AFL, Round 3 {R}

[babytiger2001]

Games this weekend-- and bear in mind the early start of the round, with it being Easter Weekend, and therefore no footy on Good Friday and an Easter Monday clash at Telstra Dome...

And away we go (to take a phrase out of Dennis Commetti's lexicon)...

AFL, ROUND 3 FIXTURES

Thursday, 8 April
Brisbane v Collingwood, at The Gabba (7:40 p.m. Brisbane time)

Saturday, 10 April
North Melbourne v Carlton, at the MCG (2:10 p.m. Melbourne time)
Essendon v West Coast Eagles, at Telstra Dome (7:10 p.m. Melbourne time)
Sydney v Geelong, at the SCG (7:10 p.m. Sydney time)

Sunday, 11 April
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn, at AAMI Stadium (12:40 p.m. Adelaide time)
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, at the MCG (2:10 p.m. Melbourne time)
Fremantle v Adelaide, at Subiaco Oval (2:10 p.m. Perth time)

Monday, 12 April
St. Kilda v Richmond, at Telstra Dome (2:10 p.m. Melbourne time)


Lots of good games this week-- and lots of good storylines developing through the first couple of rounds of the new season.

For those overseas, the live streaming audio and the live stats via the AFL's website (http://www.afl.com.au) is still a very good way of staying in touch with the action. My pick or preference: Go with Triple M in Melbourne if possible... Brian Taylor's sounding like the best caller in the country at the moment, and Sam Newman's in mid-season form already as a special comments guy. And if you can tune in early to catch the pregame whows up to two hours before the opening bounce, go for it.

Will update the major news during the week, as we look ahead to Round 3.

[babytiger2001]

I might as well get my tips in now, with the early start to the round and all (projected winners in bold)...

Thursday, 8 April
Brisbane v Collingwood

Saturday, 10 April
North Melbourne v Carlton
Essendon v West Coast Eagles
Sydney v Geelong

Sunday, 11 April
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne
Fremantle v Adelaide

Monday, 12 April
St. Kilda v Richmond

Mind you, I've only tipped 8/16 correctly over the first two rounds, so take my tipping with a grain of salt.

[BhoysFC1995]

2 carlton players to be sacked? (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9208618-23211,00.html)
A DECISION on the possible sacking of two Carlton players accused of a breach of the players' code of conduct will likely be made on Thursday.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,5001,334268,00.jpg

"Brisbane's Chris Johnson will line up for his 200th game on Thursday in the grand final rematch against Collingwood, the biggest success of the eight Fitzroy players transplanted from the dying club, where he played 69 games, at the end of 1996"

[BhoysFC1995]

btw, FSW has Mel vs Richmond on friday at 11pm est. i know its from last week, but its a good way to see highlights league-wide at the end, plus it has top 10 plays of the week.

[babytiger2001]

Big night at the AFL tribunal, as two players get done for a fortnight apiece...

Moloney out for two weeks -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9210888-23211,00.html)

Bombers' Lloyd wiped for two -- foxsports.news.com.au (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9209380-23211,00.html)

And the backlash at Geelong continues...

Fan Fury -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10967)

Cats need to take a good, hard look -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10964)

Costa admits things are bad -- The Herald Sun (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,9201423%255E11088,00.html)

Unsavoury draft's bitter taste -- The Herald Sun (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,9201421%255E19742,00.html)

What Cats fans say -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,9201419%255E19766,00.html)

Cats beaten before game -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/05/1081017102221.html)

Cats president backs Thompson -- The Age (http://realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/05/1081017102218.html?oneclick=true) Let's hope that's nothing more than the dreaded "vote of confidence" stuff

Young Cats on a hot tin roof -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/04/1081017039530.html)

Nope, seems nothing's going right for the Cats since losing the Wizard Cup grand final...

[babytiger2001]

btw, FSW has Mel vs Richmond on friday at 11pm est. i know its from last week, but its a good way to see highlights league-wide at the end, plus it has top 10 plays of the week.

I thought FSW aired its AFL package on Thursday nights back home?

Maybe Friday this week is just a one-off?

[babytiger2001]

More on Geelong (and put on the web while I was sleeping):

Season not over: Costa -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10972)

Stay supportive -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10973)

Davidsons feel the pain -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/06/1081222467030.html?oneclick=true)


Also, interesting Tim Watson column, St. Kilda-related (never mind the fact that he used to coach them, albeit briefly)...

Why Lenny Hayes has gone to the top of the class of '98 -- The Age (http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/06/1081222467022.html)

And staying with The Age, interesting revelation from columnist and former Premiership-winning Carlton man Robert Walls in yesterday's editions (make sure you read this one all the way through)...

Cats beaten before the game -- The Age (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/05/1081017102221.html)

I think I already posted that one above, but it's worth another look, methinks...

[BhoysFC1995]

tonites grand final rematch- Lions vs Magpies at the gabba is a sellout.

my pick is for the lions with a easy win.

heres a good local article in the gold coast bulletin {entire article put b/c stories are removed after one day}
-----------------------------
BRISBANE are the latest team Collingwood fans love to hate and the Lions are hot favourites to prescribe another dose of heartache in tonight's sell-out clash at the Gabba.

