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The quest goes on to find out who ‘won’ in the AFL in 2015 with second round action and third round draw from bracketology.
By popular demand because apparently no-one wants to bother reading detailed analysis unless it is written by in-depth Roarer, the beloved Ryan Buckland, second round results are here at the top. For those that aren’t too time poor, feel free to read on beyond that, the reward at the end is the schedule of battles for Round 3, the round of 16.
Bracketology 2015 – Round 2 Results
Players Bracket
(1) Goodes defeats (9) Riewoldt
(4) Dangerfield defeats (5) Murphy
(3) Fyfe defeats (6) Hodge
(10) Walker defeats (2) Franklin
Personalities Bracket
(9) Lyon defeats (1) Walsh
(13) Ratten defeats (12) Brown
(6) McLachlan defeats (3) Clarkson
(2) Hird defeats (10) Thompson
Off-Field Bracket
(1) #drugs defeats (9) #brownlowflirtation
(5) #rest defeats (13) #roughbattle
(6) #bigfreeze defeats (14) #mrp
(2) #boo defeats (10) #tradeperiod
On-Field Bracket
(1) #weflyasone defeats (9) #715
(4) #dangerfyfe defeats (12) #return
(3) #threepeat defeats (6) #upset
(7) #maddie defeats (2) #wardance
Players Bracket
(1) Adam Goodes defeats (9) Nick Riewoldt
After seeing off one veteran in a no contest in Round 1, Goodes survives a far tougher Round 2 battle. Really the years of Riewoldt and Goodes were punctuated with fleeting moments of their on-field brilliance but with the personal anguish off-field being their defining moments.
A case could be made that Riewoldt dealt with as much or even more difficulty across 2015. It was though the magnitude of the fallout against Goodes that was more defining across the year. Goodes survives to Round 3.
(4) Patrick Dangerfield defeats (5) Bob Murphy
In 2015 it is fair to say that every media outlet wanted Bob Murphy and his newfound hipster cult status. Murphy obliged and took his cult status everywhere. Every media outlet wanted Patrick Dangerfield and his decision. Dangerfield rejected every advance and it just made everyone want him more. For playing the good ole hard to get card, Dangerfield kept himself as the bigger story across the season.
(3) Nat Fyfe defeats (6) Luke Hodge
On-field Fyfe was the star of the AFL, ahead of Hodge and the rest of the AFL. From an MRP and suspension front again Fyfe has Hodge covered. Hodge’s suspension was a big story but nothing like the ongoing story of Fyfe toeing the MRP line seemingly every Monday with the will he or won’t he lose the Brownlow a second half of the season story.
The extreme high of Hodge’s team premiership is countered by his extreme low of a drink driving charge. Call them a wash, and call Fyfe a Round 2 winner.
(10) Taylor Walker defeats (2) Lance Franklin
This battle ultimately came down to one thing, Franklin’s inability to address his own issues as opposed to the courage of Walker to say to the AFL world that he was falling in love with another man in his fallen coach. It may have been the bravest and strongest statement made by any AFL personality this year, putting aside typical stereotypes and instead showing the real human being that makes Taylor Walker. True leadership, true humility and a true champion.
Personalities Bracket
(9) Ross Lyon defeats (1) Phil Walsh
The untimely death of Walsh was a tragedy that spread the globe. In the end though it was the reaction to the death that became the bigger talking point. What Walsh’s death inspired was more than the man himself and in someways that is real legacy, what you inspire as opposed to what you are.
Lyon pulls off this top seed upset under the radar. A coach that seemed to learn from his Saints experience fell into old ways in 2015 as he relied on veterans and stunted the growth of a desperate young group with his selections. He forced the AFL into a fundamental change to its fixture with his ongoing desire to rest players. Oh and he made a ridiculously advised play for one Cam McCarthy while taking as ridiculous a punt on Harley Bennell based on what is supposedly one barbeque. Dig deep, and Lyon’s year was a stunner.
(13) Brett Ratten defeats (12) Jonathon Brown
Kudos to Brown on making it to the second round in his first full year as a media personality, but he falls to the Ratten-delivered-us-the-flag tactic that got him through Round 1.
