Collingwood’s now trademark energy will be tested in Sydney, while Brisbane again look to take their chances against a refreshed GeelongWhen Collingwood crapped out against Sydney in round 22, there was a sense of a run having come to an end. Yes, they had won 10 in a row by a cumulative margin of 79 points, but a post-to-post 27-point loss proved that the house always wins.When Craig McRae responded by saying he “coached really poorly” by failing to properly account for the dimensions of the ground there was a whiff of herring. The SCG is, after all, only about two-and-a-bit metres shorter at either end and either wing. Instead, it felt like a deft stage magician’s trick. Continue reading...
Fortune favoured the brave as six teams became four in week two of a thrilling 2022 AFL finals seriesAt Melbourne, they often speak of learnings. There aren’t many more weasel words than learnings. It’s a word that’s popular with chin strokers, with LinkedIn loiterers, and with football coaches. In the past, there haven’t been many learnings (sorry) to take from the second week of finals. Semi finals are often a reordering of the top four, a reminder not to be seduced by the previous week’s winner.But this weekend was different. This weekend taught us a lot. We learnt, for instance, that Melbourne simply isn’t good enough. After Round 10, they were the shortest priced premiership favourites in the history of...
After a barnstorming opening round of finals a ridiculously high bar has been set for this week’s two matchesNot enough has been written about the art of being underwhelmed by football. Certainly not in the past week, after a few days of finals footy that began as engrossing and ended up as epic, heralding a media deal equivalent to Fiji’s GDP.But for the neutral supporter, there is a sense of AFL ennui this weekend, particularly in the context of it approaching the middle of September. To use the words of Ross Lyon: “Sometimes it’s just... it wasn’t vibing. There was no vibe.” Continue reading...
It was a study in the magic and the madness of football and one of the most gripping September weekends in decadesIt was one of the most compelling finals weekends in decades. It began, naturally, with a leaked video from 2015. “It was a poor look,” the league boss said. It was released, Caroline Wilson wrote, by “some twisted whistle blower.” It was hard to know who overreacted the most – those who defended Dustin Martin, or those who condemned him.It saw 17 lead changes at the Gabba, and a game decided by a score review. It was probably the correct decision, but entire seasons should not boil down to the word ‘probably’ and to some faceless, bunkered-down boffin. It...
Despite all the controversies and the inordinate number of lead changes at the Gabba the Lions were worthy winnersHeading into Thursday night’s elimination final, it felt like the football world had given up on Brisbane. For all the big scores and easy kills, they weren’t a team you could trust. Too much lip and swagger. Too brittle down back. Too prone to leaking, and to switching off at critical stages. Sure, when everything was going well, and when the game was on their terms, they were capable of scintillating football. But when the heat was applied, they’d wilt. This week, it had been all bad news and long faces in the Brisbane camp. They’d coughed up a spot in the...