Indubitably, round 20.

[Booney]

After a dismal 4 the week before I turned the corner and hit some form last week, wouldn’t have been alone with getting 9/9, still, helped the confidence a little and I’m sure a few around the place made some moves in their footy tipping contests.

Few big wins last week, Port, Adelaide, GWS and Sydney all won big which means 4 lost big, Brisbane and Richmond can’t get upset if I call their efforts pathetic, Essendon outclassed by the Crows and the Dockers the most disappointing in Pav’s 350th. They were very average, speaking of average, Melbourne v Gold Coast, a more average spectacle you will not see.

The last 4 weeks will see some shuffling around in the top 8, all bar top spot, but it isn’t going to be a ripping finish to the year, just 7 of the last 36 home and away matches have two top 8 sides facing off against each other. So we finish with a pretty average 4 weeks and then have the weekend off. The AFL, not for the first time, have completely buggered this one up and it stems back to them not handling the Fremantle / North “resting” of players before last year’s finals very well at all.

Expect to see some more hidings over the next month, 4 games over 82 points last weekend and a couple this week could blow out the same.


FNF –

Richmond v Collingwood –

“We feel in the footy club now that this is as good a list as I think we’ve had at my disposal since I’ve been there” – Damien Hardwick, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, 2016. I say, pull the other one and good luck with your next job. Collingwood kept their impressive home record over the Eagles in place, young guns standing up tall.

When there’s no hope, there’s no energy, no effort, no real emphasis on doing the hard work and Richmond currently have no hope. 17th for I50’s, 15th for scoring with just 80 points per game, if not for Rance down back they would be in all sorts every week. They were last week. 3 goals for the match. Wonder if Cotchin will remind Treloar of his early season comments?

Collingwood with some late spark after another horrid mid-year stretch, most of it on the back of Grundy, Adams and Treloar who front up every week, Darcy Moore gets the Rising Star nod despite going off the ground before half time with a pinged string. Must have been a bad week for those still eligible.

Pies should win this one easily, not really a ripper to kick of the weekend. Collingwood by 35 points. ( Pies $1.47 Richmond $2.75 )


Sydney v Port –

Sydney went and spoiled Pav’s day in a big way, the midfield running riot and sharing the load on the scoreboard. Port went North and in simple terms, thrashed the Lions. 48 shots on goal and if not for some poor finishing could have gone past the 200 point barrier.

Really good effort by the Swans last week, led by Kennedy and Hannebery ( 86 touches and 4 goals between them ). Some huge numbers from the game, over 450 touches for the Swans and all but 2 players getting into double figures with disposals. 13 over 20.

Port with their most complete performance of the year against some pretty limp opposition. The Butch! Butcher had some fun over the top of the Brisbane defenders and Wingard kicked the easiest 5 goal bag you’ll ever see. Trengove excellent on ball / rucking. The Hoff’s 200th, well done to the bearded one.

Sydney with a top 4 spot to play for, Port with 4 weeks to go and that’ll be the tale of the tape. Sydney by 33 points. ( Sydney $1.24 Port $4.10 )


Melbourne v Hawthorn –

Melbourne managed to be not as bad at losing as the Suns, they both tried their best to lose and neither of them displayed skills above Auskicker standard. The Hawks keep the two game gap clear on top, the Blues making another side earn the 4 points.

The Demons fell in over the Suns in a forgettable one, Watts took another step in his development, he’s come a long way in 2016 and if the Demons can hold onto Jesse Hogan the pair could become a target for the growing midfield to aim at in the coming years.

Much ado about not much for the workman like Hawks. Clear of the cluster f**k behind them in the 8 they’re set up perfectly. 2 home finals loom and good luck to those playing the 22 in brown and gold and the 3 in lime green.

Hawthorn, by 28 points in another just do what they have to win. ( Hawks $1.16 Melbourne $5.25 )


Gold Coast v GWS –

As above, the Suns proved to be better at losing than the Demons, had a chance to steal it after the siren and, quite aptly, missed. The Giants took the Tigers to the sword, they might have even gone soft of them in the end and didn’t really go for the throat.

Gold Coast got involved in a stinker last week, them and Melbourne making the perfect conditions at the MCG look like they weren’t suitable for football. Lynch continues his way towards the top of the pile of key forwards. 57 goals in the Gold Coast forward line is an excellent return.

