More rubbish last week with a measly five winners for the round past putting me right in the middle regions of my footy tipping comp with an underwhelming total of 39 winners for the year. Perhaps I should change my name to Reeky Boy. Only nine winners in the last two weeks OUCH. This week I'll do better.........he says.
Fremantle would want to account for an undermanned Saints unit at home this Friday night. After crying about the quality of Friday Night Football last week you'd think that on paper that the AWFUL had got this one right. However if St Kilda play like they did last week perhaps it will be Friday Night Dudball again. The Dockers have brought back Troy 'Dodgem Car' Cook to perhaps iron out the tender Lenny Hayes who has returned a mere four weeks after doing a collarbone. I reckon this week it will be the Saints who get collared in a close one as Fremantle salute by 9 points.
Adelaide are the safest bet of the round, despite the earnest postings of some Carlton fans online this week. The Blues have given up more tons than the West Indian bowling attack this season and in more bad news on the injury front, livewire forward Eddie Betts is set to miss six games which will make it that much tougher to keep up with Adelaide. The Blues will have a crack, we all know that but the Crows won't let this one slip. Adelaide by 45 points.
West Coast will show their class by being in front when the siren whispers out the fact that the game has ended. Hawthorn's form has been very good this season but I reckon the West Coast will be a little too hot for the Hawks to handle. The four man 'Buddy's Box' forward line will be studied by coach Worsfold who is one of the best in the business and to me the Eagles have more run and can cover the loss of Kerr with playes such as Braun, Fletcher, Rosa and Priddis. Unheralded players such as Hurn and Morton might also provide Clarkson with some hairy moments. They also have this other midfielder who is a bit handy as well. There is a lot to like about the Hawks here but I think that West Coast will win by a goal.
Brisbane will defend it's home turf this week against the Magpies. Collingwood, as it has been pointed out to me have the best road record of all the Victorian clubs but not at the Gabba they don't! The Pies have never defeated the Lions at this venue and this collection of Lions really needs to restore the Pride after a couple of ordinary efforts. Simon Black will be untouchable and I can't see a good match up for Johnno Brown. It's Brisbane for me here by 28 points.
Essendon have been the despair of many a tipster this season and this game could be another one of those matches when everyone gets on board the Bombers and they promptly fall over. Don't be fooled by Richmond's selection of Matthew Richmondson, he has a broken face and won't play. They haven't named Kent Kingsley as an emergency for nothing. Kingsley's career record doesn't make great reading but he has an excellent record against the Bombers with a haul of seven to his name on one occasion. For me the problem is in the Ruck. Pattison played his best ever game last week but couldn't combat Hudson and Griffen. I would expect Hillie to have a mountain of possessions and that the potent looking Don forward line will get plenty of the pill. Essendon by 27 points.
Sydney seemed to flick the switch last week and do enjoy playing in Canberra. Running back Tadgh Kennelly seemed to spark the Swannies against the Power last week and he'll be needed to negate the pace of the Dogs. Bad news for the Bulldogs, and what tips the tip Sydney's way for mine is the unavailability of Ryan Griffen and Jordon McMahon. Spider also looked the goods last week against the Power and I reckon that Sydney can win this game by 16 points in a high quality game.
Kangaroos will keep frustrated Dees fans waiting for one more week in a timely boost to the ski season as they rack up a sixth successive win. Plenty of pundits are all over the Demons this week but they were simply non-competitive against the Eagles last week. Returning players such as McLean and Robertson will probably struggle to run out the game against one of the fittest combinations in the league who have been well and truly let off the leash. Kangaroos will win this game by 30 points after an even first half.
Geelong will prove they are the real deal when they claim second spot after a hard fought win against Port Power on their own dunghill on Sunday in the twighlight zone. Geelong have similar strengths to Port all over the ground but have a crucial edge in form. The Port rucks, their gun forward and the mecurial Shaun Burgoyne were all well down last week and they need a lift in all of those areas to extend Geelong's dire record at AAMI Stadium. For me the key duel in this match will be Ottens/Blake vs. Lade/Brogan and I think Geelong can win this battle. I'd expect Scarlett to match up on the dangerous Ebert but the Power will struggle to match up on Steve Johnson who has provided a spark amongst the tall timber up forward for Geelong. Geelong will win this game by 15 points.
Sunday looks like a great day of football and the ladder is really starting to work itself out. There are real opportunities for Geelong and Hawthorn this week with perhaps Richmond the roughie that can sneak in on the back of a Kingsley bag but I'm staying away from the Tigers.
Happy tipping!
regards,
REB
