That time of the week, again.
Gab Rossi has been up all night, studying… or something. Here are the ten things he learnt after Round Three.tt
1. Brisbane don’t like playing after boarding a plane
In Round 1 we saw what was a pretty insipid performance against a side in Port Adelaide who aren’t exactly setting the competition on fire right now. We then saw a pretty impressive performance at the GABBA where they dominated the highly fancied Demons for much of their clash before the bizarre power failure halted their momentum. So, coming into Round Three against a winless and far from impressive Bulldogs, many pundits thought the Lions loss in Adelaide was an aberration and gave them the nod after their solid win last week. Instead, they played out a scrappy affair before handing the Bulldogs their first win of the year managing just seven goals for the match.
There certainly seems to be a Jekyll and Hyde element to Brisbane at this early stage. What has made Brisbane a more formidable side in recent years has been their ability to win on the road. Well, unless something changes dramatically, I won’t be tipping them again outside of Queensland this year.
The Doggies had a tough week in the media with pressure being applied to the coach. The win will come as a huge relief with many already having written them off for this year. But the story of the night was probably Jamara Ugle-Hagan. Having been on the receiving end of racial taunts from an unidentified St Kilda supporter, this is definitely the best possible response. It was suggested by some during the week that the young forward may have been given time off in light of the impact such a thing may have had on him, but Jamara was having none of that. He wanted to play and rise above the actions of some Neanderthal moron sitting behind the safety of a fence. And boy did he rise, kicking 5.0 and replicating the famous Winmar salute In the process. It’s probably just as well as the result may have been different if he chose not to play. It’s a shining example of resilience, and one that I hope others dealing with these kinds of taunts and outdated attitudes will use as motivation to overcome these occurrences moving forward. That’s how you deal with these imbeciles. Their actions are designed to bring you down, and using them as inspiration is what stops them in their tracks. Kudos to Ugle-Hagan. With all that said, the Bulldogs’ season still sits on a knife’s edge with a clash against the Tigers looming in Round 4. A loss there and they’ll be well behind the pack and the pressure gauge will rise again.
As for the Lions, they’ll be at home, so they may enjoy sleeping in their own bed prior to that game, but it will be against a rampant Magpie outfit who look unstoppable at this stage. A loss at home will be the last thing they want as they don’t seem to be ready to win on the road just yet.
2. Collingwood might have run out of ruck!
Darcy Cameron’s form last year and so far this year made the idea of Brodie Grundy moving on not such a big deal. Mason Cox has also been handy in a back-up role. Cameron sustained a medial ligament injury similar to Gawn and will probably miss the next 5-6 weeks while Cox is out with a hematoma (blood clot). The options moving forward could see a young untried ruckman getting the nod, or perhaps Ash Johnson, who rucked in the final quarter against the Tigers. There are also talls such as Frampton and McStay that could be used. This may pose a problem against those really great tap-ruckmen such as Witts or Gawn, but one gets the feeling the Pies may find a way to keep winning nonetheless, although there is a danger game coming this weekend against the Lions on the road. Oscar McInerney is in pretty good form, so maybe the Pies midfield crew may need to get on the other side of the ruck contests. While Nick Daicos has been flying, it looks as though De Goey is finding his best form on the ball with 35 disposals on Friday night. Richmond were lucky to lose this game by just 14 points. With 13 scoring shots to just four at half time, the 19-point lead enjoyed by Collingwood should’ve been so much more, but 3.10 in front of goal was all they could muster.
Bad kicking for goal is becoming a blight on the game. It’s the one area that never seems to improve.
Richmond are very hard to get a gauge on this year. They converted very well against Adelaide last week, but their forays forward in their other games have been below the standard we’ve come to expect. It was just 58 points in Round 1 from a staggering 65 inside-50 entries, and 49 points from 40 this week. You won’t win too many games doing that. They’ll also have to find something to knock off the Bulldogs this week. A loss there and it’ll be a long way back to contention.
3. Tipping the Kangaroos is asking for trouble
It has to be said that the Kangaroos seem a vastly improved group under Clarkson, so a game against the Hawks who have been easily the worst performed side in the competition seemed to be a no-brainer. So, like many others, I tipped them. I mean, sure, had I have known that Davies-Uniacke and Simpkin were going to be late withdrawals, I may have reconsidered. Don’t you hate it when that happens? And, I guess I should’ve considered the media barrage that creates that “backs against the wall” mentality that often sees teams come out and win unexpectedly. It happened with the Bulldogs this week, and also the Hawks. Sam Mitchell could be seen grinning from ear to ear throughout the game. He can breathe easy for a little while now.
