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They say Round 7 is when the ladder has begun to take its right kind form – however I wager whoever got here up with that didn’t know Opening Round was once coming.
16 groups have now performed seven video games – Gold Coast and Essendon are, after all, caught on six – and we’re beginning to be informed who’s scorching and who’s no longer.
Collingwood? Hot. Gold Coast? Hot sufficient to kick ten targets in a row after giving Sydney a get started. The Bulldogs? Definitely scorching, without or with Sam Darcy.
West Coast? Not. St Kilda? Rapidly cooling. Adelaide? Not chilly simply but, however browsing dangerously tepid.
From resurgent Blues to arguable suspensions and but extra jumper conflict farces, there’s lots to unpack. Let’s start.
1. There’s no level in re-signing Bevo now
After spending the easier a part of 3 years within the footy scorching seat, it will have to be great for Luke Beveridge not to have constant scrutiny on his training long term.
In the ultimate yr of his Western Bulldogs contract, when his activity, actually, hasn’t ever been much less safe, Beveridge is training the lighting fixtures out, marshalling an injury-ravaged workforce to a creditable 4-3 listing after seven rounds – together with a couple of slim losses to first and 2nd at the ladder in Collingwood and Brisbane.
The Bulldogs’ win over GWS was once their – and Beveridge’s – maximum spectacular win but; dominant within the midfield, well-organised structurally and in a position to hide for each Sam Darcy’s harm up entrance and Liam Jones’ omission down again, the Dogs have been too difficult and too slick for a Giants outfit many have in premiership rivalry.
Naturally, the dominant win has resulted in requires Bevo’s contract state of affairs to be right away resolved through the membership – so it will wonder you to be informed that, as a resolute Beveridge defender over the past 3 years on this column, I’d be towards being so hasty.
For something, it’s Round 7: the Dogs have began effectively, however they’re nonetheless most effective clinging to the threshold of the 8. Losing to Port Adelaide, a bogey facet, in Ballarat subsequent week, will most likely tumble them down the ladder once more.
However effectively the Bulldogs are enjoying at this time, constant sort is one thing that has eluded this workforce lately: in 2023, as an example, they began 7-3 and seemed excellent for a top-four end, most effective to omit the 8 altogether.
The membership would are available in for a barrage of grievance in the event that they re-signed Beveridge now, most effective to bear a mediocre remainder of the season and, in a aggressive yr for finals placings, both omit the 8 or once more loss an removal last in unedifying style.
The Bulldogs hierarchy knew what they have been doing once they opted to not prolong Beveridge’s contract and make allowance issues to play out within the ultimate yr of his present deal.
As a long way as messages cross, it’s lovely transparent: wait and spot what the season has in retailer, after which make the decision both manner.
To hang company to that wouldn’t be disrespectful in any respect to Beveridge, without reference to whether or not different golf equipment are fascinated by seeking to poach him – even if he has publicly refuted claims of a hyperlink with Melbourne and stated he would take a damage from training if no longer on the Dogs subsequent season.
It additionally undoubtedly wouldn’t have an effect on the gamers, in spite of their transparent love for the trainer – if the rest, wouldn’t nonetheless with the ability to affect his training long term encourage the crowd to play higher, because it did for Port Adelaide with Ken Hinkley in 2023, moderately than destabilise them?
To re-sign Beveridge off the again of a powerful few weeks could be a knee-jerk response with probably ruinous penalties. All issues thought to be, it’s way more prudent to attend and spot how 2025 unfolds ahead of deciding.
Luke Beveridge. (Photo through Michael Willson/AFL Photos by the use of Getty Images)
2. Where do the Swans cross from right here?
12 months on from Brisbane’s impressive season turnaround and eventual premiership, it might be silly to put in writing off a reigning grand last loser on account of a deficient begin to the yr.
But there’s no denying Sydney are in a right kind rut, and after probably the most disastrous show in their yr to this point in blowing a 25-point result in be overrun and swamped through Gold Coast, it leaves Dean Cox in a severely tough state of affairs simply seven video games into his training occupation.
It’s simple responsible a down run of sort on accidents, however it’s lovely transparent the Swans were ravaged to past the tipping level: Errol Gulden, Callum Mills and Tom Papley are a very powerful cogs who’ve neglected nearly all of the season to this point, whilst Joel Amartey, Robbie Fox, Taylor Adams and Logan McDonald are different highest 22 gamers who’ve slightly featured.
