Sal’s Round 7 Preview – Aaah Queensland, perfect one day, footy the next

Greetings All,

 

All locked away at home now as Victorian clubs and their families flee to the new home of footy in the north.  Plenty of other newsworthy items from the week.  The Hardwick crack at Sydney was interesting given that his club won two of the last three flags built around having the extra man in defence.  Reckon Sydney did a mighty job to stay in the game given their personnel challenges.

 

The discussion around Hawthorn coaching aroused my interest.  While Clarko is 15 years into the job, it is only 15 years and the great coaches careers span much longer than that.  If he wants to coach Hawthorn, I am sure the love affair is mutual and consenting whether it is through a rebuild or a retooling.  The bigger question is what should the club do?  For the premiership years and beyond, it has sourced the talent it needed from free agency to “complete” its list, there are questions as to whether that is sustainable now.

 

The Hawks do have home grown talent despite the lack of premium draft picks with the likes of Sicily and Worpel.  The issue being from last week’s team, 11 of the 22 came from other clubs and some of them brought into the Hawks on the promise prosperity.  Can they afford to take the slide of a rebuild for those players?  Jeff might not like the talk of rebuild, it sounds a bit like another brash president a few years ago.  His club is still rebuilding!

 

Dandy Andy ($2.10) vs Vo Rogue ($1.90)

 

A match race of contrasting profiles opens the weekend.  The Pies like to open up a lead and say ‘catch me if you can’ as did the great Vo Rogue in his prime.  Their challenge is maintaining the pace with 41% of their scoring in the opening quarter.  The Cats don’t mind the pace on early as they go through their gears running over the top of the opposition as game wears on, scoring over 60% of their totals in the second half.  They fell just short against the Blues but could they do a Dandy Andy in the Australian Cup in 1988?  Not sure they will be 125-1!  Tough to call but reckon the Pies might just hang on.

 

Watch Bruce go the early crow in one the classic boil overs of the turf. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=17&v=FNPSLuR0Hwc&feature=emb_logo

 

Truckin’ Along ($2.00) vs Feeling Blue ($1.99)

 

The Bombers have been favoured with the draw but they have the Pies’ scalp, they have been very solid in defence ranked 3rd for points conceded.  Perhaps the Ben Rutton influence is coming to the fore.  The Dogs will test that.  The Blues got hold of them late but suspect they will take plenty from that game, especially the need to adapt away from the comfort of the lounge room.  Ignore last week’s game and the Dogs would be well favoured here and think that is the way this one will go.

 

Warded Off ($1.85) vs Cat Gutted ($2.10)

 

The Giants will be missing a key part of the engine with Callan Ward out for a few weeks.  Leaves plenty to make up for a spluttering engine room supposedly made up of high performance parts.  The likes of Coniglio, Kelly, Greene and Whitfield are just not winning the ball where they need to.  The return of Taranto will be crucial but ultimately they need to move the footy.  That is not the issue for Brisbane who just could not match it with the Cats and Dangerfield last week.  Expect them to be better for longer this week.  I don’t trust the Giants but they are at home and reckon they might find some mojo.

 

Wounded Ducks ($2.26) vs Paying Their Dews ($1.78)

 

Gone early but I reckon the Suns giving Stuart Dew a couple more years is a wise move. His boys head to the SCG where John Longmire will be scrounging to get a team on the park.  Final selection will be determined on who the Swans can get back on the park, so for now I reckon the Suns might have them.

 

Boo Hoo ($1.63) vs Unshaw ($2.50)

 

Not sure Dimma’s sook will turn out to be the wisest move as there will be some surety that Rhyce Shaw will deploy similar tactics this week.  His problem is that his own forwards are not providing enough of a contest to be able to counter the Richmond ‘Plus One’.  That often the ‘Number One, who is highly creative in setting up Tiger forays forward.  It might not be pretty but reckon the Tigers are functioning well enough to win this one.

 

Dog Catchers ($3.10) vs Giant Killers ($1.46)

 

The Carlton bandwagon is loaded with the team in the eight for the first time in many years.  The reality is they have a 50-50 record and have not had a positive win-loss position since 2016 (they lost next 10) and the time before that in 2013.  Great to watch last week, great test this week against the pacesetters in Port.  No argument about the Port credentials after their last two wins.  Not sure I trust the Blues consistency so going with the leaders, look out for the wagon if I am wrong!

 

Wake Up Jeff ($1.76) vs Sun Downers ($2.26)

 

Jeff could be excused for nodding with the style of play his Hawks are going with, tactically smart for the team they have but just not watchable.  Currently ranked 13th for points scored and particularly poor away from the MCG which they will be for a while now.  They face the Demons who released the pressure valve with a good win over the Suns with a more even contribution across the game from Petracca despite the mulligan in the goal square.  Not sure it will be eye candy but expect the structured Hawks to make life too difficult for Melbourne.

 

Purple Haze ($3.70) vs The Corporation ($1.35)

 

It’s Derby Day in Perth and 30,000 lucky souls will get to be there.  Magnificent effort from the Dockers to reel in the Saints, all the better missing their key ruckman and their skipper hobbled sitting in the forward line.  Expect Darcy will miss again and there must be doubt on Fyfe even if he does play.  The Eagles do not have such issues, have found some form and should get on the plus side of the ledger.  And be very dangerous from here on in.

 

Bird Noises ($3.15) vs Saints ($1.44)

 

Adelaide get back home and, should they lose this one, crow calls will reverberate around Adelaide Oval.  They face the Saints who have their own demons to face after playing the best opening quarter of footy for the season and then succumbing to the Dockers.  Reckon Ratts will sort out the fade out and get them back playing quickly and aggressively again and run the Crows off their legs.

 

Track Time

 

After another wet day at Caulfield last week, we return to headquarters with a dry sunny day forecast but still a rain affected track with morning dew and cold temperatures not giving it a chance to dry out.  Not sure about a punt in the opener, will be following Bumper Blast (R1, #4) who loves the track and C Williams rides him well.  1000m might be too short.  Proper Rogue (R2, #4) has never finished out of the top two and the Price/Kent stable are on fire, want a fair price though with a couple of handy opponents.  Alcyone (R3, #1) is still a maiden but ran inside a length to the impressive Cherry Tortoni looks well in here – not sure he should be in the tomato sauce though.  Tough in the next and looking to bottom with the claims, Beauty Bolt (R4, #8) fits the profile and C Rawiller going beautifully too.  Alfarris (R5, #4) couldn’t quite knock off the English import last start but backing him to beat the German, he just happens to be French.

 

Right You Are (R6, #1) will be in the quaddie but reckon the 62kg is a big ask, happier to be with the stablemate Over the Sky (R6, #15).  96 weeks between runs is a question mark but first up O’Brien/Oliver – Orderofthegarter (R7, #3) will go around with some of mine in a pretty tough race.  No easier in the next so sticking with the same combination and Plein Ciel (R8, #2).  Like backing the outside down the straight in the last and Orleans Rock (R8, #11) is drawn their and has a huge finish.

 

Quaddie

 

Leg 1 – 1, 2, 6, 15

Leg 2 – 1, 3, 5, 6, 7

Leg 3 – 2, 3, 5, 7, 9

Leg 4 – 5, 11, 17

 

 

Go Blues,

 

Cheers, Sal

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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Comments

  1. Daryl Schramm says

    Enjoyed the video. Looks like Vo Rogue got to turn the tables last night. Did Bruce go early again? I was watching train docos on SBS.

  2. Sal Ciardulli says

    Yes Daryl – Dandy Andy was hobbled in the first furlong

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