In just two years, the Lions have gained the sort of status which Carlton and Richmond took decades to achieve a spot on the Magpies' most hated list.

The old wars between Collingwood and Carlton were legendary and more based on the social factors of the time when the working class Collingwood faithful loved nothing more than sticking it to the Carlton toffs.

But Brisbane have assumed that mantle thanks to two consecutive grand final wins over the Melbourne club and some complaints from Collingwood president Eddie McGuire regarding the Lions' salary cap concessions.

Although the club rivalry has rarely degenerated into violence on the field, there is no doubt these clashes possess extra spice.

Lions utility Robbie Copeland believes the hype is more beaten up by the media than the clubs but admitted the big games did make him more excited.

" don't care if we're playing Collingwood or anyone as long as we win,'' he said.

" must say though, I really enjoy the blockbuster games, they are more exciting and you get more revved up.''

The good news for the Magpies of Anthony Rocca's return to form immediately following suspension was tempered last night by the Lions announcing the return of three top line players Alastair Lynch, Jonathan Brown and Luke Power.
-------------

[babytiger2001]

Thursday night teams -- The Age (http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/07/1081326790303.html)

Thursday's update on the Geelong crisis...

Cats' savage review -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10993)

Thompson turns savage on limp Cats -- The Age (http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/07/1081326790721.html)

But there's some good news from Geelong (and man, could we ever use some)...

Thurley bulks up and blooms -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,9213001%255E19766,00.html)

And in other news...

Lloyd not guilty, escapes suspension -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,9225461%255E20322,00.html)

Norman on his last chance -- The Age (http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/07/1081326801475.html) After Carlton sack Lawrence Angwin for drug use

Two Carlton players suffer the agony of ecstacy -- Caroline Wilson column in The Age (http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/07/1081326792031.html)

[babytiger2001]

The opening match of the weekend just ended up in Brisbane.

At The Gabba:
Brisbane 21.11 (137)
Collingwood 12.5 (77)

And for the remainder of the matches this weekend...

Round 3 teams -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=142248)

And the in's and out's...

Primus added to Power lineup -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=142278)

[babytiger2001]

The opening match of the weekend just ended up in Brisbane.

At The Gabba:
Brisbane 21.11 (137)
Collingwood 12.5 (77)[/URL]

Match report article -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=142296)

[BhoysFC1995]

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200404/r19002_46844.jpg

Lions -v- Pies (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9230816-23210,00.html)

just under 37,000 were there at the gabba, just short of a regular season record.

A debutant goal umpire also had a night to forget with two controversial second-quarter calls.

seems a bit foolish to have a rookie ref for such a big game?

[ScouseCat]

babytiger2001, we agree on all tips apart from the Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne match, where I've gone with the Doggies because of their 1954 Premiership celebrations during the past week.

I am also on 8 after the first two rounds, with 4 and 4.

[babytiger2001]

I am also on 8 after the first two rounds, with 4 and 4.

Sure has been a tough two rounds for tipping... you should see some of the divisions in my office pool at work.

[babytiger2001]

seems a bit foolish to have a rookie ref for such a big game?

True, but he's got to get a start somewhere. And at the start, he couldn't have been any worse than anyone else.

[Native Aztexan]

Recap of the Swans-Cats match (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=142431) [R]:
Sydney Swans 10.13 (73)
Geelong Cats 10.7 (67)

[babytiger2001]

And the other Saturday results:

North Melbourne v Carlton (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=142439), at the MCG...


North Melbourne 17.9 (111)
Carlton 16.10 (106)

And Essendon v West Coast (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=142446), at Telstra Dome...

Essendon 22.5 (137)
West Coast 20.11 (131)

All in all, three very competitive and highly-entertaining matches. Great advertisement for the modern brand of footy being played in the AFL, and as a fan, you couldn't ask for anything more than that.

Today's games:
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn, at AAMI Stadium
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, at the MCG
Fremantle v Adelaide, at Subiaco Oval

And the Easter Monday clash:
St. Kilda v Richmond, at Telstra Dome

[babytiger2001]

Sunday, around the grounds...

Port Adelaide v Hawthorn (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=142481), at AMMI Stadium, Adelaide:
Port Adelaide 26.15 (171)
Hawthorn 13.12 (90)

However... Primus knee blow in comeback match (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=142474)

And Western Bulldogs v Melbourne (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=142479), at the MCG:
Western Bulldogs 12.15 (87)
Melbourne 12.25 (97)

Halftime score from Subiaco Oval, third quarter about to start at this writing, between Fremantle and Adelaide:
Fremantle 3.4 (22)
Adelaide 4.10 (34)

More details on that last one, when it is finished.

[babytiger2001]

Full time in Perth, at Subiaco Oval, in what was a very thrilling match...

Fremantle 10.13 (73)
Adelaide 8.16 (64)

Biglands reported for the Crows, and one of the more blatant reports I've seen in a few years.

Report later on...

[babytiger2001]

Full time in Perth, at Subiaco Oval, in what was a very thrilling match...

Fremantle 10.13 (73)
Adelaide 8.16 (64)

Dockers v Crows report -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=142511)