SA Footy

Sorry REB, going to be busy this arvo....

Collingwood- But with little confidence here, could be an upset...looking at the stats since the mid season break Collingwood were averaging 54 Inside 50's, since the break they have averaged 47, a significant difference, they could well be fading away

Hawks- Just a gut feel here that Hawks will get the job done, Brisbane travelling for the 2nd time in 3 weeks and a real tough physical game last week and die for a let down, Hawks do have some size down back to deal with Brown

Port- Should win but maybe not by as much as people think

Bullies- Bullies playing there 6 traight game on the DOOM, maybe they are getting used to the pain? they should win but Ill be betting against them at the line

Sydney- The sleeping giant is awakening at the right time of the year, Saints coming off 4 DOOM games and never played at the venue before, Sydney for me

Roos- Heres the upset of the round, Roos have had a well earned 8 day break, soemthing they havent had of late and have won their last 5 at the TD by an average of 30 points. WCE have only won 5 of their last 12 games. lose a couple of key players, are 8-14 at the TD since 2000 and are strong favourites here? Roos again have near full squad to choose from, Ill be on them

Geelong- Could be a close one with the weather, esp considering Adelaide have not lost by more than 17 points this year on the road and that was to Melbourne

Freo- Finally woken up and could finish off Essendon here, expect them too...

REB, you are spot on this week!

Round 19 will see Benchwarmer topping the tipping ton, unless he can only manage 1 correct selection ... which is highly unlikely given the form of the Blues, Tigers and Demons.

Collingwood b Richmond by 48
Port b Carlton by 35
Sydney b St Kilda by 39
Nth Melb b West Coast by 8
Hawthorn b Brisbane by 15
Footscray b Melbourne by 41
Fremantle b Essendon by 11
Geelong b Adelaide by 22

My Catters are safe but I can enjoy watching the other fight it out for the scraps. Somehow there are thirteen teams still in the hunt for the finals but you wouldn’t really be liking Essendon or Freo at this stage. One of those two will be definitely gone by rounds end. My tally for the year is only 86 so get the salt out if yer gonna follow these…

Collingwood have yet another tough assignment (ho ho) against the almost winless Tigers in the Friday night game. Good old TV showing us Richmond yet again on top of the Essendonathon last year. Great choice of matches for the viewing public. End of rant. The Pies will be all over Richmond, I don’t subscribe to the theory that the Tigers will make a decent contest out of this. They were shocking against the Catters last week who were three short, played fairly ordinarily and still won by 70 points. Richmond aren’t getting enough out of the senior players and Collingwood will win by 42 points.

Brisbane will continue on its winning way against the Hawks who won’t be able to stop rampaging Jonathon Brown at the MCG. I reckon they might go one out with Croad, then maybe Brown but you’ve got to triple team this Gorilla at the moment but unlike earlier in the season, the Lions are playing more intelligently and finding other scoring options should the Lion colossus be restricted. Some are building this one up as Brown v Buddy and it is Brown who at the moment is playing the more consistent football. The Hawks were flattered by the scoreboard last week…that won’t happen on Saturday. Brisbane by 29 points.

Port copped a rude awakening from its bitter rival last week and got well and truly shown up in the ruck as the gallant Brendon Lade run out of puff in the last quarter. For this match De Luca has been brought in to provide some assistance to the All Australian ruckman against a team that isn’t all that strong in ruck, despite the best efforts of former Power and Saint Cain Ackland. The Blues will give a good account of themselves here and did beat the Power earlier in the year but Port will gain their revenge at home, winning by 22 points.

Western Bulldogs will continue to arise ‘from the dead’ by following up last week’s draw with a win over Melbourne. There is a new bar that the Demons players go to called the Melbourne bar. It sells Beer only as there is no spirit. I wouldn’t be backing Melbourne with your money here even though the Demons’ record against the Bulldogs is fairly good. Melbourne are shot and even though the Bullies will probably miss the eight, it will take a better side than Melbourne to put them out. Bulldogs by 15 points.

Sydney have had many football observers falling over themselves to rate them on the back of solid wins over non contenders but this week they face a side that has often had the wood over them in the form of St Kilda. The Saints however, are not familiar with Telstra Stadium so they will be entering new territory here. Even though there are some doubts about the fitness of Kennelly and Hall, St Kilda’s tendency to fall away late in matches is proving to be significant obstacle for Ross Lyon’s men. I reckon the Swans know how will win out in what will be a very tight match. Sydney by ten points.

West Coast will continue its dominance over the Kangaroos by knocking the Rooboys off at the Dome. The Roos finally looked flat up at the Gabba and West Coast will hit back hard after being smacked by its little brother in front of the faithful at Putriaco last week. West Coast have not lost to the Roos in Melbourne since Wayne Carey was playing so even though 5 out of the last 12 isn’t a great return I reckon that the Eagles can steady the ship in this match and begin their challenge to retain their title. West Coast by 18 points.

