AFL pre-season Game 1.

[MrChristo]

Fremantle 1.70

Since 2000 when Essendon won the pre-season cup, they have not won a single game! They have lost 7 straight games at an average of 39 points! This can be directly attributed to coach Kevin Sheedy who simply doesn?t care much for these type of games. He constantly experiments by playing players out of positions and likes to have a look at some of his fringe players.
Fremantle?s record isn?t great either winning only 3 of their last 6 games, but the last of those victories was over Essendon, by 33 points at home.
This game will be played in Darwin and this will definitely favour Freo as the game will be played in very warm and humid conditions.
Fremantle will be looking to follow on from last years good form and everything favours them to win.

EDIT: Freo were available for 1.80 for about an hour yesterday, but 1.70 is still a decent price, pretty much what I expected.

 

[bombercoops]

Agree with you Christo. Looks like the pick of the round and like you said, $1.70 isn't too bad. Conditions will definitely be a factor you would think. GL with the play mate. Any thoughts on your dogs??

 

[MrChristo]

No real thoughts on the Dogs game tonight bomber.
Just happy to sit back and watch what should at least be one of the genuine contests of the weekend. (Along with the Kanga's and Melbourne)
Richmond without Richo, Campbell, Gaspar:

B: T. Zantuck, R. Hall, A. Kellaway
HB: M. Chaffey, L. Weller, A. Fiora
C: G. Tivendale, K. Johnson, T. Fleming
HF: C. Newman, B. Ottens, J. Blumfield
F: D. Rodan, S. Morrison, J. Schulz
R: G. Stafford, M. Coughlan, N. Brown
I/C: C. Hyde, A. Houlihan, K. Pettifer, T. Roach, B. Marsh, B. Nicholls

"For the Bulldogs, only skipper Chris Grant, who is still working his way back to full fitness following last year?s knee surgery, Daniel Giansiracusa (quad), Mitchell Hahn (shoulder) and Jordan McMahon (knee) are missing from a full strength squad.

Former Hawk Lochlan Veale could also not be considered because of a groin complaint ...For you PAWA

Have to give the Dogs a reasonable chance here, but the odds are about right I guess.

Definately still like West Coast, Kangaroos and Hawthorn to win.

 

[PAWAQATSI]

I'll have a nibble at Fremantle and just watch the other two "hack" teams battle it out to a nil all draw!!!

 

[MrChristo]

Kanga's come in at about what we all expected. 1.60...A very reasonable price. Will certainly be having me some of that.

But West Coast!!....1.45!!! Yes they should win...Pies have a few out...."Pies? squad that is without star duo Chris Tarrant and Paul Licuria as well as Shane Woewodin, Tarkyn Lockyer, Simon Prestigiacomo, Rhyce Shaw and Ben Johnson.

But 1.45!! That's just plain nasty! Jackovich, Gardiner also Gaspar, Kerr and Morrison out and some rookies playing in key positions for Eagles.

Geelong should be getting 10-11 points...Enough?? Dunno. They did beat Brisbane there at Cairns last year....

 

[Pumpkin]

Have heard that Essendon will be playing most of there youngsters in key positions to see what they've got - has to favour Freo who should get a home game next week and then be a cahnce for the semi's,

Kanga's do look to be too good for Melbourne but weather conditions will be around 38 degrees C - so am going to stay away from the game

 

[MrChristo]

The Power had 10 players unavailable this weekend ? Stuart Dew, Roger James, Jarrad Schofield, Toby Thurstans (groins), Josh Francou, Damien Hardwick (knees), Dean Brogan and Byron Pickett (general soreness), Darryl Wakelin (ankle) and Brett Ebert (shoulder).

Still 'playing fair-dinkum' according to Mark Williams.

 

[MrChristo]

Well....I find that very hard to take. Dockers dominate possession, were clearly the fitter team, but their ball handling was atrocious!! Dropped mark, after fumble, after poor kick and Des Headland missed 2 sitters in the last 1/4 to put the game away.
Not to mention the fat that BOTH of Ess 9 point goals came from Freo 50 metre penalties!
Horrible to watch.
Llyod and Hird near won it on their own...with some help from the Dockers of course.
Not happy at all.

 

[PAWAQATSI]

Didn't watch it MrC......but you have just made it hurt that little bit more!! The stats certainly made me wonder "what the f... happened?"

I watched your Doggies get rolled and I'm kinda thankful we didn't end up with what's his name!!....

Onto tomorrows games where I am very confident of my Roos.