AFLTips.Com Preview News
Round 18 - 3 August 2001
w: http://www.afltips.com/
e: adrian@afltips.com
* Brought to you in conjunction with BigFooty.com -
http://www.bigfooty.com/
* Play the BigFooty Fantasy Footy game here -
http://footy.virtualsports.com.au/?partner_id=1
+----------+
INDEX
1) Announcement.
2) Quiz Questions
3) "Weekly Round-Up" - match previews by our Regular Contributors
4) Quiz Answers
5) Various info about AFLTips.Com
+----------+
1) Slack Issue
Hi everyone,
This is my one official 'really slack issue' of the season.
Most reports are here, but I have not formatted them or anything.
I though it best to send something out now than leave you hanging.
Various things have contributed to this state of affairs but I
will not nore you with them now
Quiz is also in this issue, but The Half Back Flanker and Phil
Doyle are both indisposed so no commentary articles.
Prize draw in the Monday issue.
Yours,
Adrian Groves
+----------+
2) Quiz Questions
AFL Trivia No. 018 - Questions
1. Which team won the premiership in 1987?
2. Who was leading goalkicker for Essendon in 1994, but now plays for another AFL club?
3. Who was captain of North Melbourne from 1979 to 1987, and then coached them from 1990 to 1992?
4. Who coached Fitzroy from 1986 to 1988?
5. On how many occasions did Jason Dunstall of Hawthorn kick 100 goals or more in a season?
Answers at the end of this newsletter.
+----------+
3) Weekly Round-Up
from our Regular Contributors
http://www.afltips.com/people/
(E-mail adrian@afltips.com if you'd like to become a
contributor.)
**********
Essendon v Carlton
This may turn out to be the game of the season as there will be match ups all over the field. This game could provide a lot of answers for the final aspirations of both teams and at the same time could raise a lot of questions.
The Blues desperate and with their backs to the wall must win to have any hope of making the top 4. Will the Blues risk everything and go for broke? In past seasons you would not contemplate the Blues losing a match on the occasion of a senior players' milestone however this has happened this year.
I expect every senior player at the Blues to put his hand up and declare himself fit for Craig Bradley's 350th game. How much are they willing to go through for their captain? What will be the career span of any Blues player who doesn't put himself on the line? The Blues appear to have a list of underdone senior players returning from injury and young kids still learning the ropes. If the Blues don't risk these underdone senior players can they still win? Will they stick to the rule of fit players only? It won them the
game last time.
The Dons don't like the idea of the Blues having the bogey on them and still wince when talking about the 1999 finals. They want to say and prove that no team will regularly test them. I believe they chose to rest Fletcher last weekend in order to ensure he was fit for this match. He could've played and
may have been the difference on Tredrea however the Dons can't lose top spot so they may as well nurse their stars along. Hird has been eased along and other players are gradually being returned to the team before the finals. If this match becomes very physical will the Dons continue to throw themselves
into the fray ? They will have top spot no matter what happens and have a very good chance of making the grand final. Would you as a player be willing to risk injury and missing the finals for a match that won't affect their chances?
These teams have played each other in blockbuster matches for the last few years. These players know each other so well that I wouldn't be surprised if they sent each other Xmas cards. As a guess I would say that Lloyd will probably get his regular match up in Manton with Beaumont on Hird, McKay on Mercuri, Rice on Moorcroft, Christou on Lucas, and a rotation of Fletcher Freeborn etc on the other forward flankers, Allan in ruck against Barnes
etc. The trouble is that with these player match ups both teams can become too predictable. You can win a lot of matches but at the same time if your opponent has your measure then they can base a game plan on exploiting that edge. However if you take some of your forward stars up to the backline then you limit your chance to win. For this reason I expect Sheedy to spring a surprise and play a youngster or two out of position to try and get some advantage.
Last time they met the Blues played man on man and assigned 1 player to each Essendon player and made them their opponent for the day. They had their stars out and it was generally thought that the Dons would win easily however no-one counted on a team committed to a simple game plan and concentrated discipline. The Carlton players followed their designated opponents everywhere including to the interchange bench. There was even a joke going around that the Carlton players were so disciplined that they followed their coaches instructions to the letter and followed the Essendon players up the race at half time and into the Dons change rooms and were drug tested along with their opponents.
