Round 13 Preview

 Last Week           4/7           Season Total      71/106

It was a difficult week last for tipping.  There seemed to be lots of upsets.  I didn’t have a tip right until late into Saturday.  Of course, there is always someone in the tipping competition that picks every upset.

Anyway, no special messages this week so let’s launch into it.

Adelaide vs Geelong     Adelaide Oval   Thursday Night

The Cats come off another defeat at the hands of Carlton.  One of those teams that seem to have the better of them recently.  Adelaide needs to wake up if they want a chance at this season.  This is the time to stand up.  Against a tough opponent on their home ground.  Unfortunately for Adelaide, like Carlton is Geelong’s bogey side, Geelong is Adelaide bogey side, and it doesn’t matter where the game is played, Geelong usually wins this one.  Can Adelaide buck the trend?  Not if I’m right (which is only 70% of the time).  Geelong by 23 points.

Hawthorn vs Footscray MCG      Friday Night

The Doggies held off a fast finishing Pies outfit last week and the Hawks walked off the field with a much needed win.  Rumour has it that Weightman will return after about a million days off…well, 637 – I rounded up.  Barrass is also a chance to return for the Hawks.  While Footscray are a strong midfield, I don’t think they can match it with the brown and gold.  Hawthorn by 19 points.

North Melbourne vs Fremantle                                Hands Oval (Bunbury)   Saturday Afternoon

One of the matches that North Melbourne sold for the year and they will be playing this down in Bunbury.  Luckily it wasn’t last weekend as a storm ripped through the region stranding holiday-makers and tearing trees out of the ground.  It was actually good news for me as most of my own garden trees had previously dropped their leaves and the storm helpfully spread them around to all my neighbours gardens so I don’t have to deal with them.  North Melbourne have been much improved this year, but Fremantle have been beating (almost) all commers.  It’s hard to go past Fremantle, but as all Freo supporters would know, this is exactly the kind of game they are likely to drop.  Fremantle by 36 points.

Gold Coast vs Brisbane                 Carrara                 Saturday Afternoon

The Suns took a rest last week and would be hoping to avoid the dreaded post-bye malaise.  Meanwhile, Brisbane would like to avoid anything that resembles the last three weeks.  Any more a slide and it will make the 3-peat a tall order.  I think they’ll try harder, but it won’t be enough.  Gold Coast by 11 points.

West Coast vs Port Adelaide      Perth Stadium   Saturday Night

Haven’t West Coast looked a bit better these last few weeks?  Maybe all that losing is starting to finally pay off.  Port Adelaide have a surprisingly healthy percentage with only three wins to their name and being 16th on the ladder.  They lost this one to the Eagles earlier in the season and it seems like Port Adelaide aren’t much better, but the Eagles are.  West Coast by 15 points.

Sydney vs St Kilda           SCG        Sunday Afternoon

Speaking of healthy percentages, Sydney are right at the top of that stat.  St Kilda are having a year of settling in with their raft of new players which always takes a bit of time.  Sydney by 31 points.

Essendon vs Carlton       MCG      Sunday Night

James Hirds Essendon will take on a resurgent Carlton at the MCG to round off the regular part of the weekend.  Seriously though, Essendon are in a no win situation and I don’t just mean this match.  The only way they win in life is to appoint Hird now and he takes them to a premiership next year.  Their choices are simple.  Appoint Hird now and get it done with.  Stick to “the process” and run a few guys through it (if anyone decides to run against Hird) then appoint Hird and be accused of running a rigged process and finally run “the process” and don’t appoint Hird.  Then wait for that first loss to roll around before club factions start undermining the new coach in an effort to appoint Hird.  It’s simple really. 

Meanwhile Carlton, who I think I was saying should sack everyone from the CEO to the boot studder, have made me look a bit foolish, along with the bevy of supporters who are sifting through the ashes of their fire pit looking for remnants of their scarf and membership card.  This should be win number four under the new coach and Fraser should step aside to maintain his record as the winningest coach ever.  Carlton by 38 points.

Collingwood vs Melbourne        MCG      Kings Birthday Monday

The annual Big Freeze will have a familiar look and feel about it but have the big difference of Neale Danniher not being amongst us, beaming a smile as another slider dunks themselves into the ice bath for fun and funds.  Familiar, but different.  There should be a big turnout and perhaps an entertaining match if Collingwood can find some of the freedom they did in the last quarter last week.  Last year it was a 1-point thriller.  Mihocek kicked a crucial goal but now he’s on the other side and watching Pickett and Daicos go at it will be pure entertainment.  On a day when footy takes a back seat, does a winner really matter?  I guess I have to pick one.  Melbourne by 7 points. Gawn to win the Neale Danniher Trophy.


It’s Bye time.  Time for a mid-season rest for some.

Byes: GWS, Richmond

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