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Another around is within the guide for season 2025 – and are we beginning to see a flip of the tide?
As not too long ago as final week, it felt as though the 8 was once a race between 9 groups – and a kind of 9, GWS, was once falling badly at the back of the pack.
Now, no longer simplest are the Giants again in trade courtesy of an disenchanted win over Brisbane, however Carlton and Port Adelaide in finding themselves nipping on the heels, courtesy of Sunday wins over West Coast and Melbourne respectively. The Blues have a to hand run of fixtures to come back, whilst the Power at the moment are buzzing alongside slightly properly to silence a number of the doubters (myself amongst them).
As for the remaining, Fremantle have shyed away from crisis in opposition to North Melbourne, the Bulldogs did what they had to do in opposition to St Kilda, and Collingwood kicked again with a chilly beer and a pizza observing the peasants underneath them jostle for positions 2-18.
Let’s start.
1. The flag frontrunners aren’t Collingwood
As Collingwood enthusiasts benefit from the week off, with their staff a win and share transparent atop the ladder and with a sport in give up everybody else within the most sensible 5, it’s lovely laborious to dispute their standing as premiership favourites.
But that’s precisely what I’m about to do – as it’s the staff sitting 2d, having leapfrogged Brisbane and Adelaide this weekend, who I’m backing to win the flag in September.
Sure, Geelong’s newest dismemberment was once simplest over a badly undermanned Essendon that includes a swathe of first-year gamers merely outmatched on the MCG; however that 95-point bloodbath slightly scratches the outside in their menacing shape.
The Cats at the moment are on a five-match successful streak, alongside the way in which claiming the scalps of fellow flag fancies the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast, whilst the 76-point hammering they passed Port Adelaide at house was once extra spectacular than reporting of the event made it out to be.
With just about a full-strength aspect now to be had, they lack for little or no. Sam De Koning and Jack Henry are pillars in defence, with the latter’s go back serving to Tom Stewart get again to his best possible in fresh weeks; the midfield options Bailey Smith and Max Holmes in as dynamic a one-two on-ball punch that you just’ll see within the AFL, with Ollie Dempsey soaring at the outdoor as essentially the most bad wingman going round too.
Up ahead, there’s Jeremy Cameron, plus an impressive 2d in command in Shannon Neale who appears to be like larger and higher with each and every passing week, and a little-known fella by means of the title of P. Dangerfield terrorising defences as smartly. Throw in Tyson Stengle, Gryan Miers, Shaun Mannagh and Brad Close, and on the ft of the talls they have got an ideal mixture of cunning goalsneaks and drive smalls that strangled the existence out of the Bombers all afternoon.
That’s with out even bringing up the crucial position gamers that permit the celebrities to flourish – Tom Atkins as a tackling gadget within the midfield, Mark Blicavs doing jobs all over the place the sphere, once in a while on the similar time, Connor O’Sullivan taking to existence as a key again like a duck to water, the record is going on.
So deep do the Cats bat that they have got the posh of getting Mitch Duncan function the sub simply in case they want his revel in and poise overdue in shut video games, whilst Ollie Henry, with 78 objectives within the final two years, is having to pressure his long ago in by means of the VFL after a deficient run of shape.
As spectacular because the Magpies had been, they haven’t been placing facets to the sword with the ruthless potency of the Cats – plus they did lose an absolute vintage to a extra depleted Geelong previous within the season.
The Cats have an out of types Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium up subsequent; from there, they play only one event of 7 in opposition to a possible finalist following their bye. It’s totally conceivable, or even most probably, they’ll head to September on a 13-game successful streak.
Not simplest would that definitely be sufficient to squeeze previous the Pies to the highest of the ladder; it might undergo eerie resemblance to 2022, after they likewise reached the finals off the again of a 13-match unbeaten run.
And that’s a actually frightening concept.
The Roar’s personal Dem Panopoulos was once proper on Friday – if you happen to’re in poor health of seeing Geelong dominate yr after yr, the remainder of this season is probably not for you.
Jeremy Cameron celebrates a function. (Photo by means of Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
2. A Tasmanian conspiracy idea
I will’t be the one one whose eyebrows had been raised after I realised Hawthorn’s conflict with Adelaide on Friday evening was once slated for Launceston’s UTAS Stadium.
It’s the primary time the venue, website hosting its 84th Hawks sport, were given the Friday evening blockbuster slot, whilst simplest the second one ever in Tasmania (North Melbourne website hosting Richmond at Bellerive Oval in 2016, for the ones enjoying at house).
And I scent a rat.
In freezing, slippery stipulations with a wholesome layer of dew over the outside, the event was once a brutally unwatchable slog, with two of essentially the most attacking, dynamic facets within the sport decreased to simply 91 issues between them.
Naturally, the response from many was once that it was once consummate evidence that Tasmania does certainly desire a roofed stadium for its AFL staff if and after they input the contest – and my suspicion is that that was once exactly the purpose of scheduling the sport there within the first position.