They keep unearthing young guns like Brockman and Mckenzie, and Mitchell is all about the future. The board will probably get off his back for the time being as he can give them the old “I know what I’m doing” stance. It’ll be a tough year nonetheless, and they’ll still come for him at times, but winning in Round 3 is already above expectations for some.
North Melbourne would’ve been optimistic going into this game. A 3-0 start would’ve been akin to an ecstasy pill for the fans. Even checking the scores on my phone at half-time made gave me a wry grin. As a Carlton fan starved of success for years, I can relate to where the Roos are now when you have a side that’s more used to losing than winning and always slips up as things start to look good. It’s not going to get easier for the Kangaroos as they come up against Carlton on Good Friday. However, if LDU and Simpkin both make their return, the Blues won’t want to be below their best. If one or both of those players don’t make it back in time, it could get ugly. The midfield numbers for the Kangaroos this week were well down. The depth at North Melbourne is still a fair way off from the better sides in the competition.
4. Goal-kicking practice coming up for the Blues
The Blues have kicked a total of 30.42 in their 3 games so far this year. That’s a conversion rate of just 41.7%. The 9.20 score line against the Giants on Saturday was their worst effort so far, and it could’ve so easily cost them the game after they really were in control for the most part. Some of their worst offenders are their spearheads in McKay and Curnow, both way off target in this game. McKay only managed 1 behind from his 7 touches in a quiet start to his season where he has scored just two goals in three games. Curnow has booted ten goals this year, but managed just 2.3 this week looking decidedly uncomfortable with set shots well inside 50 and more at home shooting from beyond the arc or from a tight angle. Make that make sense!! Thankfully, for Blues fans, he converted when it mattered putting the Blues 10 points up with two minutes to go from a tight angle.
The Blues’ forward entries don’t help the team. These two guys probably aren’t getting silver service from the midfielders with so many errant kicks, but when they do take the marks, they just aren’t making the most of it at this stage. The Blues are very lucky to be without a loss so far this year, but their luck will run out against the top teams if the overall kicking doesn’t improve.
The Giants did have their chances. Those chances weren’t helped by a questionable dissent free kick that put the Blues back in front half-way through the last term. In a game where scoring was difficult, many believed this may have turned the game. There was, however, ten minutes of play on the clock with the Blues in the lead by just two points at that stage. There was plenty of time for the Giants to get back ahead, but it’s a credit to a determined Blues outfit who are slowly exorcising their demons from their close losses and late game stumbles of recent times. Maybe one of the main reasons the Blues got away with the win was the work of Nic Newman keeping Toby Greene to just five possessions and a goal.
Whatever the case, the Giants will trouble some sides at home, and Tom Green played one of his best games for the club with 34 possessions. Josh Kelly is also a star. The loss of Taranto and Hopper looms large, but their midfield is still pretty solid. With all that in mind, come the Brownlow count later this year, you’ll be hard pressed not to hear the following: “Round 3. Gws Giants v Carlton. Carlton. P. Cripps. 3 votes.” He had 42 possessions and kept the Blues alive when the tide turned against them.
5. Saints fans have officially forgiven Ross Lyon
It was an interesting time when Ross Lyon left St Kilda and went off to coach the Dockers. Many fans felt betrayed in the manner it unfolded with the belief he had left the list in a state of decay. Fast forward to this season and the club sits on top of the ladder with three wins in a season where many thought they’d be out of finals contention. It gets even more amazing when you have a look at their injury list which as is a long as any in the league. So what’s been the difference this year? They’ve certainly unearthed some kids like Phillipou, Owens and Camminiti, and they’re just playing a good brand of footy. Things are looking pretty good, but it’s a little hard to get a genuine read on them so far as finals aspirations go as they have beaten sides who have had questionable form or weren’t in finals contention last year. Still, they’ve got the job done with an undermanned squad, and that’s the most admirable part. They face the Suns in Melbourne next week and should go in comfortable favourites. It’s the Round 5 clash against the Pies that may really give us a better idea where they’re at. Those two teams may enter that game undefeated if Collingwood can account for the Lions next week. I would’ve loved to know what the odds on that would’ve been preseason.
Essendon seemed a bit overawed early in the game. With the 150th anniversary celebrations before the match, the vibe would’ve been all about the Saints. And it seemed to spill over into the first fifteen minutes of play with the Saints booting 5.4 before the Bombers had registered a score. From that point on the Saints looked in control, but credit must go to the Bombers who actually drew level in the last quarter only to be blown away by a 5-goal burst to St Kilda who eventually prevailed by 18 points. The positives for the Bombers were they never gave in, but giving a start of 34 points is always going to be a huge mountain to climb. If the Bombers want to make a claim for a finals berth this year, their next fortnight against the Giants and the Demons will give us an idea as to their credentials. Like the Saints, they’ve been a little better than some predicted, but they still have much to prove.