GWS on the other hand should sure up a top 2 finish with a win over the Suns, of the top 4 contenders they have the best %age and should increase that this weekend. Only slip up might be if the young lads get out with Shaw on the strip on Friday night.

GWS, in a canter, showing they’re the clear pick of the new boys in town. GWS by 55 points. ( GC $6.50 GWS $1.11 )


Bulldogs v North –

Can’t take a trick the boys from the West, another admirable loss and more injuries to take to the kennel. Rightfully putting in an effort befitting of the games record breaker the Roos were on top of the Saints all night and sured up a wonky ship.

They must have kicked a black cat into a mirror at the kennel. Can’t take a trick and you could now say 7 of their starting line up are missing, some of them long term. Terrible run for a group who would, in my view, be right in it in ’16. Mark this one down as bad luck and move onto 2017.

Bounced back in the last two weeks, should have both been wins against sides outside the 8 but their recent form and that of the previous 2 opponents suggested they might be struggling, certainly helped with Boomer equalling and then breaking the record. Waite goes out with a serious old man injury, a hip might end his playing days.

I think the Dogs could win this, they pushed Geelong in Geelong, much harder than North under the roof. However, the number of men down will be the difference. North by 14 points. ( Dogs $2.20 North $1.67 )


Adelaide v Brisbane –

The Crows feasted on the road kill that is Essendon last weekend and low and behold, looks like someone has hit a bear up ahead and there’s Crows circling that carcass too. Embarrassing said the Lions coach, probably not harsh enough language for the effort they put forward against Port and you couldn’t see the Lions being too “up” at training this week.

Won’t spend too long on this one, Sauce out, Tex in, no actual names being used. Young O’Brien comes in to replace Jacobs who misses his first game since 2012. Talk around town is already by how much, not will we? Fair enough, one is in the race for the flag one is looking to get to Bali as soon as possible for a few weeks of cheap Bintangs.

Adelaide, by lots. Bugger it, by 101 points. ( Adelaide $1.01 Brisbane – A private jet for a $1 investment )


Carlton v St Kilda –

Two sides on the improve, Carlton making the premiers work for the win in Tassie, they do that to most sides, make you earn it. The faint Saint hopes for an unlikely finals berth blew up in their faces on Saturday night, “Boomer” was all you could hear outside the doom, I mean dome.

One of the stinkers in this round, highlights will be few and far between, the Blues will be farewelling high flyer Andrew Walker and the Saints will be keen to win a couple more to get over 10 wins for the first time in a while.

St Kilda more impressive in attack, Carlton more impressive in defence. St Kilda in the better nick, Carlton have lost any spark after 5 losses on the trot. St Kilda by 26 ( Carlton $2.45 St Kilda $1.55 )


Geelong v Essendon –

The Cats took the points over the Dogs, no, it wasn’t a cartoon, it was a ripper of a contest down at Cat land. Stanley, outstanding. The Bombers are limping home now, not much more to say.

The Cats had an underperforming month in June, looked like they might have been slipping but since the loss to the Swans they’ve accounted for Freo ( So? ), but more importantly Adelaide and the Dogs. Both of them at home though, so an edge for the Cats in those contests but two good wins over two good opponents. Look to have fixed up the front half with Stanley taking the spot Clarke and the injured Vardy had first look at.

As noted above, they’re limping home now. Just that one win for the season and there isn’t another one coming. One of several sides who are cooked and these boys must be filthy at their mates running around in Spain in the sunshine as they get their pants pulled down week after week. Probably happening in Spain too, but for the right reasons.

Geelong in their Etihad home game, by 66 points and Hawkins to bag out on cheap ones. ( Geelong $1.01 Essendon $17.00 )



Fremantle v West Coast –

The Durby/Darby/Derby, not Terrence Trent, just a home town match up with the Dockers looking to get out of 2016 and the Eagles looking to somehow get back into it.

The last match of the round and this one won’t be the typical Western Derby. Fremantle are rooted, the football world has started to point fingers and ask questions this week and wonder why we’ve just accepted their performances this year, like we just expect them to be right back in it next year. They won’t be.