The Dons were not prepared for this tactic and it destroyed any chance their coaching panel had of engineering a mismatch in any position. As far as Carlton was concerned no player was irreplaceable and if all of the Essendon players had gone to the forward pocket so would all of the Carlton team. If Hird went off and his opponent was Kouta then Kouta followed him to the
interchange and went off. I think that for the first time in his coaching career Sheedy may have been caught off guard and was unprepared for this tactic. Sheedy won't be caught out with that tactic again so if the Blues are to have any chance then Brittain will have to come up with something new.
Essendon have a decided advantage in height especially down back where I think that Wellman is having his best season. I expect Fletcher to be recalled to add to the Blues problems. I think Whitnall will play but I doubt if Kouta and Fevola can come up. Whitnall has been the missing link for Carlton and he will have his hands full with Wellman. Hickmott and Solomon are two tough characters and their will be a lot of hard physical clashes between these two. Rioli would have been the wild card if fit in
this clash however he may be one of those players who is just dogged by bad luck. When he's on song he's great to watch but he spends more time injured than playing.
Even if Kouta and Whitnall are both fit the Blues can't expect to get into a goal scoring shootout with the Dons and win. As North proved no team can play a free flowing football strategy against the Dons and win. The Dons have the ability to kick quick goals and the self belief that comes from a winning habit. To win you must shut down their key play makers and the run they get out of the half backline but this is easier said than done.
I expect Essendon to try and exploit Plunkett by playing a fast running player on him. He is a ball magnet but he is not overly tall and his pace and kicking skills can let him down. This is a weakness that the Dons will plan to exploit. I expect the Dons to play a tall quick running player on him and instruct that player to run off Plunkett at every chance. This player will then be used as the link man and a marking target up forward.
I expect this to be a knock down drag out contest that is not pretty to watch but is all about in and under players, continuous rotations, man on man contests and we can only hope the umpire bounces the ball straight up and we have no last minute decisions which affect the result. My head tells me the Dons are too good and skilful for the Blues but I just have a sneaky
suspicion and uneasy feeling that against all logic the Blues will win. It wouldn't be the first or last time there has been an upset. To do that the Blues need their lesser lights to rise to the occasion and start to kick straight. I have to go with my gut feeling.
The Blues by 15 points.
Other winners
Richmond
Geelong
Hawks
Sydney
Port
Brisbane
West Coast
- Amazonstud
**********
North v. Brisbane
The last throw of the dice this week for the Kangaroos. Lose this week and they miss the finals for the first time under Dennis Pagan.
After playing some of the best ever footy and getting zero points – their morale would be low and now they have to regroup for Sydney.
With their assault on Sydney and the 'Boo A Roo' campagin over, alot of the sting will be taken out of the game.
The Swans will be keen to continue their recent claim up the ladder and if results go their way, they could be as high as fourth after the weekend.
Swans at home should prevail but it will not be a cakewalk.
Tip: Swans by 18 points
In other games:
Collingwood
Brisbane
Essendon
Adelaide
Geelong
West Coast
Hawthorn
- David Wiseman
**********
Geelong V Melbourne Saturday, August 04, 2001 @ MCG
Last weeks AFL action was amazing. If this week can live up to the close standard of last week, then this match will be one of the highlights. Geelong are beginning to find some from heading into the last few rounds of the season. After winning their last two matches they are positioned dangerously in ninth spot on the ladder trailing Collingwood only on percentage.
Meanwhile for Melbourne, the road ahead seems to show no major goals. After a fairly disappointing season thus far, last weeks loss to Adelaide destroyed their finals hope and made it impossible to advance to the fast approaching finals series. So the Demons are playing for pride and that is quite often when teams are the most dangerous. The Melbourne faithful will make their way to the MCG to try to push their side from loosing their third straight game.
It has been a very quiet week at both clubs, besides the news that Garry Hocking may be retiring at the end of the season. The club has told him that they won’t be extending his contract at the end of the season. This will be a sure incentive for the great veteran to play some more of his magical football and impress the spectators a few last times. A lift by
Garry will spark a lift from all of the Geelong players, so Melbourne will need to be on their game.
Last week both Melbourne and Geelong did play some pretty impressive
footy in parts. Melbourne just need to hold out their opposition over
the four quarters if the want to be competitive this week. Geelong on
the other hand with certainly have this sights set on making it into the
finals series and give themselves a chance at the flag.
