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Seems slightly odd posting a discussion of the upcoming round, when our game has already been played and won on Thursday night. Never been much of a fan of Thursday night football. Not sure why? Maybe it just seems like busy work for AFL administrators and marketers? Maybe it just seems like a way for lazy TV programmers to cover a gap in their schedule? But hey, it doesn't appear to be happening after round 5; so perhaps the 7 network have come up with a new reality show for Thursday night.
Anyway, the round starts tonight with Richmond and Port: both highly rated, both coming off heavy last round losses. Port are clear favourites. Not entirely sure why? Perhaps people think that Richmond were genuinely beaten, while Port had a 'believing their own publicity' type of loss? So, there's more scope for Port to improve, once their minds are back on the job. Perhaps a loss against West Coast is more highly regarded than a loss against Sydney? Who knows. One thing that I do know, is that the loser will drop to 2-2 and will probably be out of the eight. Wouldn't exactly call that being in trouble, but a few more early season losses and the prospect of a top four finish slowly starts to recede.
The first game on Saturday is Western Bulldogs v Brisbane. Ladder wise, we all should be going for Brisbane in this one. A win by the Bulldogs and they should go above us on percentage. A loss and we could end the round in top position. Brisbane to win by 20 goals to 16. Not sure why? Perhaps the digits 2016 are in my head for some reason?
Next up is St Kilda v West Coast. Every chance here, that St Kilda's promising season, will travel further down the S-bend.
The two night games are Gold Coast v Carlton and Collingwood v GWS. Gold Coast's ten year injury curse is still continuing. Now that Witts has joined Smith and a couple of youngsters on the sideline, they no longer have a fit ruckman. Plus they're missing young guns, like Rowell and Budarick. Although they still have a reasonable chance of beating Carlton. Collingwood are short priced favourites to beat GWS and leave them at 0 and 4. Which sets up the proposition that many of us would enjoy: a chance to beat them in the next round and kill off their season before it really starts. Sure, in 2017, we made the finals from 0-6, but I doubt if many people think that GWS could do something similar.
Speaking of going winless, North play Adelaide on Sunday.
The next Sunday game is Melbourne v Geelong. My favoured result here is a narrow Melbourne victory. With that, they'll probably stay behind us on the ladder and there's a chance for all of us to witness another Chris Scott tantrum. Which I quite enjoy. I just wish journalists would ramp up my enjoyment, by asking him press conference questions like, "That was a convincing loss today: was the game plan crap?" and "Paddy Dangerfield, he gets a lot of soft frees, doesn't he?"
As is often the case, the final match of the round is in Perth. After the round started with a Swans win, I think it would be bookended nicely with Hawthorn losing to Fremantle.
Anyway, the round starts tonight with Richmond and Port: both highly rated, both coming off heavy last round losses. Port are clear favourites. Not entirely sure why? Perhaps people think that Richmond were genuinely beaten, while Port had a 'believing their own publicity' type of loss? So, there's more scope for Port to improve, once their minds are back on the job. Perhaps a loss against West Coast is more highly regarded than a loss against Sydney? Who knows. One thing that I do know, is that the loser will drop to 2-2 and will probably be out of the eight. Wouldn't exactly call that being in trouble, but a few more early season losses and the prospect of a top four finish slowly starts to recede.
The first game on Saturday is Western Bulldogs v Brisbane. Ladder wise, we all should be going for Brisbane in this one. A win by the Bulldogs and they should go above us on percentage. A loss and we could end the round in top position. Brisbane to win by 20 goals to 16. Not sure why? Perhaps the digits 2016 are in my head for some reason?
Next up is St Kilda v West Coast. Every chance here, that St Kilda's promising season, will travel further down the S-bend.
The two night games are Gold Coast v Carlton and Collingwood v GWS. Gold Coast's ten year injury curse is still continuing. Now that Witts has joined Smith and a couple of youngsters on the sideline, they no longer have a fit ruckman. Plus they're missing young guns, like Rowell and Budarick. Although they still have a reasonable chance of beating Carlton. Collingwood are short priced favourites to beat GWS and leave them at 0 and 4. Which sets up the proposition that many of us would enjoy: a chance to beat them in the next round and kill off their season before it really starts. Sure, in 2017, we made the finals from 0-6, but I doubt if many people think that GWS could do something similar.
Speaking of going winless, North play Adelaide on Sunday.
The next Sunday game is Melbourne v Geelong. My favoured result here is a narrow Melbourne victory. With that, they'll probably stay behind us on the ladder and there's a chance for all of us to witness another Chris Scott tantrum. Which I quite enjoy. I just wish journalists would ramp up my enjoyment, by asking him press conference questions like, "That was a convincing loss today: was the game plan crap?" and "Paddy Dangerfield, he gets a lot of soft frees, doesn't he?"
As is often the case, the final match of the round is in Perth. After the round started with a Swans win, I think it would be bookended nicely with Hawthorn losing to Fremantle.
....but I know exactly where you're coming from. I would hate to meet the Dogs in the GF.....it would possibly be unwatchable, unless against the umpiring odds, we actually won.
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