Round 13 – Sal’s Preview: The Floggers’ Edition

 

Greetings All,

 

Much chat about what is happening off the ground compared to what is on the ground. It was too harsh for the Blues fan to be ejected if all he did was call the umpire a “bald headed flog”.  Not sure exactly what a flog is, my research of the word in the Oxford Dictionary revealed the only definition of it as a noun is “an arduous climb or struggle”. Perhaps that is what umpiring is. Not sure what I would call the fan who committed the act but perhaps he becomes the standard for the Oxford people.  I read the excellent piece from Dips O’Donnell in the Footy Almanac https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/umpire-and-fans-yelling-at-the-sky/ where he compares umpires with goalposts with the premise that they are not part of the game just part of the make-up of the game. In one sense I agree, however being involved in footy at the local level recruitment and maintaining umpires is critical.  Dips is absolutely correct – the game can’t be played without goalposts and it definitely can’t be played without umpires.  Where it is challenged is that material for goalposts is easy to come by, the resources for umpiring are harder to attract and behaviour like that does not make the job more appealing.  So while Matthew Nicholls could harden up, perhaps he has also drawn a line for umpires everywhere.

 

The umpies have six games to adjudicate this weekend – hope they can do it with a little less controversy.

 

 

Charrdy Sippers ($1.30) v Richmond ($4.20)

 

Comparing injury lists between the Crows and the Tigers reflects the trajectory of the two teams at this stage of the season.  The Charrdy will be tasting pretty good in Adelaide with only 2 players on their injury list and results going well too.  For the Tiges it is a tale of woe with 14 on the list although two of them have been selected.  Richmond are pretty good on the road and should not be discounted, however the Crows are going well and at home should continue their push for a top four finish.

 

Duckworth ($1.80) v Brereton ($2.20)

 

Friday night takes us back to a time when Billy Duckworth and Dermot Brereton were protagonists in the biggest rivalry of their era.  This one is more about bragging rights for a couple of evenly matched, middle of the road teams.  The result will really depend on which version of each of these teams turning up.  In a flip of the coin think it is the Hawks turn.

 

Dew Point ($2.40) v Shanghai-ed ($1.67)

 

Round 1 saw these teams separated by only a point, the following weeks were encouraging for both Gold Coast and St Kilda but both have dropped away since.  St Kilda had the honour of hosting Port in Shanghai and did not think much of it, while Gold Coast are just not staying in games for long enough.  This time the Saints are being hosted in Townsville and another toss of the coin says they will be on the wrong end of the pineapple this week.

 

Sonny Days ($1.83) v China Champs ($2.16)

 

Port went to China and banked their 4 points which will help them in the run to the finals, they go to Freo this week.  The Dockers are building a formidable record this season with a lot of help from the mercurial “Sonny” Walters, he just bobs up at the right time in games to put his stamp on it.  He has a few handy teammates helping out in Fyfe, Hill, Langdon…but will be impacted by the loss of Lobb especially up against Port playing their two ruck strategy.  Port beat the Eagles here early in the year and their best can repeat, just think Fremantle will have the ruck coverage and they will be able to prevail at home.

 

Couldn’t Pickett ($2.56) v The Other One ($1.61)

 

I couldn’t pick the Blues last week and during the week they stalled the journey for Jarrod Pickett who has decided to return to WA, probably a good result for both parties.  He may be picked up by one of the teams out west in the future.  The game of Patrick Cripps gained plenty of kudos, reckon that of Sam Walsh was a beauty too.  The take on the only other team they have beaten for the year in the Bulldogs who will be keen avenge that loss.  The will get down to Cripps and the Bont and which one can get off the chain.  Reckon the Blues might just grab another one.

 

Rhyce ($2.56) v Heath ($1.60)

 

North take the Giants south going for their third win under Rhyce Shaw, his brother will be doing everything to stop it.  The Giants fell apart late against the Crows, the Roos will ensure this game is also played out to the full.  GWS have won at the venue, so it holds no fears.  If the Giants are to be top four material, they win this.

 

 

Friar Time

 

The Ammos are back with the Friars heading to the resurgent Ivanhoe for the senior matches.  The girls head over to Oak Park to take on the ladder leaders Therry Penola while the Under 23s play host to Old Camberwell at Friar Park.

 

Go Friars, Go Blues,

 

Cheers, Sal

 

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