And then there were 4.  We are really down to the business end of the season now with on two games to go before the Grand Final on Saturday the 30^th of September.

Last weeks semi finals were pretty much a couple of mismatches and now all the Victorian teams are out of the race.  Melbourne who were defeated by Fremantle in semi final number 1 were in the game for a long way.  Scores were tight at half time and even at the lemon break the Demons would have thought they were a chance.  But tired legs create tired minds and a couple of lapses allowed Freo to win convincingly in the end.  Docker coach Chris Connelly would have been pleased to see that his charges had 10 individual goal scorers and that the team did not rely on Pavlich and Farmer.  Skipper David Neitz worked hard for the Melbourne team but coach Neal Daniher cannot get his team to peak in September.

In semi final number 2 we were hoping for the Cinderella story to continue but this fairy tale read more like Hansel and Gretel for the the Bulldogs who were eaten alive.

The Western Bulldogs had their chances in the first half but failed to put enough score board pressure on the West Coast.  Meanwhile, the Weagles seemed to kick a goal every time they entered their forward 50 and by the long break the result was never in doubt.  A seven goal final quarter by West Coast was the icing on the cake for them and put the doggies season to an end.

This upcoming Monday night sees the counting of votes to see who will take Charlie home for season 2006.  The Charles Brownlow medal is for the fairest and best player for the season according to votes cast by those most criticized of all sub human species, umpires.  Will the winner even be in attendance at Melbourne's Crown Casino as the four favourites, Adam Goodes, Chris Judd, Ben Cousins and Simon Goodwin all with a chance of playing in the Grand Final should their teams be successful this weekend.  Current TAB Sportsbet odds are,

Adam Goodes - 6/4 and favourite

Chris Judd - 9/2 and second favourite

Ben Cousins - 8/1

Simon Goodwin - 9/1

Digger reckons this season has shades of the season when Tony Liberatore won the medal and says get on Chad Cornes at 125/1.

Now on with the previews.  Digger finds it hard all season having to do his predictions before the teams are announced and it becomes even harder when finals times approach.  So here are some facts laid down.

1/         Since the final 8 was introduced 18 of the 24 preliminary finals have been won by the team that has had the weeks break.  One tick to Sydney

2/         Sydney and Fremantle have played 17 times against each other with surprisingly Sydney only lead 9 to 8.  Half a tick to Sydney.

3/         Head to head at this venue, according to the AFL website, has the Swans leading 7 to 2.  This very dubious stat. has no bearing on the game as I doubt that these teams have played at Telstra Stadium 9 times since the ground was completed for the Sydney Olympics in 2000.  However, the stat. should be played in Sydney or the SCG which gives one more tick to Sydney.

4/         Sydney should field an unchanged team for the third game running while key mental defender Luke McPharlin may not take his place as he appeared to roll his ankle last weekend.  One tick to Sydney.

5/         The punters seem to get it right this time of year and current odds for the game are Sydney at $1.30 to win and Freo at $3.30 to win.  One tick to Sydney.

So in this highly contentious mathematical equation Digger is tipping the 4 and ½ tick Sydney Swans to record a comfortable win and March into consecutive Grand Finals.

Digger will continue with this "tick" method for the other crucial final this weekend where we see minor premier West Coast take on mid season flag favourite Adelaide,

1/         These two teams have played each other 28 times with the Weagles winning 15 to the Ravens 13.  One tick to the West Coast.

2/         Last time they met the Weagles won by 82 points.  One and a ½ ticks to the West Coast.

3/         Head to head in finals sees the Ravens leading 2 to 1.  One to Adelaide.

4/         Head to head at this venue see the Ravens with 10 wins to the Weagles 4.  One and a 1/2 ticks to the Ravens.

5/         Last time they met at this venue and last time they met in a final have both been wins by the Weagles.  One tick to the West Coast.

In summary, three and ½ ticks to the West Coast and 2 and a ½ ticks to the Ravens.  So Digger says the Weagles to make it consecutive Sydney and West Coast Grand Finals.

See you at Vasco's this Friday and Saturday afternoons and at the Legend Hotel on the 30^th for that "one day in September.

Digger