My tip for this game: Geelong to get over the line in a close one (2
points)
Other matches:
Fri 3 Aug - 7:40 PM Collingwood MCG (N)
Sat 4 Aug - 2:10 PM Geelong MCG
Sat 4 Aug - 2:10 PM Hawthorn Colonial Stadium
Sat 4 Aug - 7:40 PM Kangaroos SCG (N)
Sun 5 Aug - 2:10 PM Port Adelaide Football Park
Sun 5 Aug - 2:10 PM Brisbane Lions Gabba
Sun 5 Aug - 2:10 PM Essendon MCG
Sun 5 Aug - 4:10 PM West Coast Subiaco
Joshua Hemelaar
**********
WEST COAST vs ST.KILDA MATCH PREVIEW
Where do I start describing a match that will be about as interesting as
Bernie Fraser's superannuation TV commercials?
Could I rave about the wonderful skills of players such Collica, Taylor,
Wooden, Carroll, Delaney, Plapp, Peckett and Gale? No.
Could I float the possibility of this being potentially one of the sport's
all-time greatest games with a 25 goals apiece shootout? No.
Could I do anything to hide the fact that this is a contest between the
AFL's 14th and 15th ranked teams, whose poor showings this season have only
been less laughable because of the existence of the Fremantle Dockers? No.
Let's face it, you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear, or more to the
point, you can't polish a turd. Anyone who has even a passing interest in
the AFL competition will have their mind's attention firmly ensconsed in the
happenings of the Essendon vs Carlton games at the MCG, some 5000 km from
the scrap between these two basket cases.
I suppose in going through the motions of writing a match report for a
complete non-event, it is expected that there is some sort of look at the
team lists. Well, the Eagles regain goalsneak Phil Matera, experienced
defender Ashley McIntosh and young ruckman Dean Cox while the Saints' woes
continue with the suspension of rugged forward Barry Hall for three matches,
and an injury to midfielder Caydn Beetham. St.Kilda are already missing the
bulk of their AFL-standard players, with Harvey, Loewe and Burke all out for
the season(850 games between them), and midfielders Steven Lawrence, Robert
Powell, Lenny Hayes, Brett Moyle and Jason Cripps also injured. The Eagles
are also mising many players, with Kemp, Braun, Donnelly, Prior, Morrison,
Sierakowski and Read all not playing this weekend. What it leaves is a
handful of very good players surrounded by two teams made up of young kids
and recycled hacks, something which I can't imagine too may people getting
excited about.
The last time these two teams played there was a minor upset with West Coast
beating the Saints at Colonial for a rare win away from Perth. As it has
transpired, on this years form, beating the Saints anywhere is no longer
considered an upset, doesn't matter who you are or where you play them...
and West Coast are almost as bad! That Round 3 game heralded the arrival of
Troy Wilson who kicked 7 goals for the Eagles in only his third game, yet 15
rounds later and he has almost fully reacuainted himself with the anonimity
that accompanied his first 29 years of life before AFL football.
Try as I might, to get excited about this game, I can't - I have a more
pressing appointment on Sunday afternoon, trying to teach my cat to speak
Dutch.
The verdict : West Coast by 40 points. Spectators comatose. Assigned match
reviewer experimenting with a dangerous mixture of caffeine, battery acid
and Prozac.
- Dark Avenger
**********
Lions vs Bulldogs, Sunday, August 5, 2001 Gabba 2:10 PM
I always stifle a sigh when friends who barracked for Fitzroy claim Brisbane
as their team. “It WAS a merger, a fair dinkum merger,” they insist,
pointing to the jumper and couple of ex-Fitzroy players as proof, while
whistling La Marseillaise and checking the fixture for the next Brisbane
game in Melbourne. I shouldn’t mock – my team is always being threatened
with merger and if they relocated or were swallowed up (hands off, Mr
Elliott), I’d.. dunno. Maybe it’s better to have a team, any team, to
barrack for, than none at all. An awful choice.
So let’s call them Britzroy, to appease the die-hards and the post-96ers.
Having beaten North, Britzroy host another team under financial scrutiny,
the Western Bulldogs. You’ll note I used their post-1996 name but the FFC
on the back of their jumper is a reminder of the Dogs’ soul. (Apparently it
stands for Footscray Football Club but could stand for something else,
depending on how you feel about them at the time) I’m a Doggie Doubter but
I DON’T doubt that they will be rueing the one that got away against
Richmond after leading in the last stanza. Alas, Britzroy will be too
good, so the Dogs will have their tails between their legs again (That’s one
canine pun out of the way).
