The race to September is on. While one team stands head and shoulders above the rest of the competition, some other teams have begyn to make their moves from inside the eight and out.
Questions are emerging everywhere. What can the Blues find in another horrible year? Is the Gary Ablett Jr experiment going to pay off for Geelong? Is the game really heading in a downward spiral and what does that result mean for Melbourne?
1) What makes a footy club great?
Having great players for starters, which Richmond have plenty of at the moment. They have genuine A-Graders and a pretty handy young group of Tiger cubs that will be part of this team for a long time. But there were two special and different moments during the game on Thursday night that highlight just what is going right at Richmond.
The first, seeing all of the team get around Reece Conca as he was being loaded onto the medicab to take him off the ground. Injuries affect the whole team and most times it can directly affect the result of the game.
To see all of the players get around to Reece is just an indication of how strong their culture is at the moment and the brotherhood and camaraderie that has developed there.
The second is just before the start of the second half. Jack Higgins, a first year player is in the middle of the circle giving a rev up or telling a joke – we don’t actually know what he was saying or doing. But again, the fact that a first year player feels comfortable enough to do it and has the licence to get in front of his whole team is just another tiny indication of how great life must be at Richmond at the moment.
Josh Caddy of the Tigers celebrates after scoring a goal. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Media/Getty Images)
2) Is the Ablett experiment going to pay off?
I think we all love watching Gary Ablett play, but is it going to be a move that Geelong look back upon in a few seasons and question if they would have done it differently with their time over? While he still wins his fair share of the footy – he did break the record for most 30 disposal games on Friday night- most of those possessions were in the front half of the ground.
While we all back Gary Ablett to still have a profound influence on the game, will it ultimately deliver what the club wants in a Premiership? Or will they be stuck in the nostalgic times of getting Gary back to Geelong, playing him because he is Gary Ablett instead of another player that they are lacking in their team at the present time.
Gary Ablett (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
3) What is the logical next step for Carlton?
Port came to the MCG and did what they needed to do – which was win and win comfortably (which they did in the end). But there were some more small steps in the right direction for Carlton.
Little did they know that standing on the other side of the field to them was the next logical step in their build. It turned out to be the biggest difference in the game.
Cleanliness and class with ball in hand and scoring prowess. Port had it. Carlton didn’t.
Carlton stayed with Port all day, but needed to kick 15 goals to win the game and never looked like they could.
Their stars impressed. Charlie Curnow, Patrick Cripps, Marc Murphy, Ed Curnow and Simpson all had excellent games, but 37 inside 50s isn’t enough to beat good teams. The Blues can’t be disappointed with their performance, but only average nine goals per game for the season and need to get that closer to 13 if they want to become a top eight side in a few years.
Port meanwhile had a plethora of scoring options with Charlie Dixon, Robbie Gray, Sam Gray, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard, Lindsay Thomas and Todd Marshall all capable of winning games off their own boot.
4) Who is the most influential captain in the game?
David King mentioned earlier in the year that you can judge a team based on their captain’s performances and attitudes.
Callan Ward’s toughness inspires GWS. Trent Cotchin’s class continually drives the Tigers and Nat Fyfe’s athletic capabilities make his Fremantle teammates walk taller when he is out there with them.
With Adelaide’s season eroding even further away, Taylor Walker turned the game and breathed life back into their season. its was a strong statement from the skipper who’s club has been bashed from pillar to post, in congruence with the constant question marks surrounding his leadership.
Tex, the big game player that he is stood up with some big second half goals to inspire his team over the line. Shannon Hurn, the Eagles captain, could only sit back and watch as his side fell from premiership contender to back into the lead pack.
5) Was that the moment for the big General?
We all feared for him when he hobbled off after a knock to the knee, but what followed could be the spark that Jonathon Patton so badly needed.
In and out of the team this year, now he is the main man with the absence of Jeremy Cameron.
With the Giants now well back into the finals race, it could’ve have just been that pivotal moment that takes the career of Jonathon Patton to the place we all thought it could go.
Jonathon Patton of the Giants (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
6) Has the Rising Star race been decided already?
It’s down to at least three. Four at a stretch. Jaidyn Stephenson is the runaway clubhouse leader closely followed by Tom Dodee, Ed Richards and Oliver Florent. But Stephenson’s performances every week is proving to be head and shoulders above what any of the other of his fellow first year players are doing.
