The Roar
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The AFL's top four emerged in two games this Anzac weekend

26th April, 2015
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26th April, 2015
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It was a long day on Anzac Day. Some attended the dawn services, some watched the marches, and then some headed to the local for a game or two of two-up.

It was a long day, and you could be excused for feeling like your eyes had dumbbells on them by dinner time. However, if you were like me, what happened soon after was enough to blast anyone out of their slumber.

Two remarkable games of footy were played by the four teams which I believe are clearly the best four teams in the competition. Both matches were played with incredible similarities, and both, while providing clear winners, left the losers with plenty to take home.

The back button on my Foxtel remote control was smoking by the end of the night, and those weary eyes, in need of match sticks just three hours earlier, were now wide open.

Port Adelaide were brilliant. It was stunning the way they started. It was like watching men playing against boys, and everything they did worked. And when the margin got out to almost ten goals in the second quarter, you were almost waiting for the umpire to stop the fight.

It was party time in Adelaide, and everyone wanted to join in.

But a ten goal to three second half not only had a few of the partygoers getting a little anxious and nervous, but showed the quality of the Hawks.

A loss is a loss and four competition points missed, but I reckon Alastair Clarkson – despite all the post-match drama – would have managed a smile when reflecting on the effort of his team.

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To have gone under by eight points, coming back from where they were, in front of a hostile and fanatical crowd, I actually think that while Port got the points, the game does more for Hawthorn than it does their rivals.

Across in Perth, cue similar scenario.

While it was virtually unbelievable to watch what was happening in Adelaide, when you flicked over to the Fremantle-Sydney game it was like you were watching a replay, except with the teams in different colours.

Just like the Power, the Dockers were brilliant, and made quality opposition look like amateurs early on.

The scoreboard was not as brutal as it was in Adelaide, but the domination was mirrored. Freo were all over the Swans, and at the main break, it was also party time in Perth as the visitors trailed by just three point less than the Hawthorn half-time deficit – 48 points.

But again, the vanquished rallied, and the Swans while losing, cut the margin to just 14 points. Like Clarkson, John Longmire wouldn’t have been looking to jump out of the plane on the flight home from Perth.

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Some might say that in both games it would have simply been a case of the leaders relaxing and the chasers getting some cheap catch up goals, but anyone who watched the games will quickly tell you it wasn’t the case.

And, play both of those games at the opposite venues, and who know what he results might have been.

As both Port and Freo showed, the value of a fast start in front of a home crowd is enormous. Both Hawthorn and Sydney were blown apart before they had time to warm up, and it will be a major lesson to both.

I wouldn’t expect it to happen again.

It’s only Round 4 and a lot will change over the next four months, but if these four teams are thereabouts come September I wouldn’t be disappointed at all.

At the moment they sit first (Dockers), fourth (Swans), seventh (Hawks) and 13th (Port) – but they’ll be battling for top four come August I think.

Some may have thought Adelaide was another contender after their first three matches, but after yesterday’s late game, I think they are still a way off the other quartet.

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I guess we will see when they meet Port next weekend, just like we will find out a little more about their Sunday arvo conquerors, the Bulldogs, when they come to Sydney to play the Swans on Saturday

And some might suggest North are also a candidate after their tough win against Geelong yesterday and a strong performance against Port last weekend.

Well, we’ll see what happens against Hawthorn next weekend.

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