Round 9 lacked close games, but there were two surprise victories: the Bombers over the Cats and the Lions over the Hawks.
The AFL clearly needs relegation and perhaps a bonus-point system to make the game interesting in one-sided contests.
Top five coaches of the round
1. Chris Fagan (Lions): the Lions registered their first win of the season. Fagan has got them playing with passion that hasn’t been seen there for years.
2. John Worsfold (Bombers): following a challenging week with regards to media scrutiny and the departure of assistant coach Mark Neeld, ‘Woosha’ outsmarted the Cats brains trust.
3. Adam Simpson (Eagles): would have been coach of the round but for two big upsets.
4. Simon Goodwin (Demons): the Dees are now top-eight contenders. They have got their best cattle on the field and are playing some good attacking football, despite having played against mediocre opposition.
5. Don Pyke (Crows): despite having key players injured, Adelaide played good football in tough conditions.
The Crows are impressive
Despite missing key players, Adelaide showed their depth and controlled the tempo of the game.
Crows team lifters: Eddie Betts, Rory Laird
Bulldogs team lifter: Jack Macrae
The Kangaroos are decent
The Kangaroos have been one of the surprise packets of the season and should feature in September.
Kangaroos team lifters: Jarrad Waite, Todd Goldstein
Giants team lifter: Dylan Shiel
The AFL needs two top-eight teams in China to sell the game
The Suns are clearly missing Tom Lynch and they also lost Jack Martin before the opening bounce, which made for monotonous viewing that would do little to promote the game overseas.
The AFL should choose two teams that are quality and relatively even in skill to play in China if they wish to continue with the experiment.
Suns team lifter: Jarrod Witts
Power team lifters: Travis Boak, Tom Rockliff
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An upset keeps the competition interesting
Most people would have confidently tipped the Cats to get over the Bombers, but the competition is exciting when the underdogs get a victory, as was the case in this game.
Bombers team lifters: David Zaharakis, Zach Merrett
Cats team lifter: Joel Selwood
The Swans are now contenders
The Swans were at their best, while the Dockers once again failed to play to an acceptable level.
Swans team lifter: Jake Lloyd
Dockers team lifter: Lachie Neale
The Saints are struggling
Following a board meeting this week, the Saints showed some fight and endeavour, led by elite midfielder Jack Steven, but did little to prove that they are going to play a part in September.
As for the Pies, Jordan de Goey’s form warrants a new contract.
Saints team lifter: Jack Steven
Magpies team lifter: Jordan de Goey
Something has to change at the Blues
The Blues have been uncompetitive and need to improve if they are going to give their fans something to cheer about. As for the Demons, they are improving week by week, although time will tell if they will be up to standard against the top teams.
Blues team lifter: Patrick Cripps
Demons team lifters: Jake Melksham, Tom Mcdonald
Luke Hodge is a tremendous leader
Luke Hodge has helped make the Lions into a competitive outfit through his tremendous leadership. Chris Fagan also deserves credit for improving the team.
The Hawks were outcoached, highlighted by the fact that Tom Mitchell had 46 possessions yet his impact was minimal.
Lions team lifter: Tom Cutler
Hawks team lifter: Tom Mitchell
The Eagles are the team to beat
West Coast moved the ball brilliantly and took their opportunities. Adam Simpson clearly outcoached the opposition, with the Eagles playing an unstoppable brand of football, highlighted by their straight kicking for goal.
Eagles team lifters: Jack Darling, Jeremy McGovern
Tigers team lifter: Jack Riewoldt
Wilson
Roar Rookie
Interesting Perry. I bet Michito's time back at the club on Saturday nights while playing at Heatherton was "eye-opening" to say the least. Perhaps Japan wasn't a waste of time but it's still hardly been worthwhile in my opinion. With respect, you're kidding yourself if you want to play up the (current) existence of AFL outside of Aus. I understand the concept of "baby-steps" but I don't even agree that we should be learning to walk in these other countries. Let's look after and make the game great for the existing fans, who the game can't survive without, rather than go fishing for someone from overseas to play Divi 3 in the Southern footy league. Nevertheless thanks for the little history lesson - actually quite interesting stuff, just doesn't quite change my mind on the topic.
Aligee
Guest
You are right, no one has said anything, it is my belief they were keeping an eye on him and he had been told to watch how he tackles. His intent according to the tribunal was he made a crude tackle outside the rules and IMO outside the spirit of the game, i agree with their ruling.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Things could go wrong for the Dees. If they lose to Adelaide by some, North,Cats and Swans win, down the snake to seventh.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
No one from the AFL,West Coast or Naitanui himself have said any such thing. Supposition is unbecoming in the knowledgeable. You also are clear that his intent was to 'bury him'.Whenever someone uses that word it is because it is not clear. You don't know what his intent was.He has laid 550 tackles by my count in his career and picked up 230 free kicks for, some of course for his ruck rivals infringing him and I can't disentangle that stat. He might just know how to tackle after all. He laid seven against Richmond on Sunday and gave up no frees,didn't change a whole lot,Maybe it's down to who's being tackled?
