As footy fans prepare to go truly, madly, deeply into sports mode as the AFL season bounces down, WAtoday.com.au every Friday will bring you the lowdown, showdowns and highs and lows expected from the weekend of sport ahead (and not just the AFL).
Ok, it's actually Thursday. So sue us. But the AFL starts this evening. Speaking of which...
Couch potato:
Carlton v Richmond on Thursday (season opener 4pm, Seven Mate, Fox Footy, Radio 6PR, ABC), West Coast away to Western Bulldogs on Saturday (4.20pm, Seven, Fox Footy, Radio 6PR, ABC); Fremantle at home to Port Adelaide on Sunday (4.40pm, Fox Footy, Radio 6PR, ABC, Seven Mate on 30 min delay), Perth Glory away to Newcastle Jets on Monday (3pm, Fox Sports).
$10 Friday flutter:
Whitey ($0) - A multibet with Richmond, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane and West Coast to win. Should get you a price of around $6.50.
Presti ($0) - The US Masters, begins next Thursday (coverage on Fox Sports and Seven) and I'm putting my $5 each way on young American Jordan Spieth at $11. He'll soon challenge Rory McIlroy as golf's No. 1.
Stats that Matter:
Whitey - Collingwood traditionally struggles at the Gabba and has lost 11 of 17 there all time. Even though the Lions sucked at home last year - winning only three matches - I'm tipping it becomes 12 Pies losses on Saturday night.
Presti - Perth Glory hasn't lost to the Newcastle Jets since November 2011. Salary cap dramas aside, the Glory will be desperate to stay in reach of top spot as the A-League season enters the home straight.
Don't Miss:
Whitey - NCAA Final Four, from 6am Sunday on ESPN1. The most exciting basketball you'll watch all year. Upset-minded Michigan State takes on perpetual contender Duke, before Kentucky seeks to keep its unbeaten season alive against fellow No. 1 see Wisconsin. On that note...
 
Presti - EPL, Arsenal vs Liverpool, Saturday night (Fox Sports, 7.45pm). Always a spiteful encounter, it takes on greater significance, with both the Gunners (third) and the Reds (fifth) in the running for a lucrative Champions League spot.
Monday's Headline:
Simon - Tiger Woods confirms he WILL play at the Masters
Presti - Dockers dish out dose of revenge
Magical Monday:
The Kennett curse might have ended in the 2013 AFL grand final but there remains no better rivalry in the AFL than Geelong and Hawthorn. Are the Hawks poised to go back-to-back-to-back? How much is the nailbiting early final exit at the hands of North Melbourne still stinging the Cats? Kick back on your couch on the public holiday and check it out.
Sweet revenge:
Dockers fans will hope their team rises from the dead on Easter Sunday and puts Port to the sword for that heartbreaking loss in last year's semi-final on home soil. Fremantle, playing irresistible football, could muster only a 24-point lead to half-time due to wayward kicking (6.11) and was finally overrun by the Power juggernaut to exit the finals in straight sets. Somehow we don't think the Dockers have forgotten that one…
You can't be serious:
The NCAA had to announce this week that the $200 bequeathed by late North Carolina coach Dean Smith to each of his 180 former players for a "dinner" out was not a violation of college rules concerinng amateurism.
Surely, surely the Eagles can take care of business against the Dogs.
Whitey's sure thing:
If the West Coast can't beat the Western Bulldogs - a potential wooden spoon candidate - in round one then it could be a long year for Eagles fans.
From the SportsVine:
 
Sheesh, tough line of questioning.
Tweet of the week:
Força Barça!!!! Juntos pudimos!!! Enorme, equipo!!! Que noche!!! Vamos Barçaaaa!!! PD: Estilo...
pic.twitter.com/P3baIuN1zF — Rafinha Alcantara (@Rafinha)
March 22, 2015
What the hell are they all wearing? But mainly, what the hell is Lionel Messi (at left) wearing? Can't $85 million a year buy you a decent stylist?
Flashback:
Sunday marks 26 years since a 41-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was presented with a rocking chair on court to mark the occasion of his last regular season game with the LA Lakers. Here's a more youthful Kareem showing off his trademark shot:
 
One-word pre-season pitstop AFL ladder:
Adelaide - nervous
Brisbane - exciting
Carlton - pressure
Collingwood - distracted
Essendon - relieved
Fremantle - focussed
Geelong - purring
Gold Coast - twitching
GWS - improved
Hawthorn - clockwork
Melbourne - mystery
North Melbourne - fiery
Port Adelaide - rusty?
Richmond - wary
St Kilda - scared
Sydney - building
West Coast - opportunity
* All times are in WST and were correct at time of publishing.
