Should Brad Scott be fined for his post-match comments about the umpiring in North Melbourne’s loss to Hawthorn? Yes, that’s obvious at this point.
It was the heat of the moment, sure. The emotion of losing an important game was there.
Somewhere along the line, something someone said, about what an umpire had said, was misconstrued. That misconstrued message was passed on to the coach of the losing side. That coach said something in the press conference that turned out not to be the case.
The chain of events is regrettable, we can clearly see that.
Still, questioning the integrity of an umpire. That’s a serious thing to be doing.
So serious that, even if you 100 per cent believed what was passed on during that chain of events, it would be a matter for official channels — not the post-game press conference.
The AFL rightly want to set an example of showing respect for umpires. AFL coaches should absolutely follow suit by being role models for the lower levels about how to fairly treat umpires.
Mouthing off at the first opportunity goes against that.
Even taking out that what was said in the post-game didn’t actually happen, it has to be addressed.
+2 // Ladder: 1st (10W, 3L)
Whatever was changed after those losses to Collingwood and Carlton, it worked. The Cats have registered impressive wins over GWS, North Melbourne and now the Western Bulldogs — by 57 points — in consecutive weeks and the hype over Patrick Dangerfield has somehow managed to climb higher. Then we hear Mitch Clark has kicked five in the VFL, which says there could be scope for further improvement.
-1 // Ladder: 8th (8W, 4L)
With the bye behind them, the Crows host North Melbourne on Thursday night in this week’s episode of Top Eight Sides Playing Each Other. Must-watch television, that.
-1 // Ladder: 5th (9W, 4L)
Bit worrying when Essendon can engineer an 81-point turnaround against you. Still, it’s hard to read too much into sides not being fully switched on against the Bombers and grinding out the win.
+2 // Ladder: 4th (10W, 3L)
Alastair Clarkson likened it to a finals game and the Hawks tend to do those things kinda well. Younger guys stood up in the win over North Melbourne, with James Sicily continuing to make an impact. Luke Hodge could be back in the mix this week and their fixture from here out sets the scene for momentum to build.
No change // Ladder: 7th (8W, 5L)
Bounced back and got the win over the lowly Lions. Five goals to Josh Kennedy and four each to Mark LeCras and Jack Darling.
+1 // Ladder: 2nd (10W, 3L)
If you play against Sydney in the wet, you’re going to feel it. That was again made clear with a record 155 tackles being laid against Melbourne. Lance Franklin just carries on his superb season, rain or shine.
-3 // Ladder: 6th (9W, 4L)
With blockbuster games now seemingly a twice-weekly affair, losses by more than 50 points tend to stand out. As should not one but two quarters that were five-goals-to-zip. Perhaps the injury toll is finally being felt. Certainly, the Dogs’ back line of early in the season wouldn’t have allowed two such quarters. But we’ll see how they shape up after an awaited bye.
+1 // Ladder: 3rd (10W, 3L)
Had the better of the first half, but kicked 4.11. Kicked better in the second half, but the threepeat premiers did what they tend to do when a game is there to be won. In the end, North were +70 in disposals, +4 in clearances, +7 in inside 50s and +27 in contested possessions, so no, it wasn’t a bad performance. Oh, and for those wondering, they were +9 in free kicks.
+3 // Ladder: 15th (3W, 10L)
Now we should probably take some notice. Good win over Port Adelaide, with Michael Barlow well and truly back in form after a 43-disposal, two-goal effort. Matthew Pavlich also front and centre with four goals.
-2 // Ladder: 9th (6W, 7L)
That’s got to be a season-killer. Fremantle, the side that opened the year with ten straight losses, should have been accounted for regardless of venue if Port Adelaide were real finals possibilities. Instead, they continue their role as “just a 50-50 type side”, as Ken Hinkley put it. Just three players hit 20 disposals against the Dockers. Justin Westhoff and Charlie Dixon continue to frustrate and play below their potential.
No change // Ladder: 12th (5W, 7L)
The Saints are back on deck this week, clashing with Geelong at Etihad Stadium. Their record against better teams isn’t flash, so we’ll see how they fare this time.
-2 // Ladder: 10th (6W, 7L)
Where Sydney laid 155 tackles, Melbourne laid 89. They also didn’t capitalise on Max Gawn’s ruck dominance, with Sydney winning the clearances 46-37. That said, the task of beating the Swans in the wet ain’t easy.
