2009 AFL Finals Series Begins - FINALS WEEK ONE PREVIEW.
Essendon are your 8th Finals Team as Hawthorn completed their implosion in a forgettable year following their premiership heroics of 2008. St.Kilda took home the Minor Premiership with their first win in 3 weeks over the Demons and the Bulldogs slipped past the Magpies on percentage to take 3rd spot. For the Hawks, Swans, Demons, Kangaroos, Power, Tigers, Wharfies and Eagles - 2009 is now a bad memory.
As for a tip?
I believed at the start of the season that Geelong would make it three Grand Finals in as many years and win a second premiership in 2009... injuries and worrying recent losses make me more than a little concerned about their chances - but they remain my pick for the Flag.
2009 AFL FINALS:
WEEK ONE PREVIEWS
The AFL Ladder finished looking this way:
1. SAINTS
2. CATS
3. BULLDOGS
4. MAGPIES
5. CROWS
6. LIONS
7. BLUES
8. BOMBERS
============
9. HAWKS
10. POWER
11. EAGLES
12. SWANS
13. KANGAROOS
14. WHARFIES
15. TIGERS
16. DEMONS
So the Matchups in Week One of the 2009 AFL Finals Series are:
Friday Night @ AAMI Stadium, Adelaide
#5 CROWS v #8 BOMBERS
CROWS over BOMBERS Given Essendon's injuries and suspension list - anything other than a dominant Adelaide victory would be a monumental shock. The Bombers have done well to make it into September but the key troops missing will be too much to overcome - Crows by at least 6 goals.
Saturday Afternoon @ MCG, Melbourne
#2 CATS v #3 BULLDOGS
CATS over BULLDOGS Geelong aren't healthy and the Bulldogs beat them just a few weeks ago... so the Dogs might be a punter's best friend this weekend if the Crows are way too short. Still I've seen Geelong come back in a few games in 2009 they had no right to win - and something inside tells me they will lift now knowing that this game gives their club an extra week off to rest people up. Cats to win by 2 goals.
Saturday Night @ Gabba, Brisbane
#6 LIONS v #7 BLUES
BLUES over LIONS Carlton blew their chance to have a home final and now must emerge from the Gabbatoir to stay alive in the premiership race. Carlton have the feel of a side that might make a run all the way to a Preliminary Final if they can get past the Lions - and I'm tipping them to do so. Blues by 4 goals.
Sunday Afternoon @ MCG, Melbourne
#1 SAINTS v #4 MAGPIES
SAINTS over MAGPIES I give the Magpies a massive chance in this game. The Saints have just one win in the past three weeks and the Magpies - despite relinquishing 3rd spot to the Dogs in the final term - are capable of pushing the premiership favourites for all four quarters. If St.Kilda's stars are healthy then I think they have too much quality to be denied a passage straight into the 1st Preliminary Final. St.Kilda by 3 goals.
If our picks transpire the Semi-Finals will look this way:
Semi-Final One: MAGPIES v CROWS
Semi-Final Two: BULLDOGS v BLUES
Either way - this weekend will be very interesting with almost every team a chance of winning bar Essendon.
2009 AFL Finals Series Begins - FINALS WEEK ONE PREVIEW.
Essendon are your 8th Finals Team as Hawthorn completed their implosion in a forgettable year following their premiership heroics of 2008. St.Kilda took home the Minor Premiership with their first win in 3 weeks over the Demons and the Bulldogs slipped past the Magpies on percentage to take 3rd spot. For the Hawks, Swans, Demons, Kangaroos, Power, Tigers, Wharfies and Eagles - 2009 is now a bad memory.
As for a tip?
I believed at the start of the season that Geelong would make it three Grand Finals in as many years and win a second premiership in 2009... injuries and worrying recent losses make me more than a little concerned about their chances - but they remain my pick for the Flag.
2009 AFL FINALS:
WEEK ONE PREVIEWS
The AFL Ladder finished looking this way:
1. SAINTS
2. CATS
3. BULLDOGS
4. MAGPIES
5. CROWS
6. LIONS
7. BLUES
8. BOMBERS
============
9. HAWKS
10. POWER
11. EAGLES
12. SWANS
13. KANGAROOS
14. WHARFIES
15. TIGERS
16. DEMONS
So the Matchups in Week One of the 2009 AFL Finals Series are:
Friday Night @ AAMI Stadium, Adelaide
#5 CROWS v #8 BOMBERS
CROWS over BOMBERS Given Essendon's injuries and suspension list - anything other than a dominant Adelaide victory would be a monumental shock. The Bombers have done well to make it into September but the key troops missing will be too much to overcome - Crows by at least 6 goals.
Saturday Afternoon @ MCG, Melbourne
#2 CATS v #3 BULLDOGS
CATS over BULLDOGS Geelong aren't healthy and the Bulldogs beat them just a few weeks ago... so the Dogs might be a punter's best friend this weekend if the Crows are way too short. Still I've seen Geelong come back in a few games in 2009 they had no right to win - and something inside tells me they will lift now knowing that this game gives their club an extra week off to rest people up. Cats to win by 2 goals.
Saturday Night @ Gabba, Brisbane
#6 LIONS v #7 BLUES
BLUES over LIONS Carlton blew their chance to have a home final and now must emerge from the Gabbatoir to stay alive in the premiership race. Carlton have the feel of a side that might make a run all the way to a Preliminary Final if they can get past the Lions - and I'm tipping them to do so. Blues by 4 goals.
Sunday Afternoon @ MCG, Melbourne
#1 SAINTS v #4 MAGPIES
SAINTS over MAGPIES I give the Magpies a massive chance in this game. The Saints have just one win in the past three weeks and the Magpies - despite relinquishing 3rd spot to the Dogs in the final term - are capable of pushing the premiership favourites for all four quarters. If St.Kilda's stars are healthy then I think they have too much quality to be denied a passage straight into the 1st Preliminary Final. St.Kilda by 3 goals.
If our picks transpire the Semi-Finals will look this way:
Semi-Final One: MAGPIES v CROWS
Semi-Final Two: BULLDOGS v BLUES
Either way - this weekend will be very interesting with almost every team a chance of winning bar Essendon.