The Eagles now look to be the easiest of pickings inside the 8, they’ll finish 7th or 8th and travel week one and be out of the race 2.5 hours after they bounce the sherrin for the first time, regardless of the opponent.

You have to go West Coast, Fremantle have given up. West Coast by 28 points. ( Fremantle $4.35 West Coast $1.22 )

[PatowalongaPirate]

Collingwood by plenty
Sydney by plenty
Hawthorn by plenty
Gws by plenty
Roos by not so plenty
Adelaide by plenty
Saints by plenty
Geelong by plenty
West Coast by plenty.

[bennymacca]

Collingwood by plenty
Sydney by plenty
Hawthorn by plenty
Gws by plenty
Roos by not so plenty
Adelaide by plenty
Saints by plenty
Geelong by plenty
West Coast by plenty.

its a pretty uninspiring round isnt it

For the crows' sake I hope Port, Gold Coast and Essendon can somehow make games of it

[Rik E Boy]

A very uninspiring round. In fact a very uninspiring Month. So many dud matches plus a round of nothing before the finals even start.

regards,

REB

[Eagles2014]

A very uninspiring round. In fact a very uninspiring Month. So many dud matches plus a round of nothing before the finals even start.

regards,

REB

Only ones happy are those leading their Footy Tipping Comps, makes it easy to do your tipping, and those of us a couple behind will struggle to make up the ground without going for ridiculous roughies!

[Rik E Boy]

A very uninspiring round. In fact a very uninspiring Month. So many dud matches plus a round of nothing before the finals even start.

regards,

REB

Only ones happy are those leading their Footy Tipping Comps, makes it easy to do your tipping, and those of us a couple behind will struggle to make up the ground without going for ridiculous roughies!

Get on the Brions!

regards,

REB

[carey]

Collingwood by plenty
Sydney by plenty
Hawthorn by plenty
Gws by plenty
Roos by not so plenty
Adelaide by plenty
Saints by plenty
Geelong by plenty
West Coast by plenty.

its a pretty uninspiring round isnt it

For the crows' sake I hope Port, Gold Coast and Essendon can somehow make games of it

As a Port supporter I'm more than happy to voice my opinion if I think we've got no hope of winning but, In this case I think it'll be a very close game. If we don't win I don't think it will be a blow out. If we can manage to keep it close Sydney have lost a lot of close games at the death and mind games might set in. Who knows

With this being said I am tipping Sydney but expect a bold showing from Port, Hartlett out helps IMO

[Brodlach]

Usually close games between the two sides Carey

[Booney]

Usually close games between the two sides Carey

Yep, last 5 games Sydney by 10, Sydney by 48*, Sydney by 16, Sydney by 4, Port by 18.

Sydney has won 12 of the last 13 clashes, however.

[Wedgie]

Scott Selwood in for his first game for the Cats

[westozfalcon]

There'll be one or two upsets; there always is.

My roughie tips this week are Port and Carlton.

[Grahaml]

Got to give Richmond a show. Despite some bizarrely poor performances they still have some darn good players and eventually pride forces a response.

[MatteeG]

There'll be one or two upsets; there always is.

My roughie tips this week are Port and Carlton.

Carlton and the Dogs for me.

[Corona Man]

FWIW

Collingwood
Sydney
Hawthorn
GWS
North
Adelaide
St Kilda
Geelong
West Coast

Just pulled in for a beer at a pub on Collins street. Place is packed out with Pies & Tiger fans... Good vibe.

[helicopterking]

Pies by 39.

[Booney]

Umpiring doing nothing to help the contest, which is already pretty average.

[bennymacca]

BT is much less of a tool when he is in the box with Denis. You get the feeling he wouldn't put up with any of BTs shit

[Brodlach]

Looking forward to hearing the next three quarters of Brandon Ellis, that was riveting

[PatowalongaPirate]

Lingy appeared to be excited by it.

[Jim05]

FWIW

Collingwood
Sydney
Hawthorn
GWS
North
Adelaide
St Kilda
Geelong
West Coast

Just pulled in for a beer at a pub on Collins street. Place is packed out with Pies & Tiger fans... Good vibe.

Maybe all those Pies and Tuggers fans stayed at the pub because there is no one at the game