Apr 14, 2022

AFL

A highly unhelpful guide to Round Five

24 Comments

The only guide to the round that admits it’s completely unhelpful. What it lacks in insight, it makes up for with wild theories and detours onto unrelated topics.

It’s your unhelpful guide to Round Five.

Thursday

Brisbane vs. Collingwood (G) 7:35pm Seven/Fox

Collingwood have returned to normal.

They’ve lost two in a row; Jamie Elliot is injured and there are stories in the media about them and racism.

Eddie McGuire this week wade into the issue of Leon Davis, Andrew Krakouer and Héritier Lumumba cutting off communication with Collingwood, offering to help fix the issue.

It’s like watching someone repeatedly sticking their hand in a fire, expecting the next time they won’t get burnt.

Now Collingwood face Brisbane which is not ideal when you’re coming off two losses.

Brisbane also lost last week to the Geelong Umpires, but they’re always hard to beat down there.

They do things differently up in Brisbane. Why Chris Fagan rang a journalist to apologise when he was a bit short with them in the post-match interview.

I miss the traditional ‘leak WhatsApp conversations and get them sacked’ approach to these sorts of things.

Brisbane to win.

Friday

North Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs (Marvel) 4:20pm Seven/Fox

This Good Friday game has traditionally been one of the worst games of the year, and I’ve got high hopes for it again.

Last year, the Doggies won by 128-points as the Kangaroos played the part of Jesus and the Bulldogs the Romans.

The match also operates as a fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital, which is odd as I wouldn’t let a child watch this game.

Jack Ziebell said this week that you should, “Bring your kids, bring your mum and dad, bring everyone you know.”

But what if you like your kids and your mum and dad?

At least this year it should be closer, not because North have improved, but because the Bulldogs have got considerably worse.

They’ve won a single game so far and a detailed statistical analysis reveals their biggest issue is Luke Beveridge’s facial hair.

I’m sure every time he’s telling his players what he wants them to do, they’re all just thinking ‘what is going on with that moustache?’ and don’t hear a single thing he said.

Bulldogs to win.

West Coast vs. Sydney (OS) 7:40pm Fox Footy

After delighting everyone with a win over the Pies last week, the Eagles return home from overseas to face Sydney.

The Eagles, in another sign of their stability, are looking to make up to six changes to their team. This time though, I vaguely recognise some of the names of the players coming in.

Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, Tim Kelly, Jamie Cripps and Sam Petrevski-Seton are all likely, meaning like Covid, as winter approaches, West Coast will only get stronger.

But while this is all good news, Nic Naitanui has now been ruled out until halfway through the season with a medial ligament injury.

That’s less than ideal and shows the impact Mars being in Pisces can have on a club.

Sydney will be without Buddy Franklin, who had surgery on his finger this week. This is no big surprise as he is approaching the age where Geelong will start considering recruiting him.

I feel we don’t need to mention when Buddy isn’t playing anymore, just tell us when he is, it will be quicker.

I’m tipping the Eagles.

Saturday

St Kilda vs. Gold Coast (Marvel) 1:45pm Fox Footy

Paddy Ryder will miss two weeks for his bump on Will Day, despite the Saints appealing to the Tribunal, which they lost in true Saints fashion.

Some have argued the sanction is over the top and the bump was not that bad, others point to the resulting concussion and the head contact.

My problem is I have no idea if it was too harsh or the correct decision, due to the wildly inconsistent AFL approach to protecting the head.

The problem with the whole match review system is it uses a criteria that looks at each incident and grades it against the following:

Was it intentional, reckless, or negligent?

Was it severe, high, medium, or low impact?

Does the player play for Geelong?

Gold Coast last week beat Carlton, but that was mainly just Carlton returning to their natural state.

I’m tipping the Saints.

Adelaide vs. Richmond (AO) 4:35pm Fox Footy

Brendon Gale has been touted as the favourite to replace Gillon McLachlan as AFL CEO, after the announcement he will be stepping down at the end of the year.

Gillon’s announcement saw people looking at his legacy, with things like AFLW, big broadcast rights deals and piloting the AFL through covid being highlighted.

Personally, if I was Gil and someone asked what my legacy was, I’d have said ‘not being Andrew Demetriou.’

Gale would be a loss for Richmond, especially with Peggy O’Neal also finishing up, but to be fair, under Gale the Tigers haven’t won a premiership since 2020!

Surely, it’s time for him to go.

The key to being AFL CEO is easy. Start off talking about the fans and how they are important, then increasingly become more focused on the commercial side of things and giving the broadcast partners what they want, then resign.

It’s a tradition as old as time itself.

Adelaide have one win this season and that was against Port Adelaide, which simply involves sitting back and watching Port Adelaide defeat themselves.

Richmond are less likely to do that, so I’m tipping the Tigers.

Melbourne vs. Greater Western Sydney (MCG) 7:25pm Seven/Fox

I’m still adjusting to Melbourne being a very good team and having other fans accusing us of being arrogant.

It’s such a shift, like when Hulk Hogan joined the NWO after being a good guy all those years.

