Goal review debacle and shock results killed off some suspense but last weekend’s upheaval shows nothing is certain in footballAs the AFL was reminded again last weekend, to its significant chagrin, there is no such thing as a certainty in sport after a round that damaged reputations and decimated finals hopes. Not only did a goal review farce sink Adelaide and further dent the battered commodity known as the integrity of the competition, a string of shock results in the penultimate round has largely robbed the AFL of a fairy-tale lead-in to the finals series.The suspense is not completely killed off as flag contenders jostle for position but the final round of the season is not the blockbuster envisaged earlier...
The game against Melbourne clashes with the Dolphins-Broncos derby on Friday night and should serve as an early-season barometer The ‘Battle of Brisbane’ on Friday night has the NRL buzzing, but on the south side of the river in the Queensland capital, the Lions have a fight on two fronts to consider in the AFL. Brisbane’s clash against Melbourne at the Gabba, scheduled at the same time as the meeting between the unbeaten Broncos and Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium, serves as an early-season barometer.After a disappointing 54-point loss to the Power in Adelaide last week, the clash with Melbourne is an important challenge for a side considered a premiership contender. It is relatively rare in the AFL for teams that...
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...