Disco’s Pondering’s
Round 2
The Sunday Graveyard Shift
For the Mongrel’s regular writers reviewing the late Sunday game is avoided at all costs, however some of the best games often occur in this graveyard timeslot (having said that, there are some games in this timeslot which are rubbish), such as the epic battle at Optus Oval on Sunday past.
On paper the Eagles v North did not look like a good get, as such the match was avoided by all and sundry at The Mongrel Punt, with our poor old Fearless Leader foregoing his Sunday night roast to review the game.
Hindsight is a beautiful thing, as the Eagles come from behind win was a gem, with so many little subplots and nuances taking place.
It was one of those games writers dream about. What the Optus Oval cellar dweller contest lacked in skill, it more than made up with effort, drama, and absolute confusion.
I am not going to undermine HB Meyers review, and I suggest you have a good read of his review – he nailed it. However, I did have some thoughts of my own to add to the story.
Boom and Bust Weagles – Harley and Willem
There is a reasons the juggernaut known as the West Coast Eagles have won a flag in every decade since 1990’s. They know how to build a team around some true ‘A’ grade talent with great effect, and they are content to go backwards to go forward.
It helps that the club has money to burn, and a loyal fanbase that still turn up in number even when the going is shite.
On the weekend, I had to look twice at a pair of number one recruits, the flamboyant Harley Reid, and the polished performer Willem Duursma. In glimpses they reminded me of Ben Cousins and Chris Judd, and I reckon the Eagles will offer the world and then some to Harley and Willem to keep them out west. The next Eagles juggernaut will be built around them.
Harley and Willem are nowhere near Ben and Chris yet, but based on a couple of plays this season there is a synergy forming between the pair, and once they both mature into their talent, it is plausible the Eagles may yet end winning a flag this decade.
If I was asked which club out of North Melbourne, St Kilda, Richmond, Essendon, Carlton, Port Adelaide or the Eagles is closest to their premiership, without hesitation I would select the boys from the west. In a season or two, this latest incarnation of the Eagles juggernaut will be up near the business end of the season again, and history shows, when they are there, they win silverware.
Pheonix Gothard is a tad Unlucky
On Saturday night, Pheonix Gothard was almost a ‘lock’ for The Rising Star nomination in just his third game. That was until Willem Duursma showed why he was the numero uno pick last year.
Gothard, made the most of his selection, with 19 possessions and he slotted a couple of nice sausage rolls. It was a breakout game for Pheonix as he franked his credentials to be an important part of the Orange Team’s season.
Chapeau Pheonix
At the of writing the Round 2 nomination is not known, but I’d surprised if the nominee isn’t young Duursma.
Lachie Ash v Harry Sheezel
On the weekend, Lachie Ash gathered a lazy 39 possession while Harry Sheezel pipped him with one more possession.
It is hard to separate the two, as they both ended up with leather poisoning, however, and relaying on a vibe, Lachie Ash was the glue keeping the Giants just in touch all game. Ash was clearly the best Giant on the ground (I think Cal Wilkie pipped him for the overall best on ground), whereas Sheezel would be lucky to be in the Roos best five.
Sheezel is like a number of his highly rated teammates at Arden Street who know they are the are the best players in a team which has been below par for a number of years now. Yes, players like Sheezel have carried a huge weight in a developing team, but there must come a time when they start to trust the young’uns coming through, and hand them more responsibility.
The three best North players on the weekend were Nick Larkey, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Tristan Xerri.
While I’m mentioning North, Nick Larkey has been an inspired choice as Captain. His battle with Reuben Ginbey was a good watch, with Larkey taking the points given his three late goals when the game was on the line.
Unlike a lot of players, and in the small sample size available, Larkey is becoming a better player with the responsibility of captaincy.
Alastair Clarkson
Is Alastair Clarkson becoming an old softy?
In a throwaway comment made to Kath Loughnan after halftime, Clarkson flippantly gave a non-descript answer about winning or losing. He gave an honest answer, but an almost too honest answer while he was still in the heat of battle.
Hoping I don’t get lynched by some salty old Shinboners for even suggesting anybody at Arden is soft, but this less intense Clarkson might be a good thing, especially considering his team is doing a three steps forward and then two steps backwards dance on repeat cycle.
If Clarko has softened, then full respect.
Luke Parker and Harry Himmelberg
There is no direct correlation between Parker and Himmelberg other than both played angry – really angry – on the weekend and it was detrimental to both North and the Orange Team.
Some players perform better when they are fired up and ready to rip the head off anybody who gets in their way, while with other players become ill-disciplined when the voices in their head take over.
