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The Roar

Samuel Ord

Roar Guru

Joined April 2018

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Australian. Victorian. Sports Journalist. Currently living in London. Richmond supporter. "The role of the hero is to protect the innocent, to eradicate evil, to actuate the good."

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I think you’ve read a little bit too much into Richmond’s 36-point loss to Adelaide in round two and that by extension undermines your idea that there are no more truly dominant sides in the AFL.

There was no great advantage to Richmond defeating Adelaide in round two and they played as such.

At quarter time the Tigers and Crows were level and at half time the Tigers trailed slightly – two goals. After that they simply, drifted away, and the Crows took a win.

Richmond could’ve thrown everything into the second half and booked in a round two win – but premierships are not won in March. Even worse, the team could’ve pushed hard for a win, risking injury and long term fatigue, and come away with a close loss.

Following that match the Tigers returned to Melbourne and took on a soaring Hawthorn – coming away with a close win. Entering the contest more fatigued after a hypothetical hard-fought win against Adelaide, Hawthorn may have won that match and the Tigers are still 2-1.

Now? Richmond has crushed Brisbane at the MCG and faces Melbourne, Collingwood, Fremantle and North Melbourne all in a row and in Melbourne. The Tigers are likely to sit at 7-1 heading into the middle stretch of the season – a record that wouldn’t be likely if they went hammer and tongs after a victory in Adelaide in round two.

As an added bonus the Crows will also enter their next encounter with the Tigers – Round 16, July 6 – believing that they have evened out the ledger and are capable of comfortably besting the Tigers. Richmond are likely to have a further mental advantage from now on in.

Success in the AFL is marathon not a sprint and you don’t take every round at top speed.

The big Victorians throw their weight around, confirming we know little about this AFL season

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AFL
 
2018

I would say of the eight hot takes presented you’re correct five times and off the mark three times.

I’m not too sure the race for the top eight is as wide open as you suggest. Greater Western Sydney, West Coast, Richmond, Sydney, and Adelaide are already borderline guaranteed spots. That just leaves three spots left.

Melbourne fans do deserve better. The club was led down a path to success with Paul Roos and now it looks like the current team is letting it all go.

To suggest that Jake Stringer has “arrived” after his first good game of the season is hysterically off base. One of the most wildly inconsistent players in the game. Let’s see if he can string two months of good football together before we say he’s arrived.

Adelaide are definitely a nut capable of being cracked. But we’ve known that since September last year.

The Western Bulldogs are far from back after a LOSS to Sydney. I don’t understand this at all. How are you back and still losing?

You’re right that Brendan Bolton faces some big calls at Carlton but I think the cast has been set. Entering the season suggesting it’s already over the group has set the tone for a long time to come. At this stage I can’t see him coaching in the 2020s.

By all indicators Collingwood’s Jaidyn Stephenson has a storied career ahead of him. He reminds me of a young Dustin Martin with his ability to inject energy into a contest coming from the weaker side on paper.

Daniel Menzel is a good footballer that’s fair to say and not exactly a hot take.

Eight hot takes from AFL Round 4

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AFL
 
2018
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