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There were a number of great results over the weekend. First and foremost, the courage and fortitude of the Essendon players, to manage to put all their off-field traumas to one side for 120 minutes, and keep alive their hopes of playing finals football.
Let’s just hope it doesn’t end in zero as it did 12 months ago, the players don’t deserve that again.
I’m positive some of you are saying ‘they did the crime’, and the show cause notices indicate they have to do the time, but I’m sorry, if you’re a young footballer and someone at your club instructs you to do this or take that, you do as they say.
I have no doubt some of the players fell into that category – but I digress.
Back to the weekend, and the Gold Coast Suns bounced back with a bang from three successive losses, and showed they really can make the eight in 2014.
Before their stunning demolition of Geelong on Saturday, the Suns had shown their continued improvement, but their seven wins had come against teams they should beat; all teams – with the exception of North Melbourne – below them on the ladder and expected to finish there.
But Saturday’s win was against a legitimate contender, and the Suns – not just one Gary Ablett Jr, but all his mates – stood up.
They have a bigger test this week against Hawthorn, followed by Collingwood, and then Port Adelaide in Round 21, but all their other games are extremely winnable, and the Suns are set for history in 2014 with their first finals appearance.
Greater Western Sydney are again giant slayers, this time with a win over Carlton, the Blues sliding further and further away from September footy, and raising more questions about Mick Malthouse’s coaching future.
What the weekend also told me is that with over two months and nine rounds still to play, the top four now will be the final four, and they are really the only teams which can win it all.
Not because of how difficult it is to win the flag from outside the top four, but because that quartet are clearly the best teams, and only a tragic injury toll to them all, or staggering improvement from a team outside the four, would change that scenario.
Port Adelaide shrugged off the disappointment of their loss to the Swans with another clinical win, this time at home over a plucky Bulldogs side which stuck with Port until the main break, then it was back to usual business for the ladder leaders in the second half.
Hawthorn too, were challenged, and it looked for a moment as though Collingwood may not only improve their credentials, but lower those of the Hawks. But like a good side does, the premiers methodically picked apart the Pies, and when all their stars are fully fit, they will again be the team to beat.
The Swans – well, it wasn’t anything to write home about. Slow and sluggish at times, they looked set to bring their winning streak of games to an end at the hands of Richmond (of all teams), but like good teams do, they found a way to win, and the team will shoot for 10 wins in a row. A win against the Giants next weekend will be the first time the Swans have won 10 on the trot since 1935 and surpass the Sydney record of nine straight set in 2012. Redemption, and a slice of history, all to be achieved on one night at the SCG.
And Fremantle, talk about clinical. They simply embarrassed and demoralised a lesser rival in the Lions, and helped their percentage along the way.
While I’ve narrowed it to four, seeing which team lands precisely where come September, and which ones get the top two spots, is of greatest interest.
They all have their share of should win games, tricky games, and significant games, and interestingly each team in the four plays two of the other three in the run home.
Port host Sydney in Round 20, and are then away to Fremantle in Perth in Round 23.
Like Port, Hawthorn host Sydney (Round 18) and head to the west to play Fremantle in Round 21.
Fremantle therefore have a huge boost of two games at home, while Sydney have both games away, but they do boast the best road record in AFL at present, with six wins from seven outings, the only loss being that stunning defeat at the hands of GWS in Round 1.
At the moment, toss a couple of coins to find the best of the quartet. For me, I’m just looking forward to the entrée to the finals – those four clashes in rounds 18, 20, 21 and 23. Then, bring on September.
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