Dodee has been Mr Consistent all year and Richards footy nous is well beyond his years. Jaidyn Stephenson has been a driving force behind what is Collingwood in 2018.
He has changed that forward line for the better in a way that no first year player has ever influenced a side and is propelling them right up the ladder right into premiership contention.
7) Where does that result leave Melbourne?
It was the performance that all Melbourne supporters thought were behind them. But as the emotional rollercoaster that football is, it was another case of “Same old Melbourne” at the MCG as the Saints stunningly beat them – and quite well too.
Where does it leave Melbourne? Well, they’re right back in the pack among the cluster of teams vying for positions 4-8. There’s still plenty of footy to be played but surely they couldn’t and wouldn’t want to leave it to Round 23 again?
8) So what’s wrong with footy again?
It was a cracking round of footy. There were a couple of lopsided contests but that’s what happens when you have top sides versus bottom sides. But it was the round that the AFL would have loved to have had three or so months ago when the fuss was starting to get kicked up.
It started on Thursday night, rolled into Friday night and finished off with another cracker.
There was high-scoring, fast, open, high-octane pressure footy which is the modern way the game is played. The game will continue to evolve.
It’s a tough, ferocious highly skilled and pressurised game and if you are off you’re game you get absolutely nailed nowadays.
If this week is anything to go by, football is heading in the right direction. Changing the rules to get to where you think you want to get to can only lead to disaster.
9) What damage can Brisbane do towards the end?
The Lions have played a lot better than their win-loss tally and ladder position reflects. Their domination of Fremantle in the West is proof and validation of that.
Cameron Rayner of the Lions celebrates kicking a goal. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Along with their big win today, with the Gabba already proving a tricky road trip for many teams this year, the Lions could do some damage in the remaining eight weeks.
All their young stars are continuing to improve, they are well led by their big guns and are developing a watchable brand of football. They’ve got Carlton, Hawthorn, Adelaide and Geelong in the next four weeks, there are plenty of winnable games that have been presented to this group. They very well could cause some major headaches on the run home.
PeteB
Guest
Agree with you there Macca. When we let Gibbs go I was expecting us to pick up a quality replacement. It didn’t happen and then we lost Docherty. I’d be happy to just get one free agent and with Docherty back and a number of talented players entering their 3rd and 4th years ready to really step it up we should get substantial improvement next year. This year has been a bit of a setback but we need to be patient and not fall for the trap of quick fixes.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
My apologies for the wrong info. I should have gone back to find my source instead of doing it by memory.
Raimond
Roar Guru
While one team stands head and shoulders above the rest of the competition Richmond are obvious (and deserving) favourites, but this is hyperbole. The Giants match at Spotless in a couple of weeks will be a test of whether the 2018 Tigers can perform outside of their comfort zone.
Macca
Guest
Don't get me started on the protected zone after the weekend, we got pinged twice and both directly lead to goals and neither impacted the player with the ball. The first resulted in a 70m penalty and the second when the player was trying to man the mark and was beaten to it by a team mate then immediately bailed out of the zone cost a goal at a critical stage of the last (and was followed up by an incredibly ridiculous blocking free kick against the blues at the subsequent centre bounce which cost another goal). The AFL seem to have an incredible knack of solving a non-existent problem by creating a big problem,
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
I see the AFL is holding out the prospect of a VFL licence to Tasmania. I think that this should be part of an AFL strategy to move Carlton to Van Demon's Land. I think that this would fit well. Carltons history of being both physically and philosophically closely located to a penal establishment would be satisfied in Tasmania. To reflect the team's history the current jumper could be redesigned to be a dark green blue and still maintain the CFC logo on the chest. However the club name could be changed to the Convict Football Club. I did consider going with a name like the Transported Football Club which would both reflect Tasmania's long history and Carltons more recent translocation, but after further consideration, I thought that it lead itself to being abbreviated to unacceptable forms.
