It may only be Round 2, however after the upsets and controversies surrounding Round 1 of the 2014 AFL season, one can only feel that the footy is heating up once again as Richmond take on Carlton in the year’s first match at the MCG.
Round 1 of the AFL was terrific. There is no doubt that every game was intriguing for their own reasons.
Collingwood were taught a lesson by the hungry and fierce Dockers, while GWS showed just how good they might be.
On the second weekend of the split round, Essendon put all the controversy behind them yet again, while Geelong, West Coast and Hawthorn showed that they are all playing decent football in the early stages.
However as Round 2 so often is, this week it is about how the losers respond.
As much as the first Showdown at Adelaide Oval and the Friday night blockbuster between the traditional rivals Hawthorn and Essendon intrigue me, two other matches played on Thursday and Saturday will grab the attention of most of the footy world.
Richmond and Carlton will open the round at the home of football. This game becomes an important game for Carlton and almost a crucial game for Richmond given their draw in 2014.
The Tigers were disappointing against the Suns and although they hit the front early in the final quarter, they struggled to play consistent football all night despite winning most of the statistical categories.
Trent Cotchin was a shining light for the Tigers but more of their on-field leaders must stand up in this clash.
Brett Deledio, Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin are key for Richmond and they all influence the teams second-tier players by their work-rate and use of the ball. For Richmond to win, I think they’ll need plenty of ball through to both Riewoldt and Ty Vickery, but this comes from the midfield group that will have its hands full once again.
Carlton started off well against Port Adelaide at Etihad and gathered a four-goal lead at one stage into the second term.
However a crucial drop off in intensity in the third term left the hosts in trouble as the Power tortured them in the second half, exposing them in every area on the ground.
Expect a response from the Carlton midfield group, who without Judd may be lacking some depth. However they will need to counteract this through their second-tier players.
Massive game at the MCG between two fierce rivals, Richmond will go in slight favourites. However, after last year’s elimination final I wouldn’t feel confident tipping against the Navy Blue.
Sydney and Collingwood at ANZ on Saturday Night Football, ahh, hows the serenity?! After having their worst loss in a while, John Longmire has been under the pump just a little in the media, something Nathan Buckley is just too used to.
Two sides that have had great battles in the past at this very venue, but one can only feel like this will be a game that Sydney should win.
I know it is only late March, however Collingwood are in trouble.
After playing tough and spirited football in the opening term against the Dockers, they became simply exhausted both physically and mentally.
After that, the Dockers piled on the goals while Collingwood struggled for opportunities. When they had them, they missed them as well.
No Reid and with an underperforming midfield, all the odds are against Collingwood. Will we see a response?
It is a huge match for the Pies and their supporters because it’s possible both Collingwood and Carlton will be 0-2 heading into the third round.
The remaining games in the weekend should be straight forward, however GWS versus St Kilda remains a tough game to tip. Can the Giants win for the first time in Melbourne or will the Saints go back to back and build some confidence over Alan Richardson?
Expect the Roos to be hungry and desperate against the Dogs, West Coast to show they’re the real deal in 2014 by thumping the Dees while Geelong and Fremantle will show their professionalism and desire for the flag against the two Queensland teams, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, respectively.
Round 1 was impressive, but Round 2 will be breathtaking as the footy returns to the agenda as we round out the month of March.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Its a ripper of a round. Good game last night.
Cat
Roar Guru
Doubt it will happen but oh would that be awesome to see the pies winless heading into their first bye.
alicesprings
Guest
Wouldn't be surprised if this round breaks the 370k mark..making it the highest drawing round on record.
Paul D
Roar Guru
What makes you say that? I only ask because so many people came out and said the Lions were wooden spooners, rubbish etc in the pre-season, based solely on the fact that 5 blokes (only one of whom was playing regular first team footy left) and they sacked a coach who wasn't really setting the place on fire. They stuck with Hawthorn for 3 quarters, pretty good effort for a side everyone has been writing off. They'll be quite strong at home I feel. Certainly teams will have to work for their points, and we hopefully won't see any games like that Collingwood Friday night travesty last year.
Cat
Roar Guru
Why? Neither has shown anything this year or done anything in the offseason to make me afraid of either side. In fact I'd venture if anything the Lions have gone backwards slightly.
