I can't believe it!...

I finally got 8 right! It's just taken about four years but I finally got there! The first time I got 8 right since 2006! Ok enough about the bosting here is the results:

Thursday Night saw the Blues win comfortably by 56 points. Carlton had the Fevolaless forwardline but still showed that maybe they don't need him to win games. Well it's only Richmond and they haven't kicked into gear yet. That and the fact that the Blues didn't have Judd means that they can only improve.

Friday saw the Cats beat a spirited Essendon by 31 points. The Bombers had a lot of pluses but the experience and the class of Geelong meant that they ran away winners. Both teams have improvements to make going into round 2 which will be interesting to watch.

Saturday saw Hawthorn won against a disappointing Melbourne by 56 points which was always going to happen. Saturday saw Brisbane beat West Coast by 32 points but seeing the Eagles challenge. And Saints only hung on by 8 points to beat Sydney at ANZ Stadium.

Sunday saw Port Adelaide beat North Melbourne who had a late challenge and just fell short by 14 points. Collingwood upset the Western Bulldogs in an impressive performance by 36 points.And Fremantle impressed Adelaide by winning by 56 points.

So what a first up week in the AFL. Round 2's going to be a beauty. I will have more later on Thursday and also my ladder for 2010 as well.

More to follow....

Ok a little late than usual...

But these are my tips for the round 1 Clashes. I will have my ladder and preview later on.

Richmond vs Carlton (MCG) Thursday Night.
A lot of questions in this game that I'm sure will be answered in time. First of all. Will Richmond avenge last years losses to the Blues? Or will it be Carlton that will take this game out. Also what will come of the new recruits in each team? And will Carlton fill the gap left by Brendan Fevola's departure. All things that you will look to when trying to tip this game. I am excited about some of the Richmond youth plus the opportunities that now lie in the Carlton forward line. Who will step up? Looking at this game I believe that Richmond has a bit to go to get things in order than Carlton and Carlton will be too strong in this instance and will win by 32 points.

Geelong vs Essendon (MCG) Friday Night.
The reigning premiers have an uncertain game against the Bombers. Even though Essendon does have a bit to go to gain ground they still have recruited well and that will go a long way to their future. Geelong have their usual players in with the inclusion of Hunt who missed all of 09 and on Debut Mitch Duncan. At the MCG the Bombers like to compete here and it will be closer because of that. But in recent times Geelong have had the upper hand in the battle. I do believe that Geelong will be a tad rusty and Essendon will take full advantage of that. In this case though I do believe that the Cats will win but only just by 14 points.

Melbourne vs Hawthorn (MCG) Saturday Afternoon.
Interested in this game for a couple of reasons. For one the inclusion of the top two draft picks for Melbourne in Scully and Tengrove and hats off to Melbourne for playing them early.The other is the recruits of Hawthorn in Gibson and Burgoyne and the fact of where the Hawks sit as apposed to last years disappointing title defense. The experience in this game of Hawthorn will get the job done and they should win this by 46 points but don't count out a run from Melbourne.

Sydney vs St Kilda (ANZ) Saturday Night.
Tough in a way start to 2010 for St Kilda but they are a team that can rise to the occasion. Sydney have got some really good recruits and it will be interesting to see how they hold up. St Kilda will be burning after losing the Premiership and NAB cups and that's why they are my early prediction for the flag. This game was hard to tip as Sydney are at home and have a side in but so do St Kilda and they will be keen to make immense. I believe that the Saints will win by 3 points.

Brisbane vs West Coast (Gabba) Saturday Night.
Both teams have recruited well and that has been highly publicised so I won't go into that. The fact that this is at the Gabba will give the Lions advantage and it has been kind in the battles between these two teams. If West Coast can stop Brown and Fevola kicking goals then their midfield might just hold up and could give them the advantage they need. The opposite will happen if they don't. In this case I believe that Brisbane will hold up with challenges from the Eagles and will win by 26 points.

Port Adelaide vs North Melbourne (AAMI) Sunday.
The battle for the two improvers in 2010 in my book. Port showed something in the NAB Cup more than North Melbourne but still there is improvement there. Port has got a good mix of youth and experienced players whereas North have got tallented kids who will prosper soon. Given that this game is at AAMI Stadium that will give Port the advantage that they need and will win by 38 points.

Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood (Etihad) Sunday.
One game that has got the footy world excited already. With the recruits and early season form of the Dogs it's set up for a beauty. People have said that this should have been the season opener but I don't purely so it keeps the interest in the round pumping. I do like that these two teams are playing eachother early on and especially because they played in Round 22 last year in a Dogs win. These teams will make an impact in 2010 where I'm not sure. In this case though I believe that Collingwood will upset the Western Bulldogs and win by 7 points.

Fremantle vs Adelaide (Subiaco) Sunday.
I'm looking forward to this game. Freo have a young side and Adelaide have players out. It's very even in my book. There are a lot of questions that I won't go into but it will steam the flow of the game. If Freo's midfield can dominate then that will be the key for them. Adelaide will have to move the ball quickly. But I believe that Fremantle with their home ground advantage will win by 19 points.

More to follow...

Woof Woof Woof....

Yes well done to the Western Bulldogs for winning the NAB Cup! First piece of silverware for 40 years well done! As a Cats supporter I know the feeling of winning that first piece of silverware and I believe for them it's a sign for things to come!

