AFL round 1 (2011) ‘expert’ tips
If this girl looks your way ... run a mile!
It’s ‘Liar, liar, pants on fire’ round
If Tony Abbott can call our PM “Ju-Liar” and a “bitch” (which he effectively has), then I can certainly say the same about a certain 17-year-old (who shall remain nameless and unidentified but who is Kim Duthie and whose photo appears here to the left), who caused the Saints all kinds of hell over the off-season with her stealing, lying, manipulative & self-serving ways. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for Nixon though, he was just a fool. The whole saga is not really worth commenting on, except to say that the vilification and scorn poured on the club by some sections of the media, the public and even ex-pollies like Peter ‘noballs’ Costello, says more about the mindset and attitude of the detractors than it does about the integrity of the St Kilda Football Club, which remains intact.
There, I’ve said it. Having given my point of view on those most bizarre events it’s time to get down to the real business of ‘expert’ footy tipping. The ‘expert’ panel of Tassie Rox (she’s a Greens supporter!), Baldrick from Bright (he’s, um, different), King of Euroa Greg Naylor (last year’s winner and a great guy – for a Collingwood supporter) and yours truly has reassembled to give our 7 million worldwide followers their ‘expert’ guidance on which teams to back – and why - round by round. I’m just surprised the Aussie media keeps ignoring us. Here are the Rd 1 tips:
Ray says:
Carlton v Richmond: I dunno why the AFL insists on these two also-rans kicking off the season, as they have for the past 4 years. I know it draws a good crowd as the only game of the night and the first for the season, but so would any Melbourne-based teams … except North of course. No one goes to their games. Richmond are going to improve this year, but Carlton will go backwards.
Geelong v St Kilda: They’re usually great contests but with Geelong having a few out (not to mention the departure of Gablett) and the Saints at close to full strength, they’re not going to get a better opportunity than this to really inflict some pain on the Handbaggers from Kittyland. They need to win this and win it well if they’re to be a force again this year. Geelong’s era of dominance is over. It lasted, oh, about 3 years. Wow!
Collingwood v Pt Adelaide: Good to see the AFL is consistent and is sticking to its policy of giving Collingwood easy home games against the interstate clubs. What a soft opener this one is for the reigning premiers. Oh well, they’ve gotta look after Eddie’s boys!
Adelaide v Hawthorn: Everyone is saying Hawthorn will be a threat this year. Everyone but me. And can you believe that Mike Sheahan named Buddy Franklin as the AFL’s #1 player? Ridiculous. Adelaide will roll them – easily.
Brisbane v Fremantle: I know, I know. The golden rule says ‘when 2 interstate sides play, go for the home side’, but I’ve got a feeling Brisbane will finish 16th this year – just above a winless Gold Coast. Won’t the game between those two Qld sides be a hoot! Freo should keep the magic going this year – they’re an exciting unit.
Essendon v Bulldogs: Hardest game of the round to pick. I reckon Hird’s miracle will last, oh, about 4 or 5 weeks. Footscray reckon it’s now or never for them and if they don’t make the GF this year it’s “piss off Eade and back to the drawing board we go”. Which is exactly what they need to do. They don’t have the talent to make it – full stop.
Melbourne v Sydney: Easiest game to pick. Sydney are no chance in Melbourne against the young, rising Dees.
West Coast v Nth Melbourne: And likewise North are no chance over in Perth. Has this club got a future? Not even Tassie wants them.
.
Tassie Rox says:
Hi Ray, Offf to a new start with:
Carlton
Saints
Collingwood
Hawthorn
Lions (not that I really care)
Doggies
Swans
NMFC
Cheers and good to be going again!
.
King of Euroa Greg Naylor says:
Happy new footy season Ray. At the start of the season, one can only go with the money and that means:
Carlton to beat Richmond
St Kilda to beat Geelong
Collingwood to beat Port Adelaide
Hawthown to beat Adelaide
Fremantle to beat Brisbane
Bulldogs to beat Essendon
Melbourne to beat Sydney
West Coast to beat North Melbourne
Having gone with the money, why do I feel uneasy about St Kilda/Geelong and Bulldogs/Essendon?
.
And Baldrick from Bright says:
Greetings Raymond,
I surmise we’ll be at it again this year.
Will be (away) this week.
