A beautifully tight finish to the AFL season awaits at both ends of the ladder, with the top eight and the bottom seven packed in like dodgem cars and jostling for position. Start the ride.
Plenty of the top teams play each other over the coming weeks, so there’s ample room to move with only two wins between second place and eighth. Down the other end there are four points between 12th and last, with the bottom seven teams all having won three or four games. The wooden spoon is anyone’s yet.
With some routine wins in the top eight this week, Gold Coast had the notable result. The McDonald’s Drive-Thru boys swarmed all over Geelong in one of those irrepressible displays that youthful energy can bring.
It was hypnotic to watch. Harley Bennell has been a star in the making from his first game, but this was surely his best outing. It wasn’t about the six goals (with a chance after the final siren for seven). It was that with the game to be won in the third, he cloned himself to be everywhere on the field, leaping, sprinting, hauling in marks and hurting an established side with each touch.
That means the Suns keep a game ahead of Essendon in ninth, with a much better run coming up. Playing Hawthorn at Aurora will be a lesson in freezing their nuts off, but the Magpies in Queensland is now a real chance, then there’s a cakewalk month of Bulldogs, Lions, Saints and Blues, with the latter the only game outside Campbell Newman’s Bikie Paradise.
The Bombers had an important win for them, beating their immediate rival Adelaide to move four points clear as the next in line outside the top eight, and to put the bitter memory of their last-second loss to Melbourne behind them. The Crows kept pushing at Etihad Stadium, but Essendon managed to find an answer whenever required.
Rather than chasing down Gold Coast, though, the Bombers’ next few weeks look grim. They’ll cop a presumably less shambolic Geelong, travel to play Port Adelaide, have the Doggies and Magpies back home, then travel to Sydney. If all goes the Coasters’ way in that time, the Bombers will be eating ASADA-approved dust.
Greater Western Sydney had the only other notable win, getting the better of Carlton at home to leap two places to 14th. That pushes 2014’s basket case, Richmond, down into the bottom three – neither they nor the Blues have been able to take a trick this year.
Carlton, the Bulldogs, Melbourne and GWS have four wins; Brisbane, Richmond and St Kilda three. It’s an interesting set-up: usually one team is stone cold motherless last by now, so to have every team winning a few is a good sign for the competition. There’s plenty of incentive, too: a win or a few percentage points could make a big difference to final positions.
The Giants will have three or four more good chances for wins before the season’s out: they’d love to finish up with a best-ever win tally, with the aim of emulating the Suns next season.
On the losers list this week, you can’t go past Geelong. As a long-time Cat-watcher, I haven’t seen a performance that bad since the development days of 2004. To be so consistently poor for a whole match is almost an achievement in itself, as a supposed top side clanged its way to a loss and handed over fourth spot to Fremantle.
Targets were missed time and again. Set shots for goal were wasted on attempts to dish off. Tackles didn’t stick. Matty Stokes was done three times for holding the ball, then subbed off injured at half time. Bennell and Gary Ablett found space all day.
Nothing sums it up better than Mark Blicav’s game. I love his effort, but his inexperience as a footballer still shows: under pressure he either can’t pick up the ball, can’t dispose of it, or gives a panicked get-out pass to his nearest teammate rather than having the composure to choose a better option. Time and again on Saturday he fumbled his way to turnovers.
A few players were still excellent, and the result blew open late as a result of Geelong’s attempt to attack for a win rather than minimise the loss, but the Cats are struggling. The Bulldogs, Melbourne and GWS should give them a chance to rebuild their game, but if they’re not careful they’ll get torched by the Bombers this Friday night.
Fremantle, meanwhile, have an even softer run, so the Cats can’t expect to get back up the ladder any time soon. That may come down to Freo’s trip to Kardinia Park in Round 20.
Hawthorn were expected to beat Collingwood, but Collingwood would have been hoping to prove some September credentials by beating Hawthorn. That didn’t happen. Sure, the Pies got within a kick in the third quarter, but you never really felt like they were going to threaten.
The Magpies retain sixth place, but are now level on points with North Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Their next six are all tricky but winnable. Their form thus far this year suggests they won’t win them all.
Adelaide were the other substantial losers of the weekend, dumped a place on the ladder by West Coast, which on this season’s form is quite an indignity. They should have got over Essendon, but gave them too great a headstart and too many easy goals.
That leaves Adelaide two games off the top eight: a bridge too far. They’ll battle on, and there are wins ahead, but with this loss I’m calling the Crows season as over.
Doc
Guest
I wouldn't be too despondent about the Tiges - they come up against the Saints this weekend. You'd have to say, although the Sainters have taken a few quarters off even top teams in nearly every game this year I can't see them stringing enough together to beat Richmond. Yes the Tigers have had a horrible fall this season but I still think it doesn't compare to the Saints who were contenders for the flag only three seasons ago. As a Sainters supporter it pains me to say it, but I think they will add to their collection of wooden spoons this year - biggest in the AFL.
