The 2020 Jeff Beck Cup – Round 14

Greetings Tipsters

 

The last of the bye rounds this week, next week returns to what passes for normal in 2020, nine rounds per ‘weekend’ even if the football weekend runs for two or three days longer than what most of us are used to. And so to the last week of mid-season reviews…

 

Adelaide, sixteenth. The Crows haven’t had much to brag about this year. The wins have been nothing special, some of the losses have been crushingly embarassing. It’s been all downhill since the Powerstance. Oddly enough, Fleshtones released an album by that name in ’96 and toured (seemed like they’d taken up residence) Australia on the back of it. Your correspondent caught their act several times, one of the very best rock and roll shows I have been fortunate to witness.
L L L L W L L W L W L W L
981, 1128, 86.87, 16

 

Footscray, ninth. Dogs had a shocking start to the season. They picked things up since but a couple of bad defeats early have left them with a poor percentage. The run and grunt has returned, leading to a few meritorious wins, if they can navigate the tricky shoals of the next month may yet make the finals. Which, as enny fule no, is a whole new season.
L W L L L W W W W L W L W
1004, 1038, 96.72, 28

 

Gold Coast, thirteenth. The Schoolies have been competitive this season. The youngsters are playing like an enthusiastic team, they ran Cats preety close at Kardinia Park in Round Two and have been getting better each week. There’s even a decent hint that Cararra may be developing into something of a fortress.
L L L L W L W L L L W W W
980, 1135, 86.34, 20

 

GWS, first. If you’re going to have a mid-season slump, the mid-season is the best time to have it. Monaros got off to a flying start and haven’t lost to a top six team but have been beaten by mid ranking teams and scraped past the lower ranked in the last month. Maybe the fishing trip they were reported to be taking this weekend will refresh the psychological juices.
W W W W W W D W L W W W L
1237, 982, 125.97, 42

 

Hawthorn, fourteenth. A mixed bag, Mayblooms, starting well before falling in a heap for a little while, then dragging themselves back out of it a bit. Questions remain over some of tneir recruiting tho the recent draftees are looking the goods and no-one’s game to knock ‘Bundy’ Clarkson’s coaching nous.
W W W L L L L L W W L L L
948, 1135, 83.52, 20

 

North Melbourne, eighth. Shinboners are playing better than expected, aside from a lack of goals, a couple more here and there could have had them pushing at the Top Four. They’re great at restricting the oppo, Shaw has them running and tackling and working at the coalface. That’s the nature of modern football, stop the other mob, then think about goals. Kinda makes one pine for Blight’s Cats…
W L W W W L L W W L L L W
997, 1008, 98.91, 28

 

Unless you’re a Geelong fan who had to endure losing four Big ‘Uns in seven years just as Confucian Mick was changing the style of the match. Back then, Mad Mal worked on the basis that no matter how many goals the oppo kicked, you would just kick more. Mick approached the game from the contrary direction – I always suspected that his preferred winning score would be 0.1.1 to 0.0.0.

 

Swans hosted Magpies Thursnite, a match Mick would’ve enjoyed, a knock-down, drag-em-out battle of attrition. Franklin did his hammy early in the second after a great first term on the wing. Thereafter, the 4&20s midfield squeezed the space around the Bloods who lacked the skills to respond. Still, just ten points in it at the last break. Collingwood 12.11.83, Sydney 9.9.63.

 

Up at the Gabba, the Lions brought the Fuschias run of wins to a shuddering halt. The break was probably worse for the visitors than for any other team, interrupting the confidence they’d developed over several weeks. At times they reverted to the worst of the early season form and Lions pounced on mistakes and picked them apart. Brisbane 15.12.102, Melbourne 10.7.67.

 

Rutten enjoyed the usual ‘new coach’ effect when Bombers fought and scrapped their way to a win against an over-confident Saints. Hardly one for the history books, when you break a drought it doesn’t matter if it’s pretty. Essendon 10.15.75, St Kilda 7.17.59.

 

Wharfies gave some relief to their long-suffering fans with a fairly flashy win over a bunch of determined young Blues. Fremantle 14.15.99, Carlton 12.9.81

 

Port surprised most everyone with a reasonably classy win over a Cats team that ran around the field as if there were two balls in play and they couldn’t get a touch on either. Port Adelaide 12.14.86, Geelong 9.11.65.

 

Sunday arvo at the home of football, Eagles very nearly got away with a win against Tigers. Surprisingly for two allegedly good teams, it was a sloppy affair, both at times looking like they were playing for draft picks. Ten minutes into the last, the visitors picked up the pace a bit and got within a kick before the home team did likewise. Richmond 13.16.94, West Coast 11.14.80.

 

Cheers Tipsters

 

P&C, a Stop Privatisation Of Football Production, a division of Trans-Dementia Inc
Brought to you with the assistance of Dave Brubeck’s Greatest Hits.

 

Ladder
GW – 1237 – 982 – 125.97 – 42
Ri – 1224 – 1060 – 115.47 – 42
WC – 1199 – 1010 – 118.71 – 40
Co – 1155 – 997 – 115.85 – 36
Br – 1170 – 1048 – 111.64 – 32
Ge – 1145 – 1031 – 111.06 – 32
SK – 1076 – 1035 – 103.96 – 28
NM – 997 – 1008 – 98.91 – 28
Fo – 1004 – 1038 – 96.72 – 28
Sy – 1067 – 1033 – 103.29 – 24
Me – 1046 – 1036 – 100.97 – 24
PA – 1031 – 1051 – 98.10 – 20
GC – 980 – 1135 – 86.34 – 20
Ha – 948 – 1135 – 83.52 – 20
Fr – 927 – 1052 – 88.12 – 16
Ad – 981 – 1128 – 86.97 – 16
Ca – 1012 – 1153 – 87.77 – 12
Es – 833 – 1143 – 72.88 – 8

 

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About Earl O'Neill

Freelance gardener, I've thousands of books, thousands of records, one fast motorcycle and one gorgeous smart funny sexy woman. Life's pretty darn neat.

Comments

  1. How did the great Dave Brubeck morph into Jeff Beck? Think I prefer the dreamy jazz of DB.
    Where is your brain telecast Earl? I’m sick of the rubbish on Fox and #7.

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