Five things we learnt from round two’s AFL action
Roar Guru By David Wiseman, 6 Apr 2009 David Wiseman is a Roar Guru
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- Adelaide Crows, AFL, Brisbane Lions, Carlton Blues, Fremantle Dockers, Richmond Tigers, St Kilda Saints, Sydney Swans
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Jared Petrenko of the Crows handballs past Andrew McQualter of the Saints during the AFL Round 02 match between the Adelaide Crows and the St Kilda Saints at AAMI Stadium. Slattery Images
First up, St Kilda has a great defence. Last week we thought the Swans were hopeless in not scoring a goal in a half of football. But give credit to St Kilda.
In restricting the high-scoring Crows to just ten goals, they showed that they have a watertight back-six. Neil Craig went as far to compare the Saints pressurized style of football to September finals footy.
If they can keep this up, they are going to go far in 2009.
2. Reports of the Swans’ death are greatly exaggerated – again
Everyone likes to get stuck into the Swans and often it is deserved. When they are bad, they are incredibly ordinary, as was the case last week against St Kilda.
Who would have thought the team who struggled to score nine goals in a game last week would kick 22 against the reigning premiers?
Truth be told, the Hawks have struggled against Sydney in recent years, and had quite a few players out. The Swans can be an exciting free-flowing side when they let loose. Again they show they you are free to write them off, but only at your own peril.
3. The Blues are back?
The spring will be back in the step of all Blues supporters. They are 2-0, sit on top of the ladder, and are looking good. They haven’t yet played anyone who played in finals last year, but that is neither here nor there. They can only defeat who they are scheduled to face, and with Essendon this week, they are a real chance to go 3-0.
They were sensational against the Lions, particularly in the second quarter when they kicked eight goals to one. The long season has only just begun, but Carlton has started it brilliantly.
4. 0-2 teams should begin to worry
While 0-2 is in itself not the end of the world, you don’t want it to turn into 0-3. There are four win-less teams in Hawthorn, Melbourne, Fremantle and Richmond.
Hawthorn have had a tough draw and will bounce back, while nothing more was expected of Melbourne. The Dockers would want to turn it around quickly before it is another wasted season.
Essendon are nothing special. And the Dockers showed that they might be even less than that.
This was the year of deliverance for the Punt Road faithful. They now face the undefeated Western Bulldogs in what is going to be a very tough match. Fan and media pressure is only going to build.
The Tigers’ board are in a no-win situation as the noose around Terry Wallace’s neck continues to tighten. Playing the only game on Easter Monday, all eyes will again be on them.
5. Possessions don’t always mean anything
In the statistics-based day and age we live in, everyone is obsessed by numbers. The most basic of which is that more disposals are better, but this isn’t always the case.
In the opening quarter of the Port-Eagles match, Port had 86 touches to the Eagles’ 56. Yet, the Eagles kicked four goals to one. By full time, the Eagles had 19 goals to Ports’ ten, and just two more disposals.
Like everything else, moderation is important and too many disposals is counter-productive.
The Swans had 131 disposals against Hawthorn in the second quarter and kicked five goals. But in the third quarter, they had 86 and kicked eight.
Ultimately, the only thing which matters is the scoreboard. Unless you’re into fantasy football, in which case it doesn’t matter at all!
Recommend this story.
April 7th 2009 @ 9:05am
The 1 and Only Master said | April 7th 2009 @ 9:05am | Report comment
David Wiseman.
Looks like a round for favourites.
Will have a close look at the teams for Nth Melb / Hawthorn and Richmond / Doggies before committing
April 7th 2009 @ 10:20am
Michael C said | April 7th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Dave -
excuse me??
crowd violence??
there’s a distinct difference between events within the stadium and those outside of the stadium. As you well know.
And the summit being called is an ALL SPORTS summit, that includes soccer too. ANd for it to happen so soon after a just completely summer of soccer and cricket is indicative that things have been brewing.
Leave your attempted code vs code points scoring at the door on this issue.
btw – the sillyness of it all, the Herald Sun has a reference to UK controls, 37 million attendees and only 0.01% disorder arrests. Well, that’s 3800. And for the AFL 7 million we’d be looking at an acceptable level of 750 arrests over the season. That’d allow about 30 odd a week. As acceptable???
So, on AFL in isolation, this is a beat up (so to speak) and a parliamentary knee jerk reaction – - HOWEVER, in the context of the broader issue of CBD violence, alcohol consumption etc etc – - once again, sports is seen as a cheap and easy target to try to do the broader educational job of ineffective governments.