Britzroy’ve acquired several scalps including the Bombers’. Granted, the
latter was at the Gabba but it’s Essendon, so shutup. Speaking of Grants,
Chris didn’t get amongst the best last week but will have to lift against
Britzroy. Daniel Bradshaw booted six goals and Tim Notting and Craig
McCrae kicked four apiece. All this while the rejuvenated Alistair “What
chronic fatigue?” Lynch played in defence. Others, like Jason Akermanis and
Captain Michael Voss are explosive and the Bulldogs simply won’t be able to
match their pace or skill. Craig Ellis did a reasonable job on Matthew
Richardson for three quarters and Terry Wallace will give him a task on one
of Britzroy’s tall forwards. Look out for Nathan Brown, who was absolutely
magnificent against Richmond with a goal in each quarter. Scott West should
have a more decisive role this time than his stack of possessions last week
returned. Tony Liberatore will probably take Voss, continuing the long,
sometimes spiteful history between them. But at the Gabba it’ll be all
Britzroy, who’ll win by 33 in a dogged battle (only two puns, not bad).
- Jane Woolard
**********
Collingwood v Richmond
MCG - Friday 3rd August, 2001 (N)
The Collingwood Magpies, this is your life.
Backs against the wall and facing off with a fired up Richmond this Friday night, Collingwood will need to produce their own type of Terry Wallace-like 'crunch' match performance to come through smiling. It's not as if their season doesn't really depend on it.
Much has been made of the tough nature of Collingwood's draw, with the criticism being fairer than the draw in question. In season 2001 the Pies meet Essendon, Carlton, Hawthorn, Richmond, The Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs twice each and travel interstate four times. Their Round 22 game against the Roos in Canberra shapes up as perhaps the penultimate final rule of this year's ladder placings and consequent finals contenders. But for Collingwood, Round 18 against The Tigers is, right now, every bit as important.
Make no bones about it, this game is a certified blockbuster. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Richmond loves the blockbuster. The Richmond ethic a.k.a. Tigers ego is fed on games like these when victory unfurls in front of 50,000 salivating scum bags screaming "yellow and black!" with the club song, like the nongs at a football match they are.
In Round 4 of this year, on a day when the Colliwobbles were evident, The Tigers, although not playing much better, snuck home in what turned out to be a close margin, yet anti-epic. Last week however, Richmond were virtual warriors against the Bulldogs to survive by two points. Collingwood came home strongly against Fremantle and would hope to continue the flow this week.
Richmond are fifth on the ladder, Collingwood are eighth. The gap is justified. With the Tigers starting as favourites to win, a Collingwood victory would be a great thing for the AFL and Australia's underdog loving football public, as well as Collingwood in its every little whim and fancy. Pity then that the collective tiger ego will most likely bloat again. Clueless, Yarra dwelling fans will reappear from the woodwork. Danny Frawley and co. will be bouncing off the walls...again. Magpie types will reconsider which exact ladder placing does define an improved season after all.
Richmond's gun players are in good form. Brad Ottens, Matthew Richardson, Wayne Campbell, Leon Cameron, Joel Bowden, Darren Gaspar to name but a few. On the other hand, most of Collingwood's potential match winners have contributed only in bursts, especially over recent weeks.
Don't write the Magpies off, but don't bet your house on them either.
PREDICTION: RICHMOND BY 18 POINTS.
- matto
other games tips (progressive 90):
Cats over Demons by 24
Hawks over Dockers by 50
Swans over Roos by 12
Power over Crows by 35
Lions over Dogs by 25
Bombers over Blues by 30
Saints over Eagles by 15
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+----------+
4) Quiz Answers
AFL Trivia No. 018 - Answers
1. Carlton won the premiership in 1987.
2. Scott Cummings was Essendon’s leading goalkicker in 1994 with 32 goals, and now plays for West Coast.
3. Wayne Schimmelbusch was captain of North Melbourne from 1979 to 1987, and then coached them from 1990 to 1992.
4. David Parkin coached Fitzroy from 1986 to 1988.
5. Jason Dunstall of Hawthorn kicked 100 goals or more in a season on six occasions.
+----------+
5) Info about AFLTips.Com
Feel free to forward this newsletter on to your mates.
AFLTips.Com is not associated with the Australian Football League
in any way. We just talk about them. A lot.
