AFL 2022

[Zzzptm]

Just finished catching up on the last matches...

Hawks looked great for 3 quarters and then collapsed in the 4th, Swans were amazing in that comeback win.

I expected Collingwood to win over Essendon, did not expect it to be a close match, but with the score at half what it was, a close game was on tap. Essendon got managed to get the lead in the 3rd and then the teams were trading leads - Collingwood should have been more dominant, and that gave Essendon an opening. Pies still had strong accuracy and that came to their aid in the 4th, as they got back in front and stayed there. But the end wasn't a statement, it was Collingwood hanging on - just.

That puts the pies into the top 8 - just. I think Hawthorn, also 3-3, can get things sorted and possibly rise to grab that spot. Crows are also 3-3 and may have something in them to rise up... but the teams in the top 7 don't look to be shaky - Carlton, Geelong, St. Kilda, Sydney, Brisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne - which of them is showing weakness right now?

Bulldogs and Port are both struggling this year, they're keeping company with Richmond, from the looks of it.

And yes, Geelong-Freo is going to be a smasher of a game! Let me know what you're wearing so I can try to spot you in the crowd.

Other games I'm looking forward to for R7 are Melbourne-Hawthorn to see if the Hawks can get an upset and Sydney-Brisbane in another top 8 clash.

[Jack the Stripper]

Freo shut us down and stifled our ball movement after 1/4 time which they’ve been doing to a lot of teams this season. Wasn’t until the last qtr when we took risks and took the game on at all cost in a last ditch effort that we were able to get something going and nearly pinched the game at the end. Taking into consideration we got no goals out of Cameron, only 2 out of Hawkins and our midfield without Dangerfield was way down on their usual output, to only go down by 3 points was still a fair effort.

But really, I blame my missus. I’ve only taken her to 5 games since 2008 but we’ve lost them all so I don’t think I’ll take be taking her again.

[Zzzptm]

Oh dear, if Geelong's hopes are so fragile as to be dependent upon crowd attendance, then they don't deserve to win! Pretty sure your missus being there didn't cost them the match. Like 86% sure.

Brisbane looks like another strong contender for the top spot. I don't think St. Kilda have got it after their close loss to Port. Melbourne gets to pick up three more wins pretty easily before they have to meet with Freo in week 11. Then it's Sydney and Collingwood and a bye before meeting Brisbane in week 15. But Melbourne has to play both those teams again in the final 3 weeks, so the Dees basically got front-loaded with a lot of wins and face a tougher schedule in the last half of the season. Geelong has an easier schedule in the second half and may well come out with a fairly decent number of wins overall. But I consider their match vs Melbourne coming up in week 17 to be a must-win if they want to have the right frame of mind to take the Premiership.

[Zzzptm]

Footscray done in the Pies. 2 years ago, I never imagined I would understand such a statement, let alone type it!

Collingwood looked set to stage a rally but Bulldogs let the air out of the balloon with consistent play.

I'll be waking up tomorrow doing my best to dodge the score reports of Hawks v Tigers, Roos v Power, Saints v Cats, Swans v Bombers, and Crows v Lions. 5 matches I'll have to watch quick before Google or some other algo tries to cheerfully offer up scores I don't want to see!

Expecting wins from Richmond, Port, Geelong, Sydney, and Brisbane.

[Jack the Stripper]

I’m off to the Geelong St Kilda game later today. And NO I’m not taking the missus.
Should be a good fast game under the roof at Marvel. Saints are needing a win to save dropping 3 in a row. Not feeling that confident about the Cats today.

Some really good matchups this rd. The Doggies looked back to their best last night easily accounting for the Magpies.

[Zzzptm]

Both Geelong and Saints want to get a win out of this match, hoping Geelong have at worst a close win.

[Jack the Stripper]

Bit of an all too familiar tale for Geelong. Looked like we had the Saints covered in the first half without putting them away and then the Saints who are the best 3rd qtr team in the comp this season turned it on in the 3rd and smashed us out of the middle and around stoppages getting it in quick to their forwards and putting our defence under pressure and we lost our composure.