Melbourne used to be the team that people would say ‘I hope they win’ secure in the knowledge they wouldn’t.

They were the non-threatening friend you could leave your partner with, knowing nothing would happen.

Now the Dees are Leonardo DiCaprio.

They do lose Ben Brown who was suspended for a high hit in the VFL. It’s disappointing that elbowing someone in the head away from the play is not allowed anymore.

That was one of the great joys of footy when I played, whether you were the elbower of the elbowee.

While Brown will miss the game, the Giants lost Braydon Preuss to suspension which is not ideal when you are about to face Max Gawn and Luke Jackson.

The Giants have been disappointing this year, but not living up to expectations is kind of their thing.

I’m tipping Melbourne.

Sunday

Carlton vs. Port Adelaide (MCG) 1:40pm Fox Footy

Ollie Wines wasn’t the only person feeling nauseous during last week’s Port game, unfortunately for Wines it was a bit more serious, with him being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

I’m no doctor, but I believe that’s something to do with the kidney.

Luckily Wines appears to be completely OK, although that hasn’t stopped people linking it to him having a Covid vaccination, because people are idiots.

In good news for Port, they can rest him as they are only playing Carlton this week.

The Blues had a shocker last week, losing Patrick Cripps and going down to the Suns.

I just hope that loss doesn’t make them start thinking of all the false dawns that have come before and make them doubt themselves. That would be terrible.

Even without Patrick Cripps, Carlton should be able to defeat a Port Adelaide side so devoid of confidence they could be a teenage me.

I’m tipping Carlton but really, who knows?

Essendon vs. Fremantle (Marvel) 4:40pm Fox Footy

Despite best efforts, Essendon won a game last week, rocketing them all the way up to 16th on the ladder.

They’ll be without Jake Stringer again this week, but Ben Rutten will be back in the box after not coaching Essendon to their first win of the season.

It’s hard to know who's had the most disappointing start to the season, Essendon or Port.

I don’t know the answer to the question but its fun asking it.

You’d think the Bombers should be able to beat Fremantle at Marvel but limboing under expectations has been the only athletic ability Essendon have shown this year.

Plus, Fremantle have been good this year, although haven’t been really tested yet.

They’ve beaten Adelaide, West Coast reserves and the Giants.

A win here and we may have to take them seriously, and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.

In fact, I’m going to tip them. You’re welcome, Essendon fans!

Monday

Hawthorn vs. Geelong (MCG) 3:20pm Seven/Fox

Surprisingly, the AFL are allowing Hawthorn to play this week despite the brutal beating they copped last week at the hands of St Kilda.

Making the Game of Thrones Red Wedding episode look tame, Hawthorn were brutalised in a manner no Hawthorn fan would want to see again.

I’ve watched the replay three times.

Geelong’s win last week was overshadowed by the umpiring controversy, mainly because it’s fun to not give Geelong any credit and then watch their fans react.

Other fun things to say to Cats fans to drive them completely crazy include: 

·      Joel Selwood is overrated

·      Buddy Franklin is better than Gary Ablett Snr

·      I hope Chris Scott coaches you forever

The Cats biggest issue last week was their inaccuracy, they should have been way ahead, and despite Hawthorn now being a husk of their former selves, they can still find a way to take it up to the Cats.

But they won’t. Cats to win.

You can help support me in producing this ridiculous nonsense I churn out on a regular basis. Find out more here: https://titusoreily.com/support-titus

COMMENTS

Richard Pritchard

Apr 14, 2022

Titus, with Gil stepping down, it's the perfect time to solve the biggest problem in footy. There simply isn't enough betting information provided to footy supporters and we're all just sick of it.

My 9 year old daughter loves live odds bets but how's she supposed to track the odds swapping between the telly and her iphone. Put live odds on the screen during the bloody footy coverage! Seriously, how hard is it!

My 8 year old son and his mates have got onto team betting (which is an awesome idea) but I don't get time to mow the lawn because they've got no idea how to link their sportsbet accounts with their credit cards. At the least the CBA did a community service a few years ago and signed up all the kiddies with bank accounts they didn't need. What's the AFL doing? Nothing.

My three year wants in too and but can't even set up an account. It's 2022. No child in Australia should be without the Sportsbet app. Choose the right CEO this time and sort this out. Someone like Robbie Waterhouse would be a great choice.

David

Apr 14, 2022

Is it true Gillian is going to do a final lap in the Batmobile that Angry used? Or will he just ride a junior staffer instead and blame others? Asking for the public.

The g train

Apr 14, 2022

Very uneasy about the St Kilda v Suns game. You’d think the Saints would win this one, but it’s a different Gold Coast this season. Sooner or later, the dire consequences of Titus predicting your team to win will manifest. And brutally.

Titus says winning can “simply involve sitting back and watching”. Certainly been my approach to life, and every now and then it pays off. As The Ancients have advised: do nothing and everything will be achieved.

“That was one of the great joys of footy when I played..”. Titus played footy!?

KNDole

Apr 14, 2022

@David, which AFLW team does Gillian play for?

