AFL round 22 ‘expert’ tips
Pity he's not still the State Premier ~ he could have passed a new law to over-ride the AFL's decision on Franklin.
It’s ‘Kick Kennett’ round
What a wonderful way for the home & away season to end, with the reigning Premiers Hawthorn languishing in 9th spot but having the unexpected opportunity to grab 8th spot and a finals berth by simply beating Essendon tomorrow. Shouldn’t be too hard. Who have Essendon got to kick goals? Matthew Lloyd? He’s hardly fit. Scott Lucas? Not there. Hmm, with Franklin and Roughead, who have kicked about 150 goals between them this year, this should be a cakewalk for …. oh, hang on, they’re not there! Buddy is out suspended and Roughead is injured. Despite the best efforts of Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett to launch the most absurd of appeals to the Tribunal and to almost go to the Supreme Court to have the suspension overturned … the Hawks don’t have a forward line and will probably lose. Bad luck Hawthorn, bad luck Kennett, it couldn’t happen to a bigger fool and a more arrogant bunch of players. Go Essendon. Here are the ‘expert’ tips for the final round (before the finals):
West Coast v Richmond : What a rotten way for the Tigers to end their ‘season from hell’ with a long trip to the other side of the continent to face the hostile & parochial Eagles’ fans. Nightmare stuff. Then again, Richmond’s whole recent history has been a nightmare.
Geelong v Fremantle : Well I could almost say the same for Freo as I did for Richmond. But I actually expect this to be tight. Geelong has major injury concerns but should limp home in this one ~ and then limp into the finals.
Hawthorn v Essendon : Jeff Kennet said Hawthorn had decided not to go the Supreme Court because “that would be churlish“. Yeah, well how “churlish” was it to appeal the decision in the first place? Look Kennett, Franklin deliberately bumped Cousins and in so doing HE HIT HIM IN THE HEAD. Get it?
Carlton v Adelaide : Boys vs Men. Carlton could surprise but only by using their superior leg speed to keep out of the way. Hmm … Carlton & “speed” … there’s a connection there, I think?
Sydney v Brisbane : It would just not be right for Brisbane to win this and thereby gain a home finals game. Unless it’s against Hawthorn of course!
Pt Adelaide v Nth Melbourne : Hardest pick of the year. Biggest non-event of the year. North beat the Saints but would be sore and may suffer a let down. But Port are the most unmotivated team on the planet. F**k me, who to pick? Oh, go with the bogans.
Melbourne v St Kilda : Easiest pick of the year. Look, even if the Saints continue their ‘play safe and don’t get injured’ policy of late, there’s no way Melbourne will give up that 2nd priority draft pick. If they find themselves in front watch them start passing the ball to Riewoldt & Kosi. Bring on the finals, we are ready and chomping at the bit.
Collingwood v Bulldogs : Bloody hell, another tipster’s nightmare. What do I do here ?- the whole tipping competition between Baldrick and I could swing on this last game. Oh well, I’ll go the Pies because they will get an even more inflated opinion of themselves as “Premiership Favourites” … only to crash big time against either of the top 2. Look folks – this flag IS a two-horse race between St Kilda & Geelong. Mark my words, Collingwood will buckle in the finals.
"I only keep banging on about Soccer to cover my fears that the Cats are gaaaaaawwwwwn !!!"
And Baldrick says: Raymond, tips for the final round. Life as a Hammers supporter is never dull. What happened to Buddy is not a scratch to what happened inside and outside of Upton Park. Who says soccer is boring?
WEST COASTv Richmond
GEELONG v Fremantle
HAWTHORNv Essendon
Carlton v ADELAIDE
SYDNEY v Brisbane
Pt.ADELAIDE v Nth.Melbourne
Melbourne v ST.KILDA
Collingwood v FOOTSCRAY
Promoting 'Beautiful Bright'.
Click 
Eagles, Cats, Bombers,Blues, Lions, Power, Sainters, Bulldogs.