No change // Ladder: 11th (6W, 6L)
Back in action with a trip to Spotless Stadium to face the GWS Giants.
No change // Ladder: 13th (5W, 7L)
The Tigers return with an MCG fixture against the Brisbane Lions this week.
No change // Ladder: 14th (4W, 8L)
A suddenly very interesting Friday night fixture this week, with the Pies hosting the in-form Fremantle.
No change // Ladder: 16th (3W, 9L)
Much-needed week off, but it’s back to work with one of the toughest road trips in footy: Hawthorn in Launceston.
+1 // Ladder: 18th (1W, 12L)
Bomber fans clearly found other things to do yesterday. Just 14,463 rocked up to Etihad, the lowest Essendon home crowd in 25 years. It’s a shame because they missed out on a commendable performance against the Giants. Four goals to Orazio Fantasia gave a glimpse into the future.
-1 // Ladder: 17th (1W, 12L)
You suspect West Coast weren’t going to drop this one the week after a loss, so in that light winning the disposal count (by 110), the clearances (by 12) and contested possessions (by 13) was good from the Lions. But the game was practically ended by a seven-goals-to-one second quarter, and the final margin was 49 points, and the Lions still have a bit to work on.
13th man
Guest
Yes but if there is one side Freo always get up for (apart from West Coast) it's the Cats. The Rivalry is there and Freo are a bogey side for the Cats
Cat
Roar Guru
Afraid you'll have one good quarter and get your butts kicked the other three? Yeah, not afraid, at all, not even a tiny bit.
David C
Guest
One of Eagles/dogs could slide out of the 8.
David C
Guest
Leppa is a dead man walking. They are looking for a senior assistant to help him. More likely to take over when he is fired.
me too
Guest
sorry, obvious accidental cut and paste in there. freo 9th? after beating essendon and port at home (barely) and brisbane away? all it means is freo is ahead of...essendon and brisbane, and likely the gold coast. Ninth?
Peppsy
Roar Guru
Well 3rd quarter against Geelong for one (remember when you didn't score a goal for the entire quarter!). Now imagine a Hawks team that has gelled with all the new blood from this year, Hodge playing the full game, others back from injury, and with an understanding of how the opposition plays (and no Dangerfields best debut of all time), and I think Geelong of all teams should be afraid, as should any other team if the have to play at the MCG.
anon
Guest
1st GWS. Best midfield, all round team in the league. A young team that showed poise to get the job done in the 4th yesterday when they clearly hadn't turned up ready to play. They are young, will have brain farts like that as they learn to deal with expectation, but would have learned a big lesson yesterday and still banked 4 points. 2nd Geelong. Midfield unstoppable when on. If Dangerfield has an off game they don't win. 3rd Adelaide. They aren't really a legitimate top 4 team because their midfield is ordinary, but they keep doing the job against good opposition so I have to put them in 3rd. They rely on the efficiency of their forwards. I don't think that will stand up in September, much like it didn't against Geelong. 4th Sydney. Done everything asked of them and more. Were supposed to lose to GWS. 5th Hawthorn. The bottom half of the 8 is filled with suspect teams. Hawthorn could/should be 7-6, but the Bulldogs are cooked, North are pretenders and the Eagles won't fire a shot in September if they aren't top 2. 6th Bulldogs. Exhausting style of play and injuries have caught up. 7th Eagles. Real flat track bullies that have been figured out. 8th North. Pretenders that could finish as low as 8th. Freo aren't 9th.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I've been saying for weeks we deserve to be 18th. Essendon at least have an excuse. We don't. Would be hard for Leigh Matthews to say Leppa is still coaching next year if we lost to the Bombers!
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I disagree that history doesn't count for anything, especially if the game is tight it might carry a reasonable amount of weight. My guess would be Geelong will hit a few more down patches as the season wears on too.
