There is something wrong in Tullamarine!
This team could beat anyone one week but couldn’t beat an egg the next. Conceding 21 consecutive goals is an insane lack of defensive ability, yet some weeks the Dons look like they can hold off anyone. This week I, along with many others, tipped Essendon to win relatively comfortably and get back on their finals charge. Now, with the worst percentage of the teams still duking it out for September action, the Dons really could miss out .
Tigers might be untamable
Although the Blues aren’t the competition’s elite, the Tiger train keeps rolling with a scrappy, solid win. Tom Lynch and Jack Graham were solid presences up forward, and even without Dustin Martin their midfield clicked well just in time for finals. These boys keep marching on, and the 2017 premiers look like the favourites for this year’s flag, along with last year’s winners West Coast.
It’s Time to sign a young Crow.
When the Crows produce some good footy, they’re actually pretty hard to beat, and the Eagles came up against that side on Sunday but won well against a determined team. I talked about Darcy Fogarty last week and this week I must again, after a near match winning five goal haul. If I’m on the Crow’s board, I’m signing Fogarty immediately for the next five seasons minimum, that’s an early call but he could be better than the best there’s ever been. Back to the Eagles, currently these boys are my pick to win it all, and another good win today proves their credentials.
Veterans hold key to Pies Flag tilt
Collingwood’s win over Melbourne this week wasn’t the best we’ve seen from them this year, but it was enough to get four points. Having said that, Scott Pendlebury, Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar and Steele Sidebottom all had big games and starred on the big stage ahead of September action. The Pies are unlikely to have a double chance this year so they’ll have to be ready come the first week of finals for whatever opposition faces them.
sNOw problems for Hawthorn, Giant headaches for GWS
Enough said as far as I’m concerned. Brian Taylor said what we were all thinking, “I think that’s GWS winning the footy, but I don’t really care, because it’s snowing, and I’m excited!” We were all excited BT, it was one hell of a sight to see with real actual snow falling on forty odd men wearing sleeveless shirts. It’s probably not something we’ll see again for a very long time but wow it sure was incredible.
The Power’s Finals Push is on.
With another strong win the Power have only themselves standing in the way of a finals birth. Realistically now we’re down to four sides (Essendon, Port Adelaide, Adelaide and the Dogs) competing for four spots, Port are now the best placed with only North and Freo to come. Play well and they’re in, choke and their out, it’s in their own hands now.
Rhyce Shaw has a hard week
North scored their lowest ever score this week, kicking just one goal and eight behinds. Rhyce Shaw’s official tenure as North’s head coach has already been rougher than his time as caretaker, but never fear North fans, Shawy is the right man for the job. He’s got a real test next week with the Power at Marvel, but I think he might just have something up his sleeve for an upset.
Freo might have just thrown it away
With a massive win against the Cats now seeming light years ago, the Dockers lost a nail biter against St. Kilda, a game they probably should have won. Now the Dockers finals equation looks out of reach, but in fairness to the club, they’ve been far better than I thought they could be this season. They’ll need to reload and build again for 2020, and they could play some finals soon, but perhaps not this year.
The Sun has well and truly set
I talk about the Gold Coast a lot and I’ve been critical of a lot of elements in the past but Saturday’s thrashing at the hands of a rampant Brisbane side just made things all the gloomier. Brisbane are a very good side granted, but it isn’t just this week’s destruction that illuminates problems. So far this season the Suns have been beaten by a grand total of 391 points, by Adelaide, Brisbane and GWS alone, and they still have to play the Giants again who will likely add to that misery. Changes have to come at the Suns, but slightly further north in Brisbane, Queensland footy looks very good.
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