COVID dramas be damned, the soccer persevered via. Here’s some talking points from a consequential spherical of footy.
The Demons do nonetheless have a number of very Melbourne-esque tendencies
It is a ridiculously Melbourne development to be very happy to play – and usually win towards – groups in the eight however wrestle badly when encountering groups who sit outdoors finals rivalry.
That is a development the competitors has witnessed in video games the Dees have performed towards Adelaide, the Giants and Collingwood, nevertheless it got here to the fore but once more in Saturday’s conflict towards the Hawks.
Simon Goodwin’s males – per week after an excellent efficiency towards Port Adelaide – struggled to make the most of a powerful begin towards Hawthorn. They six of the first seven majors of the conflict, and two of the ultimate three of the recreation.
This meant that – very like they did in video games towards the Crows and Giants – had moments the place they threatened to run away with the conflict but struggled to wrestle again the momentum when it swung of their opponent’s favour.
There had been textbook schoolboy errors – Kysiah Pickett and Angus Brayshaw lacking photographs in the ultimate 5 minutes, a defensive lapse permitting the Hawks’ ultimate main – however 4 shock outcomes (I’d say losses if not for the proven fact that Saturday’s end result was a draw) actually is indicative of a broader drawback.
The Demons have, for so long as I’ve been watching footy, struggled when the favouritism is raging of their favour (not like most of their different upset outcomes, the Demons had been virtually sure favourites on this conflict).
Goodwin was awfully dismissive of this prospect, suggesting “he wasn’t concerned about how it looks like”. I’d recommend he will get involved, and shortly, on condition that (as I’ll focus on beneath), Gold Coast subsequent week is a problem past expectation.
They ought to contemplate themselves fortunate that the high eight is simply that. To achieve finals, they’ve zero obligation to play a workforce outdoors the eight, and bizarrely, that could be Melbourne’s saving grace.
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos by way of Getty Images)
The Blues make me eat my phrases, however finals aren’t even near sure
In the footy business, there are at all times sure moments you’d fairly neglect. For gamers, there’s at all times a rueful miss.
For coaches, there’s a tactic that fails. For me, it’s this notorious line referring to the Blues from this very column 4 weeks in the past: “I genuinely struggle to pick a game in the rest of the season they’d be more than a slight chance at winning”.
There’s little doubt that line is, in hindsight, a major blunder. The Blues have gone 3-1 since then, simply beating Collingwood and the Crows and taking part in a intently run match with sometimes-but-not-always rivals Fremantle.
For the Blues, that leaves them with the viable prospect of taking part in finals. Their subsequent few video games enable them to proceed this momentum, however a loss in any considered one of them will go a protracted method to slamming the finals carrot shut.
You’d anticipate them to beat North Melbourne subsequent weekend – regardless of North’s enthusiastic performances of late, the Blues can maintain superiority for longer.
The Saints are a lot of a wildcard it’s insane to even hypothesise what’s going to occur there, and the Suns are just like North; trickier than they give the impression of being however beatable if the Blues proceed their kind. Beyond there, there’s Port and the Giants, however there’s a lot water to go underneath the bridge earlier than that duo.
I’ve been undeservedly harsh on the Blues of late, however there’s little doubt that they’ve constructed themselves right into a constructive place. For what it’s value, I’m not anticipating them to make finals.
Disregarding warm-ish favouritism in 4 of the 5 video games, the truth different outcomes have to go their means is an obstacle. But they’ll be no disagreements from me in that they’ll have deserved it.
Richmond will get the win they wanted, however at a value
And they’re again. You didn’t actually assume that the Tigers wouldn’t flick a change and bounce again from their absurdly poor flunk they had been in? Okay, perhaps I shouldn’t that far however Richmond’s win on Friday was necessary past description.
