Round 23 Preview

Last Week           7/9           Season Total      124/180

Here we are at the penultimate round of the season.  If you’re behind in the tipping, you need to take some risks and take them now.  The end of the season fizzles out a bit for the AFL with the top 10 effectively set.  There are a few remote chances of things going awry for some clubs but in most cases the destinies are not fully in their own hands. 

Geelong is dominating the headlines for what really amounts to an error in administration.  Journalists are running with it as it’s something they can write about and are trying to make it sound like Geelong are the epitome of everything evil.  Reading some of the articles it sounds like they have been stockpiling Weapons of Mass Destruction, installed tanks containing sharks with “frikkin” laser beams and are putting their little finger to the mouths demanding a ransom of one billion dollars from the world or they will cover the land in boiling hot magma.  I’m pretty confident they weren’t trying kill their players, but the journalists are trying their best to make us think that.  This has whipped them into a frenzy where the journalists are calling for complete transparency, which is a ploy that works for them as then they have all the information to spew forth hundreds of articles and talkback sessions.  Suggested penalties have ranged from financial sanctions, through loss of premiership points all the way up to the entire area of Corio Bay and surrounds being fired by rocket into the sun.  An administrative error, a pretty bad one at that, deserves an administrative fine.  A reminder and a warning to the rest of the league to remember to dot all of your I’s and cross all of your T’s when dealing with important matters.  I feel for Kolodjashnij, whose normally personal medical circumstances have been dragged through the media with little regard for sensitivity.

Anyway.  What inconsequential footy matches do we have playing this week?

Fremantle vs Adelaide Perth Stadium   Friday Night

What a match it was last week as Freo and Melbourne traded blows like Muhammad Ali and George Forman just standing in the ring taking turns belting each other in the face until one of them drops.  Unfortunately for Freo, it was their knees that gave way first.  A return to their home sanctum on a dry pitch to face Adelaide who struggled in the rain to shake off a determined Richmond.  Big Tex has announced the boots are not returning to the field next year.  We wish him well.  Freo are still stuck in the what to do phase.  They don’t really need to do anything and still get their home finals, but they do need to make sure they get their game in order and having a set of meaningless games with little to play for is not ideal preparation.  Losing this week will mean they have to try hard to guarantee top spot next week so maybe you could sneakily pick Adelaide in this one who will want to win one for Big Tex.  Fremantle by 22

Richmond vs St Kilda     MCG      Saturday Afternoon

St Kilda need to win both of their last two games and have a couple of other things go right in matches they’re not involved in.  Nas going down with a hamstring is not helpful to that cause.  They should dispatch Richmond though, who were valiant against Adelaide but ultimately fell short.  St Kilda by 35 points.

North Melbourne vs Geelong    Marvel Stadium               Saturday Afternoon

The big wigs at Geelong have had more sweat on their brows this week than an Air Traffic Controller.  The question is does the off-field distraction have in impact on-field.  North Melbourne had a good win last week and are a more than capable side playing on the Marvel Stadium hard deck.  Here’s another chance for a sneaky point if you have the balls to tip North Melbourne.  I’ve been told I have big balls, but I usually only take them out at the beach or at the cricket.  They’re beach balls people, I have to inflate them…keep your minds out of the gutter.  North Melbourne by 8 points.

Brisbane vs Gold Coast Gabba   Saturday Afternoon

It was an ominous display from Brisbane last week with a demolition of Hawthorn and it appears they get a back-to-back chance at the Gabba but this time in the Q-clash.  Gold Coast had a breakthrough win and with no pressure on them might be able to inflict some damage here, but I think Brisbane are tuning themselves up for finals now.  Brisbane by 31 points.

Hawthorn vs Collingwood           MCG      Saturday Night

The last time these teams met we got the only draw of the season.  The teams are a bit different now, with Collingwood having half their team out with injuries and Hawthorn stinging after a disappointing loss to Brisbane.  Hawthorn will be hungry and we don’t know how Collingwood will look at these last two matches.  In all likelihood they will finish in the repechage round and as all those teams will probably be Victorian, they are guaranteed an MCG match.  But on the other hand, if they win both games and other results go their way, they could finish as high as 4^th.  At this point though, with all the injuries, they’re just trying to get the band back together and ready for finals.  Hawthorn will be stung into action though.  Hawthorn by 28 points.

Port Adelaide vs Melbourne      Adelaide Oval   Saturday Night

The end is nigh for Port Adelaide, and they will welcome the season rounding off and getting some rest into weary players.  Butters has some decisions to make after being offered some whopping money from rival clubs.  Melbourne will be on cloud nine after a stirring victory against ladder leaders last week in a battle of Titans.  It was such a match that I felt like I needed cigarette after it.  And I don’t even smoke.  As plucky as Port may be, they are shot and Melbourne should be getting this done.  But Port may be good for a sneaky point if you are desperate.  Melbourne by 19 points.

GWS vs West Coast        Showgrounds    Sunday Afternoon

West Coast put up a good show last week but were out-Daicos’d in the end.  GWS took the mantle of most disappointing team last week after losing to Gold Coast.  A classic Sunday inconsequential match which is tough for tipping.  How much pride do these teams have?  Go the home team.  GWS by 30 points.

Footscray vs Carlton       Marvel Stadium               Sunday Afternoon

Now this game will be a good scrap to watch on Sunday.  Carlton need this win to consolidate their spot in the Wildcard and probably sink any other person’s hope of becoming the coach of Carlton after Fraser finally put his hand up.  Footscray likewise need to cement their spot in the Repechage and will be disappointed at last weeks loss.  Two fabulous midfields hitting it out on a ground that they both play very well on.  It will be an enthralling tussle.  It’s a tough one to tip and could be the one that separates your tips from the rest this week so choose carefully.  Me, I’m a bit more flippant.  The dice rolled in favour of Footscray by 10 point.  I can always blame bad luck.

Essendon vs Sydney       MCG      Sunday Afternoon

The question isn’t really about who will win this game.  The main question is how many will Curnow kick?  I think 11.  Meanwhile Hird’s pitch is getting bolder as he has started promising a whole raft of other people will be joining him if they choose him.  Neale will come, so will Greene.  I think when he promised Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley that he might have gotten a bit ahead of himself.  But then I don’t know what powers he has?  Sydney by 106 points.