A little bit of a whirlwind spherical awaited us in Round 8. Plenty of sturdy wins, loads of high-flying speckies and an uncommon quantity of discuss jail bars. Here are the talking points.
Grand ultimate rematch flips the script, however a brand new character proves the distinction
In final 12 months’s decider, it was the Cats who led comfortably at halftime, earlier than Richmond emerged from the break with a shocking run of soccer that allowed them to return again after which some.
On Friday night time, it was the Tigers who had been merely listless within the second half, unable to do a lot to cease a unbelievable second half from Chris Scott’s males.
The victory could be grounded Geelong’s glorious ahead line prowess, with Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins and Gary Rohan combining for 15 majors – a majority of which got here of their sturdy second half run. In his greatest sport but in Geelong colors, Cameron’s efficiency was genuinely sensational, primarily proving in a single quarter why he was lured away from the Giants.
He booted three targets all through the time period – he had six for the sport – whereas additionally fulfilling his half for the staff, having an astonishing 15 rating involvements.
It goes with out saying that it was not simply Cameron, because the Cats’ midfield smashed the Tigers vaunted midfield, significantly in that third time period. They demolished their opposition all through the centre of the bottom, profiting upon that to have seven targets from their 12 scoring pictures from their 15 entries for the time period.
It was a win that might give a semblance of reduction to the Cats, who had been having a good-but-still-lacking starting of the season, and a severe fear to Damien Hardwick’s reigning premiers, who’ve now misplaced as many video games as they’ve gained this 12 months.
(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
The most attention-grabbing a part of the Showdown had been the guernseys
In a column stuffed with references to the ‘script’, the Showdown primarily adopted the consensus of everybody, all over the place: Port had been the significantly better staff and scored themselves a win as snug as any.
It was not a document margin, however it was an emphatic sufficient win that the majority impartial observers would have gone “yeah, that seems just about what I expected”.
The Crows – as they’ve performed for the previous few weeks – appeared a considerably poorer facet than at first of the season, staying with the Power early on however completely collapsing quickly after that to make sure the Power had the sport dictated totally on their very own phrases.
Port did what they wanted to do: in all aspects of the bottom, their gamers overshadowed their Crows counterparts, they usually set themselves up properly for subsequent weekend’s magnificence towards the Doggies.
In the absence of any such on-field surprises, the Power’s resolution to drag on prisoner bar guernseys to sing the staff music after the win. It was immediately controversial. While some (hello, Eddie McGuire) appeared to consider that it was a call made completely to focus on the AFL itself, I believe Port had an intelligently curated concept in thoughts.
The AFL’s resolution to bar the membership from sporting the apparel throughout the conflict actually pissed off Port’s followers, and the Power knew that.
Wearing the prisoner bars was the right tonic for permitting their followers to channel their frustration into enthusiasm, and foster an much more populist angle that it’s truthfully tough for non-South Australians to understand.
Of course, it’s very onerous for to disclaim McGuire’s declare that it was one approach to get again on the AFL (and by extension Eddie himself). Controversial it might have been, however despite the fact that I’m far from Port fan, I completely cherished it.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
The Saints and Suns play precisely to their script: it’s a detailed one
I’ve loved the latest clashes between St Kilda and the Gold Coast a good bit. It’s a type of match-ups that gained’t win many plaudits nor garner loads of consideration, nor will or not it’s emblematic of a premiership successful duo anytime quickly.
But they’re typically loads of enjoyable, for mine. Before Saturday’s conflict, the final 4 video games between the golf equipment led to margins underneath 5 points – two of these by a solitary level.
There was stable purpose to consider this conflict could be as shut because the earlier quartet: the Suns had gained two on the trot, together with a uncommon win in Melbourne, whereas the Saints had yo-yo’ed their approach to a robust win towards the Hawks.
In the top, it wasn’t as shut because the prior matches, nor was it a very good match, however followers who watched the conflict had been handled to a basic come-from-behind victory for the Saints, who regarded cohesive when it mattered to shrug at a ultimate time period Suns lead and kick the one 4 majors of that quarter to stage their season at 4-4.
The Suns could be dissatisfied at their capitulation, given that they had nearly as good an opportunity as any to stage their very own season however as a substitute head right into a weekend of inauspicious clashes with three wins to their identify.
In fact, each outfits have difficult matches over the subsequent fortnight, with each side having to navigate clashes with resurgent Geelong.
The Saints additionally face the Western Bulldogs and the Suns will look to upset the Lions in subsequent weekend’s Q-Clash. Right now, I’d pencil them in for zero wins out of the mixed 4 clashes, however each generally tend to shock.
(Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/through Getty Images)
The Bombers, as is custom, lose a detailed one
I genuinely don’t imply any disrespect to Essendon nor their followers with that subheading, however rattling, it’s tough to disclaim at face worth their incapability to shut out shut clashes: Hawthorn of their season opener, the Swans a few weeks after that and now the Giants on Saturday.
Against the Hawks and Sydney, it was Essendon who led for a lot of the sport earlier than collapsing within the ultimate time period. The distinction in Saturday’s conflict is that not like these first two heartbreaking losses it was the Bombers who had been coming again from a deficit: they trailed by 32 points within the first time period, earlier than stemming the bleeding with a powerful efficiency.
I’m truthfully undecided which is extra heartbreaking: a comeback reduce quick or a
Nevertheless, not like loads of video games this weekend, this one lived as much as its scoreline’s potential. It was a genuinely thrilling sport. Darcy Parish and Zach Merrett had been excellent within the guts, countered by Tim Taranto (mini talking level: is he essentially the most anonymously unbelievable gamers within the competitors?) and Josh Kelly, with the Giants accumulating a mixed 59 touches between them.
