Round 15 Preview

 Last Week           6/7           Season Total      81/121

It was a pretty uneventful week of footy last week.  Ok, there were a couple of close ones, but they still fell the way expected and the other matches were walkovers.  More to the point, I forgot the World Cup was on.  Yes, that other sport they call Football.  To be honest, I had no idea about it at all and if not for someone asking about a tipping competition, I probably wouldn’t have realized.  Of course, I love to throw money at frivolous causes so I’m now in three competitions.  I’ll admit, I did watch some of the Australia vs Türkiye match (it was either that or help the missus with housework) and I even caught myself yelling GOAAAALLLL, when we scored our first.  My wife retorted, “What the hell?  You don’t even like Soccer?”  She was right, but she was only trying to guilt me into helping her.  Ashamedly, I missed our second goal…I was doing the vacuuming.  1-0 to the wife!!

The good thing about the World Cup is it’s in North America so almost none of it clashes with AFL.  Next up Australia face USA.  It’s on at 3:00am here in Perth and pubs can apply to be open then.  That’s a little too early for me to be out in a pub.  Personally, I only start drinking at 6:00am (gotta build up the energy to get to the office).  Given all the trash talk that USA has been sprouting about Australia I think there is a large amount of smugness hanging on a win.

In any event, I’ll see the result in the morning when I wake up. And the good thing about soccer is you can compress a 90-minute match into about 8 seconds of highlights.  Very efficient.  I do often try to come up with ideas on how to improve the watchability of the sport.  I mean, normally I turn on a match as it might be billed as “interesting,” and then I watch about 3 minutes of the ball being passed back and forth across the centre line with no shots on goal and I start channel surfing.  I wonder if they made a goal worth 100 points, it would seem like more was happening.  It would read better too.  Netherlands and Japan fought out a 200-200 draw.  But then, Sweden beating Tunisia 500-100 seems even more lop-sided.  Or maybe if they had a second, even bigger net around the main net and if you get it in there it’s worth 1/6th of a goal and then players could catch the ball in their hands, move the ball with their hands by punching it from the palm of their other hand and then allow tackling.  Then get 3 more umpires and instruct them to allow a bunch of grey area in their interpretations of the rules and change those interpretations between matches and while we’re at it, get the governing body to completely change the rules every year…now that’s a sport I could enjoy.

Australia would win that World Cup, I reckon.  What’s happening in local sport this week?  Let’s take a lo

Fremantle vs Geelong   Perth Stadium   Thursday Night

Match of the round to open up the weekend.  Perthites love Thursday Night footy at Perth Stadium.  The trains and buses don’t work so efficiently and there’s nothing more inconvenient than trying to get to the ground before bouncedown.  If you want to make it, you have to leave the office at the midday…there’s no other choice.  Fremantle have beaten all commers this year, except Geelong.  The one blemish on their scorecard and they’d be keen to make amends.  Geelong will be hoping that they have a bit of post-bye malaise and the Cats will be able to blemish the card once again.  It’s hard to go against Freo though and if its looking close, out comes Wharfie Time and puts paid to any hope Geelong have.  With healthcare being the biggest industry in Geelong, maybe the Cats can unleash Measles Time or Nursing Hour to counter the Freo press.  Worth a shot?  Fremantle by 25 points.

Gold Coast vs Hawthorn               Carrara                 Friday Night

Next up is a must win for Gold Coast.  They haven’t looked their best this season and inflicting some damage on Hawthorn might be just the tonic they need.  I think they can do it.  Gold Coast by 15 points.

Adelaide vs Melbourne                                Adelaide Oval   Saturday Afternoon

Last week I said no one plays Marvel better than Footscray.  I forgot “except Adelaide” who crushed them.  Meanwhile Melbourne took another step with an easy victory over a Hirdless Essendon.  This promises to be a good match with Melbourne playing free and fun footy but Adelaide holding the home ground advantage.  They’ll be too strong.  Adelaide by 31 points.

GWS vs Carlton                                Showgrounds    Saturday Afternoon

With a bye last week, Fraser was able to keep his lossless record intact.  Can he continue it up at the Showgrounds?  I think he’s a fair chance as GWS have been hot and cold this year.  It will depend what temperature they are on the day?  GWS by 24 points.

Collingwood vs Port Adelaide   MCG      Saturday Night

The Pies come off a bye and need to do something.  What they need to do is up for debate.  Chuck in a season that’s already disappointing and test some of the kids on their list or go hard with the old brigade and see if they can push into finals one last time.  The problem with the ‘kids’ option is their kids are 28-years-old already.  Port Adelaide pushed Sydney to the limits last week and would be keen to carry that form forth to the MCG.  This venue against this foe has not been a happy place in the past.  Let’s see what happens this time.  Collingwood by 6 points.

Richmond vs North Melbourne MCG      Sunday Afternoon

The Kangaroos return from wandering out West with 4 points and -15 percentage points.  Halved that one, I guess.  Richmond continues to string good performances together but usually not good enough to get some points.  This might be the same, unless North are still in the take it easy model of Western Australians.  North Melbourne by 21 points.

St Kilda vs Footscray      Marvel Stadium               Sunday Afternoon

The Saints had a solid win over GWS last week and will be looking to back it up against Footscray who had a week they’d rather forget.  But they like playing the Saints.  In fact, their average winning margin over them in the last 5 years is a handsome 11 goals.  Sure, the Saints have stacked themselves with some talent lately, but is it 11 goals of talent?  Could be?  I don’t think I need any further evidence.  Footscray by 66 points.

It’s still Bye time.  When will the suffering end?

Byes: Brisbane, Essendon, Sydney, West Coast

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