[AFL-Preview] Round 13

AFL PREVIEW ROUND 13
Last Week 7 from 8 = 75 / 96 =78.1%
 
I understand Ben Cousins is ever grateful to Wallace and Laidley for falling on their swords and taking the heat off him over the past few weeks. The coaching merry-go-round is much more fascinating than the player draft and the resignation of older players during which the shedding of tears is cause for a little emotional discomfort. The names of great coaches are bandied about like famous movie stars at a Hollywood extravaganza only the coaches' names have far more meaning to us AFL fans. How good is Buckley? He would have to be of the same ilk as Voss I guess but I am very doubtful that he would take the position on offer (rumoured) at North Melbourne. Truth be known even I would baulk at that one – if offered. And let's not muck about here. If we are looking at coaching vacancies don't forget Bailey's job at Melbourne isn't a position of long tenure either. How about Buckley to Collingwood, Malthouse to Richmond or Melbourne, keep Crocker at North, or look at Chocko from Port Adelaide going to North Melbourne because he will be free as well next season. The permutations are almost endless and there are a few coaches that haven't hit the radar yet. Will Guy McKenna be a consideration at Richmond or North Melbourne. I think yes. Wallace? Well he's destined for 3AW or Foxtel or channel 7 or the lot. Teams that have young players who haven't developed to their potential need a coach that can motivate and mentor them through those first 2 seasons. Work out who you think is the best at that amongst those mentioned.
Well we are more than half way through the season and I have no hesitation in telling you all that I am leading 2 competitions and coming 2nd in another using my previews. Nyah! Nyah! Tipsters who have made slight, very slight, alterations to some of my tips will be even further ahead in their respective comps. As much as I would like to put this down to brilliant weekly deductions I am more inclined to think that the effort of 6 AFL teams is probably more likely the reason. If you tipped Geelong and St Kilda every week you will have scored 24 points. If you didn't ever tip Melbourne you can add another 11 points. Refuse to tip Richmond, Fremantle and the Eagles every week and there's another 27 points. There's a total of 62 points without trying so if you believed the early season predictions of the experts who nominated both Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs to be right up there you could have polled another 15 points. With a total now of 77 points you are almost untouchable at the top of your tipping ladder. The mathematical geniuses amongst you will be quickly pointing out that these teams played each other at some stage so the 77 is not quite correct but I really couldn't be bothered going into it that deeply when I was on a roll!!
Stick to the above system for this week and you will see very little hesitation and a great deal of speed in making your selections.
To the reader two weeks ago who pointed out rather correctly that the weather in Tasmania is as cold, possibly even warmer than Melbourne, I was writing the preview from Rockhampton, a place in north Queensland where the winter weather is equivalent to a heat wave in Tassie. I am back in Kalgoorlie where the weather of late has ice on car windscreens and a wind chill factor of -2 during the day. Please invite me to Tasmania! Good luck.
 
Essendon V Carlton MCG Friday Night
 
Last time these teams met I believe Essendon caused the upset of the round and burst the Blues bubble in no uncertain terms. The game is at the MCG and is a sell out and I for one will be staying up to watch. It should be a great game of footy and I am wishing for a draw. It was pretty close last time. The Bombers are playing some exciting footy and the exuberance of youth is taking them to ladder heights most undeserving. They were expected to beat the Demons last week and did. They were expected to lose the previous two games and they did. They are expected to lose this game against Carlton and they will.
 
Carlton by 13
 
Collingwood V Fremantle at MCG Saturday
 
Oh the joy of seeing the mighty Pies sitting fourth on the ladder is wonderful. The additional joy of seeing them play the Dockers this week to consolidate that position is joy twofold.
 
Collingwood by 33
 
 
Adelaide V Sydney AAMI Saturday
 
Beware the wounded Swan they have been saying for the past couple of years. Barry is playing his 250^th a feat thought impossible when you look at the number of games he has been rubbed out for. Should be playing his 300^th I guess. Edwards, McLeod, O'Loughlin and Big Bad Barry have about 1200 games between them. Speaking of stats it appears the Crows are number one in the AFL for kicking accuracy or conversions inside their forward 50 or being able to park their cars in the AAMI car park in no more than two movements. Stats – love 'em. The damning stat for the Swans is that they haven't beaten Adelaide at AAMi for 129 years so their chances of trying to break a rather impressive winning streak that the Crows are currently enjoying are slim. My tip is that I don't think they can do it but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Swans take it right up to the Crows as they did with the Pies last week. However, when you are on top of the tipping ladder safety first I say.
 
Adelaide by 13
 
 
West Coast V Hawthorn  Subiaco Saturday Night
 
I don't want to give up my silly tips just yet and I have a feeling that the Eagles may cause an upset here. However, the Hawks have been the subject of a few 'upsets' this season so another one this week won't go down so much as an upset bur simply a judgement of their form which has been lamentable. The Hawks will not be playing in the grand final this year and will also be struggling to win this game at Subiaco against West Coast. The weather forecast is for a bleak day, rain and wind. West Coast might want to celebrate the fact that their coach will be with them for another 3 years or so, then again, maybe not. While Whoosha has taken the Eagles to two grand finals and a premiership his win loss ratio is only at 55% and the Eagles in the past two season have not been exciting their fans. This might cost me a tipping point but then again it might be a flash of genius.
 
West Coast by 23
 
Brisbane V Melbourne Gabba Saturday Night
 
The Lions continue on their roll and there is nothing in what I have seen of the Demons that will make me think that they can win their second game of the season. Nothing!
 
Brisbane by 88
 
Geelong V Port Adelaide Skilled Stadium Sunday
 
Port Adelaide was beaten by 93 points last week in Darwin by the Bulldogs. What, apart from a frontal lobotomy, would make me think that the Power will even come close to the Cats playing them on their own kitty litter tray? Nothing!
 
Geelong by 77
 
North Melbourne V Western Bulldogs MCG Sunday
 
North Melbourne has a new coach and you know what they say? Crocker will have to somehow get his players to overcome a disability to kick a reasonable score. Only 4 goals last week against Adelaide in appalling conditions but still. The Bullies, since that close loss to Geelong, have taken all before them and are showing us that they are possibly genuine contenders for the grand final if not the flag. North cannot win this game. Even Laidley thought so hence his departure.
 
Western Bulldogs by 51
 
St Kilda V Richmond Sunday
 
The top teams Geelong and St Kilda have been showing stuttering form as they try to continue their amazing winning streaks and hopefully they will continue winning this week until the showdown next week. The round 14 game will have a wonderful symmetry to it if both Geelong and St Kilda go into it undefeated. Anyway, to this game. The Saints would not want to let down their guard too much like they did against North a couple of games ago because they might find it a bit harder to come back against the Tigers. The Saints have far too much power up forward and they have the stingiest backline in the competition. All too much for the Tigers I reckon, with or without Ben.
 
St Kilda by 43

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