AFL round 23 (2011) ‘expert’ tips
Never trust a Kiwi.
It’s Rat round
I’ve been out all day so that’s why I’m late with this week’s post. All the tips are in and I don’t want to dwell too much on ‘The Rat’ pictured here to the left (embattled Labor MP Craig Thomson) except to say:
(a) I’m buggered if I know how an obvious sleaze like this bloke ever found his way to Canberra in the first place.
(b) If the government had a better majority they would have dumped him by now.
(c) He can’t be sacked from his seat unless he’s convicted so obviously Gillard has to defend him – otherwise he could turn feral and hold her to ransom.
I think everyone should just chill out and let the law take its natural process now that his indiscretions are in the hands of the police. They’ll either charge him or they won’t but I’m sick of Abbott & co going on about it, aren’t you? Here are the o-so-nice & decent ‘experts’:
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Ray (6) (118) :
Fremantle v Collingwood : A non event. Freo have no motive to even cause an upset despite the fact C’wood won’t be going flat out here.
Hawthorn v Bulldogs : I’m tipping the upset because Hawthorn did not impress me last week.
Geelong v Sydney : Oh, another unfair advantage-at-Kittyland-game for Geelong. What a sham. Sydney desperately need to win this and if it were anywhere else they probably would, as I can’t see Geelong busting a boiler when top 2 is already sewn up. But no one can beat them down there – pathetic.
St Kilda v Nth Melbourne : Game of the round. Saints to rise to the occasion (I hope).
Brisbane v West Coast : Hmm, WCE don’t play well @ The Gabba but this is 2011.
Adelaide v Richmond : Hard to pick but when’s the last time Richmond beat the Crows over there? That’s right, it was 1999.
Melbourne v Gold Coast : Why is this non event being played at the MCG?
Essendon v Pt Adelaide : Port who?
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Rox (6) (123) :
Still rushing around with tests and stuff, so here they are
Collingwood
Hawthorn
Geelong
North Melbourne
West Coast
Adelaide
Melbourne
Essendon.
Seems like a fairly straightforward week, but we know what happend when you say that.
Cheers all. Hope you’re much better this week Greg
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Greg (6) (127) :
A note to the tipsters, followers and friends: Well folks, I have been back in the hospital trenches fighting off fluid on the lungs all week long … but I beat them one more time! Emphocaemea has come back to bite me on the bum. I am told that as my cancer progresses, my breathing will become more laboured to the point of ultimate respiratory failure. At least I am in a better position than if I had not given up smoking. Whilst they had me on oxygen in the hospital, I am travelling without it at the moment. It is a sh*t of a ride but it is the only one available and I can do no more than simply plug on into the future and watch the magpies enjoy their just rewards with back to back premierships. (Sorry for the doom and gloom 
)
So now to the tips:
Collingwood; Hawthorn; Geelong; North Melbourne: West Coast; Adelaide; Melbourne; Essendon
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Baldrick 6 (130) :
I’m a Lutheran, nothing inspiring or risqué with my tips
Fremantle v COLLINGWOOD
HAWTHORN v Footscray
GEELONG v Sydney
Brisbane v WEST COAST
ST.KILDA v Nth.Melbourne
ADELAIDE v Richmond
MELBOURNE v Gold Coast
ESSENDON v Pt.Adelaide
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Promoting 'Beautiful Bright'.
Click 
Charming piece by Greg Baum about grassroots footy
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-love-of-the-game-20110826-1jeee.html
The Age has some terrific sportswriters.
As for Craig Thomson, he’s a bloody sleazy disgrace to politic and the union movement. So’s his union, come to that.
Who does he barrack for?
He’d be a rugby man, wouldn’t he? Born in NZ, electorate in NSW – says it all.
Eels
That figures, Rox.
Getting back to AFL, why did I pick the Bulldogs? And, as for Sydney beating Geelong @ Kittyland … thanks for not trying Geelong! Now you’ve made it really hard for St Kilda!
No pleasing some people.
Yeh looks like the Saints are really struggling. Geelong are gone.
Well the Saints answered it in pretty resounding terms tonight and they’ll play Sydney Rd 1 of the finals – it’s just a matter of whether it’s here or there. Geelong aren’t “gone” but easing back before the finals ain’t a great idea. What interest is there in next week Geelong v C’wood? It’s actually a non event.
Will anyone be watching?
I’m watching ‘Game Day’ on Ch7 right now and are these blokes stupid or what?
The host (Hamish someone) just said that for St Kilda to finish 6th and get the home final they need to beat Carlton by “a lot” and rely on Sydney losing to Brisbane next week. That’s crap. Look at the ladder – Saints are already 6th, on the same pts as Sydney but nearly 6 percentage points higher. As long as they beat Carlton they will hold 6th spot unless Sydney beats Brisbane by “a lot”. He’s got it back to front.
The whole panel agreed with this numbrain (or didn’t speak up) and that’s a worry because the panel includes Nick Riewoldt! Maybe he’s still concussed?
Ray, they’re FOOTBALLERS. Don’t expect too much.
Hamish & the HSun’s Mark Robinson are not footballers and should have known better. The others were Richo & Riewoldt. They’re excused – too many hits in the head.
A round of upsets: Sydney downs Geelong, Richmond wins in Adelaide and … it looks like Port will beat Essendon @ Etihad! Not a great finish for the Bombers. They’ll still make the 8 but with a negative win/loss ratio (10 and a half wins out of 22 – they have a bye next week). And Gold Coast gets the spoon after all … as they should.
Spoke to soon – Essendon kicks 4 in 4 minutes, two pts down game on!
Essendon in front, 5 minutes to go. Were 30 pts down half way through the quarter.
Essendon by 7 pts. I stand corrected – they have more wins than losses. Oh, and Port are still on the bottom. Who cares?
Ray 5 (123)
Rox 5 (128)
Greg 5 (132)
Baldrick 6 (136)
Can he blow it?
Tipping Geelong would be a good start.
dons will play Carlton
Yes, you got lucky when Sydney beat Geelong. Otherwise you might be playing the Saints.