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Last Week: 5 from 8 – Total 108/168 (64.3%)

Well dear readers and footy fanatics, here it is. The last instalment of footy previews for the 2006 Home and Away season for the AFL. It’s hard to believe another season is almost gone. We were going along very nicely until about 5 weeks ago and in our bid to find that upset result we continued to pick incorrectly, nay, injudiciously, leaving us with an impossible task in the last round to catch the leader. In fact, hanging on for third place and a bit of the money will be a challenge in itself. Ya gotta love this game!! Can we tip 4 draws in the one weekend?

My good fortune in tipping came to an end about the same time the Dockers decided to win consistently and it looks like Freo supporters can laugh now and say that my fate was well deserved. 2 months ago Fremantle were actively seeking another coach and assistant Harvey was wringing his hands in glee thinking that a senior position was just another lousy Docker showing away. Well, it’s in the news folks. That lousy loss has not yet come. In fact no darn loss has come to the Dockers in 8 long weeks and the bookies have cut their premiership odds to be second favourite for the flag!! Who woulda thought??! Connolly is showing as the coach LEAST likely to lose his job while the finger pointing is now directed at Mark Thompson down at Geelong. How can they say Thommo doesn’t have the player support when one brave soul was prepared to give his kidney for the cause? Meanwhile back at the ranch cowboy Akermanis has donned his boots and spurs and has moseyed on down to Essendon and Melbourne to flash his talents in the hope that one of these teams thinks he still has something to offer. To be continued? We’ll see.

The season has seen some of the greats retire but conversely has also seen some of the greats decide to continue. Here’s hoping they all made the right decision.

The fun and games continues within the final 8 with only the Western Bulldogs reasonably sure that 8th will be the best they can manage. First and second may change, and certainly there can be quite a bit of movement within those teams from 3rd to 7th that may decide their ultimate fate based on who and where they play. Dear Lord, please do not allow there to be a Western Australian Grand Final. However, if that is your will make sure it’s played at Subi starting at 2.30 pm WST resulting in me and my mates to be still standing and not dribbling from the mouth at 5.30 pm on a Grand Final day.

I trust that most readers have enjoyed the season’s rantings, half truths, innocuous, uneducated tips and general ramblings mixed with the odd bit of humour (or should that be odd humour?) and that I am invited back again next year to annoy and educate. By the way, I believe the last time a full forward from the bottom team won the goal kicking was when a bloke called John Peck, who played for Hawthorn, kicked about 57 goals to win the trophy and that was circa season 1961…I think. It was suggested by a subscriber that it might have been Tony Lockett. Not sure. Good tipping this week and good luck.

Western Bulldogs V Essendon – Telstra Dome Friday Night

A nothing game here with Essendon experiencing a fabulous season to finish second last and secure in the knowledge that Carlton will be flogged by Sydney so they can take this one easy and still not win / lose the wooden spoon. The Bullies are talking about resting something like 10 players which would give them a squad of 20 to pick from so there is a chance they may lose this game at the selection table. Rest a player when you must be geared up to win the first final or die??!! You have to be kidding. The Bullies must win this one and be able to go into the finals with that winning mentality or they will be gone by the end of finals week one.

Western Bulldogs by 17

Richmond V West Coast Eagles – MCG Saturday

Richmond has something to prove in that they are the best team outside the final 8. Meanwhile the Eagles need to get the ship back on course after a shameful flogging by their downtown cousins the Dockers last Sunday by no less than 57 points. But here’s a game tipsters that a modicum of bravery may reward you with that elusive extra point you need to catch the tipping leader. The Eagles don’t like the MCG, they will be down after last week’s game, they are traveling across the country and they still have players with some niggling injuries. The Tigers have booted some impressive scores over the past couple of weeks and Richo is looking good with his 9 goals against the Bombers last week. All the signs point to Richmond and you know what I say about signs? Ignore ‘em.

West Coast by 11

Adelaide V Melbourne – AAMI Stadium Saturday

The Crows cannot lose their hosting a home final in the first week and cannot fall lower than second. They have been hit with a spate of injuries that even Craig would admit will test their depth. Melbourne let slip the golden opportunity last week when they let the Cats claw their way back into a game they should not have been allowed to draw although Dees coach Daniher was correct in saying that they still had to win this week regardless. With so much more to play for Melbourne will be the AAMI scarecrow this week and cement their place into fourth and the double chance and a game against the Eagles the following week.

No prediction.

Brisbane V St Kilda – Gabba Saturday Night

Even with a recall to Akermanis the Lions will not win this game. The Saints have really gathered some momentum over the past few weeks and while Brisbane will stick with the Saints for the early parts of the game they will not be able to maintain the pressure. I’m selecting the Saints to win this comfortably and kick a pretty big score to go along with it.

St Kilda by 61

Fremantle V Port Adelaide – Subiaco Saturday Night

Freo need to maintain that purple rage to make sure they win this game because a top 4 finish for the Dockers will certainly give them a good chance at making the grand final. I bet they wish it wasn’t Port they were playing in the last game because the Power have been reasonably good over the latter part of the season and given the opportunity they will spoil the Fremantle party. Port tend to still chip it around so the Freo strategy should be to pressure the ball carrier like they did against the Eagles and force errors. If they stick with my game plan nothing will go wrong. If they go back to their old style of play they will be premiershipwrecked. Here’s hoping.

Fremantle by 29

Sydney V Carlton – SCG Sunday

The Sydney Swans will ensure consecutive wooden spoon for the Blues but I must say that the Carlton versus Collingwood game of last week was one of the best of the season for goals kicked, sensational snaps, tough and brilliant and only in the last quarter did the Pies prevail. So Sydney needs to be mindful that give this young Carlton side a bit of leash and they might find it difficult to rein them in. Hall may be rested with a crook back and at the other end Fevola will find it hard against a stingy Swans back line but that’s been his story all year anyway and hasn’t he been good? It certainly has put a stop to all those distasteful Fev jokes too. The Swans remain poised to take over any of the two positions above them should one Melbourne or Fremantle falter. How many of you are predicting a replay of last year’s grand final? It’s possible.

Sydney by 50

Collingwood V Kangaroos – MCG Sunday

A bit of Rocca nostalgia in this game with the big Sav retiring from AFL to take up a kicking position in the NFL where they apparently pay you to kick the ball 50 metres high and 40 metres long to a touch line, not even passing it to another player cased in so much padding and a steel helmet that they look 3 times bigger than they really are. How easy is that for Sav? And did I mention the pay? $10 million a season for short passing the pigskin. Anyway, it should be said that like the Swans the Pies need to win this game just in case Freo and Melbourne crash and burn which would give them a top 4 finish and look out friends if Collingwood finishes that high. However, last game of the season and you can bet Laidley won’t make it easy for the Magpies but one (me) can only hope that they can back up last week’s effort to knock of the Kangaroos.

Collingwood by 24

Hawthorn V Geelong – Telstra Dome Sunday

Now wasn’t it this game that started the Catrot when the Hawks gave them a hiding at Skilled earlier in the year? Well, this game is at Telstra and Hawthorn is playing as well as if not better than Geelong at the moment. If there’s any truth in the rumours at Geelong then it will show here where neither team has really anything to play for other than pride. The fact that the Cats may have felt they should have made the finals but didn’t and the fact that Hawthorn has had a reasonably improved season could be the attitudinal difference to swing this game Hawthorn’s way. In a match where the mental approach will determine the winner and the possibility of another draw is strong I’m thinking............

Hawthorn by 1

Article last changed on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 2:10 PM EDT


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