Round 10 – Sal’s Preview: When the Walls Come Down, and Flemington tips

Greetings All,

 

Sad news for the footy community today with the death of Robert Walls.  Like most things he did it was head on and went out on his own terms through voluntary assisted dying.  He arrived at the Blues as a 15 year old in 1966 and made his debut the following year booting a goal with his first kick.  At the end of the following season, he was part of his first premiership team, he would go on to play in the 1970 and 1972 premierships kicking six in the latter earning him best on ground accolades.  He became captain of the club in 1977 but left through the club turmoil of 1978 for Fitzroy.

 

His impact there was nearly as great only playing 41 games but becoming coach in 1981 leading them to finals in 81, 83 and 84.  It was during this time I watched his Lions pick the Blues apart at VFL Park with the huddle.  Paul Roos had a field day as the release player setting up goal after goal as the target of those kick ins.  He then went through the great coach swap where David Parkin and he flipped between Fitzroy and Carlton – both teams faring well that year until succumbing to the Hawks in the Preliminary and Grand Finals respectively.

 

Robert Walls spoke to the Friars some years later about success and premierships.  He was so proud of the 1987 premiership he coached – it was not most talented premiership team the Blues have had but he made it work as a team.  Plenty of big names like Kernahan, Johnston, Bradley and Hunter were there, but there were plenty of lesser lights like Mick Kennedy, Warren McKenzie, Shane Robertson – they were all part of his team.  One of his key moves was to play firebrand on firebrand pitting David Rhys-Jones against Dermot Brereton.  Dermie went goalless on the day, Rhys won the Norm Smith.  As is the Blues way they fell out of love in 1989 with Brisbane Bear’s Warwick Capper bombing from outside 50 sealing his fate.

 

As fate would have it, he turned up to coach the “Bad News” Bears in 1991, it took time, but he got them to their first final in 1995 where they took on the all-conquering Blues.  It was 1^st vs 8^th; the Bears were tough and brave that day going down by only 13 points.  One of his younger players was Michael Voss.  Carlton won the next two finals by over 10 goals.  That was Walls’ final game with the Bears, then the Tigers came calling and while not successful at Punt Road, suspect his time as a coach had come.

 

He admitted he his forthrightness, toughness and honesty were not for all, and he burned bridges through time.  We got to see that as a media performer where his opinions may not have always been popular, but he was always direct and engaging.  Was great that he was able to spend his latter years flitting between the South of France and Melbourne.  There is sadness in his passing but pleasing that he left this world as he desired.

 

Rest in Peace

 

 

 

Touk Hundred (73%) v Mr Ned (27%)

 

The Hawks head to the Sun’s fortress in Darwin.  Can they penetrate and break the seven-game winning streak?  An advantage they have is the short break the Suns have had after a tough game in the humidity against the Bulldogs, there is still their challenge to acclimatise for the conditions.  From a team perspective the Suns will require little motivation as they celebrate Touk Miller’s 200^th game – he more than anyone has driven the culture within the club and demanding loyalty.  Structurally they are looking to stretch the Hawks playing both Witts and Moyle in the ruck – Ned Reeves will require plenty of assistance and suspect Mabior will do more especially with Calsher Dear returning.  The Hawks will have some memories of their last visit in 2022, and the side they have picked looks suited to the conditions, but we know how well Gold Coast play the conditions and appear the more likely winner.

 

Party On? (73%) v In the Coop (27%)

 

Sydney lost to the Bombers with their poor opening efforts creating a bridge too far.  However, their effort to get back into the game was noteworthy and they may get some of the cavalry back, with both Joel Amartey and Callum Mills chances to return.  They host the Blues who had to tough it out against the Saints in a game not to be put in the time capsule.  Against history the Blues have been adding young players to the side with Cooper Lord coming off the bench last week to provide some terrific efforts and capped it with a mighty goal from outside fifty.  Their depth will be further tested with the loss of Acres, Cowan and possibly McGovern.  The Blues play a style that should be well suited to the SCG, but have only won twice at the venue since 1994.  This would appear their chance with the Swans struggling to put a four-quarter effort together and fluctuating form.  They embarrassed the Blues with pace last year Warner, Blakey and Bice they could do it again.  The Blues record here makes them hard to trust but just think they can get the game played on their terms and break the hoodoo.  Or am I just hopeful?

 

Rope a Dope (74%) v Keane as Mustard (26%)

 

The Pies execute on the road again – just soaking up Fremantle forays and rebounding at pace.  Darn handy having the Hill and Elliott combination, good against anyone and better up against a lumbering defence.  They host the Crows who won an epic showdown with much thanks to bravery of Mark Keane.  What an outstanding mark – not quite Leo Barry but not far away.  The cumulative margin of their last four encounters is 12 points, the Pies have won them all.  In fact, Adelaide’s last victory over the Collingwood was back in 2016 and as testament to the Pies ability on the road 6 of the 9 wins were away.  This one is at the G and Collingwood will be missing a few with Moore and Schultz injured from last week and De Goey not ready.  Pendlebury and Maynard are handy coming back.  Seeing Nick Daicos and Izak Rankine on the same park makes this an enticing game to watch, the two best young players in the competition.  What makes them extra special is how they make the players around them better.  They are blessed with elite skills along with the game nous and vision that few others possess.  The problem for the Crows is that a couple veterans for the Pies in Pendlebury and Sidebottom also have those traits and should get them over the line.

