A bookmaker paid out on the Hawks, then the Tigers beat the Hawks, the Eagles blew the chance to nail down second spot by drawing with the bottom-feeding Gold Coast and Melbourne fixed up Collingwood, which was a top-four side six weeks ago but now lies 11th. Yep, it was a slightly weird weekend.
Our crack (pot) panel returns to run the rule over round 18.
The panel:
Brendan Foster (WAtoday's resident grumpy old man); Rhys Woolf (former WAtoday video journo, footy fanatic); David Prestipino (WAtoday wine writer, Carlton fan-turned-Docker); Paul Entwistle (rant merchant extraordinaire); Steve Allen (Radio 6PR producer, The Interchange podcast)
Fossie:
1. Some AFL players just don't have a intimidatory edge. During a brief melee in the last quarter between Fremantle and GWS, the Dockers' lightweight backman Zac Dawson looked like he was busting out moves in a boy band, rather than trying to break up a brawl.
2. Great players don't always make great coaches. Just ask James Hird and Nathan Buckley.
3. After the Tigers convincingly shutdown the rampaging Hawks on the weekend, the so-called footy experts were quick to label Richmond as premiership contenders. Dream on. The Tigs won't finish in the top four and history has proven you can't win the flag without a double chance. ( In the current top-eight system)
Woolf-man:
1. This round of footy felt a little hollow knowing Adam Goodes was hurting on the sidelines. Hopefully the support the wider AFL community showed him this weekend is enough to draw the champ back.
2. I love pressing red for Ed, especially when Ed gets red watching his beloved Pies get done for the sixth week in a row.
Watching Ed throw away his headphones after the loss was viewing I'll enjoy watching on repeat for many weeks to come.
3. What's the point of having a goal line review system if there is no technology on the goal line to review? Matt Rosa seemed to mark the ball over the goal line in Saturday night's match against Gold Coast, but with no decent camera angles the call was to stick with the umpires decision. The review system is so ineffective Shane Watson would be proud.
That's the start the @sydneyswans needed, thanks to Lewis Jetta #AFLSwansCrows http://t.co/DojbU2FZ5G— AFL (@AFL)
August 1, 2015
Presto:
1. We've turned the beat around. How wonderful were some of the goal celebrations to honour the great #37? I hope it continues... Let's dance!
2. Redemption is sweet in sport, no matter who the person or situation. The maligned Bachar Houli truly deserved it, again magnificent off half-back and cementing Richmond's biggest win in years with a massive late goal. If the Tigers make top four, they could win the thing.
3. The AFL's goal review system must change: a player can pretend to touch the ball as it passes his hands and video evidence would suggest he touched it (even when the ball maintains its trajectory). Only with sound can an informed decision be made (like cricket's Snickometer). A large degree of doubt still exists.
Vent-wistle:
1. There is life without Gary Ablett for the Gold Coast Suns. Unfortunately there won't be any finals (not this year at least).
2. Richmond will have to do a lot (wrong) to end up in ninth. The Tigers did more than enough to show in beating Hawthorn they will be the dark cats in the finals this year. No premiership but could upset the punters' favourites.
3. Geelong and Adelaide will rename their round 23 clash the Patrick Dangerfield Cup. The winner will not only claim eighth spot on the ladder but will probably take home a superstar midfielder as well.
Steve-o
1. Freo may have found a forward in defender Alex Pearce, although Zac Dawson's elbow is trying to get him back into defence. Pearce's first couple of shots on goal were forgettable but his attack on the footy was good. I'm not sure how Matt Taberner feels after Ross Lyon implied he was getting a game by default.
2. Nevermind the Colly-wobbles...the Pies have hit the skids. Six losses in a row is their worst losing streak since 2005. Finals look a big ask with Sydney, Richmond and Geelong to come.
3. Tom Lynch can take a mark but how about the pace of Gold Coast's midfield? Add Ablett, O'Meara, Prestia and Swallow into that group and 2016 looks bright for the Suns.