(6) Gil McLachlan defeats (3) Alastair Clarkson
As with Lyon above, McLachlan’s first full year as CEO is drastically underrated. Never before has a CEO came in and stamped his own mark on the game with rule changes, fixture changes, game changes and continuing on a commitment to take the game to the fans. As good as Clarko and his coaching tree was in 2015, McLachlan deserves credit for having either the courage or stubbornness to take the game in a direction he believes. Clarko coaches for a certain effect, McLachlan is administering to counter that effect.
(2) James Hird defeats (10) Mark Thompson
After overcoming his successor in Round 1, Hird takes down his predecessor and former mentor in Thompson in Round 2. Again Thompson had some intriguing insight to the Bombers supplement scandal, but it was nothing compared to the take that Hird continued to have to his involvement in the biggest three year scandal in the AFL.
Another walkover for Hird to power into the third round. Feels like a good Essendon supplement joke is to come about what point Hird runs out of juice.
Off-Field Bracket
(1) #drugs defeats (9) #brownlowflirtation
All good things come to an end and trying to take a one night stand past a second date rarely works out, so long and a fond farewell to Brownlow Flirtation. The AFL will tell you otherwise but bet even Brownlow night was overrun with more drugs then flirtations.
(5) #rest defeats (13) #roughbattle
As good a feel good story Jarryd Roughead’s battle to a premiership medal was; it did not result in a fundamental change to the AFL like the rest weekend did. Now if Roughead’s Olympic Stadium bolts in the ground had have spelt the end of that stadium in 2016, he may have pipped this one. Alas Sydney still have two grounds and #rest can be the only one that goes on.
(6) #bigfreeze defeats (14) #mrp
After getting a default Round 1 win the MRP is not going to pull the same shenanigans twice. Even MRP feat. Nat Fyfe can’t pull those shenanigans this time. To award this winner let’s go off the grid a bit and use dollar figures. As pricy as MRP fines can be, they did not come close to the $2.4 million that ‘The Big Freeze’ has assisted in making for MND. 2.4 million reasons for Big Freeze to reach the final 16.
(2) #boo defeats (10) #tradeperiod
The trade period probably exceeded expectations with a host of major names moving clubs and the one standout of the group in Patrick Dangerfield being the key first domino. Even some of the minor moves feel like they will have lasting impact. But as much as they bettered expectation, no-one could have predicted that even now booing, the reasons and the impact of, would still be being debated.
On-Field Bracket
(1) #weflyasone defeats (9) #715
Fair to say that WFA1 has had a dud draw to this point and has coasted into the third round. Another no contest for the so far dominant one seed.
(4) #dangerfyfe defeats (12) #return
Two great players versus one great return. Two is better than one right. Here is for hoping that the Menzel return can continue in 2016 and that Chris Scott will follow the lead of Phil Walsh and let DangerFyfe lock horns again when Fremantle and Geelong battle in 2016.
(3) #threepeat defeats (6) #upset
As big as the GWS upset of Hawthorn was for the Giants back in Round 6, when looking back across the season and when considering Hawthorn completed their three-peat in spite of this loss, the overall season impact was not as high.
(7) #maddie defeats (2) #wardance
As big as the two moments where Adam Goodes and Lewis Jetta performed an indigenous war dance were; they were engulfed by the off-field reaction to it. The dance itself paled to the booing controversy that would follow. Meanwhile, from respectful and humble origins, the life and legacy of Maddie Riewoldt has become a true testament to what the AFL world can achieve when it pulls together for good reasons.
Bracketology 2015 – Round 3 (Round of 16)
Players Bracket
(1) Goodes versus (4) Dangerfield
(3) Fyfe versus (10) Walker
Personalities Bracket
(9) Lyon versus (13) Ratten
(2) Hird versus (6) McLachlan
Off-Field Bracket
(1) #drugs versus (5) #rest
(2) #boo versus (6) #bigfreeze
On-Field Bracket
(1) #weflyasone versus (4) #dangerfyfe
(3) #threepeat versus (7) #maddie
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