Ebenezer Diddly

Apr 14, 2022

Gillon McLachlan should have resigned over his mishandling of the Adam Goodes booing fiasco. Nothing he has done before or since can ameliorate his pathetically weak response to the racist fans in the AFL.

Con Cushion

Apr 14, 2022

Turn it up Titus ...... Ziebell wanted to invite mother-in-laws' to Marvel on Friday but the AFL asked The Roos to instruct Jack to adopt a softer approach to his PR spin!! Con.

No, we ain't idiots. booster heart inflamation episode is a known thing. I won't stoop down to your level and call you an idiot but.a bit of actual medical research rather than relying on John Ralph's terribly awfull assertion on 'On the Couch' would help.

Apr 14, 2022

No, we ain't idiots. The three week post covid booster heart inflamation episode is a thing. I won't stoop to your level and simply dismiss you as an idiot but reliance on John Ralph's opinion on 'On the Couch' rather than undertaking actual independent medical research might help.

Gyfox

Apr 14, 2022

Tutus for new AFL CEO!

Oh yes you are an idiot

Apr 14, 2022

Ollie Wines didn't have heart inflammation, he had an irregular heartbeat. We know myocarditis and pericarditis are possible side effects of the vaccination but not in Ollies case. Oh, and please stop shouting, it hurts my eyes.

ALBERTON LAD

Apr 14, 2022

Only one thing to say-Let’s make this hashtag sing!!

#Titus for CEO

Joe

Apr 14, 2022

"In fact, I’m going to tip them. You’re welcome, Essendon fans!"

Fuck you, Titus. Now we're definitely going to lose!

Jo

Apr 14, 2022

It must be a real novelty for you to be able to un-ironically tip Melbourne to win.

Glenn S

Apr 14, 2022

Titus, maybe you need to put a red flashing sign at the start…
Piss Take Ahead
And one at the end that says…
Lighten up Peeps
oh boy some of the comments are more ludicrous than yours 😂

Brad

Apr 14, 2022

Oh Titus, I know you write this stuff in the 10 minutes you sit to take a dump, but a Geelong old-age joke is almost below you. Leave that for the Facebook masses who think they've come up with a "gem".
And Leonardo DiCaprio... You could've clearly gone Wayne Carey or Garry Lyon, a bit soft there mate. At least no obvious grammar mistakes this wee

SHEMP

Apr 14, 2022

==At least no obvious grammar mistakes this wee++

Except for "a criteria", but we'll put that behind us.

Skrnk

Apr 14, 2022

Richard Pritchard, BLOODY BRILLIANT!

Post Of The Week, deadset.

John L

Apr 14, 2022

Have the Pies peaked too early again this year?

Puppethead

Apr 14, 2022

Titus, you must be still on your premiership high - you've been nice to Essendon supporters twice this week! First championing Caracella as head coach, then picking Freo... you're scaring us, mate!

And @Shemp - please try harder next time. From "Eddie [...] wade into" (either waded or weighed) to "Hawthorn now being a husk of their former selves" (singular or plural? Take your pick, but only pick one!), there's plenty for the pedant-connoisseur to enjoy...

Son of plugger

Apr 14, 2022

Don’t normally comment on comments is the comment section. But Richard Pritchard’s comments in the comment section needs to be commented on. So my comment on his comment in the comments section: completely agree and well written.

Darren J Ray

Apr 14, 2022

Love your work, Titus.

Richard Pritchard (is that really your name?), that was gold.

Any chance the new CEO can give us a Saturday afternoon AFL grand final that starts at 2:30pm?

Tarax Club

Apr 15, 2022

Titus in fine form and so so funny. Collingwood lost It is Good Friday!

SHEMP

Apr 15, 2022

***the pedant-connoisseur***

Being described that way is the nicest thing that's happened to me since I found out I was adopted.

Merlin's Mother

Apr 15, 2022

I reckon the AFL Board should head hunt that very nice Ardern lass from New Zealand - surely she is a bit over running the country by now and looking for a new challenge?? Incredibly diplomatic and great at multi-skilling. And she can certainly put a world leader in their place when she needs to AFL would just be a piece of cake to her.

.... and depending on the federal election outcome - what about Penny Wong? Seriously, she is a genius and as tough as nails. What's more she can add and subtract, multiply and would do a fantastic job of the AFL finances. Perfect!! Though a gig in the AFL would surely be just a hobby for this great intellect.

All the best people seem to come from Adelaide and really you couldn't go past this candidate - Adelaide University-educated economist, Ms Adamson. The Age reports - "Frances Adamson, the most influential Australian diplomat and female public servant of her generation, has been award nation’s highest civilian honour. She has been a trusted adviser to both sides of politics in a near 40-year career." She is a former ambassador to Beijing so she has serious international credentials - just what the game needs in the long term future.

So Titus, if you are thinking of throwing that quaint broad brimmed fedora into the ring you might have some competition!!

Hui…

Apr 17, 2022

Titus
You need a section titled “AFL”
Just so you can pass commentary on this weeks change in directions