Last Week 6/9 Season
Total 108/153
If footy isn’t your thing (why are you
reading this) then it was an absolute Smorgasbord of sport available to you on
the weekend. You could watch An LPGA
Major event in France, The Tour de France, also in France,
The Scottish Open golf, Wimbledon, The Cricket test in the West Indies or the
Archery world titles in Spain. It was a great weekend to be a recovering
ankle surgerist, but probably the worst weekend to be his wife. I do have to sing her praises. Her and the kids did a bunch of weeding and
all I could do was sit in a chair on the side with a beer and say helpful
things like, “You missed a spot.” And I
sing her praises for allowing me to do that without committing an indictable
offence. This weekend the footy has The
Open golf to contend with. I’ll also
call out the remarkable finish to the LPGA Evian major. Grace Kim provided an Aussie victory. I highly recommend you watch the
highlights. With regulation and
playoffs, she played the final hole in Eagle, Birdie, Eagle! Unbelievable.
If cricket is more your thing, you could watch the remarkable finish to
the Australian test. Kayo’s Day 3 Mini
ran for longer than the full day’s play!
As far as the footy goes, we are now
entering “End Game.”
Essendon vs GWS Marvel Stadium Thursday
Night
There comes a point when you scrape the
bottom of the barrel and all you get is splinters. Essendon are at that point with available
players. If I hadn’t just had ankle
surgery, then I’d pull the boots on and pitch in…would no doubt be the worst
debut in history. GWS had a solid win
over their ‘bunny’ team, Geelong
and given the injuries at Essendon I just can’t see GWS pulling up short on
this one. The question is by how
much. GWS by 57 points.
Brisbane vs
Footscray Gabba Friday Night
It looks like the Lions are getting into
gear, but there are still moments in each match where they look a little flat. Meanwhile, Footscray have been found wanting
when faced with Top 8 teams this year.
This will be no exception as Brisbane
looks to shut down any 2025 upstarts on their home ground. And the Gabba is not a great place for
Footscray with only a couple of wins there in the last 15 years. Brisbane
by 25 points.
Hawthorn vs Port Adelaide York Park Saturday Afternoon
A travel over to the west was disastrous
for Hawthorn with a loss coming at the wrong time. But a return to their second home ground in Launceston
will be a welcome event when you’re teetering on the brink of the 8. Port Adelaide, meanwhile, took a lot longer
than expected to shake off a tenacious West Coast but scored another win for
Hinkley, who I concede now will last through to the end of the year. Port Adelaide
have a 50/50 record at York
Park but haven’t won
there since 2007. They’ll have to wait
even longer for that York
Park win. Hawthorn by 21 points.
Sydney vs North Melbourne SCG Saturday
Afternoon
A last gasp effort from Sydney kept their dead dream alive. The kangas toughed it out for a while before
finally succumbing to Melbourne. Up in Sydney,
they might show spunk, it won’t be enough as Sydney build momentum and hopeless hope. Sydney
by 34 points.
Carlton vs Melbourne MCG Saturday
Night
The Blues can’t really seem to take a trick,
but maybe they get a chance against Melbourne
this week who dispatched North Melbourne after
the first three quarters. But a loss
here would put Voss in a precarious position.
Carlton have won the last three match ups between these two but in each
occasion it was by less than a single straight kick. So don’t expect this to be one-sided in any
way. Melbourne by 22 points.
West Coast vs Richmond Perth Stadium Saturday
Night
It’s been a tough year for these two
clubs. Richmond has shown a bit of growth and even
bagged a few wins. Meanwhile, while
showing a bit of growth, West Coast have not got the wins to show for it. Both have dealt with their off-field issues
this season, which hasn’t helped. Media
are dubbing this match their Grand Final.
I do enjoy the way that the media attempts to develop some interest in
these kinds of games. The crowd will be
there as West Coast supporters might smell a victory. Given the quality of match that Richmond played last
week, I tend to agree. West Coast
by 14 points.
Geelong vs Saint Kilda Kardinia Park Sunday
Afternoon
It’s well known that Geelong has a limousine-style ride into the
finals. The sort that comes with full
butler service. But what looked
super-easy a few weeks ago has turned a bit with a couple of tough ones mixed
in there as some teams find some late season form. On the surface, this could be one of them. St. Kilda have beaten Geelong
in their last two outings, but the key here is that the match is played on the
shores of Corio Bay where the Saints haven’t won since
the 90’s. Are you a Saint Kilda fan
making the journey? Why not take the
long way ‘round and head down to Sorrento
and get the Ferry across to Queenscliff?
Makes for a delightful way to collect your thoughts and cope with the
loss on the way home. Geelong by 25 points.
Collingwood vs Fremantle MCG Sunday
Afternoon
The dream is over for Collingwood. The start of the long slide happened last
week when Gold Coast pipped them. It was
a strange game, but I’ll admit to you, dear reader, that after I wrote my
preview, I saw Collingwood’s viral load and in my own competition tipped Gold
Coast. Sorry. They should get a host of players back this
week and are back in the comfort of their beloved MCG which will help
them. Fremantle had a great and stirring
victory over Hawthorn last week and had a tackle count higher than a bull
auction (think about it). They’ll need
to bring that same intensity if they want to square the ledger with Collingwood
on their home turf. Can they make
Collingwood’s slide continue and put them under a bit of pressure? I think not.
Collingwood by 19 points.
Adelaide vs Gold Coast Adelaide Oval Sunday Twilight
The last match of the round is the twilight
game in Adelaide. Both of these teams will be feeling
cock-a-hoop after great wins against tough foes last week. I’ll enjoy watching this match with Gold
Coast having the midfield ascendency but Adelaide
having the fire power up forward. I
think Gold Coast have the edge in the backline but their backs are less brutish
and more mobile so expect Adelaide to try and get forward contests as wrestles
and Gold Coast to try and get a third man up.
Intriguing. A win for Adelaide will almost certainly
tie down a double chance and a win for Gold Coast will lock in their first
finals and perhaps some confidence. What
a cracker! Adelaide by 3 points. (just
because Gold Coast has never won there).
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