This means I won’t be in a position to do any scrutinising of teams prior to leaving, so here are my tips:
CARLTON v Richmond
Geelong v St.KILDA
COLLINGWOOD v Pt. Adelaide
Adelaide v HAWTHORN
Brisbane v FREMANTLE
Essendon v FOOTSCRAY
Melbourne v SYDNEY
WEST COAST v Nth.Melbourne
Promoting 'Beautiful Bright'.
Click 
Well said about Kim Duthie Ray. She has no credibility. Ricky Nixon is a fool (mind you, how she could share a bed with him is beyond me – must be a power thing).
Looks like I didn’t go with the money and don’t merit my expert” (hahaha) status.
She deliberately set him up, Rox. She admits that – boasts about it in fact! What a piece of work. Okay, Nixon was an idiot but she has destroyed his career and what about his family? I just can’t believe the callous behaviour and maliciousness of this girl. All because Sam Gilbert ‘ran a mile’ when he found out she was still a schoolgirl and only 16 (and not pregnant – another lie).
And to think she’s looking for a job!
Good win by the Blues – I thought they were gone.
What sort of job would you reckon she’d be qualified for, Rox? I can only think of those in the, er, escort business. It would actually make an interesting post … or not.
Yeah, I was the only one to pick Richmond and I thought for a while there I’d got off to a ‘Flying Start’ … so did Nixon.
Personal “trainer”?
Some sort of therapist maybe?
How did we lose that? One point! I’m going to bed.
Looks like I should have followed my heart instead of the money. The St Kilda / Geelong game left me with the impression of two tired teams that lacked any spark … and this is at the start of the season. Are they simply not fit yet or are they two teams with their best seasons behind them. Maybe, I expected too much of them.
I didn’t see it that way at all, Greg. I saw two sides with very strong defences.
Got to say I wasn’t disappointed with Geelong. On one level it seemed that we pinched that game, on the other, given the loss of Selwood and the absence of some of our prime movers and the defector, it wasn’t such a bad performance at all. Played with some heart and didn’t give up. Saints weren’t awful. Just a dour battle, agree with you Raymond.
Neither side had enough fire power up forward. Mooney was well beaten by Zac, who played a blinder. Our other defenders Fisher, Gwilt and Raph were superb too. Hawkins was … well he’s just Hawkins, isn’t he? No good. At the other end, Riewoldt was a lone hand and did well but had too many defenders to contend with. We need Kosi back. And you need Pods. That’s about the difference I reckon.
I woulda thought someone like Chappie could have blown that game right open but we could opine all day about what could have been.
I was happy with our young blokes, especially Duncan. All this talk about us ageing and losing it, will go back on the shelf for a while. Still more younguns to come in and they’re no mugs.
Any side that can keep Geelong or St Kilda to under 50 pts is going to be thereabouts this year, Baldrick. It’s going to be all about defence in 2011.
You’re right about Chapman though – he always kills us.
PIPPED!!
I think I’ll buy Ricky Nixon’s Management Company that he’s trying to flog.
It’s the only way I’ll get a ‘Flying Start’.
I’m 0/2.
Plenty of action yet Ray – you could be 0/8!
At least 1/8, Rox. I think I’m pretty safe with Collingwood.
Oh how the mighty are fallen – I find myself quite supportive of them these days.
You’re banned.
hahahaha. Harsh but fair.
Go Crows – I might catch up here guys. I knew it – Hawthorn are crap.
Uh oh, Brisbane leading Freo – and only Rox picked them!
Unbelievable – Freo gets up in the dying minutes. Sorry, Rox.
I was nearly a genius
Don’t worry Rox, we all get a point for the draw between Sydney & Melbourne.
Rd 1 results:
Ray 6 (after being 0 from 2 !)
Greg & Baldrick 5
Rox 3
gawd.
Not a ‘Flying Start’, Rox.
This is what happens when I pick against my own team, shame Balders, shame
No guts = no glory, Baldrick.
Wow who is the hot babe in the photo?
You don’t want to know her.
My tips are in. I’m going to Burnie for the weekend and will be offline from Thursday night (unless I manage to sneak on at Burnie Library). A very underwhelming performance form me last week. Or rather, from the teams I picked. I blame them.
Well, I’m off. Good luck to me!