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I mention the game at Mars stadium in Ballarat, because I was thinking the other day, where might the AFL put another team after the introduction of Tasmania makes it a 19 team competition? Not that there's any hard and fast rule that says that you can't have a 19th team indefinitely, but overwhelmingly, even numbered competitions are preferred. So, is some sort of Ballarat or Goldfields team an option? I really don't know, but I think most of the more realistic options have more negatives than positives.
Take Ballarat for instance. Some might say that there's likely to be a ready made audience, in an area that traditionally produces plenty of talent. But one drawback is likely to be evident on the weekend. That is, the games at Mars tend to lack atmosphere; with a few empty seats in a cold and windswept 11,000 capacity stadium. And to me, the biggest drawback would be further shifting the balance of power in favour of Victoria.
Of the other options, maybe Canberra makes the most sense, but that would almost surely involve GWS playing all their home games at Homebush: which may not be wise. Also, you'd think that a Canberra team would see GWS and us lose some of our academy zones. Which I wouldn't like, but which would probably be seen as a plus to those in Victoria who don't really understand our academy system, but who like to whinge about it nonetheless.
Darwin might get some support, but their population of around 150,000 might not be enough to support an AFL side, especially one incurring a large amount of airfares every second week. Alternatively, you might be able to throw a third team in Perth or Adelaide, but I suspect the existing teams there really wouldn't be supportive. Much the same with trying to put another team into Brisbane, with the added drawback of being a rugby league town. Which also goes for some of the more longshot options, like the Sunshine Coast, Newcastle or the Central Coast. So, I'm guessing that it might be a 19 team competition for quite a while.
Anyway, the round starts tonight with Collingwood and Carlton. Since we've no hope of catching Collingwood, but a big chance of catching Carlton, I'm hoping that Carlton cop the sort of thrashing, that nullifies that the advantage that they gained from playing West Coast twice.
Then on Saturday there's the aforementioned Ballarat game between the Bulldogs and the Giants. Both are catchable, so go the Giants.
At the same time, Geelong are hosting Fremantle. For us to be in the eight at the end of the weekend, we need a Fremantle win. Unfortunately they're usually terrible travellers and they may have already put the cue in the rack for season 2023: so Geelong's price of $1.05 seems about right.
The twilight game at Carrara looks like a do or die affair for the Suns. Which is unfortunate for them, as their recent record against the Lions, is similar to that of the Christians in ancient Rome.
Then in the evening, while we're hopefully running rings around Essendon, the Showdown takes place in Adelaide. Once again, I think it boils down to who we're likely to battling for a finals spot. Adelaide could be a thorn in our side, while Port are way ahead of us. So, go the Power.
Much the same deal with the Sunday matches of Hawthorn v St Kilda and Richmond v Melbourne.
And the final match of the weekend is West Coast hosting North. Which brings me round to the other way of evening up the numbers in the competition. Which is getting rid of one of the Melbourne clubs. A club that performs poorly year after year. A club that could have relocated to the Gold Coast but refused. A club that could have relocated to Tasmania but refused. Although to be fair, Tasmania also refused them.
Take Ballarat for instance. Some might say that there's likely to be a ready made audience, in an area that traditionally produces plenty of talent. But one drawback is likely to be evident on the weekend. That is, the games at Mars tend to lack atmosphere; with a few empty seats in a cold and windswept 11,000 capacity stadium. And to me, the biggest drawback would be further shifting the balance of power in favour of Victoria.
Of the other options, maybe Canberra makes the most sense, but that would almost surely involve GWS playing all their home games at Homebush: which may not be wise. Also, you'd think that a Canberra team would see GWS and us lose some of our academy zones. Which I wouldn't like, but which would probably be seen as a plus to those in Victoria who don't really understand our academy system, but who like to whinge about it nonetheless.
Darwin might get some support, but their population of around 150,000 might not be enough to support an AFL side, especially one incurring a large amount of airfares every second week. Alternatively, you might be able to throw a third team in Perth or Adelaide, but I suspect the existing teams there really wouldn't be supportive. Much the same with trying to put another team into Brisbane, with the added drawback of being a rugby league town. Which also goes for some of the more longshot options, like the Sunshine Coast, Newcastle or the Central Coast. So, I'm guessing that it might be a 19 team competition for quite a while.
Anyway, the round starts tonight with Collingwood and Carlton. Since we've no hope of catching Collingwood, but a big chance of catching Carlton, I'm hoping that Carlton cop the sort of thrashing, that nullifies that the advantage that they gained from playing West Coast twice.
Then on Saturday there's the aforementioned Ballarat game between the Bulldogs and the Giants. Both are catchable, so go the Giants.
At the same time, Geelong are hosting Fremantle. For us to be in the eight at the end of the weekend, we need a Fremantle win. Unfortunately they're usually terrible travellers and they may have already put the cue in the rack for season 2023: so Geelong's price of $1.05 seems about right.
The twilight game at Carrara looks like a do or die affair for the Suns. Which is unfortunate for them, as their recent record against the Lions, is similar to that of the Christians in ancient Rome.
Then in the evening, while we're hopefully running rings around Essendon, the Showdown takes place in Adelaide. Once again, I think it boils down to who we're likely to battling for a finals spot. Adelaide could be a thorn in our side, while Port are way ahead of us. So, go the Power.
Much the same deal with the Sunday matches of Hawthorn v St Kilda and Richmond v Melbourne.
And the final match of the weekend is West Coast hosting North. Which brings me round to the other way of evening up the numbers in the competition. Which is getting rid of one of the Melbourne clubs. A club that performs poorly year after year. A club that could have relocated to the Gold Coast but refused. A club that could have relocated to Tasmania but refused. Although to be fair, Tasmania also refused them.
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