AFL PREVIEW ROUND 22
Last Week 6 from 8 = 123 / 168 =73.2%
Some inspired tipping last week saw me reposition myself on top of the tipping ladder. Happy with 6 but should have gone with that gut feeling on the Western Bulldogs for the 7. Only the insane picked North Melbourne to beat the Saints and no doubt those same tipsters picked Richmond, Essendon and Port Adelaide.
So dear tipsters, here we are, the end of another fascinating AFL season that will see some changes in ladder positions in the final 8 as results unfold. There is no need for me to go into possible scenarios depending upon who wins and who loses as that sort of trivia is covered by the newspapers and computerized ladders on web sites will give you every possibility from every combination of results. No, what we intend to do here is reward the tipsters that have stayed true to the preview and unlock an 8 right that will wipe away all opposition and give you that tipping win so you become the talk of the office. 15 minutes of fame – that’s it!
Just to titivate us the AFL has worked it out that there will be some close games amongst the 8 played over the weekend and picking winners will not be easy. Tipsters leading your comp don’t panic and don’t do anything stupid.
Season Review: Tipping was made fairly easy for us all with St Kilda and Geelong going through most of the season undefeated, well, up to round 14 anyway. Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs have both been consistent performers as well while at the other end of the ladder the Demons, Tigers, Dockers and North lost more often than not helping our tipping decision making week in week out. One would hope that the four stand out teams of the competition play off in the last 2 weeks of the finals and it’s just Adelaide and at times Carlton that can pull extraordinary games out of the hat against better opposition that might upset applecarts. Although talk at the moment is that Collingwood and St Kilda will play off in the grand final, a great vision, you would have to think that it is more than likely to be St Kilda and Geelong. Saints for premiers is not a bad result.
Every year we have retirements and 2009 was no exception with some players calling it quits permanently and a few others opting to see whether they will be picked up by a team for the 2010 season. Good luck to them all. Some will disappear from our sports news forever while some will appear as new faces in commentary teams or On The Couch or employed as assistant coaches for the next season.
We have one more week of headlines in the west with Ben Cousins as he comes “home” to play against his old team the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco tomorrow night. A better headline would be Polak’s return to the game after being hit by a tram. (I remember catching trams in Melbourne back in the 60’s. They were always late so people never got hit by them!!) I hope his comeback is better than that of John Greening who was hit by a tram driven by Cowboy Neale, also in the 60’s, and that was a late hit as well.
It’s been a big year for coaching changes as we see Hardwicke, Scott, Buckley and MacDonald move into spaces occupied by Wallace, Laidley, Malthouse and Roos, the latter two opting for an ease out rather than a replacement.
Previews: Well tipsters, we had success with the tipping this year. If you ignored the crank tips I occasionally gave you then you would be about 5 points the better and probably in an unbeatable position. It was nice to have good results after last year. Trust you all enjoyed the previews again. If your team is not in the finals this year then there is always next year….um…. unless of course if you follow the Tigers, North, the Dockers, the Eagles and Port Adelaide, then you might have to wait a few extra years.
Good luck.
West Coast V Richmond at Subiaco Friday Night
The game’s at Subiaco, the atmosphere’s a buzz
Polak’s coming back to Perth along with Benny Cuz,
It’s been a woeful season for both these football teams
But while Whoosha hung on by his nails, it’s broken Terry’s dreams.
So he’s back to commentating on the channel of his choice
With expert comments, quarter wraps, in his gravelly voice.
Poor skills by the Tigers, nor a forward can they boast
And it won’t be champagne football as they play against West Coast!
But the fans will flock in numbers, their voices raised I betcha,
If not to praise the Eagles skills then to say goodbye to Fletcher.
Home ground team advantage, a coin toss, watch it spin
It’s come down heads, a mighty cheer, a bloody Eagles win!!
West Coast by 27
Geelong V Fremantle at Skilled Stadium Saturday
Yes the Cats are playing badly, lost 2 of last 5 games
And surprisingly the Dockers have done the bloody same!
