Northern Conquest
What a wonderful weekend of football, from the first throw-up, ball-up, or whatever ‘up’ starts a game now, at the SCG on Thursday to the final siren at the MCG late on Sunday night, a night when homage was paid to the Saints legends of the 1966 Premiership team.
The AFL doesn’t always get it right, but allowing St Kilda to have a standalone Melbourne game for their 60th reunion of ’66 was the right decision. I was informed former Saint hard nut ruckman, Carl Ditterich, who was suspended for the Saints only Premiership was in attendance, which was good to see.
Anyway, back to Opening Round and the successful celebration of the northern AFL clubs in the very heartland of the NRL, and why Opening Round should remain as a set fixture in the future.
Talkback radio hosts and media talking heads have all had a whine about the inequity of the season starting a week early for some clubs and how unfair that is for other teams. Well, to that I say boo-bloody-hoo.
Anyway, who said life was meant to be fair?
The concept of Opening Round can be attributed to The Gill, who knew exactly what was needed to promote and grow the game up north, including a standalone weekend for the four northern entities.
Unless you have lived in NSW or Queensland, you will never fully appreciate how hard it is for the AFL to remain relevant year after year in hostile NRL territories. The early season showcase of the Swans, Giants, Suns, and Lions on the same weekend the NRL season starts is a no-brainer, and best of all, it works.
Further, The Gill knew how to handle a dishevelled little man from the NRL with the initials PV.
PV openly has a vendetta against the AFL, and he will go to any means to rid New South Wales and Queensland of the four northern AFL clubs. I am so glad PV is crying in his Weetbix this week after a very successful start to the AFL season, even out in the NRL hinterlands of Homebush and Carrara.
Apart from an increase of their exposure in the face of a NRL onslaught, all four of the northern clubs have reportedly increased membership sales, as well as increased revenue from merchandise purchases. This marks Opening Round as a rip-snorter for the clubs involved and the AFL.
Charlie Curnow and Joel Amartey
I had second row seats at the SCG as the Swans unveiled Charlie Curnow for the first time (insert Foreigner here), another high-profile full forward finding his way to Moore Park, and I was not disappointed. Charlie’s first game in the red and white was serviceable, and three goals was a good return in his first outing, but what impressed me more was the game of Joel Amartey as a second or third string forward.
Ask anybody from the Mongrel Punt, and they will gladly tell you how harsh I have been on Joel, but credit where credit is due, Amartey flourished not being the first option forward. While Logan McDonald was finding his feet again after not playing a game last season, Amartey stood up as a reliable and sound option up forward.
It is early days, and one game does not make for a champion, but until proven otherwise, for the first time in Joel’s career I am onboard for the Amartey Party.
Harris Andrews’ Suspension
Dependent on the outcome of his tribunal appearance, the best defender in the competition is going to be a spectator for a few weeks because of a reckless act in the heat of battle, and it may cost the Lions dearly.
Each club had a player it can ill-afford to lose, and for the Lions that player is Harris Andrews. With matches coming up against the Swans, Saints and Pies, a fit Andrews will be watching from the pine – what a waste. To compound Andrews’ suspension, Hugh McCluggage suffered a calf strain, and he will be missing form at least a week, while Zac Bailey and Darcy Gardiner were both suspended for a week, and they will also miss the Swans clash.
Western Bulldogs
Some wins are worth more than other wins, and the Bulldogs’ win over the reigning Premier at the Gabba last Saturday night has the potential to be season-defining.
Last season, the boys from The Kennel struggled against the top end of town, but that was then and this is now. The manner in which they beat the Lions on their dung heap in a nailbiter was top shelf.
It wasn’t just the win; it was a team-defining victory. The tenacious Doggies got under the skin of the Lions, with three Lions players paying the price this week for undisciplined actions, which is very un-Lions-like. It wasn’t a fluke win by the Dogs, but a win based on unending pressure with each player performing the task assigned to them.
