Round 20 – Sal’s Preview: The Focus on Form

 

Greetings All,

 

With five rounds to it’s time to take a look at the previous five to see who is in and out form.  Here is the “Form Ladder” for the last five rounds and makes for some interesting analysis.

 

Team P F A Perc
Carl 20 592 299 197.99%
GWS 20 412 273 150.92%
Coll 20 489 349 140.11%
Bris 16 502 302 166.23%
Rich 16 425 434 97.93%
Syd 14 517 328 157.62%
Geel 14 432 289 149.48%
WB 12 450 373 120.64%
Port 12 449 426 105.40%
Melb 12 389 380 102.37%
GC 8 356 414 85.99%
StK 8 319 378 84.39%
Adel 4 465 437 106.41%
Haw 4 341 434 78.57%
Fre 4 354 479 73.90%
Ess 4 344 480 71.67%
NM 0 320 525 60.95%
WCE 0 275 644 42.70%

 

A touch indulgent with the Blues heading the list, noting all five opponents in the lower section of this table.  The Giants are flying as are of course the pacesetters Collingwood.  The Tigers are looking ominous and the Swans building.  Of the finals contenders Essendon, Adelaide and St Kilda will need to turn things around, noting that the wins of the Crows and Saints in this period have been over either the Eagles or Roos.  Great advantage for St Kilda with those wins early in the season banked.  What it look like next week – let’s pontificate.

 

 

Baz Footy (84%) vs On the March (16%)

 

The Blues have plenty back including Caleb Marchbank for his first game of the season, to balance that out the injuries to Silvagni and Walsh could have an impact.  None of any such issue for Collingwood who have a healthy list but do lose Bobby Hill to illness.  The absence of Silvagni and McKay is an issue and suspect Marchbank is in to allow McGovern to return to the forward line – hopefully his output can match his recent work down back.  Pittonet’s return will also allow de Koning to do some work in the forward line.  It’s no such matter for the Pies, they just ask who’s next?  No Lead is safe against them, they play Baz Footy – full on attack with every player working together.  The Blues recent run has featured them bouncing out of the blocks, even if they do here I am not sure they can hold out Baz Footy.

 

 

Domesticats (99%) vs Undocked (1%)

The Cats get back home after a loss on the road – all will be back in order after they beat Freo who were knocked out of the finals hunt last week.

 

 

Ballarat (80%) vs ReWarded (20%)

What a game set for Ballarat!  The Dogs and Giants have a great rivalry stemming back to the 2016 preliminary final, or even before when Callan Ward went north.  Interesting that GWS have been spouting the “Why not us?” line this week that was so much a part of the successful Dogs campaign in 2016.  So much riding on the result here whoever wins will have a top four position in reach.  The form ladder says the Giants but like the Blues they have not beaten much apart from Melbourne.  The Dogs stamped themselves against Essendon last week and have a much better familiarity with the venue where they are 10 from 13.  Reckon they celebrate Bailey Smith’s 100th in style.

 

 

Sergeant Sam (14%) vs UnWilling (86%)

What a journey it has been for Friar Sam Collins to get to 100 games.  Ditch by Ross Lyon at Freo after 14 games he went back to the VFL to ply his craft and was a standout and picked by the Suns where he has become a stalwart of their defence and leader at the club.  They host their local rivals in Brisbane who have lost their shining star in Will Ashcroft to the dreaded ACL, reckon they have cover but won’t quite as good.  They should however be good enough to deal with the Suns.

 

 

Strung Out (28%) vs Run of the Mills (72%)

The Bombers have lost a couple of the their most influential players in Stringer and Ridley and host the Swans in the Loungeroom.  For Sydney Callum Mills reaches the 150 game milestone maintain their hopes for September footy.  The venue holds no fear for Sydney who have won their last three here, although intriguingly they have not played the Bombers here since 2018 where they lost.  Just think those injuries and the continued absence of Draper will give the advantage to the Swans here.

 

 

Charddy Sippers (22%) vs The Inferno (78%)

Port lose Scott Lycett for a showdown replaced by second gamer Dante Visentini – a big ask up against Riley O’Brien, he will need great support from Dixon and Finlayson.  For the Crows Izak delivered last week only to be cut down with a hamstring injury late in the game.  They look poor on the form ladder, however two of the four losses were at the MCG by less than a kick to top four sides – and they love a showdown.  A win would keep them in the hunt for a finals berth and put the home qualifying final for Port at risk.  Port have lost two in a row now – have they been found out?  Not sure about that but interesting that both Carlton and Collingwood made Allir accountable which stretched the defence.  Reckon Kenny will have that covered and a plan to get them home for Connor Rozee’s 100thgame another from the select 2018 draft.  (As was Bailey Smith)

 

 

What’s the Point (39%) vs Stolen (61%)

The Hawks just could not hold on against the Tigers last week, while St Kilda trailed the Roos till late but were able to get themselves over the line.  The Saints get the benefit of a Hawthorn home game at their home ground and need the win to keep ahead of the chasing pack.  Hawthorn will rue last week’s lost opportunity and will be feisty, however the Saints have too much on the line and should make good use of the fixture anomaly.

 

 

Mini Me (29%) vs Shaken Up (71%)

Andrew McQualter is making a great case to get the role at Tigerland.  Or is he the beneficiary of a mature playing group able to adapt and solve problems on the ground?  Perhaps a combination of both, but like Collingwood this group believes no deficit is insurmountable as shown last week against Hawthorn.  What has proved insurmountable is Melbourne the last three times they have met.  The injury to Bailey Fritsch has provided Jake Melksham the chance to play a more important role up forward – he has taken it with aplomb and critical in their last three wins.  The Tigers are a dangerous opponent however if Melbourne are a top four side they get through this one.

 

 

Who’s Number One? (31%) vs Jack Rings ze Bell (69%)

Is it the Harley Reed Cup?  Not sure but no matter the result suspect the Eagles have the Wooden Spoon wrapped up even with a win here as their percentage is so poor.  For the Roos Jack Ziebell will close out his career at the end of the season, what a heart and soul player he has been for the club.  Is he the Shinboner of The Century thus far?  They were competitive last week and will be better for the return of Jye Simpkin.  Reckon they might get a couple of games clear and get one on the board for Ratts before the messiah returns.

 

 

Friar Time

A great win for the Seniors last week against South Melbourne Districts keeping the top four in reach.  The reserves went under in their encounter while the Women fought hard against one of the top sides in Power House but eventually succumbed.  The Threes were handed a week off by the opposition.  Friar Park is the venue for the seniors and reserves against Parade, while thirds head towards the zoo to face UHSVU and the women to Albert Park against the Jackas where a win is vital to stay in touch with the four.

Go Blues, Go Friars,

Cheers, Sal

 

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