It was a victory noticed the workforce strategy quintessential Richmond standing early on: they had been sturdy, stuffed with strain and their famed offensive energy was off to a superb begin. Their opposition in the Lions was by no means going to lie down simply and gained the second time period. But each time their opposition garnered the momentum, Damien Hardwick’s males countered with ease. It was unsurprisingly becoming for the man to seal it to be three hundredth gamer Jack Riewoldt.
Riewoldt’s on-field expertise is certain to turn into extra integral, given Dusty Martin’s vital kidney damage – uncommon, however exceedingly harmful – has seen him despatched on the longest damage sabbatical of his profession.
He won’t be seen on the area for the the rest of the season, which is clearly unhealthy, however will, for the first time in a very long time, enable the Tigers to scrap their means with out Martin’s presence. Expect that job to fall to the younger brigade of Jayden Short, Shai Bolton and Liam Baker, who’re all regularly underrated.
Injuries, or the win, apart, I’m not but comfy sufficient to pen the Tigers as a workforce to remain in finals. They gained, however stay out of the eight, and I’ll be extra assured praising them if they will beat the Cats subsequent week. Do that, and their fixture opens up – Freo, North, GWS, Hawks are all weak to Richmond’s desperation. Fail, and the vultures will probably be able to pounce.
(*18*)
Dustin Martin is helped off the floor. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos by way of Getty Images)
Are the Lions in an premature droop with a well timed restoration forward?
Overreactions are all too frequent on this sport, however there’s little doubt that Brisbane’s final two weeks – losses to the aforementioned Tigers and the maybe-but-maybe-not resurgent Saints – are about as damaging a fortnight as they might have imagined.
Let’s have a look at that loss to the Saints. It wasn’t a completely surprising loss – to recommend in any other case could be to disrespect the Saints’ genuinely spectacular kind – and Eric Hipwood’s ACL damage clearly affected the workforce’s mentality. It was the Lions uncharacteristically weak midfield and lack of ability to stem the bleeding that noticed doubts seem over them.
And then got here this week. Their tough report towards the Tigers was a fear, as was their appalling MCG report. They did get the recreation moved into Queensland, to a “cursed ground” of Metricon (one thing, one thing, Lion ACL’s and Metricon). They confirmed some battle, nevertheless it was a demoralising loss.
The Lions have the fixture to reply. I’d again them to start out comparatively clear favourites towards the Hawks, Suns, Freo and Collingwood. But all 4 have confirmed they will push (and in the case of three, win towards) high eight sides, and the Lions merely can not slip up once more.
Their ultimate spherical match towards the Eagles would possibly turn into large necessary by way of Brisbane’s top-four hope and the Eagles’ top-eight aspirations.
I nonetheless have the Lions as a premiership contender. But they’re ever-so-slightly starting to circle the “wasted season” drain.
Gold Coast are a a lot, way more mature aspect this 12 months
The Suns are a greater footy aspect now than ever earlier than, and the second it actually clicked for me is as the ultimate siren sounded on Saturday afternoon. They had clearly misplaced the recreation – this in and of itself was unsurprising, owing to the truth they had been pretty heavy underdogs – and their uncommon midseason successful streak had been snapped.
But I’m oddly happy with the proven fact that the Suns didn’t merely give in – as many would assume they’d have accomplished – and as an alternative continued to pester the Doggies for the the rest of the recreation.
They’d accomplished greater than pester the Dogs up till that ultimate time period; they’d outright pissed off them. They’d led at quarter time, threatened to steal the lead again at instances throughout the third and fourth phrases and for the first time in a very long time, the Dogs seemed weak to an upset.
A crap umpiring resolution – addendum: the league’s rating assessment cameras stay an indictment on the recreation – shifted the momentum away from the Suns, however you’d primarily blame the Dogs’ expertise and stronger workforce for the loss.
But no matter the loss, the Suns have loads of probabilities for at the very least one or two extra wins earlier than the season’s out. Melbourne’s troubles towards non top-eight sides makes for an fascinating conflict subsequent week, whereas Brisbane and Sydney video games are an awesome alternative for the Suns to compete towards the finest.