I’m sticking with my tips because a couple of these games are impossible. Ray – if you have any tips like never pick x when they travel – cough up.
Sorry I pre-empted you on the other thread.
There are some real hard ones, Rox.
Port & North ???? C’wood & Bulldogs ???? Essendon & Hawthorn ???? Sydney & Brisbane ???? … they are all ‘toss ups’ and could go either way.
But Adelaide is an absolute certainty to roll Carlton. The Crows are not going to give up a home final.
I needed pre-empting, btw.
As for ‘tipping rules’ – the only one that applies here is ‘Never tip Freo’. All other rules are out the window this round.
It’s like a calm before the storm this round. The Tigers might jump the Eagles early, but then they’ll fall in a hole and lose easily. What about the Saints how do they play their game, without getting injured.
It’s not a real problem, Stuart. Melbourne don’t tackle.
Ray, I think you agree the Saints would be better off playing the Bulldogs or Collingwood. This is part of a soft preperation, they should win by 100 points tomorrow just to get something from the game.
What do you think of the Vics signing Murarli?
They just have to play the side that’s put in front of them, Stuart. Nothing to gain from beating a top 4 side in Rd 22. Don’t worry, the Saints will be ready and raring to go in the finals. I know – Ross told me.
The Chucker? He doesn’t perform well in Australia – never has.
Ray be prepared for a lotto ticket bet sometime in the finals.
Do you think Rox dislikes me?
Ask her.
I’m sure she could get to like you.
Adelaide should win today, and I’m going to back them because of Carltons stupidity. I still don’t believe it for being 15 minutes late, and it wasn’t even a training session.
Brisbane to do Sydney for the second leg of my all up bet.
I reckon Adelaide is a sure thing. But the Brisbane & Sydney game is 50/50.
“Do you think Rox dislikes me?”
Huh?
Why should I? What have you done (now)?
We’re gone.
No, you’re back in it, courtesy of Lloyd’s agression – good stuff.
I can’t bear to watch.
Well, blow me down.
No thanks Rox.
Keep going Crows.
Cats are B.I.T.
“Back In Town”, Baldrick? After beating Freo @ Geelong? I see.
Btw, great gravatar – you’re a very handsome man.
Well, you reckon I jumped off them, felt it behooves me to give some glimmer of hope and/or interest. Besides the reference was to being back in Geelong, Moorabool Street to be exact.
As for the gravatar, thank the Lord that the pics are only that small, I go into apoplexy every time I see the tips go up. And what is more worrying again, I might have a doppelganger, there is some clown on “Time Team” and some other program of late that has an uncanny likeness to me. You’d reckon the Lord had had his fun with me. At least I make you look like Brad Pitt.
I like Stu’s too. It’s, um, “different”.
Rox, Stuart’s avatar is automatically generated by WordPress based on his email address. If he wants to change it he needs to go here http://www.wordpress.com and register as a “user”.
Baldrick, I am Elvis, not Brad.
BTW everyone : Three cheers for Adelaide belting the begeezus out of Carlton and consigning them to ‘also-rans’. I just hope Brisbane does Sydney tonight so the Brisbane/Carlton game next week is in Brisbane – where Carlton CANNOT win.
Oh yeah, it’s all over for Carlton. They will follow a 72 pt hiding by having to travel up to Qld for their first final – and their last. Unfortunately Essendon face an impossible task too against Adelaide … in Adelaide. But those games don’t mean much anyway. It’s about the top 4.
…”It’s about the top 4…” OOOOh stoppit. You sound like Erwin Rommel, the desert Fox.
You Beasty!!
Well, it’s ON.
What’s “ON”, Bertus? The finals?
Realistically, the only team outside the top 4 that ‘might’ cause some damage is Adelaide. They are getting better with every game … 27 goals!! That’s impressive.
Ray if the avatar is based on your address, I should have a Vietnamese icon, you see I live in Richmond.
