Hi everyone,
The AFL must be very concerned about the unevenness of this year’s competition. Back in April, I suggested that we might have a very even competition this year. As the season has unfolded, we are seeing quite the opposite. There are so many blowout games, and the disparity between the first nine teams and the following nine teams is acute. Last week, we had three games decided by more than 90 points, and this week, there were four games decided by over 80 points. Not good.
On the field: Last Thursday night, the Western Bulldogs sent a message to the rest of the teams in finals contention that they can beat a top 8 side. They blasted the visiting GWS Giants by 88 points at Marvel Stadium. The Doggies are still in ninth place, but Hawthorn are looking more likely to miss the finals at this point as they have to play Brisbane and Collingwood in the next three weeks, while the Bulldogs have a more manageable schedule. GWS is also vulnerable to missing the eight, but looks likely to win 2 of their remaining 3, which would get them there. On Friday night, the Hawks burst out of the blocks at the Adelaide Oval, kicking the first five goals against the Crows. However, Adelaide booted the next eight goals. The second half see-sawed, but the hometown Crows emerged victorious, 15.11.101 to 13.9.87. The win, coupled with Collingwood’s loss on Saturday night, sees the Crows in top spot with only three games to play.
On Saturday, Melbourne made sure that there was no repeat of last week’s fade-out against the Saints. The Dees booted fifteen second-half goals to trounce the visiting West Coast Eagles by 83 points. The loss confirmed that WCE will be this year’s wooden spooners for the second time in three years. Richmond has shown a few promising signs in season 2025, but on Saturday, they didn’t manage a goal in the first half and only booted two goals for the entire game against the Gold Coast. The Suns won by a whopping 14 goals. Essendon put up a good fight against Sydney, but the Swans won by 14 points. On Saturday night, Collingwood slumped to its third loss in the last four games, going down to Brisbane by 27 points. The defending premiers bounced back from their eleven-goal shellacking a week ago to defeat the Magpies at the MCG for the first time since 2014—final score: Brisbane 14.8.92, Collingwood 10.5.65. The Maggies’ premiership aspirations are looking shaky.
On Sunday, St Kilda was made to work very hard by North Melbourne. The Sainters, however, made it two wins in a row with a narrow 11.12.78 to 10.9.69 victory. Geelong showed no mercy in their game against Port Adelaide at the Cattery. For the second week in a row, the Cats recorded a percentage boosting victory, winning 23.15.153 to 9.11.65. The final game from Perth Stadium was much closer than the hometown Freo Dockers expected. The visiting Carlton Blues led the game through the first three quarters before the Dockers rallied strongly in the last quarter to win 15.4.94 to 10.7.67. This was a critical win for Fremantle, pushing them up to fifth on the ladder.
Tipping
Congratulations to Darty, Jeremy Posner, Bart03, John Oliver, Super Gilly, Claridges, Minksy, Croc Junior, Lynchey, and Yehno, who all tipped a perfect round this week. Very well done. Yehno wins the $20.00 dining credit at the club by being closest on the margin game (61). Great work! Heaver 13 continues to hold on to a 2-point lead at the top of our leaderboard.
Ladder after Round 21
Heaver 13 135
Big D 133
Valerderos1964 133
Pies London Fan 132
Thrice Winner 131
Richard Jones 131
Flying Doctor 131
Naples Road 130
Andy Mulholland 130
Martin Hunt 130
Darty 130
Warragul Lynda 130
Weazer1 130
Bruce McBriar 130
Hawthorn will play Collingwood this Thursday night at the MCG to start Round 22. Only three rounds to go… please place your tips.
Don