Aug 18, 2017

AFL

A highly unhelpful guide to Round Twenty Two

17 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 twenty-one.

Friday

Adelaide v Sydney (AO) 7.50pm

A good Friday night game! Exciting stuff, although the absence of any Victorian sides makes you wonder who the Channel Seven commentary team will barrack for.

I’m sure they’ll work Patrick Dangerfield into the coverage by mentioning he used to play for the Crows a few thousand times.

I fondly remember a time when commentators appeared neutral and didn’t go over the top trying to inject their ‘personality’ into the call.

What surprises me most is the commentators that try the hardest to inject their personalities, have the worst ones.

There’s obviously some natural law that the worse the personality, the more it will be displayed. I call this the BT Equation.

Adelaide and Sydney have been the most consistent teams in recent times, and this could be a preview of the Grand Final. Although, given this crazy season, it just as likely isn’t.

I’m tipping the Crows.

Saturday

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide (M) 1.45pm

The Bulldogs are playing this home game in Ballarat, which stretches the ‘Western’ part of their name a fair bit. Almost as much as the ‘Western’ bit of Greater Western Sydney is stretched to include Canberra.

The Bulldogs agreed a few years ago to play two to three AFL matches every season at Mars Stadium and who wouldn’t want to visit Ballarat in winter? All that wind and cold.

Why are the Bulldogs playing in Ballarat? I can only assume it’s the result of a drunken bet, that’s how most people end up in Ballarat, or they couldn’t get into their first seven university preferences.

It will be an emotional game for the Bulldogs with Bob Murphy announcing his retirement this week.

There’s a bit of backlash about the media’s canonisation of Bob, but that’s not his fault. The fact is, over a long career, Murphy has been a great player and an interesting commentator on the game. He’s managed to do all this without being a horrible person too. That’s a rare feat.

Port last week steadied the ship with a win over Collingwood. While good in patches, they’d want to be a lot more convincing here. Their challenge this week is to focus on the game and not get carried away by the excitement that comes with a visit to Ballarat.

Bulldogs to win.

Collingwood v Geelong (MCG) 2.10pm

Collingwood are a dangerous team when there’s nothing on the line. Since being out of finals contention, they’ve won consistently.

This is the false hope they produce lately. The sense Collingwood are about to turn the corner is the greatest trick the devil ever pulled, even better than convincing people he doesn’t exist.

They’re especially dangerous when they play Geelong, who they’ve beaten the last three times they’ve played.

Geelong’s big issue is they are still without Joel Selwood. Would you be surprised to learn Joel Selwood receives the most frees in the competition? You wouldn’t?

Oh. OK, what if I told you Patrick Dangerfield got the second most? No?

Well, I guess that’s the only predictable thing this season.

Geelong to win.

Greater Western Sydney v West Coast (SS) 4.35pm

Anyone that saw how difficult it was for the Eagles to shake off Carlton would have little faith in them beating the Giants.

West Coast are currently clinging to the top eight with the desperation of a contestant on The Bachelor.

Like anyone on The Bachelor, this will not end well. In fact, the cast of The Bachelor have shown more intensity than the Eagles have this year and better skills.

The big question about this game is what part of his body will Toby Greene use to strike an opponent this week? You don’t see the knee used a lot and apparently, you can do anything if you are ‘protecting your space’.

That’s the excuse I’m using with the tax office for why I’ve never paid taxes. Just protecting the space around my bank balance.

Giants to win this.

Gold Coast v Essendon (MS) 7.25pm

Essendon are still in the hunt for finals and must win this. Luckily for them, the Suns lost to Brisbane last week, and I mean lost. They got belted.

If the Bombers don’t win this, they don’t deserve finals.

The only thing the Suns are in the hunt for is a new coach. If you were a new coach, would you want to take this gig?

On the negative side, you’d have to deal with that board. What a nightmare. They could ruin your career before it even starts.

On the plus side, you’d really be working for the AFL, and they’ll be pouring resources into that club for the next few years.

If there’s one thing that club needs, it’s more resources, after all, they’ve shown they use them so well.

Talk about pouring water into a leaky bucket.

Gary Ablett continues to phone in sick, like anyone in the last few weeks of a job. What a shame he’ll miss his farewell game at Metricon Stadium. Oh well, it would be quicker to pop around to all the Suns member’s houses and say goodbye anyway.

Bombers to win.

Carlton v Hawthorn (ES) 7.25pm

In a surprise move, the Hawks have named Jaeger O'Meara. It seems a weird decision, but I suppose the Hawks have a small percentage chance of making finals.

Playing finals is a slimmer chance than O’Meara doing his knee again, so I don’t get taking the risk. I am willing to recognise that Alastair Clarkson knows a little bit more about football than me.

Carlton hasn't won a game since June 17. In that time, we’ve almost been to war with North Korea twenty times, and we’ve discovered everyone in Parliament is a plant by a foreign government. The Australian Parliament has more foreigners in it than the English Cricket Team.

Can Carlton win here? No.

Sunday

Melbourne v Brisbane (MCG) 1.10pm

The Demons have named Jesse Hogan in a quicker than expected return from a broken collarbone.

I’m a bit over the criticism of Hogan. He’s had a terrible run, and the illness and death of his father has obviously been a huge weight on his shoulders. Add to that cancer and a broken collar bone, and I’d like to see anyone else handle it any better.

I expect nothing from him this season and the fact he’s coming back so quickly after injury shows this is a guy who is keen to play.

Melbourne simply must win this game. Finals are within reach, and a win here and against the Pies in Round 23 makes them certainties to make it.

