[AFL-Preview] Round 19

2008 FOOTY TIPPING

AFL PREVIEW – ROUND 19

 

Preview tipping: 97 from 144 =67.3%

There's not a lot that can be said about the Collingwood Circus this week. I mean we are at the pointy end of the season and Collingwood's chances of making the finals hang by a thread. It (Collingwood's success) obviously means a lot more to the supporters than it does to some of the players. I understand Didak's response to the questions about who was drinking and who was driving was "Not Shaw! Not Shaw!" which was taken to be that he wasn't certain and only in the light of day did it prove to be the wrong conclusion by those questioning him. Eddie didn't give the lads the opportunity to phone a friend or ask the supporters which didn't help them to answer the questions correctly. Anyway, should Didak go to Port Adelaide then that team can at least look forward to an overall lift in the team IQ. More importantly in the AFL we hear that Harvey is retiring from footy after almost 400 games and a heap of personal awards but alas no premiership – so far. The Pies have done what they can to help the Saints continue on their winning way in a gesture that can best be described as magnanimously stupid! Great footballer is Harvey. I reckon he could pick up the remaining 20 or so games he needs by transferring to either of the WA teams. This weekend of footy and the next pale into insignificance, well let's not be that brutal, let's just say AFL won't be as important as the Olympic games which get under way on Friday night with the opening ceremony. I know! I know! Competition has already started with soccer games but that's not really football is it? The AFL has moved the Friday night game forward by about 40 minutes to accommodate the Channel 7 telecast of the opening ceremony which, like most sporting events around this country, we can't get live either. Perversely we will for the first time this season get a live telecast of the Friday night game. Go figure. On the tipping front all I can say is that I have made far too many poor picks in the last 3 rounds which have left me languishing far too many points behind the leading bunch. However, as there is still a chance for some to pick up the weekly prize I will continue to assist or hinder your selection process to the best of my ability. Good luck and Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!

Melbourne V Geelong at MCG Friday Night

Ablett back in and Milburn back out will make no difference to this result. Jimmy Stines was able to get together enough Melbourne members, you know the ones who never turn up for the big games and leave all those vacant seats in the member section of the stand that nobody else can sit in, for a big nosh up and helped them part with just over $2million in donations to help the club with their humungous debt.  I reckon that if they used the money to bribe the Cats to play badly enough to lose the game that the level of poor play Geelong would stoop to would still be too good for the Dees to actually win. Huh? You know what I mean.

Geelong by 71

Carlton V Port Adelaide at Telstra Dome Saturday arvo

As I am a traditional enemy of Carlton and I don't have a lot of love for Port Adelaide either there will be a lack of passion in the preview of this game.

Carlton by 29

Hawthorn V Brisbane Lions at Aurora Stadium Tassie Saturday arvo

I know who is going to win this game it's just the margin I am pondering over. Buddy to kick 5 goals 8 behinds.

Hawthorn by 42

Collingwood V St Kilda at the MCG Saturday night

I hinted in the prologue that I thought Collingwood had basically handed this game to the Saints as a result of those shenanigans by a couple of our key players. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pies take this game right up to the Saints but with the Harvey retirement announcement and some of the balance removed from the Collingwood team it will be hard to pick against St Kilda. But as a gesture of support to the guys in black and white who had to put up with such boorish behaviour of a couple of team mates I'm going to tip this as a Collingwood win to see if we can sneak a tipping point on the leaders.

Collingwood by 18

Sydney V Fremantle at SCG Saturday night

Sydney with two consecutive losses and Fremantle with three consecutive wins. Who would have thought we have to actually ponder this selection? The Swans aren't playing all that well either while the Dorks have got their little purple tails up. But a night game at the SCG makes it a bit hard to pencil in a Freo win. If you look at who the Dockers beat in those last threewins it doesn't fill you with a whole lot of confidence to think that they can continue that winning streak against a better credentialed side. I think the Dockers will lead most of the day but as the Swans start to get their 'A' game going they should have the talent and the capacity to beat Fremantle in the last quarter.

Sydney by 11

North Melbourne V Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome Sunday

This is certainly the game of the round when you look at ladder positions and you can't fault the form of North Melbourne of late. They don't have the talent that the Doggies can field on the park but what this North team might lack in superstar talent is sure made up for with good, tactical coaching and a rather strong fighting spirit. What about the fact that the Bulldogs can't drop lower than third this season should they win, lose or draw? Does that affect the mental aspect of how a team might look at a game like this? North can still improve their position from 5^th to 4^th and gain a double chance in the finals so you can bet that the Kangaroos / Shinboners, whatever, will not be letting up the pressure. This game is played mostly above the shoulders and I give North every chance to make this their 5^th win on a trot. They love a close game and have won most of them.

North Melbourne by 6

Adelaide V Richmond at AAMI Sunday

A surprising win to the Crows last week in Adelaide against the Blues but you will note I picked it. On the other side of the ledger the reality check the Tigers got when they were pummelled by the Cats won't have done a lot for their confidence. It's Andrew McLeod's 300^th game for Adelaide would you believe and that will help motivate the Crows to keep their fans a happy bunch at AAMI again this week. I could rattle on here for another paragraph but in the end I can't justify a Tiger selection reinforced by the fact that they haven't beaten the Crows at home since 1999 when Andrew McLeod had played only a 100 games.

Adelaide by 22

West Coast V Essendon at Subiaco Sunday Arvo

Now I am not going to point my finger in an accusatory manner at the Eagles and say they are tanking but with another two players being sent off to the hospital for surgery after last week's game West Coast are sure panzering to the opposition. (Freudian slip! I meant pandering, I think!) I am tempted to place a small ad in the West Australian newspaper for Saturday to advise all Eagles supporters to leave their jackets at home as they won't be required at the end of the game to wave over their heads like lunatics should West Coast beats the Bombers. No win, no jackets, no players to pick from, no worries for those first round draft picks, no kidding!!

Essendon by 51

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