Macca
Guest
"And if Sandilands is likely to be missing in that game, why bring him up?" Because he is going to be missing. The original comment suggested Freo's past history against Geelong indicated a win - I am merely poiting out that key players for Freo won't be there and Geelong have added some pretty handy players since the last time these 2 met - they aren't the same sides sop past history counts for nothing.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Ahem, Drew Petrie, ahem. Smith did seem to do pretty well against Mumford, might've edged him in the honours. Macca, it's not plug and play with footy, with just a simple equation of adding great player means the team will always be better for it. Same with a loss of a player, which over time lessens in impact. speaking of which, the game still being a few weeks away we don't even know for certain if Dangerfield will play. And if Sandilands is likely to be missing in that game, why bring him up? I disagree you get nothing out of those games in the analysis (certainly in the playing). Don't get me wrong the Cats would be the overwhelming favourites
Macca
Guest
Dalgety - how many of those "teams with Paddy Dangerfield" were Geelong? And how many featured Fyfe? "I’m not sure why you would bring up Zac Smith vs Sandilands?" Because as of last week Sandliands was 2-4 weeks away which means it is far from certain he will play against the Cats and Smith has been better than other ruckman Geelong have taken against you in recent times - so just like Dangerfield is a gain for the cats which is doubled by Fyfe's loss - Smith is a gain for the Cats that is double by Sandilands loss. In short the changes to the teams make the last 7 games pretty useless as a comparison.
Cat
Roar Guru
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Freo's record against sides with Paddy Dangerfield in them is pretty reasonable. I'm not sure why you would bring up Zac Smith vs Sandilands? I understand Smith has been pretty handy from all reports, but I'm not sure he's been towelling up any top shelf ruckmen has he? Oh and settle on the "hack" labelling johno. There are some players who have gone alright in that list.
johno
Guest
Freo won the 2012 final at the MCG with Keplar Bradley, Alex Silvagni, De Boer, McPhee, Crowley, Mzungu, Clancee Pearce .... all hacks who have been replaced the Cats had Chapman, Corey, Scarlett, Kelly, Hunt, J Pod, Christensen and Stokes and still dudded it. Zac Smith is a dud who'd struggle against Jack Hannath in the ruck. So Cats + Danger is better than Cats + Chappie, Scarkett, Corey, Kelly etc?
JohnDee
Guest
If Roughead was coming back into that team, I would 100% agree with you. Without Roughead though, and with Hale gone, they lack that genuine key forward target who can take a big contested mark or at least bring the ball to ground a large percent of the time. Against the teams like Geelong and Sydney who both have an experienced defensive unit and outstanding mid-fields, the ball is more likely to be bombed in long and high, under pressure, more often than not, and unless Hawthorn can find someone who can compete in the air with the likes of Ted Richards/Heath Grundy or Harry Taylor/Tom Lonergan/Lachie Henderson, then I think that may be a big enough advantage for those two teams to have the edge over the Hawks. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part!
peter chrisp
Guest
Richard that's a bit of a crack up with The Cats hosting St Kilda Swans Freo Crows & Dogs in that order i'd say 3 out of 5, i guess in some respect although it's difficult no matter where they play they're always a pretty good chance? Are The Cats one of the form sides on top of the ladder?
Cat
Roar Guru
When has Hawthorn been 'switched on' this year though? Easy to keep saying 'just wait until finals', been there, done that, doesn't work. Hawthorn's best is behind them. Can they still win games? Absolutely. Should any team fear them? Absolutely not. Hawthorn doesn't stand above anyone, they've done nothing this year to put themselves there.
Macca
Guest
Johno - In those 7 games how many did Dangerfield play? And how many did Fyfe play? What about Zac Smith and Sandilands?
Michael Huston
Guest
I think Geelong and Sydney have certainly been the most impressive teams thus far, but Hawthorn should be outright favourites. They're still probably the best team when switched on (though not by as much as years past), they are finals experts, they're sitting in the top four amongst three other Victorian teams (therefore "away" disadvantage is nullified), plus they have an uncanny knack for getting lucky. Can't see how anyone other than Hawthorn couldn't be premiership favourite. I think Sydney and Geelong will both face the same issues at times throughout this year. Because they both have lists that are kind of bringing in an influx of youth, they need to rely on the experienced players a lot more, and that can sometimes mean inconsistency. It would explain why even some of Geelong's veterans slumped in that two-week period against Collingwood and Carlton. I've got an eery feeling the same may happen to Sydney after the bye. We're usually terrible after the bye anyway. Still, a little offensive that after laying the most tackles in a game since the stat was recorded that makes us inferior, while teams like West Coast and GWS play a more fair-weather style of footy yet make it above us despite mediocre wins over the two bottom sides.