by Nick Gibson

That was a great week in sport with the Cairns Taipans sealing a playoff spot and the AFL had six games which were decided by six points or less!

Let’s start with the local stuff as our Snakes can still finish as high as third if they beat local nemesis Townsville on Friday night. The Crocs have sewn up second spot and may look to rest some sore bodies for the local derby which would help our chances.

I’m sure they would want to play Cairns in the semis as opposed to Perth so don’t expect them to be at full strength on Friday night. Cairns however will book a date with New Zealand or Townsville and the way they are playing who’s to say they can’t make the big dance.

They are all best of three series with the top two seeds getting the two home games which will play a big part in the whole thing. In basketball terms you have to take care of business at home and go and steal one on the road! Easier said than done.

It would be somewhat amusing if Townsville threw this weeks game only to get rolled by Cairns in the semis. I have my popcorn...
 
The footy was great all weekend with Collingwood and Essendon the only clubs to hand out floggings. The Hot Pies certainly look favourites to defend their title but what the hell have they started putting in the water at Windy Hill?

James Hird is starting to look like a form of God and only time will tell if they can keep it up. Brisbane were courageous in their loss to Freo but there will be some wound licking for some weeks.

The playing stocks are already badly depleted and i’m tipping that there’s trouble afoot! It makes me wonder whether a Jonathon Brown type player is worth one million a year as i’m not doubting his ability but you know he’s gonna miss 6 – 10 games a year. James Hird as a player was similar.

Well Gold Coast are paying Gary Ablett Jnr twice that and we get to see this week if he’s worth it or whether being in a team of ‘guns’ helped him be so good. Bring it on...
 
Winners – Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood, West Coast, Freo, Crows, Geelong and the Taipans.
 
Losers – Aussie Cricketers (out of the world cup) and Fev (still feeding all of Brissies salary cap into a pokie).