DeeSpencer

But you look at the Cowboys who nailed 3 O line picks in a short time period and have now really rode their O line to what looks like a playoff appearance. That said I think the difference between a top pick and bottom pick is smaller than in the AFL. You just need to find a guy who wins his position and there are more at the top but they come throughout the rounds of the draft. So yeah I'd much rather win the games as well. The one difference is obviously the Quarterback. You only need to look at the Colts going straight from Manning to Luck to see that if there's a QB to be had you may as well tank. Same with Washington. If they had pick 2 and took Griffen it would've saved them a swag of picks that could've given them some much needed depth and RG3 probably would've been heading towards a solid future as at least a midlevel QB.

I missed it. The thing that I thought was going to make it truly terrible was that is wasn't just two 2 and 12 teams but a predictable result. Jax thing they have their QB and are at home. They needed to win and had motive to win. Once Tenn lost to the Jets they had to tank this one. They are now heavy rivals with Tampa for the number 1 pick. You'd have to think the Raiders (as the third 2 win team) would back Carr in and trade it to either Tenn or Tampa as well. Anyway, that's for another day. Feeling pretty confident this week: Green Bay - See above re Tampa Detroit - Clausen might give the Bears a kick along, but this team has packed it in for the year New England Could've tipped Philly, Buffalo, Seattle or Denver (Dalton melts in Prime Time) as well.

Or just making sure the game against Detroit decides the division and has that extra edge before the playoffs! The NFC play off seedings are right up in the air with two weeks to go. Crazy. Green Bay, Philly etc will be wanting the number 1 seed, but at the same time I think they'll be cheering on Arizona next week and just a happy to have Seattle down in the 5 seed.

Green Bay Pittsburgh New Orleans Who else is excited for some Johnny Football!!! A couple of fine battles for the Mariota Cup in Jets v Tennessee and surely not even Tampa and Lovie would be so silly as to actually beat Carolina now they are on their backup QB.

Indi Houston San Fran Wish I did early tips and went the Coybows. Funnily enough I'm not overly upset with our loss. We need to get real about where the team is at and fighting to an 8 win season would've been false hope. I am slowly getting a bit more faith in our defense even if they keep getting torched I can see effort and can see some improvement with a few good signings, we at least will stop paying money to always injured veterans in Tillman and Briggs after this year. And our offense was dead for 3 quarters before getting back in it, stuffing up an extra point and then Cutler being Cutler. But there was some signs of life. I go through swings of thinking who we should or shouldn't sack. Overall I think the franchise is completely screwed by having Cutler, but at the same time I see a sign of life if we take our medicine and rebuild with young players in every other position. Whilst our win-loss record isn't quite bottom of the league I think we are now having a season so bad that next year has to be better! So very MFC! Long term of course the entire future of the franchise will rest on picking right for the next QB. Oh to have a legitimate superbowl quality franchise quarterback. I hate those teams who have one!

Positions are kind of useless, but I get the theory. I think he will start his career in the forward line at AFL level as Salem, Kent and others have recently. But I can definitely see us going Petracca's paddock if he develops to his full potential especially when games open up late. Richmond did this so well with Dusty Martin this year and Adelaide have done it with Dangerfield.

Cinn Miami Arizona

Obviously he plays differently and the game is different, but not just because he's Italian but the bubbly enthusiasm Petracca has is very like what I imagine a young Dippa would've been like.

So is Joel Selwood's at times, so is Josh Kennedy's or Dayne Beams', so is Dustin Martin's at times. Matty Priddis just won the brownlow and he can't kick over a jam jar. Rory Sloane is close to an elite player of the comp and kicks helicopters. It was the knock on Wines as well. If he wins 10 clearances or goes forward and takes 5 marks inside 50 then I don't care if he's just floating it forward or sitting it up for goal. Certainly he has to be at a reasonable level, which I think from the highlights video above he is. He's not perfect. No player ever is. But he doesn't have to be Nick Malceski to play the role he's designed to play. Scully doesn't suck because of his kicking. He sucks because he hasn't become the inside midfielder and heavy accumulator he was at under 18 level and even in his first year at Melbourne. He doesn't win contests and therefore as an outside player his poor kicking hurts him. Toumpas, Salem, JKH, Stretch those guys are recruited to play outside roles and need their kicking to be at a high level. Plus kicking can and should be developed and improves with training, decision making and experience. Petracca is starting at a higher base than Nath Jones and he kicks it pretty well these days.

They are Petrified. Are we going with Braytracca or Petrashaw?

Well that's a bit awkward. All thoughts are with Hughesy. Really hope he can pull through. Clarke's fitness battle with the selectors and who will be in our top 6 batsmen is much less important now

Green Bay are the standout. Take the form line through the Bears and Vikings last two weeks, have to tip them. Gets very hard after that. Tempted to tip Arizona or Miami but they are coming up against quality sides. Surely the saints don't lose another at home? Even tempted to take the Jets but I think the Bills have to do it for their community. I'm going to take Cleveland, just on how poor Atlanta have been and how despite inconsistencies at their best Cleveland have been very strong. Then I'm taking Tampa Bay. Lovie Smith will be all over Jay Cutler with zone defenses and QB pressures that will result in at least 2 INTs. If McCown can turn good field position in to some points they'll get the win. Tampa 27, Chicago 20.