The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those
of Adrian Groves. I recommend that you do your own independent
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In fact I demand it - and let me know what you find out...
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go to http://www.afltips.com/ and fill out the form on the front
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Copyright (C) Adrian Groves, 2001
ENDS
*****************************************************************
Round 18 - 3 August 2001
w: http://www.afltips.com/
e: adrian@afltips.com
* Brought to you in conjunction with BigFooty.com -
http://www.bigfooty.com/
* Play the BigFooty Fantasy Footy game here -
http://footy.virtualsports.com.au/?partner_id=1
+----------+
INDEX
1) Announcement.
2) Quiz Questions
3) "Weekly Round-Up" - match previews by our Regular Contributors
4) Quiz Answers
5) Various info about AFLTips.Com
+----------+
1) Slack Issue
Hi everyone,
This is my one official 'really slack issue' of the season.
Most reports are here, but I have not formatted them or anything.
I though it best to send something out now than leave you hanging.
Various things have contributed to this state of affairs but I
will not nore you with them now
Quiz is also in this issue, but The Half Back Flanker and Phil
Doyle are both indisposed so no commentary articles.
Prize draw in the Monday issue.
Yours,
Adrian Groves
+----------+
2) Quiz Questions
AFL Trivia No. 018 - Questions
1. Which team won the premiership in 1987?
2. Who was leading goalkicker for Essendon in 1994, but now plays for another AFL club?
3. Who was captain of North Melbourne from 1979 to 1987, and then coached them from 1990 to 1992?
4. Who coached Fitzroy from 1986 to 1988?
5. On how many occasions did Jason Dunstall of Hawthorn kick 100 goals or more in a season?
Answers at the end of this newsletter.
+----------+
3) Weekly Round-Up
from our Regular Contributors
http://www.afltips.com/people/
(E-mail adrian@afltips.com if you'd like to become a
contributor.)
**********
Essendon v Carlton
This may turn out to be the game of the season as there will be match ups all over the field. This game could provide a lot of answers for the final aspirations of both teams and at the same time could raise a lot of questions.
The Blues desperate and with their backs to the wall must win to have any hope of making the top 4. Will the Blues risk everything and go for broke? In past seasons you would not contemplate the Blues losing a match on the occasion of a senior players' milestone however this has happened this year.
I expect every senior player at the Blues to put his hand up and declare himself fit for Craig Bradley's 350th game. How much are they willing to go through for their captain? What will be the career span of any Blues player who doesn't put himself on the line? The Blues appear to have a list of underdone senior players returning from injury and young kids still learning the ropes. If the Blues don't risk these underdone senior players can they still win? Will they stick to the rule of fit players only? It won them the
game last time.
The Dons don't like the idea of the Blues having the bogey on them and still wince when talking about the 1999 finals. They want to say and prove that no team will regularly test them. I believe they chose to rest Fletcher last weekend in order to ensure he was fit for this match. He could've played and
may have been the difference on Tredrea however the Dons can't lose top spot so they may as well nurse their stars along. Hird has been eased along and other players are gradually being returned to the team before the finals. If this match becomes very physical will the Dons continue to throw themselves
into the fray ? They will have top spot no matter what happens and have a very good chance of making the grand final. Would you as a player be willing to risk injury and missing the finals for a match that won't affect their chances?
These teams have played each other in blockbuster matches for the last few years. These players know each other so well that I wouldn't be surprised if they sent each other Xmas cards. As a guess I would say that Lloyd will probably get his regular match up in Manton with Beaumont on Hird, McKay on Mercuri, Rice on Moorcroft, Christou on Lucas, and a rotation of Fletcher Freeborn etc on the other forward flankers, Allan in ruck against Barnes
etc. The trouble is that with these player match ups both teams can become too predictable. You can win a lot of matches but at the same time if your opponent has your measure then they can base a game plan on exploiting that edge. However if you take some of your forward stars up to the backline then you limit your chance to win. For this reason I expect Sheedy to spring a surprise and play a youngster or two out of position to try and get some advantage.
Last time they met the Blues played man on man and assigned 1 player to each Essendon player and made them their opponent for the day. They had their stars out and it was generally thought that the Dons would win easily however no-one counted on a team committed to a simple game plan and concentrated discipline. The Carlton players followed their designated opponents everywhere including to the interchange bench. There was even a joke going around that the Carlton players were so disciplined that they followed their coaches instructions to the letter and followed the Essendon players up the race at half time and into the Dons change rooms and were drug tested along with their opponents.
