Almanac Footy: Citrus Bob with season predictions for six teams
Citrus Bob’s historical Round 1 of the AFL season
Nostradamus CB looks at six teams and where they will finish the season, and whether you should put down your glasses now:
Four days in Melbourne for the start of the football season is still bliss and that is my want each year. Three games live, four on TV and the other two “on the road”.
Nothing better than to be in the car for the boring drive from Wedderburn to Mildura. Seagulls v The Invincible Whites (what a game to listen to!) and Eagles v Suns.
Stayed at the Home of the Almanackers in George Street and was delighted that Bomber Col and Meryl Ritchie were there as well, although they disappeared quickly on Saturday morning.
Carlton and Richmond were the opening stanza with a couple of question to be answered.
Have either side improved?
How good is Jagga Smith?
Will the rebuilding Tigers look any different?
What chance has Michael Voss of being ‘The Butchers’ Coach next year?
And they were only some of the questions.
As a match it was ordinary and that is some praise. Jagga Smith was extraordinary in the first term jagging 16 possessions. I can’t think for the life of me who he plays like. The usual suspects Cripps, Walsh, Hewitt and Weitering kept The Butchers in the game while Will Hayward showed the enthusiasm of someone who had been a butcher for many years.
‘The Wasps’ should have won the game even though Carlton led from the start. There was sting in their tail late in the game and while Tom Lynch was commended for his goal shooting 2 goals 8 behinds, I question where were the other forwards whilst he was up against three Butchers. Sam Lalor has recovered from his injuries and played well while Sam Grlj made a very impressive debut. Gigz is he the only player in the AFL with no vowel in his name?
VERDICT: Richmond will finish 15th and Carlton 14th.
Carlton was originally called ‘The Butchers’ likewise ‘The Wasps’ was Richmond’s second coming after, would you believe ‘The Richmondites’.
Had the good luck to interview the chief Librarian at the ‘G’ on Friday and that interview will be seen later. Suffice to say ‘she is a hoot!’
Friday night was ‘The Mayblooms’ versus ‘The Same Olds’.
How will Zach Merrett be treated?
Will Hawthorn’s construction workers fly high?
Jack Gunston still going?
Always questions at the footy.
Yes, they were the same olds Bomber Col, and my mate from Gol Gol, and sometimes guitar player Keith Richards! They started OK but half-way through the second term Hawthorn changed gear and the game was all over red rover. As was expected the form of the chameleon (Zac M) was watched with interest but he played superbly for his club. He was easily their best player and I reckon they looked a light-weight side compared to the ‘Mayblooms’. Other triers were Redmond, Parish while Lachie Blakiston showed promise in the ruck. They will need him, as number 20 plays from behind all the time.
The ‘Red Legs’, yes they were called that at one stage, took a while to warm up but once they got the precision kicking going it was a one-sided match. Sicily’s ability to find a target often goes unnoticed as is his marking. He had a ball. Construction worker Macdonald has lifted his game to another height while Jack Gunston continues to get better and better at 34 years-of-age. Would always give him the ball if my team needed an urgent goal. Mabior Chol is one player to watch out for this year. He took some spectacular marks and is a great team player up-forward. Together with Gunner they form a potent pair. The Dingley Dashers will be well in it at the finish of the year.
VERDICT Essendon 16th with little chance of going higher but could finish lower. Hawthorn 6th with every chance of going higher.
Essendon were also known as ‘The Erratics’ and Hawthorn ‘The Mayblooms’.
After a wonderful memorial walk in memory of my son Tim on Phillip Island I joined the Monash car park at Grantville for the trip back to town. Cars never stop on this road.
It was a delightful autumnal night for an expected big clash between Collingwood (known by yours truly as Carringbush) and the Crows.
Will Pies improve from last year?
Is there anyone else in the team other than number 35?
Will the Crows get over ‘25 when they went out in straight sets?
The Pies had cleared a couple of ‘big’ names in Brodie Mihocek and Mason Cox during the silly season while the Crows would be still smarting from going out in straight sets last season in the finals.
Of the three matches I witnessed this was the best by a country mile. The first half was a great tussle with Collingwood trying too hard to score but found Wayne Milera and Josh Worrell superb across half back. The Pies lack of big strong competitors up forward made the decision to send Cox and Mihocek on their way more puzzling. The Pies only had one real winner in the first half and that was acting captain Nick Daicos, he was everywhere, but couldn’t do it all by himself. Adelaide always looked the more composed team and broke the game open in the third term with three quick goals and precision kicking.
One marvels at the exquisite kicking skills of Taylor Walker. He can still hit a target 9 times out of 10 and is still an asset to his team in what probably will be his last year. To me though Riley Thilthorpe is the key for the Crows. Big and powerful he demands the ball and assists the likes of Keays, Rachelle and Fogarty perfectly
Pies came back hard in the last term with Daicos sitting on the bench for 7 minutes??? But the lead was too much and the Crows have opened the season in style.
Next Friday night will be a big test at home against the all-conquering Footscray. What a ripper of a game that will be.
VERDICT: Adelaide will finish 3rd at the end of the home and away season while Collingwood will finish 10th with a little luck going their way.
As typical of the club Collingwood have always been the Magpies and the Crows the Crows – no history there either. As readers would be aware Collingwood are sometimes called Carringbush by moi.
The history of the game is so important that throughout the season with my reports I will refer to them by one of their nicknames. Mind you “Footscray” will always be Footscray to me!.
Name the Footscray champion and win last week’s Footy Record
More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.
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About Bob Utber
At 86 years of age Citrus Bob is doing what he has always done since growing up on a small farm at Lang Lang. Talking, watching and writing sport and in recent years writing books. He lives in Mildura with his very considerate wife (Jenny) and a groodle named 'Chloe on Flinders' and can be found at Deakin 27 every day.
Thank you CB for your perspicacious predictions & analysis.
Carringbush is also my preferred name.
Look forward to your next reviews & in particular TGTOA,
The Footscray player on the Kornies card is Wally Donald.
Roll the Footy Record over for your next quiz.
John – thanks for that and how generous of you to “roll the Footy Record for the next quiz”.
Seeing that there are so many players playing today with either (a) 2 Christian names or (b) 2 surnames. Wally Donald our Kornies man of the week could have been “Donald Wally” or Donald Walter.
John did you ever count the front of a Kornies packet just to see how many packets there are?
Can’t help myself but I love Carringbush too. Of course you would know that Collingwood could have been La Mascotte but that is another story
Does Y count as a vowel
If not Lynch has no vowels, Bob
RODNEY – well done! and there are quite a few Lynch’s played AFL