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I've never heard a conversation about footy or cricket that I haven't wanted to join in immediately. If you disagree with me, you'll be made to work very hard to change my mind!
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The AFL is the only truly national football code of scale in Australia – 18 clubs split across five states, which play multiple games in every state and territory each season.
After Round 12, Melbourne sat on top of the ladder, a game clear of second and three games plus percentage clear of third. They had just outplayed the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane in consecutive weeks to stamp their premiership credentials all over the competition.
It has been apparent for a few weeks that Richmond are not going to be a major factor in this year’s finals series and that Dustin Martin was going to be no more than a bit player in September, if at all.
The top six are fighting among themselves for the double chance, and the bottom six are all in various states of rebuild.
A celebrated premiership coach and titan of the sport, has been told by a headline-making president that he will be forced to step aside for a Brownlow Medal-winning favourite son currently serving at the club as an assistant coach.
As one king of the jungle has roared its last, another is perfectly placed to take their place.
The AFL is in over their head when it comes to how to handle the issue of high contact and concussion.
Richmond are at the crossroads in their quest for three premierships in a row and their fourth in five years. If successful, it would unquestionably make them the team of this century.
The carnage at the Collingwood Football Club continues unabated. They have owned several news cycles since the end of the 2020 season, none of them for positive reasons.
Sometimes as a football club, games come along that you just have to win. Have to win. Carlton had one of those against West Coast on Sunday at the SCG. And they lost. And they lost without really giving a whimper.
Another year, another season that West Coast have flattered to deceive and failed to deliver.
Group 1 racing returns to Eagle Farm this week, as the Queensland carnival builds to Stradbroke day in two weeks’ time.
There is plenty of ineptness around the league this year, but we can’t write about St Kilda’s lack of heart every week.
Hawthorn is in a terrible state. It has absolutely been on their own terms and in some ways absolutely deserved.
It’s always great to see Group 1 racing in two different states, but when they are both under the same conditions and over the same distance, the feeling always is how would a combined field look.
A third of the home-and-away season is in the books, and it’s time to take the temperature of the competition.
Nathan Buckley can’t, and surely won’t, be coach of Collingwood next year. The only question should be how long into this season does the club put an end to his reign.
The Group 1 caravan rolls into Adelaide this week, in a seamless handover from the autumn riches we saw being raced for in Sydney during The Championships.
My goodness, how the mighty have fallen. The once-great Collingwood reduced to rubble off the field and a rabble on it.
St Kilda were lucky to play in the Thursday night game in Round 5. Very lucky.
I’m sure Hickey’s stats don’t give full value to how good he’s been. His influence has felt profound. Whereas Gawn’s stats have still been really good, but I’ve been more poor games from him this year than for many seasons. No-one can tell me he’s at his best for the majority of the year.
'Isn’t going to cut it in September': Melbourne losing form at the wrong time
They do, but it wants to be right quick.
'Isn’t going to cut it in September': Melbourne losing form at the wrong time
I seem to recall writing Freo off when they were in seventh, and they lost by 12 goals later that week, so that was spot on.
On the flip side, I said Brisbane were well placed for a flag tilt and they’ve barely won since.
I’d been holding off on writing about Melbouren until that Dogs game, their form can’t be denied as a concern.
'Isn’t going to cut it in September': Melbourne losing form at the wrong time
Agree with your assessment of the game Cat, while Cloak makes a fair point about inaccuracy too.
Dees won contested and Dogs won uncontested, which both sides would have assumed to be the case. Ultimately the Dogs executed their game better than the Dees did. Whereas the first time around it was a whitewash to the Dees.
'Isn’t going to cut it in September': Melbourne losing form at the wrong time
Melbourne’s disposal woes are not new. Not easy to play pretty football in finals though, so they can win ugly with their ball use if they get everything else right.
'Isn’t going to cut it in September': Melbourne losing form at the wrong time
Yes, how fitting it would be if Treloar could be the man. Certainly has the explosiveness to make it happen.
No more Dusty, who is going to own the finals this September?
Checking Brownlow odds, and was a bit surprised to see him second favourite. But he could be on 20 votes by now.
No more Dusty, who is going to own the finals this September?
I wouldn’t say “dumb” luck Macca, you still have to help yourself and have the level of talent and structure behind you (which we know they do from last season), but yes, I think it is a bigger factor than some bloke playing 65% game time who touches the ball for maybe 90 seconds out of 120 minutes. But because it’s intangible and it’s difficult to measure or understand, people write it off.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
Mr House, who cares what people were saying before the game. I’m talking about the 120 minutes on the field. And I’m telling you, all 17 clubs would have beaten Richmond that night. St Kilda were the one that did. It’s not that hard to understand how big a deal confidence is in elite sport.
Do Gold Coast beat GWS last week if they had been thumped by Melbourne the week before? Or did their win over Richmond help too, give them back some confidence.
Another underrated facet – when you play teams.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
People look for reasons they can measure, when timing, confidence, luck all play a part. All 17 clubs would have beaten Richmond in Rd 15, but the Saints were the ones that got them. Confidence lifted, playing an ailing Pies the week after, that’s two in a row and off to the races. Parlay that into a free hit at the Gabba when no-one gave them a chance, caught Brisbane off-guard, who to be honest were due a downer after the peaked against Geelong and did what they had to against Adelaide. In my mind all of those things happen whether Marshall was playing or not.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
Yeah, I think the Dons can make it with 11 wins. And I’m pretty sure seventh is going to be on 11 wins too, the first time that’s happened this century.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
I was tossing up whether to put the Blues in, but I just can’t see them making any sort of run.
My concern for Freo, rightly or wrongly, is I’m getting some “North under Brad Scott” vibes. May just hack around the middle of the ladder ad infinitum. Maybe a top six or sneak a prelim.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
Richmond losses before the bye were to teams that were just better. The losses after have stunk of something else.
But on the whole, they looked cooked. They can’t muster their effort for long enough, and when they drop away in games, they do so completely (which was also the issues in those games mentioned).
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
Didn’t we go through this with Dow at the start of 2019, he had finally “arrived”?
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
Hasn’t made it remotely interesting, for the reasons outlined in the article. None of them will have any impact on the premiership, so all it creates is more white noise.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
The idea that one player makes a difference, especially a ruckman, is a complete furphy and always will be.
How many times have I heard how Nic Nat is “the difference”, “the game changer”, “the matchwinner” at the Eagles, and “they can’t win the flag without him”. Oh, that’s right, that’s exactly what happened.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
Gee, shots fired indeed. About as big an insult as there is, I reckon.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
You’d like to think it will all come out post-season.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
And the Tigers got smacked accordingly. Down by seven or eight goals halfway through the first quarter. Didn’t know what hit them.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
I reckon I watch those races once or twice a year! Just brilliant.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
Because so much of the football has been embarrassing at the highest level Macca. I expect better.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
That’s right. Utterly decimated and then destroyed.
'Who can do the best Bradbury?' Six mediocre teams fighting out two finals spots
I make a point of watching Gawn closely Cloak, and as I say, his stats are fine but he’s lacked the impact of previous years (in my opinion). In fact, I’ve noticed more poor play from him than in seasons past, which has been more detrimental than his good stuff has been helpful. He hasn’t been quite with it, and I’m a believer that rucks need to ruck for the vast majority of the time. Playing him out of the goal-square at stages and seeing him try to lead at the ball like a full-forward has looked woeful.
'Isn’t going to cut it in September': Melbourne losing form at the wrong time