By popular demand (or at least one), and because Walesy was nice enough to make a footy tipping competition (sponsored by <a href="http://footysystembet.com.au/" target="_blank">Footy System Bet[/url]), Knightys footy tips are back for 2010 (I love referring to myself in the 3rd person). Round 1 is the hardest round to pick, so I normally just go for the obvious picks. Theres plenty of time to get creative with tips when you know how the teams will perform. Tips are once again in bold, and this year I am also including a highest SuperCoach scorer pick just for the <a href="http://footysystembet.com.au/" target="_blank">Footy System Bet[/url] TooSerious Footy Tipping competition.

Thursday 25 March

Richmond V Carlton,

Top Scorer: M Kreuzer, Carlton, 136

Richmond is likely to miss Foley and Cousins in the engine room, but really who needs to analyse this game-its Richmond playing! Last time they played Chris Judd and Marc Murphy tore it up for the Blues, but with Judd missing and Murphy recovering from a hip problem, Im tipping Kreuzer to be the highest scorer by demolishing Richmonds weak ruck division (which is on par with the rest of the team by the way).

Friday 26 March

Geelong V Essendon

Top Scorer: G Ablett, Geelong, 164

As much as I really really want Essendon to win, I cant see them getting close to Geelong. Hey, Id be happy coming within 10 goals of them given our record. Heres some advice-unless you support Geelong, the Saints or the Bulldogs, tip with your head not your heart. Ablett to dominate as per usual with the only impediment to a really high score being the Cats dominating so much they all steal points off each other. In fantasy news, dont be surprised if Hille is held quiet and Podsiadly is given lots of cheap goals in the square as the Cats act like they are on a training run. Prove me wrong, Bombers!

Saturday 27 March

Melbourne V Hawthorn

Top Scorer: Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn, (151)

Should be called  Casey V Box Hill with all those injuries, but its still an easy round. Repeat it with me: NEVER PICK MELBOURNE. Enough said. Rookies to do OK, but not great. Oh, and any fit Melbourne players who arent picked may as well retire, because if you cant get a game here theres very little future for you (you hear me Simon Buckley?) Next tip.

Brisbane V WCE

Top Scorer: T Johnstone, Brisbane, (144).

Please dont laugh. I seriously think Johnstone will have a good game. He got 156 last year and had a pretty good preseason. Dont pick him, but I dont think hell do that badly this game. Its at the Gabba, so you have to go with Brisbane.

*Sounds of retching* I just realised what I wrote up there...

Sydney V St Kilda

Top Scorer: N Dal Santo, Saints, (150)

History suggests this will be a close game. I agree with that, but I just see the Saints having that tiny bit of extra class that will get them over the line. A great match to have a flutter on with <a href="http://footysystembet.com.au/" target="_blank">Footy System Bet[/url].

Sunday 28 March

Port Adelaide V North Melbourne

Top Scorer: Dom Cassissi, Port Adelaide (130)

Port should win this courtesy of that great thing called home ground advantage. I cant wait to see how Alfred Hitchcock plays on the big stage, but apart form that I have no idea who will score well. I say Cassissi because hes the first Power player who popped into my head, but Brent Harvey also traditionally starts strongly. Porbably be better off playing with your <a href="http://sideways.com.au/" target="_blank">Sideways Radio cars[/url] instead of watching this match.

Bulldogs V Collingwood

Top Scorer: D Cross, Bulldogs (140)

Match of the round by a long way. Call your friends and family over (using <a href="http://textoutsms.com.au/" target="_blank">TextOut SMS[/url] of course) to watch this one, because it should be a beauty. Last year these guys were both preliminary finalists, and we will see straight away how BBBBH (the extra B is is for BYOBB, and that extra B is a typo) competes against a quality team in the real season. Could be a preview of September action right here.

Fremantle V Adelaide

Top Scorer: Kurt Tippett (147)

On preseason form, injuries and home ground advantage I should tip Freo, but I cant bring myself to do it. Stop Pavlich, stop Fremantle has always been the way, and Nathan Bock has Pavlovas measure.

Captain Tips:

1. Gary Ablett

2. Daylight

3. Your next best midfielder, Goddard, Riewoldt. Just pick your best player, theres no science this round.

Agree? Disagree? Sick of my blatant advertising of <a href="http://footysystembet.com.au/" target="_blank">Footy System Bet[/url] and <a href="http://sideways.com.au/" target="_blank">Sideways Radio cars[/url]? Why dont you text someone who cares with <a href="http://textoutsms.com.au/" target="_blank">TextOut SMS[/url]. Or leave a comment, thats good too.

DISCLAIMER: Knighty is in no way responsible for any failures in footy tipping competitions and loss of money/pride/other things because of this.