Under Luke Beveridge the Doggies have never made the top four, and like others, I have been sucked in before, but I did like what I saw.
Mac Andrew
Mac Andrew is a ripper, and one day he will take mark of the century, but on the weekend when he got up high, he looked like Bambi caught in headlights, arms and legs flailing in every direction.
Keep jumping Mac, you’ll nab one sooner or later.
What is the future for Rowan Marshall?
In his new Saints jumper for the very first time, Tom De Koning played like he had been at the Saints for five years as he announced himself as the number one ruck at Moorabbin, over the club stalwart, and resilient Rowan Marshall.
Marshall, by any standards, is one of the leading big men in the game, but from what was seen on the weekend, Ross Lyon doesn’t quite know what to do with him as the second fiddle ruckman, and more importantly, Rowan himself may not be sure either.
It is a nice conundrum to have two of the best big men in the game on the field at the same time, but both TDK and Rowan need set roles to ensure team balance.
I fear the TDK/Marshall combination may end up like Max Gawn/Brodie Grundy when they were together at Melbourne for one unforgettable season – let’s hope not.
Boundary Umpires Helicopter Whirl
Over the years the AFL/VFL/SANFL/WAFL and Tassie leagues have had some unique oddities like the Goal Umpires in white dust coats, bouncing the ball up, the centre diamond (look it up), black shorts for home games and white shorts for away games, drawn Grand Finals replayed the following week, and the list goes on. And now we have the helicopter whirl by the Boundary Umpires to signal a last touch when the ball goes out of play between the arcs (or something like that).
I seriously thought the Boundary Umpires were applying for a job on a building site as the helicopter whirl resembled directions given to a crane driver/operator above.
Only in AFL.
The Phantom Sub – Papley and Pendlebury
After the Swans win last Thursday night, Tom Papley was doing running exercise long after his teammates had left the field, and it wasn’t until I saw the minutes he played that it made sense. Dean Cox had effectively used Papley as a pseudo-sub (insert Phil Collins here).
On Sunday night, Fly McRae employed the same tactic with Scott Pendlebury, also with success.
In other sports they have pitch-hitters, and maybe the pitch-hitter is a new trend in the AFL with five on the bench.
It’s a watch.
Is Collingwood a One Player Team?
I watched enough of the Pies and Saints match to see the post-siren reviews and interviews. I noted the performance of one player was mentioned in higher esteem and more than any other player, as if he was the messiah himself.
I can acknowledge he had a good game, but I dip my lid to Harry Perryman who blanketed Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera for the entire match, as well as Dan Houston playing to his full potential for the first time in black and white colours. Add in Brayden Maynard holding the Pies’ defence together in the absence of some top line players, and a dozen other Collingwood players who stood up when the game was on the line.
Yes, he was the best player next to his brother (I am having a dig at the media here and not the player), but in the eyes of many the team first performances of Harry Perryman, as well as Dan Houston were more crucial to the Pies win.
Enough said – three votes Harry Perryman.
The Gary Award
Every club has players their supporters love to hate, and in my case that player was and still is a Gary Rohan. Gary had all the skill and ability, but more often than not, Gary would go missing in big games, especially finals. And even when he went to another club, he only played one good finals game. As such, in honour of Gary – I have initiated The Gary Award.
The Gary Award is only eligible for top end talent who have played over 75 games and who go missing in action when their club needs them most.
Round Zero Gary Votes
3 Harry McKay (he didn’t live up to being the MAN)
2 Harris Andrews (for getting suspended)
1 Bailey Smith (he just stands out when he is having a quiet game)
Next Edition
This is the second edition of ‘Disco’s Pondering’s’ which still evolving, and I welcome suggestions for future editions, especially suggestions that will rankle a few supporter bases.
My Challenge to myself is to not mention of a certain Collingwood demi-god for the entire season.
Have a great week.
