Last Week 7/9 Season
Total 31/44
Firstly, let’s talk about Rory
McIlroy. I got up at 2:30 AM Perth time to watch the
final round live because I can’t trust Kayo to remember where I was if things
went wrong. I had planned to lightly
doze while it was on in the background, but it was compelling viewing…even for
golf. Just when you thought he blew it,
he would rally, then blow it again then rally again, only to blow it and rally
again in the playoff. It was great that
Kayo did all that coverage.
But…I do still want to blast Kayo for the
previous night. I was watching Round 3
as a replay, and it was 10 hours in and McIlroy was just about to give an
interview. I sat down to watch intently
but sat on the remote so it closed Kayo on me.
I was then faced with fast forwarding 10 hours by 15 second increments
(which is about 2,400 button clicks).
Ok, sure, maybe you could say it’s my fault for sitting on the remote,
but life things happen. You know, like
when your wife chooses only the most CRITICAL moment in the live sporting
contest to discuss in-depth family planning.
These inconveniences could easily be dealt with by better app
functionality. They try it with the “Key
Moments” option in the footy replays. A
great initiative, but when you select the Goal you want to see, you don’t want
to pick up the telecast just as the ball leaves the boot, you want to see the
15 – 20 seconds of play that lead to the opportunity.
Anyway, getting some things off ones chest
feels good. Junior Rioli did, but I’m
not sure he feels good about it given the ridiculous homophobic and racist hate
he got in return. None of those social
media trolls were there, none of them know what happened. Just shut up.
Someone should do some research into how someone becomes a troll,
development of a pill could make a company millions. Anyway, Rioli’s taking a break from footy as
a result and further evidence is gathered that our world is going to hell in a
handbasket.
Speaking of religion, this week is Easter
Round which means the nine matches are spread thinly over 5 days. I know I’m EGGcited.
Brisbane vs Collingwood Gabba Thursday Night
Collingwood were able to hold out Sydney last week and are taking the step of not returning
to Victoria,
instead heading straight from SA to QLD so they can keep their number of
travels down to a level that allows interstate supporters to still complain about
it. Brisbane came back from so far behind
Footscray that even Flat Earthers thought they were beyond the horizon. This makes it a lossless start for Brisbane which is maybe
trouble for the rest of the competition.
Given who the teams they have played and won against it’s still
difficult to determine which team is in better shape. Brisbane have beaten 6th, 10th,
12th, 16th and 18th on the ladder while
Collingwood have beaten 10th, 11th, 12th and
14th. Collingwood is the only
team to have played another team inside the top 4…and they lost that one…quite
badly. The last time Collingwood played Brisbane at the Gabba
they won, but that was the first win there in quite a long time, certainly not
a habit. On that note, Brisbane by 14 points.
North Melbourne vs Carlton Marvel
Stadium Friday Afternoon
The Roos had some flashes of brilliance
last week but ultimately weren’t able to hold it together for long enough. Carlton
finally had a win in 2025, but it was against a pretty insipid West Coast. They welcomed back Harry McKay but then lost
him to injury. I expect they will
continue their winning ways. Carlton
by 27 points.
West Coast vs Essendon Perth Stadium Friday
Night
I mentioned an insipid performance by West
Coast. They’re really in a dark place. The experts are all over them at the moment
highlighting every bit of unprofessional play, showing them not running hard
enough, discussing how most of their good players won’t be there for long. It’s gotta be tough for such a proud
club. Ah well, it was good while it
lasted is probably the attitude to have.
Essendon went through it after the whole peptides saga with no joy in
sight for years. They’re still trying to
rebuild from that time which is now 14 years ago. It’s tough being a supporter when you have to
watch your team in such struggle for such a long time. Ah well, it was good while it lasted. Probably good this game is on the Friday as
they’ve both been crucified. At least
one of these teams will be waving jackets this weekend. Essendon by 32 points.
