Sydney traveled to the AAMI stadium to take on a young and enthusiastic Port Adelaide team last Saturday night.  This game was played in real football weather, rain squalls and wind really testing the players skills.  In a low scoring affair the Bloods won by 27 points.  ‘Nough said about this unattractive game.

Sunday, bloody Sunday.  The Geelong team was up against the Kangaroos who were bidding adieu to their Canberra fans in their last game at Manuka Oval.  Geelong who had the chance to stay in the race for the finals were blown away in the first 5 minutes of the game when the ‘roos kicked 5 goals.  This was the ultimate winning margin for the game.  Geelong were insipid but no doubt that their blinkered fans would put the blame on injuries to Ablett and Ling in the first 15 minutes.  Thompson again was good up forward for the ‘roos and he was supplied quality ball from the likes of Grant, McIntosh and Harvey.  Mooney had another brain explosion and must learn (again) to temper his enthusiasm.  No finals for the Cats.

Fremantle have virtually assured themselves finals action with a clear but unconvincing win over Carlton.  The Freo boys will need to eradicate mistakes made when under no pressure if they want to advance any further than week one of the finals but a win is a win.  Up and coming Ryan Murphy booted 6 goals for the Mentals.  Given that Freo have numerous goal kickers with the like of Murphy, Farmer and Pavlich opposition defences will need to be "on" when playing them.  Fevola kicked another 5 for the Blues and still leads the race for the Coleman Medal with 65 goals for the season.

The Western Bulldogs came out full steam ahead in their clash with Melbourne and lead 6.3.39 to 5.2.32 at the first break.  However they ran out of legs and only managed a further 3 majors for the game.  The Melbourne clicked after that and ran out easy winners in the by 51 points.  Adam Yze was on target up forward with 5 majors but the worse news to come out of the game was of injuries to key Demons Aaron Davey and the human cannon ball Byron Pickett.  The Bulldogs look safe in the finals but still need to win 2 of their remaining 5 games.  Melbourne sits third on the ladder and is assured of finals action.

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Dear Digger,

In reference to your invitation to send a team of mulleted champions to you I have put my team together.

Here are some mullets for you.

Scarlett is pre mullet era but had the mutton chops and porn moustache as well. All Ablett mullets across the centre, Derm sporting his red mullet before he hit the peroxide, Barkers wasn't really a mullet, it was more surfy style like my own Birregurra version. Martello was a seventy's player but had a great mullet nonetheless.

PEARL MAN MIGHTY MULLETS

Backs:              Dipierdomenico (Haw) Scarlett J. (Gee)           Ayres (Haw)

H/backs:           Southern (WB)             Mew (Haw)                 Doull (Car)

Centres:            Ablett K. (Haw)                       Ablett G. (Gee)            Ablett G. (Haw)

H/Fwds:           Capper (Syd)                           Brereton (Haw)            Brownless (Gee)

Fwds:               Kernahan (Car)                        Lockett (St. K) Hardie (Bris)

Rucks:              Martello (Haw)             Hocking G. (Gee)         Weightman (Rich)

Res:                  Middlemiss (St. K)                   Barker (St. K)

Well we certainly have a star studded team of mullets.  As thought Hawthorn is well represented.

Ms. Amanda Watson still leads the tipping competition with a very healthy margin.  It is a very interesting round of matches this weekend and all tipsters would do well to wait for team selections.  The celebrity tipsters have no such fortune.

Friday nights game to kick off the round has BLOCKBUSTER written all over it.  St. Kilda play host to the West Coast and a sell out crowd is expected at the rink.  These team kicked over 50 goals between them last week and another shoot out is expected.  In a battle that will be won by the defences it is a case of who can stand strong.  Surprisingly, St. Kilda have conceded less points than the Weagles and after taking into consideration the fact that the last three times St. Kilda has played host to the Weagles they have won by 50,61 and 101 points, the Saints look a moral.  Trigger says back the Saints to win by more than 35 points.  Good enough for me, St. Kilda.

Next day at the rink we see Carlton taking on Melbourne.  Carlton have shown improvement in the last few rounds but will this improvement be enough to trouble the Demons?  Alas, no.  Even though Melbourne have copped a few injuries their overall depth will ensure no upsets in this game.  Carlton coach Denis Pagan has the powers to be at Blueland looking over his shoulders as they want to replace his support staff.  No surprises here, Melbourne.

Across town at the ‘G, Richmond host the Western Bulldogs.  Richmond will be looking to overcome their 100+ loss of last week and it is interesting to note that the ‘Dogs gave the Tigers a similar thrashing when they last meant.  After that game Bulldog Adam Cooney commented that he thought the Richmond players gave up after half time.  Richmond are sure to have that in mind and Cooney be targeted.  WB need a win to cement their finals hopes and this motivation will see them through.

After last weeks much needed victory, the Bombers fly north to take on the Sydney Swans at the SCG.  Can the Bombers take back to back victories and cement second bottom spot?  Will the Swans come up after winning in tiring conditions in Adelaide.  With a gram of luck the Essendon team could have won its past three games but to take on a September bound Swan outfit will prove very difficult indeed.  Digger says the Swans but it will be tight.

In the second BLOCKBUSTER off the round the Ravens of Adelaide host the Magpies of Collingwood.  Prior to going to press the word was that Collingwood would not suspend naughty boys Tarrant and Johnson.  Would have been interesting had they played a bottom team.  Adelaide were shocked and rocked by the Weagles last week and will be keen to bounce back.  The Magpies need a win to have a chance to get a place in the top four and will need to be firing on all cylinders.  It is hard to see the Ravens losing 2 in a row and I expect them to take it our on the Magpies.

Sundays games are a bit of a bore after Friday night and Saturday and none of these results should have any bearing on the make up of the final 8 for the year.

Geelong, who threw away their chance last week should be too strong for the Brisbane line up although if Bradshaw continues to fire the result could be different.  The Cats are expected to include Shannon Byrnes to add some pace.  Geelong in a close one.

The Kangaroos and Port Power meet at the rink in a game of very little significance to the remainder of 2006.  Port have been luckless and trying hard over the last month while the Kangaroos are enjoying their most fruitful part of the season.  The Kangaroos to win.

Hawthorn will be Spida less when traveling to Subiaco to challenge the much improved Fremantle team.  Has Spida played his last game for the Hawks or is all the talk of a Sydney move next year press talk.  Fremantle to demolish the Hawks.

Sid Schooner

Flea

Digger

Pearlman

cf

Eastern Bloc

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