But the game is being played on Geelong’s own kitty litter
And Freo hasn’t had as big a rest about which they are bitter.
Hard to see the Dockers get up and win this one
So safest bet dear tipsters? Geelong’s day in the sun!
Geelong by 36
Hawthorn V Essendon at MCG Saturday
Both teams vying for the 8, a cracker football game
Hawthorn, last year’s premiers, a season full of shame
The Bombers are the big surprise who thought they’d make the 8?
The Hawks just need to win to shut the finals gate.
Last week they played Richmond, left Cuz all dazed and bloody
It might have been the fairest bump but poor old Hawks - no Buddy
“No Buddy Franklin,” experts say, “the game’s just not the same!”
But with him or without him the Hawks will win the game.
Hawthorn by 11
Carlton V Adelaide Telstra Dome Saturday Night
Select the winner in this game, which team you want to tick
Both are showing form of late, so it’s bloody hard to pick.
Do the Blues have home advantage, will the roof be open or closed
Which team wants the win lots more, that’s the question to be posed.
If the Crows can hold Fevola, keep Judd and Murphy back
They might just have a chance with more options in attack.
The Porpoise out, the Birdman in, better ball dispersal,
Let’s face it folks for these two teams it’s a finals dress rehearsal!
The Crows will need to overcome Carlton’s forward flood
And Blues supporters in the stands all baying for their blood!
Both teams last week won their games by 10 goals easing in,
This week will be harder but I tip the Crows to win!
Adelaide by 23
Port Adelaide V North Melbourne AAMI Saturday Night
The Power started like a train last week, 10 goals in the quarter
Looked like they were leading Brisbane like weak lambs to the slaughter
It’s history now, a major rout, The Lions won the game
Port Adelaide was gutted, stunned and full of shame.
This week they play North Melbourne and some players have to prove
That they are good enough to stay, not be dumped or be removed.
And what about the poor North coach, beat the Saints last week did Crocker
Dumped for Scott, lost the job, the decision was a shocker!
In a ‘who cares’ game, the players finish with a rub down and a shower
Could be a draw but who knows why, I’m gonna pick the Power.
Port Adelaide by 28
Sydney V Brisbane Lions at SCG Sunday
Seems Brisbane finish in the 8, win or lose the game
And with Swans not playing finals, this year just ain’t the same
Roos has pulled the pin with a new coach waiting in the wings
O’Loughlin gone and Big Bad Barry moving onto other things.
Michael Voss didn’t take the bait of West Coast Eagles poaching
He’s pulled a bloody miracle in his first year doing coaching!
The Swans have lost some close games over those they’ll ruminate
Just one kick in about 3 games kept them from the 8.
Will they go out with a whimper? Beat their chest and cryin’?
Or will they give it all they’ve got and beat the Brisbane Lions?
Sydney by 19
Melbourne V St Kilda at MCG Sunday
Christmas comes but once a year, a festivity so quaint
But St Kilda fans will get it twice when the Demons play the Saints.
We know the Saints are in a trough lost two games in a row
Giving their ‘Undefeated For The Season’ goal a rather fatal blow.
So while confidence amongst the team may seem a little low
The sight of Melbourne running out will surely make it grow.
The Demons haven’t got a chance and needn’t take a trick
A loss for them is really gold, well, at least a first draft pick!
So get their priorities in order, tank and play it lame
Tipsters, this is easy, St Kilda wins the game!!
St Kilda by 55
Collingwood V Western Bulldogs at Telstra Sunday
These teams are sitting 3 and 4, both playing really well
And to put them up against each other is a tipsters bloody hell!
The Pies can lose and finish 4th or win and finish 3rd
Ditto for the Bulldogs, isn’t this absurd?
Collingwood are due a loss, but a small one would be good
But I’d rather see them score a win. Will I pick them? Yes I should.
Collingwood 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