Melbourne vs
Fremantle MCG Saturday Afternoon
Speaking of other teams not going well, Melbourne is also in the
doldrums. Luckily, they’re playing on
the Saturday as Demons aren’t welcome on any of the other religious days this
weekend. They come up against Fremantle
who have found a bit of extra in the last few weeks, although Voss (the Patrick
variety) will be taking a rest after clumsily tackling Vlastuin without a
Rhinoplasty license. Poor old Fyfe can’t
get back on the park, suffering a hamstring injury in the WAFL. I know what it’s like when you get that old
and your hamstrings start to pop just getting up off the couch! I think it’s time that Melbourne lifted and while Fremantle have
been good, they haven’t been great. The
problem is that Fremantle have really gotten a hold of Melbourne
the last few times, but back in their own house at the MCG the way out is for Melbourne to get
angry. Then at least 21 of them need to
ratify that old idiom and really vent their spleen. Melbourne
by 4 points.
Adelaide vs GWS Adelaide Oval Saturday Twilight
The Crows were flying high, then one
umpiring decision and suddenly they lost two in a row. Or it could just be that they were good
enough to beat 9th, 13th and 15th on the
ladder but stumbled when playing teams inside the 8. GWS is inside the 8 and this could pose a
problem for Adelaide. Even with their heavy machinery up forward,
the GWS are a very organized team defensively and in the middle of the
ground. Not to mention they have a
pretty handy record against Adelaide
at the Adelaide Oval, although did lose the last one there. GWS by 12 points.
Richmond vs
Gold Coast Marvel Stadium Saturday Night
The Tigers held it together for a couple of
quarters last week before Fremantle blew them away in the second half. Gold Coast are the other unbeaten team this
season albeit playing one game less than everyone else (except the team they
were supposed to play). This could be an
interesting game with Richmond
showing a bit of spunk and Gold Coast being away from home apparently trying to
really prove they can win away from home.
If only this match was at the MCG.
Gold Coast by 22 points.
Sydney vs Port Adelaide SCG Sunday Afternoon
The game plan of Sydney was pulled apart by Collingwood last
week and could be a blueprint for Port to follow. Not that they need blueprints they seemed to
have their own nefarious plans blowing ladder-leading Hawthorn away in a first
quarter blitz. That game was built up by
the media and rightly so, it was almost a shame it turned into a bit of fizzer,
but more fuel was added to that fire with the postscript from Junior Rioli and
the application of the blowtorch onto Hawthorn and their alleged cultural
indiscretions of the past. To this game
though and Port have a serviceable recent record at the SCG, last years Prelim
aside and I give them a better than average chance. Port Adelaide by 18 points.
Footscray vs Saint Kilda Marvel Stadium Sunday Night
It was a pretty sizable lead that Footscray
coughed up last week, at one point leading by 39 points to eventually go down
by 21 points. A 10-goal “run on” is not
in anyones best interests and will be something they’ll want to avoid this
week. Saint Kilda were soundly beaten
all over the ground by a rampant GWS, getting a bit of respectability back on
the scoreboard in the last quarter. I
find this a difficult one to tip with both teams being rather comfortable at
Marvel Stadium although Footscray have had the advantage in recent
encounters. Pardon the pun (what am I
talking about, I’m trying to do puns) but Footscray has a dogged
determination which can’t be denied. Footscray
by 17 points.
Geelong vs
Hawthorn MCG Monday Afternoon
Lastly on to the traditional Easter Monday
clash. The weather in Melbourne says showers and 19. I’ll be in Perth where it will be 30 degrees and the
kids have asked me to turn on the pool heater so I might even watch that from
the comfort of a Li-Lo with a Virgin Mary just to keep the religious theme
going. The decadence is palpable, and
Kayo issues now seem a bit frivolous and first-worldy to be bringing up. Hawthorn have taken a few hits this
week. Firstly, losing their first match
for the year and then having some unsavory past antics dredged up. Alleged antics I might add…don’t want the
Lawyers all over us. Dangerfield is
turning back the clock and his never say die attitude also fits with the theme
of the resurrection weekend. Will doom
and gloom continue to descend upon Hawthorn, or will they gather themselves and
rail against the establishment? The
outcome will become much clearer by Monday night. Geelong
by 7 points.
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