Roar Rookie
Joined December 2017
57.6k
Views
231
Published
38
Comments
An AFL fan who loves the concept of the Top 100 AFL game players and goal scorers in the AFL and at each club and the annual functions to celebrate these achievements
Published
Comments
If any St Kilda supporters still believe stand-in coach Brett Ratten can finish the season on a high by winning the final five games of the year and sneaking into the eight, they’re dreaming.
What a season! If we look at the form guide over the last four weeks, the top three teams should be Brisbane, Richmond and Essendon.
If anyone thought at the start of the year that this game would be a crunch game between two teams playing for a place in the eight at finals time, they could have been forgiven for thinking the upstart Brisbane would be trying to dislodge the incumbent Hawthorn from the eight.
Despite having played each other only once a year for the past four years, Saturday’s game between West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne will be the 50th encounter between the two clubs.
The AFL has certainly got some things right this year.
Four weeks ago, this game would have been ticked off as an easy four points for the Crows but – if a week is a long time in football, four weeks is an eternity.
With only six rounds left in the home-and-away season, Friday night’s clash at Adelaide Oval between two genuine finals contenders takes on special significance.
This early review is all about the Friday night game and what Collingwood’s one-point win over the West Coast Eagles really means.
Round 17 provides a good opportunity for Adelaide to shear up their finals prospects by convincingly beating bottom of the ladder Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
In the first of the Saturday games Sydney – still only two games outside the eight – take on the much-improved Blues at the SCG knowing that at least five teams above them on the ladder will lose.
It would be extremely difficult to mount any sensible agreement that Collingwood could reverse their current slump in Perth on Friday night against the only top four team to win last week, West Coast Eagles.
With the two top teams beaten, and the Western Australia and South Africa intrastate championships both being non events in terms of closeness, it is still hard to make much sense of the season.
The three Sunday games are being played in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart and each game has an element of intrigue attached to it.
Today, Essendon take on Sydney, the team they have lost their five last games to – including their meeting in Round 8 at the SCG when they lost by less than a goal.
Friday night’s game between Hawthorn and Collingwood would have created little interest before the goings-on in Round 15.
On paper the first Sunday game at Docklands looks like a tight contest: 11th-placed St Kilda versus 10th-placed Richmond.
Saturday’s games on the face of it appear easy to predict, with three of the four home teams expected to win.
Essendon were looking to reverse their Round 1 thrashing by the Giants in Sydney and had plenty of incentive to do so.
Round 14 – the last week of the six-game rounds – provided only one real upset: Port Adelaide’s stirring defeat of Geelong.
Not a good day Saturday, but I finished with six for the weekend. Some of the pretenders turned out to be just that: pretenders!
AFL top 100: Round 10 preview (Part 2)
It is a long way to go, but see me response to WCE.
AFL top 100: Round 9 review (part one)
Jamie is number 12 on the Eagles all time list but a long way of Top 10. He will make it, but it may take a season or two.
AFL top 100: Round 9 review (part one)
Definitely top 3, and that is what is wanted in a player – high level performance in important games, but at that price tag the ‘dogs could have bought a dozen Liam Pickens?
AFL top 100: Tom Boyd
Oops! Sorry madchatter, I need to do my research better!
AFL top 100: Round 7 Magpies vs Power preview
Hi Ian,
Thanks for you comment. Nobody could forget the great Matthew Pavlich, one of the greatest of all time (if not the greatest) but he wore number 29 and I was referring to the fact that David Mundy wore Number 16 more than anyone else.
AFL top 100 : Round 6 review
It’s a big ask, particularly as they have already slipped once at the Cattery, but this season, who knows?
AFL top 100: Round 6 preview
Yes, you are right, Len was his younger brother but was rougher and taller and picked up plenty of silverware. He played in premierships in his first three years. He missed a couple more due to injury and suspension and sat on the bench for the entire 1937 Grand Final. He then coached Nhill a nd then Oakleigh before making a comeback to VFL with Footscray. He is still in Collingwood’s Top 100 lists at Equal 57th in games, and equal 78th in goals. He was a genuine 6 footer!
AFL top 100: Frank Murphy
Your right, it was the one skill that was totally lacking, but he was a great tagger in his later career.
AFL top 100: Saints' Bruce Phillips, Jayson Daniels and Darryl Wakelin
Thanks Mr Football. That is handy extra information on a player who has very little coverage in my usual sources. One thing I forgot to include in the profile was that his nickname was salmon. It’s a pity he wasn’t more committed to a long term career as he seemed to have a bit of ability? I guess the two goal less years could have bee when he was down back.
AFL top 100: Ian Salmon
Yes, it must have been a hard decision for the club, but his injuries had sadly diminished his worth as can be seen by the drop off in games played in his last 3 seasons
AFL top 100: Brian McGowan and Darren Jolly
Yes, Mr Excitement, I used to think the opposition didn’t know what he was doing, because he didn’t know himself until he did it!
AFL top 100: Richmond's William Barrot and Graeme Landy
Sorry Guys,
I was watching the cricket when I penned it! I did mean Sam’s twin brother, Ben and not Bruce! Thanks for you comments.
AFL top 100: Frank Murphy
Yes, Lloydy Number 1 and Simon Madden #2. The big hope of course is Joe Daniher overcoming his injury and continuing his stellar career
AFL top 100: Bill Hutchinson
Yes, amazing that the club was cellar dwellers for so long when you look at them now!
AFL top 100: The legend - Alec Albiston
I take your point, Aligee. He was only 66 kilos when he started his league career, but beefed up. His height suggests that he may have been the prototype ruck-rover but he was always named as rover. He would have towered over the leagues shortest ever player (Jim Bradford) who played his last game for North Melbourne in 1949 – the year before Alec moved to the club.
AFL top 100: The legend - Alec Albiston
Thanks Birdman.
Yes, kicking 10 goals in a game for Hawthorn as a rover in a team bottom or near bottom was amazing. Pity he was robbed of two years playing due to the war.
AFL top 100: The legend - Alec Albiston
Keeping Moore and Reid would give the ‘pies two swing players which provides flexibility. If (and it’s a big if) Elliott can stay strong, he adds an x factor. I agree keep both Dunn and Scharenberg, and Wells – if he is still up to it – has an amazing w-l ratio with the pies.
Chris’ other suggestions can all go to make room for the next lot of up and comers.
AFL top 100: The wash-up – Collingwood
Jack Riewoldt is already a Top 30 goal kicker, and still has two years of his contract to run. He could still play on after that. His aerial ability means that if he doesn’t mark it, the crumbers (Caddy, etc.) will do well. He showed in the prelim he could kick straight under pressure. I reckon he will finish his career in the Top 15.
AFL Top 100: The wash-up - Richmond
Oops (Again!) Of course I meant Mark LeCras who currently sits in equal 83rd position on the all time list, but the gremlins got in there! One goal will see LeCras equal Jimmy Freake, Dick Reynolds and Alan Ruthven.Thanks for your comment, better proof reading needed next time, huh?
AFL top 100: Grand final selection highlights
Oops, you are right of course Brad. How could we forget so soon.
AFL top 100: Finals Week 1 highlights
Yes, a great effort and he’s not finished yet! Don’t forget all those other smaller forwards he provides with crumbs as well.
AFL Top 100: Goalkicking highlights Round 4 (Part 3)
Hi Rissole,
Yes, on current form you would think he is a certainty. As a rule, I have decided to comment on the goal kicking milestones after the event!
AFL Top 100 : selection highlights Round 3 (part 1)
I agree. Scharenberg working his way back to something. Need Howe badly.
AFL top 100: Preview West Coast vs Collingwood