AFL 2021

[Zzzptm]

Western Bulldogs totally annihilated the North Melbourne Kangaroos. Pretty much just target practice for the Bulldogs as they win by over 120 points...

Adelaide and Gold Coast had a much more even matchup, great to watch.

[Zzzptm]

Geelong Cats v Hawthorn Hawks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Y6NnYVDeo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns2nNd17QrM

Great 4th quarter action with some spectacular 6-pointers. If you like flea-flicker plays in US football, this is the game for you!

[Jack the Stripper]

Geelong scraped home again after blowing a 3qtr time lead and seemingly being in control for the first 3qtrs. Not playing anywhere near their best at the moment and are missing 3 of their top 6 players but are still winning, which is a good sign I guess. Big game next Sunday against the undefeated Demons.

Thanks for keeping this alive and taking a keen interest Z. Any questions or if you're wanting anything cleared up, just ask.

[Zzzptm]

I do have a question - what exactly constitutes a holding call?


As for Sunday, that game vs the Demons is going to be a must-win for Geelong to prove their mettle. The losses handed out to Port Adelaide and Richmond in this round show that no team can afford to be cocky about an expected outcome. Everybody has to play hard every game - and every quarter of every game certainly helps.

[Jack the Stripper]

So I guess you’re referring to holding the man rather than holding the ball? Pretty similar to the NFL. Putting an arm or arms around to retard a players run. Holding an arm or a tug on a players jumper all constitute a holding call. Although it’s not very black and white our game. Some very dubious ones are paid and blatant obvious ones are missed. Umps seem to put the whistle away in tight last qtrs as well. We don’t have video replays on umpiring decisions. Only close goal line calls and the ball hitting or shaving the post will get referred to the video.

[Zzzptm]

Yeah, officiating is VERY restrained in AFL - especially in "parking lot" situations where the referees are thinking about walking to their cars safely after the game, with no hooligans waiting to have a word with them.

It does seem like players can be penalized for really blatant stuff, like when a player strikes another player out of nowhere. Suspensions get handed out after the game, on review, or so it seems.

[Vyn]

I don't think the Cats have what it takes this go around. Don't get me wrong, it's still up front in the season and things can turn on a dime, but just contrasting the overall vibe I get from them on the field versus, say Sidney, and there is a striking difference. No pun intended.

Cameron would help.

Also, no kidding, my game ball deflated all by its lonesome over the past two weeks.

An omen.

But just like the ball can be reinflated, so can the Cats.

Still, though...

[Jack the Stripper]

Cats were playing similarly this time last year, just scraping over the line or dropping games they should win against much lesser opponents. Looks like Cameron will miss again with his hamstring, the club is just being ultra conservative with him but they’ll get Menegola back this week with Dangerfield and Cameron to return the following week.

The Cats always seem to rise for these type of games though, against young upstarts that are getting plenty of attention in the media. Melbourne on the other hand haven’t really beaten anyone of note yet so will be determined to show the AFL football world they’re a different team this season by taking the prized scalp of Geelong.

I’ll be there on Sunday...

[Zzzptm]

Swans held on against Essendon in recent action. Essendon is getting very hungry about now.

[Zzzptm]

Lace Out channel looks to be no longer putting up updates. They had one half of a game that later came down. Dangit, because they were great. Back to AFL highlights...

... and Geelong did not prosper against Melbourne Demons. Strong, effective play from Melbourne and they look to be solidifying their run for the championship this year.

[Jack the Stripper]

Tigers did a demolition job on the Saints tonight. 85 point flogging. Tigers, Bulldogs, Swans, Power and Eagles are looking the goods at the moment.

[Zzzptm]

Those are definitely five teams I like to watch highlights from this season. Whereas, Essendon, St. Kilda, GWS... not so much. I'm sure I'm forgetting some other teams with forgettable performance...

Melbourne Demons not on your list: where do you see them in the overall lineup?

[Jack the Stripper]

Not convinced on the Demons yet. They’re playing good football but they didn’t impress me all that much last week against Geelong. Geelong couldn’t have played any worse but yet were within 12 points at 3qtr time. I’ll wait to see how the Demons go against those 5 teams I mentioned before I consider them, starting next week against the Tigers.

[Zzzptm]

I suppose the same could be said for Adelaide. Their wins were against teams that are struggling and they've yet to prove themselves against one of the sides at the top.

[Jack the Stripper]

They should win again this week Adelaide which would give them more wins than they had for the entire season last year. They pushed Sydney at their home for a fair way when they played them too.

A little quirk in our game is that not all grounds are the same size and I’ve got a feeling though that Sydney is better suited with their game style on the bigger grounds like the MCG, Optus Stadium and Marvel stadium rather than their much smaller home ground the SCG.