The football season starts for the second time with the break coming at a handy time for clubs such as the injury ravaged Saints but other clubs such as Freo would probably have preferred to have a kick last week. My dodgy tipping form returned with a vengeance last week with Richmond somehow managing to lose that game against those darned Saints. There’s some very close matches on this week so not a bad week to get 6, 5 might even be the par score for the round.
St Kilda vs. Collingwood Telstra Dome
Saint
Kilda have been bitten by the injury bug and this week face a decidedly
suspect Collingwood side in one of the toughest matches to tip all
season. Plenty of tipsters will be flipping the coin for this one but
with the big lug Rocca coming back for the Pies I can see them having
the firepower to overcome the Alpacaless Saints. As has been written
many times this week, this is the chance for Justin Koschitzke to put
his hand up for the Saints. He needs to as G Train has been ordinary. I
reckon this is another of those ‘options’ game and for me Collingwood
has more, but the Saints will fight this one right out. HUGE match for
both.
Collingwood by 5 points.
Hawthorn vs. Port Aurora Stadium
This
is another very tough game to pick. The Power have won eight out of
their last nine matches against the Hawks and has beaten them twice in
Tasmania. Their midfield array of powerful runners matches up well with
Hawthorn’s engine room who will be without Luke Hodge who is out with a
Hamstring injury. However, the Power travel to the Isle without gun
utility Chad Cornes but unlike the Essendon match, this time he will be
missed. The Hawks have the harder players all over the park for mine
but the Power have an edge in Ruck. The problem remains, who covers
Buddy, Roughead, Williams and Junior Boy?? The Hawks to win out after a
big scare from the Power.
Hawthorn by 16 points.
Richmond vs. Geelong MCG
The
Tigers will be rated a good show against the reigning premiers in this
match by many pundits but I believe that the Tigers’ penchant for
turning over the pill will play the Cats back into form here. Mark
Blake faces a tough in form opponent in Troy Simmonds but Richo apart,
the Cats appear to have the answers. Nathan Foley should be accompanied
by the Ling Thing and you’d expect the experienced Cat to negate his
influence. That Richo match up will be an interesting one and might
prove to be a preview of what Bomber might try on Buddy a couple of
months down the track. The Tigers will continue to demonstrate their
improvement but will lose another match to the Cats, only this time
don’t expect a massacre.
Geelong by 33 points.
Carlton vs. Brisbane Telstra Dome
Both
teams have a lot to play for this week with a posisble top eight spot
up for grabs for the winner. The Blues will fancy their chances at home
against the Lions who are once again on the road as they were before
the break. However I believe the break has come at a good time for the
Lions and with Simon Black, Jonathon Brown and Johnstone all returning
to the side. What worries me from a Blue point of view is the potential
match up of Jamison on Daniel Bradshaw. While you would expect Waite to
do well on Brown, you can really picture Bradshaw kicking a few on his
less experienced opponent here. I’m tipping Black, Power, Notting and
Johnstone to keep up with the Blue midfield while the Carlton defence
tries in vain to stop the Bradshaw show.
Brisbane by 19 points.
North Melbourne vs. West Coast Carrara
West
Coast look much stronger on paper at least for their match at the Gold
Coast with the Roos. With Priddis adding some extra midfield grunt and
with Staker and Seaby providing a bit of size the West Coast will put a
decent show here against a North side that has been inconsistent this
year. However, I still reckon that the Coast might be one or two weeks
away from their best, especially with the continued absence of Daniel
Kerr. The Roos as always will look to Harvey, Simpson and Harris to
pump the ball into a Eagles defensive zone which has been under the
pump all year. Corey Jones and Shannon Grant are both well overdue for
a good game and with Glass going to Thompson it would not surprise if
this eventuated. West Coast to improve slightly, but to come up short
against a desperate Roo outfit.
North Melbourne by 25 points.
Adelaide vs. Melbourne AAMI Stadium
The
Demons will come back to earth with a thud when they take on the Crows
in Adelaide this weekend. The Blackbirds will prove to be a much
tougher nut to crack than the lackluster Dockers last week and the
Dees will have to do all this at a venue where they haven’t won at
since 2001. During the early part of the game I can see the Demons
doing well but eventually the class of the Crows will win out. I don’t
think you’ll see young Austin Wonaemirri given quite as much room as he
was by the Dockers. The Crows professional defence will snuff out
Melbourne’s goals as they streak away to a comfortable home victory.
Adelaide by 52 points.
Sydney vs. Essendon ANZ Stadium
In
recent weeks opposition sides have been running up Cricket scores
against the Bombers but are the Swans capable of doing this without
spearhead Barry Hall? The forward collection of O’Loughlin, Playfair,
O’Keefe and Barlow will never get a better chance to prove it can
function without Hall than it will in this match. The Bombers are also
fortunate that this match is played at ANZ, rather than the Basketball
court. At the SCG this would have been a lay down misere for Sydney but
I believe that this venue gives the Bombers a chance. The return of
Dustin Fletcher can stabilize the backline but this has been offset to
some degree by the suspension of McPhee (who has been tried up forward
a bit this year anyway). However, I can’t tip the Dons after watching
them in recent weeks and Sydney are too solid a side to let this one
slip, but they will be packing their dacks at some stage of the day.
Sydney by 14 points
Fremantle vs. Western Bulldogs Subiaco
Can
you hear the drums Fernando? They are beating loudly for Fremantle this
week for some strange reason….to beat a side that hasn’t lost in
seven matches. If you are tempted by the Anchor tip, be aware that
Anchors are designed to sink you..and that is exactly what will happen
if you plump for the Docks against the Dogs this week. The Dogs are too
strong in midfield and have the best performed forward line in the
league. Against the Hawks a few weeks ago the Dockers were unable to
contain the multiple forward options and this will be the case yet
again this week. Crowley to Cooney seems to be on this week so expect
some damage from Cross and Griffen and Akermanis to amuse the crowd at
some stage. Fremantle is having its heart questioned this week so
expect a less than cordial welcome from the hosts. It will be on for
young and old early but already against better opposition this season
the Dogs have shown they can win interstate coming off a slow start.
Western Bulldogs by 26 points.
OK,
there’s some pretty conservative tipping there and I’ve got splinters
up my clacker from sitting on the fence. This week is dead set rude..I
dont’ know if that’s eight or three winners. Good luck, yer gonna need
it.
regards,
REB
