[AFL-Preview] Round 11

AFL Preview Round 11
Last Week 7 from 8 = 59/80 = 74%
 
Only 3 points away from a classic 8 pick last week tipsters so I hope you followed my preview. Also only one game away from picking the last coaching game for Terry Wallace as well.  I should be getting a bonus point for that one I reckon.
The reader who sent through those tired old jokes about Collingwood, thanks, but having seen the same stuff only with different teams nominated such as Carlton, Port Adelaide and the Dockers, to mention a few, they have lost their humour.

Cousins banned for taking drugs,
Associating with criminal mugs,
Leaves West Coast joins Tigers team
Continuing his football dream
Then he does something absurd
Sticks up a finger, gives us �bird�.

This was, of course, headline news in the West regardless of murder and mayhem anywhere else, natural disasters and politician fights! On his current contract I'm not sure Ben actually covered his fine with his payment for a game of footy. Sheesh!!
We�re getting close to the split round. Frighteningly enough that leaves you with only about 10 weeks to catch up on your tips. If you�re 6 or more points down don't bother. I'm heading to sunny Rockhampton in QLD next week so I might get a Brisbane eyed view of the AFL and report back. Good luck.
 
Richmond V Western Bulldogs at Telstra Friday night
 
Was Cousins giving the bird to Terry when he thought he was in the privacy of....of.....well, he wasn't in private at all? Maybe he knew something about Terry�s  fate we only guessed. The usual story is that a team performs out of the ordinary under a new coach. Unfortunately for Richmond they don't, as yet, have a new coach. Had Plough stayed with the Bulldogs would they be doing as well? Had Plough stayed away from the Tigers would they be doing as badly? I guess we'll only really get to know what really went down when we get Terry �On The Couch� on Foxtel but no doubt we will hear his dulcet tones on either TV or radio providing clarification on coaching moves made by fellow coaches during the rest of the season. Oh, and Richmond will not beat the Bulldogs in this game regardless of how happy the Tigers� players are at the thought of losing Wallace.
 
Western Bulldogs by 41
 
North Melbourne V St Kilda at Telstra Saturday
 Do I have to go into reasons for and against for the teams playing in this game? No? Thanks.
 
St Kilda by 41
 
Brisbane Lions V Carlton at the Gabba Saturday
The Blues have certainly lost their way a bit during the first half of the season and if you watched them play against the Eagles last week you would be pretty doubtful about giving them your tip for this match against a surprising Lions mob who are doing a lot better than most of us thought. Either team can win this match and if the Blues bring their �A� game with them to the Gabba they are a shoe in. I have jumped onto the Carlton bandwagon a couple of times only to be dumped unceremoniously after a pathetic performance by them but I am inclined to go with them one more time. Honestly, there is little to separate the teams and again, a draw is not out of the question. Murphy, Judd and Gibbs with Kreuzer in the ruck against Brown, Black, Bradshaw and Brennan. Should I pick wrong here I will plead insanity.
 
Carlton by 5
 
Port Adelaide V Fremantle at AAMI Saturday
The Power had a major outage in the 3rd quarter against the Pies last week but don't expect them to do the same in this game. Then again, if they do it�s only the Dockers against them who would be unable to take advantage. Injuries at Freo are major reasons to not even give them a passing thought. Anyway, it�s Port Adelaide�s Jeckyll and Hyde time so a big win is the ticket.
 
Port Adelaide by 41
 
Essendon V Adelaide at Telstra Sunday
Here�s the other tough game of the round. Those baby Bombers (gawd I hate that expression) have certainly surprised all the experts most of whom had Essendon in the bottom three of the ladder by end of season. Mind you, it could still happen as those young legs start to tire. The Crows were awesome against the Hawks last week but can they repeat it, or threepeat it should we say? Tyson Edwards plays his 300th and he will be hoping the boys can make it a special day for him. I went for the away team in the Carlton versus Lions game and should balance that with the home team in this one. The Bombers were thrashed by Geelong and it was really only the let up by the Cats that allowed Essendon to post a respectable score.  Makes it hard to pick the winner.
 
Essendon by 5
 
Hawthorn V Sydney at the MCG Sunday
One has to wonder just what Hawthorn need to do to get their season on track because a loss here would be a minor derailment. Sydney were humbled by the Bulldogs last week allowing them to kick 13 unanswered goals before rallying later in the game to keep the margin within reason. Roughead had a shocker last week while Buddy was kept to three. Bustling Barry kicked his second swag of 6 in a row so at least one forward for the Swans has a bit of form. At home you have to give the Hawks a chance and Sydney has shown some fragility this season. I'm leaning towards Hawthorn but it won't be easy. Perhaps a 3rd quarter burst with Franklin and Roughead firing, Williams slotting a couple and Bateman and Mitchell firing it out of the centre will be the scenario. Oh yeah, I think Hodge is back.
 
Hawthorn by 21
 
West Coast Eagles V Geelong at Subiaco Sunday
Last week the Cats were over 10 goals ahead in the second quarter against the Bombers and over 80 points up before throwing out the anchor. This game will be similar and Eagles members have swamped EBay trying to sell their tickets to anybody that might want to watch the carnage because sure as hell they don't . Johnson will kick 5, Ablett will kick 5 with 37 possession, Selwood will kick 2 with 41 possessions, Mooney will bag 6 and Kerr will be headbutting Jacko in the commentators� box. Shambolic.
 
Geelong by 107
 
Melbourne V Collingwood at the MCG Monday
After 2 very good wins the Pies really need to consolidate with a win against an ever improving Demons team who have come close to winning a couple of times of late. Don�t think this game is a walk in the park for Collingwood and don�t be surprised to see Melbourne keeping very close to the Pies as the game progresses. It�s supposed to be a blockbuster day, public holiday in the east, the west had theirs last week and it still peeves me that the states can�t get their act together on these obscure celebration days and have the same day off. The Maggies are starting to get some of their players back from injuries with Cloke and possibly Medhurst returning. Melbourne is using this game to introduce the AFL public to the NO.1 draft pick Jack Watts. The Pies have another Jack up the other end who is a real straight shooter and if Dane Swan can rack up another 40 possession game it might be enough to give the Demons another courageous loss. We hope.
 
Collingwood by 21


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