Cat
Roar Guru
and no one was commenting here about it until you brought it up lol.
berrlins
Roar Pro
Underestimate the dogs and the lions at your own peril, both teams under done last week against tough opponents, the dogs fell away more than they probably should of but will bounce back ditto lions. Will be harder then people think to go to the Gabba and play the lions
Paul D
Roar Guru
Clutch at those straws harder Macca, they might turn into strands of hope...
AR
Guest
I'm guilty as the next bloke in too-much-posting on the EFC scandal Tom, but it struck me that this is such a great round of football, and yet the overwhelming majority of comments on the AFL tab are on Hird articles. We're not done with it yet, but it'll be great - for everyone - when this sorry saga is behind us.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Unless infractions are handed out, I'd say this is postponed for a while. Hird (Mr or Mrs) won't be shooting their mouth off again while he's coach of the bombers, the club has made the ultimatum very clear on that front. Once he resigns, people might be chasing him for his side of the story, but that could be 4-5 years away, depending on how the club goes. People might have stopped caring by then, who knows what will have happened in football over the intervening few years.
TomC
Roar Guru
Good comment, AR.
macca
Guest
Looking at teh Pies draw they could be still on 0 wins though - no easy ones in there first 8.
macca
Guest
Big news "Kreuzer will be a late withdrawal from the Blues' second-round side, with defender Matthew Watson also expected to miss the match. The pair is likely to be replaced by midfielder Dylan Buckley, set to play his second senior game for the club, and forward Sam Rowe" I would be happy to see Buckley get a good run and Rowe can play at both ends so he can cover both Watson and Kreuzer but it does remove the advantage of Kreuzer V Vickery in the ruck. It could be a good move to go smaller in the wet though?
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Yes macca, I was going to the future as part of the potential consequences from this round. But actually see Blues and the Pies don't play until round 7.
macca
Guest
AR - No Maric, Jackson or Rance for the Tigers should make it closer than 22 points I reckon.
macca
Guest
Dalgety - The blues play Richmond (tonight) Essendon, Melbourne, the bulldogs and West Coast in Melb before they play Collingwood, I would be confident to say they will get at least 1 win form that lot.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
It'd be an interesting script for the Carlton-Collingwood clash should they both go in with the duck egg next to their names. Definitely some great contests coming this weekend, the Tigers-Blues clashes are finally getting some real contemporary relevance to them and the Hawks-Bombers match, not only to show where both teams are at, but hopefully carrying a bit of venom as well. Can't forget the "Showdown" either, as it enters a new era, but carrying a bit of old spice into it with the spats over the summer and a chance to make the other look a pretender.
macca
Guest
Paul D - I am unsure why the BLues continue with Robinson - they have Nick Graham coming off the back of consecutive 30 plus game sin the VFL, Dylan Buckley has had a very impressive pre-season and most had him in the first round side on the backof it and Patrick Cripps has shown a bit why not give the young blokes a crack? My biggest disappointment in the blues year last year was that they didn't get enough games into the likes of Graham, Bell, Menzel, Buckley and Casboult - selection in the first 2 rounds looks like history could be repeating. As for the game tonight I think the tigers loss of Maric and Rance will be massive as I the tigers struggled last year against the blues when Maric had to rest and I fancy Warnock will do a number on Hampson and Waite, Henderson and Kreuzer might now stretch your tall defenders and put pressure on the inexperienced Astbury (although wet weather might help). Also last year Curnow was quite effective on Cotchin, Touhy did a good job on Martin and once Mick saw sense and put Jamison back onto Riewoldt instead of the terrribly undersized Bootsma we were able to control Reiwoldt pretty well. The blues will definitely miss Judd form the last 2 games but the addition of Thomas does offset that a bit and the way Walker played last week his ommission could be a good thing.
AR
Guest
Interesting isn't it... Most of us are sick to death of all the Hird articles, yet when an article does appear to discuss and celebrate a great round of teh AFL...we're still too busy in the maelstrom of the Bombers scandal. I hope the footy discourse can be recalibrated this year, back to footy.
LF
Guest
The lions beat Geelong at home last year and came within a kick of beating them away last year and you put that down as a 'straight forward' game? Underestimate the lions at your own peril I say.