REB's Rubbish: Round Two

[Rik E Boy]

*now with 20 percent extra guesswork!*

So what chance do we have o brothers of picking eight winners with the round to kick off tomorrow night and to conclude at some point in the not too distant future? At least I'll have a decent excuse if my tipping goes belly up for the second week in a row.

Saint Kilda should make it two from two after it's Thursday night trip up to the Gabba. Both teams opened up the season with a win but for mine it was the Saints who looked the better side. Riewoldt will most likely miss for the Saints again but Kosi looked good last week and his return to form will bolster St Kilda in the absence of Saint Nick. Brown looms large again for the Lions but you'd expect him to draw flies like a Butcher's picnic tomorrow night. Steven 'Fruit Fly' Baker should stick to Black like glue and unlike the old days there is precious little back up troops to take up the slack should the gun players become less effective. St Kilda by 28 points.

Sydney will record a comfortable victory against the Tigers at the MCG this weekend. Richmond will once again go in without Simmonds, Knobel and Hall and it is difficult to imagine how the Tigers will win the ball out of the centre against Evertitt, Jolly and the Swan midfield. Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes copped a bake this week and will come out firing..expect him to be a winner in your dream teams this week. I reckon this could get ugly...Caroline Wilson ugly. Swans by 75 points.

West Coast should comfortably account for the plucky Pies over in the West. The Pies are a gutsy unit as shown last week but with Buckley and Didak still unlikely to suit up they look well short in the class department, even if *ahem* Big Cox misses again. The Pies quite often serve it up to the Eagles but I reckon the West Coast will salute here by 30 points.

Geelong will open it's account against the resurgent Carlton Blues this weekend. Plenty are on the Blues to continue their pre-season roll but the pressure is on at Catland and Geelong are primed to pounce. Carlton are a much improved unit but don't appear to have a small forward such as Brad Johnson who could hurt the Cats and Carlton won't get as much run out of the back half as the manic Bulldogs last week. Mark Blake will perform much better this week against the mediocre Blues ruck set up. Geelong will get home by 28 points.

Port Adelaide will this week get one back against it's bogey side the Kangaroos at AAMI Stadium. It is very tempting though to predict a Kangaroo victory here. I think Port's defence is a bit of a worry as is the Shinboner forward line and McIntosh and Hale can keep up with Lade and Brogan in ruck. Port has more class across the field (especially in midfield) but the Roos will come out snarling and will still have belief given the way they were denied last week and their previous record against this opponent. I reckon Port, but only just by 9 points.

Fremantle will end a week of bouyancy enjoyed by the Essendon Bombers. David Hille will go from chocolates to boiled lollies this week as he attempts to curb the influence of Lurch Sandilands. Pavlich looms as a major obstacle for the Bombers defence and you can pencil in a huge match from Peter Bell this week as the Docker midfield gets right on top. Fremantle by 21 points.

Western Bulldogs will add to Adelaide's early season woes with a comfortable victory over the Crows. By all reports the Crows looked lost going forward and struggled in the ruck..the very same thing could have been said about Geelong against the Bulldogs last week. If there isn't any run in the Crows legs then this one could get right away from them early as the Bullies have shown they can pile on quick goals. The Bulldogs will be barking again with a 35 point victory.

Hawthorn, aided by the probable return of Shane Crawford will sneak home against the Demons at the MCG in the tightest match of the round. The Hawks and Melbourne were both horrible last week so it will be a case of who can bounce back the quickest here. Both sides look wobbly in the back half of the field but Melbourne has the edge in ruck but I reckon Hawthorn's midfield is better. The loss of McLean and the contining absence of Byron Pickett robs the Demons of midfield toughness. The only hard nuts in the middle for Melbourne are Brent 'holding the ball' Maloney and Matthew 'Slow as Ling' Bate. Neither will get the ball out to pack skirters such as Yze, Johnston and Davey. I reckon the Dees will shoot out of the blocks but the Hawks will wear them down and Daniher will be freaking out in the box again as the Hawks salute by 4 points.

Can I get five winners this week? LOL.

regards,

REB

[Dutchy]

Geelong will open it's account against the resurgent Carlton Blues this weekend. Plenty are on the Blues to continue their pre-season roll but the pressure is on at Catland and Geelong are primed to pounce.

and what have they produced under pressure in the past? Carlton for me

[brod]

Dont know how I feel about my tips now, as they match yours for 8 of 8

[Rik E Boy]

Dont know how I feel about my tips now, as they match yours for 8 of 8

Sorry brod! Tough round to pick as some games are days away. I did get four last week which isn't great but was pretty much the average for the round.

regards,

REB

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

They may still be hurting after losing the 'Rat's Clacka' (Docklands Trophy) to Ports last week.
But the 'Western Wharfies' Fremantle can't travel!
So chalk up another victory for
THE MIGHTY DONS!!!!

