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Aye, 'tis time again for those of you with an iota of interest in the AFL to become jibbering wrecks in anticipation of my insightful, unbiased, fair and equitable reports of the preceding weekend's games.  However, I will not be able (probably) to provide any comments for the first three or four rounds as I'm about to set off on my wee dander over a couple of wee hills in South America, some refer to as The Andes.  So, I will have to rely on the questionable fairness of others who partake on a regular basis on this thread. 

Here are my predictions for the 2017 season.
(1) Fremantle will not be as bad as last season - having half the team out through injury was the reason.
(2) Sydney will be in the Grand Final (at least), though I hope I'm wrong.
(3) Fremantle will be in the top 8.
(4) The trash down the road will be mediocre at best - the obituaries are already being written as their "There is no I in team but there is ME" greatest ever player from Fiji, via Midvale Perth, is injured.
(5) Carlton will finish bottom
(6) Gold Coast will not make finals
(7) Fremantle's Nat Fyfe will win the Brownlow medal
(8) Geelong will make the top 4, and have secured the services of Mr. Tuohy
...

And with that it's time to start the countdown clock

7 days to go. 

Freo will definitely improve - bottom half of the 8 I predict. Sydney will be top 4 but the noisy neighbours at GWS have as good a chance as any of taking out the flag.

The Eagles might be missing Naitanui to start with but Mitchell will give them some structure in the middle alongside Priddis - they will be neck and neck with your boys.

North Melbourne will sink like a stone in a continuation of their form in the second half of last year. Essendon will start slowly as they get their old and new players working in combinations properly but will be decent later in the year. And Collingwood and Richmond will massively disappoint their fans as is customary.

With the midfielder's medal (aka Brownlow) voted on by clueless umpires it is a bit of a lottery. Fyfe, if he comes back well from his injuries, is a fair chance, but my money would be on Josh Kennedy (the Sydney one).

GWS for the flag.  They have been building towards it for a number of years now.  The bombers to be the years surprise package. Some serious talent in there like hurley and hepell with a point to prove.

Mitchell at WC will make them contenders, he's that good and Hawthorn with realise it.  Big Roughead back and o meara and Tom Mitchell in the midfield mean the Hawks will be competitive but not on the same level as previous years. 

As for the Brownlow, Fyfe will be in the mix but if Danger field plays like he did last year a repeat medal is likely. The biggest risk to him is Selwood stealing votes from him.

Bring it on

Well round 1 was an odd mix. Sydney, GWS, Hawthorn all beaten and the Bulldogs run closer than they would have thought.

The new ruck rules with the third man up banned will have a big influence on the season. Genuine top draw ruckmen will be able to give their midfield first use of the ball much more often than in the past. It is one of the gaps we have at Sydney with a number of ruckmen but no one really top class.

Deliberate out of bounds rule is also as random as ever. Some very odd calls already.

Quote from: An Astrail on March 28, 2017, 03:40:53 AM
Well round 1 was an odd mix. Sydney, GWS, Hawthorn all beaten and the Bulldogs run closer than they would have thought.

The new ruck rules with the third man up banned will have a big influence on the season. Genuine top draw ruckmen will be able to give their midfield first use of the ball much more often than in the past. It is one of the gaps we have at Sydney with a number of ruckmen but no one really top class.

Deliberate out of bounds rule is also as random as ever. Some very odd calls already.

Yeah some strange results. West Coast very impressive as were Essendon. Should be a good season!

Went to the Swans vs Collingwood game last night, the swans were brutal, Collingwood destroyed them in the 1st 2 quarters, ruthlessly .

Not a hope in hell the swans will be anywhere near the top of the table this season.

Aerlik must still be celebrating after Freo beat the reigning premiers Bulldogs.
Elsewhere, Hawks are rock bottom after 3 losses from 3 after getting a trimming from no-hopers Gold Coast. Sydney were poor in losing by a point at home to Collingwood.

My tip for the flag, Adelaide have continued to impress with a derby win which leaves them top of the table on with three wins, while Richmond are this year's North Melbourne after a good start, although they have only beaten West Coast (who don't travel), Collingwood and Carlton. Geelong are the other unbeaten team after beating Melbourne.

A young Brisbane Lions team again battled well for three quarters before tailing away to lose by 31points to St Kilda in what was almost a carbon copy of last weeks loss to Essendon.
Essendon themselves lost to Carlton - I haven't seen any of this but was a very low scoring affair, finishing 57-42.
Lastly, GWS had a regulation win against North Melbourne in Tasmania

So only Sydney, Hawthorn and North Melbourne are winless now, while Richmond are undefeated. Clearly the Russians are interfering with the results here.

Collingwood only dominated for the first 20 mins and didn't win a quarter after that - but that was enough. A number of key Swans are out of form but all credit to the pressure from the Pies. Sydney now have to take on West Coast then GWS so could be 0-5 in a couple of weeks.

Hawthorn looked terrible against a team that are supposed to be sunk already.
Brisbane put the effort in but if St Kilda had kicked straight they would have been out of sight long before- 14.23 to 11.10.
The Essendon-Carlton game was played in pouring rain which accounts for the low score - Carlton were 3.10 at half time so accuracy in the conditions kept it close.

Didn't expect Hawthorn to be as poor as they have been and Richmond looking very good. Expect the Swans to start to come back up the ladder soon but all in all a strange start to the season

I'm back.

Yes, a wee 3-week dander on a motorbike over the Atacama Desert, The Salar de Uyuni, the road from Uyuni to Potosi (the best motorcycling road I've EVER been on), onto La Paz where the driving makes Perth drivers (and Swatragh women in Ladas) appear good, then to Cusco and finally to Machu Picchu has come to an end.  And what did I miss?  Well, fekkall as Freo were shite the first two games, according to mini me.  However, the lads found out is was my 50th. last Friday and so helped me celebrate on Machu Picchu by beating the Premiers!  Now the beer flowed in Cusco with that result.  So, normal service shall resume after this weekend's games. 

Just finished watching Geelong hammer the Hawks in the MCG and if they had their shooting boots on it could have been over at qtr time. 134 - 48 the final score. Geelong are sitting pretty on top with 4 wins, not many would have predicted thay the winless Hawks would be bottom.

Elsewhere Adelaide and Richmond remained unbeaten by dispatching Essendon and Brisbane by nearly 120points combined, while Sydney and North Melbourne remain winless after losses to West Coast and the Bulldogs respectively, although North were impressive and unlucky to lose by3 points.

Fremantle backed up a superb win last week with a 2 point victory over Melbourne, GWS are tracking OK with a 31 point victory over Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and St Kilda scored upsets over Carlton and Collingwood.

Pearce Hanley picked up an injury playing for the Gold Coast NEAFL side

Just watched the Hawks game and can't believe how poor they are up front.  Gunston, Rioli and Breust are a shadow of the players they have been for the last few years and the lack of (the real) Mitchell in midfield means Roughed is spending too much time out there and there is minimal creativity.


Swans and Hawks on zero after 4. Never would have thought it

Finally, five days of footy have come to an end.  And with it is some interesting outcomes so, here it is, my ever fair view of the weekend's proceedings.

Themmuns 91-65 Sydney Swans
I sat down on Holy Thursday to a plethora of excuses from the incredibly biased Channel 7 Perth commentators telling anyone who would listen that the poor eagles only had a 5-day turnaround before facing the might of the Swans - who were minus several of their key players, I might add.
Well, if the Swans had kicked straight in the first 15 minutes the game would've been over (pretty much).  As it was the infidel started kicking past their midfield and as often happens when you do so, you score.  Then you score again...and again.  Suffice to say the game was not the best of the weekend and the Swans have now dropped to second bottow with 0-4 win/loss record.  Worrying times ahead especially when you consider they play the Giants next week in the Sydney derby and that does not augur well...not a bit.    Of course, the Perth media has themmuns as flag favourites (as usual).  Pfffft.

Footscray 89-86 North Melbourne
I left at the end of the first quarter to go to Good Friday Mass and the game was pretty even, if a tad boring.  Feeling inspired by the commemoration of the sacrifice made for us by the good Lord, I came home with Mini-me and managed to get the last 15 minutes of the last quarter.  Well, what a game it had been (apparently).  Anyways, it was a real ding-dong affair and had Lyndsay Thomas kicked straight with the very last kick of the game it would've been a most deserved yet unlikely victory for the Roos.  As it transpired, the bulldogs held on.  Worrying times at North as they are now propping up the table with Sydney and Hawthorn on a 0-4 win/loss record.  And to make matters worse they now have to come to Perth next Saturday to face the formidable...(drum roll)...

Fremantle 106-104 Melbourne
What a game.  Best of the round.  What a turnaround for the royalty in two short weeks.  From being trounced by Port Adelaide by 89 points in R2 with the usual suspects masquerading as experts lining up baying for the head of the coach, the boys have had two very good wins to leave them just outside the top 8 on percentage (ahem considerably out but that's another matter - why can't we play Carlton or Hawthorn or Sydney this weekend?)
I watched the game with Mini-me and it was inspiring to see the efforts of the youngsters.  The last 5 mins are worth the entrance fee along.  Seven unanswered goals in the third quarter had Freo in the driving seat and in order to keep the MCG faithful from leaving too early, Freo let them back in the game before a last minute toe-poke from Cam McCarthy got us over the line. 
There are lots to be very optimistic about this year.  But I will not get too confident.  :P

GWS 112-81 Port Adelaide
I was keeping an eye on this game with the AFL app.  Port were right in it up to the last quarter before the Giants put her in overdrive and pulled away.   Looking pretty damned formidable at this stage but it is early days yet.  And they haven't played Freo (cough)  Giants are now 4-0 for the season.

Gold Coast 108-82 Carlton
Well, that is the last bloody time I'm tipping Carlton this year.  Let me down big time.  I didn't see any of the game but according to match reports on-line, I didn't miss anything.

Adelaide 153-88 Essendon
According to the Essendon coach, Worsfold, the pharmacist who knew nothing of the off-field behaviour of themmuns players in the 00s, the bombers have hit a wall in the season.  Well, it must be the Great Wall of China cos they were shite.  Big day for Walker and the wonderful Eddie Betts who kicked 11 between them.  Betts is some operator.  Check out his accuracy from the forward and half-forward pockets.  A week on from yet another incident where racism has raised its ugly head in Australian society, he had the perfect answer.

St. Kilda 69-55 Collingwood
More shite from the magpies and a great game for the neutral (read I-hope-Saints-win) to watch.  Some of the decision making in the pies midfield was schoolboy stuff.  The axe is starting to swing I feel for Nathan Buckley, the pies coach.   Both Collingwood and Essendon play next Tuesday in the ANZAC Day blockbuster at a heaving MCG (without Conor McKenna who is suspended) and the loser may as well rack the cue for the season.

Richmond 119-67 Brisbane.
Yep, Brisbane are still shite.  Richmond are now 4-0 for the first time in over 20 years but they haven't exactly played much quality opposition.   Great goal though from Whinger-in-chief Jack Riewoldt.

Geelong 134-48 FLAWthorn
Gawd this was tedious to watch.  The Hawks were miserable throughout the park and made the Geelong midfield look great (which, admittedly it is).  Hawks are 0-4 while the Cats are 4-0.  A couple of sessions of handbags and a smack on the chops for Luke Hodge were the highlights.  I'm not condoning the hit but the same boyo was fairly handy with the elbows himself.  Karma, that old devil. 

So, there you go.  As unbiased and as fair as you've come to expect.  An interesting weekend ahead where there is the potential for the bottom three teams, Sydney, Roos and Hawks to go 0-5.  That would mean the end of my prediction for Swans to reach the GF. 

The structure across the field is all wrong for the Swans - a lot of ball going through the middle into congestion resulting in turnovers. Although the young players coming in are performing well in their own right there is no cohesion as a team. But this week Rohan, Tippett, McVeigh and Heeney are all available. It will be a tough game against GWS (who are 3-1 rather than 4-0) but I think the Swans will perform a fair bit better this week.

Melbourne should have buried Freo after their first half but they still have that weakness to teams that get on the roll - the 3rd quarter killed them. But Freo would have given up at half time last year so good signs that they pushed on. Should be to good for North this week. The Dees might be the team to break the Richmond run this week.