The Dons were not prepared for this tactic and it destroyed any chance their coaching panel had of engineering a mismatch in any position. As far as Carlton was concerned no player was irreplaceable and if all of the Essendon players had gone to the forward pocket so would all of the Carlton team. If Hird went off and his opponent was Kouta then Kouta followed him to the
interchange and went off. I think that for the first time in his coaching career Sheedy may have been caught off guard and was unprepared for this tactic. Sheedy won't be caught out with that tactic again so if the Blues are to have any chance then Brittain will have to come up with something new.
Essendon have a decided advantage in height especially down back where I think that Wellman is having his best season. I expect Fletcher to be recalled to add to the Blues problems. I think Whitnall will play but I doubt if Kouta and Fevola can come up. Whitnall has been the missing link for Carlton and he will have his hands full with Wellman. Hickmott and Solomon are two tough characters and their will be a lot of hard physical clashes between these two. Rioli would have been the wild card if fit in
this clash however he may be one of those players who is just dogged by bad luck. When he's on song he's great to watch but he spends more time injured than playing.
Even if Kouta and Whitnall are both fit the Blues can't expect to get into a goal scoring shootout with the Dons and win. As North proved no team can play a free flowing football strategy against the Dons and win. The Dons have the ability to kick quick goals and the self belief that comes from a winning habit. To win you must shut down their key play makers and the run they get out of the half backline but this is easier said than done.
I expect Essendon to try and exploit Plunkett by playing a fast running player on him. He is a ball magnet but he is not overly tall and his pace and kicking skills can let him down. This is a weakness that the Dons will plan to exploit. I expect the Dons to play a tall quick running player on him and instruct that player to run off Plunkett at every chance. This player will then be used as the link man and a marking target up forward.
I expect this to be a knock down drag out contest that is not pretty to watch but is all about in and under players, continuous rotations, man on man contests and we can only hope the umpire bounces the ball straight up and we have no last minute decisions which affect the result. My head tells me the Dons are too good and skilful for the Blues but I just have a sneaky
suspicion and uneasy feeling that against all logic the Blues will win. It wouldn't be the first or last time there has been an upset. To do that the Blues need their lesser lights to rise to the occasion and start to kick straight. I have to go with my gut feeling.
The Blues by 15 points.
Other winners
Richmond
Geelong
Hawks
Sydney
Port
Brisbane
West Coast
- Amazonstud
**********
North v. Brisbane
The last throw of the dice this week for the Kangaroos. Lose this week and they miss the finals for the first time under Dennis Pagan.
After playing some of the best ever footy and getting zero points – their morale would be low and now they have to regroup for Sydney.
With their assault on Sydney and the 'Boo A Roo' campagin over, alot of the sting will be taken out of the game.
The Swans will be keen to continue their recent claim up the ladder and if results go their way, they could be as high as fourth after the weekend.
Swans at home should prevail but it will not be a cakewalk.
Tip: Swans by 18 points
In other games:
Collingwood
Brisbane
Essendon
Adelaide
Geelong
West Coast
Hawthorn
- David Wiseman
**********
Geelong V Melbourne Saturday, August 04, 2001 @ MCG
Last weeks AFL action was amazing. If this week can live up to the close standard of last week, then this match will be one of the highlights. Geelong are beginning to find some from heading into the last few rounds of the season. After winning their last two matches they are positioned dangerously in ninth spot on the ladder trailing Collingwood only on percentage.
Meanwhile for Melbourne, the road ahead seems to show no major goals. After a fairly disappointing season thus far, last weeks loss to Adelaide destroyed their finals hope and made it impossible to advance to the fast approaching finals series. So the Demons are playing for pride and that is quite often when teams are the most dangerous. The Melbourne faithful will make their way to the MCG to try to push their side from loosing their third straight game.
It has been a very quiet week at both clubs, besides the news that Garry Hocking may be retiring at the end of the season. The club has told him that they won’t be extending his contract at the end of the season. This will be a sure incentive for the great veteran to play some more of his magical football and impress the spectators a few last times. A lift by
Garry will spark a lift from all of the Geelong players, so Melbourne will need to be on their game.
Last week both Melbourne and Geelong did play some pretty impressive
footy in parts. Melbourne just need to hold out their opposition over
the four quarters if the want to be competitive this week. Geelong on
the other hand with certainly have this sights set on making it into the
finals series and give themselves a chance at the flag.
