Round 8 of the AFL was a thoroughly exciting weekend of football. There were a lot of close games.
This meant that the football being played was enthralling for the neutral spectator.
Top five coaches of Round 8
1- John Longmire (Swans) – The Swans managed to win the game against a tough opposition in the Hawks, despite playing without a recognised tall forward.
John Longmire, coach of the Swans. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
2- Adam Simpson (Eagles) – The Eagles collected the four points, even though they were without at least four of their starting twenty two.
3- Ken Hinkley (Power) – The Power needed to win the showdown to stay in touch with the top eight. The Power won the game in the last minute.
4- Damien Hardwick (Tigers) – The game against the Kangaroos was of a high intensity and the Tigers managed to win with Ben Jacobs successfully negating Dustin Martin.
5- Brad Scott (Kangaroos) -Despite not collecting the four points the Kangaroos challenged the Tigers, proving that they may feature in September.
Round 8 key points
Hawks vs Swans
The Swans recruiting and match committee need to be commended.
The Swans managed to get the four points thanks to Ben Ronke kicking seven goals in his third game of AFL football. George Hewett was instrumental in his role tagging Tom Mitchell.
Hawks team lifter: James Sicily, Jack Gunston
Swans team lifter: George Hewett, Ben Ronke
Giants vs Eagles
The Giants can’t win the premiership.
The Giants have lost a lot of players to other clubs and they don’t have the depth to cover their injuries, while the Eagles are a final eight contender, managing to win without three key players.
Giants team lifter: Callan Ward
Eagles team lifter: Andrew Gaff
Blues vs Bombers
The Bombers are this season’s most disappointing team.
The Bombers were lacking a viable game plan and system hence their poor performance. Full credit to the Blues, they were well led by Patrick Cripps in the middle of the ground.
Blues team lifter: Ed Curnow
Bombers team lifter: Devon Smith
Suns vs Demons
The Demons are a force to be reckoned with.
Simon Goodwin has got the Demons on the verge of making the top eight. The Suns have been disappointing, following a reasonable start to the Season.
Suns team lifter: Jack Martin
Demons team lifter: Clayton Oliver
Power vs Crows
There is nothing better than a close game.
The Crows appeared to have the game won in the first half. The Power fought back brilliantly and won a thrilling showdown. This is how footy is meant to be played.
Power team lifter: Robbie Gray, Tom Rockliff
Crows team lifter: Matt Crouch
Bulldogs vs Lions
The Bulldogs are going to be a final eight contender, while the Lions are giving their fans something to cheer about.
This was a reasonable contest. The Bulldogs are starting to string some wins together. The Lions were once again made the game a close contest, but unfortunately they couldn’t collect the four points. The Lions need to get reward from effort, while the Bulldogs must beat a team higher on the ladder if they are to be regarded as contenders, despite winning three games in a row.
Bulldogs team lifter: Jack Macrae
Lions team lifter: Dayne Zorko
Dockers vs Saints
The Dockers were lucky to get the four points.
If the Saints and in particular Tim Membrey had kicked straighter then the Saints could have won this match. Allan Richardson coached well in my opinion, nothing flustered him, he stayed composed, but the players couldn’t execute under pressure.
Dockers team lifter: Nat Fyfe
Saints team lifter: Jimmy Webster
(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Kangaroos vs Tigers
The Tigers are a contender.
The Tigers structure is working; Rance is marshalling the defence well and their forward line is unpredictable with Jack Riewoldt being the solitary tall forward. It’s difficult to find a weakness in the Tigers. The Kangaroos played some very impressive footy, despite not winning the match.
Kangaroos team lifter: Ben Cunnington
Tigers team lifter: Toby Nankervis
Magpies vs Cats
The Magpies forward line is dysfunctional.
The Magpies only kicked one goal in the first half! The Cats had an even spread of performers with all of their twenty-two players playing their role for the team.
Magpies team lifter: Jack Crisp, Matthew Scharenberg
Cats team lifter: Sam Menegola, Tom Stewart
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Not to mention,but the Bullies 82% is two games worth of ladder climb
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Bulldogs to meet Crows,Pies,Melbourne and Port in their next four games.They could lose four,be 4 and 8 and have to then play Roos,Cats,Hawks and Melbourne (again).Tell me they'll win 6 of those? Their only "easy" games from here on in are Saints and Carlton
Don Freo
Guest
Wow! What a funny reading of Freo! "Lucky to get the four points." They won by 30 points. Sure, Membrey missed some goals but so did Cox, Langdon, McCarthy, Ballantyne (6 or 7 gettable goals). They scored the same number of behinds as the Saints. You praise WC for winning while having players out yet Freo won by 30 without Walters, Wilson, the Hills, Bennell, Darcy... You tip the WB for finals action yet they only beat the 0-7 side while Freo is also on 4/4 after playing 6 of last year's final 8. You might be colour blind to purple.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The Pies have a dysfunctional forward line Doran? Largely the same side that kicked 120 Plus points against Brisbane the previous week and missing Reid, Elliott, Greenwood and Moore (went down in the 2nd qtr) from its best forward line. You don't give the Geelong defensive structure enough credit. The game was a rugby match with huge numbers at each contest and at the drop of the next. e couldn't get wide to switch because there were bodies everywhere. They manipulated the rules of the game to get the four points so good luck to them for doing so. I wish we had done it to them. The law makers of the game though need to look at this match as this is what is turning people off footy. Not up to Scott or Buckley to make it a good game, they are just doing their jobs.
Cat
Roar Guru
Far from the only side missing a decent chunk of their best side, the difference is the others sides are traveling better. No guarantees any side is going to be magically healthy come finals time. Every chance other players may get injured or those coming back from long layoffs may be out of form or prone to reinjury. Its a crap shoot. You have to be able to count on who you have to get the job done. GWS cannot.
Ryan Geer
Roar Pro
Bit rough to say GWS can't win the premiership this early, have you seen their injury list? They only just got back Cameron and Lobb against the Eagles. Josh Kelly, Brett Deledio, Tom Scully, Zac Williams, Toby Greene and Will Setterfield thats six of their best 22 out. We should see how they're going after all these boys get back near the end the season before big calls like that are made especially about a team who has made the last two preliminary finals.
Roger of Sydney
Guest
Many people think its a poor season of football with stopages and not flowing. I think most games are just a desperate battle and are great to watch. This is no forerunner at this stage, but there is probably a pretty good list of those who can't win the flag. Well done the Blues and i think Richmonds easy run maybe about to end.