Hawthorn will have it tough against the Eagles and might well go down again. That said, WCE on the road are rarely the same as WCE in Perth.

Elsewhere the Cats will be too good for St Kilda, the Crows will beat the Gold Coast, and the Bulldogs should be able to beat Brisbane. Carlton are unlikely to get up against Port Adelaide but the Power aren't that solid for me.

The Anzac Day game is always an impressive spectacle but I doubt the actual football will live up to it. I can't say I care too much who wins but it would be good for Collingwood to get just enough wins to hang on to Buckley as coach so let's say go Pies for this one.

Round Five

Port Adelaide 137 – 47 Carlton
What garbage.  What utter garbage to put on as a "prime time" game on the much coveted Friday night TV spot.  What the AFL was thinking is beyond me.  How they can justify having a membership of Carlton superseding the viewing population of the country is beyond me.  But then again, this is the AFL we are dealing with where it is strictly forbidden to criticise on-field officials (and indeed anyone involved in the financial juggernaut that is that organisation.)
What is there to talk about in this game?  Nothing.  Port were just way to strong all over.  And my criticism is not aimed at Port in any way.  I recorded the game with a view to watching it later.  I started to watch the first quarter.  After fifteen minutes I had stopped and deleted the whole thing.  Crap!

Footscray 122 – 90 Brisbane
On the other hand, this game was only televised in Melbourne and Brisbane.  It was a clinker.  I began to listen on the car wireless as it was just to bloody exciting. Up until a few minutes into the final quarter Brisbane were leading but were eventually overrun by the experience of the Bulldogs and the win was a fitting tribute to the 300-game hero of the Bulldogs, Robert Murphy.  He is a great player.
The Lions led by 32 points at half time but a 12 goals to 2 fight back was enough to get the Bulldogs over the line.  Now, whilst the Bulldogs were the sentimental underdogs in the Grand Final last year and everyone bar any Sydney fans was barracking for them, there would've been a fair few thinking the same way in this game had the Lions won.  Good signs at Brisbane, but can it be sustained.

Adelaide 153 – 86 Gold Coast
The signs are ominous for the rest of the competition.  Not that Gold Coast is that bad; it's just that the Crows are looking bloody awesome and invincible.  I didn't see the game but the reports and the highlights reel shows a team that is not only winning, but winning very convincingly.  A sense of foreboding descends....

Greater Western Sydney 105 – 63 Sydney
The prefix "greater" is quite apt, I feel.  They are certainly the greater team in Sydney, turning a four-goal salvo from the Swans in the opening few minutes into a five goal lead with nine unanswered goals in the rest of the first half. 
I'm not sure if it is a case that the Swans were actually THAT bad, moreso that the GIANTS were THAT good.  Even the 800th. career goal for Lance Franklin was eclipsed by the clinical finishing of the Giants.  Now all is left for this team is to win a Grand Final and perhaps the AFL's aim of chewing into the NRL heartland of western suburbs Sydney will be complete.  It's already looking like either one of three clubs for this year's title.  For the Swans the 0-5 record is its worst in over two decades.  There goes my prediction of the Swans as premiers.  I'm not disappointed.

Geelong 126 – 88 St. Kilda
This game, in many ways, replicated the Footscray-Brisbane game last weekend.  The Saints were more than a match of the Cats and were leading at three-quarter time before an 8 goals to 1 final from the Cats overran a young, but certainly up-and-coming Saints team.  That win has left the Cats, Crows and Tigers sitting pretty on top of the AFL ladder with 5 wins and no losses.   Zac Tuohy has done well to leave Carlton.  In fact, any team would've been better than Carlton.  Well, any team except one....

Hawthorn 125 – 75 The trash
That team being themmuns.  Oh how I enjoyed watching this game (even though I stupidly tipped them to beat the winless Hawks; I'll learn...perhaps.)  Before the game there was a lot of huff and puff about how great the Eagles were and how the hoodoo that is the MCG would be broken.  Well, that was one of the worst performances I have seen on a TV screen stretching back to the 2015 Grand Final.  Oh wait, that rings a bell. 
Great to see Roughead score his 500th. career goal in light of what he has been through in the past 2 years. Oh, and look out for Cyril Rioli's mark.  That boy can jump.
Now of course the excuses are starting in anticipation of the Western Derby to be played in Perth next Saturday.  It's an Eagles home game and I wasn't going to bother going having been offered tickets.  I think I just might go now.

Richmond 88 – 75 Melbourne
What a great spectacle this game was even if I was a wee bit disappointed the Demons lost.  They have been decimated early in the season with injuries to key players especially their two giant ruck men, one of whom along with two others got injured in this game.  Eventually the tigers prevailed and overran the demons in a great game with over 85,000 in attendance.  Six goals from Whinger-in-chief Jack Riewoldt was really the difference between the two teams. A fully fit 22 Demons would've won, I have no doubt.

Essendon100 – 82 Collingwood
Another great game to watch, and it was close right up to the last 10 minutes or so.  Again over 85,000 were at this game (the now traditional ANZAC Day game at the MCG).  The knives are out for Nathan Buckley (he with the face of a boxer – and we're not talking Ali).  Such is the pressure of being coach at the biggest club in the country.  For the Bombers, the drug scandal seems to have been put behind them and they are starting to string some good form together. 

Which leaves me with one game ...
FREMANTLE 67 – 62 North Melbourne
For 90 minutes I endured sitting in my seat cringing at what I was seeing.  The shittiest of shite refereeing, diving players (we're talking about 6'9" ruckmen (actually only one - the other was 7ft tall) falling like they had been shot when challenging for a ball, and getting rewarded for it) and Freo missing the target that even I would've hit.  And then it happened.  If you are going to watch any game, try and watch the last two minutes of this game.  It was pandemonium.  The Roos were leading from practically the start of the second quarter.  In fact Freo hadn't kicked a goal from the 13th. minute of the first quarter up to the 14th. minute of the third quarter and were trailing by 29 points at that stage.  Five goals in the remaining time when we couldn't kick one in the interim?  Not even the eternal optimists sitting near me held out any hope for us.
Up stepped Brady Grey to kick an impossible goal from a set shot waaaay out on the boundary.  The die was cast.  With two minutes to go, Freo were down by 7 and it was not looking good, but along came Michael Johnson unmarked from the half back line (what the hell he was doing up that far forward I will never know) to collect a spill from the back of a contest to drill the ball through the goal.  1 point in it with 1'58 on the clock.  Suddenly the eternal optimists were chirping again.  And then it happened.
With about 45 seconds left, Shane Kersten collected a ball out on the right and lobbed a shot over his left shoulder. We all stopped breathing...the ball bounced in front of the goals and through it went.  Fcuk me the place went crazy.  It was the best end to a game I've ever been at.  It was mental in the stands.  That is the third game in a row where Freo have come from behind to win at the death.    There is a new belief and confidence in the young players which, hopefully, will carry us forward to greater things.
For North, it's 0-5 but it must be said they are not a bad team and they are sure to get over the line soon. 

So, the western derby this weekend.  Well, it's going to be fun.  Among the unwashed themmuns supporters.  I've got the chloroform ready. ;)

Watched the anzac day game and hawks vs West Coast.  Hawks looked like a different team and rioli was a joy to watch.  His bounce nutmeg on an eagle back was fantastic. Great to see Roughead getting to 500 goals.

Bombers looked really good against the pies. Daniher and Fantasia were excellent. They could give a lot of teams problems this year

I see Young Mc Kenna playing for Essendon tonight.  He's turned into a strong athlete.

Round Six

Greater Western Sydney 75 - 73 Footscray
Now this WAS what a proper Friday night nationally-televised game should be.  It had everything from great scores, shite umpiring (more on that later) and suspensions resulting from gulpins smacking fellas on the chops.  It was edge-of-your-seat stuff, even for the neutral and  I was happy to see the Giants win as I'd tipped them.  People are forecasting these to be the Grand Finalists this year, but I can tell you which team definitely WON'T be playing in the GF...

St. Kilda 130 - 55 Hawthorn
I didn't see any of this game and by all accounts unless you were a Saints fan, you didn't miss much.  Not even the absence of Cyril Rioli could be used as an excuse.  Saints were just too bloody good all over the park, with the mercurial Nick Riewoldt (cousin of the AFL's biggest gurner from Richmond) helping himself to four goals.  St. Nick just keeps going and with the pressure of captaincy no longer on his mighty shoulders the fella is having a great season.  (Got a bit of a soft spot for the Saints).

Carlton 97 - 78 Sydney
Guess which other team will NOT be playing in the GF?  Actually you don't need to try too hard.  This is the first time in the history of the AFL/VFL that a previous year's GF team recorded a first six game loss the following season.  And there are many who aren't displeased, mainly because Sydney built its formidable success on the back of huge privileges from the AFL, attracting (among others) two of the biggest names in the comp in Franklin and Tippett to multi-year multi-million dollar deals recently.  I listened to this game on the wireless and the roar of the Carlton faithful for every goal was sensational.   The wireless commentators were drowned out.  Sydney are firmly anchored at the bottom of the ladder after this.  Great to see an old Freo boy, Alex Silvagni, having a good season.  He'll always be a crowd favourite at Freo. 

Port Adelaide 150 - 67 Brisbane
Dear God, last week the Lions were running Geelong close before being overwhelmed in the last 20 or so minutes.  This week they were back to being, well, shite again.  And I mean shite.  Don't even bother watching the hightlights.   Yep, that bad.

North Melbourne 107 – 94 Gold Coast Suns
Finally the Roos have won a game this season to rise up above Sydney.  But not before having to deal with another mercurial genius of the game, Gary Ablett Jr.  I didn't see or hear any of the game but by all accounts the little maestro (if you call 6ft. little) had a sensational game and almost did the business singlehandedly. 

Themmuns (a few more than us) – 62 Fremantle
Yep, not happy.  Not even remotely happy.  Shite umpiring won the game for the trash in the first quarter. Simple as that.  Cannot for the life of me fathom what the umpires were thinking.  But I suppose when you appoint a themmuns season ticket holder as the principal referee, you have to expect severe bias.  And then for the totally biased WA media to suggest that (a) Nathan Fyfe was going to get suspended for pushing the Trash actor (yep really painful to watch...in fact more painful to watch than the alleged "strike" he was purported to have received on his chop; indeed, he deserves a slap from his captain for the bollixing around he did on the ground - made Ronaldo look like Vinnie Jones), and (b) start up stupid rumours that Fyfe was going to Saints next season when everyone knows he's a restricted free agent with all that implies.    Well, I cannot wait for next weekend when we play the other drug cheats, Essendon, and the most infamous drug cheats, aka themmuns, play my second team, Port Adelaide. (In through the nose...hold....hold....hold...out through the mouth...)

Melbourne 112 – 74 Essendon
Whilst I tipped the bombers to win, I was still happy to see the demons get up in this game.  They have been riddled by injuries to key players coupled with suspensions and the death of Jesse Hogan's father, so for them to win this one especially after losing to the Tigers the way they did and Essendon's great win over the pies on ANZAC day was great to see.  I didn't see any of the game but the much maligned former no.1 draft pick Jack Watts was drafted back into the ruck and still managed to kick four goals.  (Now why can't Sandilands do that?  Oh, did I say that out loud?)

Collingwood 107 – 78 Geelong.
I initially thought when I saw the TV schedule that once again the TV companies got it wrong, anticipating a right good hammering for the pies.  I'm pleased to say I was wrong.  This game started at the start of the second half of mini-me's first game of the season so I was forever keeping tabs on the progress score on my phone.    However, I got home in time to see from the latter part of the third quarter.  It was great viewing and whilst I'm not as rabidly anti-Collingwood these days I wouldn't have begrudged the Cats another come-from-behind win.  As it was I was actually secretly cheering on the pies as they held on to record their second and definitely best win of the season so far.  The Cats' midfielders were well contained by the sheer tenacity and imagination of the Pies players.  The last ten minutes were really interesting as the Cats did all they could to get close on the scoreboard but in the end the pies resilience in the face of such pressure was commendable. 

