AFL SEASON 2000
PREVIEW ROUND 4
byJohn Loffler.
(Currently 13 from 24 = 54.2%)
What a wonderful week for the AFL it has been folks! There was a movie called “He says, she says” wasn’t there? We have barely let the ink dry on the West Coast Eagles and Ben Cousins drug headlines when we get the Terrible Tattoo Tales between Des Headland and Adam Selwood. In a discussion with a mate in Victoria I found out that the newspapers over there had more information about the verbal exchange than the West Australian newspaper although in retrospect, based on the tribunal decision, the Victorian papers fabricated the lot! The tribunal decision made it all the more confusing when it basically agreed with both versions of what happened between Selwood and Headland and applied no penalties, but, with the closing comment that extreme provocation was no excuse for biffing somebody and that this was not to be a precedent. Wanna bet?
On a more serious and immediate note these extracurricular activities are playing havoc with our tipping. Instead of picking up a bit of useful football information from coaches and training staff in mid week interviews the reporters just keep asking the dumb questions about drugs, illicit affairs and who said what to whom the answers to which have nothing to do with the coming match against the opposition. This lack of information is depriving you, the tipster, immersed in a battle of football skills of your own, of useful information that enables you to confidently place a tick next to your weekend’s selection with some air of confidence. Have a look at that tipping percentage!! Barely more than half! It’s a disgrace and in our competition we have a guy that is not only 3 points clear of the mass of tipsters behind him but also hasn’t paid his entry fee!
It seems we will need to give these games a bit more thought so this week’s preview will be a little more analytical, a little more incisive, have a little more decisive data and perhaps as a result, be a little less opinionated. However, I wouldn’t bet on it because in all the years of doing tipping I find that most people tip with their hearts which of course leaves them nowhere when it comes to the prizes. There are a couple of tough selections this week but tipsters, we are looking at scoring that elusive 8 this week to get us back on track. Good luck!
Richmond V Western Bulldogs MCG Friday Night
Well the Tigers aren’t unbeatable, just ask three other teams
And the Bulldogs need to take a check on reaching final dreams
If both these teams reverse their form, a formidable task
Then Richmond beating Bullldogs will be a monumental ask.
It’s Dogs for me to win the game at the ‘G’ on Friday night
And finally have a good tipping start to get this first one right.
Bulldogs by 29
St Kilda V Essendon at the Telstra Dome Saturday
Were the Bombers good to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?
While the Saints smashed up the Bullies in a form reversal spree.
Riewoldt’s back and Ball stays out but it’s surely safe to say
That the Saints will be just far too good for Essendon this day.
Matthew Lloyd is back at full forward marking every pass
While Lucas stalks the forward line to kick them from his **se
But you’d have to give the Saints the nod with their ‘G’ train, what a freak,
And hope their form stays consistent and not changing week to week.
St Kilda by 21
Collingwood V Port Adelaide at MCG Saturday
I tipped against those bloody Pies in their game last Friday night
And you would have thought at half time that I’d got that d*mn tip right
But up they got in the second half and put the Tigers in a spin
And got 4 points on their board with a great, courageous win.
I’d be a fool to tip against them again this bloody week
The Power doesn’t have the guys to stop this one game winning streak
The game is at the MCG not Port Adelaide’s favourite ground
So unless you hate the mighty Pies the tip this week is sound.
Collingwood by 18
Kangaroos V Brisbane at Gold Coast Saturday night
With the wooden spoon just looming within the Kangas reach
Can they lure the fans to follow and drag them from the beach?
The season’s looking shaky so they need to show their wares
And win support in Queensland up against the Brisbane Bears
But as much as we all love them and their fans will surely cope
In this game played at Gold Coast they haven’t got a hope.
Brisbane by 33
Adelaide V Sydney at AAMI Stadium Saturday Night
The Crows have got some form back after a disastrous season start
But up against the Sydney Swans they’d better find some heart
The Swans they just keep winning with Goodes, O’Loughlin, Hall
And Barry, Tadhg, the Boltons all winning lots of ball
Can McLeod and Goodwin stop them, Van Berlo be star
Will the Crows fans jammed in AAMI be yelling “oooh” and “aaahhh”?
Can this game cause controversy with Spyder Everitt too
If someone can decipher and abuse his gross tattoo?
We hope the match is close and both teams give their best
My tip this week is Adelaide to overcome the test.
Adelaide Crows by 11
Hawthorn V Geelong at Aurora Tasmania Sunday
This is the Cat team that went missing in last year’s later games
Geelong fans almost rioted while Bomber Thompson hid his shame
Those pussycats have found some claws the cat’s out of the sack
But the Hawks have won their last two games to put them back on track.
This game is played in Tassie the home of ‘Siren gate’
Where you might wait for an extra week to learn of your team’s fate
But the tip is for the mighty Cats to continue on this week
And beat the Hawks, consolidate, maintain that winning streak.
Geelong by 43
Melbourne V Fremantle At MCG Sunday
It’s a cellar-dwellers battle the Dees against the Dockers
The last three weeks both these teams have put in bloody shockers
Half the Freo team is injured or suspended
While the Melbourne forward line is gone with Neitz and Robbo both upended
Who to pick you wonder, can that Freo team perform?
Or will they fritter away their chances with clangers as their norm?
And what about Melbourne and their dreams of final four
Continue playing like they are and those dreams are out the door
The Dockers have to win, they’ve got the better side
So better tip them against the Dees and start that upward ride.
Fremantle by 22
West Coast V Carlton at Subiaco on Sunday
Drugs and sex and rock’n’roll can be seen on MTV
Or down at Eagles training, that’s the place to be!
But hey they’re winning games and playing pretty well
So Carlton’s trip to Subi is another ride to hell.
Last year the Blues came close and nearly took the prize
But if they get that close this year it’ll be a big surprise
Ya gotta go the West Coast with Juddy, Cox in ruck
And Kerr and Embley, Lynch and Braun who doesn’t give a f……
Can the Eagles kick the sweep or will the Blues put up a show
Does Carlton think they’ll really win? Emphatically that’s ‘No”!
West Coast by 33
Article last changed on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 3:49 PM EDT
