Footy Tipping: AFL Round 1 Wrap
Round 1 of the 2010 AFL season kicked off with a bang as three Service Central tipsters managed to pick all games correctly - well done! However, as multiple tipsters had perfect rounds, the jackpot will increase to $40 next week!
Round 1 saw little in the way of tight contests as tipsters found the early going reasonably predictable. Richmond showed they were in for a long year as they were handed out a 56-point shellacking by Carlton at the 'G in the traditional season opener on Thursday night. The Blues had a flock of multiple goal scorers and while the Tigers briefly threatened to challenge, the match was always under their control.
Friday night saw Essendon surprise Geelong before being reeled in and ultimately overrun. The Cats' strength and experience won out after the Bombers opened up some sizeable leads at various stages of the match, indicating that they will be challenging for a spot in the finals this year. The reigning premiers' 31-point victory was nowhere near as easy as the scoreline suggests.
If Richmond shortened for the spoon after Thursday night, then their odds would have drifted well out after a woeful Melbourne performance against Hawthorn at the 'G. One goal to half time was simply not good enough from the Dees whose basic skill errors suggest that tipsters would be bold to touch them this year. Credit to Hawthorn, who found a number of avenues to goal in the absence of some of their better players including Buddy Franklin.
Sydney and St Kilda played the tightest match of the round at ANZ Stadium. While the opening round fixture between these two is traditionally a dour struggle, this match had a bit more on show as the Saints were able to maintain a slender lead throughout, despite the best efforts of the Swans led by Adam Goodes. The Saints will be missing Justin Koschitzke who was suspended for three weeks for a head high hip and shoulder on Nick Malceski, while his fellow big man Nick Riewoldt had a near-BOG performance with 4 goals to highlight his Brownlow credentials.
A steamrolling last quarter saw Brisbane come back from behind to knock off West Coast by 32 points. Star attraction Brendan Fevola had a mixed night, including a miracle soccer goal from the tightest of angles as well as a handful of missed chances. The Eagles will be rueing their final quarter having competed well throughout the match, but there are many good signs for the young side.
North Melbourne left their run too late against the notoriously complacent Port Adelaide as they fell 14 points short at AAMI Stadium. With Kane Cornes picking up possessions at will, the impressive Power skipped away to a massive lead only to have North reel it in during the final term.
The most talked-up match of the round lived up to the hype as Collingwood stunned pre-season premiers the Western Bulldogs to win by six goals, leaving many a tipster scratching their head. After the Pies opened up a massive lead early on, the Dogs showed their grit and clawed their way back to a nine-point half-time deficit. However four goals apiece to Didak and Medhurst and three from Davis and Swan saw the Pies to a compelling victory as they made their claim as the real deal in 2010.
The final match of the round, a twilight fixture over in Perth, saw the Dockers crush Adelaide by 56 points - the third 56-point margin of the round, a record. The Dockers, who have for years promised so much and delivered so little, impressed with their new zone against the depleted Crows, while rookie Michael Barlow had a lot of fantasy football followers ecstatic as he accumulated 33 possessions on debut and kicked two goals.
So there you have it! One round down, twenty-one to go. Have the Dogs been overhyped? Are Melbourne really that bad? Are the Cats and the Saints on the decline and can the Hawks and the Pies challenge for the flag this year? All will become clear in the next few rounds - stay tuned!Although the season has started, tell your friends to visithttp://www.tipper.com.auand join today! It's completely free and as you can see, the jackpot is there for the taking!
Good luck and happytipping!
Tommy the Tipper