Our midfield just ain’t good enough and having to rely on a 34yo battle weary Selwood who was huge for us with 10 clearances and 25 disposals is a concern.

Doesn’t get any easier next week against Port Adelaide who have now won four in a row after losing their first four games. The saving grace is that the game is at home for the Cats.

[Zzzptm]

Indeed. Cats are now in the middle of the pack and their schedule ahead now looks much tougher than it did before. Both Port and Bulldogs have found a way and have momentum - but I think Geelong can take down Adelaide. But having 2 question marks in the next 3 games before the break is indicative of the struggles they're facing. Richmond's got Sydney and Port along with Essendon in its next three, so it's going to be as near an even run for Richmond relative to Geelong to see who can secure a spot in the bottom of the top 8.

Sydney I don't envy: Carlton, Richmond, Melbourne: they may find themselves with the same record as Geelong and Richmond after that. Carlton has Collingwood and Essendon, I think they get at least 2 wins in their next 3, if not 3. Freo has it tougher with Collingwood then Melbourne and Brisbane.

Watching the highlights of the Essendon-Swans game, it looked like the Bombers have mentally just given up. These guys need a sports psychologist, stat!

[Zzzptm]

Collingwood beat Freo, that was a stunner result from the weekend. That and Hawthorn edging Brisbane.

[Jack the Stripper]

The Pies always travel well, especially to WA and the Lions don’t have a good record in Tasmania so not all that surprising. Also great for Geelong those two teams lost.

[Zzzptm]

Also great for Geelong those two teams lost.

Indeed, that's a silver lining. Now if only Melbourne could start losing a few games, we'd all be happier for it.

Pretty sure Geelong should get a win on Adelaide, along with Brisbane coming back to wins with one over GWS. Wondering if the Tigers can ride their momentum to a win over the Swans, who faltered against Carlton. Melbourne-Freo should be an interesting match, to see if the losses to GC and the Pies are sticking in the heads of Freo's players. I'm hoping they shake it off and give the Dees a real challenge. SOMEONE needs to give the Dees a real challenge... Hawthorn's come closest so far, I think.

Speaking of, I'll expect Hawthorn to beat Gold Coast and Bulldogs to tip West Coast. St. Kilda has a go at NM and wins, Carlton I think beats Collingwood and Port Adelaide rebounds to the W column against an Essendon that's spiraling.

[Zzzptm]

Sydney Swans held on past the Tigers... and then had to hold on again in a bizarre last-second free kick situation...

[Jack the Stripper]

Cats hit the break 8-4 and in 4th spot after one of their best wins for the season tonight. Defence really stood after losing Kolodjashnij before the game to COVID and then losing the best defender in the AFL in Tom Stewart to concussion in the 2nd qtr. De Konning is an absolute young gun and favourite for AFL rookie of the year while again Cameron come up big and was clutch in the last qtr finishing with 6 goals.

Always makes for a great weekend when your team wins the big Friday night game 

[Zzzptm]

I saw the score, I was most pleased to see the W over the Bulldogs there!

[Zzzptm]

Freo only bloody went and done it a second week in a row, taking down Brisbie in a great match. Swans managed to pull ahead and beat Narrm in a real cracker.

Melbourne and Brisbane are still on top of the ladder, but there air is not as rarefied up there as it once was. Melbourne at 10-2 and Brisbane at 9-3 are in striking distance, it seems, of 9-3 Freo and 8-4 Geelong. St. Kilda, Sydney, and Carlton are all at 8 wins and Collingwood picked up its win number 7 over Hawthorn, making it number 8 in the top 8.

Geelong may have a bye this week, but I'm still wanting to see the outcomes of Lions v Saints and Pies v Dees. Wondering if Hawthorn doesn't pull something out and do another giant-killer move on Freo or if the Dockers hold strong. Week after this is when I can rest me eyes a bit, with no big matchups on the horizon.