C
CyberKev
Guest
As predicted it was a miserable weekend for tipping last weekend and a paltry 3 is just not good enough. Down to 29.5 out of 40 and in big need of a lift...
KANGAROOSvsADELAIDE (27 pts)- [MCG]
The Kangaroos are bravely hanging tough with the little quality manpower they have at their disposal and will work the Crows here. There's been precious little sign to this point that Adelaide is the gun side that the media would have us to believe, but there's plenty of time for them to kick into gear. It'll be a big night for Wayne Carey who comes back to face the Roos for the first time since his comeback and he should have enough class left to kick 3-4 on the night. With McLeod in scintillating touch and the Crows desperate to atone for their last sorry trip to Melbourne when they were upset by the Saints, it is almost impossible to see them getting rolled here.
CARLTONvsHAWTHORN (12 pts) - [Optus Oval]
May 3 and its Day Zero for Hawthorn as it desperately tries to atone for a dismal showing against Richmond last weekend. You can get claustrophobic in a city as large as Melbourne whena rabidmedia takes you down to Chinatown and there was (rightly) no place to hide for Hawk players this week. They'll obviously come out frothing, but any team coached by Pagan will be only too ready to give it back. Hawthorn is 3 from 3 against Carlton of late, but only one of these wins was worth a tuppeny toss. Carlton haven't won at home in over 18 months and would certainly fancy their chances against a suspect and troubled opponent. Hawthorn has superior talent and leg speed, however, and without a doubt need this game a hell of a lot more.
MELBOURNE(15 pts) vsWEST COAST- [MCG]
A grateful Neale Daniher should have sent yellow carnations to Glenferrie Oval during the week (I think Hawk supporters may have been), as the Hawks saved the Demons from bearing the full brunt of the media after another dismal last quarter fade out against Sydney. Melbourne are clearly failing to take games by the scruff of the neck, but its hard to tell if this is a fitness or structural problem. Clearly the side has huge defensive weaknesses, but it is also noticeable that they're not as comfortable out of the centre this season. They'll be happy to score the Eagles away from Subi on a weekend where anything less than 4 points will be deemed unacceptable. The Eagles are looking solider and have good talent coming through, but it won't be enough here.
PORT ADELAIDE (48 pts)vsRichmond - [AAMI Stadium]
A big game for the Tigers who have NEVER beaten the Power in Adelaideand have never come close to doing so. They won't here either, although the boost from last week's miracle win over Hawthorn should ensure a vibrant and confident start from the yellow and black. Alas they lack the speed and skill of the Port side that is beginning to return to the touch of last season. The Port defence crunched the Crows last week and the Tigers lack the options to hurt the Power, particularly if Richardson is out. Its also hard to see how the Tiger defence will be able to cope with the increasingly formidable looking Port attack. The Power cruising home...
WESTERN BULLDOGS(16 pts) vsST KILDA- [Telstra Dome]
I'm really unsure about this one. The Bulldogs have been fighting hard, but have lacked the touch of class required to get the points. St Kilda are a rough diamond, but have started to show signs of polish (they were robbed against the Tigers and were too good for the Cats). Still, the Cats are easy meat at the moment and I haven't forgotten how awful the Saints decision making was against Richmond. The Bulldogs have impressed more against tougher opposition lately and I think they may have enough of an edge to get across the line here.
FREMANTLE vsESSENDON (24 pts)- [Subiaco]
West Coast has been the only side to beat Freo at Subi since 2001, which would seem to make the Dockers a value bet here. Essendon impressed last week, however, and should be too tough and focused for a still flimsy opposition. The Bombers will be keen to erase unhappy memories of their visit here last season, which ended in a loss and a nasty facial injury to Hird. They will worry about Freo's run and fitness, but there was a renewed hardness to the Bombers game last week that warrants me tipping them this time around.
COLLINGWOOD(36 pts) vsSydney - [MCG]
The Pies are not having quite the presence that they were expecting after making the GF last year. They struggled up forward (again) against the Bombers and look decidedly impotent when Rocca and Tarrant play poorly. This is, of course, most of the time where the former is concerned, but he does tend to fire-up for his old side. I think that other sides have looked closely at the Pies over the summer and have worked them out a bit. The defence is brave, but vulnerable and a few sides will land some big hits on it before the year is out. Sydney won't be one of these sides though and I think the Pies should be able to tough their way through this one with a minimum of fuss.
GEELONGvs BRISBANE- [Shell Stadium]
Geelong is the worst side in the AFL right now and would be a clear favourite for the wooden spoon. Brisbane is the best side in the comp and are looking good things for a 3rd straight flag... You do the math! Geelong will have to be playing out of their skins to avoid a thumping here, although I suspect the Lions might play this one out on auto pilot. I'd like to give the Cats a show, but I can't see anywhere on the ground (bar the ruck) where they can break even, much less win out. If Brisbane dominates out of the centre it could get awful ugly awful fast and I suspect that Mark Thompson will not be sleeping comfortably (if at all) this week. He's a positive fellow for all that and you can bet he would have been incensed by Tim Watson's appalling midweek suggestion that the Cats should lay down and play for priority draft picks!!! I remember the same being said about Hawthorn late in 1998 and the team duly responded with five strong consecutive wins from the last five games. Hopefully Bomber will find a way to win before too long as he certainly deserves better.
