LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Users who haven't yet tipped:
First up this week we have the Fremantle Fucking Bastards Who Fuck My Tipping Up Every Week (I'm pushing for this to become their official name) playing Hawthorn at Subiaco in a game which became MASSIVE last week. Freo, who had previously looked like people with actual disabilities, have put together three fairly impressive wins on the trot, and Hawthorn, who are allegedly reigning premiers, had their much vaunted game plan ripped to shreds by the team that finished 12th last season. Both teams have negative records (4-3) and you'd have to say that if Hawthorn lose this it's going to be very tough for them to make the top four and defend their premiership. In fairness I think a major reason for Hawthorn's poor form this season has been the injuries that have decimated their already very frail backline and exposed their lack of depth. And Luke Hodge's lack of form, which is related to injury as well. Hopefully he doesn't have OP. With all that said, the Hawks aren't generally in the business of losing two on the trot, but you really can never tell with the Fucking Bastards.
The first Saturday game is the Dees up against the Bulldogs at the G. I'd like to say this will be a barnstormer in front of a full house but I would be lying to you. It'll be poorly attended and the game will probably be of a low standard. Like I said earlier you flat out can not pick Melbourne and I expect the hard running game of the Dogs to be too much for them in the wide expanses of the MCG. I mean, Melbourne have a red hot crack but they're really just not up to AFL standard in so many areas, and the Bulldogs looked awesome at times away at Adelaide. Although to be honest I think their high risk playing style means they either look awesome or very average.
The other Saturday afternoon game is the Geelong Cats (which seems to be the official name now, it's what they're referred to everywhere) playing North down at Kardinia Park (I will not refer to it as Skilled Stadium. Think of me as the ABC). All bias aside, you'd be foolish to not pick the Cats here. They haven't lost at the Cattery for quite a long time and North are arguably treading water. They won last week against a Port team that look quite average out of Adelaide but almost made a meal of it. And before that they were a disgrace, although again they're another team who've struggled with injuries to key players. On the other side of the coin is the Cats, who have had injuries to key players but have managed to deal with them fairly admirably, due to their remarkable depth and every player's commitment to the game plan. Ablett is another week away and who knows what's going on with Brad Ottens, but I really can not see the Cats losing here.
Next up is the Brisbane Lions and Adelaide duking it out up north at the Gabba (unrelated: can someone tell me why the Lions seem to play so many Saturday night games?). This one is kind of difficult to tip; as far as I can tell both teams are sort of unknown quantities. This could be due to me living in Melbourne I suppose, but they both seem so erratic. Brisbane looked absolutely dismal when they got walloped by 15 goals in the wet down at Geelong, but have recorded rousing victories against Essendon and Richmond since then. The Crows have looked flat since their trip to Perth in round 3, with their only win since then being the farce against Melbourne at the MCG that is widely considered to be one of the worst games in years. Curiously they are yet to win at AAMI. These are the games that actually define seasons for teams like these, in the last couple of years the Lions have narrowly missed finals and the Crows have just snuck in, a Lions win in this game could prove the difference between those fortunes being reversed. Hard to tip.
The last Saturday game is Sydney taking on West Coast at ANZ Stadium in a game that's already being described as 'hopefully not on free to air television'. I mean, these guys have a great rivalry going back to their consecutive grand final meetings, but they're typically low scoring stoppage-a-thons with not a lot of excitement. With that out of the way, Sydney have not actually lost in Sydney this season, and West Coast have not won out of Perth, so that combined with the fact that basically no team likes going to ANZ Stadium (probably because it's not up to AFL standard) it's hard to see this going any way except to Sydney. Also, a fact I uncovered just today is that last week's loss to Geelong was the first time Sydney have lost by more than fifty points since 2004. That's ridiculous.
The Sunday early slot is occupied this week by Port Adelaide and Richmond over at AAMI, making it a 12.40 start, so I imagine I'll wake up with a raging hangover at quarter time. I don't know or care much about Port, but it's hard to see them losing this one. Richmond are a genuine shambles who are now without their best player and playing interstate, and Port seem to be resurgent after a particularly disappointing 2008. In short, fuck this game.
In the 2.10 free to air slot we have those old rivals Collingwood and Carlton at the G. This is actually a very enticing game, both these teams love playing each other, and this will be an early defining moment for both of their seasons. Both teams sit on the wrong side of a 3-4 ledger, and a loss will make it tough for either to be more than a bit part player in the finals series. Both teams looked pretty poor last week, with Freo easily accounting for Carlton up on the Gold Coast, and Collingwood getting savaged like a dog's chew toy by St. Kilda. I would say that Collingwood are the team most hurt by injuries after Hawthorn this year, they had many of their best players out last week. These are always such hard games to tip because even when they're having terrible years the teams will get up for these games and make them good contests. I look forward to this one.
In the evening time slot we have the the indominatible Saints taking on the surprise packets Essendon. The Saints have looked absolutely imperious this year, dominating all comers with the surety of the great Cats team of the last two seasons, and the Bombers have made a habit of winning against the odds. This game is a classic case of the irresistible force vs. the immovable object. For what it's worth, it's hard to see the Saints run coming to an end against Essendon, who have battled manfully for their wins but will probably just not have enough experience or ability to get through against a very tough looking St. Kilda outfit. It's hard to see the Saints being able to maintain their game style for the entire season but I don't think they're going to falter this week.
Vent Your ANGER!@#! Footy 2009 - Login
Originally Posted by Rudi 
Bookmarks