AFL - Round 1 - Part 1

[45HG 1,552]

Folks, here we go!

Footy starts tomorrow night and, whilst I don't like the staggered start to the year, it's presented two tasty matches with a few layers of intrigue to them.

Firstly, tomorrow night in Adelaide.

All eyes will be on the Bombers to see how they respond to a terrible couple of months. They started with a bolt last year but fell away - essentially that's how I see this game going. I think Essendon will be very competitive. They're a proud club and looked immense early last year.

Adelaide's midfield, however, will be too powerful IMO and the likes of Dangermouse and Thompson will help Adelaide run over the top in front of their home fans. Walker could be anything this year.

Adelaide by 21.

West Coast versus Freo tosses up a couple of teams who would rate themselves for top four. One of them, I feel, will turn out to be more of a pretender. Freo, without Sandi, could be left short against the quality Eagles talls.

Guys like Cox, Kennedy et al could be hard to stop but I think the biggest factor will be West Coast's press. They are immensely good at it and shut teams down regularly. This is what I think will get them over the line - they can be so hard to score against when in the right mood.

West Coast by 37.

[angrydee 842]

I don't give a FF who wins these meaningless games. The season starts on sunday, 31/3 @ 1.10pm

[Gorgoroth 12,972]

I don't give a FF who wins these meaningless games. The season starts on sunday, 31/3 @ 1.10pm

I really do not understand the mind set of people who answer to a post like this, if you don't care, fine, great. Hit th back button and mosey on with life, the OP is obviously continuing with something he started pre season.

And by the way, they are not meaningless games, they are for 4 points. I think you meant to say "I don't care about these games."

Which brings me back to my original point.

I reckon Essendon will come out hard, but Adelaide will wear them down and win by 28 points.

Derby will be won by Freo by 7 points.

[Brian Wilson 331]

I don't give a FF who wins these meaningless games. The season starts on sunday, 31/3 @ 1.10pm

I appreciate the sentiment of the one eyed angry dee but you need to watch other teams in order to talk about MFC. Otherwise, your opinion is a north pole without a south.

Plus, we play the Bombers in round 2. Know your enemy.

These two games are a very interesting start to the year. Both are hard to pick.

I like the der-bee, and at the moment it boasts two top four contenders with very different playing styles. Freo by two goals for me.

Adelaide are very strong at home and that should be enough to tip them over the line against an angry, angry Bomber team. Crows by three goals.

[Sir Why You Little 37,052]

I hope the Bombers get absolutely smashed.

The face of Hird shattered.

[old dee 23,801]

I don't give a FF who wins these meaningless games. The season starts on sunday, 31/3 @ 1.10pm

AS long as it does not end around 3.30 pm

[CBDees 3,167]

Folks, here we go!

Adelaide's midfield, however, will be too powerful IMO and the likes of Dangermouse and Thompson will help Adelaide run over the top in front of their home fans. Walker could be anything this year.

Adelaide by 21.

Such a shame to think that Scot Thompson was once part of our midfield!

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

I hope the Bombers get absolutely smashed.

The face of Hird shattered.

Mark McVeigh's knee already did that remember

[P-man 13,366]

I will never cheer for Adelaide as loudly as I will tomorrow night.

[angrydee 842]

I appreciate the sentiment of the one eyed angry dee but you need to watch other teams in order to talk about MFC. Otherwise, your opinion is a north pole without a south.

Plus, we play the Bombers in round 2. Know your enemy.

These two games are a very interesting start to the year. Both are hard to pick.

I like the der-bee, and at the moment it boasts two top four contenders with very different playing styles. Freo by two goals for me.

Adelaide are very strong at home and that should be enough to tip them over the line against an angry, angry Bomber team. Crows by three goals.

Mate, I've been watching other teams win flags since 1965. I've been lucky enough to see us win 4. But for almost 50 years it's been other teams winning them.

I watch 9 AFL games a week, but only one has any meaning for me - the rest are thus meaningless.

But by all means - you go ahead and enjoy them.

[Chook 15,013]

It looks like I'm going against the grain by tipping Essendon and Fremantle. I'm hoping I haven't just outsmarted myself.

[Brian Wilson 331]

Mate, I've been watching other teams win flags since 1965. I've been lucky enough to see us win 4. But for almost 50 years it's been other teams winning them.

I watch 9 AFL games a week, but only one has any meaning for me - the rest are thus meaningless.

But by all means - you go ahead and enjoy them.

I'm incredibly jealous. I was born in the late 70s and I've watched the Dees get thumped in two grand finals, the first with hope in my heart, the second with acceptance in my head.

But I can't imagine watching games of footy that I can't enjoy. A few games a week is about right for me. You're allowed to go outside.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

It would be nice to see Essendon get demolished to start the season.