(btw – mid strength beer at the stadiums,…..but full strength spirits???? I’ve never figured that one out)
April 7th 2009 @ 11:29am
Kurt said | April 7th 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
Dave – the topic of crowd violence has been getting a fair bit of airtime this week, hasn’t it? My personal view is that, like soccer violence in Europe, these things tend to reflect underlying issues and tension within the broader society. It just seems that young blokes go the knuckle these days at the first provocation, and then escalate to a high level of brutality very quickly. I’m not saying my generation were angels, but I just don’t remember anything like what seems to happen in Melbourne these days. Of course how much of that is a genuine trend and how much of it is media fear mongering is open to debate.
April 7th 2009 @ 11:47am
The 1 and Only Master said | April 7th 2009 @ 11:47am | Report comment
Thinking a little about it, if Sewell or Lewis don’t come into the team, Hawthorn can’t win.
Will be awaiting the selection table eagerly before pouncing on the kanga’s at very juicy odds.
April 7th 2009 @ 1:05pm
jimbo said | April 7th 2009 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
Kurt,
The opening game of this season was amazing and a sell out Richmond v Carlton game at the G – how often has a Richmond Carlton game at the G sold out in recent years?
I don’t think AFL is in any danger – the Rabbitohs or SydneyFC would gladly take an attendance of 33K for their season opener in Sydney.
I know times are tough, but the sports media (all codes) have been stretching the truth a little bit too much lately up here and like your good self there needs to be someone to provide a balanced opinion.
April 7th 2009 @ 1:59pm
Dave said | April 7th 2009 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
MC
It is a big topic at the moment for sport in Melb? No need to get so defensive. Perhaps in relation to AFL as they have largely removed on field violence (compared to 70s-80s) spectators have become more frustrated and take it out on each other? As Kurt said more likely to be a sign of the times (with the general lack of self discipline and unwillingness for one to take reponsiblity for their own actions a key factor usually fuelled by the consumption of alcohol/drugs and slap on the wrist penalties?).
Sure it is a concern for all sports including Cricket,Football, Tennis (ethnic issues)?? What it does say to me is that no sport can rest on its laurels here. If you read the HS (which l dont) AFL may have an issue to deal with…as l said havent been to a game for a few years so havent recent first hand experience. Certainly back in the 70s at Windy Hill there was always a fair stoush at some time during or after the game and mostly alcohol fuelled.
The Cricket has a bigger issue with their all day events but you wonder how much their officials really want to compromise between crowd security or keeping young males away by reducing/banning alcohol sales?
Perhaps all those so called sports stars getting drunk/high and playing up is finally having an effect? Perhaps the breakdown of the nuclear family structures in our society, the lack of decent role models and failure of the both the educational and criminal justice systems all have contributed to the current situation?
Interesting problem but l’m glad that you agree the sport/code itself is not the real culprit here. However sport may well be one of the keys to begin turning this situation around.
April 7th 2009 @ 2:06pm
Millster said | April 7th 2009 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
I have to say I’m surprised at the mention of crowd violence in terms of AFL. In the games I’ve attended live over the years (probably 30-odd games spread over 15-odd years) the only thing I’d say over other codes is the incidence of racist oral abuse (and that may be just a Perth thing as 70% of the games I’ve seen were at Subi), but actual violence?…. nah.
Anyway I’ll repeat what I’ve written before here and state that the only sport in Australia that has a regular problem with shameful crowd behaviour is cricket.
April 7th 2009 @ 2:08pm
Kurt said | April 7th 2009 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Jimbo – I take your point, but that balance needs to be at least in part based on reality. As I and all the other AFL supporters on this blog have repeatedly said, I am not at all convinced of the case for another team in western Sydney, but bagging out the Swannies for attracting the biggest sporting crowd of the weekend in Sydney (and yes I know the socceroos got more) seems somewhat outlandish. Of course AFL management are bullish, but that’s their job – it’s not like the rest of us possess a borg-like collective consciousness and agree with everything Andy D says. Although I probably shouldn’t say that as it might give him ideas…
April 7th 2009 @ 2:14pm
Redb said | April 7th 2009 @ 2:14pm | Report comment
i’ve been to the football heaps of times over the past 10 years and have never, repeat never had a problem. It doesn’t mean you can find trouble if your looking for it, but crowds generally are very well behaved.
Let’s keep it perspective it is isolated, but there should be no tolerance for these idiots.
Redb
April 7th 2009 @ 2:18pm
Redb said | April 7th 2009 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
anyone see the charming photo of one of these thugs flipping the bird at the media? I think this blokes is the son of that mongrel who shot a woman in the face 15-20 years ago completely disfiguring her. Scumbag.
Redb