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AFL Preview Round 15 Season 2006

Until Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs ran out onto their respective grounds on Sunday the tips were looking good. I’d even given you all a boost with the selection of Richmond to beat the Power. 6 from 6 at that stage!! Seems the Bulldogs had wasted a lot of energy beating the West Coast Eagles at Subi the week before and had no petrol left in the tank to overcome the Kangaroos. Most people would have got that wrong. The effort of the Magpies against the Saints might be a truer indicator of where the Pies are this year relative to last season. However, I would not have given St Kilda 10 goals in against Collingwood. Those who had followed the preview but hated Collingwood should have scored 7 points. Mind you, these results should give all those tipsters who are a few points off the pace a bit of heart knowing that they can, with a bit of astute (and lucky) tipping catch the leaders who are all now, no doubt, tipping safely. You can make up 8 points in 8 rounds. Anything over 10 and you’d better start thinking about the knock out finals competition.

The tribunal has come under a bit of fire after an innocuous and attempted punch in the goolies by Daniel Kerr of the Eagles on Mitchell of Hawthorn. If it had been a cricket match Kerr would have hurt his hand when he punched the protector. I thought the new tribunal system disallowed the use of legal experts but it must only be at the initial hearing. A bit of a farce but going by the smile on Mitchells’ face not long after the report the “attempt” description would seem to be right. And they talk about the overacting on the soccer fields during the World Cup.

8 rounds to go tipsters and only the top 2 teams can be assured of a place in the finals although Melbourne’s form will see them safely into September action. The upsets are still available in these last few rounds albeit a bit rarer. There are a couple of opportunities to pick some reasonable roughies this week if you’re brave enough and want that tipping prize. Good luck.

Richmond V Melbourne – MCG Friday Night

Both teams remain undefeated at the MCG this season but you would have to be pretty brave to select the Tigers although you could also say that statistically the Demons are due for a loss. But will it be this Friday night? Safest bet here is to tip the Demons but it could be a bit closer than you might think.

Melbourne by 17

Essendon V St Kilda – MCG Saturday

The Saints have won their past two games by 10 goals. They’ll do better than that in this game.

St Kilda by 87

Adelaide V Hawthorn  – AAMI Stadium Saturday

Hawthorn worked their butts off last week to try and lose the game and they succeeded. Youth, inexperience and legs cost them in that last quarter – a game they should have won. Their problem this week is simply Adelaide. The Crows are also due for a loss but with the game being in Adelaide even if the Crows take it easy because it’s Hawthorn they will win, big time.

Adelaide Crows by 66

Kangaroos V Brisbane – Telstra Dome Saturday night

Okay tipsters, here’s the first game in which I predict not so much an upset but an opportunity to go against the common pick. The fact that the game is in Melbourne carries little weight as the match is indoors at Telstra. The teams are pretty even and strangely enough the Kangaroos have won their last three games while the Lions have won just one from their last 5 and that was against Carlton and we all know anybody can do that. The Lion injury list is headed by Jonathon Brown who is still 3 weeks away from a return but I reckon the Brisbane Lions can do this one. Also, I’m 5 points off the pace and I need an extra point this week. Hope this is the one.

Brisbane by 1

West Coast  V Sydney – Subiaco Saturday Night

As we all know this is a replay of last year’s grand final but I doubt whether Sydney is looking forward to it as much as the Eagles. Mind you, there was only a kick in it last year. Neither team is playing well at the moment and the West Coast are having an amazing time by winning games in the last gasp. They are good enough to do that. Sydney, although not playing well, has the capacity to win tough, tight games and this is going to be one of those. The invincibility of the Eagles at Subiaco suffered the last time they played at home when they played the Western Bulldogs. A difficult choice but you have to go with the home side.

West Coast by 16

Geelong V Port Adelaide – Skilled Stadium Sunday

Both teams are on 6 wins and two games outside the 8. The loser of this game will face an almost impossible task to make the finals in the rounds remaining and unfortunately for Port Adelaide the game is at Skilled stadium in Geelong. Yes, it is a bit closer to South Australia if you take the Ocean Road so Port can ease their traveling pains by making a weekend of it and fit in a bit of sight seeing as well. They should seriously consider the option as it will be the only joy they get for the week.

Geelong by 43

Carlton V Western Bulldogs – Telstra Dome Sunday 

After last week’s shock loss to the Kangaroos there was probably a bit of scratching of heads, patting some ruffled fur, sniffing of bums and de -fleaing going on in the kennel during the week because the loss cost the Western Bulldogs a place in the top four on the ladder. The Doggies can rest assured that similar antics have been on the go amongst the Blues ALL season to no avail. If you think E = mc2 was tough to figure out try linking Fevola, full forward for a bottom-ish team, leading the goalkicking!! Downright freakish. Enough of the ftechnical stuff, you won’t need a science degree to work out that the Bulldogs have the winning formula in this game.

Western Bulldogs by 39

Collingwood V Fremantle – MCG Sunday

Basically, the Pies are in crisis mode and that’s because they gave all their fans hope that they would be figuring in the last week in September again. Their early season form certainly gave all enemies of the black and white’s a nasty scare as well. The Pies have been thrashed by Melbourne, Richmond and St Kilda, not just beaten. Malthouse stated the obvious I believe when he said that the Pies had greatly improved on last season but that didn’t make them a grand finals team. Sad but true. Then we have the Dockers. Let’s face it, based on form they have a great chance of winning this game and their inconsistency might be on the upside when they play this game at the Gee. The trouble is no-one knows until the final siren has sounded. Least of all the players and the coach. The mistakes made in their game against Essendon last week must have frustrated the fans but fortunately the Bombers are that bad that Freo’s poor efforts were still enough to win the Dorks the game. I doubt that this game will be a pretty spectacle unless you’re a Collingwood supporter because they will win to turn around their fortunes and at least ensure they play the finals in September. Rocca and Tarrant must fire though.

Collingwood by 29

Article last changed on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 1:29 PM EDT


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