Daniel Rich continues to impress in his debut AFL season
As Round 4 of the 2009 AFL season is about to begin, are we starting to get a clearer picture of where teams stand against each other, or does it just add more confusion as most teams struggle with consistent efforts?
Brisbane vs Collingwood
Collingwood were tipped by many to be finals contenders but were not convincing last week being outclassed by Geelong. Collingwood can’t rely too much on small forward Paul Medhurst who kicked 3 goals last week. They continually lack quality ‘Big men’ which can be used as a focal point up forward.
With only one win so far against the Melbourne, it will be interesting to see if the Magpies can beat Brisbane who have had a promising start to the year. If they can neutralize the effect the ‘Twin Towers’ (Bradshaw and Brown) they stand a chance. Last week in trying conditions, both Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw for Brisbane kicked 4 goals each. They were well complimented by Justin Sherman.
It also helps when you have a midfield than can deliver superb marking opportunities. Simon Black now a polished veteran, must be very pleased with Daniel Rich’s development who easily handles himself at the elite level of Australian Football.
Brisbane by 20 points
Sydney vs Carlton
Sydney may have lost last week to the ‘fresh’ Lions at a rain soaked GABBA but they are a team I am reluctant to write off. Like a cork in the ocean, they keep on popping up instead of sinking when many thought they would.
People talked more about Hawthorn’s loss than Sydney’s win in Round 2 but I was impressed with their high scoring win. This could be a danger game for the Carlton Blues who have the opportunity to be real premiership contenders this year.
A close win over Brisbane and a thrashing of Richmond are still yet to convince me where Carlton stand this year. I know the season is only 3 rounds old but This round coming up could be really telling for the ‘Navy Blues’.
Carlton last week lost to an inspired Essendon team who always lift for this clash. Although Essendon lack the rich talent that is Carlton at the moment, they made up for it with hard running and determination. The Blues have to remember talent and promise does not equal success. Coach Ratten can’t rely on gifted youngsters alone to win games.
Carlton by 16ponts
Hawthorn vs Port Power
Hawthorn have copped it in the media lately with some saying they are ‘one hit wonders’, but that is a bit harsh considering the season is only 3 rounds finished. Then they talk about other teams working out Hawthorn’s master game plan. I guess when you have to churn out a series of article every week for cash, writers have to find something to talk about.
At the end of the day, Hawthorn are a talented side with expectation of dominating this year as opposed to previous years. In the 3 games this season they have played against admiral opponents, one being Geelong and the other two teams Sydney and North Melbourne played finals football.
A 54 point thrashing of the Kangaroos last week should do something for the Hawk’s confidence in their abilities.
Port Adelaide had a similar winning margin(57 points) in their win over Melbourne in Adelaide last week, but it says more about where the Demons are at at the moment. Old man Tredrea bagged six goals in his first good game in a very long time and Dean Brogan dominated in the Ruck for them.
Hawthorn’s finishing and overall talent should see this game blow out.
Hawthorn by 42 points
St Kilda vs Fremantle
‘Oh when the Saints go marching in’ they really pack a punch. Coach Ross Lyon must be happy with a bolting start from St Kilda who sit pretty at the top of the AFL ladder after 3 wins. Its a promising start but the real test will be when they face generally more refined opponents. And they are not going to get that this week, facing the Fremantle Dockers.
At one stage both these teams were comparable in player/supporter attitude, club culture, skills and talent. But the Saints went and had a cleansing session, a Spring clean out and have generally developed a list that can be built upon.
On the other hand Fremantle have recruited poorly and have been rather sentimental with veteran players who at other clubs would of been 2-3 year AFL career players at best. It is good to have patience in players and see how they develop but the player list at Fremantle is an example of complacency and unwillingness to make hard decisions.
St Kilda should pencil this in for a win.
St Kilda by 46 points
Adelaide vs Geelong
Adelaide have had an eventful start of the season winning two from three games and Coach Neil Craig admitting they are a developing but competitive side. It is great to see that he is willing to balance competiveness and development instead of writing off another year as ‘re-building’. Youngsters like Taylor Walker, Jason Porplyzia, Richard Douglas and Kurt Tippett give Adelaide supporters much to crow about.
Last weeks game against Fremantle was scrappy but Adelaide did come from behind to win by a good margin.