Adelaide 140 – 64 Richmond
Deemed the game of the round between the only two unbeaten teams thus far this season, it was just that until the start of the second quarter.  Thereafter the crows just changed gear into top and blew the Tigers away.  Now the only unbeaten team in the comp, the Crows are looking even more ominous than they were last week.  And, woe betide any team that thinks they can just batter their way past this lot.  Simply formidable.    I'm looking forward to seeing the Crows against the Cats and the Giants and that will give us some indication of where the Premiership is going to end up this season.  My prediction of the Swans in the final is shot, but I still stick by my suggestion that the Crows are going to be the team this year.

Righto, well, it was a round of shocks and disappointment and "quelle surprise(s)".  Crows 6-0, Swans 0-6, Freo 3-3.  Could be worse I suppose.

Tippett is not on as much as you think - my understanding is that his contract was very heavily front-loaded to prevent him being picked up in the draft by someone else, and taking advantage of a large number of retirements and delistings that year. He's not cheap but is definitely not a Bondi millionaire. Buddy definitely is on the big bucks and his contract is middle-loaded (biggest dollars in this year and the next two). But he wouldn't be on a whole lot more than Ablett, Cameron or Fyfe.

Sydney is in the middle of a rebuild with 9/22 players on Saturday having less than 50 games and most of those not close to that. They are not setting up around the field the way they have in the past few seasons and that's creating a lot of pressure that should be avoided and increasing the error rate. That will come with experience. That said they were very poor at times against Carlton and the run of losses seems to be getting into their heads.

The first half of Melbourne-Essendon was some of the worst football I have seen in a long time. You missed nothing there except an exercise in turning the ball over from kicks. It did pick up after the long break though and was a decent contest until the Demons pulled away. On the other hand the first quarter of Adelaide Richmond was lovely to watch and the Crows just maintained that intensity and quality of four quarters. They deserve to be clear at the top as the only team that hasn't looked fallible for a second so far this year.

Round Seven – The round of shocks...big shocks.

St. Kilda 108 – 85 GWS Giants
This was another great Friday night game for the neutral to watch.  It had everything especially the final quarter come from behind win by the Saints.  The Giants will be licking their wounds and the injuries are starting to mount.  Their cause was not helped by the suspension given to Green for smacking the opposition player the week before.  If you're going to do that don't do it in front of a national audience with the ball in the other player's hands.  Nice to see the Saints quietly making their way up into the Top 8 where I have no reason to doubt they'll remain.

North Melbourne 145 – 86 Adelaide
The last remaining unbeaten record was obliterated in incredible fashion by the dominant 'roos in this game.  Read this carefully; first quarter score North Melbourne 10-4 (64) Adelaide ZERO (0).  You read that correctly.  Adelaide failed to score in the first quarter.  Thereafter it was nothing more than a damage limitation exercise for the Crows.  And Eddie Betts kicked his 500th. career goal.  Jarrod Waite capped off a great performance of six goals by getting suspended for belting a Crow player.  Why, oh why would you?  Suddenly the media vultures (some refer to them as reporters, even fewer suggest journalists) are hailing the downfall of the Crows.  I consider this a mere blip.

Carlton 79 – 56 Collingwood
If there is one game a Carlton fan does not like to lose it is this one and after years in the doldrums the Navy Blues fan are getting the Listerine ready and the strepsils on stand by as they are beginning to crow again.  This was the game to mark 125 years of the Collingwood Footy Club but it was a flop.  They were insipid at best and but for the efforts of a small handful of players it could've been even more embarrassing.  To rub salt into the wound, Dale Thomas the ex-Pie premiership player of 2010 who jumped ship a few seasons ago to follow his beloved Mick Malthouse to Carlton, scored the cheekiest goal of the game, selling a perfect dummy before a couple of bounces and kicking the goal.  Oh the toothless ones were not happy.
On a sad note for Collingwood, their 1954 Premiership Captain, Lou Richards, passed away on Monday.  Anyone who was in Australia and watched the Sunday Footy show would be familiar with him.  Funny bloke.  RIP.

Themmuns 97 – 87 Port Adelaide
Not happy.  Port totally dominated this game but couldn't hit a bull's arse with a barn door.  Jaysus it was frustrating, made all the more so but the crowing of the budgies about how they are genuine premiership contenders.  And without Not-a-cluey.  Well the rest of the teams might as well hoist their white flags now.  I watched the second half and thought the Power would get the win such was their dominance around the ground but they just couldn't bloody score goals.  Fekkers are playing the Bulldogs on Friday night here in Perth.  It'll be heard to live with them.

 
Gold Coast 124 – 99 Geelong
A couple of former Freo players were in opposition tonight with Michael Barlow and Sam Menegola lining out for the Suns and Cats respectively.  The former had the last laugh including scoring a great "banana" kick from the forward pocket.  Menegola didn't do so bad bagging three goals. 
This was a game that early season form suggested would result in a Cats win.  Well the Cats only led for a brief few minutes in the first quarter, thereafter it was all Suns.  Ablett was his usual mercurial magic, kicking a superb goal on the run from the edge of the 50m arc on the boundary.  This is just so hard to do, but then again, it is Gary Ablett we are talking about.  Quite night for Tuohy.

Footscray 80 – 75 Richmond
The new deliberate out of bounds rule was the main focus after this game.  A umpiring decision deep in the bulldogs' defensive pocket in the last minute is all the talk as it allowed the bulldogs to gain possession and clear the ball away after relentless Tigers' pressure. 
This was another clinker game to watch.  The composure and control of the Bulldogs in the final quarter was fantastic and was all the talk at Mini-me's game the next day.  At one stage Footscray were 26 points down in the first quarter but you don't become premiers by giving up that readily.  The final quarter was just superb.

Sydney 135 – 81 Brisbane
Finally the Swans won a game.  In fact they were never behind in this game.  Franklin kicked eight goals.  Nothing much else to report here.  I'm still optimistic that the Swans will make the finals if they can get all their injured stars out on the paddock.

Hawthorn 94 – 91 Melbourne
Oooooh so close for Melbourne.  I didn't see the game but was following the scores on-line.  Had they won this game they would have found themselves safely in the Top 8.  As it was the experience of the Hawks held out for a much needed second win for the season.

Fremantle 116 – 79 Essendon
Happy!
I had two reasons for wanting us to win this one.  Firstly Freo were up against the druglord Worsfold's disgraced team of drug cheats, and secondly there was a Tyrone hoor playing for them.  I dunno which was the worser.  A quick Bombers start had Freo on the back foot and they led by 27 points, but a strategical change saw Connor Blakely start to tag Zac Merrett and the game swung dramatically in Freo's favour.  Four great goals from big full forward Matt "ooh-aah" Taberner  and a brace from McCarthy and Kersten along with sterling efforts from Brad Hill and Lachie Neale were the difference.  Nat Fyfe was his usual sublime best despite the often questionable efforts of the Bombers players to shackle him.  Freo have now equalled last year's total games won.  Little wonder I stopped writing.    A quiet game from McKenna but I have to say the fella is built like a bloody tank.  He'll be some asset to the bushmen when/if he returns to Gaelic Football.

So, there you are – another incredible weekend of AFL games.  Interestingly every team lower on the ladder than their opponent heading into round seven emerged victorious for the first time in an eighteen-team competition.  It wrecked my tipping only managing three correct.  But some fella in Perth bet $10 on the nine winners and pocketed $41,000.  Nice work.

All the best to Mark O'Connor on his dayboooo for Geelong tomorrow.  Some achievement only joining last October, playing 4 reserves games and getting the nod for the seniors.  Thank fekk they're not playing Freo.

Who's Hanley playing with these days? Gold coast? Is he injured or what?

He's with Gold Coast Suns playing in the engine room with the superb Gary Abblett Jr.  Also in that area is one of my favourite players and ex-Freo favourite, Michael Barlow.

Cheers aerlik

Cian Hanley is still at the lions. He was due to make his debut for the NEAFL side a few weeks ago but this was when he had to go gimme due to the death of his brother, Tommy.

Pearce is currently injured

ROUND EIGHT – ONE TO BE REMEMBERED

Sorry about the delay, folks, but it has been one helluva round of footy.  So hang on to your tae n sangas.  Any Richmond fans on here?

Themmuns 69 – 61 Footscray
Jaysus this was not the standard we were expecting of (a) the premiers, Footscray, and (b) themmuns who think no other team exists and they are just wonderful.  Well they were just pretty bloody average in this game.  Had the bulldogs kicked a bit straighter then we'd have been listening the crickets and watching the tumbleweeds down Hay St. Subiaco.  As it is, the extremely pro-themmuns meeja are ranting and raving about Top 4 this, Grand Final that...blah, blah, blah.  Yep, average at best.

Hawthorn 113-75 Brisbane
Even more mediocre shite from the Lions.  Oh dear there is a long, long rebuild in store at the Gabba.  I didn't even bother watching the highlights.  Seems I haven't missed much.

St. Kilda 85-66 Carlton
If you look at the scoring chart of this game it was a real see-saw affair.  Saints led a quarter time, and the Blues dragged it back to only 4 points at half time.  Then the Saints pushed in the third before the Blues came back at them again to lead at the start of the final quarter.  In the end the self belief of the Saints was enough to will them over the line with a bit to spare.  The Saints resurgence continues.

GWS 102-99 Collingwood
I suggest you watch the highlights of this game.  It was fekkin class.  With the exception of the first quarter when the Pies had 26 point lead the game evolved into another great ding-dong battle.  And just when the Pies thought they had it won, up stepped Stevie Johnson.  Go on, watch those highlights.  And tell me that you don't feel just a wee bit sorry for the Pies.  God, I'm getting mellow in my old age.

Essendon 110 – 93 Geelong
Not the best start to his professional career for Kerry's Mark O'Connor.  Indeed, the final score pays an unjustified compliment to the  Cats to be honest.  It was only then that they woke up and started playing.  They were abysmal up to that point as the Bombers were just ruthless.  Some great scores and a fair afternoon's work from bushman McKenna.  Cats boss Chris Scott said he was disgusted with his team's efforts.  Fair call.  Essendon have a wee man called Anthony McDonald-Tipinwuti, from the Top End.  Just a great player to watch. But don't be holding the ball when he's around.
Melbourne 107 – 66 Adelaide
For the second week in a row I have to tell you to read that again and I have to confirm that that scoreline is correct.  A twelve goals to three second half from the Demons blew the Crows out of the park.  It was sensational stuff.   Unfortunately we in WA didn't see this game but we were being treated to the Essendon massacre instead, so no issues there.  However the highlights reel made great viewing.  That's 39 goals the Crows have conceded in two games.  Massive.  Not as indestructible as some thought, after all.

Port Adelaide 114 – 38 Gold Coast
The history-making first AFL game for points to be played outside of Australasia (as the Saints have played gamed in New Zealand), this game was played in China.  Over 10,000 came to watch the game and a fair few were Port fans.  They'd be the only ones celebrating as the Suns were shite, kicking 4.14.  I didn't even bother to watch the highlights.

Sydney 120 – 78 North Melbourne
The two bottom teams went head to head and other than a few minutes in the first quarter the Roos were always trailing the Swans.  Suddenly the meeja are raving about the Swans revival.  I don't know. 

Fremantle 72 – 70 Richmond
If you've been following my obviously unbiased reports these past few weeks you'll have probably been thinking that I was on heart attack medication due to the way my team seemed to win games in the last minutes of the game, read v. Melbourne, v. North Melbourne, and come from behind wins v. Essendon etc.  Well, this tops the lot.  I might add that I was working so I did not see any of this game at all.
If you were a Freo fan, or even a Richmond fan for that matter, you'd be thinking that entering the last minute with Freo winning 66-64, the game was probably over and a win at the MCG was ours.  Oh no.  This is Freo and that is Richmond.  With 30 or so seconds left, Richmond snapped a fifth straight goal for the final quarter to drag themselves into the lead for the first time since the early minutes of the first quarter, 70-66.  Freo had put enormous pressure on the Tigers all over the park all day but decided to fall asleep in the last quarter and those five goals had revived the Tigers.  Surely it was all over now with only 21 seconds left.  From the centre bounce Sandilands provided the ball on a plate to the indomitable Lachie Neale who burst forward unchallenged before launching a perfect pass to the outrushing David Mundy.  He grabbed the ball about 30m out on a 45-degree angle.  Then the siren sounded.... Two years ago, Mundy kicked the winning goal against Richmond with a set shot from about 55 metres out.  Was history to repeat itself, kind of?  It certainly was.
Mr IceMan slotted the winning goal and there was bedlam on the pitch with the Freo players coming from all angles to celebrate a win they should've had by three quarter time but were, in the end, fortunate to get.  Oh well, who cares, a win is a win.  Jaysus I love my footy team, but it's probably a good thing I wasn't either there, or watching the game.  Anyone got a spare pacemaker lying around?  Go on, watch the last two minutes on the AFL highlights site.  You won't regret it.  Unless you're that Richmond fan I was asking about earlier.