You know what else is an ideal accident? That the Hawks at the moment are two from two in enjoying video games in Launceston at evening this season, after a Saturday evening GWS sport previous within the yr – whilst within the earlier 24 years of them enjoying house video games at UTAS Stadium, they’d had a grand general of … one evening sport there.
If the AFL needs to pressure the Tasmanian govt’s hand, and make sure no risk of negotiation concerning the stadium, and in particular the prohobitively dear roof, then all it wishes do is whack on a replay of Friday evening as all of the evidence they want.
Here’s the object, even though: is it in point of fact obligatory for the Tasmanian staff to play its house video games on Friday, or certainly Thursday, evening – particularly in the course of iciness?
Yes, Tassie’s climate is wilder and more odd than at the mainland – quite a lot of video games performed in Hobart have noticed top kicks just about trip backwards when stuck within the wind – however all the way through the day stipulations are excellent sufficient to peer some very good soccer. Why, North Melbourne and Melbourne as soon as piled on 41 objectives between them at the apple isle in some of the nice shootouts, helped by means of a breeze conducive to top scoring from one finish.
Before some important stadium upgrades in 2013, Geelong had by no means prior to hosted an evening event; there’s no actual reason the similar can’t be true of Tasmania.
I’d additionally argue common Saturday or Sunday afternoon video games could be way more well liked by locals short of to head alongside, and certainly be extra handy for travelling enthusiasts. Instead of wanting to take an afternoon or two off paintings to catch a flight down on a Thursday or Friday, they might as an alternative head over later and catch the sport on each side of a complete day in both Hobart or Launceston to peer the points of interest and spend their cash – a sizeable boon to the native economic system.
The AFL would possibly assume it has proved the need of the roofed stadium; however I’m nonetheless adamant that it’s simplest required on their very own phrases. Tasmania would do tremendous with out it … if the league allow them to.
Hawthorn gamers have fun with Launceston enthusiasts after their win over Adelaide. (Photo by means of James Wiltshire/AFL Photos by means of Getty Images)
3. Riewoldt’s Petracca critique proves evident statement drawback
Midway thru the second one quarter on the Adelaide Oval, Christian Petracca discovered himself operating again with the flight for a top ball kicked out of defence by means of Port Adelaide, properly opting to not recklessly run into the oncoming site visitors and looking ahead to the spill.
Or a minimum of, that’s how I noticed it; commentating on Seven, Nick Riewoldt wondered whether or not Petracca, in all probability out of shock over the horrific accidents he suffered on King’s Birthday final yr, had pulled out.
“Not committing to the contest,” was once how Riewoldt put it. “That was another opportunity to go, to mark the footy.”
This form of statement is bad, slightly frankly. It units a ludicrous expectation of no longer simply bravery from gamers, however foolhardiness in contesting the ball.
Petracca was once by no means any hope of marking that footy. Going again with the flight and creating a play at the ball would no longer simplest have perhaps given away a unfastened kick for entrance on touch, however it’ll smartly have achieved him critical damage – whether or not a concussion or extra interior injury.
It’s time to forestall criticising gamers for no longer going regardless of the instances or penalties, and as an alternative be offering reward for as it should be assessing that there are occasions when going again with the flight does extra hurt than excellent.
Christian Petracca after maintaining critical interior accidents on King’s Birthday in 2024. (Photo by means of Dylan Burns/AFL Photos by means of Getty Images)
4. Brisbane can be tremendous
In a fortnight’s time, there’s each and every likelihood Brisbane will take a seat outdoor the highest 4.
Their final event prior to their mid-season smash sees the Lions trip to GMHBA Stadium to stand a red-hot Geelong, a venue they haven’t received at in 22 years. With Hawthorn and Adelaide off subsequent week however enjoying North Melbourne and Richmond the week after respectively, the Lions’ two-point hole on the ones groups will, in all chance, be swallowed up.
But what? The reigning premiers can be completely tremendous for it.
Every nice staff, even the premiership-winning ones, has a lull one day within the season – it’s merely inconceivable to take care of the craze from March thru to September.
The Lions this yr, not like final yr, have the posh of issues within the financial institution, and no longer want to be all however absolute best within the run house to guide themselves a finals berth, let by myself the double likelihood.
Their run house, to make certain, is a tricky one, particularly in comparison to the groups sitting round them: they face Collingwood, Gold Coast and Fremantle at the street, plus the Hawks and Bulldogs at a Gabba citadel unexpectedly taking a look decidedly pregnable.
Doing that each one with out Jack Payne looms as a job too nice for many groups.
But the Lions have conquer worse odds prior to – they had been seven objectives down in a semi ultimate final yr and received the flag, in any case. And in all probability the want to shuffle issues round to resolve their Payne drawback in defence, and adequately change the large hollow Joe Daniher has left at the back of within the ahead line, can be precisely the problem Chris Fagan must reinvigorate a staff that hasn’t in point of fact reached their very best up to now of their premiership defence.
Brisbane can be tremendous. And in the event that they aren’t, does it topic? You can’t win the flag once a year.
