Opinion
We’re getting into the juicy middle of the season. Here are some things I want to see.
1. Consistent umpiring
If nothing else, I really want to see consistent umpiring across Round 9. The fact that there is such a disparity between games in terms of umpiring and the rules enforced is embarrassing. While most people complain about umpires on a normal weekend, the past couple of rounds have been really difficult to follow in terms of umpiring.
Rules such as holding the ball, 50-metre penalties, and dangerous tackles are hard to follow at the moment. The AFL needs to help the umpires and make the rules easier to officiate for the umpires.
2. Consistent MRP rulings
Following on from consistent umpiring, consistent rulings from the Match Review Panel would be great too. With Hawk Shaun Burgoyne escaping a ban for a dangerous tackle for the second time this year, the same should’ve gone for Eagle Elliot Yeo who copped a one-match ban for what looks like a low impact forearm to the face of Pie Rupert Wills.
While it can be argued either way as to whether or not Yeo should’ve been banned or not, you can’t ban one and not the other, especially considering it’s Burgoyne’s second dangerous tackle of the year.
3. Fewer injuries
The past couple of rounds have seen a lot of injuries which with a shortened season is really going to affect sides. Players such as Scott Pendlebury, Nat Fyfe, Joel Selwood, Dion Prestia, and Matt Rowell have all had injuries in the past couple of rounds.
I think everyone that watches the footy wants to watch teams with the best players playing. With soft tissue injuries also becoming a bigger issue, hopefully, this round has fewer injuries in them.
4. More forwards kicking 4+ goals
In Round 8, Swan Tom Papley kicked four, Giant Toby Greene kicked five and Eagle Josh Kennedy kicked seven to lead their teams to victory. Watching forwards open up the game for their respective team was exciting to watch – especially watching Josh Kennedy as he kicked away.
Hopefully in Round 9, we see more forwards kicking big bags of goals which will make the games exciting to watch. Forwards such as Giant Jeremy Cameron, Port’s Charlie Dixon, Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron as well as Papley, Greene and Kennedy will be the ones to look out for on the weekend.
5. A strong display from the bottom four teams
Hopefully, we see a stronger display from the bottom four teams in Round 9. 18th-placed Adelaide – who are winless through eight rounds – will face the 17th-placed North Melbourne which will hopefully make for a good match to watch between the bottom two sides.
16th-placed Fremantle will play seventh-placed Collingwood which will make for an interesting game as it is a win is needed by both sides.
15th-placed Hawthorn will play 11th-placed Carlton which will hopefully see the Hawks change their tactics to be more attacking than the past couple of weeks.
What do you want to see from Round 9? Let me know in the comments.
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