Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has always described an AFL season as “a marathon and not a sprint.” So after six rounds, who is leading the field?
Who’s gone too early? And who has made a complete false start? For my mind, Fremantle, Sydney and Collingwood are the pace setters, the Usain Bolt’s of the field.
Can Fremantle sustain their early form and stay in the top four?
While they will more than likely play finals, to maintain the momentum will be a huge challenge, especially considering how young the Dockers are. If they keep winning and knock off the Lions at home, though, even the doubters like me will be forced to become believers.
Sydney are still the biggest surprise packet of 2010.
But the big test will be football’s toughest road trip against reigning premier Geelong. It seems a win and they’re a real premiership contender, a dismal loss, and they slip back with the pack chasing the top teams.
While it’s going to be hard for any side to knock Collingwood out of the top four race, the Magpies’ depth is probably now the strongest in the league.
Not too many pundits would have predicted that Sidebottom, Beams, Wellingham and Dawes would push O’Bree, Lockyer, Brown and Anthony out of this Magpies line-up.
Throw in Ball and Jolly, who have just started to hit their straps, and it’s hard to see Collingwood losing more than they’ll win in the run home, especially the way they relish the big games in front of big crowds at the MCG.
But have the Magpies truly found a power forward in Dawes?
Geelong and St Kilda represent the genuine status of champion runner, Haile Gebrselassie.
The Cats, especially in recent years, are proven to go the distance no matter what position they find themselves in early in the season. While the Cats aren’t necessarily purring, the machine just keeps ticking along.
Brad Ottens is a massive loss, and the injuries to Rooke and Corey seem far worse than the club is letting on. But the return of Travis Varcoe from injury last week provided a huge boost, injecting some serious speed back into the Cats’ midfield.
The Saints, meanwhile, are limping somewhat without superstar Nick Riewoldt. Finding an avenue to goal has become increasingly difficult, and the game plan has resorted to stopping the opposition scoring rather than kicking a winning score themselves.
Regardless, the Saints understand the principle of a marathon and will do anything to find a way into the top four.
The Western Bulldogs represent the marathon status of the great Thomas Longboat.
After being suffocated last week by the Saints, I actually don’t think the Dogs’ best is that far away, and tonight they’ll be let off the leash completely in the wide-open spaces of the MCG.
My tip is that the Dogs will maul the Demons. And despite the Dogs indifferent start, I still have them as my premiership favourite.
West Coast, Adelaide and Richmond have all made false starts this season and are completely out of the race; while Carlton, Essendon, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide are all off and running, but are yet show enough signs their form can be trusted all the way to the finish.
It’s hard to gauge a form line that provides a glimpse towards September, especially when you consider if the Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, Geelong and Brisbane all win and Sydney, Collingwood, St Kilda and Fremantle all lose this weekend, the entire top 8 will be on 20 points and 5 wins.
How’s that for an even competition?
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