Disco’s Weekly
Round 7 Special AFL Veterans Edition
In keeping with the ANZAC tradition, and the performances of many players over 30 over the weekend’s round of matches, we present to you the reader, the Over 30s All Australian Team, as well as the votes for Round 7 in the Casey’s Nightclub Over 30s Award, and to finish off, a look forward to a very juicy mix of games in Round Eight.
The Over 30s All Australian Team
Over the course of the ANZAC round of matches, and in keeping with the tradition, it was the veterans who stood up and stood out.
Scott Pendlebury, aged well over 80 and with a zillion games under his belt, had one of the best games of his career, whilst elsewhere, Lachie Neale picked up a million possessions, Brodie Grundy gave the young Bulldogs rucks a masterclass in the craft of rucking, Old Man Gunston kicked a lazy five goals from his rocking chair (should have been more), and up back, Harris Andrews was Harris Andrews, Callum Wilkie made the Eaglets forwards look lame as he intercepted at will, and even in defeat, Luke Parker, Caleb Daniel and Jack Darling nearly got the Roos over the line, but they were thwarted by the evergreen Giants, Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield.
That was a long sentence. Thanks for sticking with me.
Many other veterans well into their 30s also served with distinction in the round that was.
In keeping with the theme of the Over 30s, The Mongrel Punt have a new award this season, Disco’s Over 30s Caseys Night Club Award, obviously for the over 30s who will be vying for the Mirror Ball Keyring. Round Seven votes are at the end of this article.
So let’s get started and have a bit of controversy and fun with The Over 30s All-Australian Team, as selected by your satin shirt wearing author.
The All Australian Over 30s Team… or The All-Ageing Team
Backs:
Alex Pearce (Fre), Harris Andrew (Vice-Captain – Bris), Callum Wilkie (StK)
Halfbacks
James Sicily (Haw), Tom Stewart (Gee), Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
Centres:
Scott Pendlebury (Captain – Coll), Christian Petracca (GC), Mark Blicavs (Gee)
Half Forwards:
Taylor Walker (Ade), Jeremy Cameron (Gee), Toby Greene (GWS)
Forwards:
Charlie Cameron (Bris), Jesse Hogan (Giants), Jack Gunston (Haw)
Followers:
Max Gawn (Melb). Marcus Bontempelli (WB), Lachie Neale (Bris)
On the Bench:
Brodie Grundy (Syd), Elliott Yeo (WC), Dion Prestia (Rich), Jack Steele (Melb), Tom Atkins (Gee), Zach Merrett (Ess), Patrick Cripps (Car), Patrick Dangerfield (Gee), Brayden Maynard (Coll), Jeremy Howe (Coll), Dayne Zorko (Bris), Luke Parker (NM)
Unlucky:
Jarman Impey (Haw), Jake Lloyd (Syd), Jack Sinclair (StK), Dame Rampe (Syd), Jarrod Witts (GC), Steele Sidebottom (Coll), Ollie Wines (PA), Jarrod Witts (GC), Karl Amon (Haw), Jeremy Howe (Coll), Tom Liberatore (WB), Jack Darling (NM), Bradley Hill (StK), Jack Cripps (Coll)
Like all composite teams, there will much debate (and we encourage it) about players left out (mainly because they weren’t front and centre in my head), and naturally enough, team bias. That said, every team has a representative in the starting 30, and yes there are 12 men on the pine. I mean they are over 30.
In all honesty, apart from the obvious Rolls Royce choices, the gap between selecting the rest of the team and the unlucky was hard, as several players have missed out and not for lack of ability nor durability, but rather there are so many class players over 30 running around the park in 2026.
Possibly the most controversial selection is the ever reliable and versatile Mark Blicavs on the wing. Blicavs is a quiet achiever, but bloody deadly (a silent assassin) at times, and he can play almost any position on the field and boy oh boy he just keeps running all game.
Come at me hard, as I know some players are not even mentioned above and leave me scratching my balding cranium wondering why I didn’t select them.
Round Eight – The Round to end all Rounds
The good from the not so good will be sorted out in Round Eight, with every game up for grabs with ladder consequences for all teams.
Collingwood v Hawthorn
It is hard to get a true reading on the Carringbush as they won games against opposition who, let’s be nice, are canon fodder this year. The saying goes, you can only beat what is in front you, however, the Pies will be tested and then some (a little bit of Bruce Willis never goes astray) this week when they take on the rampaging Hawks who will be eager to keep their winning form going.
If the Pies win, they are right back in the hunt, but if they lose, they drop back to the also-rans.
Hawthorn to consolidate their position on top of the heap.
