Murray MiddletonRound Eight
May 18th 2008 21:23
After eight rounds the season is finally taking shape. Geelong and Hawthorn seem like the teams most likely. The Western Bulldogs have won consecutive interstate matches and must now be considered a genuine threat. At this point Adelaide is clearly the best of the interstate teams. The Crows have had a favourable draw so far, yet there is every chance that they will finish inside the top four. The current top eight seems unlikely to change much. The only side outside the top eight who appears to be a genuine challenger is Port Adelaide. However they can only afford to lose five more matches.
At the beginning of the season many experts predicted that St. Kilda and Fremantle would challenge Geelong for the premiership. The key to this assumption was that both sides endured disappointing 2007 campaigns. Geelong’s plight in 2007 seemed to sway the experts. The Cats were disappointing in 2006, which forced them to face a number of home truths. The club conducted a thorough internal investigation to find the reason behind their poor performances. In 2007 the Cats finally delivered on their talent. It is worth noting that both St. Kilda and Fremantle sacked their coaches. Geelong did not. Stability is usually the key.
St. Kilda and Fremantle have opted for too many recycled players in recent seasons. On Friday night the Saints fielded nine players who began their careers at other clubs. Rather than pursue deadwood such Fiora, Birss, Dempster and Charlie Gardiner, the club should place more of an emphasis on developing their own players. Fremantle have also opted for too many recycled players in recent season. While the Chris Tarrant deal has been the most notable, the Dockers have recruited Solomon, Bradley and Mark Johnson – all former Bombers. In contrast, there were only three recycled players in Geelong’s 2007 premiership - Tom Harley, Cameron Mooney and Brad Ottens.
Brisbane was clinical in their defeat of Carlton on Saturday night. There was a gulf in class between the two sides. The Blues are gradually improving, but will not challenge for the finals this season. Brisbane, on the other side, might. On paper they seem like the side most likely to make way for Port Adelaide. However the Lions current form is irresistible. They have suffered narrow defeats to Sydney, Geelong and Hawthorn and have beaten the likes of Collingwood and Port Adelaide.
Jonathon Brown and Daniel Bradshaw are in good form up forward. The Lions have a talented brigade of running players – Hooper, Corrie, Brennan, Sherman and Rischitelli. Charman and Leuenberger are quality ruckman and Mitchell Clark is coming through the ranks. The most interesting acquisition for the club was that of Travis Johnstone. Johnstone has had match-winning performances so far this season against Port Adelaide and Carlton. He seems to be a perfect fit for the club. During Saturday night’s television coverage Michael Voss pointed out that the acquisition of Johnstone indicated that the Lions think they are going to be in contention in the next few seasons. He is probably correct. Much of the credit has to go to their coach.
One of the most interestingly placed sides is Essendon. Sunday’s thumping by Sydney was the third consecutive defeat of over ten goals for the club. While many have applauded Matthew Knights for his attacking approach, the Bombers have leaked goals. At some point Knights will have to address the problem. Although Geelong won their premiership by playing fast and free-flowing football, the foundations of their success were built on a solid back six.
Essendon are likely to finish in the bottom four this season. While the club has suffered a terrible run with injuries, there seems to be one key problem. The players who were drafted in the past three to five years - Monfries, Dyson, Slattery, Laycock, Johns, Winderlicht and even Stanton - simply are not performing. The most obvious conclusion to draw is that they have ridden the coattails of James Hird in the past. Now that Hird has retired, they are ill-prepared to shoulder the responsibility. The most recent brigade of youngsters – Riemers, Neagle, Hislop, Davey, Jetta and Myers – all look promising. Fortunately, they have no one to carry them.
Hawthorn were genuinely challenged by Port Adelaide on Saturday. To win after trailing by six goals is no mean feat. Lance Franklin is currently in the best three players in the competition. If he can avoid injuries he will be the best player of his generation. Jarrod Roughead deserves a mention. He has finally proved his credentials as a key forward. The Hawks forward line is working well. Mark Williams has slotted back into the team nicely. Upon kicking the winning goal on Saturday Williams rudely gave the ‘choke’ signal to the Port Adelaide hierarchy. Although the move reeked of arrogance, Williams and his team are currently backing it up with their performances. There is little doubt that they will play a big role in September. But how big?
