield an interesting score. Carlton, obviously overcome by their unexpected beating of Collingwood, (AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN!) couldn’t match a rejuvenated Essendon who notched their second win in a row. Then of course, and apologies to North Melbourne supporters, North pulled one of their famous, unexpected and most unwelcome form reversals to beat one of the premiership contenders in Hawthorn after wilting against the Dorks the week before. How could anyone, except a one-eyed, uninformed, faithful North Melbourne supporter pick that??!! Incredible! Richmond beating Port Adelaide at AAMI? I love Port losing at AAMI because even if the game is close, and it was on this occasion with only 4 points separating the teams at the end, Port supporters start streaming out of the ground 15 minutes before the end of the game to beat the traffic!!! It’s like “Why stay? We know they’re gonna lose!!” It’s a shame the Pies never got up against the Bulldogs to help round off a wonderful week of tipping. Mind you, it was bound to happen. We have had two bad tipping weeks in 13 and what usually happens now is there is a wave of idiot tips entered followed by a lot of chest beating and gnashing of teeth while the leaders maintain their position. Really, it’s times like this when I give serious consideration to giving the whole thing away and enjoying a tip free season. You know, just dive in and enjoy the footy without worrying about whether the team you have tipped is going to win or lose. Finding yourself barracking for teams you really despise just to add to your tipping score builds character I guess. But then what’s a footy season without anguish? I guess some days you’re the bug and other days you’re the windscreen.
It was obviously another slow week in footy news because Ben Cousins, who doesn’t play AFL by the way, grabbed most of the attention of the reporters. Mind you the John Worshfold and Brad Hardie disagreement on radio was reasonably entertaining as well. Whoosha is one positive (if misguided) guy and he will make a wonderful politician one day.
Okay tipsters, some interesting games this week, again, so get that tipping radar tuned and let’s see what we can conjure up after last weeks’ debacle. Good Luck.
Hawthorn V West Coast Eagles at MCG Friday Night
Both teams lost last week but that’s a statement that you can’t apply to Hawthorn very often this year. But it is a statement you will be able to apply to the Eagles most weeks and this will be another one of those weeks. Glass may be able to hold Buddy to a handful of goals in this game but who is going to stop the rest of the Hawthorn players? Those that remember the score from the 1991 Grand Final will experience déjà vu.
Hawthorn by 66
Richmond V Carlton at the MCG Saturday arvo
This game is definitely one of the tough ones to pick this week. Both teams are completely unpredictable from one week to the next. I mean most of us were happy to give the Tigers the wooden spoon at the start of the season but here they are looking to win 3 in a row and challenge for a place in the 8!! Should North lose to St Kilda and Richmond win this game they will be in 8th position. You have no idea how hard it is for me to select Carlton to win and after last week I have right on my side but it looks like I’m going to have to go out on a limb again and pick the Blues and only because in my worst nightmare I can’t believe Richmond can win 3 in a row. It will probably be a draw.
Carlton by 6
North Melbourne V St Kilda somewhere on the Gold Coast
North just keep on keeping on and when playing their best they are a lot better than the Saints who struggled last week to beat the Dockers at Telstra. You would think that Dal Santo, Milne and Koszitzke will be back for the Saints but will that be enough to challenge Laidley’s lovable little lot? North need to win this to keep teams like St Kilda at bay, at a comfortable distance from the 8. If the Saints can maintain a 4 quarter effort it will be a very close game but it’s been a rare sight for Saints supporters this year. Meanwhile North Melbourne supporters seem to just enjoy the ride and the unexpected.
North Melbourne by 19
Western Bulldogs V Port Adelaide somewhere in Darwin
Do you think the Port supporters will leave early to beat the traffic back to Adelaide via Alice Springs if there is even a faint chance the Power look like losing? I guess 2 cars hooning down the highway through Katherine won’t affect the traffic too much. It’s hard to make a case for Port Adelaide to win against a pretty slick Doggies team. The only thing against the Bulldogs is that they beat the Pies last week and that would have upset them emotionally and physically. But as upset as they might be from that game it will still be too much for Choko’s mob and it was Mark Williams that stated Port would not make the finals after last week’s loss to the Tigers. So be it.
Western Bulldogs by 35
Melbourne V Brisbane Lions at the MCG
There was a point during last week’s game in which Melbourne challenged the Swans in the third quarter that had us tipsters almost in tears especially after the weekend was already a mess in tipping selections. If they played like that for 3 quarters it would be a challenge to the Lions who were lucky to overrun the Crows in the latter stages of that game. But honestly, Matthews would have to be quietly pencilling in this game as a win and a bit of a consolidation in the 8 for Brisbane. Brisbane doesn’t like the MCG a lot, apart from winning grand finals, so it really is a danger game for them. Here’s an opportunity for Melbourne to rise from the ashes of a certain wooden spoon with a good showing. Dream on Dees.
Brisbane by 17
Fremantle V Essendon at Subiaco Sunday Afternoon
Picking this game is a bit like the Richmond Carlton game. We have Freo who thrashed North at Subiaco 2 weeks ago and then fell at the last hurdle against the Saints at Telstra last week when everyone had their money on them. I promised myself I would not pick the Dorks again this season but I forgot they play Essendon, a team, by the way, that, like the Tigers, is shooting for 3 wins in a row. What’s happened to some healthy tanking when you most need it? Fremantle need to play at their best again to win this game but being at home they have a chance. I don’t think dropping Farmer was a good idea especially in a team that is short on good ideas and a bit of speed around the packs. The pace of the Lovetts and the Lovett-Murrays, well, you gotta love it and Freo will need to be aware of that midfield pace. Against my better judgement and that of probably the majority of Dockers’ supporters I will pick them again. Bless ‘em.
Fremantle by 21
Split Round. Following games are played the week of July 4th and 5th
Adelaide V Geelong at AAMI Stadium Friday Night
It’s a bit of a bonus for Geelong to have a week off after a mere training run at Subiaco the week before but there you have it. One of the problems the Cats have is that they are the measuring stick of the competition and teams like to go that extra yard to beat them. This will be the case with Adelaide who have just dropped 2 games in a row to put them in the bottom half of the top 8 (huh?) and susceptible to attack. Can Craig get the team up for that special effort against the Cats and help stave off Brisbane and Collingwood jumping them on the ladder? I think not and a week off will be all that Thommo needs to fire up and freshen the Cats for this match which they need to win to keep them ahead of the Dogs and Hawks. I reserve the right to change the tip next Thursday if something unusual happens like a major earthquake that traps Geelong in Corio Bay for a month.
Geelong by 32
Sydney V Collingwood at ANZ Stadium Saturday Night
If ever the Pies had to pull a game out of the hat like they did against Geelong a few weeks ago then this is it. I have a feeling they will even without Rocca for the remainder of the season. It’s time the Swans lost a game as well so statistically the time is ripe for a minor upset. You can’t say Collingwood are playing badly and after 6 wins in a row neither are the Swans. They have formed part of the upper 4 that now have a handy break on the rest of the teams and it’s time a few of the lower teams put the fear of the lord into them. This will be a good start and the Pies need to win to maintain an interest in the competition for the lower teams. In a way it’s a bit of a sacrifice for the good of the game. And speaking of Goodes, ha ha.
Collingwood by 15
No comments:
Post a Comment