There’s nothing scrappy about Geelong’s play at the moment, and thats definitely the benefit of having a settled side that has being playing together for a few years now. The Cat’s are one cohesive unit and that was evident against Collingwood last week.
Although down by 20 points at one stage, Geelong came back to totally outclass the Magpies last week. A few of the Cats are also starting to find their momentum again. Jimmy Bartel, Paul Chapman Matthew Scarlett and Gary Ablett are just starting to warm their engines. this could be an ominous sign of things to come for future opposing teams.
Geelong by 26 points
North Melbourne vs Essendon
Essendon had a spirited 4 point win over Carlton last week that places question marks over where the Blues are at. But what does it say about the Bombers? What Essendon lack in execution they make up for with sheer determination. Paddy Ryder was inspirational with his last second effort to bring down Marc Murphy in a tackle that could of resulted in a Blues goal.
It is these types of efforts that Essendon has a reputation of producing. Their list of players looks lack-luster but there are a lot of solid game contributors like Brett Stanton, Angus Monfries, Andrew Lovett to name but a few.
North Melbourne have a very similiar style to that of the Bombers. They rely on grit and determination with some very good players lifting to contribute to an overall team effort. At the moment though, these players for the Kangaroos are M.IA (Missing In Action).
Coach Laidley made the comment that Adam Simpson is a player he would pick every day of the week compared with some players with talent to burn but don’t work as hard. Simpson may not have the fleetest of foot skills but always battles hard. It is disappointing to see young players like Daniel Wells, Drew Petrie, Leigh Harding not follow his lead.
This should be a tight, interesting game. To win against North Melbourne, Essendon will have to lift to the standard of intensity they had against Carlton last week.
Essendon by 14 points
Richmond vs Melbourne
Richmond are starting to disappoint me. You only get disappointment from expectation and in past seasons I haven’t thought much of the Tigers. But with all their talk of rebuilding and with Wallace’s 5 year plan manifesto, you expect to see some sort of results of improvement.
The Tigers supporters patience has not been rewarded but that does not excuse their reported behaviour on the weekend. The game against the Bulldogs looked scrappy at times and the Tigers delivery needs to be better into their forward line. Richard Tambling had a terrible game and it just sybolises where the Tigers are at at the moment.
I don’t think the Tigers have recruited well and it is starting to show . In comparison Melbourne Demons are just starting their ‘rebuilding’ phase under Dean Bayley, with their list of players reading like a year 12 high school graduation. In last week’s game against Port they made too many errors to be close to competitive losers.
This game could be a really scrappy affair but the Tigers should win.
Richmond by 36 points
West Coast vs Western Bulldogs
West Coast were terrible. When your coach says the loss was “hurtful,embarrassing and disappointing” you know a team has been totally outclassed. Although John Worsfold said his side lacked mental strength, their poor skills and execution stood out against their 97 point thrashing by the Saints last week.
St Kilda played with intensity that couldn’t be matched. Former Eagle Michael Gardiner got the better of Dean Cox in the battle of the Ruckmen. His quality of possession versus the quanity of Cox’s stood out for me. The Eagles certainly don’t have the superstar midfield needed to executed their ‘brand’ of football.
The Western Bulldogs on the other hand have pace and skill to burn. Their ability to run out games and turn up the intensity when needed sees the Dogs with 3 from 3. Jason Akermanis even managed to contribute something good for once with 3 goals against the Tigers last week.
Western Bulldogs by 40 points
Your Round Four Tips
So what your tips for the fourth weekend of AFL in 2009? Please post them below in the comments section along with any other observations about round four.
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April 16th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Brisbane
Carlton
Port
Freo
Geelong
Essendon
Richmond
Bulldogs
Freo only because St Kilda will go in complacent and wont hit second gear
April 16th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
My tips:
Brisbane – Just too many options up forward and a more balanced midfield
Sydney – Sydney are home town bullies but I really expect Carlton to win, especially if they are as good as what they believe they are.
Hawthorn – Both sides like to flex their muscles but Port have too many suspended, however they do hold a huge edge in the ruck.
St Kilda – Freo suck at the moment & St Kilda are in red hot form.
Geelong – At Adelaide but nothing really holds much fear for the Cats at the moment.
North Melbourne – Tough one to tip but North had a horrible week (chickengate & poor form) so I expect them to bounce back.