Seen the GWS game, even when they were 31
Points down the tigers never looked in control,  serious serious match it was, great display by GWS.
Also seen Adelaide vs Brisvegas, Eddie Betts was outstanding for the crows, best player on the field .
I'm also dubious about the swans revival , they have a long way to go yet.

ROUND NINE (and the knives are being sharpened)

Geelong 104-81 Footscray
When the going gets tough...you know the rest.   After the inept effort the week before the Cats came out and made their intentions very clear.  Leading for most of the game they were behind at three-quarter time then came out in the final quarter and finished the game off, led by their hard-as-nails (but still a bloody thug) captain, Joel Selwood.  Seven majors in the final quarter was enough to see the Cats back on track and it was a good way to return to their home stadium for the first time this season after major construction work.  And Mark O'Connor got his first win but seemed out of place in the huddle in the rooms after the win and during the song.  Tuohy kicked a goal too.  He's having a pretty damned good season so far.  Trimming that stupid bloody beard must've helped.

Sydney 118 – 68 St.Kilda
Quite simply, a statement.  Of intent.  Twelve goalscorers (including four multiple scorers) and suddenly all those who were sharpening the knives for the Swans were back in the kitchen putting them away again.  This win was crucial for the Swans as a defeat would have pretty much ended any chance of finals this season.  But I will declare here that if they play like that for the rest of the season, they'll be in the Grand Final.  Watched the highlights only and some serious efforts all around.  Love him or hate him, if you give Buddy Franklin space up to sixty metres from goal and let him swing that left peg, you might as well just acknowledge that he is going to score. 

GWS 78-75 Richmond
Yep, they've done it again.  When it seemed that the Tigers had the game won they went and lost it in the last seconds.  Three points up with a minute to play, the Tigers gave away another last ditch goal for the second week on the trot by allowing GWS to play Route One footy, down the centre.  The goal that won it was a great kick on the run from the Giants' superb full-forward Jeremy Cameron.  That man is deadly in front of goals.  Head Coach Damian Hardwick has come in for some serious criticism for his declaration that he was proud of his players.  FFS, they've thrown away two games in two weeks that would've put them top of the table.  Proud?  Hmmmmm.  I would be fekkin livid if I was a Tigers' fan.

Adelaide 140 – 60 Brisbane
Nothing to see here, so move along.  Hanley's departure was indeed very timely.

Collingwood 90-72 Hawthorn
Now, there is one team that everyone loves to hate and that is Collingwood.  But I don't hate them, I just dislike them somewhat less than I hate the Eagles.  Well, in the first quarter and for about twenty minutes of the second quarter, even the Collingwood fans were stongly disliking their team as the boos rang out around the MCG.  By quarter time, the Pies had a solitary point on the board.  Yep, a single behind that in itself was fortunate.  The second quarter was looking equally as bleak and by half-time Collywobbles were 34 points down.  No-one knows what was said by the coach Nathan Buckley at half time but whatever it was it worked... brilliantly.  I even found myself sitting and willing the pies on – mainly because I had tipped them.  By three quarter time the sides were level with the Hawks in turn restricted to a solitary point for the third quarter.  The final margin was a fair reflection of the second half and the many toothless ones in the stands were once again lauding their heroes.  Buckley keeps his job for another week.

Essendon 125 – 64 Mummy's Boys ;D ;D ;D
Yep, that is how the Melbourne media are calling themmuns after one of the most enjoyably laughable efforts of the season.  They were shite.  Pure utter dung.  No need to go into detail but I left at half time to take mini-me to his club's game but was gloating on the sidelines in front of the Eagles fans who dared to wear their colours, and kept relaying the score to other Freo fans nearby.  Yep, the weekend was great.

North Melbourne 104 – 90 Melbourne
After their heroics in Adelaide the week before, this was seen as a formality for the Demons.  Except that you are expected to switch on before the game, not at quarter time and three quarter time.  This was a bad-tempered game with a few incidents leading to visits to the MRP but Melbourne had no answer for big Todd Goldstein in the ruck division (which is really costing Melbourne) or forward Ben Brown – he with the weird fekkin hair – who kicked five goals.  A win would've kept the Demons nicely in touch with the top 4 instead of being in 11th. spot.   
On a scary note, Melbourne star forward Jesse Hogan was only last week diagnosed with testicular cancer and fortunately got it treated in time.  Can happen to anyone, fellas, so get those nuts checked if you have ANY doubts.

Fremantle 86-51 Carlton
Not only did Caaaaaaaaaalton fly over to Perth, it seems they brought the notoriously unpredictable Melbourne (4 season in one day) weather with them.  It was awful and I got my arse soaked in the first quarter.  (Mini-me was later to find a great undercover spot elsewhere in the stand to watch the game so I was happier by that time.)  The boys must've still been asleep from the final quarter against Richmond the week before, because they sure as hell were sleeping in the first quarter of this game.  Anyhow, they woke up and began getting stuck into the Blues, in the end winning easily enough.  The weather spoiled the game as a spectacle but the performances of our two midfielders, Michael Walters and Lachie Neale were outstanding, closely followed by the grit of the other mids Blakely and Fyfe.  Not a great game but a win is a win, made all the sweeter by the efforts of themmuns earlier in the day.  Fifth spot on the ladder, and just outside the Top 4 on percentage.

Hawkswin over Sydney is an absolute cracker of a game. When they played last year they were 1&2 in the table.     For Two teams so low down the ladder this year, this game was a reminder of some of the class both teams still have. Fitting that in indigenous round Buddy was sensational for the swans as was Silk for the Hawks. Ultimately came down to Roughead goal in the last minute from 50.

Cats were pushed all the way by the power but scraped home in the Thursday night game.  As good as the cats are you wonder how they would cope with the loss of Selwood or Dangerfield for a few weeks. 

Quote from: TabClear on May 27, 2017, 07:29:37 PM
Hawkswin over Sydney is an absolute cracker of a game. When they played last year they were 1&2 in the table.     For Two teams so low down the ladder this year, this game was a reminder of some of the class both teams still have. Fitting that in indigenous round Buddy was sensational for the swans as was Silk for the Hawks. Ultimately came down to Roughead goal in the last minute from 50.

Cats were pushed all the way by the power but scraped home in the Thursday night game.  As good as the cats are you wonder how they would cope with the loss of Selwood or Dangerfield for a few weeks. 

Yeah Buddy ran the show for the Swans on Friday night, they are a different team from what they were a few weeks ago, a cracker of a game with the swans unlucky to not get anything out of that match.
The Essendon Vs Tigers game was another good one and my first chance to see young Mc Kenna in a full match & not just highlights, he had a good game, a wee bit raw but impressive nonetheless, his handling and distribution are 1st class

This season had thrown up major upsets practically every week. While the Swans beating the Bulldogs well might not be regarded as an upset most seasons it is this time.  Swans on their day can beat or be beaten by anyone.  Freo snapping brisbanes losing streak was a shock but the the if the round was 2nd bottom Carlton beating 2nd from top and flag favourites the Giants by a point. This game was great viewing for the neutral with a lot of end to end action.

Other notable result was Essendon handing Port a real hiding to nice into the top 8. Essendon have some real stars in Hurley, Fantasia, Tippet Woody and Daniher and if the likes of Hepple, Watson and Hooker continue to improve after t their enforced year of they could make a real impact in September. Connor McKenna was outstanding as well and got rave reviews. Great moment in the commentary where one of the local commentators said McKenna was from Northern England and was quickly (and sharply ) corrected by co-commentator Tadgh Kennelly

Quote from: TabClear on June 12, 2017, 09:44:39 PM
This season had thrown up major upsets practically every week. While the Swans beating the Bulldogs well might not be regarded as an upset most seasons it is this time.  Swans on their day can beat or be beaten by anyone.  Freo snapping brisbanes losing streak was a shock but the the if the round was 2nd bottom Carlton beating 2nd from top and flag favourites the Giants by a point. This game was great viewing for the neutral with a lot of end to end action.

Other notable result was Essendon handing Port a real hiding to nice into the top 8. Essendon have some real stars in Hurley, Fantasia, Tippet Woody and Daniher and if the likes of Hepple, Watson and Hooker continue to improve after t their enforced year of they could make a real impact in September. Connor McKenna was outstanding as well and got rave reviews. Great moment in the commentary where one of the local commentators said McKenna was from Northern England and was quickly (and sharply ) corrected by co-commentator Tadgh Kennelly

Correct.  This round in particular was shock after shock, beginning with Swans/ Western Bulldogs & ending  with Melbourne/ Pies game last night.
McKenna was in super form , I've seen him a few times this year and he is improving game by game, his handling in particular is outstanding.
On a seperate note is Kennellys accent becoming more annoying ? He seems to put a more "straya " 
Twang on when a microphone is put under his nose , maybe it's just my hearing.

Quote from: The Subbie on June 12, 2017, 11:16:48 PM

Quote from: TabClear on June 12, 2017, 09:44:39 PM
This season had thrown up major upsets practically every week. While the Swans beating the Bulldogs well might not be regarded as an upset most seasons it is this time.  Swans on their day can beat or be beaten by anyone.  Freo snapping brisbanes losing streak was a shock but the the if the round was 2nd bottom Carlton beating 2nd from top and flag favourites the Giants by a point. This game was great viewing for the neutral with a lot of end to end action.

Other notable result was Essendon handing Port a real hiding to nice into the top 8. Essendon have some real stars in Hurley, Fantasia, Tippet Woody and Daniher and if the likes of Hepple, Watson and Hooker continue to improve after t their enforced year of they could make a real impact in September. Connor McKenna was outstanding as well and got rave reviews. Great moment in the commentary where one of the local commentators said McKenna was from Northern England and was quickly (and sharply ) corrected by co-commentator Tadgh Kennelly

Correct.  This round in particular was shock after shock, beginning with Swans/ Western Bulldogs & ending  with Melbourne/ Pies game last night.
McKenna was in super form , I've seen him a few times this year and he is improving game by game, his handling in particular is outstanding.
On a seperate note is Kennellys accent becoming more annoying ? He seems to put a more "straya " 
Twang on when a microphone is put under his nose , maybe it's just my hearing.

Probably so they can understand him and also he has been there a long time now. Annoying how the Aussies can't understand our accent but we can understand them perfectly fine!

Firstly, thank you to the many who sent me emails, text messages, and for the phone calls, and flowers and chocolates.  Your concern for my absence was welcome.  I have had the diagnosis.  Win-itis, a condition brought on by your team's...ummmm....slump in form.  You'll get my drift.

Round Ten – Indigenous Round, a celebration of the contribution our indigenous players have made and are making to the game of Aussie Rules.

Geelong 81-79 Port Adelaide
When the going gets tough...well, it is often the big name player who wins the day and in Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong had precisely that.  A superb performance from the Brownlow medallist capped off by the winning goal in the last minute or so.  Tuohy had a very solid game and is having a great season.  But the game will be forever remembered as the Charlie Dixon debacle when the big man had a shot for goal with time running out.  However he forgot about the 30-second rule and got tackled before he could get his kick in.  Oh dear....

Hawthorn 81-75 Sydney
Talk about the big name player...step forward Jarrod Roughead.  This time last year he was battling the fight of his life against cancer so it was appropriate I suppose that the small matter of taking a kick for the winning goal in front of tens of thousands and millions more on TV was chicken feed.  And so it proved.  The ball never changed trajectory after it left his boot.  A sensational finish to a great game.  Dislike both teams but wouldn't have minded which team won after that game.

