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Joined March 2012
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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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Geelong and Hawthorn have formed probably the most storied rivalry of this century, picking up in the late 2000s following their 2008 grand final, and continuing on for many years. The Kennett Curse has gone down in football folklore.
It was 2015 when West Coast and Fremantle were last both in the top four, ultimately each vanquished by a Hawthorn side on their way to a threepeat.
Essendon and Melbourne have both been bywords for failure and mediocrity over the last ten to 15 years and in truth haven’t held much relevance on the AFL stage since they played off in the 2000 grand final.
With West Coast a recent premier, Brisbane back in town last year and GWS making it all the way to grand final, South Australia has been the failed football state of the last two years.
We continue on with our AFL preview series today by looking at two of the clubs that parted ways with their coaches in 2019, took on interim replacements and then kept them in charge for 2020 and beyond.
It’s less than a month until the AFL season resumes, and the attention is about to start hotting up.
Richmond fans have revelled in the success of the last three years, a time that has delivered two premierships and brought joy to a great many thousands of people.
The Melbourne Cup. It’s not just the race that stops a nation. It’s the sporting event of the year in Australia.
So Richmond end the decade as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the AFL, much as Geelong ended the noughties in the exact same fashion.
Richmond won a storied premiership in 2017, surging, both on the field and through September.
Going into second week of September, the conversation is always the same regarding the upcoming semi-finals: should we value the immediate winning form of the elimination finalists, or the season-long performance of the qualifying final losers that finished higher?
After a slow start to the season, Richmond has bounced into the top four after ten rounds.
Every week is a big week in football, to steal a phrase from the now defunct Footy Show, but some weeks are bigger than others. Round 9 shapes as one of those.
Geelong has finally become the team they were supposed to be.
The completion of Round 6 sees us a quarter of the way through the 23-round AFL home-and-away season. It’s enough of a time to do a stocktake and see were each team sits.
In most years we see a club make a leap up the ladder that no-one saw coming.
“Keepings off is starting to become an epidemic in our game.” – Mark Robinson, 3AW
Day 1 of The Championships was a roaring success, with some outstanding performances and great racing.
Three rounds into the AFL season and already it’s easy to identify four premiership contenders that look likely to set the pace in the first half of the season as well as a fifth team that is the most watchable in the league right now.
I wouldn’t be counting on Rohan for anything.
Questions don't need to be asked of Geelong yet... but they're coming
Good stats there Dougie.
Questions don't need to be asked of Geelong yet... but they're coming
Article about Geelong, seems reasonable to point to a famous howler involving the Cats when drawing a comparison.
You’re right though, Hawkins has been screwed over the years with some of his suspensions.
Questions don't need to be asked of Geelong yet... but they're coming
14 times out of 15 it’s the latter.
Questions don't need to be asked of Geelong yet... but they're coming
I don’t think Higgins will be a big factor this year. Cameron could be.
Questions don't need to be asked of Geelong yet... but they're coming
Great research Chuck, thank you.
Questions don't need to be asked of Geelong yet... but they're coming
I’m not sure it qualifies as ironic to agree with me, just because you think the Danger comment was a cheap shot. The facts are he’s knocked out two opponents in his last two matches.
Questions don't need to be asked of Geelong yet... but they're coming
If you read it closely you’ll see I said the talent was there, and I was right. And Hardwick admitted fault to most of what I pointed out in the piece.
The game has moved away from Richmond
Thanks for the opening K2K and some excellent commentary to follow it.
I love the point about the Swans operating both ways at speed, and I think we’ve seen the same from the Dogs too, in the early rounds. It’s the way Port like to play as well. If these sides can move the ball with skill, and put pressure on the Richmond one-on-one defence, which as you say should be able to adapt, I can see it being a more effective method to score than the current Tiger set-up.
The game has moved away from Richmond
All interesting points, but I have no doubt Richmond will have to find a way to counter the 2021 game in a way they haven’t had to before.
The game has moved away from Richmond
“Found a way” to be the benchmark is a good way to put it, but I feel like this time they will really have to adapt in a way that may not be easy or suit them.
The game has moved away from Richmond
Arguably three bad games, and it’s just that my senses are tingling.
The game has moved away from Richmond
Hard to deny Balme as a key component of the successful run.
The game has moved away from Richmond
All good points, but game style is something else.
The game has moved away from Richmond
Definitely need to reset, tweak, modify, whatever we want to call it. Interesting to see if they do, and how much, and can they find a competitive advantage.
The game has moved away from Richmond
I’d argue that because Richmond and Geelong played later than the other sides, they have higher residual fitness which is actually a benefit in a shortened pre-season.
The game has moved away from Richmond
I’d certainly rather Dusty on my side than against, Dougie.
The game has moved away from Richmond
Just trying to make sense of the early season Macca, and making some calls accordingly. Saints could have had Nic Nat, Simon Madden and Polly Farmer playing on Saturday and still would have been thumped.
The game has moved away from Richmond
To my mind, a gun is not going to cease being a gun because of some rule tweaks, but it may be the next tier or two down that struggle to adapt. Which is the same point as your opening. To me, the intercept marking dominance of some has been as much a standout as the ball movement.
The competitive advantage making Melbourne an AFL premiership sleeper
Petracca is a genuine game-shaper now, regardless of his mid-forward mix. He can make things happen from traffic in a way that no-one else can at Melbourne, and is similar to, yes, Dusty.
The competitive advantage making Melbourne an AFL premiership sleeper
I’m a Parfitt fan, I must admit. Want to see him find the next level soon though.
Questions don't need to be asked of Geelong yet... but they're coming