Richmond – Only tipping because they are playing Melbourne…
Bulldogs – Would like to tip the Eagles but Bulldogs are in premiership form and the Eagles are not. Bulldogs have come from a 6 day break and 2nd trip to Perth in 4 weeks though which may give the Eagles some chance….
April 16th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
“Jason Akermanis even managed to contribute something good for once with 3 goals”
There have been a few people on this site that have judged aker pretty harshly. As a dogs follower i have been nothing but happy with the way aker has performed in the red, white and blue. last year he kicked close enough to 50 goals and has been hugely influential in 2 of our 3 wins this season. He is a winner who brings so much confidence to our group and always performs on the big stage. other people might not rate you aker but i love having you in our team. i honestly wish that he had another season in him.
April 16th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Personally I do not like Aker but I do have to agree that he has had a solid year so far. What I find apart from his goal kicking potential and leadership abilities that is impressive is the team game he is now playing. He does not kick at goal on the boundary line anymore, he looks to see who is in a better spot.
I also think the Dogs and Lions got a win/ win out of their trade. Dogs got a seasoned player and a few good solid seasons and the Lions got rid of a trouble maker, btw who did they pick up with the pick??
April 16th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
a guy called Chris Schmidt who was delisted and rookie listed by the Crows
April 16th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Wow the Doggies won big time in that trade then
April 16th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I’m going for an upset or two this week that might just shock you.
Brisbane .v. Collingwood
While the AFL are trialling the new computer-chip pill that measures internal body temperature of NASA astronauts, Heath Shaw’s must have started eating away at his intestines last Thursday night. One week is a laughing stock. You get 18 months in the A-League. I believe you would’ve seen Thailand style riots by Magpie supporters if Shaw got more, going by their track records.
Also missing will be Nick Maxwell, arguably the games biggest “captain thug” since the days of Leigh Matthews. Eddie was going to fight the charge, but realised nobodies jaw was broken.
Meanwhile, Jed Adcock says Michael Voss “doesn’t care about skill errors. Skill errors happen”. Rumour is half the Richmond list wants to go to Brisbane next season.
Players to watch: Brisbane’s Brad Dalziell, Jed Adcock & Travis Johnstone.
Collingwood’s Dane Swan, Alan Didak & Josh Fraser.
Lions by 50 points
Sydney .v. Carlton
You can rely on “Fev” for the quotes of a Nobel Prize winner. He offered no excuses for his wayward kicking last week, except for a far out notion about the footballs in the bags behind the goals not being “broken in”.
Maybe the orange peels should be surgically implanted into his brain so he could think better.
Surprised to see the Blues as favourites with the bookmakers, but they’ve had a good run this season.
Players to watch: Sydney’s Darren Jolly, Jarrad McVeigh & Adam Goodes.
Carlton’s Bryce Gibbs, Richard Hadley & Marc Murphy.
Carlton by 3 points
Hawthorn .v. Port Adelaide
For some reason, I can smell an upset here. The Power nearly shocked the Hawks in Tasmania last season with a full strength team. Campbell Brown should byu the tribunal a lotto ticket. Lucky to escape suspension, Brown is like Sir Richard Branson on the turps. They can’t put their brains before Brawn.
On suspensions, the Power’s best player so far, Peter Burgoyne, is also out suspended. A great Easter gesture of genuflecting on Aaron Davey. Captain Dominic Cassissi is also out suspended.
Some great derogatory radio by the AFL’s own, inSENsitive, this week, saying, “Burgoyne & Cassissi should be punched in the head by Mark Williams”.
Xavier Ellis is also out with Alastair Clarkson doing his best Jason Akermanis. When asked how it happened, one of Clarkson’s theories were “someone kicked him”.
Players to watch: Hawthorn’s Brent Guerra, Chance Bateman & Sam Mitchel.
Port Adelaide’s Danyle Pearce, Chad Cornes & Daniel Motlop.
Power by 5 points
St Kilda .v. Fremantle
Last week smashed the Eagles with more wrestling than the old Festival Hall days. At least our commentators don’t describe our brawls as “two teams getting jiggy with it” like the NRL. It’s a fight, not a violent orgy.
Dockers supporters are getting edgy. Their players were sold into trouble more than the NY Mets selling stadium rights to Citibank. And their lack of traffic awareness was similar to any Volvo driver.
