Digger's form
May, 29th 2008 04:31 AM

 

What happened to the form book last week?  Digger managed to snare a few minutes watching football at the family reunion last week and could not believe the results he was seeing. 

Collingwood started the ball rolling in the upset stakes when they smashed Geelong by applying over 80 tackles.  The Cat's had no answers to the spirited Magpie lads and forlornly trudged of the field at the end of the game.  Hot pies. 

Fremantle have a new AFL benchmark in that they are the first team since 1930 to lose four games in a row after leading at three quarter time.  Not a record to be proud of..  Coach Mark Harvey says it is not a mental thing although Digger has been calling them mental for quite some time now.  Hats off to the Carlton players who persisted and got the chocolates. 

And speaking of chocolates, Mr. Smugs team thought they would get them when they hosted the Sydney Swans but choked again.  Sydney look a better team this year and will play a big part in defining season 2008.  Meanwhile, Port Adelaide, who played in the Grand Final last year appear all over the place and do not be surprised to see an injection of youth in preparation for future seasons as this one is done. 

So, West Coast were the first team to get penalized for having an extra man on the field or an incorrect interchange however it was a balls up and they should never have been penalized.  Confused, not as confused as the interchange steward who made the call.  However, this did not have a bearing on the result as the previously winged Eagles outplayed the previously surging Ravens.  Are the Eagles back?  It certainly looks like it.  Adelaide will bounce back. 

Gee Essendon is an ordinary unit.  Richmond jumped them early and it was one way traffic.  Bomber coach Matthew Knights read the riot act to his players for half an hour after the match.  But if you ain't got it you ain't got it.  BiG Matty Richardson was hoe again for the Tigers as was number 10. 

Gee, St. Kilda are under achievers and some dopey clod stated they were in a rebuilding process.  WTF.  The club chairman says coach Ross Lyon has the job for another 10 years if he wants it which in AFL speak could see hi out of a job at the end of the season.  To put it bluntly the Saints have as much guts as a loaf of Banh Mi and the hearts of guinea pigs.  Brisbane were on song with Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw kicking a half dozen a piece. 

Melbourne gave ladder leaders Hawthorn a real push and at three quarter time looked a genuine chance to knock the Hawks off.  However Hawthorn performed is now customary come from behind and took the wind out of the Demons sails.  Can the Hawks continue to give away leads and come from behind, only time will tell but some of their older supporters may trouble to cope with the strain. Oooh, their a good team though. 

An in the final game of the round North Melbourne pulled off another upset by knocking off the Western Bulldogs by three points.  Bulldog veteran forward Brad Johnson has a shot for goal after the siren and missed everything.  In a milestone game for Kanga stalwart Brent Harvey his team won the game but he remembers nothing of it having been knocked out in the first term.  He returned to the field, probably kicked the goal of the day but has no recollection of it.  Please note this St. Kilda players. 

Righto then, here are the selections forround 10 but note that they are not in the order in which they will be played as Digger has no internet today and is using a preseason supplement from The West Australian newspaper which it's all about the West Coast and Fremantle and I have to hunt for the others. 

So we may as well start with the West Coast who travel to Melbourne to take on the all conquering Collingwood team.  Both camps will be cock a hoop with confidence after victories last week an will be keen to consolidate their form.  Digger reckons another 4 goal win for Magpies. 

Fremantle host Port Adelaide and must win to restore any credibility they have.  Could be an interesting final quarter if the Power have a sniff but the Dockers should get over the line this week. 

Geelong should bounce back to their winning ways when they meet Carlton on Saturday night.  Last week was the wake up call they needed in being handed only their 2 loss in 27 games and even though the Blues are improving week in week out the Cats should have too many guns for them.  Look for Cam Mooney to have a run on the ball.  Brad Ottens is being tipped to play his first for the season and this will give the Geelong mid fielders greater use of the ball.  Geelong by 10 goals. 

The St. Kilda donuts play Melbourne and if they do not win this one well the coach may very well go next week.  St. Kilda by 5 goals. 

Who would have thunk earlier in the season that Richmond would be given a chance against the Sydney team.  Not I.  However, given that the game is in Sydney the Swans should be able to throttle the life out of the Tigers in their dour like play.  Tadgh Kennelly, the wily Irishman, is tipped to return after one week out with a dislocated knee and look out for number 10 for the Tigers.  Sydney by 15 points. 

Match of the round is between Hawthorn who are in top spot on the laddr and the third placed western Bulldogs.  However the match is being played in Launceston so a live crowd of about 14,000 will see it.  Television ratings will be huge and the Dogs look for a way of stopping Buddy Franklin.  I have no idea who will get the job.  But I do know that Hawthorn will win the game handsomely. 

And that can only leave Essendon and whoever ever is going to beat them.  As I reach for the newspaper I see that it is Adelaide and in Adelaide so that can only mean one thing.  Do not drop Brett Burton and Kirk Tippett from your Dream Team as they will be back amongst it this week.  Adelaide to kick the sweep and another heavy loss for Essendon. 

Don't forget if you want to make a comment, ask a question or just delve into Digger's mind send your emails to diggerafl@yahoo.com  

See you in the soup, 

Digger 

 

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