The younger Bombers do have a very good alternative to garner a few wins within the subsequent few weeks, with video games towards the 2 West Australian sides bookending a conflict with North. They’ll simply should hope the sport isn’t within the steadiness within the ultimate minutes.
West Coast snap their “can’t win away from home” streak
It didn’t get a complete lot of discover on the weekend, however the Eagles – contemporary off a Derby demolition and with an opportunity to ship their win-loss document into the specified optimistic territory – had one blindingly apparent likelihood to rectify a irritating document whereby they merely couldn’t win away. They didn’t blow it.
The first quarter was horrid – critically, you recognize 1 / 4 of footy is dangerous when it’s distinction of being the primary goalless quarter on the MCG in a half-century is the very best truth about it – however the sport discovered its groove.
The Eagles – whose damage disaster is maybe solely considerably matched by that of their West Australian rivals – shrugged that off, and performed the ‘G like it was their Optus Stadium surrounds, but with considerably less fans (an early Mother’s Day sport would contribute to the low numbers, one would guess).
The Hawks, for his or her half, had been far from disgraced, however predicting after they can rating a win subsequent is a guessing sport, even when they’ve as straightforward a run as they’d like to take action within the subsequent three weeks. They face North, Carlton and the Suns in that point, and all of these are intriguing in their very own proper.
Struggles away from dwelling or not, accidents or not, the Hawks introduced an opposition that the Eagles are stronger than, and this sport demonstrated that with out fail.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Everybody will get a flip
Adelaide Crows – Losing Ned McHenry and Lachie Murphy early within the sport didn’t assist, however it actually was an excellent listless efficiency. Where’d the early season optimism go, Adelaide followers?
Brisbane Lions – The Lions bought a helpful lead over the Dockers fairly early on however didn’t put them to the sword and form of jiust treaded water for the rest of the conflict. If Freo had been a stronger facet, the Lions might’ve been in a smidgen of hazard.
Carlton Blues – Sigh. That’s bought to sting. I preferred the Blues for a lot of the conflict, however they utterly misplaced any sense of cohesiveness because the Bulldogs fought again within the ultimate time period. Eddie Betts returned (nonetheless briefly) to the great outdated days although. Very near my favorite participant within the competitors.
Collingwood Magpies – There’s two eventualities right here: a) there’s no change to the strain on the embattled coach Nathan Buckley simply because they secured a win, or b) the strain is momentarily alleviated as a result of they defeated a winless staff. As it’s the the Pies, I believe the latter…
Essendon Bombers – Darcy Parish’s transfer into the midfield continues to pay dividends for the Bombers, with the 23 12 months outdated producing a stat sheet as follows: 35 touches, 14 contested disposals, 74 per cent disposal effectivity, 4 scoring involvements. Not dangerous.
Fremantle Dockers – Very happy with the way in which the Dockers performed this one out. Poor first half however managed to stem the bleeding and rating a “win” within the second half. Lots to repair, and newfound damage issues (in different information, the sky is blue), however the Essendon conflict a winnable one subsequent week.
Geelong Cats – Mentioned him briefly above, Gary Rohan’s one hundred and fiftieth sport was an awesome one. 16 touches, 5 targets and an 87 per cent disposal effectively. Phenomenal.
Gold Coast Suns/St Kilda Saints – Combining the 2 for “everybody gets a turn”, it’s onerous to decide on a victor between the edges in ‘The Battle of the Kings’. Ben, for the Suns, kicked three targets. Max, for the Saints, booted one … however gained the sport. I’d rule it a draw.
GWS Giants – I’ve had many alternative opinions concerning the man, however I’m staying on the “Toby Greene to captain the side” subsequent 12 months. Controversial man, however can clearly carry his facet after which some.
Hawthorn Hawks – In a shedding effort, Tim Mitchell garnering 41 disposals – 17 of these contested – was, simply quietly, greater than a powerful effort.
Melbourne Demons – Eight and zip. But now comes the hazard video games: clashes towards Carlton and Adelaide inb which the Dees are overwhelming favourites, however I’m nonetheless not satisfied that they gained’t “pull a Melbourne”.
North Melbourne Kangaroos – The honourable loss title typically belongs to Carlton, however the Kangas are giving it a hell of a shake. Competitive towards the Pies, however once more didn’t actually problem.
Port Adelaide Power – Scott Lycett is greater than possible in deserved bother with the league after a sling deal with on Adelaide’s Ned McHenry, but the abuse he received received on social media after the game is just lame. Do higher, AFL followers.
Richmond Tigers – I’ve mentioned it earlier than – as lately as final week’s column – and I’ll say it once more: write off the Tigers at your peril. They’ll be again in a rush, very possible towards the Giants subsequent week.
Sydney Swans – Probably one of many stronger shedding sides of the weekend – if that distinction makes any sense – however ought to bounce again towards the Pies and Freo within the subsequent fortnight.
West Coast Eagles – The AFL.com.au match report of their sport described Brandon Ah Chee because the Eagles’ “stand out forward”. In a staff of Kennedy’s and Darling’s, has that ever occurred earlier than?
Western Bulldogs – Next week’s conflict towards Port is maybe the Game 1’m most excited for in Round 9. Two premiership contenders, the very best stadium in Australia, so many good gamers going to be strutting their stuff. I’m envious of anybody who has tickets.
