The crucial cogs of AFL's Round 7: Which players need to be the difference makers?
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
As a passionate Adelaide Crows supporter it is tough for me to write this, but as a football lover I have to. Grand finals in any sport should be between the two best teams in the competition.
For the sake of a quality season finale, if the two best teams are competing on the day you are more often than not going to get a cracking game.
2012 has been one of the most open years in AFL history, with just a handful of games separating first to ninth.
This is all well and good for the minor rounds and the early weeks of the finals to keep everybody interested, but with preliminary final week almost coming to an end, most people are hoping for a Sydney versus Hawthorn grand final.
Collingwood and Adelaide have been worthy top four sides, but the two standouts have been the Swans and Hawks.
The Swans have been at their brilliant tight checking congested best, but this season they have added some speed to skill with the likes of Lewis Jetta, Daniel Hannebry and Ryan O’Keefe tearing teams apart week in, week out.
Hawthorn, on the other hand, have been the sleeping giants of the competition, with their best football being mind blowing and their worst being very poor. Towards the business end of the season, though, they have posted numerous substantial victories.
Back in Round 22 these two sides gave us a taste of what we could witness on the last Saturday in September at the MCG, as they played out an epic contest at the SCG.
After they were jumped early by the Swannies, the Hawks came back from a 38-point deficit to record a seven-point win in a thriller.
So fingers crossed for another great weekend of football in a week’s time.
p.s. go crows
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We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
Collingwood premiership defender Nathan Murphy has been forced into a premature and immediate AFL retirement through concussion to prioritise a "full and healthy life"…
Geelong has been crafty and creative in its list management and has quietly assembled a very exciting young group of midfielders and half-forwards.
Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale will be looking to lead his team to a victory against Melbourne in what will be his 250th AFL game.
It’s high stakes with five teams having lost their first three games of season 2024, and in desperate need of a win.