Over the past few years, many great players have been lost to the game through retirement – good things can’t last forever – despite that, today we see the competition entering into a new exciting phase at the dawn of a new decade with some of the most exhilarating potential the game has seen, just about ready to explode and carry our game to unbelievable levels of flair, excitement and popularity. (more…)

For many football fans, the two preliminary finals are the greatest games of the year. It is when it is all to play for. Once you get to the Grand Final, the hype and hoopla takes over. Everyone wants to (more…)

The 2009 AFL home and away season has now come to an end. Off the bat the big success story has been St Kilda while the huge disappointment has been Richmond. St Kilda has finished the season on top of the AFL ladder and looms as the big favourite to capture their first flag since their one and only came in 1966. Geelong are the most likely opponent to meet them in the AFL Grand Final. The Cats have had a great season – not as spectacular as reason years, but still good nevertheless with some fine AFL results.

The Magpies loom as the darkhorse to break up the party. They have been playing some great AFL football and are the form side of the competition. It is difficult to see the AFL premier coming from outside these three teams.

Hawthorn who overachieved in 2008 did it tough in 2009. They are the first Premier in 10 years not to make it in the finals the following year. The Hawks struggled with injuries and should be back bigger and better in 2010.

2009 was the fifth year of Terry Wallace’s grand five year plan but in the end it was all for naught. The Tigers were abysmal and their lack of success would be a concern at Punt Road. They last made the finals in 2001 and this drought doesn’t look like breaking. It’s hard to believe they were the better than the Demons.

One team who just broke their finals drought is Carlton. They were last in the finals in 2001 and face a tricky assignment up at the Gabba in a sudden death final. The Blues won at the Gabba earlier in the year so they know how to win up there. AFL betting has the Lions as a slight favorite.

Essendon should have more problems in Adelaide. Beset by injuries and suspensions, the Crows should run wild over the Bombers. Matthew Lloyd accepted his four week suspension and they travel to Adelaide without Patrick Ryder. This leaves the Bombers very light on and travelling isn’t their strong suit.

Again the Bulldogs are there or thereabouts but their biggest issue has always been the ability to win the big finals. They are also looking for just their second AFL Premiership and if they are to do so they will have to defeat Geelong and at least one of or both of St Kilda and Collingwood. Should be an intriguing AFL Finals campaign. My tips for the weekend are: St Kilda, Geelong, Brisbane and Adelaide.

David Wiseman writes about AFL and Horseracing. This year he hopes to correctly predict the winner of the Melbourne Cup.

5 out of 5 last week heading down the home stretch but then my nag hit the skids and that was all she wrote. Normally Sunday has been a good tipping day for me but the Docks failed to fire a shot against (more…)

It has taken 20 weeks but St Kilda has had its first defeat of the 2009 season. The Bombers threw everything at them but the Saints rebounded from 43 points down to mount a stern comeback. As it was Nick Riewoldt had a kick after the siren to win the game but it went wide.

The Saints sit on top of the AFL ladder and will end the season in first place. Geelong sit under them in second spot and these two are the favorites to be contesting the AFL Grand Final.

Below these two is where it starts to get interesting. Collingwood and the Bulldogs are on the next line of AFL betting and should make up the rest of the top four but the Brisbane Lions and even Carlton might get there if results go its way.

After some fine AFL results, Carlton is going to be playing in the finals for the first time since 2001. Carlton coach Brett Ratten can be very proud of the way his side has come together under his guidance.

It looks to be a real fight for the eighth and final position. Any of Hawthorn, Sydney, Port Adelaide and Essendon could potentially end up with it. As the incumbent, Essendon is the most likely to ultimately claim it but should it lose this week in Fremantle than anything is possible come Round 22.

After North Melbourne announced that Brad Scott would be its new coach in 2010, that only leaves Richmond as coachless. The Tigers have been ok since Jade Rawlings replaced Terry Wallace but in recent weeks they have been hopeless. Against the Swans and Collingwood they seemed to be totally disinterested in winning the match. The culture seems to be an issue at Punt Road and like all of his predecessors, the new coach may find that its something you just can’t change.

The culture at Sydney should be strong and Paul Roos will be handing over the reins of a united team to John Longmire. Roos has already announced that 2010 will be his last year. This year looked to be a waste for the Swans but close losses to St Kilda and Geelong show the spirit of 2005 and 2006 is still there. They might be a lot closer to being one of the strong sides of the competition than their earlier form may have suggested. They don’t have the distraction of Barry Hall to deal with anymore and have a number of talented young kids coming through.

David Wiseman writes about AFL and Horseracing. This year he hopes to correctly predict the winner of the Caulfield Guineas.

Some truly excellent football last round with the match of the season living up to all the hype with big Gardy proving the difference in the end. There seems to be more than the usual run of injuries happening this (more…)