Macca
Guest
Jamie Cripps leads the league in inside 50 tackles with 29, Stephenson is equal 41st with about a dozen other players - so that isn't that hard to deny at all.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
I agree outrageous exaggeration is an excessive hyperbole. However, the only objective criteria has Stephenson ranked in the top five for three or four stats and has already kicked more goals than Rioli for the whole season. It is hard to deny that Stephenson is pivotal to the Pies forward line and leads the league (?) for inside 50 tackles at 13. If you are going to think about applied inside 50 pressure, I think that strategy goes to Mick Malthouse's earlier development of always kicking the ball along the boundary and via into the forward pockets because it made it cornered the ball so even though the kicks at goal were lower percentage there was greater chance of holding the ball there and preventing you opponent from the possession required to score.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
One can only hope any 'manufactured' rule changes are more logical and less intrusive than the ridiculously umpired protected zone. What a shambles! Has failed to address what it hoped to achieve and ruins 'the look' of the game. How about looking at the current rules first.
Tom M
Guest
Disagree with you Peter. You have been sucked in by the Sky is falling mob. Games in the 80s and 90s weren't all good. Over half were terrible to watch but you like so many only remember the good games. Remember Fitzroy Peter? Remember how many blowouts there was back in the day? The best teams in our competition are scoring the most points week in week out, the game will evolve like it always has.
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
Hi Jono, While I agree with your general comments, they reflect the way Stephenson has developed over the season more than being identified as being this influential prior to the season. It was not Buckley's early season strategy to give him the roles he seems to be enjoying at the moment. So Stephenson has influenced team strategy to get ever increasing roles each week as the team has assessed his improvements. Having said that, with Cox emerging as a tall and leading option and the current Collingwood mids and small forwards allow Buckley the ability to move his forwards around to gain mismatches. This week Stephenson could end up playing much further away from goal and running back rather than taking a larger and slower opponent to the goal line and being left space.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Not that I know more than the coaches TrueTiger more that the coaches are biased towards their results. Nathan and Dimma have their sides 1 and 2 so they don't want anything changed. The look of the game needs to be something addressed beyond the coaches reach, they are paid to manufacture results. Some say the changes that are coming will advantage sides like WCE with their big key forwards and disadvantage the small forward brigade of Pies and Tigers so of course Bucks and Dimma don't want that changed.
Peter
Guest
Sydney are close to the best team in the comp if not the best. But their form at the SCG has been shaky this year, they lost a few early and really struggled against Carlton 3 weeks ago.
Liam
Guest
I'm not taking issue with your assessment of Stephenson as a player to watch. I do not like the current trend towards outrageous exaggeration, and I'm calling it out. He's very good, but Cyril was a pivotal component in a flag side in his first year, adding a critical dimension of pressure into his forward line the likes of which has not been seen since. He was the model the sides like the Dogs and Richmond have adapted into the prototype for forward pressure, ten years ago; that is his impact on the game, and you are kidding if you think Stephenson is on a par with all that after half a season. I'm not saying you don't research, I'm saying that you exaggerate. Just as Port Adelaide only have 2 genuine "winning matches off their own boot" players - Westhoff and Robbie Gray - not the six or so you've stated, Jaidyn Stephenson is not the best first year forward ever, which was the quote I objected to.
Macca
Guest
Given Simpson is odds on to go around next year, Docherty will come back in, there is Williamson to come back, Byrne will hopefully play some games in the last couple of weeks and Schumacher is making some decent strides in the VFL (plus we need to fit Marchbank in as well) I have no idea why the blues would be interested in taking Houli. If I was SOS I would be making Gaff and Shiel the priorities with Sloane the next in line - the best case scenario would be getting Gaff as a free agent and trading pick 1 for Shiel but it is unlikely. McGovern is a great player but not our greatest need given the players we already have.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Good grief, Charlie Brown. Your own coach tweeted on the weekend to 'leave the game alone.' You know more than 'the coach of the year' though!
GJ
Guest
St Nick Riewoldt no less
User
Roar Rookie
Alan Richardson praising his players behaviour isn't a shock, its called getting in the front foot because he knew criticism was likely. Neither acts where clever, they equated to poor sportsmanship. Not a very Australian way to act.
Slane
Guest
I'd rather have Simpson than Houli.
GJ
Guest
Funny, this was being praised in the media 12months ago https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/st-kilda-coach-alan-richardson-praises-nick-riewoldts-clever-50m-penalty-trick-as-vision-reveals-what-happened/news-story/766b48866bb8deb4261cae59d61b3e60
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Would be interested in a Blues supporters opinion over yours with all due respect. You really couldn't have listed 4 different types of players. Given they can't/won't get all 4 I don't see what Houli has to offer them. Not to mention 'what have they got to offer him?' at this stage of his career when his own team are still up and running and still want him.