TOSSERS OF THE WEEK AWARD:  I know it is not AFL but if anyone can come up with three bigger tossers than the 3 stooges who host the studio coverage of the cricket in South Africa, Digger would like to know.

Well Knockout was the name of the competition and in week one 8 of the 11 entrants were knock out.  Carlton caused the biggest upset of the round by beating Melbourne and this accounted 4 of the 8 killer blows.  Who knows what will happen this week.  Please note that the expert's tips will not appear this week as Digger is going on a little trip to the very unexciting central highlands of VN.  The experts will still put their tips in and I will update you next week.

In lasts weeks opening round of the season, apart from Carlton's win mentioned above, most results went the predicted way.  Maybe the very poor performance by Sydney, beaten easily by the Dons, was a bit out of the ordinary, but the premiership hangover is on display for all to see.  Maybe time for Paul Roos to keep the gob shut and get back to coaching.  Do not write St. Kilda off just yet.  The Weagles are hard to beat at home and are a very good team.  The Brisbane Bears could be in for a long season.  In their capitulation to Geelong they showed a distinct lack of ticker and some of the past stars seemed burnt out.  They posted their lowest half time score since 1994.

The Western Bulldogs absolutely shafted Richmond and yet again there is talk of inner turmoil at Punt Rd., Young bulldog pup Griffen was quoted as saying that the Tigers gave up after half time.  Digger cannot see it getting easier this week when they take on the rebounding Saints.

The Kangaroos kicked the Powers butt noting this is the only Port that does not get better with age.  Hawthorn, too strong for the Dockers in Tasmania with Williams booting 8.  Carlton won and the Ravens proved to strong for the Magpies in the battle of the birds.  Collingwood scoreless in the final term.

For mine, the big match of round 2 see another battle of the birds with the Ravens taking on the Weagles at AAMI stadium in Adelaide.  While the West Coast have a huge home ground advantage when playing in the west, this advantage pales into insignificance when compared to playing in Adelaide.  Words such as demented, feral, obnoxious and rabid are oft used to describe the Adelaide fans.  This match will be an absolute humdinger.  In a close one, the Neil Craig coached Ravens will sneak in by 15 points.  They should be fresher only having played Collingwood last week.

The Cats are at home again this week and take on the Kangaroos.  Over the last couple of years the Roos seem to have the measure of Geelong, but boy, Geelong looked the real deal last week in their demolition job over the Bears.  Expect the Cats to be very impressive again this week as there are still about 6 players who could easily slot back into team.  The Cats by 5 goals.

St. Kilda will continue the tigers woes, the Bulldogs will prove too speedy for Melbourne and leave Demon supporters scratching their heads.  Brisbane will come back hard and win a close affair at the ‘Gabba' against Essendon.  Carlton's bubble will burst with the Dockers scoring their first points of the season at home; same same for the Swans against Port in Sydney where I presume the 2005 Premiership flag will be unfurled.  That should be enough motivation for the Sydneysiders.

Hawthorn should be in the 8 for the last time this season by beating the Magpies, another battle of the birds.

See the attached scoreboard for the local footy tipping competition, where James Hey leads the way after round 1.  You can still join this tipping comp. and receive 3 points for the away teams from last week.  You will still be in the running.

LETTER OF THE WEEK

George W. from Texas writes,

My good friend Ricey was downunder a couple of weeks ago and had a look at your game.  She has asked me to ask you why so many of the teams have nick names that are birds.

Well, George W. here we go and before we go any further a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush.

Sydney (Swans) - Originally Sydney were South Melbourne and played at the Albert Ground at Albert Park Lake (refer last weeks F1 GP).  I assume there were swans on the lake.

Sydney swans in full flight

Collingwood (Magpies) - The Collingwood team wear black and white jumpers and legend goes that magpies nested at their original ground Victoria Park.  Black and white, magpies, go figure!

Hawthorn (Hawks) - Originally known as the Mayblooms.  They wear Brown and Gold and the Hawks sounds better than the other name.

West Coast (Eagles) - I assume that the West Coast wanted to be the Swans as the ground is near the Swan River.  Sorry lads, name already taken.  No Idea.

Adelaide (Crows) - Again no idea.

Sorry cannot be any more informative George, can you?

If anybody can provide the real reasons for these and any other club nick names, please pass on the info. To diggerafl@yahoo.com.au  I might even publish your name.

Many ex-players and coaches have expressed their dismay at the current way footy is being played.  There were that many uncontested marks taken last week that many so the game is turning into basketball.  Digger mentioned in his preseason comments that the game is getting soft with little if any physical contests.  Richmond coach Terry Wallace said he would like to take the game back to where it was in the 1980's.  The only problem would be that he reckons they would lose every week.  Well Terry, it may be an option!

That is about it for this week; Digger is busy and has to go.

Cheers,

Digger In the Outer