Every so often during an AFL season, there will be one or two rounds that excite the average fan like no other. Round 18 is one such example and it’s only halfway finished.
So far, it has been a split round of split personalities.
It certainly didn’t seem that way before play started on Friday night. The five games for the weekend offered top eight teams playing bottom eight teams. Despite there being only five games, none were scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The mere fact that it is a split round had many people up in arms.
Amid all the cries of protest about fixturing, all the moaning about the AFL doing the fans a disservice, one thing was largely forgotten: Footy is an amazing game, capable of being wildly entertaining no matter the timeslot, venue or opposing teams.
Within the span of 48 hours we were treated with one major upset (St. Kilda over Fremantle), one upset that most could see coming (Carlton over North Melbourne), and three games where the favourites were pushed right to the last siren and the final margin was an average of less than a goal.
We were also treated to a display of brilliance from key forwards that made it feel like it was 1993. On Friday night, Jarrad Waite and Lachie Henderson kicked 10 goals for Carlton between them. They were the difference in the match, especially in the last quarter when the Roos looked like they might have had momentum on their side.
It was Henderson’s best game for the club and Waite’s best game for some time. It was especially significant for Waite, since he wasn’t even in the team until Friday afternoon.
On Sunday evening it became an old-fashioned shootout, with forwards at either end taking the game on. Jake Stringer, for Western Bulldogs, and Jake Carlisle, for Essendon, kicked five and eight goals, respectively. Carlisle, in particular, was incredible.
As well as his eight goals, he also took 12 marks, all forward of the centre square – ten of his marks were inside the 50 metre arc. It was a display of traditional key forward play most thought was beyond him as little as three weeks ago.
In the last two weeks he has had 45 disposals, taken 31 marks and kicked 12 goals. He has gone from a player who looked totally lost in attack to leading his club in goal-kicking. He now appears to be the player that could be the difference between victory and defeat come finals time.
As good as Carlisle was, it was a Carey-like performance from St. Kilda captain, Nick Riewoldt, that inspired the upset of the year. He finished the game with 30 disposals, 16 marks and four goals. Even by his lofty standard, that is a stellar game. He was ably supported by his heir apparent, Rhys Stanley, who also contributed three goals and 14 marks.
Despite having lost 11 games in a row until this week, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Saints. As well as Stanley they have future stars in Luke Dunstan and Jack Billings, and players such as David Armitage and Shane Savage that are in their prime. If they can keep a few of their veterans around for another year or two to help the younger players their stay at the bottom of the ladder may be short-lived.
Also in their favour is the fact that they totally opened up what was supposed to be the best defence in the league. They didn’t just beat Fremantle, they dismantled them. The Dockers’ loss should’ve cost them a spot in the top four, but then there was Port Adelaide.
Despite managing a win over Melbourne on Sunday, Port are falling apart at the seams. Thanks to Fremantle losing a sizeable amount of per centage against St. Kilda, Port had a perfect opportunity to leapfrog them into fourth spot. Instead, the Power took all day to put away the Dees and if the game had gone for another five minutes, they may well have lost.
The week off could not have come soon enough for Port. They look more in need of a rest than any other side in the competition. With top four aspirants Sydney and Fremantle looming, as well as danger games against Collingwood, Carlton and Gold Coast to round out the year, they desperately need to regroup.
Fremantle’s loss makes the rest of Round 18 all the more interesting. Hawthorn and Sydney on Saturday night was already shaping as the match of the round, now it is even more significant. With Fremantle slipping, the winner of this match is virtually assured a top two spot at season’s end. In a year so even, where any team can beat any other team on their day, a first week home final will be invaluable.
Then there is Collingwood up against Adelaide on Sunday evening. With Essendon continuing to win, and with a relatively favourable draw ahead, there is likely only one spot left in the eight to decide. That spot is almost certain to go to the winner of this match. Neither team has been in exceptional form and it could go either way. If the round so far is anything to go by, no outcome would be surprising.
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