When North recruited both the aging Luke Parker and Jack Darling as a couple of hardened and seasoned players to help with the rebuild, they would have also been aware in their last season at their old club, both players were trying hard, almost too hard, and both were guilty of a few undisciplined act as old father time caught up with.
Make no mistake, both Parker and Darling have been impressive at North, and if a bit of anger giving away a free or a 50 here and there is the price the club pays, then that is not a bad offset.
Whereas poor old Harry Himmelberg had a Barry Crocker on the weekend, giving away 50 metre penalties, kicking the ball directly to the opposition and giving away some really dumbass free kicks. He has a mare.
Given his service to the boys from Homebush, Harry gets a mulligan.
Essendon
All teams are going to be slaughtered at some stage throughout this long season, and for most, once the game has been dissected by the usual know-it-all talking heads, then is business as usual preparing for the next week.
To use the now of dated cliché, today’s news is tomorrow’s fish n chips paper..
Teams normally recover from a bashing by Tuesday the following week. Like a bee sting, it hurts at the time but by the next day or two it is gone (apologies to those who are allergic to bee stings).
So, what is so different about Essendon?
Essendon has had a mulligan (I’ve used that word twice – shame on me) since a young Keith Richards had a joint with Mick Jagger, and they rolled rocks down a hill and formed a band.
The Bombers have real list worries, and it is universally accepted they are in AFL purgatory, but that does not forgive the players not being fit or putting up a fight.
Early in the season it is interesting to watch how many players from some clubs go down on their hunches, or lay flat on the ground with major cramps, At the Adelaide Oval on the weekend the Bomber players looked like they did not have the conditioning to run out a whole match.
The Bombers looked unfit.
If you are going to say they kicked five goals in the last quarter as though that is some kind of reprieve, that was more the Power players taking their foot of the Bombers throat rather than any sudden form improvement.
It is crass when issues from the post/pre-season carrying into the season properly, and yes, I am talking about Zach Merrett.
Whether he was traded or not traded to Hawthorn is now a moot point. Once the trade did not go through. Merrett, like a true professional didn’t spit the dummy rather he put his head down and got with the job playing for the Bombers in 2026.
Questions have been crassly asked about his commitment to the Bombers for 2026. I mean, like really, since 2016 he has won Essendon’s best and fairest, the Crichton Medal, six times. Merrett will be a Bomber Legend sometime in the futures, and you don’t become a legend by turning it up every time something doesn’t go your way.
Enough said, except at the end of the season Zach Merrett WILL again be in the running for a seventh Crichton Medal.
Finally, as if the tradition at The Hangar, there are external loud and powerful voices (I don’t mean a drunken fans arguing with Finey every Friday night), made up of ex-players, an ex-coach and the power brokers from Coteria clubs like the Essendonians, again calling for the coach to be sacked, and/or another Board spill.
Oscar Baker
My favourite grand final player from days of yore is not one of the superstars, but rather a journeyman by the name of Mitch Morton. When it was his turn to go in the 2012 Grand Final, he stood up and played his role and then some.
Like Mitch Morton, Oscar Baker has just hung in the system for years, and was in and out of the team. He put in his best performance to date at the Adelaide Oval last Friday night, including kicking possibly the goal of the year in the dying moments to secure the win for the Puppies, which was one for the ages.
Baker is now the head of the Journeyman’s Union.
Kungfu Toby
Late in the last quarter when the Giants finally woke from their slumber and started charging at the Saints, Toby Greene was on his back like a turtle in a pack, but somehow, he fashioned a pass by foot to Harvey Thomas who then went to kick a goal. There were elements of Bruce Lee in his action.
Toby Greene is one of the few players to have the skills, guile and peripheral awareness to continual do the sublime.
In the words of Molly Meldrum, do yourself a favour and watch it.
Riley Bice, Max Hall and Milan Murdock
Riley Bice, Milan Murdock and Max Hall, all mature aged recruits have had outstanding starts to the season at the Swans, Eagles and Saints respectively and all three look to have bright futures in the AFL.
It surprising that some clubs ignore ready to play, matured bodied, game savvy recruits. It cost very little and history is supporting the theory that there are many diamonds in the rough playing suburban and country leagues who for one reason or another weren’t recruited as teenagers who are now ready for the big time.
An acknowledgement
Last week I mentioned a couple of players who have only been in the system for a couple of years or less and the feedback I got back wasn’t positive and I have taken it on board.
Also, in consultation with HB Meyers, all Mongrel Punt articles and reviews will avoid saying anything negative about any player new to the system and in game reviews we will pay attention to the young’uns in a positive light, if they deserve the praise.
As such, I thank you all for your valued feedback and in true Mongrel spirit we invite you all to continue your interactions, both positive, and if we deserve a kick on the bum, then give it to us.
Have a great week and may your team win next weekend.
