Posts

Showing posts from April, 2019

Round 6 AFL Review

Wednesday Richmond 12.13.85 defeated Melbourne 6.6.42 The Tigers have managed another win for 2019 without their captain or All-star backman, but you wouldn't know it, and that is largely to the credit of the youngsters that have been brought in to the team. These new players are doing so well that they really will need to be pushed out when (or should I say, if?) the Tigers have a full team to select from. It was one of these players, Sydney Stack, who provided the two individual highlights of the match. The first was a great mark in the 3rd quarter, and the second was a sensational hip-and-shoulder on Melbourne's Todd Viney Even with the score being close across the first three-quarters of the match, it never felt like Melbourne had the fire-power to win the game. For those of you who have been reading these reviews, this is an area I have mentioned more than once; they just don't have anyone who looks like they can help the Dees kick a score needed to win a

Round 6 AFL Preview

Wednesday Richmond vs Melbourne @ The MCG - 19:35 On this year's Anzac Day eve match, we find two teams that have only had a five-day break since their last outings, where the Tigers took care of business to beat an uninspiring Swans outfit, and the Demons kicked away their chances to lose to the second-on-the-ladder Saints. In spite of the Tigers being in 10th place, and the languishing Demons in 17th, I think this is a real danger game for the Tigers; a midfield that can contain Oliver, Salem, Jones, Brayshaw, Viney, Petracca and Gawn can never be underestimated! But once again, who is going to kick their goals? With it looking like Jack Riewoldt will be back for the Tigers, and Dustin Martin starting to show why he won a Brownlow not too long ago, I think the Tiger's re-found pressure game should give them enough opportunities to kick a winning score, and with JR and Tom Lynch up forward, they now have the quality to convert those opportunities into goals. R

Round 5 AFL Review

Thursday Brisbane 8.13.61 defeated by Collingwood 18.15.123 It looks like other teams are paying a bit more attention to the Lions, and putting more work into countering what helped them to get off to a great start this year, and Collingwood had certainly done their homework! While the game never looked to be in doubt, it was the 3rd quarter that saw a ruthless Collingwood team pile on eight goals to Brisbane's two, building a lead that enabled the Pie's coach to plan for the big Anzac Day clash with Essendon by giving some players a welcome rest. At the end of the game, Brisbane probably got off a bit lucky, thanks to the 15 behinds kicked by the Pies, imagine if even five of those were goals... The Pie's Adam Treloar (35 disp and 8 marks) and Tom Phillips (29 disp with 13 contested) were really influential throughout the game, providing plenty of run leading to a number of forward forays. Friday North Melbourne 7.16.58 defeated by Essendon 17.14.116 While I

Round 5 AFL Preview

Thursday Brisbane vs Collingwood @ The Gabba - 19:35 In our first game of Round 5 we see the Lions at home to the Magpies, and after last week's huge loss to the Bombers, I am sure the Lions will be VERY happy to get back to the Gabba. In spite of their progress in Season 2019, how happy will the Lions be to play Collingwood? While it was a very scrappy game last week, the Magpie's forwards seemed to wake up in the third quarter and steer the Pies to a win, and I think that they will be too much for the Lion's backs to handle all game in this one. Collingwood by 19 Friday North Melbourne vs Essendon @ Marvel Stadium - 16:20 Both of these teams had really good wins last round, with North over-running the Crows and Essendon thrashing the Lions at the 'G'. After their terrible start to 2019, the Bombers found their groove last round, with McDonald-Tipungwati putting on an exhibition across the forward fifty, while their speedy smalls made good use of

Round 4 AFL Review

Thursday Sydney 11.12.78 defeated by Melbourne 15.10.100 To fully appreciate this win we need to take a brief look at footy history. In 2017 Richmond revolutionised footy by playing a single marking forward, with everyone else there to put pressure on the opposition. In 2018 the Eagles went dirctly against this by playing two tall forwards, along with a resting ruckman to add to the West Coast forest. We now have the Demons out to re-invent the game once more, by playing no-one over 6'2" in the forward line and the genius has paid off! What this means for both teams in Season 2019, I think the next couple of weeks will give us a good indication, but don't be surprised to see Sydney head into territory uncharted for many years, the lower rungs of the AFL ladder. An interesting aside... This was the first match Lance Franklin has been in where Syndey has lost to the Demons, a time spanning their previous 16 attempts. Friday Collingwood 11.12.78 defeated Wes

Round 4 AFL Preview

Thursday Sydney vs Melbourne @ The SCG - 19:20 To kick off Round 4 we have two teams that are struggling at the start of the 2019 season. The Demons are sitting at the bottom of the ladder (what the...?), while the Swans have managed the one win, against Carlton. As both teams are in pretty poor form so far, let's look back at the history between these two clubs and see if that gives us any help... It seems that no matter where they have played over the past half a decade, the Swans have come away with the win and even with Max Gawn winning the hit-outs, in their Sydney sand-trap (should the AFL apologise to the soccer players?), the Swannies should be able to edge out the disappointing Demons. Sydney by 11 Friday Collingwood vs Western Bulldogs @ The MCG - 19:50 Both teams in this match had a disappointing Round 3 and will be looking to bounce back with a win. While the Magpies had a narrow loss to the reigning premiers, the Doggies went down to the visiting Suns, a r

Round 3 AFL Review

Thursday Adelaide 10.15.75 defeated by Geelong 14.15.99 The Cats have kept their unbeaten start to the 2019 season alive with a hard-fought road win over the Crows. Geelong's great start to the season is certainly setting them up well to stay in the Top 8 as the season wears on and players get injuries and just... tired. In spite of having a good number of Forward 50 entries, the Crows were unable to kick the ball through the big sticks. This was largely due to the tireless efforts of Blicvas; geez he just doesn't stop running. When you add in his height and strength, I reckon Mark would have to be one of Geelong's most important players. Fortunately for the Catters, Tim Kelly looks to be right for their next game after hobbling off in the 4th quarter. Friday Melbourne 18.4.112 defeated by Essendon 20.10.130 Played on an 'almost' balmy Friday night at the MCG, both the Demons and Bombers had their share of the game through the first half. Then the 3rd

Round 3 AFL Preview

Thursday Adelaide vs Geelong @ Adelaide Oval - 19:50 After beating Collingwood and Melbourne across the first two rounds of the season, Geelong is probably the form team of the competition and definitely deserve to be at the top of the ladder as we head into Round 3. On the other hand, Adelaide had a bad loss at home to Hawthorn in Round 1 and managed to get past Sydney, away, in Round 2. With this being such a tough call I am going to have to rely on history to give me some help. The last three times these teams have met in Adelaide, the Crows have got the win and, as this game is in Adelaide, I am going to have to stick with the home team. Just! Adelaide by 18 Friday Melbourne vs Essendon @ The MCG - 19:50 While Melbourne lost to Geelong down at GMHBA (huh?) oval last weekend, Essendon lost to the Saints in a truly lackluster showing; I'm not sure what is going wrong over at Windy Hill but I wouldn't be too impressed if I was a Bomber fan! The same could certain