It leaves Cox in a parlous place in his first season in fee. It could be simple to mention he has a plum activity given maximum coaches most often come into the position with their groups both at all-time low or with regards to it; the previous West Coast ruckman, even though, has no grace length owing to the Swans’ fresh luck underneath John Longmire.
The query now’s, what strings can he pull to stay the Swans putting difficult till the cavalry returns, as Beveridge has accomplished on the Bulldogs?
We noticed one past due towards Gold Coast: Nick Blakey, hitherto in All-Australian sort at half-back, was once thrust ahead with the tournament all however over, and spoke back with 3 final-quarter targets.
His peak and robust arms overhead proved a hard match-up for even the Suns’ stingy defence, and he surely seems to be a extra herbal ahead than Tom McCartin.
Sydney have a variety of rebounding defenders – none of Blakey’s calibre, however sufficient to, within the phrases of Billy Beane in Moneyball, recreate him within the mixture.
The Swans are 2-5, however it’s not at all curtains for his or her season simply but. But within the medium time period a minimum of, lots has were given to be mounted for ultimate yr’s runner-up to get again to their highest … this is, if the humiliation of 2 grand last thrashings in 3 years hasn’t damaged them.
3. Are the Blues … again?
Wins over North Melbourne and West Coast, emphatic to forget about, have been simple to omit given the standard of the opposition.
But Carlton’s conquer an in-form Geelong on Sunday afternoon on the MCG has me involved.
With Harry McKay again and mixing with Charlie Curnow for probably the most few occasions since past due ultimate yr amid harm woes for either one of them, the Blues seemed deadly sufficient in assault to capitalise at the overall stoppage dominance their midfield had over the Cats’.
Patrick Cripps and George Hewett have been totally huge within the last quarter – Hewett’s game-icing 50m set shot within the ultimate quarter is one thing I didn’t know he had in his package bag – whilst Jacob Weitering was once once more out of the ordinary in defence and Mitch McGovern had rather in all probability the most productive recreation of his topsy-turvy occupation.
Tom De Koning turns out to save lots of his highest for Geelong, too; an utter monster within the ruck and across the floor, he was once obviously the most productive guy afield – and made St Kilda’s monstrous contract be offering to him appear to be price for cash.
Victory was once spectacular on two fronts: to crush a high quality Cats outfit with a dominant first 3 quarters was once a reminder of the Blues’ fearsome energy at their highest, whilst the best way they spoke back to Geelong’s frenetic begin to the ultimate quarter, which undoubtedly would have introduced again all of the reminiscences in their woeful finishes to suits this yr, was once arguably much more gladdening to army blue hearts.
Remarkably, Carlton are the one workforce this yr which has led at 1/2 time in each and every tournament they’ve performed.
At 3-4, their season was once not at all previous the purpose of no go back: with a handy-looking draw forward of them, together with video games towards the Kangaroos and Eagles once more, there’s an actual probability they are able to surge again up the ladder.
And all of us take into account from 2023 simply how devastating the Blues can also be when the wind is of their sails.
4. The REAL reason Collingwood play at so few venues
Over the previous few weeks, a social media development – led, after all, through GWS’ media workforce – has began to ridicule the volume of venues different golf equipment play at in comparison to Collingwood.
It has pressured me to do one thing that I believe to be borderline heresy – protect the Magpies.
To state the most obvious: sure, the Pies do play at only a few venues in comparison to different golf equipment, specifically Gold Coast and GWS.
Harvey Thomas has performed at extra grounds in 25 occupation video games than Scott Pendlebury in 410; David Swallow, the AFL record-holder, has 22 venues to his title, together with suits in Townsville and Tasmania, Mount Barker and Ballarat, and naturally China.
But there’s a beautiful glaring reason why for this – and each and every different workforce within the AFL is liable for it.
For something, Collingwood have only one domestic floor – the MCG. Unlike the Giants, they don’t play a portion in their domestic video games in Canberra, or Ballarat for the Bulldogs, or Darwin for Gold Coast. They don’t want the cash to promote them, nor do they want a 2nd supporter base – it’s the good thing about being the largest membership within the land.
For some other, each and every unmarried different membership perspectives a tournament towards the Magpies as a marquee recreation. Hawthorn aren’t losing a Pies recreation in entrance of 15,000 in Launceston when they might get 75,000 to the MCG; ditto Geelong in Geelong.
GWS, the instigators of the venue lawsuits, aren’t asking to play Collingwood, the one membership with the exception of Sydney to incessantly pull a crowd at ENGIE Stadium, at Manuka Oval, are they? That’s reserved for golf equipment just like the Bulldogs, St Kilda, North Melbourne and non-Victorian groups with smaller club bases just like the Suns, Fremantle and Brisbane.
