AFL PREVIEW ROUND 5
Life isn’t much tougher than being a coach these days. Terry Wallace has been copping it in large doses in the East and Harvey has been getting the same here in the west. I think Harvs enjoyed the break of the “Klu Klux Klan” incident which took the pressure off for a day, just enough rest time for him to comment on the article by Gary Lyons about the trading of Pavlich. In amongst all this we had the Collingwood versus the umpires and Eddie back on TV in the millionaires hot seat. Front page of the local rag just had to print a picture of the two Docker boys dressed in what can best be described as Blues Brothers gone white costumes with really, no resemblance to a KKK person but while driving home tonight the headline news stated that one of the Dockers guys dressed in a Klu Klux Klan outfit was picked for his first game for the Dorks against the Swans on Saturday night. You have to laugh. The press never let up. If somehow the Dorks can win a couple of games they will be touted as finalists – you wait.
Mick Malthouse also had to give a reason to the AFL powers for the spray he gave the umpires at quarter time in the Pies game against the Lions last week after a very suspect 50 metre penalty right on the siren against Collingwood which resulted in a goal. Don’t worry about Mick I was sitting at home having an apoplectic fit meself.
Sunday I went to the West Coast versus the Bulldogs game. I have to confess that I purchased an Eagles membership this year just so I could go to the footy. After about a quarter and a half sitting amongst the West Coast members I was wondering about that decision to spend those few hundred bucks. Sitting there with my Magpie hat on and making a few pointed comments about their stupid comments certainly helped justify the expenditure at times.
It was a tough week of tipping and in hindsight, a wonderful gift if you have it as foresight, we should have picked 6 correct not 4. Carlton breaking a Swans hoodoo was a bit farfetched and picking the Doggies to win after travelling to Perth twice in a month was tipping without intelligence. You need weeks like that to bring a touch of reality and frustration to the season don’t you think?
Let’s see how we go this week as there are a few possibilities. Good luck.
Port Adelaide V St Kilda Friday Night AAMI Stadium
I picked against Port last week but it seems the Hawks are a bit far removed from their grand final form of last year at this stage of the season but you have to admit that when a team gets a hiding by 10 goals one week and then reverses form to beat the reigning premiers it certainly makes it hard to tip with authority. Again, we have an in-form St Kilda against a possibly in-form Port Adelaide. The game is being played at AAMI so that’s a plus for the Power but I am still finding it hard to tip them in this game against a pretty hot Saints outfit. St Kilda WILL lose a game or two this year but are we betting that this is going to be one of them? The game will be tight all the way until mid way through the 3rd quarter when I expect the Saints to slip away to a 3 goal lead. That will be enough to keep Port at bay in a tough and gruelling final quarter that should see St Kilda consolidate their lead and win by
St Kilda by 19
Essendon V Collingwood at MCG Saturday
Here it is again – the blockbuster for the weekend, the Anzac day stoush between Collingwood and the Bombers. My son has wangled a trip east again to coincide with the fixture but is having difficulty getting hold of a ticket. Heaven and earth have been moved so hopefully he can get in to see the match. A match, by the way, that will be won by Collingwood. This has nothing to do with supporting the team but simply a statement of fact because Collingwood is the better side. If Essendon play like they did against North last week it will be all over by half time but allowing for the occasion, which always brings out the best in these two teams, the adrenalin will serve as fast food to keep the game exciting for at least a half. Magpie supporters will have to be disappointed if their team cannot win this game by 5 – 6 goals going away.
Collingwood by 32
Hawthorn V West Coast At Aurora Saturday
Base your tipping on form and you would have to pick the Eagles to win this game relatively easily. But, and there are a few considerations, the game is in Tasmania and it states that the start time is after 5 pm?? I didn’t know Aurora had lights? I mean it doesn’t even have a correctly functioning siren. Is that starting time correct? Are there lights at this ground? Is this another way for the Tasmania government to keep their people in the dark? Well, if there are no lights and the start time is 5.20pm then we won’t know the result until sometime after dawn on Sunday when we can see the scoreboard. It should show the Hawks as winners.
Hawthorn by 22
North Melbourne V Richmond Saturday night Telstra
Apart from the North versus Essendon game last week and, oh, the Richmond versus Melbourne game last week as well, this could be an even uglier affair. North like to grind and Richmond like to lose and perhaps never the twain shall meet. The Tigers are zip 4 and North are just the one game better. The Tiger faithful have been sold a dummy at the start of the season with false hope being placed on the recruitment of Cousins to help them come from the wilderness to the promised land. Wallace and the boys would have pencilled this one in as a possible as they planned the season but it’s now marked in red biro as a probable......loss. Did I see that Cuz might be back for this game? The only thing Richmond really needs to worry about is that Richardson does not get injured. I think the Tigers will pull something from the barrel, hopefully a .357 magnum to kill the Kangaroos.
Richmond by 11
Fremantle V Sydney Saturday night Subiaco
Geez I hope the Dorks are a bit more competitive than last week’s effort against the Saints. That was embarrassing for the club but no worse than some efforts we have seen by the Brisbane Bears, the Sydney Swans in the early days and Port Adelaide in a grand final and St Kilda and Richmond at their lowest ebb. Most teams have been through it themselves as well some time in their history. However, competitive is one thing, winning the game is totally another. I’m not picking the Dockers in any games just yet, I just think they will be better this week.
Sydney by 22
Geelong V Brisbane Lions Sunday Skilled Stadium
The Lions got tired against the Pies last week and lost by 19 points. If they get tired against the Cats they are going to lose by a lot more. So be it.
Geelong by 55
Western Bulldogs V Carlton Sunday arvo Telstra Dome
This will be the game of the round, fast paced, high scoring, entertaining. Both teams will be bristling after losses last week. In Carlton’s case it’s two losses in a row so they will be looking at trying to right the ledger so the forecast of “Here We Come”or whatever that Carlton thing is about coming....well....comes true for the Blues. They will find this hard to do as the Bulldogs will not be wanting to go to 3 – 2 after winning that first three in a row and everyone forecasting them to be top four contenders. The Bulldog players did a few funny things in that game against West Coast last week. Maybe it was the heat. Dunno, but it wouldn’t be worth their while to fall away this week at home. The score line will be Carlton 110 and the Bulldogs 133.
Western Bulldogs by 23
Melbourne v Adelaide Sunday MCG
I was listening to Parkin talk about the Dees last week and I think he got it right. The pressure is on teams playing the Demons because they are expected to win while Melbourne can just play the game the coach wants them to and if they win it’s a bonus, not an expectation. That’s why they blew Richmond away early in the game last week and let’s face it, the Tigers are not a good enough team to come from 5 – 6 goals down. Other teams are, well, not the Dockers, so a substantial lead by the Demons against quality opposition won’t guarantee them a win. I cannot see Melbourne winning this game even if Jimmy Stynes sits in bay 13.
Adelaide by 39
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