Round 7 – Sal’s Preview: The Nineteenth Team

Greetings All,

With the announcement imminent of a team to be based out of Tasmania, plenty of questions need to asked and answered especially after James Sicily gave an honest opinion but has been lambasted by the spin doctors.  Like it or not living in Tasmania will be a factor and how it is addressed one of the key determinators of its success.  The view from the new franchise perspective being that they can’t retain players because of location and appetite for AFL.  Not sure the location argument holds true, but the lack of AFL appetite in the area could be closer to a factor.  Lack of AFL appetite will not be a factor in Tasmania, despite the best efforts of the custodians to destroy grass roots footy there.  The balance the location discussion perhaps compare it also with Geelong, or as commonly known “Sleepy Hollow”.

Not sure the town can be fairly described as sleepy now, the footy club is a destination club.  It’s not just Dangerfield and Cameron to consider, plenty more have made the lifestyle choice and moved to the Cats – plenty more non-footballers have too.  There is much also to be said of the lifestyle in Tassie – with one of the considered readers here heading down to play footy but still has not returned home 30+ years later.  The reality is likely to be somewhere in between the Geelong and new franchise experience – probably not calling it a franchise might help!

The question of where the players will come from is another.  Clearly the AFL will provide a leg up with existing clubs forced to unload some baggage, this will provide some short term help.  Draft concessions, extra picks and the like will get them young talent.  Not a great time for those currently in the rebuild phase who are banking on early picks to help them rise up the table.  Ultimately though there needs to be more local Tassie talent available in the draft and through their own academy, right now footy in Tassie has its challenges.  The extra $9M given to the players for one extra game this year would have been much better spent building footy back up in Tasmania, extra investment is needed.

As for the stadium – just don’t build another Loungeroom.  If you are going to have a roof, make sure you can play with it open.  Surely the Gather Round needs to go to Tassie at the first opportunity.  Overall this is the right move to make a national competition from a state that has a rich history in the game.  This week’s teams will be dedicated to players from the island state who have played for the clubs, the glaring omissions will be Brent Crosswell and Ian Stewart.  Crosswell played for three clubs winning premierships at Carlton and North Melbourne.  One of the great joys of Hobart is having the odd “Tiger Sighting”.  While Stewie was part of the St Kilda flag and then another at Tigerland.

 

Darryl Baldock ($1.50) vs Tim Evans ($2.60)

OK so “The Doc” is easy but some may be confused by Evans but the Port supporters won’t.  Tim Evans did play for Geelong after being recruited from Penguin, subsequently moved to Port in the SANFL playing 230 Games and booting 993 goals.  Anyway on to this game the inclusion of Dixon will be critical especially with the loss of Todd Marshall, however the bigger question will be how can they get through the Lyon’s Mane to get it to Charlie.  The Blues were suffocated last week, Kenny will know that there has to be some risk taken in order to get through whether the players can commit to doing so the question.  As for the Saints – they have plenty on the sidelines but are very stable  with the fewest numbers of players used by any team this season.  Makes it easy when there is no-one to drop on form, a nice problem to have!  Just think the Saints have the Loungeroom furnished to their liking and will have the edge.

 

Alistair Lynch ($1.14) vs Alex Pearce ($5.80)

The Lions have put a solid three wins together while Freo are spluttering – their only victories at home against both Coasts.  That form is not good enough to threaten at the Gabba.

 

Laurie Nash Cresswell ($1.29) vs Tim Mohr ($3.60)

The Sydney teams go head to head on a Saturday afternoon, not really giving them prime time but should be an interesting clash at the SCG.  Sydney get Buddy back and are further benefited that one of his recent nemesis’ Sam Taylor is out for GWS, Tom McCartin’s return also bolsters their defence.  While their defence is undermanned the Swans bigger failing last week was in the midfield, they were missing no-one and were torched in there.  Their opponents have similar issues and lose one beast for another with Callum Ward out suspended while Tom Green comes back from suspension.  Expect that Sydney midfield to respond and be too strong on their home ground.

 

Simon Atkins ($1.22) vs “Huddo” ($4.30)

The Dogs were magnificent in the West and return to the comfort of the loungeroom to host the Hawks.  The loss of Libba would usually present an issue, however while Hawthorn will be improved with the return of Lewis and Day they are still a work in progress.

 

Ray Biffin ($1.06) vs Hugh Greenwood ($9.00)

The Demons take on one of the part time Tassie teams in North.  Clarkson’s comments this week about playing more youngsters just needs to happen, incredible they fielded the 5th most experienced team last week.  Won’t matter this week – it could get ugly.

