What’s worse? If you’re a Melbourne or Richmond supporter, you’d be doing it tough. In what has been a pretty gloomy year for both sides, they both fought courageously this weekend only to suffer narrow losses.
Melbourne by 7 points to the Bulldogs, Richmond by 3 points to the power.
It begs the question; which stings more? Going down by a bare margin or being blown out of it and getting thrashed? Both stink and there is nothing redeeming about either. You have to feel for them. You know you’re doing it rough when the best you have is choosing between the lesser of two evils.
Another classic
Some of the names may have changed but there is something about Sydney-West Coast matches which is a recipe for drama and tension. The two have never played out a draw and may have been due for one given the topsy-turvy nature of this most recent contest.
Where to judge the Swans? They sit at 4-4. Their four losses have all come away against St Kilda, Brisbane, Geelong and Fremantle while the wins have been against Hawthorn, Richmond, Carlton and the Eagles. Should they have won any of those four which they lost? As for the Eagles, it’s hard to say where they are at given the transition in personnel they have recently had.
Unease at Collingwood
Collingwood would be seething after losing to Carlton. They have now lost their last three against the Blues. In recent years, Collingwood has been a force but not this year. They haven’t yet won two games in a row and apart from the win up at the Gabba, they haven’t played football of any note.
The season got off to a rough start with the loss to Adelaide and since then they have been unable to find any rhythm. There is a lot of speculation concerning the future of Magpies’ coach, Mick Malthouse. Is this affecting the players?
Half-time Blowouts
There seems to be a number of games this year, already over at half-time. More so than any other year. Geelong and St Kilda have been the main reasons for this but it has also happened in games in which they weren’t playing. Is this just one of these cyclical things?
Regrouping Hawks
After a slow start, Hawthorn is at 4-4 . They wouldn’t mind flying under the radar and having Geelong and St Kilda take all the limelight. They are slowly but steadily making their way up the ladder and come September, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Michael C
Guest
Over by half time...........hey, North vs Geel was over before the game started!!! 'resting' Wells and Rawlings, actually, it was an example of North being probably quite pleased with 'only' being beaten by 70 pts! Before half time it looked set for a 120 pt thrashing. Rhyce Shaw - at Collingwood he was fighting for the spot with amongst others - one Heath Shaw. At the Swans, he became a straight replacement for T.Kennelly. (remember him?). So, opportunity, regular game time, acceptance of responsibility, and for R.Shaw, he does seem to be improving his efficiency even by foot. He seems to be given the licence to drive the ball long rather than the Collingwood chipping game. Geelong and StKilda - - - there's often be impregnable looking May champions.....Collingwood used to make it an artform, and then fail to win a game for all of June. In 1983....ah...the memories, North Melbourne had a series of wins dubbed May Massacres, including 51 over Haw, 115 over Doggies, 40 over Geel at Geel, 111 over Carlton, followed up with 2 more wins for 6 on the trot.........and then headed to the Junction oval only to see the Royboys (Quinlan and Rendell) go mad with a 220 to 70 scoreline........how quickly the Zeppelin of success could be shot down.
Redb
Roar Guru
DW, I think its a product of Geelong and St Kilda's dominance as the top 2, the next 14 teams have often been close games with a quite a few upsets. Collingwood are headed for perdition under Malthouse. :-) Redb
David Wiseman
Roar Guru
Redb I - Collingwood - Carlton? Second game in a row for the Pies that was over at the half. LK/Redb II - No - its a Catch-22. He is allowed to play a certain way at Sydney, that he couldn't with Collingwood. And the change of scenery and infusion of confidence does wonders. You could say the same thing about Ted Richards and the Swans.
Redb
Roar Guru
Lk, Looks that way, Shaw is on fire for the Swans lately with his run out of defence. The number of times he runs bounces the ball once, twice, three times, he his showing how to bust the zone. Redb
LK
Guest
Did the pies trade the wrong Shaw brother?
Redb
Roar Guru
DW, On the contrary re half time blowouts, this round in particular saw some very close games. Your right about Geelong and St Kilda though they are a clear cut above. What is great though is the eveness of the rest of comp with games between the 14 clubs (barring injuries) competitive right down to 15 and 16 both of whom almost beat more fancied opponents in the Top 8. Redb