I'm more interested in watching individual players this weekend, though. LeCras, Fyfe, Goddard, Walker (without Tippett)...

[rpfc 28,542]

Mate, I've been watching other teams win flags since 1965. I've been lucky enough to see us win 4. But for almost 50 years it's been other teams winning them.

I watch 9 AFL games a week, but only one has any meaning for me - the rest are thus meaningless.

But by all means - you go ahead and enjoy them.

The sentimaent in this post is different to the original.

You say you watch all games but that they are meaningless to a Demons supporter.

I don't really see a difference to that stance in the thread that 45 started.

The alternative is that you spend 24 hours every weekend meaninglessly watching sport with a neutral look of apathy in your dead eyes, watered from an emotionless and unblinking experience.

[P-man 13,366]

The alternative is that you spend 24 hours every weekend meaninglessly watching sport with a neutral look of apathy in your dead eyes, watered from an emotionless and unblinking experience.

lol..bravo rpfc.

Though I'm pretty sure that describes me by the time the final siren sounds, wondering what the hell I just witnessed..

[45HG 1,552]

Let me get this straight, you watch 20 hours of sport you don't enjoy on a weekly basis?

I think you need to re-think some things...

[Sir Why You Little 37,052]

I'm incredibly jealous. I was born in the late 70s and I've watched the Dees get thumped in two grand finals, the first with hope in my heart, the second with acceptance in my head.

But I can't imagine watching games of footy that I can't enjoy. A few games a week is about right for me. You're allowed to go outside.

i was born in the early '60's and have seen GF Defeats to BW.

Hurts just the same.

[H_T 3,049]

I've tipped Adelaide and West Coast.

Very hesitant about the Adel v Ess game though. Almost tipped Essendon. I don't think there will be much in it at half time, but I expect Essendon's defence to wilt under pressure in the second half. I see Walker being well held in the first half, I see the wise old head of Fletcher being influential early. But I think Adelaide's mids will rise during the game and split the game open late for a win at home.

West Coast are my tip to finish top at the end of the season and Fremantle will be very hard to beat. LeCras is a big plus with Kennedy back for the eagles and appear too potent. That said, you must respect Lyon's coaching ability to get the best out of his teams with the aspect of defending.

A really interesting opening to the AFL season with these two games. Thankfully the football industry can get back to enjoying onfield exploits rather than the off field dramas.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,816]

Folks, here we go!

Footy starts tomorrow night and, whilst I don't like the staggered start to the year, it's presented two tasty matches with a few layers of intrigue to them.

Firstly, tomorrow night in Adelaide.

All eyes will be on the Bombers to see how they respond to a terrible couple of months. They started with a bolt last year but fell away - essentially that's how I see this game going. I think Essendon will be very competitive. They're a proud club and looked immense early last year.

Adelaide's midfield, however, will be too powerful IMO and the likes of Dangermouse and Thompson will help Adelaide run over the top in front of their home fans. Walker could be anything this year.

Adelaide by 21.

West Coast versus Freo tosses up a couple of teams who would rate themselves for top four. One of them, I feel, will turn out to be more of a pretender. Freo, without Sandi, could be left short against the quality Eagles talls.

Guys like Cox, Kennedy et al could be hard to stop but I think the biggest factor will be West Coast's press. They are immensely good at it and shut teams down regularly. This is what I think will get them over the line - they can be so hard to score against when in the right mood.

West Coast by 37.

You should get a job with the Herald Sun*. More readable and sensible than most of what that journal delivers. I hope you keep doing these previews for the rest of the year.

*Actually, no you won't. Far too well written.

[Whispering_Jack 30,242]

I've tipped Adelaide and West Coast.

I expect tonight's game to be close because the Bombers really have something to prove and their pre season form has been good considering the drug furore surrounding the club. Adelaide has had it's share of off field controversy with the Tippett saga and the AFL's savage treatment of assistant coach Dean Bailey for some extraordinarily unusual behaviour some 4 years ago. I like the Adelaide midfield of Thompson, Sloane & Dangerfield and then there's the home ground advantage.

Tomorrow, I'm tipping Casey to win the big one against Port Melbourne but I really don't care what happens in the game in Perth. It's a bit like barracking for the two participants in the Iran-Irak war. I reckon that WCE is a bit bigger like Iran so I'm tipping them to win big.

[hardtack 10,555]

As much as I dislike the Crows, I hope they demolish/humiliate the Bumbers.

[P-man 13,366]

Bombers looking woeful.

[old dee 23,801]

Is the AFL website down.

Cannot get on to it for 30 minutes?

[BrisbaneDemon 1,572]

Geez Radalaide's mid field looks a million dollars tonight! The bombers look woeful/disinterested!

[ThreeOneSix 954]

On field at least, Essendon get by on a lot of luck, they are one of those sides.

I can't stand them either.