Greeting All,
After plenty of fixture bashing in recent times, this week is one they have almost got right! Playing all the cross-town derbies on a single weekend is a great set up. While the fixturing might be good the scheduling is not so. The Sydney clash has so much riding on it but goes up against another game on a Friday night. The free to air broadcaster will go with the Bombers-Bulldogs game everywhere except Sydney, it is a game of little consequence to most of AFL followers. If we are fair dinkum about being a national game this would be switched. Then we have a game between a pair of finals aspirants from Queensland in the early Saturday slot, surely deserving one which would get a greater audience. Out west they are appropriately placed in the twilight zone give the disparity between the teams at the moment but would have thought the Sunday late slot would have suited their fan bases. At least the Showdown seems to have been locked to a primetime slot, just a shame that it won’t be on FTA around the country.
Just waiting for the new man at the helm to provide his thoughts on the current fixturing issues.
It’s a Melbourne match up that kicks us off.
Any Day Now (93%) vs The Doctor Going (7%)
The Hawks welcome back Will Day but at the cost of Finn Maginness who suffered a nasty injury last week, we trust he can recover fully and quickly. Apart from that the Hawks are fit and healthy at the right time of the season. They take on the Blues who have been any but healthy all year but do get Harry McKay back. They have also kicked off Retirement Time, with Sam Docherty to play his final game this week. He will finish with 184 games, suspect he might have been a 300 gamer if not for the injuries and illness he has endured. A “heart and soul” player to be celebrated for is exploits on and off the field. It overshadows another milestone with Jacob Weitering playing game 200. They go into this game with some positivity after a win over the Dees, the Hawks are a different proposition who ripped them apart at about the same time last year. Would hope the Blues show a bit more resilience this year but expect the Hawks to have too many guns.
Prior Opportunity (0.3%) vs Life Sentence (99.7%)
The Bombers injury list has given plenty of the list a chance to show their wares at the top level, many for the first time, for Jaxon Prior it is new colours after being squeezed out of the Lions. His Bombers host the Dogs this week who are cock-a-hoop after gaining commitment from Marcus Bontempelli that he will finish his career with them. Doubt the Bulldogs defensive deficiencies will present a problem this week and they should put in another percentage booster.
Sprung a Leek (%) vs It’s Academic (%)
With Sam Taylor likely to come in for the Giants, does Leek Aleer make way? Suspect most recruiters will be watching with interest. Suspect he will make way but purely due to the makeup of the Swans forward line and not needing three tall defenders. We had the delight to watch the sublime skills of Isaac Heeney last week. Surely the poster boy for the northern academies, without the Swans academy he was probably playing Rugby League last week. The maths still gives the Sydney some hope to make finals, but every game is an elimination bout. They have developed an advantage over the Giants winning the last five encounters. This is a great match up and worthy on primetime on the main network, just think the Swans can maintain their advantage over the upstarts.
A Dimma View (30%) vs Where There’s a Will (70%)
Much has been made of the disappointing performance from the Suns last week. In reality, if Adelaide get hold of you on their dung hill it’s going to be a tough day. The bigger concern though is the lack of depth being exposed by the injury toll. Collins, Miller and now Rioli will really test the stocks. Especially against the Lions who like Sydney have a good stranglehold over their cross-town rivals. Will Ashcroft plays his 50th game this week. The first fifty is usually the apprenticeship, he is already one of the best in the competition. Just think the injuries will take their toll and Lions to prevail.
Voss Cocky (99.7%) vs Tiger Tucker (0.3%)
A huge effort from the Dockers last week, they had already won a couple on the road but beating Collingwood at the G stamps their credentials. Patrick Voss showing his capability and smarts to boot six. They host the Eagles who succumbed meekly to Richmond in a game they should have been up for! Maybe they were waiting for the Derby? More likely waiting for Round 24 to be over!
Saturday Night Souva? (2%) vs Purring (98%)
The Roos hope to get Nick Larkey back for the clash against the Cats. Could help a little but Geelong is just purring their way to September.
Second Cumming (96%) vs Flightless (4%)
A couple of milestones for the Crows with both players beginning their careers in Sydney. Isaac Coming reaches 100 games while their inspirational leader Jordan Dawson reaches 150, no wonder Sydney fought so hard to keep him. On form they should just be too good for Port. However, these games regularly throw up unexpected results – Kenny’s last showdown adding some extra spice. Port might not be flying anywhere in September, but they would love nothing more than to disrupt Adelaide’s plans. Just think it will be too hard without Horne-Francis and possibly Rozee.
The Faull Guy (1%) vs In LimBeau (99%)
Jonty Faull was already showing great signs but has gone up a notch filling the void left by Tom Lynch. Can only be good for Tigers who demolished the Eagles last week to display their progress. A different test against the Pies. They have dropped their last two in close games, expect them to bounce back despite losing a key player in Beau McCreery. What an important cog he has become in the Collingwood engine.
Nasiah (48%) vs Kysaiah (52%)
Two of the leagues best young talents face off this weekend, one of them will be playing for the same club next year the other we a not so sure. Pickett kept his Demons in the game last week playing midfield and bursting forward. He has fast become the Demons second most important player, still just giving it to Max. Wanganeen-Milera is the Saints most important player and gone up notch since going into the midfield. Have St Kilda snookered themselves in chasing other players and putting him at risk? We won’t know this week – do expect him to lead his team to a win.
Go Blues,
Cheers, Sal
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