Western Bulldogs 90-50 St. Kilda
Oops the Saints are not flying as well as earlier in the season.  The bulldogs are ticking over.  Not a great game, I must say.

Melbourne 122-87 Gold Coast
Great win for the Demons.  Certainly much improved from the past 10 years.  God they were woeful.  Questions are being asked about the merits of both the Gold Coast as a playing unit and the boss, Rodney Eade.  Fair call.  They must be seething at the success of GWS.

Richmond 81-66 Essendon
Dreamtime at the G.  A celebration of Indigenous Culture at the home of the AFL.  However, I didn't see a single kick of the ball.  Richmond's best season for quite a while continues but the Bombers slipped up.

Adelaide A lot-A lot less Fremantle.
Don't want to even talk about it.  Shite, balderdash, garbage....oh, I should stop being so complimentary...I'm serious.

Collingwood 129-84 Brisbane.
Didn't see the game  but the win meant just a little less pressure on Buckley, the Collingwood coach.  Brisbane are still firmly anchored to the bottom. 

North Melbourne 113-96 Carlton
Another game I didn't see but it was a fair game according to the reports.  Still the roos are in average state and have been a monumental flop this season.  As for Caaaaaaalton, the shite continues.

GWS 98-90 Themmuns
Oh there is nothing as sweet as a Freo shocker followed by the Drug Kings stuffing up at home and throwing away a victory.  The game isn't over until it is.  Some need to learn that.

Week Eleven – Bye round

Port Adelaide 98 – 47 Hawthorn
What a difference a week makes.  This game was dire.  It was so bad.  It has to have been the worst prime time game of the season so far.  I actually switched off at half time.  Shite.

Geelong 96-74 Adelaide
Take a bow Zac Tuohy.  Great performance from the Laois maestro as he kept the usually brilliant Eddie Betts to a single goal and very little influence.  This was an enjoyable game to watch and you can't help thinking that providing they stay injury free, the Cats could be the business this year.

Gold Coast 80-77 Themmuns
Didn't I just say in the last round that the game isn't over until it is?  Hahahahahahahahaaaa, jaysus this was an enjoyable last five minutes to watch.  The rest of the game was dismal. 

Greater Western Sydney 117-101 Essendon
A gallant effort from the Bombers it has to be said.  But the Giants midfield was just too good.

Richmond 101-66 North Melbourne
While not one of the classic rivalries, these two have developed an healthy disrespect for each other, or at least as far as the fans go.  Didn't see the game...

Collingwood 105-85 Freo
...but I did see this.  Grrrrrr.  Not a happy chappy.  Week Two without our big ruckman and the midfield fell apart.  Not auguring well for the 2019 season onwards as the big man has signed on for one more season while he grooms our new ruck, the 6'9" 19 year-old Sean Darcy.  Wonder if he has Derry ancestry?  Could do with him in our midfield, too.  The game was interesting as it was close until the last 5 minutes but some abysmal kicking by Freo game the game to the pies.  Third win in a row and the premiership is Collingwood's or so you'd think, listening to the Melbourne meeeja.

WEEK TWELVE (and so began my worst week of footy tipping...)

Sydney 88-42 Footscray
Jaysus I didn't see this one coming.   And it was abysmal to watch.  Switched over the tv at half time.  I missed nothing thereafter.

Adelaide 111 – 54 St. Kilda
Yup, as predicted.  The crows resumed business and the poor saints suffered as a result.

Gold Coast 95-79 Hawthorn
Not even Alastair Clarkson's indirect reference to poor umpiring (for which he got substantially fined – the umpires are a protected species in the game) could take away from this effort.  Credit to the Suns and to Gary Ablett Jr.  The wee maestro (relatively speaking of course, he is around 6-foot) had a superb game.  Clarkson has conceded that the Hawks are in a rebuild and will not play finals this year.  Boo-fekkin-hoo.

Brisbane A lot – A lot less Freo
Don't want to talk about it.

Essendon 131-61 Port Adelaide
What a win for the Bombers and what a game from their resident bushman, Conor McKenna.  That first half was one of the best halves of footy I've watched in a long time as the Bombers were so dominant.  But I want to talk about the interview afterwards.  Firstly, Tadhg Kennelly is a bollix. Couldn't he have just said Conor was from the north of the country?  Secondly, much much credit to Conor for his reply to being from "Northern Ireland".  I paraphrase "Well it's all the same country to us."  Suddenly, a bushman I have time for. Good man Conor.  I know you read this segment.

Carlton 71-70 GWS
The shock of the round when second from the top lost to second from the bottom.  Even Freo's first minute and subsequent capitulation didn't even register on the shock scale compared to this win. 

Melbourne 104-100 Collingwood
Damn, I forgot all about this game.  It was on Monday, traditionally a public holiday in Victoria when the Mexicans honour some English queen.  Hmmph, stupid Victorians.   A great win for Melbourne, and the rest of Australia celebrated with them as the blatantly pro-Collingwood Vic meeeja are getting annoying.

Well there you have it...that is why I missed the updates.  Freo were the fault.  Again.   :'( Bwaaaawaaaawaaaaa.  :'( And we play Geelong next.  BWAAAAAWAAAAWAAAAA.  :-[ :'( :( :-\ :'(

However, Mini-me saved my soul with a stunning goal from the the corner pocket with the outside of the right peg.  I couldn't believe it and am still in disbelief, but apparently he does it all the time at footy training.

Round Thirteen

Themmuns 83-70 Geelong
Chrissakes, every game I tip the trash to win this season they lose, and every time I tip against them...well, they fekkin win.  Aaaaagh.  And I won't even begin to comment how not as bad as usual they played.  Jaysus I am choking on this.  This is not pleasant.  Shocking kicking by the Geelong forwards didn't help matters.  And to add insult to injury, the fekkin Match Review Panel let both Shuey and Selwood off deliberate and intentional striking charges.  Fukkin joke.

St. Kilda 89 - 72 North Melbourne.
St. Kilda almost did a Richmond (more on that next, lol) and threw away the game in the last quarter.  Only watched the highlights of this one so my critique is somewhat limited.  Shite season for the Roos continues.

Sydney 80 - 71 Richmond
Yep, the tigers throw yet another almost certain win away in the last quarter.  They were up by 36 points late in the second quarter and proceeded to lose.  Oh how the melbourne meeja are loving this.  God they're vultures.  The swans are continuing their rejuvenation and perhaps, just perhaps my prediction of a Swans Grand Final might come to fruition.  Maybe against Freo.  Maybe not.

Port Adelaide 121 - 81 Brisbane
Yep, as expected. Dear God that thumping of last week is really hurting now.  If only....ah fekkit, the power of retrospect.

Carlton 83 - 73 Gold Coast
I now have more reasons to dislike Cyaaaaaaaaltin.  Ok, first things first, their deliberate antagonising and targetting Gary Ablett Jr's injured shoulder was simply reprehensible.  Is that sport? Sure in martial arts it's accepted but the Melbourne meeja have been noticeably silent on this.  However, the game was marked by the awful injury to ex-Freo and one of my favourites, Michael Barlow.  Sickening.  He broke his leg again.  Up to that point, the Suns had been staging a great fightback and were within a kick of the blues.  But the injury meant a 10-minute delay and they lost their momentum resulting in the blues kicking two more to seal the win.
Not impressed, at all.

Melbourne 113 - 56 Western Bulldogs
Oh dear, the Fitzroy Grand Final hangover continues.  Shocking first quarter with a meagre one point versus 4.1 for the Demons set the win up for what is becoming a pretty reasonable year for them.  There wasn't a single game on normal TV this weekend and that was a damned shame as I would've liked to have watched this game.  Oh well, the insiduous tentacles of the Murdoch empire stretches.

This was the last of the bye-rounds and it's back to normality next weekend.  For Freo, it's Geelong in Geelong.  And there was every pun intended in my use of "normality"  (Groan!)

Another massive win for mini-me's U-16 Belmont Bombers, and he kicked a few himself. 

Good to have you back Aerlik for your "impartial" views on all thing eagles! ;D How has Sam Mitchell been received in Perth? Was always one of my favourite players and any games I've seen this year he seems to be still playing at a very high level.

When you see 3 weeks results and summaries posted together like that you realise just how f**ked up this season had been. Bookies must be loving it as picking an accumulator is practically impossible every week.

Good man Aerlik
I saw the video on here and it made me laugh. I think the Aussies can't understand a word he says.
Sounds like he's playing some stuff our young McKenna lad and doesn't sound like he's too homesick so I can't see him returning to play for Tyrone any time soon. Good luck you ya Conor

https://www.balls.ie/gaa/conor-mckenna-australian-tv-interview-367024

McKenna is a real gem - wish he was still here

Quote from: Taylor on June 21, 2017, 04:06:45 PM
McKenna is a real gem - wish he was still here

He is a fine player.  Played very well again today against the Swans and were very unlucky to loose 86 - 85 to a last second goal - it was a fantastic game of football. 

Quote from: GaillimhIarthair on June 23, 2017, 01:25:56 PM

Quote from: Taylor on June 21, 2017, 04:06:45 PM
McKenna is a real gem - wish he was still here

He is a fine player.  Played very well again today against the Swans and were very unlucky to loose 86 - 85 to a last second goal - it was a fantastic game of football.

Great game from McKenna last night, it was a great game to watch.

Still not clear on the Hawkeye interpretation - that monster kick from Buddy looked a dead cert goal to me?

Yeah McKenna is improving with every game , looking more comfortable and composed as the season progresses, the Aussies both media & fellas I work with are raving about his kicking but what has really impressed me is his handling.
His anticipation and reading of the game and the ball along side his handling constant impress me and I can see constant improvement every time I see him.
Fair play to him and the best of luck to him, as a Monaghan man I'm glad to see him playing AFL !!!!

Quote from: stephenite on June 24, 2017, 12:14:25 AM
Great game from McKenna last night, it was a great game to watch.

Still not clear on the Hawkeye interpretation - that monster kick from Buddy looked a dead cert goal to me?

Hawkeye is simple - there is a blind man in the box and his labrador picks the outcome of the review at random.  ;)

McKenna has that ability to run the ball out and dodge the tacklers that Kennelly used to give the Swans. Fair kick on him too for the goal he got.

Great stuff lads. Can you watch these games online anywhere? I mean not live but on youtube etc?

Have a look on YouTube Fuzzman , or else have a look at the Essendon website.
The games would all be on a Thurs/Fri/Sat or Sun morning Irish time and I'm sure you could find a stream of you had a hunt around
The league is starting to get interesting and a total nightmare for anyone (like me!) that's in a tipping competition !

Round Fourteen

Hawthorn 96 - 82 Adelaide
Now it this was four or five weeks ago this would've been a certain Crows win, but this season has been EVERYTHING but certain.  I was so convinced -as was everyone else in footy tipping land - that the crows would win that I didn't even bother to watch this game or record it.  How foolish was I.  Stunning is quite simply what this was.  Seriously, the Aussie bookies must have been creaming their kecks at this result.  More profit for them.  And Adelaide have exposed their soft underbelly.    Oh how I'd love Port to win the flag this year to scunder them arrogant Crows fekkers.

Sydney 86 - 85 Essendon
If you are going to watch any last quarter this year then the last of this game is a MUST.   What happened in that last quarter was simply brilliant viewing.    Essendon kicked seven straight to lead by 19 with 23 mins of the fourth quarter gone.  It was all over, you'd have thought.  Oh no it wasn't.   Watch that last two minutes.  You'll love it. I could even hear Alright Horse yahooing and guldering from this side of Perth.

Port Adelaide 93 - 62 Collingwood
Oh a massive disappointment for the "biggest team in the land".  They were shite and Robbie Grey was magnificent.  I didn't see the game and this was a statement from Port. 

GWS 146 - 86 Brisbane
Were it not for the fact that the Lions walloped Freo last time out, I'd have been having a say.  As it is, I won't.  The Giants are continuing on their merry way to the big time, indeed.

Footscray 107-106 North Melbourne
Another win-at-the-death game here, this one.  Ahead by 19 points roughly in the middle of the fourth quarter, the dogs seemed to lose it after four straight goals by the roos had the game swing to a north win.  Then a kick in the last  minute sealed it for the dogs.  Phew, lucky.  But what is it about North losing so many games in the dying minutes of the game?  Mental toughness may be seriously lacking.