Probably 0-5 if Dawes and Hogan stay healthy and McCartin has as much work on his game required as we think he does. But no draftee should be expected to improve the side in year 1 and Roos knows that and showed it with patience with Salem last year. Brayshaw has the body and competitiveness to play, but there's no guarantee anyone else like De Goey, Laverde, Duggan, Pickett etc would settle in to playing and making an impact in year one either. We've got 2 later picks and 2 rookie spots if we want to find some more ready to go help.

Our consecutive number 1 picks were compared to Nick Riewoldt and Chris Judd, so really Martin and Wines should be easy enough! Petracca has the body (particularly after a solid preseason building fitness) to impact early. And he has the ball winning ability. That's really his strength - he can win it in the air or on the ground better than any kid, so he should be fine. And because he's come from the background of a forward he will start there before moving up the ground. Really in a lot of ways he's very well suited to the number 1 pick.

Brisbane 11: Warner Rogers ???? Smith ???? ???? Haddin Johnson Harris (hopefully) Starc Lyon I guess we will go with Mitch Marsh and Watson. Neither inspire me with confidence. Anyone got a good idea for a top order batsman?

The Rams would not only be leading the NFC South (or tied?) but they'd be the best team in it by a fair stretch. Are Tampa out of it yet (almost Seriously) It's nice to see the Eagles copping what the Bears did last week. I had doubts on GB, because I saw them like the Broncos last year, great QB, but not strong enough of D or on the offensive line. But they are changing my opinion. As well as Manning played last year, with his ability to extend plays and scramble I'd say Rodgers is a level above. He doesn't need an offensive line right now (even if they are playing well) and he's giving the green bay D such a lead to play with as well. The Bengals and Browns completely swap form (I had initially tipped Houston but swapped to Detroit). I know there are still blow out wins, really bad teams (next week Oakland) and some boring games, but wow this any given Sunday thing is fun with unpredictable results. The AFL should really try one of these (somewhat) even and unpredictable comps one day.

Brisbane Broncos Brisbane Lions Australian national wheelchair rugby Steelers Also this could be the week for Oakland.

Have Shield games always been 4 dayers and if so why? Why not make them 5 days? There are new rules this year that reward a team for getting 5, 7 or 9 wickets in the first 100 overs. Or for making >200 runs in the first 100 overs of the first innings for either side Just crazy. We need a number 3 batsmen and we don't need an attacking one. We can have Rahul Dravid. We can have whichever style as long as they can average 45 and perform in a variety of conditions. We have 1, 2, 4, 5 and options for 6. We have a keeper. We have and always will have some decent quicks. We need a spinner and a number 3. Asking teams to bat quicker or take more wickets in the first innings of shield games does nothing for the development of either of those positions.

Dallas, Denver, Pittsburgh. I'm sorry I'll see you guys next week as Chicago has another bye this week.

Wright (second ruck), McCartin (FF), Hogan (CHF) could all play together in a 3 prong modern attack. Wright obviously goes to the ruck and Hogan and McCartin would play as modern forwards do with McCartin still playing more close to goal on average. But Dawes would likely hold his spot for a while given how long big guys take. And in the mean time we get little improvement and in the end we likely dump Dawes who's a pretty honest footballer. We'd then get 3 gun forwards if we developed them correctly but what good is that? There's only so many inside 50's a team has with a gun midfield. With a poor midfield these guys would end up fighting for marking contests. If I really was convinced they were the best 2 in the draft I'd take them, but barring that you're almost asking for one to fail through lack of development opportunity.

It's not who you are tipping that's unoriginal so much as who you are tipping against! Jacksonville, Oakland and the Jets with a combined 1 win and what 20+ losses! I'll wait a bit longer before tipping but I think that will be a pretty standard 3 this week. That said the Jags might get a chance against the Cowboys. I just can't believe they'd play Romo off only 2 weeks rest with 2 fractured vertebra even if they are on TP fractures. And Oakland are playing ever so much better since they sacked the coach. I'll stay with P Manning off a loss to seek vengeance but Oakland surely get a win soon.

Arizona Washington Tampa

We can take 2 mids with later picks, plus Brayshaw and Billy Stretch. It will come down to best available. If there was a second very good mid to take we'd take them. But just because Roos is suspect on drafting young forwards doesn't mean he won't let the recruiting staff do their job. I don't see Roos complaining about us getting Hogan. If McCartin is rated high enough we have to pick him.

Nope division winner makes it. I'm happy with that. But I do think the team with the better record should host the wildcard game. The 10-6 wildcard should host the 8-8 division winner. It would certainly be an interesting coincidence if Seattle finished with the better record and had to go play the Saints as the reverse happened a few years back and Seattle as heavy underdogs at home got the win.

Don't pay national draft prices next year for a guy you could rookie this year! We've got the former Sandy Coach! Plus several others. The VFL (especially if Casey is half decent this year) isn't too onerus for most 18 year olds. And there's always the VFL reserves (shudder). If he's borderline I think someone takes a chance on him just like Adelaide did with Craig Kelly's son last year.