 

Al Dante (35%) v The Blame Game (65%)

 

Port almost timed their cooking perfectly last week if not for the intervention of Mark Keane, Dante Visentini took his opportunity to lead their rucks well.  Hosting the Cats here they will be keen to atone not only for last week but also the final last year where Geelong gave them a nice touch up.  If they do, it will be interesting to hear Chris Scott.  In Geelong’s last two losses it has been about how poorly they played then the mistakes he made as coach – perhaps the opposition played well too Chris!  If they get Jack Henry and/or Tom Stewart back, he might not have to worry as that will stiffen their defence and while Georgiades has been good he is not Jesse Hogan.  Otherwise the home side wins.

 

Kings of Kardinia (87%) v The Dirge (13%)

 

Informally a dirge is a “song or piece of music that is considered too slow, miserable, or boring.  It is perhaps fitting that Freo chose one of them for its anthem.  Perhaps we could add the word cumbersome.  They have some of the slickest players in the competition but just fielded too many big and slow players against the Pies.  Plenty of criticism of the Jackson-Darcy combination – Sean Darcy just doesn’t have match condition.  On and off the bench won’t help him get there, a couple of full games in the WAFL might help.  Shai Bolton showed some of his magic, but still too careless around the goals.  They head to the Cattleyard to face the Giants who maintained their incredible record at the cattery.  Do they have their mojo back that made them flag favourites early in the year?  The Freo defence can handle Hogan, but they were beaten by talented small forwards last week.  GWS have plenty of them too.  They are well equipped at the other end to handle Treacy and Amiss so suspect the Giants can win this.

 

Noughton? (90%) v Another Good Reid (10%)

 

The Dogs return from the tropics to host Essendon, in what is an intriguing contest.  Plenty of commentary on Aaron Naughton’s lack of influence last week, a bit unfair.  Not an environment that suits his game, but his role is to compete and provide ground balls for the talent below and reckon he does that most weeks.  He is one part of a slick unit that were very good last week despite the result.  The Bombers were also very good last week.  Taking full advantage of the Swans early and then holding firm and professionally shutting the game down to close out the win.  The Bombers always knew what they had with Zach Reid now that he is healthy, they have the rock to build the defence around.  Still, some doubt about their credentials with all their wins against teams in the bottom six, but they don’t set the fixture, and a win is a win!  Great test but suspect the Dogs will be too slick.

 

Brown (29%) vs Comben (71%)

 

Last minute heroics from Tom Brown and Charlie Comben saved the Tigers and Kangaroos from defeat last week, they face each other at the G for some bragging rights about who developing better.  The consensus seems to be that North are going better just off forcing a draw with the Premiers, while the Tigers scraped in over the lowly Eagles.  It is much more even than that and it is at the other end of the age scale that will make the difference.  The Richmond defence has great experience and organisation with Vlastuin, Balta and Broad – the midfield is similar, and Lynch is a focal point up front.  Don’t think the Roos can match that experience and the Tigers win their fourth.

 

Bounced (96%) vs Dee Generation (4%)

 

After drawing with the Kangaroos, the Lions will want to bounce back with a good performance at the Gabba taking on Melbourne.  The Dees were certainly better against Hawthorn and could have sewn the game up with a bit more efficiency.  We are starting to see the next generation of Demons coming to the fore with Harvey Langford and Caleb Windsor becoming so much more important in their set up.  McInerney did it tough last week against Xerri, Max won’t make it any easier.  The premiers back at home should have enough fire power to win this one.

 

In the Hunt (13%) vs Taking Stocker (87%)

 

The Eagles need more from their recruits in Hunt, Owies, Graham. Baker and Kelly to help get their opening win for the season.  They have a chance against the Saints who made it tough for the Blues last week.  Liam Stocker tried hard against his old club where he just could not break in, he has found himself a niche at the Saints and playing some key roles.  Suspect they will bounce back this week, but McQualter will think this has to a chance for his opener.

 

Track Time

 

Well sort of – the party moves north to Queensland and not really a carnival I follow closely.  It is the Doomben 10,000 this week another G1 1200m sprint (Yawn).  Will leave that alone and just provide a quaddie for Flemington and put this part of the preview in hibernation till the Melbourne Spring appears.

 

Quaddie

 

Flemington

 

Leg 1 – 1, 3, 11

Leg 2 – 1, 3, 6, 12, 14, 18, 19e, 20e

Leg 3 – 7, 9, 10

Leg 4 – 12, 17

 

144 Combinations, $30 Investment will return 20.83% of the dividend

 

Go Blues,

 

Cheers, Sal

 

 

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