 

Trent Nicholls ($4.50) vs Tony Pickett ($1.20)

Not many Taswegians have been Eagles!  They host the Blues who have them this week after another poor showing last week.  Getting Saad and Docherty back early from injury is good news and should resolve the lack of dare off the backline, however are their inclusions premature and out of desperation?  Deserved on their profligacy in front of goal and especially Harry McKay, the issue is not new and the Blues have been poor in this area for years.  With Harry in particular he plays on instinct and emotion – there needs to be better coaching and leadership around him.  Fortunately for the Blues West Coast have more injury woes than them but do get the services of Shannon Hurn back.  They have enough weapons in attack to threaten and Carlton are not great starters in many games, however at their best the Blues should be too strong.

 

Robert Shaw ($2.85) vs Robert Neal ($1.43)

The Country Game where that well known rural outfit Essendon host Geelong in the middle of a major city!  Unfortunately for the Bombers the Cats have their groove back and we saw what a team in groove can do to them on Tuesday!  They were good up until ¾ time and have only been beaten by the two top sides.  The Cats have licked their opposition in the last three but were all pretty much to par – even the Swans given their missing personnel.  It give Essendon some hope but Geelong have the Cameron advantage and not sure he can be covered.

 

Royce Hart ($1.42) vs Lachie Weller ($2.90)

The Tigers get to host the Suns in the Loungeroom a situation that annoys both clubs.  We know Richmond want every game at the G, the Suns want more experience at the G.  They only get one game a season there!  Onto the match, the Tigers could not hang on against the Demons but despite missing key players the system kept them in it for a long way.  That system should be good enough to get over the Suns.

 

Chayce Jones ($2.25) vs John Greening ($1.65)

Can you tag Nick Daicos?  He has gone to another level this year – it helps that there are plenty around him that also need attention.  How will Adelaide approach the problem?  Being at home and in their current form I suspect they will back themselves and take them on head to head.  Will they be good enough – their skills are clean and exceptional by foot, but Pie pressure is another level can it stand up?  Down back they are solid and work well together, the Pies are similar up forward they rely on relentless supply which they are getting.  At the other end Collingwood have the means to lock down Taylor and Fogarty but really don’t worry about their opponents they just go forward and rely on outnumbering the opposition at the first opportunity.  They rely on calculated risk they the outnumber will win more often than not – and so far they are right.  These interceptions provide all that extra supply and just think that might enough to win this despite being at Adelaide Oval.

 

Go Blues, Go Friars

Cheers, Sal

 

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Comments

  1. Love your previews Sal. Compulsory reading – in fact the only pre-game media I bother with. (Saints should be good things – impressive against the Pies – and Port were very ordinary against my Eagles in the couple of games I’ve seen in the flesh the last few weeks).
    Your introduction around the Tassie AFL side is thoughtful. I have no problems with Tassie, but 19 teams is just a bridge too far (so was 18 – 16 the sweet spot). Oversaturation of content diminishing quality and long term fan interest is a problem for sport internationally. The marketing kids at the top of leagues are ruining cricket, golf and many aspects of soccer.
    In time fans turn off outside of the premium contests and advertiser interest/$’s wane. As we are finding with interest rates and the cost/value of money – nothing is a one way street forever. Gillon knows when to get out at the top of the media market.

  2. Ian Wilson says

    you hit the nail on the head Sal with the junior development in Tas. I lived and coached in Tas for 4 years and the AFL ran the local competitions, north and south into the ground. They would want to correct that ASAP and get an academy worth it’s salt in order to have locals ready in a few years and not rely on mainland discards . The other factor that has always inhibited the growth of the game is the Campbelltown divide between the Hatfields and McCoys which is very real unfortunately. I would have thought a sexy stadium could have waited while there are 2 perfectly fit for use stadiums and a billion dollars spent on housing and jobs would be a priority. If 20k seats is all that will watch the games then fill the 2 X stadiums for a few years and create the demand then build something sexy?

  3. Daryl Schramm says

    Agree with PB about your previews Sal (but I think I’ve told you that before). My main focus here is the Tassie discussion. I posted on a FB feed on ABC Sport today among 2.5K others on “Hobart, we have a problem …”
    I don’t normally do this, but one in hundred comments addressed the article intelligently enough to encourage me. I’ll re-state my post here.
    “In response to the more serious thoughts, the following needs consideration.
    1. Comparing Hobart/TAS with other metro/states is pure folly. SA, WA, Vic, NSW all have a greater percentage of population living in capital cities. Qld is 50/50 Brisbane and regions. TAS, more than half state’s population live outside Hobart.
    2. The AFL have screwed Tasmanian football for years and are now doing the same by insisting on a new stadium. For football’s sake, first, rectify years of neglect in Tas by reinstating a VFL side immediately, and support it, and grassroots footy, rigorously.
    3. Consider building a new town/city, centrally located in Tas, with accessible transport for all, and around a new stadium at that location.
    The possibilities . . . .
    A central hub for transport, sports, entertainment, government, housing etc in due course. Perfect for a state where (1) parochialism abounds, (2) footy was once very strong, and (3) clearly defined populous regions exist.”
    There is so much more, but in trying to keep it brief for FB it’s the best I could do. Thank you Sal for the lead in.

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