Welcome to the finale tipsters!!!
The final round, the crowning glory, finito, the consummation of a nail biting season...it all comes down to this week! Every year since its inception, the MH footy tipping has come down to the last round. It's the sheer desperation of our tipsters to get their hands on a case of the good stuff and 2011 is no different.
We have three punters sitting on 141 pts each - the Wiley Whiteheads, Krazy KC and just to ensure nepotism is alive and well Old Mitch is in amongst it as well. And don't go writing off Killer Kingy....he is only one point off the pace and could easily run over the top of any unsuspecting tipsters!
Onto the ball game...At least the MH tipping comp has a bit more riding on it than this final round. The top 8 is finalised and the bottom 9 have got the eskies packed for the footy trip already.
The round kicks off tomorrow night with a top 2 clash between the Cats and Pies. This should be a ripper of a game except for the minor fact that nothing is riding on it. Both teams know who they'll be playing in the first week, but perhaps the pussy cats might have a bit more grunt about them after going down to Sydney at the Cattery last week.
The term "General Soreness" has been taken to whole new level this week for the Hawks, who have got 8 players putting their feet up including the skipper. The Buddy and Cyril show will also have an RDO as the Hawks finally end the long, long season for the Suns.
There's going to be more strapping tape, nurofen & deep heat on the plane over from WA than fit Dockers players this Saturday as they limp over the line against the Bulldogs. It's the swan song for Big Bad Bazza and the Doggies should finish up with the 4 points.
Up to the SCG and it's a home final as the prize for the Bloods this week if they can knock off the Brisbane Lions on Saturday arvo.
The Blues have been pretty consistent this year & are going about their business beautifully. New dad Juddy has enough Brownlows in the trophy cabinet not let the idea of another distract him from the main prize this year, but the loss to the Hawks a couple weeks back may have rattled the blue baggers I reckon. Are they tough enough to take their finals campaign further? A good old fashion flogging of the Saints who have managed to get their act together & keep their pants on for the last few months will give them a confidence boost, but the Saints too are on a roll after flogging the Roos, & this match should be an absolute beauty.
Two teams that every Victorian loves to hate from time to time (or always). The Crows have shown a bit from time to time through out the season but have really lacked the depth to be of much threat. The Weagles on the other hand have been all class & are back to their formidable best. Reminiscent of their form in the early 90’s the Eagles could on their day give any team in the top 8 a real run for their money, & will be far too strong for the Crows.
What a season for these two coachless clubs. Port went backwards at an ever increasing rate of knots and the Dees really just continued to struggle every week, occasionally showing glimpses of potential. A murky future for both clubs playing for pride this weekend.
Did the AFL really think these two teams would be fighting it out for something better than 9th spot? Yes folks to finish off the home & away season for 2011 the Tigers will be fighting desperately to try & steal the ladder position that they have had a mortgage on for the last ten years. This will be an all out fight to the death for the much coveted 9th spot on the ladder. The Tiges are on a bit of rare form but in typical tiger fashion it will be too little too late, and in typical shin boner fashion it will be another season where North had the spirit but lacked the calibre.
So, go get 'em tipsters and take it home in the last round!!
Mitch, Lis, Johnno and Shan