User
Roar Rookie
Played on danger last year at subi and toweled him. That third quarter by wce was some of the most destructive power footy I've seen us play, probably up there with the game against the pies at docklands back in 05 or 06(one of the best games ever imo)
Topper Headon
Guest
Hey PTS, I work at one of the major daily's here in Melbourne and that rumour swept through the building prior to the Tiges V Pies game. It could not be confirmed but if true Dusty has been playing injured for over 4 weeks.
Rob
Guest
Really happy with the complete lack of respect being shown to Melbourne. Reminds me of 2005 when all year the swans were ignored then come finals everyone realised they were in the top 4. Right now they sit 3rd yet on the AFL website still didnt include them in the poll of "who is the best team so far this year" - they wernt even an option. I keep reading "top 8 contenders"... yet they sit 3rd with the 3rd best % in the AFL. Havnt played anyone yet? I can pick apart at least 3 of West Coasts win and class them as VERY lucky to be in the top 8. You can only beat whats in front of you and the Dees have done what a top 4 team does to the likes of Carlton and Gold Coast - bullied them and thrashed them. Demons will be 9 and 3 going into the bye - just cant see any of Adelaide Bulldogs or Collingwood being able to keep their scoring down to a number they can beat. But then who picked Brisbane or Essendon this round?
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
'Monstered' was a slight exaggeration at best. Wasn't great by his lofty standards but still played okay considering we got pumped!
WCE
Roar Rookie
give credit where its due tigerfan, dusty got beaten by a better player end of story like it or not , he's not infallible or a superhero that the media make him out to be.
Birdman
Guest
agree that Parker was VERY lucky but Buddy's was a reasonable effort to dispose of the ball in the tackle just unlucky for Hamling.
Birdman
Guest
BS as usual
Birdman
Guest
like the way nothing worth reporting doesn't somehow relate to Buddy at the Swans- it's the way the media works these days - lowest common denominator
Aligee
Guest
Ah yer,forgot about him - Sacred Heart up in Hillarys.
User
Roar Rookie
But can still gain metres and considering way Richmond love the ground ball would put game on their terms.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
And maybe in the AFL...Sorry, forgetting about Darling,second in the coaches' best
Winston
Guest
Grab it and he can't handball, so his only choice would be to drop it and kick it. That would then become extremely fluky.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#Wilson The AFL are yet to make a firm commitment anywhere - internationally that is - perhaps for fear of failing after actually trying. However - lets say we go back 30 years and talk about the absolute waste of time end of season junket matches played - including when Essendon met Hawthorn at Yokohama in Japan. What a waste of time hey?? Except - the 2 local Uni teams brought together - Keio and Waseda - who were given a bit of a crash course in footy by people far from qualified to do so, let alone via interpreters ; well, 30 years on, the result of that was AFL Japan which has been running 30 years now and the Japan Samurai side is one of a handful to have attended all 6 AFL International Cup tournaments. What's the pay off? To the AFL - minimal. No star rover lining up in the forward pocket although Kevin Sheedy had a couple of players out for a time. Actually just 3 days ago one of those - Michito Sakaki turned 35, he played a practice match for Essendon v Sydney in 2006 (16 aside at Nrth Syd oval). He played a year at Wodonga Raiders, a year at Heatherton in Melb and returned to Japan as an AFL Japan development officer - his goal is that there will one day be a Japanese born and bred AFL player. He is a passionate AFL person. Then there's the story of footy in India, from one senior high student getting inspired by a Ricky Ponting clinic (while in Kolkota for the IPL back in 2008) - that student is capt of the national team and head of the national body that now includes 8 members states. Seeds DO need to be sewn now and then. You just never know what may grow. In China - who knows - Port Adelaide have made a concerted effort over a number of years now. Chinese national team captain Chen Shaoliang (from Guangdong) has played 4 SANFL reserves games so far this season (for 3 goals) for Port Adelaide Magpies. His time at Port was set right back a couple of years ago when he did an ACL early on - he returned gradually - last year leading team China in the AFL IC in Melb. What will Chen be the forerunner of?
User
Roar Rookie
Problem that arises is he is still able to get a disposal out if they just grab his arm.
Joe B
Guest
Hardly, they would play once a year (and most likely lead into a bye)... a flight that takes as long as what it takes the WA teams to fly to Tassie, via Melbourne, to play 2 Melbourne teams... which they have done many times now. It is in the same timezone as Perth, so no jet lag. St Kilda would be pushing to do half the travel distance of the WA teams.
User
Roar Rookie
With his size and power he has a duty of care to his opponents, was a pretty cut and dry a two weeks back when amon turned to draw the free, which he did as getting control of ball was better than a boundary throw in.