Bulldogs v Fremantle
The Doggies’ season continues to be smashed by injuries to key players as it appears as though it all might be about to slip away. However, they get their chance to rebound this week against the Dockers, who have historically struggled on the road, but this version of Fremantle is bloody good, and they should account for the hapless pups.
Sorry to say Doggies, a season which started well now needs you to a win to even stay in touch. Beating the Flag(Flog)mantle may be a kennel too far.
Adelaide v Port Adelaide – the Showdown
This a pivotal match for both the Adelaide teams; win and you are playing with the big boys, but lose you are right back to the pack of hopefuls fighting with each other for a Wild Card game.
Who wins, who cares, and I can’t separate them, which is a worry for the Crows, because they were supposed to be a lot better than they are, at the moment.
Essendon v Brisbane
Brisbane really get some rubbish start times for a team that won the flag year, however, the Lions trip to Marvel on Saturday at brunch time should be a mere percentage booster.
Enough said.
West Coast v Richmond
For all the wrong reasons this is an interesting match, and it is rare anybody would ever tip a team which has lost two games already this season by over 100-points, but such is the empty cupboard at Tigerland, the Eagles start favourite.
Geelong v North Melbourne
This is the game of the round.
The aging Cats take on the up-and-coming Kangaroos in a match and if the Shinboners dare to dream and snare the victory, it will be considered a passing of the torch moment.
Geelong at Geelong is a hard assignment for any team (except GWS), and while a win for the Roos is huge, the Cats aren’t going to roll over.
This has the makings of a great game.
Carlton v St Kilda
For historical reasons dating back to before most of the readers were even born, St Kilda was the Blues kindergarten on the late 70s and 80s as they plundered their list to top up their list while totally obliterating the Saints every time they met.
St Kilda get a chance to cash a long-awaited receipt and, all things being equal, they should win easily.
Did I just say the Saints would win easily? That is always a dangerous comment.
Sydney v Melbourne
This is another ripper, with the young Dees being the most improved of season 2026 so far, and a Swans team which is ripping the heart and soul out of their opponents.
If there is to be a boil over this round, then this may just be the game.
Gold Coast v Greater Western Sydney
The AFL could not have fixtured a better game to end this round than the Newbies Cup.
After a slow start the Giants are getting players back and finding their form, while Dimma’s boys who came out of the blocks this season with all gun’s blazing is now in a mini-slump.
If the Giants win, they are right back in contention, however, a win for the Suns will have them back in contention aiming for a top four spot.
This is another huge game.
Disco’s Over 30s Casey’s Nightclub Award
This award is for the players proving there is life after 30 in the AFL, and it is theoretically sponsored by the once legendary nightclub located in the Glenferrie Station arcade, Casey’s Over 30s Nightclub. On any given Wednesday or Saturday night the more mature singles of Melbourne would pack the joint to the rafters. The smell of cheap aftershave was truly overbearing.
There are many players in the AFL thirty years of age or older performing gallantly and as such The Mongrel Punt have introduced this award specifically for the elderly citizens of the competition who will be competing for The Mirror Ball Keyring.
Similar in style to the Coaches Votes, the voting system for this cherished award is the top ten elderly citizens of each round will be ranked with ten being the maximum and one being the minimum.
Votes for Round 7
10 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
9 Lachie Neale (Bris)
8 Jack Gunston (Haw)
7 Toby Greene (GWS)
6 Jack Cripps (Coll)
5 Jack Steele (Melb)
4 Brodie Grundy (Syd)
3 Jarman Impey (Bris)
2 Callum Wilkie (StK)
1 Luke Parker (NM)
Leader Board
24 Brodie Grundy (Syd)
16 Jack Gunston (Haw) Zach Merrett (Ess)
15 Jack Steele (Melb)
14 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
11 Lachie Neale (Bris) Luke Parker (NM)
10 Jeremy Cameron (Gee)
9 Jarman Impey (Haw) Toby Greene (GWS) Taylor Walker (Ade) Liam Ryan (Freo)
8 Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
7 Jack Cripps (Coll) Max Gawn (Melb)
6 Jarman Impey (Haw) Jack Darling (NM) Alex Pearce (Freo) Brayden Maynard (Coll)
5 Marcus Bontempelli (WB) James Sicily (Haw)
4 Jake Melksham (Melb) Tom Aitkins (Gee)
3 Callum Wilkie (StK) Harris Andrews (Bris) Peter Wright (Ess)
That grey in Brodie Grundy’s beard ain’t just for decorative purposes! He’s a wise old man of the game, now, and could have a nice mirrorball keyring to show for it.
During the week this table will be amended to include Rounds Zero to Round 3. Big changes afoot.
Fin
Have a great weekend and may your team win.
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