6. Ita Buttrose doesn’t like Riley Thilthorpe
Riley Thilthorpe has threatened to take the game by storm for a little while showing a few glimpses here and there, but there’s no better stage for an Adelaide Crow to hit his straps than during a showdown against their cross-town rivals. It was a commanding 5-goal haul featuring strong marking and sublime finishing. I just feel for any commentator out there that may have a slight lisp trying to say his name without slicing their tongue open. Poor old Ita from the ABC would have a nightmare, but I digress. Crows fans will be delighted as they can now see beyond the Taylor Walker era and the future forward set-up is looking exciting with Thilthorpe, Rankine and the absent Fogarty. Nine goals between the duo set up a stirring win and opened the Crows’ account for season 2023.
It’s always hard to get a gauge on how good these sides are after a showdown as they seem to play those games at a different level, but I’m sure Adelaide Football Club are a little more optimistic about their fortunes moving forward. They’ll take on the Dockers at home next week and, after a performance like that, I think they might fancy their chances.
The Power will be scratching their heads this week. After what seemed like an impressive season opener with plenty of upside, their next two games have been very disappointing to say the least. Port Adelaide even lead briefly in the final term before conceding the last five goals of the match to lose by an unimpressive 31 points in what was a tight game for the first three and a half quarters. The Crows found another gear and the Power folded like deckchairs.
One can already feel the pressure rising on the embattled coach Ken Hinkley. This season is really his last chance, and he knows it. A 1-3 start looks likely as the Power head to Sydney to take on the Swans. Port Adelaide are leading the comp with the highest points scored against. Their defence is leaking goals and something needs to be done to address this issue. One can speculate that if the Power hit the mid-season break looking unlikely to feature in September, it could result in an early departure for Ken. He would still be the favourite for first coach to be moved on, and this past fortnight have not helped in the slightest.
7. It’s the first time a premier has lost the first three games since 1976
The 1975 premiers were North Melbourne. In fact, it was the first ever premiership win for the club. Maybe it was all a bit much for them and they came out the following season and lost their opening three matches before beating the Saints in Round 4. In fact, the Kangaroos of 1976 only won two from their first seven matches. From that point on they won 13 of their remaining 15 home and away games and eventually were runners-up in the Grand Final. All is not lost for Geelong by any means, but this loss to the Suns will sting. They take on the Hawks next week in their Easter Monday fixture at the MCG. Surely next week will be the week to end this horror start? Things seemed off from the beginning for the Cats up on the Gold Coast. Even the mercurial Jeremy Cameron missed a few set shots he’d normally gobble up.
So far the Cats have shown all the signs of a premiership hangover, but just as we saw with the Roos of 1976, there is still a way back from where they find themselves right now, but bottom of the ladder after Round 3 was not on anybody’s radar.
As for the Suns, boy did they need this win. And a five-goal bag from Jack Lukosius may have signalled his arrival as a key forward after playing his first few seasons mostly as a defender and wingman. We always knew this kid was good, but now he looks like a genuine top ten AFL star with beautiful hands and an incredible kick. Lachie Weller also showed his importance to the Suns with a 29-possession arguably best afield performance. It was his second game back from a long layoff, and we can only expect him to get better. Maybe, just maybe, the Suns will start to prove a little more than just nuisance value on the back of a gutsy win like this. They stood firm when challenged and, for a change, actually finished the game strongly. Their next fortnight will be tough against the Saints and Dockers on the road, but they’ll need to pinch at least one win out of those to stay in the mix. Are they on the rise, or are Geelong just sadly out of form? We’ll know the answer to this soon.
8. The Demons can win without Gawn
He’s a very important player for sure, but the talent pool at the Melbourne Football Club runs pretty deep. Brodie Grundy took full responsibility in the absence of big Max and got the better of his opponents amassing 21 possessions in a strong display. Anybody who was concerned that losing Gawn could derail their season in any way will be thinking otherwise now. Petracca and Oliver did their usual from the midfield, and the Demons had 12 goalkickers for their 21 goals for the match. They’ve even uncovered another gun forward in van Rooyen who kicked 3 on debut. Even when the Swans challenged and drew within ten points of Melbourne during the third quarter, Melbourne just put on the afterburners leaving the Swans in their wake eventually running out 50-point winners.
