Umpire Justin Schmitt indicates a mark to Brisbane's Daniel Bradshaw in the closing seconds of the AFL Round 19 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Brisbane Lions at the MCG. Slattery Images
Despite Port’s loss on the weekend, Essendon’s draw against the Lions means they are going to struggle to pinch eighth spot.
In the next three weeks they have to play St Kilda, travel to Perth to take on Fremantle and then face up to Hawthorn. They would be lucky to win one of those games meaning that Port requires only one win from their final three games to all but assure the Powers of a place in the finals.
This seems the likely outcome.
What Not to Wear
Speaking of Port, what on earth were they wearing against the Dockers? For once the Dockers didn’t have the most garish uniform on display.
The jumper with the teal and black bolts and an all-teal back would have to be one of the worst sporting uniforms in Australia. The Power reflected their jumper and were insipid and poor against the Dockers. They probably felt embarrassed.
A return to Route 66?
Could we be in for a repeat of the 1966 Grand Final? While they have second place sewn up, the Cats haven’t been at their best in the last few weeks. Conversely the stocks of the Magpies seem to be rising.
With Richmond, Sydney and the Bulldogs to close out the season, expect them to finish on a high. They will play Geelong in the first week of the finals and have home ground advantage for that game. From there, anything is possible although this is Collingwood we are talking about.
For them to win is like the Boston Red Sox to do so, but unfortunately for the Magpies, they have stricter drug testing here.
Dogs losing their bark
Friday night’s loss to the Eagles was horrible for the Dogs and even more so given what is in store for them over the next three weeks. Away to the Lions, Geelong and Collingwood is a horror run and the Bulldogs could slip from fourth to seventh which basically ends any premiership aspirations they may have had.
The Dogs are in the midst of the third longest premiership drought of all time and haven’t played in a Grand Final since 1961. Add another year to the drought.
Golden Goal?
The Brisbane Lions – Essendon draw renewed claims that the AFL should abolish draws and use some sort of overtime by which to decide tied home and away games.
A draw is an intrinsic part of the fabric of the sport and shouldn’t be done away with.
There are enough exciting finishes without having to resort to this. If the scores are level after four quarters of football, neither team deserves to leave empty-handed.
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