My tip for this game: Geelong to get over the line in a close one (2
points)
Other matches:
Fri 3 Aug - 7:40 PM Collingwood MCG (N)
Sat 4 Aug - 2:10 PM Geelong MCG
Sat 4 Aug - 2:10 PM Hawthorn Colonial Stadium
Sat 4 Aug - 7:40 PM Kangaroos SCG (N)
Sun 5 Aug - 2:10 PM Port Adelaide Football Park
Sun 5 Aug - 2:10 PM Brisbane Lions Gabba
Sun 5 Aug - 2:10 PM Essendon MCG
Sun 5 Aug - 4:10 PM West Coast Subiaco
Joshua Hemelaar
**********
WEST COAST vs ST.KILDA MATCH PREVIEW
Where do I start describing a match that will be about as interesting as
Bernie Fraser's superannuation TV commercials?
Could I rave about the wonderful skills of players such Collica, Taylor,
Wooden, Carroll, Delaney, Plapp, Peckett and Gale? No.
Could I float the possibility of this being potentially one of the sport's
all-time greatest games with a 25 goals apiece shootout? No.
Could I do anything to hide the fact that this is a contest between the
AFL's 14th and 15th ranked teams, whose poor showings this season have only
been less laughable because of the existence of the Fremantle Dockers? No.
Let's face it, you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear, or more to the
point, you can't polish a turd. Anyone who has even a passing interest in
the AFL competition will have their mind's attention firmly ensconsed in the
happenings of the Essendon vs Carlton games at the MCG, some 5000 km from
the scrap between these two basket cases.
I suppose in going through the motions of writing a match report for a
complete non-event, it is expected that there is some sort of look at the
team lists. Well, the Eagles regain goalsneak Phil Matera, experienced
defender Ashley McIntosh and young ruckman Dean Cox while the Saints' woes
continue with the suspension of rugged forward Barry Hall for three matches,
and an injury to midfielder Caydn Beetham. St.Kilda are already missing the
bulk of their AFL-standard players, with Harvey, Loewe and Burke all out for
the season(850 games between them), and midfielders Steven Lawrence, Robert
Powell, Lenny Hayes, Brett Moyle and Jason Cripps also injured. The Eagles
are also mising many players, with Kemp, Braun, Donnelly, Prior, Morrison,
Sierakowski and Read all not playing this weekend. What it leaves is a
handful of very good players surrounded by two teams made up of young kids
and recycled hacks, something which I can't imagine too may people getting
excited about.
The last time these two teams played there was a minor upset with West Coast
beating the Saints at Colonial for a rare win away from Perth. As it has
transpired, on this years form, beating the Saints anywhere is no longer
considered an upset, doesn't matter who you are or where you play them...
and West Coast are almost as bad! That Round 3 game heralded the arrival of
Troy Wilson who kicked 7 goals for the Eagles in only his third game, yet 15
rounds later and he has almost fully reacuainted himself with the anonimity
that accompanied his first 29 years of life before AFL football.
Try as I might, to get excited about this game, I can't - I have a more
pressing appointment on Sunday afternoon, trying to teach my cat to speak
Dutch.
The verdict : West Coast by 40 points. Spectators comatose. Assigned match
reviewer experimenting with a dangerous mixture of caffeine, battery acid
and Prozac.
- Dark Avenger
**********
Lions vs Bulldogs, Sunday, August 5, 2001 Gabba 2:10 PM
I always stifle a sigh when friends who barracked for Fitzroy claim Brisbane
as their team. “It WAS a merger, a fair dinkum merger,” they insist,
pointing to the jumper and couple of ex-Fitzroy players as proof, while
whistling La Marseillaise and checking the fixture for the next Brisbane
game in Melbourne. I shouldn’t mock – my team is always being threatened
with merger and if they relocated or were swallowed up (hands off, Mr
Elliott), I’d.. dunno. Maybe it’s better to have a team, any team, to
barrack for, than none at all. An awful choice.
So let’s call them Britzroy, to appease the die-hards and the post-96ers.
Having beaten North, Britzroy host another team under financial scrutiny,
the Western Bulldogs. You’ll note I used their post-1996 name but the FFC
on the back of their jumper is a reminder of the Dogs’ soul. (Apparently it
stands for Footscray Football Club but could stand for something else,
depending on how you feel about them at the time) I’m a Doggie Doubter but
I DON’T doubt that they will be rueing the one that got away against
Richmond after leading in the last stanza. Alas, Britzroy will be too
good, so the Dogs will have their tails between their legs again (That’s one
canine pun out of the way).
