Round 6 – Sal’s Preview: How does 10 fit into 8?
Greetings All,
The gathering is over and now set for Adelaide for another three years, as far as taking the game to the struggling locations this is a backward step. However for SA tax payer they are spending money to get their locals a leg up, there has been enough written around the greater inequities introduced by the Gather Round. Equity has never been on the regimes agenda and unlikely to change. According to a learned accomplice what is has done is accentuated the advantage of finishing top four. Teams with distinct home ground advantages often filling these prime positions – in reality there is little to be done about that. However a different finals model could make it fairer and throw a couple of “wild cards” into the mix.
The suggestion is to bring the AFL finals series into line with other play off finals around the globe (or to be more specific the US). Lose and your gone! Bring in a final 10 – with week one featuring 7 v 10 and 8 v 9 playing for the right to meet in the quarter finals the following week and 1st thru 6th having a week off (getting rid of the stupid pre finals bye). With the highest ranked winner taking the 7th seed position and the other winner taking 8th. From their it just becomes knock out with a massive quarter final week as per the chart.
A couple of other benefits and points are:
- It solves the current anomaly where if games go to script the top team plays the fourth team in the qualifying final but the meets the higher rated third team in the incorrectly named preliminary final. It might also relieve some of the pain from his Eagles beating Hawthorn in the 2015 Qualifying Final only then to fall to them in the Main Event.
- Remove the end of season bye
- Still the same number of finals games.
- Taking 2016 aside it brings 5th and 6th into the frame as genuine contenders
Who gets in the top eighth this year will be shaped by a few matches this weekend.
Nothing Amiss ($1.85) vs Lobbster on the Menu ($2.16)
A couple of handy contributions from Jye Amiss not only helped the Dockers get over the Suns but further emphasised his talent. His Dockers get to host the Bulldogs who come armed with enemy number one Rory Lobb – we know the Perth crowd loves a good boo – sadly for them Rory cannot be described as a high possession player. Although he has had some key ones this year. The Dogs are Ok on the road but just think Fremantle with Darcy and Jackson starting to team up will be too good.
Oh Lord ($1.09) vs If the Shuey Fits ($11.00)
With Big Charlie injured Kenny gives the opportunity for some footy royalty to make his debut. Ollie Lord is the Grandson of Brownlow Medallist and Premiership Player for Geelong Alistair Lord. Pretty handy playing at home against the banged up Eagles who at least Luke Shuey back into the line up. Eagles still missing too many so this goes to Port.
Don’t Pay the Perryman ($3.50) vs Worth a Zac ($1.39)
The price to pay to get Harry Perryman in the team is a suspension to their workhorse Tom Green – can he get them to the other side? Not sure, they take on the Lions in Canberra who will be celebrating the 100th game of Zac Bailey. Might not get a lot of touches but he certainly makes them count. Some heroics got the Giants over the Hawks – doubt they will be close enough against Brisbane.
Premiers ($1.45) vs Vanquished ($3.10)
Not sure whether Sydney would prefer to return the scene of the crime or watch the ignominy of the Cats raising the Flag at the Cattery. The venue holds no fears for them winning the 5 from 6 there but doubt they had the same personnel issues they are dealing with this week.. Geelong also have a few out but not nearly as critical and will reinvoke some nightmares for Longmire.
Launceston ($3.85) vs Dawson’s Creek ($1.33)
The Hawks get to host Adelaide in Launceston, the Crows are playing great footy and being led wonderfully by Jordan Dawson. The Swans knew what they were losing, his kicking skills are exquisite although the Blues did not really get near him to test them out under pressure. Might be a bit more this week but plenty of other Crows are going just as well and they will get over the Hawks.
A Bit Saad ($2.16) vs Steeling ($1.84)
A massive encounter in the Loungeroom while the MCG is unused, the Saints and Blues are both pulling big crowds, this venue is the wrong one. On the game itself the return of Jack Steele is great for the Saints who almost strangled the Pies to death last week. They will be at it again against the Blues who were simply turgid last week and need to respond. That will be a challenge with the loss of Adam Saad and doubt must will remain over McGovern – the injury list is not getting shorter. They were horribly exposed for lack of pace last week, St Kilda have no shortage. There is also a lack of class in the Blues defense without Saad, Docherty and McGovern who are the key distributors. Voss will have a plan against the Saints and the Blues need to rebound, but just think the gaps have been exposed and St Kilda have enough ammunition to punch through them.
Hard to Swallow ($1.27) vs 24 Carat ($4.40)
What a player Todd Goldstein has been for the Roos as he reaches 300 games – a bit of a shame it’s at the Manson and not at his home ground. The Roos have had plenty challenge for his spot, but without fuss he always has shown to be their best option. He will have a tough task should Jarrod Witts come back for the Suns, his presence last week probably wins the game for the Suns. They are tough to beat at home so going with the Suns.
A Bit of Leverage ($1.35) vs Who’s your Pappy? ($3.65)
The Demons have a couple of big ins with Gawn and Lever who will certainly make a difference to a team that just could not withstand the Bombers effort and enthusiasm last week. They take on the Tiges who got their own touch up particularly from Tom Papley booting six against them. Injuries remain a key issue for Dimma with none of their key players returning this week. Expect Melbourne to win their third Anzac Eve encounter in a row.
McGone ($1.55) vs Deestroyers ($2.76)
The Pies can ill afford to lose too many talls but Dan McStay will be missing from the ANZAC day clash as will Taylor Adams and Nathan Murphy. Their biggest challenge against Essendon will be how to counter the ruck dominance of Draper and Phillips who simply stretched Melbourne’s talls beyond breaking point last week, they will be missing Zach Merrett. The Pies have adapted well to missing Cameron and Cox and suspect they will have plan to thwart the Ruck dominance of Essendon. Just not sure it will be quite enough and reckon the Bombers might hold sway.
Go Friars, Go Blues,
And we did get the Quaddie last week!
Cheers, Sal
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