Melbourne 99 - 96 Them Clampits.
Sweet Jaysus, yet again I tip them gulpins and they fekkin lose.  AAAAAAgh.  Oh well, it was fun watching them lose.  Actually not a bad game to watch - I sneaked a peak now and again, ahem...only now and again though - with some of the Melbourne end-to-end scoring a great advertisement for the game. The winner was a wonderful example of opportunism where you just throw the ball on your boot and hope it goes through.  If only that had been the case for Freo the next day. 
Now, I love a game of hard, fast, skilful footy but I detest dirty, dangerous fouling cf. the tackle on Shannon Hurn in this game.  However, I totally loathe cheats and when the Eagles' Schofield swung an elbow and missed (summing up the ability of the Eagles all night) the Melbourne ballix dropped to the ground like a Tyrone man dropping to his knees in the Clubland carpark at the sound of 10 pence hitting the deck.  It was that dramatic.  I don't condone either action but I am pleased that Schofield challenged and won the challenge.  Pity the other ballix didn't get a penalty for acting. 

Geelong 74- 72 Freo  :'( :'( :'(
I'm still sick.  Still gutted.  A very young and inexperienced Freo team almost brought off the absolute shock of the round.  Minus King Fyfe and Sandilands, the "experts" were tipping a 100 pts + drubbing but it wasn't to be.  In fact Freo kicked 7 straight goals in the second quarter to lead at one point by 34.  Then inexperience and fatigue kicked in. But no excuses, Geelong had one player on the interchange and still managed to win.  A sign, conversely, of an experienced team.  But whereas Tom McDonald threw the ball onto his toe and scored for Melbourne, Michael Walters couldn't repeat the action for Freo in the last two seconds.  The one player you'd put your mortgage on to win the game for us, missed.  Oh the hangover I had from the events of the night before just got worser. 
Some great efforts today, most notably from Sean Darcy on his debut, who almost broke the record for most tap-outs in the ruck.  At 6'8" and 110kgs the successor to the greatest ever ruckman might just have been unearthed. 
Zac Tuohy is really having a great season now that he's away from Carlton.  Two of his goals were top notch and he has a superb kick.


Richmond 84-58 Carlton
The tigers pretty much dominated the whole game.  I wasn't in the mood to watch after what had happened before.  The End.

St. Kilda 103 - 72
Didn't watch this either.   Not interested.  Roscommon's finest got injured, I think.  The End (again).

And so endeth the AFL's latest installment of "Who knows wtf is going to happen this year".

Mini-me's undermanned Belmont Bombers won again by 14 points despite having only 17 players. 

Quote from: Fuzzman on June 26, 2017, 11:43:50 AM
Great stuff lads. Can you watch these games online anywhere? I mean not live but on youtube etc?

I'm not sure about YouTube due to the licensing, but if you go to the AFL website you can watch 3-4 minutes of highlights for every game within an hour or so of them ending.  That's how I keep up when I don't get to see the games.

Quote from: TabClear on June 20, 2017, 07:18:17 PM
How has Sam Mitchell been received in Perth? Was always one of my favourite players and any games I've seen this year he seems to be still playing at a very high level.

He was seen as the messiah, the midfield cog needed to spur themmuns on to inevitable perpetual success.   It hasn't happened.  He is regularly among their best players but the analogy of eagles soaring with turkeys conveniently springs to mind, no pun intended.

He is in an advertisement for BankWest - it's embarrassing to watch.  Go on, watch it. You'll get my drift.

Sydney swans starting to build up a head of steam with a comfortable 85-50 win Vs Melbourne in Melbourne.
Swans clinical this evening it has to be said.

Round Fifteen

This year is a nightmare to predict.  But that is making it interesting....very interesting.

Sydney 85-50 Melbourne
And the Swans' continue their march up the table.  Such a dominant display from Sydney all over the park.  An enjoyable game to watch for this neutral.

Themmuns 87 – 80 Western Bulldogs
The season just gets worser and worser for the reigning premiers, and them fekkers win again when I tipped them to lose.  Chrissakes.  A game of some awful mistakes and shite kicking from Footscray.  Thankfully this game wasn't shown live into Perth so I didn't have to spoil my afternoon's cleaning.  Watched the last 5 mins as it was the least unexciting.  That was enough.  Fekkit.

Adelaide 89 – 77 Carlton
I didn't see any of the game but apparently it was a fairly decent effort from the wanes of Carlton, the Baby Blues.  The Crows are just doing enough to ensure they stay in the top four but I'm having my doubts that they will go all the way, or even make the GF.

Gold Coast 118 – 99 North Melbourne
Again I didn't see the game live but watched the highlights.  The Suns pulled out all the stops to ensure the footy superstar that is Gary Ablett Jr could celebrate his 300th. AFL game with a win.  Not a great night for his colleague and Roscommon's finest export, Hanley.  Twinged the hammy again.  More misery for North.  Just hope it continues on Sunday.

GWS Giants 10-8 (68) – 10-8 (68) Geelong
Yep, the top of the table tie ended in a draw with identical scores from the two most consistent teams in the comp.  This was a real auld slog and I have to say it was great viewing.  Even without inspirational serial cheat/diver Joel Selwood, the Cats were great value.  Another fine performance from Queen's County's finest, Zackery.  Now...how many of us have played the all-Ireland final in the field dodging the cow shite and thistles?  Then just when yer ma calls you in to do your homework/have a bath/get your dinner/give your auld fella a hand with changing the gas bottle for the cooker, you find yourself lining up with a kick/puck and the ref trundles over to tell you it is the last play of the game.  The nerves are killing you.  The crowd are silent.  You step up and bang....you've done it.  You're forever to be remembered for the winner, aka Seamus Darby.  Well, Tom Hawkins from Geelong mustn't have played that game cos he had the chance to win the game after siren and missed.  Would've been unfair if the Giants had lost, in my opinion.

Richmond 76 – 63 Port Adelaide
Grrrrrrr, not happy.  Not happy at all.  I thought the Power would've done the biz especially at home.  Didn't see the game.  But this just sums up the season so far.  Fekkin impossible to predict. 

Brisbane 90 – 82 Essendon
A stunning 6 goal to 2 final quarter for the Lions stunned the hot favourites and threw practically every tipper's hopes of a decent round out the window.   Ah well, credit to them I suppose.  I listened to the last quarter on the wireless and have to say I was willing the Lions on.  No word on how McKenna faired.

Hawthorn 118 – 94 Collingwood
At least I got this one right.  This game was neck and neck up to the last quarter and was great viewing but the Hawks held their nerve to record a decent enough win.  I didn't see the last quarter as I was too busy watching...

St. Kilda 89 – 80 Fremantle
Now, I love watching a class act in action and have had the pleasure of seeing Judd, Ablett, Ling, Pavlich, Brown, Goodes and many others in the game.  But I saw one of the lowest dog-acts by someone I used to respect for his longevity in the game.  One of the (great) rules of this game is that when a player is fouled the opposition MUST return the ball directly to him or to whoever is the kicker should that player be incapacitated.  Failure to do so is a 50-metre penalty.  Young Griffin Logue had the ball in his hands after a Saints forward was fouled.  Nick Riewoldt was standing nearby and raised his hands to signal for Logue to return the ball.  As it came towards him, he turned, dropped his hands and let the ball drop.  Straight away a 50m penalty from in front of the goals.  Jaysus I was fekkin livid.  Not that it would've made a huge difference I feel.
Freo's chances took a huge knock when the AFL's biggest ruckman went down in the first quarter with yet another hamstring injury in his first game back after tendon issues.  That's him out for the season but what is encouraging is the future of young Sean Darcy our new ruck recruit.  This kid will be something. 
Shite kicking didn't help our cause either.  Paid a fortune to kick the fekkin thing straight and failed.  Jaysus I was not a happy boy.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the tragedy of Freo's last four games is that they were ALL very winnable and had they done so, we'd be third on the ladder.  That's right fekkin third.  THIRD, DAMMIT.  GRRRRR.  No, not happy.

Oh well, I don't have to worry about flights to Melbourne in late September or October this year. 

McKenna was ok against the Lions. Probably one of Essendon's better players but not as dynamic as he has been in the past few weeks. Aussie commentators are giving him serious press though, really seem to like him. Bombers inability to close out games has really hurt them recently otherwise they would have been pushing for top four, much like Freo.

The ladder is a mess around the 6-16 spot with only a couple of games separating them. Percentage likely to decide a couple of spots so hopefully will make for some entertaining games late in the season.

Swans looking ominous

The 50m rule is a great one. Would love to see it brought in to gaa, Really cuts out the crap around the ball when a free has been awarded, the mouthing to umpires etc

Adelaide just gave the Western Bulldogs (last years winner) a lesson , roughly a 60 point beating.
Eddie Betts is a class act for Adelaide, you could watch him all day, he makes it look easy!

Round Sixteen – and the crazy, crazy season shows no let up.

Adelaide 104 – 45 Footscray
There is no way the Bulldogs are going to even PLAY finals footy, never mind retain their premiership.  This was a real power statement by the Crows who were totally dominant throughout.  Indeed, the Bulldogs only put a bit of respectability on the scoreboard in the final quarter.   I got bored so never even bother watching the second or third quarters.  But I did see the mark from Mitch McGovern.  Sumfin else.

Hawthorn 97 – 97 GWS
You would have to go back to 1921 to find the last time a team drew two consecutive games.  Well the Giants have now escaped for two weeks in a row.    I didn't see or listen to the game so am unable to comment further but this was a significant result for the Hawks.  Hard to believe I wrote that as only a few years ago, the Giants were struggling.

Essendon 117 – 80 Collingwood
Dear oh dear I can hear the knives been sharpened over there in WA.  Not looking good for the Pies coach, Nathan Buckley.  The Pies were just never in it.  And the Bombers took great pleasure out of belting them – come to think of it, every team does likewise.

Sydney 118 – 51 Gold Coast
Yep, predictable.  The Swans' remarkable turnaround has been all the talk over here.  And with the return of injured players things are looking up for the Swans.  However, several sports pundits are questioning if the Swans can go all the way.  Well, next weekend's Sydney derby will be the litmus test of the Swans' turnaround.  For the record, I've tipped them.

Geelong 153 – 58 Brisbane
Shite.

St. Kilda 138 – 71 Richmond
One of the most complete first halves I've ever seen by any team.   This was a total humiliation for the weary Tigers.  Another failed season looks ominous.  Just seven days earlier they were humiliating the Power in Adelaide.  Like I said, crazy crazy season.

Melbourne 90 – 82 Carlton
I didn't see any of this game but this was a deadly result for the Demons.  Keeps them safely ensconced in finals contention for the first time in 11 seasons.  Lots of meeja types are predicting the demise of Carlton, but I think it is going to be a ripper team.  Some great young talent coming through.

Port Adelaide 120 – 88 Themmuns
Baaaaaahahahaaaaaaaa, jaysus this was one seriously sweet victory.  How I'd have loved to have been there.  Oh the smug arrogance of themmuns before and during the game up to half time then to watch the capitulation in the final quarter.  I don't apologise for my dislike of this club and this win is all the sweeter for two reasons; (1) a win would've kept the arrogant pricks in the top 8, and (2) what had happened earlier in the day...(and I'm not talking about Melbourne, lol). As usual I tipped the fekkers and they lost.  I'll tip them next week and hope for the same outcome.

Fremantle 84 – 80 North Melbourne
Well, there is only one way to start this.  On Friday last, Ryan Nyhuis was told to pack his bags and get on the team flight to Melbourne as he might be needed – he travelled as an emergency.  On Saturday morning he was advised that due to the illness of star midfielder David Mundy he was a 70/30 chance to start.  On Sunday morning, he got the nod and began his first game as a senior AFL player.  By the end of the game he had kicked four goals, the first of which was with his first kick.  A remarkable achievement considering the toughness of this sport.  His folks jumped on the plane from Darwin on Saturday morning more in hope than in expectation.  Well, the delight on their faces in the stands makes wonderful viewing.  Their lad done damn good, so he did.
The other points of note in this game were the shocking miss from a set shot by 'roos ruck, Todd Goldstein, from 30m out pretty much straight in front of goals.  Score that and the 'roos would've been 5 up with seconds left to play.  As it was the win puts Freo just outside the Top 8.  Now if only we'd won those previous four winnable games. 