It’s a little bit wealthy for the Giants particularly to make this grievance, given for the ultimate two years they’ve benefitted from enjoying the Magpies as their Opening Round fixture, with the only real goal of having a sizeable crowd to begin the yr. Notably, the ones two video games are within the peak 9 for very best AFL attendances on the Showground, at the back of six video games towards Sydney and the well-known Giants-Bulldogs 2016 initial last.
No doubt the Pies have structural advantages on account of their large measurement and stature – however each and every different membership turns out completely satisfied to harness that once it fits them, because the Bulldogs did for his or her centenary celebrations, as a race MCG domestic recreation towards the black and white military yielded them their greatest ever home-and-away crowd.
Much because it pains me to take the Magpies’ facet on this, we will’t have our cake and consume it too.
5. Roo’s ridiculous suspension will have to carry MRO overhaul
Paul Curtis must no longer were suspended for 3 weeks for his take on on Josh Sinn.
And the truth that he’s, for my part, just about positive to have it overturned on Tuesday night time on the Tribunal, the place North Melbourne will nearly surely take the case, is simply as problematic.
The device with which Match Review Officer Michael Christian operates is basically mistaken, and share is a key a part of it.
The greatest factor with Curtis’ ban is that it was once both going to be 3 video games, if deemed a reportable offence, or 0 if no longer.
I believe the general public may settle for {that a} take on leading to a suspension, in just about all cases, will lead to one recreation at the sidelines. North may also have thought to be no longer difficult it.
But 3 video games is patently ridiculous, for one thing that would effectively have received Curtis a protecting the ball unfastened kick.
This isn’t Christian’s fault, both – it’s a topic, as soon as once more, with the inflexible and rigid tips during which he has to perform.
What Curtis did without a doubt made prime touch and had the serious have an effect on of a concussion – however was once it careless? What else was once he intended to do in that state of affairs?
The answer for me, as I’ve stated ahead of, is so as to add an ‘accidental’ clause to the ideas, as a substitute for ‘careless’ for extra reckless movements the place anyone getting harm was once nearly unavoidable – like, say, Conor Nash on Gryan Miers ultimate week.
Under this clause, the utmost suspension a participant can get could be per week’s suspension – which, because it occurs, just about suits the Curtis case.
The downside with issues closing as they’re is that golf equipment are accountability certain to problem such suspensions, and with a variety of them getting off, the intent of the bans – to stamp such incidents out of the sport – is getting misplaced.
It’s way past time to mend that.
Paul Curtis’ take on on Josh Sinn left the Port Adelaide defender with a concussion. (Photo through James Elsby/AFL Photos by the use of Getty Images)
6. It’s time to handle the farcical jumper conflict downside
We’ve already observed a variety of ridiculous jumper clashes this season, however the sight of Collingwood, decked out in a predominantly white jumper with black shorts, going through a predominantly black-jumpered with white shorts Essendon was once laughably farcical.
The reason why, I think, is that Essendon don’t have a viable away strip to supply sufficient of a distinction.
In this point in time, that’s ridiculous.
It’s time for the league to mandate each and every membership have a ‘clash’ jumper – in reality, simply name it an away guernsey, like maximum different competitions all over the world do.
In the NRL, as an example, Penrith have a purple jumper that they incessantly put on as a distinction to the black – the away colors don’t even must have the rest to do along with your present jumper, to be truthful.
This isn’t even about aesthetics – it’s about serve as. I reckon there have been 3 or 4 incidents on Friday the place Bomber gamers mistook a Collingwood opponent for a teammate.
If golf equipment can carry out Anzac Day-inspired jumpers with minimum problems, it shouldn’t be laborious in any respect to be expecting them to fabricate a bona fide away jumper that they put on for all non-home video games. Hell, they may make some vending cash from it, too.
Random ideas
– Fair play to Tim English – his ruckwork has progressed enormously this yr.
– Nick Haynes will not be washed in spite of everything.
– Andrew Brayshaw must be the Brownlow favorite at this time. Sneakily having an improbable season.
– Was that simply the most productive recreation of Mabior Chol’s lifestyles?
– I’m no longer going to enter main points, however secure to mention there’s a captivating correlation between folks attacking Alex Pearce for an Instagram put up who don’t have the rest to mention about positive Sydney gamers with arguable social media follows…