Don Freo
Guest
Yeah...Mick has won a Premiership every 230 games. Does that make Chris Scott ten times better because he got one in only 23? Or is he infinitely better than Ross because he hasn't got one? If the percentage of games won was the criterion, Ross is miles ahead. Pick a stat, wiggle it around and presto! you win an argument. But this argument is about Mick now. You wouldn't find many Carlton fans overly interested in keeping him. His public representation of them is bleak and sad and perverts the meaning of the Blues. Brett Kirk, Cameron Ling, Jono Brown, Scott Burns...even Ratts must be an attractive return proposition. Ling, Brown and Glass would be on everyone's list of assistants. Probably Maxwell next year too.
bryan
Guest
"I think Carlton and Richmond are sort of like the ALP of the footy world " Most Footy teams would love to have the ALP's record! Of course,there are more teams in the AFL,& weak teams aren't allowed to combine with other weak teams to beat a strong one. When was the last time the Liberals ruled in their own right?------Oh yes,that'd be never!
Michael huston
Guest
Think the criticism of Geelong has been harsh. All teams rise and fall due to age, injuries, trades, administration changes etc. Geelongs players should be judged as equally as other teams. Whether we know it or not, we're comparing them to the Geelong of 2007-2011, but they're a different side now. Many of the veterans from that side are long gone, and they're a young team. Based on that, fifth place would actually be a big achievement. But agree about Gene, the Cats were beaten fair and square by a better side on the day.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
While I predict Geelong to be outside of the top 4, I am not making any big statements about their decline. Simply not worth the risk when so many have predicted it in seasons past. If it is, well, let it be. Out of the top 4 is not decline, on the ladder perhaps but not of a club.
geoff
Guest
As a fellow cats supporter (for 30 yrs) gene is clutching at straws to whinge about minor details. Enright is done and lonegran close behind. Both are showing their age all too often this season. I completely agree about blicavs in reference to his woeful skill errors. Stokes had a bad day but is one of our best and most improved from his days as a pinch hitter. The cats are clearly below the top 4. But we are not in September so there is still hope.
Axle an the guru
Guest
The history behind the coach is why he is appointed Don, I'm not a huge Malthouse fan either,but before you go getting into him why dont we wait and see how he goes. He is a proven triple premiership coach with much better credentials than most out there,and lets not forget it wasn't that long ago that he was victorious on the big day. People seem to expect miracles out of him,everything takes time.
Don Freo
Guest
That's a strange contribution to the conversation we were having. Ross would be one of the most amenable and approachable coaches in the AFL. You are talking about Mick's past. We are talking about his present. By the way, Alan Richardson is undefeated in GFs against both Mick and Ross. Does that make him a guru?
Axle an the guru
Guest
Im sure Ross Lyon would like a record like Malthouse Don. But thats yet to happen and may not happen, and lets not forget Malthouse is undefeated in Grand Finals against your mate Ross.
Maggie
Guest
"If you’re going to comment on articles, try to be a bit less unpleasant." Geoff, a lot of Roar readers agree with you on that request to Gene.
Balthazar
Guest
Even if Geelong win at the Cattery I don't think Freo will be tipped out of the top 4. Thanks also for the restraint on the bunyip references. Poor Pav!
Don Freo
Guest
I don't doubt Mick's quality as a person. He just seems tired and worn out. He should let go and enjoy the Grey Nomad life, football commentator style.
Macca
Guest
I am no Malthouse fan but I read an article in which Chris Yarran discussed being invited around to Malthouses for dinner with him and his wife - that struck me as going a bit beyond the nromal constructs for the betterment of the player.
Franko
Guest
It's the easier ones you have to watch. This is basically a GF for the Crows. If they can win this, they salvage some pride around town, if not it's tails between legs.I
Paul D
Roar Guru
In Mick's defence, apparently what we, the public, get to see on TV cameras is nothing like what he's like behind the scenes. You don't last this long in the game by being an unpleasant, irascible old so-and-so.
Don Freo
Guest
Yeah but he went off at 5.45. The clock had ticked over to 5.46 by the time the paperwork was done. Check with the officials Gene before your pedantry finds you out. Sheesh!
Don Freo
Guest
His age has alienated him from 21st century footy. He is grumpy, blames others and is irascible with the simplest of queries. I could imagine that, apart from Daisy, the whole team would be wishing they had someone who could communicate with them.
Radelaide
Guest
Same with Fort Adelaide.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Hasn't been much worthwhile most of this year, unfortunately for Mick. The impatience with him doesn't make sense though, he couldn't have better credentials.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
I was watching it, Gene. Perhaps what would have been holding the ball had advantage paid and wasn't recorded. He was definitely rolled twice on the half back flank, declining to handball out after he got tackled, then whistled up inside 50 after crouching over the ball. Subbed out "by" half time if that suits you better. Caddy didn't do anything noticeable until the second half. If you're going to comment on articles, try to be a bit less unpleasant.