Fast approaching the business end of the season (already...groan) and yet another weekend of games awaits. 

Essendon destroyed St Kilda tonight 118 - 57
Conor McKenna had a quiet enough game whilst steady enough at the same time, he scored a clinker.

Round Seventeen...yep, the predictable unpredictability yet again.

Essendon 118-57 St. Kilda
And there we were thinking, whao St. Kilda are on the march.  Well, not so.  They were well and truly pummelled by this young Bombers side.  And once again the country asks if the Saints will even make the finals.  Check out the specky by Joe Daniher on Jake Carlisle.  Déjà vu.

Geelong 88 – 85 Hawthorn
Classic!  Unfortunately this game was not shown on normal TV so I had to listen to the wireless in the car and found myself roaring at the wireless especially in the last few minutes.  Great stuff.  Watch the last five minutes on the AFL website.  Luke Hodge played his 300th. game.  Some feat and this will be his last season.  4 premierships...not too tacky, I'd say.  Still a dirty p***k though.

Port Adelaide 127 – 57 North Melbourne.
Yup, the Power keep powering on and the roos keep losing.

Collingwood 103 -88 Gold Coast
More a story about the fate of the teams' coaches than the teams, I feel.  Well, Buckley survives another week.  Enough to save his job?  Hmmmm.  As for Eades at Gold Coast...hmmmm indeed.  A tight game in the wet and maybe the experience of the shite Melbourne weather swung this one in the Pies' favour.

Sydney 96 -83 Greater Western Sydney
The "battle of the bridge" ended with win no.9 out of 10 outings for the Swans.  They're now safely in the top 8 and my early season suggestion of a Sydney v. Adelaide GF might just come to fruition.  This game wasn't shown on normal TV either so I had to watch the highlights.  If you do, you'll see a classic Buddy Franklin goal from an impossible angle and distance.  Well, not impossible for the big man. 

Adelaide 116-70 Melbourne
This game pretty much summed up the competition this year; there are two or three top teams then there are the chasers.  Melbourne are a chasing team and on this performance they'll be chasing for a while.  Adelaide were all over them at every stage and in every aspect.  Not a great TV spectacle but I watched just to see how far behind Melbourne are.  Well, there's a light at the end of the tunnel, but it's a long tunnel and it's a very faint light.

Richmond 112 – 81 Brisbane
Yep, nothing of note here.

Footscray 82 – 62 Carlton
I saw a wee bit of this game and while it was competitive, the dogs had just enough experience and guile to hold on.  But, the Blues have the makings of a great team in their ranks.

Which brings me to this...(no drum roll...just deathly silence please)

Themmuns ...more than us – shite kicking...Us
How the fcuk some of our lads can justify that effort today defies me.  They couldn't have kicked shite off a briar.  Absolutely horrific.  And the sad thing is of the 5.14 Freo kicked, ten of those behinds SHOULD have been goals.  Making matters worse was the fact on three occasions the trash went upfield from a Freo behind and kicked a goal.   Aaaaaaaagh. Fcukin hell I was livid.  For only the second time ever since joining Freo as an attending member, I left the ground early in sheer disgust. 
That's the finals gone for us this year.  But on the positive front, there is some seriously good talent among the first and second year players. 

Saw the hawks geelong game. Absolute classic. Isaac Smith played on at the very end from a mark about 45 out and missed. He obviously didn't fancy another after the siren pop!

Has been quiet around these parts for a few weeks.

More or less down to 11 teams that could be in finals - top 6 probably safely in with Melbourne, West Coast, Western Bulldogs, Essendon and St Kilda fighting for the last two spots.

Essendon have a good run in with the terrible Gold Coast to beat this week then Fremantle who are just about done for the year. West Coast on the other hand have GWS then Adelaide. I'll stick my neck out and pick Essendon and Melbourne to make it.

Adelaide v Sydney tonight could well be a grand final preview - tough game to call but I'd pick the Crows with home advantage.

Quote from: An Astrail on August 18, 2017, 06:10:57 AM
Has been quiet around these parts for a few weeks.

More or less down to 11 teams that could be in finals - top 6 probably safely in with Melbourne, West Coast, Western Bulldogs, Essendon and St Kilda fighting for the last two spots.

Essendon have a good run in with the terrible Gold Coast to beat this week then Fremantle who are just about done for the year. West Coast on the other hand have GWS then Adelaide. I'll stick my neck out and pick Essendon and Melbourne to make it.

Adelaide v Sydney tonight could well be a grand final preview - tough game to call but I'd pick the Crows with home advantage.

Correct , crows v swans is gonna be a serious game , Buddy vs Eddie Betts !
I've tipped the crows as well as they have been untouchable at home all year

Quote from: The Subbie on August 18, 2017, 08:11:44 AM

Quote from: An Astrail on August 18, 2017, 06:10:57 AM
Has been quiet around these parts for a few weeks.

More or less down to 11 teams that could be in finals - top 6 probably safely in with Melbourne, West Coast, Western Bulldogs, Essendon and St Kilda fighting for the last two spots.

Essendon have a good run in with the terrible Gold Coast to beat this week then Fremantle who are just about done for the year. West Coast on the other hand have GWS then Adelaide. I'll stick my neck out and pick Essendon and Melbourne to make it.

Adelaide v Sydney tonight could well be a grand final preview - tough game to call but I'd pick the Crows with home advantage.

Correct , crows v swans is gonna be a serious game , Buddy vs Eddie Betts !
I've tipped the crows as well as they have been untouchable at home all year

One of the games of the year. Crows could not kick straight which ultimately cost them. Highlight probably a goal by Buddy from the touchline after a 50 yards run, bounce, fumble, pickup, look around, decide ah feck it, boot, goal!

LAst spot in the eight is going to be a close one. Part of me would like to see Sam Mitchell get another final game before bowing out but Conor mcKenna has had a great year so would like to see him play in September.

Caught the second half or the Crows and Swans - great game and fair play to the Swans, though they were gone mid way through the last quarter but they rallied well late on.  Crows kicked it away really.  I seen a stat that the Swans are the first team ever to start a season 0-6 and still make the playoffs, some turnaround. 

So that's it for the home and away season with the top 8 settled. Melbourne fans are in shock after losing a game they should have won vs Collingwood and then seeing West Coast beat the top-placed Adelaide to steal their spot in the 8. Buddy Franklin got the Coleman Medal as top scorer for the season after getting 10 goals against Carlton. Zac Tuohy's Geelong got a home final, beating GWS Giants in the last round.

Thursday, September 7

First qualifying final
Adelaide Crows v Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm ACST

Friday, September 8

Second qualifying final
Geelong Cats v Richmond at the MCG, 7.50pm AEST

Saturday, September 9

Second elimination final
Sydney Swans v Essendon at SCG, 4.20pm AEST

First elimination final
Port Adelaide v West Coast Eagles at Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm ACST

Well done West Coast!

Quote from: JimStynes on August 28, 2017, 12:26:02 PM
Well done West Coast!

Demons must be sick. They really did not turn up against the magpies and it took big performances from WC veterans Mitchell, Priddis and Jetta to get them over the line.

Good to see Essendon in the 8 as well as to see Conor McKenna get a run in finals although they will be massive underdogs against the Swans in Sydney. albeit the bye will give them time to get a couple of players fit again. I fancy WC to beat Port in the other elimination final. Qualifying finals expect GWS and Geelong to come through.

Quote from: GaillimhIarthair on August 18, 2017, 07:19:14 PM
Caught the second half or the Crows and Swans - great game and fair play to the Swans, though they were gone mid way through the last quarter but they rallied well late on.  Crows kicked it away really.  I seen a stat that the Swans are the first team ever to start a season 0-6 and still make the playoffs, some turnaround.

You could make a pretty decent argument that they are favourites at this point in time. Buddy on fire!

Quote from: TabClear on August 30, 2017, 10:53:16 AM

Quote from: JimStynes on August 28, 2017, 12:26:02 PM
Well done West Coast!

Demons must be sick. They really did not turn up against the magpies and it took big performances from WC veterans Mitchell, Priddis and Jetta to get them over the line.

Good to see Essendon in the 8 as well as to see Conor McKenna get a run in finals although they will be massive underdogs against the Swans in Sydney. albeit the bye will give them time to get a couple of players fit again. I fancy WC to beat Port in the other elimination final. Qualifying finals expect GWS and Geelong to come through.

Big call for GWS to beat the crows in Adelaide oval !

Quote from: The Subbie on August 30, 2017, 12:27:32 PM

Quote from: TabClear on August 30, 2017, 10:53:16 AM

Quote from: JimStynes on August 28, 2017, 12:26:02 PM
Well done West Coast!

Demons must be sick. They really did not turn up against the magpies and it took big performances from WC veterans Mitchell, Priddis and Jetta to get them over the line.

Good to see Essendon in the 8 as well as to see Conor McKenna get a run in finals although they will be massive underdogs against the Swans in Sydney. albeit the bye will give them time to get a couple of players fit again. I fancy WC to beat Port in the other elimination final. Qualifying finals expect GWS and Geelong to come through.

Big call for GWS to beat the crows in Adelaide oval !

Just think the Giants are due a big performance  and the Crows have been cruising for the last couple of weeks safe that they were in the top 2. They did not have their early season intensity against WC as a result and it might be tough to turn it back on after that lull.

5mins left of the second 1/4 and Adelaide Crows are destroying GWS 55-11.
Eddie Betts in imperious form for the crows.
Big big 3rd 1/4 coming up

Crows waltz by GWS - all that could go right for them did

Swans destroy Essendon and West Coast Eagles get the better of Port Adelaide after coming from behind in extra time in a rip roaring game that was the pick of this weekends games.

Three big wins with Adelaide, Richmond and Sydney demolishing their opposition. Only the West Coast v Port Adelaide game was tight with the extra time and winner after the siren. So the Bombers and Power are done for the year and six remain.

Sydney vs Geelong on Friday night - Geelong are supposed to have the home advantage but again they're playing at the MCG. On the other hand Sydney don't always adapt well to the big oval there. Still think the Swans will have too much for the Cats. There were lot of contributors in their win over Essendon with Sinclair in particular having another strong game. Winner plays Adelaide.

GWS vs West Coast on Saturday - Giants were poor against Adelaide and I don't think they can win overall this year. Their structure is off and they are too reliant on a handful of players to step up and get the job done. That said I think they will have too much for West Coast who snuck into the finals and might well have gone out already if Port Adelaide kicked straighter. Winner plays Richmond.

Conor McKenna signs a new 4 year deal with Essendon - would assume a healthy upgrade involved. One of their better players on Saturday.

Also saw Colin O'Riordan and Cian Hanley going around in the NEAFL Grand Final (reserve grade in NSW, Queensland and Northern Territory). I thought O'Riordan looked solid in Sydney's back line and would be close to next cab off the rank for a place in the first team when that comes -along with Aliir Aliir. Only problem is that there aren't many obvious gaps unless injury intervenes. Hanley didn't stand out as much, but Brisbane is much more in flux so there will be chances. And he at least has the medal with Brisbane winning the game.

Well I was well off in my predictions on GWS and Geelong! ::)

WC at the Power was a great game to watch albeit limited quality. Looked like WC had threw it away but fair play to Shuey with the winner with the last kick. Them against the GWS is a tough one to call, on paper GWS should do it but every week I am expecting their class to come through but it just has not happened for weeks.

Adelaide and Richmond were really impressive in their wins as were Sydney but with due respect to the Bombers against lesser opposition. The CAts really struggled last week and Josh Selwood looks to be carrying an injury so hard to look past Sydney in this one.

Crows and Tigers with the week off will fancy their chances. I was really impressed with Richmond and if they keep up that level of performance they could go on to win it!

The Swans got dicked last night by Geelong with Zac Tuohy and Harry Taylor in particular outstanding at the back for the cats
The Swans totally flopped on the night and were a beaten docket 1/2 way through the 2nd quarter.
The Cats looked very impressive with more than a few reserves stepping up and looking like they played in big games all year.

