Round 8 Preview

 Last Week           8/9           Season Total      41/63

As far as results go, it was a ho-hum week with almost all tippers getting at least 8 correct.  If only Geelong had’ve been any good.  While we had 5 matches decided by less than 10 points the other week, last week we had 6 matches decided by 8 goals or more.

There were Anzac ceremonies galore as I personally watched one before a footy match, went to the school one and went to a community one.  I can imagine that if you settled in to watch all the matches, you’d feel a bit Anzac’d out.  Luckily there would be few of us that put ourselves through that.  I had a busy weekend of wallpaper stripping which did not help my tennis elbow at all.  Not that I play tennis, it’s just a symptom of how bad my golf swing really is!  But I still managed to see the traditional Collingwood vs Essendon match.

The AFL got rid of the Appeals Board chair for not aligning with the direction of the administration.  I’ll admit, I heard Max Gawn speak on the subject and he articulated the players views very clearly and so the decision made a lot of sense to me.  While the use of that language may have traditionally been commonplace, we can probably do without it.  And that’s not being ‘woke’, that’s just having a good command of the English language and a filter between your brain and your lips.

The other thing the AFL did was botch a bunch of video reviews.  This has led them to the concept of not interfering anymore, which is a novel one to say the least.

Other big news was that Trump dodged another assassination attempt.  He says it’s because he’s popular.  That is a view that bears further scrutiny but let’s leave it at that.

Let’s look at this week’s matches instead.

Collingwood vs Hawthorn           MCG      Thursday Night

Scott Pendlebury wound back the clock to notch up 43 possessions, 19 score involvements and 2 goals to go with his fourth Anzac Day medal.  It was obviously a free-flowing match with three players clocking the 40-possession barrier (if such a barrier exists), but Pendlebury was about as old as the other two combined.  It was nice to see, in what we expect (but can’t be certain) will be his last Anzac encounter.  The Hawks demolished Gold Coast down on the Apple Isle with another old-timer slamming on 5 goals.  Either senior footy is alive and well or there is some kind of Renaissance going on.  Of course, the short turn around for this match means they both might be rested, blankets over their knees with a cup of tea and a wee dram in it, watching the game on the TV over their horn-rimmed glasses.  Finn Maginness made his return after severe kidney trauma and that probably won’t please Daicos.  Having just passed a kidney stone I salute others who have been nephronically challenged in their lives. 

Anyway, where does all this head?  Old-guys aside, beating Essendon by 77 was much needed but up against a team with a functioning midfield, functioning backline and functioning forward line…nuh-uh!  Hawthorn by 26 points.

Footscray vs Fremantle                 Marvel Stadium               Friday Night

The year can’t really get much worse for Footscray…surely.  They got walloped by Sydney after a brief fight but then Naughton tried to do an impression of an Ostrich and bury his head in the sand.  The problem is all the hard turf that lies on top of the sand.  Ok, we all know Ostriches don’t really do that, but we admire Naughton for the attempt.  I’d be happy if he got up for this match, but it was a nasty incident.  Fremantle are smacking all commers and they are solid on every line.  Footscray will pose a problem in the clearances but once out of the stoppage, expect Fremantle to dominate in front of or behind the ball.  Fremantle by 21 points.

Adelaide vs Port Adelaide           Adelaide Oval   Friday Night

Once again, the AFL, in their wisdom, have scheduled two Friday Night matches.  The problem they have is when you have Marquee timeslots and, because of the unending pursuit of the almighty dollar, you call every game a marquee match up, you’re gonna have these scheduling problems.  Like last time, they try to keep the conflicting match within its own state and that’s why we have the Showdown.  Adelaide came up against a Brisbane unit that had to prove themselves and got absolutely shellacked.  Port Adelaide took on the evergreen leviathan of Geelong and made us all question them with a stirring victory.  This means the match has more of an equal footing and could be the game to watch.  Maybe we’ll get another lightning storm so we can watch both.  Then the newspapers can use a lot of ‘Power’ puns.  Toss of the coin.  Adelaide by 19 points.

Essendon vs Brisbane    Marvel Stadium               Saturday Afternoon

If Essendon could have their time back again, they might have tagged Pendlebury last week.  To be honest, if Essendon could have their time again, they might just go back 20ish years to make some changes.  It’s not going to get much easier this week, taking on a Brisbane team who seems to be in a mood.  It could be ugly.  When does the mercy rule kick in?  Essendon should start playing now.  But knowing their luck, they’d fumble a behind and be waiting days for Brisbane to turn up and conduct a kick-in.  Brisbane by 88 points.

West Coast vs Richmond              Perth Stadium   Saturday Afternoon

This could be the Battle of the Spoon Part 1.  But that depends on just how keen Carlton and Essendon are to have a food digging implement amongst their treasuries.  West Coast have had patches of goodness but then have had patches of absolute misery with 2x 100+ point spankings in their back pocket.  And yet, they go into this as favourites.  Seems like perhaps the West Australian Newspaper is setting the odds.  I don’t actually know what to do here.  Maybe I go the home team in each of the two meetings between these two.  West Coast by 4 points.

Geelong vs North Melbourne    Kardinia Park     Saturday Afternoon

It was definitely an uncharacteristic loss from Geelong last week.  They looked listless and tired of this whole football caper.  It must be tough coming off a game when you feed 10-goals to your forward.  North Melbourne were right in that game up in Canberra and could perhaps feel stiff about not winning it.  Personally, I blame Albo because why not.  Down at Kardinia Park on that cigar-shaped oval, expect Geelong to look a bit more perky.  Geelong by 31 points.

Carlton vs St Kilda           Marvel Stadium               Sunday Night

It’s true that Carlton have been looking better recently, and they do seem to be finding different ways to lose, which is a nice change for members.  The Hollands scrutiny has died down now as reporters start to respect some privacy and maybe they have a bit of clear air heading into this one.  The Saints come off a mauling of the Eagles as their team of millionaires start to settle into their roles.  I give Carlton half a sniff here but so emotionally damaged am I from picking them in the past that I flat out refuse.  If they win, I’ll assume a conspiracy.  St Kilda by 28 points.

Sydney vs Melbourne   SCG        Sunday Afternoon

Rucks, Rucks everywhere.
And all the rovers did shrink.
Rucks, Rucks, everywhere.
Nor any time to think.
(Rime of the Ancient Mariner – Samuel Taylor Coleridge…kinda).

Max Gawn vs Brodie Grundy.  Steven King vs Dean Cox.  This could be a battle for the ages.  But then it could just be Sydney smashing another team at the SCG.  Sydney by 38 points.

Gold Coast vs GWS         Carrara                 Sunday Twilight

The Expansion Cup is on again.  Wouldn’t it be great if these teams could draw a crowd?  It must be a worry for the AFL.  Gold Coast have had a case of the staggers and need to score a win to reset their season.  GWS have had a tough start to the season but are starting to get some personnel back and finding a bit of mojo.  GWS have also had a pretty good record at Carrara and it’s looking like Gold Coasts finals appearance may have been a flash in the pan.  Now is the time to set some standards.  Gold Coast by 18 points.