It started good for the Dogs before a challenge from the Saints and eventually the Dogs winning by 40 points. How ironic 40 points after a 40 year drought, it's happened before...

For one thing Geelong had the scoreline of 163 to 44 in the 07 Grand Final, 1963 was the last premiership and 44 years being the drought. Hawthorn in 08 89 was the Geelong score, that was the last time they played in the Grand Final. Interesting but it's funny how it's happened.

So now we are done with the Entree now it's time for the main course. I will have my 2010 season preview soon.

More to follow.....

NAB Cup preview

So this week is the biggie, well for now that is.....the NAB Cup Grand Final!

To me the Footy Season is like a 3 course meal. The NAB Cup is the Entréé. That being you are hungry wanting to get into the main season that any footy will do to kill a bit of the hunger. The main season is the main course fills you up, has a lot of flavours etc. The finals is the desert. A nice finish to the year with the Premiership (for those who get it) being the cherry on top.

This week is the Grand Final in that entréé, St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium Saturday night!

Both teams have impressed everyone over the pre-season. Both teams having not won too much silverware over the past 50 plus years but of late have impressed me. St Kilda having come so close last year against Geelong and the Dogs coming so close to getting into the Grand Final says to me that both teams are due for Premiership success. St Kilda are almost there, just need things going for them more than anything with a little different ingredients. For the Dogs they needed a key position forward, simple and they have that now with Barry Hall being at the club. There is not much now between these two teams.

So getting to this game. To me it's hard to be honest to pick out of these two teams. It will come down to this. Who wants to win more? St Kilda like Geelong will have the pain of the previous year burning within them to want to win this, for them, for their supporters and for pride. The Western Bulldogs will have the premiership drought of 40 plus years egging them on plus being oh so close to getting in their first Grand Final in many years after making the Preliminary Final two years running, ironically getting beaten by the team that loses the Grand Final. Hmm.

It's not so much sentiments here of who I want to win because both teams deserve to win this. They have shown so much already and whoever wins this will have a lot of confidence leading into the season proper. On the otherhand the other team will gain a lot of confidence.

To me and I have said this all week that St Kilda will win this by 8 points because of the hurt of last year. But the battles between these two teams during 2010 are going to be awesome!

More to follow....

Yay I got it right!!

Mind you there were only two games and well the games went totally to plan.

So the Dogs and Saints in the NAB Cup Grand Final....replay of last years Preliminary Final, should be interesting. Both teams haven't won much silverware of late so it will be good for either side!

Well I'll update you later in the week.

More to follow....

Maybe I'll have another go...

Cos there's only two games this week, hmm should have a chance to get something right. Anyway let's look at these two NAB Cup games:

Western Bulldogs vs Port Adelaide (Etihad) Friday Night.
This one will be a good game. I am impressed by how the two teams have been playing throughout the competition, probably slightly more impressed with Port considering where they were placed last year. The future for these two teams is bright. Western Bulldogs have a lot of people thinking that they have a window of opportunity to win the flag this year. I don't know but they are very very close and even with a Barry Hall showing early that he can kick some goals they still need things going in their favour if they are going to do it eg no injuries. Port on the other hand have the goods to definately improve in 2010. I am impressed with their young players more than their experienced campaigners and this is where the future lies with the Power. They will be a little off another premiership but one day I believe that they have the players that with the right experience and attitude no doubt will upset a few teams down the track. Going by this game I believe that both teams will want to win, simple as that. Western Bulldogs will want to because it will set up a chance for their first piece of silverware for 40 years and Port to give them confidence going into the new season. But if the Dogs can get the ball to Barry Hall (Hey that rhymes) then they will create problems for the Port Defence on the otherhand if Port can play quick footy then they will win. Tough game but the Dogs should win this one by 13 points.

St Kilda vs Fremantle (Etihad Stadium) Saturday Night.
With Riewoldt being given a rest (which to me is a sensible idea) the Saints are confident to leave a couple of stars out so the youngsters can shine, to me was a great move. Fremantle just won against the Roos last week for the first time in Melbourne which seemed like forever. Keep in mind this is the NAB Cup and it is early on in the year, but a win in Melbourne to Fremantle is a win in Melbourne and it will do them the world of good. St Kilda are coming off two hard fought 1 point wins and to me even though they won, they haven't shown the fire and play that got them through to the Grand Final last year. I don't think necessarily that they have lost confidence after last years Grand Final loss it's just them getting into gear for another good season. St Kilda I believe will win the premiership this year or the next at the latest because of the fact that I looked at Geelong last year after the disappointment of 08. People have said that their opportunity has gone but I do believe that they will have more opportunities in the future. Fremantle have a long way to go before they could even dream of winning a premiership. They have a tallented bunch of players that need a lot of game time in them before they can come together as a team. They should make improvements this year how far they go only time will tell. Getting to this game though it should be an entertaining one and Freo will fight but St Kilda even without their stars should win and win by 28 points.

More to follow....

Oakay I am giving up on this Nab Cup tipping!

Seriously man a few upsets in this competition. That is the beauty of what we are seeing here and how some teams have improved early in the season.

From Western Bulldogs flexing their muscles with Barry Hall in the side to St Kilda scrapped through against the swans. To Port showing what they do to Freo pipping North at the post winning in Melbourne.

So you can see how I am a little hestitant in my tips early in the season. Hmm.

More to follow.....