Currently watching GWS vs West Coast and it's all GWS, leading by 34-18 at the end of the 1st quarter

The veteran Steve Johnson played a blinder for GWS kicking 6 goals to humiliate West Coast Eagles 125-58.

It's down to 4 now with Adelaide Crows V Geelong cats in Adelaide oval next Friday then GWS v Richmond in the MCG on Sat, I think it will be a Crows V Tigers grand final but the way some games have gone this year who knows.

Quote from: The Subbie on September 17, 2017, 01:43:37 AM
The veteran Steve Johnson played a blinder for GWS kicking 6 goals to humiliate West Coast Eagles 125-58.

It's down to 4 now with Adelaide Crows V Geelong cats in Adelaide oval next Friday then GWS v Richmond in the MCG on Sat, I think it will be a Crows V Tigers grand final but the way some games have gone this year who knows.

League table doesn't lie.  Top 4 over the regular season in the last 4. Surprised at the Swans capitulation to the Cats. Dangerfield is something special.

Quote from: TabClear on September 17, 2017, 09:18:48 AM

Quote from: The Subbie on September 17, 2017, 01:43:37 AM
The veteran Steve Johnson played a blinder for GWS kicking 6 goals to humiliate West Coast Eagles 125-58.

It's down to 4 now with Adelaide Crows V Geelong cats in Adelaide oval next Friday then GWS v Richmond in the MCG on Sat, I think it will be a Crows V Tigers grand final but the way some games have gone this year who knows.

League table doesn't lie.  Top 4 over the regular season in the last 4. Surprised at the Swans capitulation to the Cats. Dangerfield is something special.

Yes, I honestly thought the swans had got a bit of momentum at the right time but watching them the other night was like watching the swans at the start of the season.
Dangerfield ran the show all right, it'll be interesting to see how he goes against his old club

Huge win for Adelaide over Geelong in the first of the semi-finals today, 136 to 75, the game was more or less over as a contest by HT.

Quote from: GaillimhIarthair on September 22, 2017, 01:32:39 PM
Huge win for Adelaide over Geelong in the first of the semi-finals today, 136 to 75, the game was more or less over as a contest by HT.

Yeah they won pulling up
It would be hard to get a bet on them to win the GF now
The pick of the tigers & GWS wouldn't beat them

Well, Tigers it is. They put a lot into the game against GWS and were first to the ball most of the time. Giants never really got a sniff.

Crows should be too good for them on Saturday - but if this season has taught us anything, it's that whatever you think you know about football, you don't know. With all the strange results who's to say we won't get another one.

Interesting with all the blowouts in the AFL finals that three Grand Finals yesterday in the VFL, SANFL and TAC Cup (U19s) were decided by less than a goal with at least two of them having kicks after the siren to win (one scored, one not).

Quote from: An Astrail on September 25, 2017, 01:02:40 AM
Well, Tigers it is. They put a lot into the game against GWS and were first to the ball most of the time. Giants never really got a sniff.

Crows should be too good for them on Saturday - but if this season has taught us anything, it's that whatever you think you know about football, you don't know. With all the strange results who's to say we won't get another one.

Interesting with all the blowouts in the AFL finals that three Grand Finals yesterday in the VFL, SANFL and TAC Cup (U19s) were decided by less than a goal with at least two of them having kicks after the siren to win (one scored, one not).

I dont remember a season like this for the amount of one sided games.

Have to say that I was really impressed with the Crows on Saturday, their midfielders have a serious work ethic and Betts/Tex will always get you goals.

That being said Richmond were really good as well. Martin has that ability like very few others (Judd, Ablett, Dangerfield, Fyfe in recent years) in that he can blow a team away in a quarter by getting on the ball constantly. Alex Rance is the best defender in the AFl by a distance and Riewoldt is capable of kicking 4 or 5. Rioli had a great game at the weekend, some of his flicks and touches were Cryil-esqe.

I'm going to go for the Crows by about 20 points

Cotchin cleared by Match Review Panel. Big boost to the Tigers

Quote from: TabClear on September 25, 2017, 01:22:47 PM
Cotchin cleared by Match Review Panel. Big boost to the Tigers

He's a lucky boy, he opened him!!!

Quote from: The Subbie on September 25, 2017, 10:27:16 PM

Quote from: TabClear on September 25, 2017, 01:22:47 PM
Cotchin cleared by Match Review Panel. Big boost to the Tigers

He's a lucky boy, he opened him!!!

Definitely lucky especially considering he had 2 strikes earlier in the year for jumper punches. Think the MRP were slightly lenient given the game he would have missed!

I think Cotchin was saved in that both players momentum was down towards the ball. But in the regular season the contact with the head would have seen him get a week regardless. Being a Grand Final I think they put a whole lot more weight on the mitigants and let him off.

TC, the season itself was notably light on blow out games, especially in the first half. But the finals - apart from the Port Adelaide v West Coast game - have been nothing but blowouts.

Quote from: An Astrail on September 27, 2017, 02:43:46 AM
I think Cotchin was saved in that both players momentum was down towards the ball. But in the regular season the contact with the head would have seen him get a week regardless. Being a Grand Final I think they put a whole lot more weight on the mitigants and let him off.

TC, the season itself was notably light on blow out games, especially in the first half. But the finals - apart from the Port Adelaide v West Coast game - have been nothing but blowouts.

Yeah I meant the Finals. Normally they are really tight but this year I can only remember one that had a meaningful 4th quarter.

The season overall was one of the most open ever with lots of the top teams dropping points in matches against teams well down the ladder.

As an aside Martin wins the brownlow with a record tally. Good timing given he was negotiating his new contract this year. He had some season.

Aside number 2. Looks like Gazza is going to finish his career at the Cats after all.  Selwood, Dangerfield and Ablett. .., not a bad trio!

Quote from: The Subbie on September 22, 2017, 10:30:18 PM

Quote from: GaillimhIarthair on September 22, 2017, 01:32:39 PM
Huge win for Adelaide over Geelong in the first of the semi-finals today, 136 to 75, the game was more or less over as a contest by HT.

Yeah they won pulling up
It would be hard to get a bet on them to win the GF now
The pick of the tigers & GWS wouldn't beat them

Bit of humble pie for myself , the Tigers destroyed the Crows in a very one sided GRand Final.
The tigers defence completely shut out what is usually a rampant Crows forward unit, Rance in particular having a brilliant day at the back.
Dusty ran riot up front for the tigers.
A bit of a damp squib of a final to be honest, the Killers Plato g before were very good though !

Final score and official names of both teams please.
Thanks.

Quote from: Rossfan on September 30, 2017, 10:49:34 AM
Final score and official names of both teams please.
Thanks.

Richmond Tigers - 108 (16.12)
Adelaide Crows - 60 (8.12)

Thanks Stephenite

Quote from: Rossfan on September 30, 2017, 10:49:34 AM
Final score and official names of both teams please.
Thanks.

Most normal people would google something like that instead of petulantly demanding the information.
Radical thinking maybe ?

Quote from: The Subbie on October 01, 2017, 01:03:57 AM

Quote from: Rossfan on September 30, 2017, 10:49:34 AM
Final score and official names of both teams please.
Thanks.

Most normal people would google something like that instead of petulantly demanding the information.
Radical thinking maybe ?

Most normal people would mind their own business instead of petulantly  commenting on someone's genuine enquiry.

Quote from: Rossfan on October 01, 2017, 10:08:44 AM

Quote from: The Subbie on October 01, 2017, 01:03:57 AM

Quote from: Rossfan on September 30, 2017, 10:49:34 AM
Final score and official names of both teams please.
Thanks.

Most normal people would google something like that instead of petulantly demanding the information.
Radical thinking maybe ?

Most normal people would mind their own business instead of petulantly  commenting on someone's genuine enquiry.

If it was a genuine enquiry you would have done a wee bit of research before entering a thread on a discussion board about a particular subject,the clue is there for you
Try and keep up there , it's not hard.
See a subject that interests you.
Get a wee bit of knowledge on/about it
Discuss same
Get a wee bit more knowledge
Rinse and repeat

Don't just f**king tr**p in looking for every hoor to do your homework for you. Good lad. Tip on.

You're a very sad individual and need to get out more.
Some of us work in the real world and haven't got time for extensive research etc.
I asked a question and another intelligent poster answered it.
No one needed ir asked for you to wade in with your puerile aggression.

Who mentioned work ???
We all work?? Those that are lucky enough or healthily enough to be able
To get it.
You landed into the middle of a discussion without any knowledge of the subject in question demanding answers to questions that could have easily been discovered in 6 seconds on
Google.
Don't be a dick.

Thats 2017 done then. One of the most competitive seasons in years with the Tigers ending decades of underachievement  on the back of one of the most impressive  seasons ever by an individual.

Dusty Martin. Brownlow, MVP and Norm Smith Medal winner.

A few of the more established clubs struggled (Hawthorn, Collingwood) and some absolute legends retired (Hodge, Mitchell, Gibson, Priddis, Boyd, Murphy, Johnson, Riewoldt, Watson to name a few).

Roll on 2018

Edit: Just seen the Luke Hodge to Brisbane rumours and he was missing from the GF motorcade......

See, we all know nothing when it comes to tipping :)

Well done to Richmond, incredible pressure around the ball stopped Adelaide ever getting moving. I think the Crows got into a panic about Dusty which left free players all around him. Crows would have thought those players wouldn't have been able to step up if they could shut down the superstar but step up they did.

Now we move on to the trade period and all the gossip, rumour and enough outright lies to make the Donald envious.

Quote from: An Astrail on October 03, 2017, 05:57:09 AM
See, we all know nothing when it comes to tipping :)

Well done to Richmond, incredible pressure around the ball stopped Adelaide ever getting moving. I think the Crows got into a panic about Dusty which left free players all around him. Crows would have thought those players wouldn't have been able to step up if they could shut down the superstar but step up they did.

Now we move on to the trade period and all the gossip, rumour and enough outright lies to make the Donald envious.

Even Plan A failed miserably!

True, and plan B - when they tightened up on other players in the last quarter - was probably what gave Dusty enough space to win the Norm Smith Medal. For the record, Bachar Houli was robbed there :)

Zach Tuohy scored a last second winner today.

http://www.punditarena.com/other-sports/smcmahon/watch-laois-zach-tuohy-shocks-melbourne-incredible-last-second-score/

Quote from: laoislad on July 21, 2018, 03:53:58 PM
Zach Tuohy scored a last second winner today.

http://www.punditarena.com/other-sports/smcmahon/watch-laois-zach-tuohy-shocks-melbourne-incredible-last-second-score/

Class!!

That was brilliant. Some catch.

Quote from: mrdeeds on July 22, 2018, 01:46:18 PM
That was brilliant. Some catch.

The Cats are masters of winning the tight games. Tuohy has been exceptional since he went to Geelong.

Conor Mc Kenna had himself an impressive first half. Two goals for him.
Wish i hadn't started watching as i will have to see it out to the end now.  Decent game which helps

Turned out an absolute brilliant game. Hawthorn 107 103 Essendon

Up the Eagles! Couldn't find a good stream ffs but saw bits and pieces. Nerve wrecking finish and one of the best finals in years apparently.

Quote from: JimStynes on September 29, 2018, 08:46:44 AM
Up the Eagles! Couldn't find a good stream ffs but saw bits and pieces. Nerve wrecking finish and one of the best finals in years apparently.

Watched the full match on Sunday. Brilliant final. Collingwood led early but got pegged back by half time and then the lead swung a few times. Jack Darling the most relieved man in the stadium at the end, he dropped an absolute sitter in the last minute in front of goals that would have guaranteed the win for the Eagles. The fact he missed left 1 kick in it and meant he had a nervous last few seconds. Serious effort by the Eagles given they were missing two of their biggest stars for the last few weeks of the season in Gaff (Suspension) and Nicnacnui (injury).

Tom  Mitchell of Hawthorn won the Brownlow the week before. Well deserved.

Not sure if Aerlik is still around on here but he will be glad he stopped his weekly updates this year. It would have been tough for a Freo man to report on the Eagles the last few weeks.

Bit of a one-sided final there.