Geelong will make it 14 on the trot in a match which might emulate the earlier clash with Adelaide at AAMI Stadium this year. Adelaide have again been cruelled by injury but will welcome back Truck Rutten and Nathan Bock Bock Bock but the Cats have included Brad Ottens, Corey Enright and Paul Chapman. What will most likely prove decisive is the omission of lead ruckman Ben Hudson for disciplinary reasons leaving the green pair of Maric and Griffin to battle it out possibly against King, Ottens and Blake. Can’t beat Fremantle, can’t beat Essendon, won’t beat Geelong. Cats by 31 points.

Fremantle will make another big statement. that is if the ‘good’ Fremantle bother to show up this week. Harvey has his work cut out trying to unlock the minds of this group but once they are switched on they can produce hard running football. I reckon the Dockers will motivate themselves just as they did last week due to the coaching situation at both clubs. Harvey would have formed a real bond with this group in the short time they’ve been together and the group will be out to show Sheedy that Freo is a closed shop and Harves aint’ going anywhere! There’s also another factor…Essendon are rubbish. Fremantle by 47 points.

Regards,

REB

Looks like my tips have mirrored yours this week REB!

Although, I am not too certain about the Haw v Bris game and Dutchy has made a good point regarding Hawthorn's ablility to counteract Brown. My tip came down to the fact that Brown will get the ball and have shots on goal no matter how good his defender is.
The key to stopping Brown is clogging up his supply and I don't think Hawthorn have the ability to do that. You only have to look at the quality of supply last week when Brown kicked 6.6 - if not for his errant kicking it could have easily been 8-10 goals for him.

BTW did anyone watch the Footy Show last night? Browny is one funny man! He even had the nerve to bounce Ricky Ponting in the little net session they had out the back!

blink wrote: He even had the nerve to bounce Ricky Ponting in the little net session they had out the back!

Of course he did. He'd have a slight advantage over Punter once Ricky came out of the nets LOL.

regards,

REB

REB...With you al the way ! You are right ESSENDON are rubbish and that's being polite !!

sjab wrote:REB...With you al the way ! You are right ESSENDON are rubbish and that's being polite !!

Even Carlton supporters are calling us rubbish now? We are still 5 games ahead of you and a (very unrealistic) shot at the 8. Thanks for your politeness.

Hawks/Lions-

I've gone for the Lions, not too confident though.

Collingwood (20)
Brisbane
Port
Bulldogs
Sydney
WCE
Geelong
Fremantle

Rik E Boy wrote:

blink wrote: He even had the nerve to bounce Ricky Ponting in the little net session they had out the back!

Of course he did. He'd have a slight advantage over Punter once Ricky came out of the nets LOL.

regards,

REB

True, but show the captain of Australia and probably the world's current best batsman some respect. You wouldn't see Punter taking a hanger over or laying a bone-crunching tackle on Browny! Entertaining stuff none the less. Browny really had him jumping!

Sorry blinky but Browny and Punter are just sportsmen after all. I reserve my respect for my Father.

Cheers,

REB

Spot on REB, and Browny had the BALLS to bounce Punter but I don't think Punter would have 'em to tackle Browny !!

Rik E Boy wrote:Sorry blinky but Browny and Punter are just sportsmen after all. I reserve my respect for my Father.

Cheers,

REB

Bad choice of words there REB on my behalf. I meant Browny should show some Punter respect!

Doesn't matter anyway - seems I am fighting a losing battle.

Yeh I thought it wasn't handled all that well. Punter said a few times he couldn't see the ball, and yet he kept firing them in.

But after all it was just a bit of fun, I'm sure Punter wasn't all that concerned.

Collingwood
Hawthorn
Port Adelaide
Western Bulldogs
Sydney
West Coast
Geelong
Fremantle

Coll
Haw
PA
WB
Syd
WC
Geel
Freo

So far am on 93 for the season and second in my comp, one off the lead.

NFC wrote:Yeh I thought it wasn't handled all that well. Punter said a few times he couldn't see the ball, and yet he kept firing them in.

But after all it was just a bit of fun, I'm sure Punter wasn't all that concerned.

Ah, so that's what blinky was getting at. Bit rude if he can't see the pill and the big lug is pounding them in.

Play on!

regards,

REB

Right, on 96 so far in the AFL.com.au tipping comp so here goes ....

Collingwood
Hawthorn
Port Adelaide
Bulldogs
Sydney
West Coast (could go either way here)
Geelong (too strong, too talented for us)
Fremantle

Going all the favs this week;

Coll
PA
WB
Syd
Haw
Gee
Freo
Wce

Even Carlton supporters are calling us rubbish now? We are still 5 games ahead of you and a (very unrealistic) shot at the 8. Thanks for your politeness.

You're welcome !

Collingwood
Port
Hawks
Sydney
Bulldogs
Kangaroos
Geelong
Freo