They can even play finals spoiler: video games towards Carlton and Essendon additionally appear prime for a Suns upset.
The Suns gained’t be taking part in finals, that’s definitive. But which may not matter, as the Suns have grown in leaps and bounds this season.
And simply rapidly … Leon Cameron’s stewardship of the Giants but once more in the highlight
I actually would have thought that the uncommon but chaotic removing of 5 gamers from the listed groups because of a COVID publicity scare could be the most dysfunctional factor about Sunday’s twice re-homed and rescheduled Sydney Derby. And then recreation progressed, and an terrible change in momentum ensured.
The Giants unbelievably led by 35 points in the second time period. But every part collapsed from there. Buddy Franklin coming alive, the Swans midfield rising in stature by the minute and 9 consecutive Swans objectives uncovered the Giants’ absolute lack of response.
To say the least, the Giants appeared flustered, not for the first time this season, and unable to adapt rapidly sufficient to the altering momentum.
Cameron’s males now appear extra doubtless than to not miss finals for the second 12 months operating. Considering this workforce made the grand ultimate in 2019, it might be hilariously odd if Cameron’s future isn’t in growing jeopardy.
Everybody will get a flip
Adelaide Crows – Buried in the week’s worse timeslot with a largely boring efficiency. Not loads else to say, to be sincere.
Brisbane Lions – There’s worries over the effectiveness of their ahead line after Eric Hipwood’s ACL damage. And whereas it’s a really restricted pattern dimension, Friday’s recreation gives little proof of something good: a comparatively quiet Joe Daniher not at his finest.
Carlton Blues – At least one respected footy information supply purported Sam Walsh to be an opportunity at a Brownlow this 12 months. I wouldn’t go that far, however little doubt he’s been phenomenal in current weeks.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Collingwood – I managed to piss each Pies and Blues followers off with a quip about the then-upcoming conflict between the two, suggesting no one would care. The Pies should’ve taken that personally, dominating early and drawing me in simply sufficient to see them collapse in the ultimate time period.
Essendon Bombers – They’re in the eight, and regardless of a forgettable opening half, the Bombers nonetheless appear the strongest non West Coast/Richmond finals chaser.
Fremantle Dockers – Yes, they misplaced badly. Yes, they had been simply the worst workforce of the weekend. No, this gained’t break the workforce – if something, it’s a superb studying alternative. Still probabilities to poach a pair extra.
Geelong Cats – Can’t complain a few 69-point win in Perth!
Gold Coast Suns – Jamarra Ugle-Hagan would possibly nab the Rising Star nomination for this spherical off the again of merely being himself, however Jeremy Sharp undoubtedly deserves it. Great, with 30 disposals in a strong efficiency on the wing.
GWS Giants – Toby Greene is a captain in all however title, it was considerably shocking to see Stephen Coniglio take again that mantle in his return recreation.
Hawthorn Hawks – That is the way you reply to such a completely disappointing loss!
Melbourne – Spoke sufficient about them, however, hey at the very least they’re nonetheless high of the league.
North Melbourne – That first half, stunning. That second half, much less stunning.
Port Adelaide – That’s a really spectacular win towards an opponent with kind behind them. Must proceed successful like that to solidify their high eight credentials.
Richmond – Geelong an enormous, enormous opponent. I haven’t but determined who I’ll tip, however let’s simply say I don’t assume it’ll be a blowout … both means.
St Kilda – The Saints having to place out a wonderfully worded submit condemning racist messages is – but once more – a disappointing reminder of simply how a lot progress some “fans” have to make.
Sydney Swans – Some comeback, eh?
West Coast Eagles – A win’s a win, however nonetheless far from impressed with the Eagles.
Western Bulldogs – Toby McLean happening with an ASL tear terrible, terrible information. A bloody lovable participant, and usually unappreciated outdoors the Bulldogs camp.