This win came off the back of a disappointing loss to the Lions last week. It’s the sort of football we’re expecting from the Demons this year, in what looks to be an ominous sign of things to come. They take on the Eagles in Perth next week, followed by Essendon. I expect them to win both of those games, but a loss would certainly raise eyebrows.
The Swans will go home licking their wounds after what was a good start to the year. They dispatched both the Suns and Hawks with ease, but now their first real test has seen them come up well short. Longmire is a good coach and will learn from this, but there’ll be some soul-searching and some big questions being asked of some of his players. The midfield was soundly beaten and Melbourne won the contested possession count by 34. The Swans were basically bullied into submission by a more committed and determined unit. The stars of last week up forward in McDonald and Amartey only managed one goal between them after nine against the Hawks which begs the question as to whether they all fit in with Franklin out there. Even Buddy only had a small impact kicking two goals from his 10 disposals. The Swans take on Port at home next week, followed by the Tigers. The next fortnight will reveal a thing or two about Sydney.
9. Injuries destroyed any chance the Eagles had
The game of AFL is often a game of survival of the fittest, and this game was a true indication of just that. Of course, we’ll never know who would’ve prevailed had the Eagles not been hit so hard with injury during this match, but coming into the last quarter, even though the Eagles went into the final break just 8 points down, you just knew the Dockers would cruise to a comfortable win, which is pretty much what happened. The Eagles virtually had no bench, and in this modern era of players being played in bursts then rested, the Dockers had full advantage with a full bench to rotate players through. So whilst it was a good win from Freo, the Eagles can hold their head up somewhat and know that they are a far cry from the rabble that took the field last year. Having said that, a growing injury list will make life hard moving forward, and poor old Adam Simpson must be wondering what questionable deeds he partook in earlier in life to be given the karma he has been cursed with for the best part of two season now.
The Dockers and Justin Longmuir will be breathing a little easier having banked their first win of the season, but their fans had high expectations after last year’s promising result. Many would be pleased to see Michael Walters find some form booting 4 goals. The questions surrounding the midfield setup during the week were answered somewhat with strong games from Serong and Brayshaw while Sean Darcy continues to impress in the ruck dominating hitouts. The Dockers will need to find their best form to beat the Crows in Adelaide next week. The competition for a spot in the 8 is so tight that I think a side like Freo will find it a tall order to recover from a 1-3 start to play finals. The challenge is there. That loss to the Kangaroos in Round 2 will possibly haunt them later in the year.
10. They still haven’t got the dissent rule right
The decision to award a free kick against Stephen Coniglio in the final quarter of GWS’ match against Carlton is a contentious one if the reports are correct. My understanding is that midway through last season, there was a softening on the stance of what constituted player dissent. Many of the things under the original rule such as waving arms and gesturing in a demonstrative way were being categorised as not enough to result in a free kick being awarded. Instead, the rule was going to focus more on abusive behaviour, swearing, or acting in a threatening manner such as getting in the umpire’s face or similar. The AFL advised the umpires to take a more common sense approach, possibly as a result of backlash resulting from really trivial incidents such as the de Goey one where he merely raised an arm slightly but said nothing with a resulting 50m penalty for his troubles.
According to reports, Coniglio asked the question “How is that not a free kick?” This resulted in the umpire awarding a free kick to Jesse Motlop 15m out directly in front. Apparently, there was no swearing, no overt gesticulations, and certainly no threatening behaviour. So, if that’s the case, an error of judgement was made, but I imagine the AFL will stand by their guy. And look, we don’t know the full story either. I’m going to take a stab in the dark here and suggest that Coniglio might’ve been in the umpire’s ear on more than one occasion.
There was an incident in the second quarter, funnily enough, also involving Jesse Motlop, where Coniglio was tackled claiming he never took full possession of the ball. The replay did suggest that decision was correct, but Coniglio was seen to be having words with the umpire on that occasion, and who knows when else during the match. Perhaps this was the final straw. Who knows? That final decision in isolation looked to be a harsh call, and the Giants seem likely to send a please explain to the AFL.
Having watched the incident several times now, however, I’m still scratching my head as to what free kick he was talking about. The only thing that I can glean from the footage was when Harry McKay tried to take possession of the football but failed to gain control as a Giants player tackled him which I imagine Coniglio felt was the same as his. It wasn’t. McKay didn’t have control of the footy at any stage, whereas Coniglio did take full possession of the football, albeit for an instant, just as Motlop tackled him with the ball coming loose during the tackle. That’s holding the ball on most days ending with a Y. So maybe the umpire thought Coniglio was being a smart-arse and punished him accordingly. I don’t know if that makes it right, but maybe Coniglio might’ve been better served to keep his mouth shut. Whatever the case, a few things may need to be made clear.