At the beginning of the season many experts predicted that St. Kilda and Fremantle would challenge Geelong for the premiership. The key to this assumption was that both sides endured disappointing 2007 campaigns. Geelong’s plight in 2007 seemed to sway the experts. The Cats were disappointing in 2006, which forced them to face a number of home truths. The club conducted a thorough internal investigation to find the reason behind their poor performances. In 2007 the Cats finally delivered on their talent. It is worth noting that both St. Kilda and Fremantle sacked their coaches. Geelong did not. Stability is usually the key.
St. Kilda and Fremantle have opted for too many recycled players in recent seasons. On Friday night the Saints fielded nine players who began their careers at other clubs. Rather than pursue deadwood such Fiora, Birss, Dempster and Charlie Gardiner, the club should place more of an emphasis on developing their own players. Fremantle have also opted for too many recycled players in recent season. While the Chris Tarrant deal has been the most notable, the Dockers have recruited Solomon, Bradley and Mark Johnson – all former Bombers. In contrast, there were only three recycled players in Geelong’s 2007 premiership - Tom Harley, Cameron Mooney and Brad Ottens.
Brisbane was clinical in their defeat of Carlton on Saturday night. There was a gulf in class between the two sides. The Blues are gradually improving, but will not challenge for the finals this season. Brisbane, on the other side, might. On paper they seem like the side most likely to make way for Port Adelaide. However the Lions current form is irresistible. They have suffered narrow defeats to Sydney, Geelong and Hawthorn and have beaten the likes of Collingwood and Port Adelaide.
Jonathon Brown and Daniel Bradshaw are in good form up forward. The Lions have a talented brigade of running players – Hooper, Corrie, Brennan, Sherman and Rischitelli. Charman and Leuenberger are quality ruckman and Mitchell Clark is coming through the ranks. The most interesting acquisition for the club was that of Travis Johnstone. Johnstone has had match-winning performances so far this season against Port Adelaide and Carlton. He seems to be a perfect fit for the club. During Saturday night’s television coverage Michael Voss pointed out that the acquisition of Johnstone indicated that the Lions think they are going to be in contention in the next few seasons. He is probably correct. Much of the credit has to go to their coach.
One of the most interestingly placed sides is Essendon. Sunday’s thumping by Sydney was the third consecutive defeat of over ten goals for the club. While many have applauded Matthew Knights for his attacking approach, the Bombers have leaked goals. At some point Knights will have to address the problem. Although Geelong won their premiership by playing fast and free-flowing football, the foundations of their success were built on a solid back six.
Essendon are likely to finish in the bottom four this season. While the club has suffered a terrible run with injuries, there seems to be one key problem. The players who were drafted in the past three to five years - Monfries, Dyson, Slattery, Laycock, Johns, Winderlicht and even Stanton - simply are not performing. The most obvious conclusion to draw is that they have ridden the coattails of James Hird in the past. Now that Hird has retired, they are ill-prepared to shoulder the responsibility. The most recent brigade of youngsters – Riemers, Neagle, Hislop, Davey, Jetta and Myers – all look promising. Fortunately, they have no one to carry them.
Hawthorn were genuinely challenged by Port Adelaide on Saturday. To win after trailing by six goals is no mean feat. Lance Franklin is currently in the best three players in the competition. If he can avoid injuries he will be the best player of his generation. Jarrod Roughead deserves a mention. He has finally proved his credentials as a key forward. The Hawks forward line is working well. Mark Williams has slotted back into the team nicely. Upon kicking the winning goal on Saturday Williams rudely gave the ‘choke’ signal to the Port Adelaide hierarchy. Although the move reeked of arrogance, Williams and his team are currently backing it up with their performances. There is little doubt that they will play a big role in September. But how big?
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