What about the Saints though, you have to give 51 points start, they’re angry and will wipe the floor with Melbourne. I’m putting all my profit on the Saints. 100 point winners I reckon.
What sort of odds can you get on them Stuart? I would have thought they were pretty low by now.
Ray, You get $1.93 but you have to give away 51 points. I did this willingly, I also had a go at 100 points plus @$10.
Don’t know about Coll v Foots though.
Lloyds gone.
I think you’ll do your dough on those St Kilda bets, Stuart. They won’t be knocking themselves out for 4 quarters. My guess is they’ll get out to a 40 pt lead and coast home from there – like Geelong did.
Btw, it was Rox who asked you the quesrion, not me. Don’t you like Rox?
Coll v Foots : I’ve gone for the Pies because winning it will pump them up for the fall.
Lloyd? I hope he gets off. It’s actually different to the Franklin incident – it was more like a collision of 2 players going for the ball. He didn’t do much yesterday but he was responsible for turning the game around and getting his side into the finals.
The problem is if Lloyd doesn’t go, nor should of Buddy.
Rox is an enigma, I hope she isn’t a “greenie” though I suspect the worse. But she probably has a nice spirit.
I’ll blog you at half time with the Saints 70 points up.
It might depend how Essendon argues it, Stuart. Hawthorn presented the wrong defence – they tried to blame Cousins for the incident. The right defence for Essendon to present is:
1.Lloyd was running towards a loose ball, as was Sewell.
2.Lloyd was pushed from behind as he approached the ball propelling him further into the collision.
3. Sewell gathered the ball (but did not really have control) just a fraction before Lloyd arrived at the scene.
4. The resulting collision was inevitable and not an intentional bump.
You see Franklin had the option of tackling Cousins but he clearly opted to bump him and, in so doing, hit Cousins on the head. End of story – Franklin goes out. Whereas Lloyd made no decision other than to run hard at a loose ball – and not at the player.
There’s a chance he’ll get off.
You should be defending him. Anyway they won’t beat Adelaide. Gettin ready for your Saints.
There’s no way in the world Essendon can beat the rampaging Crows even with Lloyd. But he should be allowed to play – it might be his last game and he has been a champion.
I just checked my tips. I picked Sydney? I can’t believe I did that and I think I just posted it incorrectly. It doesn’t make any difference to the tipping contest with Baldrick but I was actually certain Brisbane would win it, and they did.
Well Ray what can I say?
Poor start but it’s starting to look like a Riewoldt & Kosi blitz. I think you’ll find the final margin will be no more than 30.
“Rox is an enigma, I hope she isn’t a “greenie” though I suspect the worse. But she probably has a nice spirit.”
There’s a difference between a “Green” and a “greenie” Stuart. To compound your fears, I’m also on the council of my union. But I don’t belong to any political party and never will.
St Kilda are coasting this one in.
Only 23 pts up in the last, Rox. They have not been in top gear for the whole game.
Yes, there is clear distinction between being “Green” and being “A Greenie”. One is merely exercising common sense, the latter is being extreme.
Oh, I might have mucked that up – I meant having “green” inclinations is common sense, not being a member of the Greens Party (they’re, er, weird).
I should give up now.
They’re 47 pts up now Stuart – one more goal and you collect on that 51 pts-in bet !! Amazing finish.
Good Doggies.
Now the real test for the Cats.
Either they’ll confirm what I’ve been saying for over a month that we’re tired and battered or they’ve conned me all the time and are going to use experience and guile and more than an ounce of luck to march through and destroy all comers.
As soon as we’re dispensed with, I’m on the Doggie bandwagon. You can take the boy out of Footscray but you can’t take Footscray outa the boy. Woof.
Collingwood are ours!
go the bombers!!!
Hey Ray have you seen Rudds latest. Responsible drinking.
“PM teams up” with AFL, more spin and I’m glad you’re onto him.
Johnny only ‘teamed up’ with the NRL. But yeah, I wish politicians from both sides would just stop basking in the reflected glory of sports.