Players to watch: St Kilda’s Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo, Brendon Goddard.
Fremantle: anyone who can put their hand up. More women have claimed to have wrecked Mel Gibson’s marriage than Docker’s who have played well.
Saints by 120 points
Adelaide .v. Geelong
The Cats smashed the Crows at Moron Park last season & it doesn’t help when Scott Stevens could be missing with a face bigger than Kylie Minogue on Botox.
Hard to gauge if the Cats still have that invincible edge to them. Big games against Hawks & Magpies with a lacklustre build up against the Tigers in between.
Players to watch: Adelaide’s Bernie Vince, Tyson Edwards & Nathan van Berlo.
Geelong’s Steve Johnson, Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett.
Cats by 6 points
North Melbourne .v. Essendon
Hasn’t Adam Simpson & Daniel Pratt been made the “scapegoats” this last week? Forced to say it was their fault after a staff member put that video on YouTube.
One columnist on Monday compared players remorse to a Bob Dylan song about the murder of a black maid by a white plantation owner. But, he also wrote “Hurricane” with the words “for something that they never done”. It’s not as if they named anybody from a Children’s Court hearing.
And how much of a vested interest did Demetriou have after phoning Simpson on his condition?? It sounds alot like Shane Warne talking to Indian bookmakers.
And get off Daniel Wells’ back. I haven’t heard one critic of the way Brent Harvey’s playing this season. Is Harvey pencilled in for AA selection already?? It would prove the conspiracy theorists correct if he was.
And even though Dean Laidley had everyone’s support last week, except the AFL, he’ll get none this weekend against the in form Bombers.
Bookmakers going against the Bombers, but last time they met, the Bombers shocked the football world with a huge win.
Players to watch: Nth Melbourne’s Leigh Harding, Hamish McIntosh, Daniel Wells.
Essendon’s Jason Winderlich, Heath Hocking, Brent Stanton.
Bombers by 17 points
Richmond .v. Melbourne
Pick the better of two horrible teams, but the Tigers have had the harder draw.
There was a lot of confusing words from the coaches last week. Terry Wallace said they could match the Bulldogs for leg speed. After Monday, the Dogs could’ve started from the Stawell Gift car park & still get home.
Meanwhile, Dean Bailey has to explain to his players how to play football. One would’ve thought a prerequisite of being drafted was knowing how to play the game.
Players to watch: anyone who wants a career longer than Qantas.
Tigers by 49 points
West Coast .v. Western Bulldogs
The Eagles were absolutely “Boris’d” last week against the Saints. So much so that over 10 Saints players monstered the SuperCoach scores.
Perhaps John Worsfold could recruit Portuguese Water Dogs. Easily trained in obedience, agility skills & can follow complex commands. Trouble is they get Addison’s disease, but I think Dylan Addison is the least of their problems.
This game is expected to be a good one with the Dogs 2nd trip to WA in 3 weeks & Adam Cooney a confirmed scaratching.
Players to watch: Western Bulldogs Daniel Cross, Brian Lake, Lindsay Gilbee.
West Coast’s Adam Selwood, Dean Cox, Matt Priddis.
Bulldogs by 11 points
April 16th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I enjoyed reading that Craig!
Thanks for the enjoying read.
Interesting to see that you think Adelaide/ Geelong & the Port/ Hawthorn games will be as close as you think. I just do not see how Port can get close, Hawks are warming up nicely and I am now undecided about the Power.
Also I think the reason Wells is dropped is because since the 2002 draft he has not showed anything and while Harvey has been quiet, at least he has the runs on the board unlike Wells. Maybe he could be trade bait and I am sure the two WA teams would be happy to have him. Or the Roos can ship him off to the Gold Coast as the player they pinch.
Jermayns last blog post..Where Has Our Faith Gone?
April 17th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Thanks guys for your tips – Craig yours were great helped me to choose some of the ones I wasnt too sure about.
Collingwood
Carlton (tough call)
Hawthorn
Saints (this is a no brainer)
Cats
Bombers (may regret this pick)
Richmond
Bulldogs (and whats with Ackers hair and beard being different colours ew)
Princess of the Catss last blog post..Inkheart
April 20th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Hard round to tip with a number of upsets. Hears what people got from their tips above.
Johnntruent – 2
CraigEyles – 4
Jermayn – 4
Princess – 3
Michael – 2