Hi all, the irony of such silly predictions and prognostications is that somewhere along the way you have to put your money where your mouth is.
So far I have 5 Melbourne, (daylight), Sydney, Brisbane, Geelong and Fremantle…the other 3 I’m comfortable with are Carlton, St.Kilda and Richmond. That is 8.
That is the top 8 as it currently sits (note lag in writing email to sending email timeframe) and hence this prediction is delivered between Rounds 9 and 10.
Like anyone else…I may be right. Or I might be wrong…
The evenness of the AFL competition slowly cuts loose teams out of contention as the year progresses…It’s safe to say that West Coast and North making it is a rank outsider.
By virtue Essendon, Hawthorn, GWS and Collingwood are not too far off that…
Oh well, we continue to watch with interest…
Round 7:
Inept #1. Not normally the word associated with the West Coast Eagles and/or the AFL’s fixturing department. So, the tv audience got a full definition of inept on Friday Night. Scheduling 17th v 12th initially when there were far better games on offer, just a massive slap in the face. West Coast sitting 17th with so many Premiership players and yet inept as a team. Richmond did as they pleased. Tom Lynch 7.5. Tigers by 109 points.
Fremantle had earned the right to be considered a contender in 2022. Or had they? Validation for the Purple Haze required a big scalp. And they got it on Saturday by holding on to beat the Cats at the Cattery by 3points. It’s still a win. Coach Longmuir was rapt and not one for emotion in the coach’s box! Equal at the half, Freo stamped their authority thru defence and then attack. A finals preview? Yes, and maybe a purple reign.
I don’t know if it could be called an upset when the Giants smacked the Crows at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Maybe the return of Toby Greene is enough to kickstart Leon’s Ferrari back into gear. Or maybe the Crows just had a Barry Crocker! Giants co-captain Josh Kelly 41, coupled with Greene 4 and Hogan, Coniglio and Whitfield 3 each was just overpowering. GWS by 59points, going some way to save Leon’s job.
The Plucky Hawks took it right up to the Covid-hit Reigning Premiers at the MCG Saturday twilight. A 10point win by the Demons belied the effort and intensity of the Hawks. A 28point lead at the last change saw the Demons withstand a fierce Hawks challenge of 3.4 to 0.4 in the last. Ben Brown and Jacob Kositchke both got 4. Max Gawn and Dylan Moore both racked up the stats in the latest version of the Don Scott Cup.
Inept #2. A key feature behind the decision to schedule games in Cairns in the last part of the wet season. The problem was not the Saints’ desire for $$. More so, the Saints’ inept kicking for goal. 4.18 won’t win you a game in sun, rain, hail or shine. Enter Port’s Robbie Gray, arguably the least favourite person any opposition team wants the ball to be with in the dying minutes. A point, after Butters equalled the game.
After an even first half, Carlton managed to shake off its North hoodoo in the second half to record a big 50point win. Patrick Cripps earned another 3 Brownlow votes as he did anything at will, ably assisted by Harry McKay with 4 goals. Curnow 3 and Larkey 3 also, although Larkey tunnelled Young – dangerous and Jack Silvagni picked on the Hornet by calling him and the Roos sh_ _. The vitriol goes both ways it appears.
A 7 goal opening quarter by Collingwood was enough to set up a 25point win against the Gold Coast at the MCG Sunday. There was only 1point literally in it for the other three quarters which says a s much for both teams. Casboult and Mihocek 4 goals each. Uncontested possessions in favour of the Pies did help. Touk Miller led the Suns stats count yet again but the Pies were too polished overall. Warm Pies.
But for half of the 1st quarter, the Dogs had it all over the Bombers at Marvel on Sunday. The Bombers won the las quarter 4.1 to 3.3 but only managed to get within 32 points of the Dogs who have frankly been like yoyos this year. Zac Merrett led the stats count with 36 and ‘2m Peter’ kicked 4. However as teams go, the Dogs were better at getting the ball inside 50 but worse with efficiency. For Bevo, lucky the scoring accuracy was up.
In a game that should’ve got a better time slot, the Lions went to the SCG to take down the Swans. And they did for their 1st win there in ages. Despite an even 1st quarter, the Lions showed why they are highly rated as challengers into deep September. If it weren’t for Lance Franklin’s 6 goals, the Lions would’ve won by far more than 24points. Neale and ‘Bags’ McLuggage led the stats count. All over the ground, Lions superior.
Cheers, PT
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Some ‘fearless’ calls for your top 8, PT. Given that a couple rounds have passed since you made your call, I wonder if you’ve changed your mind at all – Geelong less than convincing, likewise Sydney. Richmond look like the current ‘movers’ with Port Power showing a bit of form of late, too. Perhaps you’re right in that the Demons are first, daylight second and, perhaps, Brisbane the best of the rest.