AFL 2023

[Zzzptm]

My tipping's in a shambles, what with Geelong on a bender and St. Kilda, Essendon, and Norf *actually winning!* So glad I'm not putting money on these outcomes.

I'm going with my heart this week and tipping Geelong to win vs the Hawks. They need to pull up out of this spiral, I think this is the game they get some resolve. Also, it's the HAWKS, ffs.

Wondering if St. Kilda has enough in the tank to get back to the GF after almost 60 years or if they'll revert to form by mid-season and implode.

[Zzzptm]

Brisbane woke up right as Collingwood's defense went to sleep. Charlie Cameron smashed out a mess of goals, Brisbane got an important win there. Picked Crows to win, but not unhappy to see them take a loss.

[Jack the Stripper]

Brisbane are a different team at home. Good to see Collingwood brought back down to earth. Media hasn’t shut up about them in the first 3 weeks of the season. Tipping has been a nightmare this season. Cats better win this week. 

[Zzzptm]

Geelong preseason ended after the first half against Hawthorn. Second half team were totally different from the lads that played the other 3.5 games. THAT was the team that put on a scoring clinic in the GF. 5/9 this week in my tips.

[Jack the Stripper]

Yeah that was the Geelong that won 16 in a row last year. Hopefully that’s the catalyst to kick start their 2023 campaign. Jezza was magnificent! Him running straight into the umpire and shirt fronting him after kicking his 7th goal was hilarious. Glad neither was injured.

[Jack the Stripper]

Here it is

[Zzzptm]

I saw that, it was a great sports moment!

Looking at the current top 8, I'm noticing that teams with 2-2 records reach from 6th to 11th. Quite the pack, there.

In terms of quality victories against current top 8 teams, I find the following:

Saints def Essendon
Carlton no top 8 opponents, best is win over #9 North Melbourne
Melbourne def Brisbane and Sydney
Essendon no wins, loss to St. Kilda
Collingwood's got no top 8 wins, best is def #10 Port, has a loss to Brisbane
Sydney no top 8 wins, loss to Melbourne, narrow loss to #10 Port
Adelaide has no top 8 wins or losses, has defeated #10 Port, also loss to spoon-hunters GWS Giants, but that was week 1
Brisbane lost to Melbourne and #10 Port, but has beaten #11 Bulldogs and has big win over Collingwood.

In terms of quality, Melbourne and Brisbane have the best performance against like top-ranked teams and Port Adelaide has had the next best record in terms of beating the top 8 teams. Those stand out as the top three teams in terms of quality wins.

St. Kilda has a "put up or shut up" schedule this week and the next, facing Collingwood then Carlton. Even one win against those 2 and they can be taken seriously. 2 wins, they're legit. 2 losses, and they're a paper tiger.

Port's had the toughest schedule thus far, only top 8 opponents - I think they're set to rise up as some of the other teams in there on the backs of wins against weak teams are set to tumble when they run into quality opponents.

[Zzzptm]

Got a hall pass from the missus to listen in on the Geelong - West Coast game that will start Saturday at 10:10PM my time. Very much looking forward to being able to follow along live without it wrecking my sleep schedule.

[Zzzptm]

Geelong is SMASHING IT at the Adelaide Oval right now. Had a slow, ugly start, then remembered half way through the first quarter that they were a good team.

[Zzzptm]

Thank you Cats, I'm now 5/7 on my tips for the week. Great victory over WC, very convincing form and lots of unselfish play, that's the Geelong way!

[Jack the Stripper]

Took the foot off in the 2nd half after leading by 77 points early in the 3rd. Huge bummer losing Stengle to a fractured forearm and Stanley a fractured eye socket for the next 4-6 weeks. In particular Stengle is a big loss.

Did you catch this one Z? Jack Riewoldt ended up with 8 staples in the head, bandaged him up and came straight back on the ground and proceeded to kick 4 goals.

So much blood so quickly
https://youtu.be/KZf9c4_OrkE

[Zzzptm]

I was following on the radio, so didn't have any visuals other than what the announcers had.

Tell you what, though, that Carlton team needs to figure out how to win and fast, or it's going to fall out of the top 8. As for Geelong, they need to show the fire they displayed against WC and Hawthorn against a top team, or they're only good enough to beat the bad. I think that they can, though, and this coming match against the Swans will prove that point.

In slightly related news, I am considering a trip to Melbourne maybe next year or the year following... maybe in a July timeframe... needs to coincide with a Geelong game... I've got enough air miles accrued to cover the airfare for me and the missus and hotel points to get a Hilton or Marriott-owned room in Melbourne. Planned expenses would be local transportation, dining, and... footy tickets!

[Zzzptm]

Grand Final replay last night! That's the Geelong I like to see! The same Geelong side that plowed under two bottom-tier teams just plowed under a top-tier team. This is the Geelong that was supposed to have shown up in their first 3 games.

Outstanding midfield work and going for the contested marks truly paid off with a 93-point margin of victory that had to be harrowing for the Swans.

Geelong now sit at #7 on the ladder. Melbourne and Adelaide right behind the Cats, each yet to play and, frankly, each expected to win their matches. They'll all be 3-3 after that and while Melbourne might get a high enough % to bump ahead of Geelong, I don't think the Crows will. That has Geelong smashing into the top 8 in convincing style, looks like last year when they got all their losses out early and then Just. Started. Winning.

[Jack the Stripper]

Just got home from the game. What a beautiful thing it was seeing the unfurling of the 2022 premiership flag before the game in front of the packed faithful. Then the game started and the cats went straight for the throat from opening bounce and never let up for the entire game handing the Swans their biggest defeat in 25 years and maybe a trip to therapy.

Yep the midfield was outstanding Z, their pressure around the ball and tackling was at its brilliant best, it really did look like men against boys at times with the Cats bigger stronger bodies.

[Zzzptm]

Swans only scored 3 behinds in the entire second half! Hawkins alone accounted for as much scoring as all of Sydney, I believe.