2008 FOOTY TIPPING
AFL PREVIEW – ROUND 20
Preview tipping: 104 from 152 = 68.4%
In amongst all those Aussie Olympic gold medals there are a few football games to which we need to pay attention as the season draws to a close. 3 rounds to go and if you’re 10 points behind in your tipping competition you might want to go your own way with the selections because it’s dangerous to go ‘uber’ radical just to take a stance. Last week I gave you 7 correct as I got the Essendon tip wrong – again – so if you can improve on that then go for it.
It would make sense to move to the USA for any future Olympics because then you know you will get all the swim finals and best TV vision at prime time because every country that holds The Games kowtows to their requirements for television viewing. Either that or take the 10 days off as holidays so you can live and breathe the Olympics each day and not miss a thing. It just isn’t the same so far this time with regard to viewing and getting excited for a swim final when you already know the result kinda sucks. Oh well, maybe the athletics will provide an improvement. Can’t close the Olympic commentary without a mention of that Phelps guy. Awesome. Stephanie Rice ain’t that bad either with 3 gold medals. Somebody needs to work this out for me. $100M spent on the Games’ opening ceremony and probably a couple of billion spent on the stadiums and specialist tracks and venues for what? 2 weeks of sporting activity. Same amount almost spent in Athens 4 years previous and at least $1Billion in Sydney 4 years prior to that. See where I’m heading here? Honestly, why can’t the Olympics be held in the same city for 3 consecutive games OR have the games rotate between 3 or 4 cities at the most thus utilising the wonderful facilities more than just once apart from the occasional swap meet or minor sporting event? I’ll go to my grave with that one still bouncing around in my brain.
Okay, the third last round and the ladder is rather cluttered from positions 4 to 12. I know that making the 8 for Richmond and Essendon will be difficult but not mathematically impossible yet and let’s face it, how good are the 5 teams above them? It’s the games between these teams where the tipping points can be gained and then throw in the real upset. Good luck
Port Adelaide V Collingwood at AAMI stadium Friday night
Although the televising of this game clashes with the semi finals of the synchronised swimming viewers will see channel 7 sacrifice one for the other just like last weekend when AFL took precedence over the Olympics. And why not you say? The Pies came good against all odds last week in their match with the Saints and gave most tipsters a lost point, unless you followed the preview of course. This is another danger game for Collingwood but they seem to have the wood (pardon the pun) over the Power in the past and they will be desperate to win this game to retain their place in the 8 which is in imminent danger of being taken from them should they lose any more games. The Pies did it without Didak and Shaw last week and will have to do it every week from now on without them. I have to agree with a mate of mine – stupid decision. Collingwood supporters want to see their team win and boys will be boys. I’m sticking with the Pies to win two weeks in a row.
Collingwood by 31
Essendon V Adelaide at Telstra Dome Saturday Arvo
Seeing the Bombers couldn’t even beat the Eagles at Subiaco when their whole season depended on it what makes you think they will be able to change a gear and beat the Crows at Telstra this week? They won’t.
Adelaide by 19
Melbourne V West Coast at the MCG Saturday arvo
Most of us watched the game between Geelong and Melbourne last week in disbelief as the Melbourne score line still showed zip almost to half time. I tipped the Cats by 71 but they were that far ahead at half time. Embarrassing for those Demon supporters who parted with over $2million at a Melbourne function to save the club and even embarrassing for football lovers to watch such a game in the modern era. How good Geelong? How bad Melbourne? Well we’ll see because West Coast are no world beaters this season and playing away from Subiaco usually means an 80 point turnaround in their style. I actually give the Demons a great chance to reverse last week’s result and come mighty close to winning this game against the Eagles. As a matter of fact, thinking on it I think the Dees will if it’s not a draw. It’s my semi roughie tip for the week and I dare not mention t..t..t..a...nk...........
Melbourne by 6
Brisbane Lions V Western Bulldogs at the GABBA Saturday night
The Western Bulldogs need to put a couple of end of season wins on the board or they will be disappearing from the finals race after their second game in as a result of poor form. This is not the right time of the season to be dropping games even if they are entrenched in 3rd spot on the ladder. Collingwood also needs the Bullies to put paid to any chances the Lions have of making the 8. Jonathan Brown has not been in the best of form, well held, over the past couple of weeks and you would have to think the Bulldogs have far too much talent across all lines to allow a loss in this game. As the game is at the Gabba you can expect a good showing from Brisbane but overall season form is with the Bulldogs. Not ruff!!
Western Bulldogs by 22
Sydney Swans V Geelong at ANZ Stadium
Even though the game is in Sydney and even if I think Roos can get his team up under extreme circumstances like this to pull off a wondrous win I’m not tipping against Geelong.
Geelong by 28
Richmond V Hawthorn at the MCG Sunday arvo
The Tigers have lost their last two. The Hawks have won their last two. Richmond got smashed by the Crows in Adelaide last week. Hawthorn smashed the Brisbane Lions last week by a similar margin. You couldn’t go for Richmond, it doesn’t add up. Apologies for missing mentioning Crawford’s 300th game last week. A mighty milestone achieved in league with McLeod at Adelaide and I ask your forgiveness. Buddy may kick his century in goals this weekend thus avoiding a lack of celebration that will undoubtedly occur at Subiaco the following weekend should it happen then. All he needs to do is kick straight so a 9 goals 2 instead of a 5 goals 6 would be good.
Hawthorn by 44
Carlton V North Melbourne at Telstra Dome Sunday arvo
This is certainly the game of the round with North pushing to take over that 4th position on the ladder from Sydney who will lose to Geelong this weekend and providing North with just that opportunity. However, I wouldn’t be too hasty writing off the Blues in this game as they must win to keep any chance at all alive to make the finals. If they can beat North and Freo knocks off St Kilda for them the next day, horror of horrors, the Blues will be in 8th position!! Form tells me that while North has won their last 5 and Carlton has won 2 of their last 5 surely we won’t see a North Melbourne capitulation? I’ve got a terrible feeling about this game.
Carlton by 11
Fremantle V St Kilda at Subiaco Sunday afternoon
Here’s the big question folks. Which St Kilda will be turning up for this game? If it’s the same one that turned up here a few weeks back and got smacked by West Coast then the tip is an easy one. Then the other question is which Freo team will turn up? Actually, the Dorks can look back on this season and see just how many close games they lost and they will quickly work out that a few goals the other way, or a straight kick by Pavlich when it counted, would have seen them in the finals. With the game at Subiaco, sunny, slight breeze, pretty much the same as the day West Coast played the Saints, I cannot tip against the Dockers. Far too much pace around the ground and Sandilands will win the ruck contests. Nope, it’s Freo for me but I won’t be surprised to see a Saints win. Expect a close game but a Docker dashaway at the end.
Fremantle by 19
The AFL Preview is sent via an automatic email list. To join or leave the list is easy.
Please visit our website at http://www.footy.com.au/fts/newsletters.htm
OR
If you have difficulty with the above please email lists@footy.com.au
No comments:
Post a Comment