AFL Rd. 1.

[TazaD]

Still a bit under a week away, but lines already up, and one is WAY off! Adelaide 1.80 to beat the Doggies?! In Melbourne, sure, but Dogs will be lucky to cobble together a side! Massive problems in defense (what's new? ). Williams out, White likely out (not much good anyway!)...Lake's first game back from hip surgury. Dogs kicked second fewest goals in pre-season and again look to be relying on their running players to score. Crows will have Burton, Tippett, likely Bock up forward no doubt getting super service from the middle. Crows won both meetings last year by 30's, but dominated both...30-17 shots and 32-18. Dogs haven't won in their last 6 indoors as turnovers bounce quickly back the other way....av. loss in those games has been 58!! Fully expected about 1.40, and won't be surprised if it is closer to that than the current 1.80 at game time. Kanga's have won 6 straight v. Essendon, and look likely again at 1.90. Bombers won just 2 of their last 9 games last year (one v. Carlton), Kangas played well in Melbourne all season, but struggled on the road. Hawthorn are certainties @ 1.34, but will wait for the spread...reckon they can cover the 20 or so... ...and not sure what makes St. Kilda such big favs over Sydney. I think the news of the Swans decline is a bit premature...will be tempted by them @ +17ish.

[Ashtee]

Re: AFL Rd. 1. Hodge, Crawford, Brown, Lewis all to miss through suspension and lose the important Joel Smith from last year. I'm likely to have a crack at Melbourne despite they've limped to Round-1 themselves. New I should have grabbed the 3.50 lasseters as they are into 3.20 with them now. Kangas are my bet of the round (see my SP write up). I agree Taza. People might be outsmarting themselves with Sydney and Reiwoldt underdone, Gehrig? Baker to miss. I want to have a closer look but I'm tempted by this price. Am seeing Blues-Tigers as evens, so Tigers a possibility. Might just watch Adelaide-dogs and see what the real season holds.