CyberKev
KANGAROOSvsADELAIDE (27 pts)- [MCG]
The Kangaroos are bravely hanging tough with the little quality manpower they have at their disposal and will work the Crows here. There's been precious little sign to this point that Adelaide is the gun side that the media would have us to believe, but there's plenty of time for them to kick into gear. It'll be a big night for Wayne Carey who comes back to face the Roos for the first time since his comeback and he should have enough class left to kick 3-4 on the night. With McLeod in scintillating touch and the Crows desperate to atone for their last sorry trip to Melbourne when they were upset by the Saints, it is almost impossible to see them getting rolled here.
CARLTONvsHAWTHORN (12 pts) - [Optus Oval]
May 3 and its Day Zero for Hawthorn as it desperately tries to atone for a dismal showing against Richmond last weekend. You can get claustrophobic in a city as large as Melbourne whena rabidmedia takes you down to Chinatown and there was (rightly) no place to hide for Hawk players this week. They'll obviously come out frothing, but any team coached by Pagan will be only too ready to give it back. Hawthorn is 3 from 3 against Carlton of late, but only one of these wins was worth a tuppeny toss. Carlton haven't won at home in over 18 months and would certainly fancy their chances against a suspect and troubled opponent. Hawthorn has superior talent and leg speed, however, and without a doubt need this game a hell of a lot more.
MELBOURNE(15 pts) vsWEST COAST- [MCG]
A grateful Neale Daniher should have sent yellow carnations to Glenferrie Oval during the week (I think Hawk supporters may have been), as the Hawks saved the Demons from bearing the full brunt of the media after another dismal last quarter fade out against Sydney. Melbourne are clearly failing to take games by the scruff of the neck, but its hard to tell if this is a fitness or structural problem. Clearly the side has huge defensive weaknesses, but it is also noticeable that they're not as comfortable out of the centre this season. They'll be happy to score the Eagles away from Subi on a weekend where anything less than 4 points will be deemed unacceptable. The Eagles are looking solider and have good talent coming through, but it won't be enough here.
PORT ADELAIDE (48 pts)vsRichmond - [AAMI Stadium]
A big game for the Tigers who have NEVER beaten the Power in Adelaideand have never come close to doing so. They won't here either, although the boost from last week's miracle win over Hawthorn should ensure a vibrant and confident start from the yellow and black. Alas they lack the speed and skill of the Port side that is beginning to return to the touch of last season. The Port defence crunched the Crows last week and the Tigers lack the options to hurt the Power, particularly if Richardson is out. Its also hard to see how the Tiger defence will be able to cope with the increasingly formidable looking Port attack. The Power cruising home...
WESTERN BULLDOGS(16 pts) vsST KILDA- [Telstra Dome]
I'm really unsure about this one. The Bulldogs have been fighting hard, but have lacked the touch of class required to get the points. St Kilda are a rough diamond, but have started to show signs of polish (they were robbed against the Tigers and were too good for the Cats). Still, the Cats are easy meat at the moment and I haven't forgotten how awful the Saints decision making was against Richmond. The Bulldogs have impressed more against tougher opposition lately and I think they may have enough of an edge to get across the line here.
FREMANTLE vsESSENDON (24 pts)- [Subiaco]
West Coast has been the only side to beat Freo at Subi since 2001, which would seem to make the Dockers a value bet here. Essendon impressed last week, however, and should be too tough and focused for a still flimsy opposition. The Bombers will be keen to erase unhappy memories of their visit here last season, which ended in a loss and a nasty facial injury to Hird. They will worry about Freo's run and fitness, but there was a renewed hardness to the Bombers game last week that warrants me tipping them this time around.
COLLINGWOOD(36 pts) vsSydney - [MCG]
The Pies are not having quite the presence that they were expecting after making the GF last year. They struggled up forward (again) against the Bombers and look decidedly impotent when Rocca and Tarrant play poorly. This is, of course, most of the time where the former is concerned, but he does tend to fire-up for his old side. I think that other sides have looked closely at the Pies over the summer and have worked them out a bit. The defence is brave, but vulnerable and a few sides will land some big hits on it before the year is out. Sydney won't be one of these sides though and I think the Pies should be able to tough their way through this one with a minimum of fuss.
GEELONGvs BRISBANE- [Shell Stadium]
Geelong is the worst side in the AFL right now and would be a clear favourite for the wooden spoon. Brisbane is the best side in the comp and are looking good things for a 3rd straight flag... You do the math! Geelong will have to be playing out of their skins to avoid a thumping here, although I suspect the Lions might play this one out on auto pilot. I'd like to give the Cats a show, but I can't see anywhere on the ground (bar the ruck) where they can break even, much less win out. If Brisbane dominates out of the centre it could get awful ugly awful fast and I suspect that Mark Thompson will not be sleeping comfortably (if at all) this week. He's a positive fellow for all that and you can bet he would have been incensed by Tim Watson's appalling midweek suggestion that the Cats should lay down and play for priority draft picks!!! I remember the same being said about Hawthorn late in 1998 and the team duly responded with five strong consecutive wins from the last five games. Hopefully Bomber will find a way to win before too long as he certainly deserves better.
CyberKev