Britzroy’ve acquired several scalps including the Bombers’. Granted, the
latter was at the Gabba but it’s Essendon, so shutup. Speaking of Grants,
Chris didn’t get amongst the best last week but will have to lift against
Britzroy. Daniel Bradshaw booted six goals and Tim Notting and Craig
McCrae kicked four apiece. All this while the rejuvenated Alistair “What
chronic fatigue?” Lynch played in defence. Others, like Jason Akermanis and
Captain Michael Voss are explosive and the Bulldogs simply won’t be able to
match their pace or skill. Craig Ellis did a reasonable job on Matthew
Richardson for three quarters and Terry Wallace will give him a task on one
of Britzroy’s tall forwards. Look out for Nathan Brown, who was absolutely
magnificent against Richmond with a goal in each quarter. Scott West should
have a more decisive role this time than his stack of possessions last week
returned. Tony Liberatore will probably take Voss, continuing the long,
sometimes spiteful history between them. But at the Gabba it’ll be all
Britzroy, who’ll win by 33 in a dogged battle (only two puns, not bad).
- Jane Woolard
**********
Collingwood v Richmond
MCG - Friday 3rd August, 2001 (N)
The Collingwood Magpies, this is your life.
Backs against the wall and facing off with a fired up Richmond this Friday night, Collingwood will need to produce their own type of Terry Wallace-like 'crunch' match performance to come through smiling. It's not as if their season doesn't really depend on it.
Much has been made of the tough nature of Collingwood's draw, with the criticism being fairer than the draw in question. In season 2001 the Pies meet Essendon, Carlton, Hawthorn, Richmond, The Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs twice each and travel interstate four times. Their Round 22 game against the Roos in Canberra shapes up as perhaps the penultimate final rule of this year's ladder placings and consequent finals contenders. But for Collingwood, Round 18 against The Tigers is, right now, every bit as important.
Make no bones about it, this game is a certified blockbuster. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Richmond loves the blockbuster. The Richmond ethic a.k.a. Tigers ego is fed on games like these when victory unfurls in front of 50,000 salivating scum bags screaming "yellow and black!" with the club song, like the nongs at a football match they are.
In Round 4 of this year, on a day when the Colliwobbles were evident, The Tigers, although not playing much better, snuck home in what turned out to be a close margin, yet anti-epic. Last week however, Richmond were virtual warriors against the Bulldogs to survive by two points. Collingwood came home strongly against Fremantle and would hope to continue the flow this week.
Richmond are fifth on the ladder, Collingwood are eighth. The gap is justified. With the Tigers starting as favourites to win, a Collingwood victory would be a great thing for the AFL and Australia's underdog loving football public, as well as Collingwood in its every little whim and fancy. Pity then that the collective tiger ego will most likely bloat again. Clueless, Yarra dwelling fans will reappear from the woodwork. Danny Frawley and co. will be bouncing off the walls...again. Magpie types will reconsider which exact ladder placing does define an improved season after all.
Richmond's gun players are in good form. Brad Ottens, Matthew Richardson, Wayne Campbell, Leon Cameron, Joel Bowden, Darren Gaspar to name but a few. On the other hand, most of Collingwood's potential match winners have contributed only in bursts, especially over recent weeks.
Don't write the Magpies off, but don't bet your house on them either.
PREDICTION: RICHMOND BY 18 POINTS.
- matto
other games tips (progressive 90):
Cats over Demons by 24
Hawks over Dockers by 50
Swans over Roos by 12
Power over Crows by 35
Lions over Dogs by 25
Bombers over Blues by 30
Saints over Eagles by 15
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4) Quiz Answers
AFL Trivia No. 018 - Answers
1. Carlton won the premiership in 1987.
2. Scott Cummings was Essendon’s leading goalkicker in 1994 with 32 goals, and now plays for West Coast.
3. Wayne Schimmelbusch was captain of North Melbourne from 1979 to 1987, and then coached them from 1990 to 1992.
4. David Parkin coached Fitzroy from 1986 to 1988.
5. Jason Dunstall of Hawthorn kicked 100 goals or more in a season on six occasions.
+----------+
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Copyright (C) Adrian Groves, 2001
ENDS
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