Hi all, over rounds of AFL we get to celebrate the Indigenous contribution to our great game. And what a contribution it is! Starting with players such as Syd Jackson and moving unequally through the years to where some clubs had Indigenous players and some didn’t, to the year 2022 where all clubs have some players of Indigenous heritage. This includes the state leagues where the hopefuls apply their trade with a view to possibly hitting the AFL stage one day. Eternals like Stephen Michael and Bill Chambers bring memories of those who were clearly good enough to make the VFL grade but chose to stay in their home state.
What is also worth celebrating is the apparent decline in AFL clubs’ reluctance to recruit such players. From a financial point of view, I hear the argument, it costs $XXX to recruit one player. Why would I take a risk here or there, if I can get a disciplined and humble kid from a stable background…One word: Instinct, comes to mind…and when I think of instinct, I automatically think of Eddie Betts, Nicky Winmar, Gavin Wanganeen…you name it… Indigenous footballers are the masters of playing on instinct. Making the highlights reel for efforts that make the unachievable look achievable.
When I was on a coaching panel in the VAFA, our Head Coach told us that when he retired from the AFL, he went to an interstate state league club. He was presented there with a thick book, close to 10cm in depth. That’s how you play footy, he was told! I’m still amazed that a game could be reduced to a textbook. By virtue, do you coach instinct? Some footy academics have probably developed a theory by which this is possible. I call Bullsh**! Watch any of the Indigenous boys and girls and you can’t predict or coach ‘spur of the moment’ genius. That’s not to say the Indigenous players have the mortgage on footy genius and instinct, but they do feature overwhelmingly in the highlights for such a reason.
All the more reason to celebrate the contribution of the Jacksons, Cables, Riolis, Franklins, Winmars, Wanganeens, Muirs, Kicketts, Garletts, McAdams and their ilk. It is interwoven into the fabric of the great game.
Round 10
Carlton hosted Sydney in a genuine Friday night blockbuster for the viewing public across all media. An even 1st quarter gave way to the Blues’ rostered Premiership quarter, the 2nd , which saw the Blues kick 9.3 to 3.0. Charlie Curnow on fire with 6. Swans on the backfoot but fired in the 3rd to reduce a 38 point lead at the half to a 17 point deficit at the last change. Logan McDonald and Tom Papley with 3. Blues in a classic by 15points.
Port made the trip to the Cattery to take on the Cats, coming off a few wins to stabilise the Power’s season. In years gone past, these were the sort of games that gave Geelong a 32 point headstart on the rest of the comp before the season had started. Dare I say it, whilst Port occasionally challenged and took the lead, the Cats ascendancy started soon after the half and ended with a 6 goal win. Cameron and the renewed Stengle 3.
Regional Victoria copped a 2nd game when the Western Bulldogs hosted the Gold Coast in Ballarat on Saturday arvo. Despite bringing some heat (unheard of in Ballarat after April), the Gold Coast managed respectability without the 4 points. A sign of maturity? Possibly. Suns’ youngster Joel Jeffrey of the NT brought his own heat and ball, kicking 5. The Bont and Astronaught 3 and Bazlenka 34 ensured the Dogs by 19 points.
17th hosting 1st is never an even affair, except for when the coach of 17th wants visible little wins. As it was, North brought sustained pressure for 3.5 quarters but Melbourne ultimately had all the answers, ensuring a 47 point win. The margin sat mainly to the Dees advantage around 20 points, before the dees kicked away in the last with 4.2 to 0.1 Zurhaar, TMc and Fritsch 3 each. Clarry Oliver 43 set the standard on Roos learning curve.
It was only in the last quarter that the more favoured Saints managed to shake off the hometown Crows’ persistence. Starting waywardly, the Crows managed to keep pace with their more fancied opponents, looking at various stages like they may claim a scalp. 8.2 to 3.2 in that last saw the Saints go up a cog, led by four 2nd half goals from Max King. Sinclair, Hill and Crouch led the stats count. Saints away by 21 points.
After a year in the finals wilderness, the Tigers had become a contender again in 2022. In the Dreamtime game, the Tigers seemed to have Essendon’s measure after quarter time. Darcy Parish did his best to inspire his Bombers, but the scoreboard didn’t quite tick over as required. Holding form Bomber forward ‘2m Peter’ goalless helped the Tigers. Riewoldt J 4 the catalyst, Prestia 36 and the Tigers were just too good by 32 points.
Mark McVeigh took the keys to the GWS Ferrari from departed Coach Leon Cameron. Refreshed and reset, the Giants started well against the Eagles in Western Sydney with a 7.3 to 4.1 1st quarter. A revitalised Steve Coniglio amassed a game high 36 stats as the Giants strolled to a 58 point win, assisted by Perryman 30. Novice Eagle Isiah Winder and Giant James Peatling kicked 3 each. Giants had greater forward efficiency.
All the makings of an upset were on offer as the Hawks took to U-Tas Stadium in Launceston to take on the highly fancied Brisbane Lions. The margin generally saw the Lions leading by a few goals, but never able to put the Hawks away. Lewis, Wingard and newbie Butler saw the Hawks maintain scoreboard pressure to stay within striking distance…5.4 to 4.1 in the last and the Hawks crept home with a 5 point win.
Fair to say that nobody, bar the die-hard Magpies, saw this coming. Fremantle hosted Collingwood in conditions that again exposed Freo’s achilles heel. Ironic that rain should expose Dockers I suspect…not the salty seafarers we perhaps thought! The home side kicked only their 3rd goal in the 3rd quarter, whilst strong defence and a reprieve for sub Ollie Henry saw him kick 4. The Fly’s Pies, a meritorious 36 point away win.
Cheers, PT
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