[mighty_tiger_79]

Geelong will open it's account against the resurgent Carlton Blues this weekend. Plenty are on the Blues to continue their pre-season roll but the pressure is on at Catland and Geelong are primed to pounce.

and what have they produced under pressure in the past? Carlton for me

excuse me the 2006 NAB CUP at AAMI STADIUM

[Rik E Boy]

Geelong will open it's account against the resurgent Carlton Blues this weekend. Plenty are on the Blues to continue their pre-season roll but the pressure is on at Catland and Geelong are primed to pounce.

and what have they produced under pressure in the past? Carlton for me

excuse me the 2006 NAB CUP at AAMI STADIUM

oh dear!

regards,

REB

[sydney-dog]

Snaggletooth Tiger

prior to last week Essendon could not travel, they had lost 14 out of their past 15 games interstate

you might want to check freo's last years away record, it's pretty good

REB

last week I thought the Crows won the ruck, it was due to other reasons why they lost the game, looking at the dogs, their ruck combination isn't the strongest in the league, so winning the midfield and converting opportunities will be the key.

hate to say it but, heart says crows, head says Bullies

[Rik E Boy]

Judging by what's happening up at the Gabba I'd say the Crows are pretty good things as I have backed the Bulldogs. Ball isn't playing and Hudgton has gone down again and the back half looks as week as pi55. Lions up by over four goals at half time.

regards,

REB

[Thiele]

After only getting three last week thought i would go for some Roughies this week

Brisbane
Carlton
Sydnaey
West Coast
Port
Bulldogs- don't give the crows a chance this week goodwin won't play
Essendon
Melborune

[Rik E Boy]

I reckon I could have picked the Lions game if I selected them at half time Theile! No why didn't I think of that LOL.

regards,

REB

[sydney-dog]

I thought I was over the father son ruling on Gibbs

but watching Gibbs and Hawkins play tonight for there respective clubs, I realised, I am still peed off

must admit, Hawkins is very very impressive, great size and great hands

[Rik E Boy]

I thought I was over the father son ruling on Gibbs

but watching Gibbs and Hawkins play tonight for there respective clubs, I realised, I am still peed off

must admit, Hawkins is very very impressive, great size and great hands

All of a sudden it looks like we've got a few blokes that can kick a goal

Nathan Ablett
Cameron Mooney
Travis Varcoe
Tom Hawkins
Brad Ottens
Steve Johnson
Paul Chapman
Gary Ablett

While most Cat fans are prone to getting ahead of ourselves due to our extensive period in the wildnerness let me say this: Carlton are an absolute rabble and we will face much tougher tests over the next couple of games so consider this a brag on hold. A lot of the players listed above are very green so there could still be plenty of 'yo-yo' performances from the Cats.

Anyone who got on the Blues last week isn't aware of the recent history of clashes between the two clubs. At Telstra dome Carlton are yet to defeat the Cats with Geelong winning by an average of 67.4 points per clash over the last three.

More good news awaits..here is the list of players not playing in tonight's match

Steven King
Steve Johnson
David Johnson
James Kelly
Matty Stokes
Tom Harley
Nathan Djekerra
Sam Hunt

If our forward line continues to develop then it might not matter if King can't get back on the park but what a bonus if he can. As I've said, Carlton are woeful in ruck and were fortunate to strike an even weaker Richmond ruck division last week so it would be handy to have King back to battle Jeff White next week. Geelong's best 22 (whatever that is) is suddenly a potent looking combination.

As for father-son, our stocks would probably look a little thin without them as we always finish mid-table and didn't get to top up like bottom feeders St Kilda and Carlton just to name a few. Bring on the Demons.

regards,

REB

[Dutchy]

Anyone who got on the Blues last week isn't aware of the recent history of clashes between the two clubs. At Telstra dome Carlton are yet to defeat the Cats with Geelong winning by an average of 67.4 points per clash over the last three.

Information that would have been handy in the first post Mr Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve Johnson kicked 5.5 and 28 possies in the ressies today

[Rik E Boy]

Anyone who got on the Blues last week isn't aware of the recent history of clashes between the two clubs. At Telstra dome Carlton are yet to defeat the Cats with Geelong winning by an average of 67.4 points per clash over the last three.

Information that would have been handy in the first post Mr Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve Johnson kicked 5.5 and 28 possies in the ressies today

That average has gone up to 67.4 after tonight's game but the fact I tipped a 28 point indicated my level of confidence. I didn't see anything different about Carlton tonight than I have in about seven of our last eight meetings. I have a hunch they'll hit back and defeat the Bombers next week. I knew about Dog too, it's good that the club is holding him back..might just keep him off the Vodka Red Bulls! They give him wings.

regards,

REB