Finn Callaghan breaks clear of Lachie Neale. (Photo by means of Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
5. North’s WA deal is okay
There has been somewhat of complaint come North Melbourne’s method for his or her determination to promote two ‘home’ video games to Western Australia, and within the procedure present West Coast and Fremantle an additional event of their local state.
In specific, Matthew Richardson wondered whether or not the transfer compromises the fixture and makes the Dockers’ trail to September more uncomplicated.
“What I don’t like about it is it has gifted Freo a home game, basically – gifting a home game in an already compromised competition,” he mentioned on 3AW.
Personally, I feel it’s tremendous.
It very just about yielded them two wins, courtesy of a titanic last-quarter comeback in opposition to Fremantle, and it just about hit them with two losses, having been in large part outplayed by means of an faulty West Coast final week.
North enthusiasts will inform you, no longer with out reason, that their fresh win price in Perth is a lot better than it’s any place else, owing to the Eagles’ depressing run over the past 3 years and an disenchanted victory over the Dockers in early 2023.
But the principle reason why for the promoting is, because the Kangaroos have often mentioned because it was once introduced, that they discovered themselves steadily enjoying each Western Australian groups anyway with once a year, so they’ll as smartly make some coin out of it.
Does it make issues tougher for them? I’d argue that they had been no much more likely to overcome the Dockers in Melbourne than they’d had been in Perth – certainly, the slippery stipulations at Optus Stadium on Saturday evening arguably introduced North Melbourne again into the sport, given Freo weren’t in a position to transport the ball with their standard vigour and the Kangaroos’ drive was once exemplary all night time.
The Roos have two extra years in their present handle the WA govt: let’s reconsider if, in a kind of years, a slim loss in a single or either one of their video games around the Nullarbor finally ends up costing them a spot within the 8.
6. Let’s speak about Caroline Wilson
There are occasions when footy media turns into slightly irritating to eat – an unending cycle of outlandish speaking issues, unending dialogue on inane problems, and the all-consuming business chat this is now a year-round revel in. Take Marcus Bontempelli fielding questions after the Bulldogs’ win on Thursday evening concerning the state of his contract discussions, as an example.
Naturally, that implies there’s little or no sympathy from the general public when breaking tales land, in particular those who inform tales us enthusiasts don’t wish to listen.
This week, that tale was once Caroline Wilson’s record that Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is reluctant to be traded to Adelaide must he request a business from St Kilda, owing to Taylor Walker’s notorious racism incident 4 years in the past.
Within an hour of the tale breaking, Wanganeen-Milera’s supervisor hotly refuted the allegations, whilst the younger Saint himself reportedly known as Walker all the way through the week to disclaim it.
That, after all, ended in heated complaint of Wilson, and requires her to be held answerable for spreading false tales, or even stripped of her AFL accreditation.
It’s the similar, albeit on a better scale, than what Mitch Cleary confronted over his reporting previous within the season that Luke Jackson was once excited about a go back to Melbourne, which gave the impression vindicated a couple of weeks in the past when more than one shops reported the similar factor.
Here’s the object, even though: participant brokers aren’t pressured to inform the reality. In this example, Wanganeen-Milera’s business worth could be impacted if it was once showed he wouldn’t head to the Crows underneath any instances, and probably make a deal tougher. Add to that the scrutiny putting over his head from this sort of primary tale, and there was once no get advantages to having it out within the air.
It’s vital to imagine this: it’s way more really useful for Wanganeen-Milera and his agent, and certainly all AFL footballers and their related events, to lie in circumstances akin to this, than it’s for the journalist to record it.
Wilson is without doubt one of the maximum adorned AFL newshounds going round, has many years of revel in, more than one jobs within the trade, and a place on a footy communicate display by means of the principle free-to-air broadcaster. There’s actually no reason why for her to make up a tale akin to this – however there’s completely a reason why for Wanganeen-Milera and his staff to mention it’s no longer true.
The drawback is that we’ll most definitely by no means know whether or not it was once true or no longer, for the reason that likeliest position Wanganeen-Milera will finally end up is Port Adelaide, given his shut ties and public fresh catch-up with Jason Horne-Francis and Jase Burgoyne. Or he remains on the Saints.
Either method, the one method Wilson is proved to be flawed is that if Wanganeen-Milera does certainly join with Adelaide. And if he does that, I can be the primary to factor an overly public apology, and query Caro on precisely the place she were given her tale from.
Random ideas
– I’ve by no means noticed Esava Ratugolea play even part in addition to he did on Sunday.
– The West Coast enthusiasts’ reactions when Tom McCarthy doesn’t get the Rising Star nod this week for 31 disposals on debut as a result of some Victorian child will get it on ‘body of work’ can be one thing to behold.
– It’s getting tougher and tougher to depart Ben Keays out of my All-Australian staff.
– Speaking of All-Australian groups, Rory Lobb must be in additional of them.
– If Kozzie Pickett’s kicking objectives like this then that nine-year deal is truthfully unders.