Every Demons support knows, finals on the line plus playing a bottom side equals a recipe for disaster.

The Lions are coming off a win too and have been showing some signs of moving off the bottom. Let’s not get carried away though; they won last week against the Suns.

This is another game where if the Demons don’t win, they don’t deserve finals, that’s the problem with life, you have to earn things.

Melbourne to win.

St Kilda v North Melbourne (ES) 3.20pm

The only reason to go to this game is to see Nick Riewoldt play his last game at home and you imagine that will get a few Saints fans down there.

Apart from that, this is only interesting if you’re one of the few people still with a chance of winning SuperCoach or are dating a player, or both.

North’s season has been a disaster but it’s all about expectations, everyone thought it would be so there’s not a lot of heat.

The Saints though, this was meant to be the year they pushed forward into finals. They’ve been poor, and annoyingly, they’ve occasionally shown they have all the ability.

Technically, the Saints could still make the finals, but a lot of things have to go right for them to do so. They have about as much chance of making finals as Adam Sandler has of winning an Oscar.

Saints to win.

Fremantle v Richmond (DS) 4.40pm

While nearing the end of the footy season is a sad time, the fact I’ve only got two more Fremantle games to watch fills me with a joy usually reserved for the phrase ‘free beer, wine and spirits.’

I was going to call Fremantle’s performance against the Swans are a dumpster fire, but at least a dumpster fire had some heat about it.

The Dockers should try this week, it is good to try new things.

The Tigers are nearing their favourite time of the year, finals. That means you know they need to finish top four so they can at least play twice.

In Round Eight, the Tigers lost to Fremantle, in that horror stretch when they pulled losses out of the most amazing situations like a defeatist Houdini.

They’ll want revenge here, and I think they can do it.

I'm touring my new show 'Insufficient Intent' around the country. Come see me in the bye weekend before the finals. Brisbane date just added: All the details are available here.

You can help support me in producing this ridiculous nonsense I churn out on a regular basis. My aim is to keep as much of my stuff on this site and available to everyone and not behind paywalls. Find out more here: https://titusoreily.com/support-titus

COMMENTS

Pete

Aug 18, 2017

Damn I wish you hadn't tipped the Crows . I thought we had a chance until then !

Jona

Aug 18, 2017

Some more great stuff here Titus! Love the comment about the only reason to be in Ballarat is if you missed out on your first 7 preferences in getting into Uni. Having said that, I've never been to Ballarat. I hear in local indigenous language, Ballarat means 'in a hole'. And i also hear they have big TV antennas everywhere because they are in a hole. Pretty keen to go there now...

Matt

Aug 18, 2017

The Cats free kick argument is a fair one, although it’s probably more an Umpiring issue...since they are the ones that pay them.

mdso

Aug 18, 2017

Thought maybe the AFL could give the Suns coaching job to Andrew Demetrio. Would be the only position in the AFL he hadn't held. Having now been a Director of Education for Bastion and run courses in professional development, he must now be ready to take on the big one - Coach of an AFL club. Wouldn't that be super?

Spadefoot

Aug 18, 2017

I actually chose Ballarat over La Trobe despite qualifying for both, of course no one believes me. I was scared of crowds and failure. The decision has probably cost me half a million dollars in wage opportunity costs and I had my best mate steal my girlfriend during exams, so I have fond memories of Ballarat.

Michelle

Aug 18, 2017

Coach of the suns is a job that only goes to people on the afls shit list.

Jim

Aug 18, 2017

Wondering if the Friday night commentators can get double digit mentions of Greenwood's basketball and Keath's cricket backgrounds.

Rosscoe

Aug 18, 2017

"... the absence of any Victorian sides makes you wonder who the Channel Seven commentary team will barrack for."

Never a truer word Titus! But they'll make up for it by mentioning "oh and six" about a million times.

Per quarter.

TP

Aug 18, 2017

Rosscoe the 7 boys have a real aversion to the Swans. Just watch Talking (Victorian) Footy. Sydney can kill Fremantle after dismantling Geelong (at home) and rate nary a mention. The lads seem to be allergic to a successful well run clean football team from Sydney. Must be the feathers.

Hawks42017

Aug 18, 2017

"Carlton hasn't won a game since June 17. In that time, we’ve almost been to war with North Korea twenty times, and we’ve discovered everyone in Parliament is a plant by a foreign government. The Australian Parliament has more foreigners in it than the English Cricket Team." Hahahahahaha, funniest comment I've seen all week, in fact probably all year....

Dave

Aug 18, 2017

I know you loathe Freo, but if you can mention O'Meara's return, you can mention Harley Bennell's (just as remarkable) - I hoped you were free of that dreaded disease Victorian Bias but I guess I was mistaken.

Warney

Aug 18, 2017

you missed a trick not plugging Kryal Castle or Sovereign Hill - Ballas has it all...

Bloke from the outer

Aug 18, 2017

I barrack for the tiges and I was glad to see another team get a disgraceful hiding from the umpires. And those channel 7 flogs didn't say a word til the end and then had the crass stupidity to claim that a 50 metre penalty (that was obvious to anybody who actually might know the rules) caused the crows to lose. The arseclowns were clearly watching a different game than the rest of us. Oh and Eddy is allowed to play on instinct rather than the rules now.

Sydney fan

Aug 18, 2017

As expected Ch 7 Comms backed Adelaide as did the umps. Because everyone hates the Swans. Well stuff Em because we won anyway!! Go Swans

Bloke from the outer

Aug 19, 2017

No fan of the Swans but have to totally agree with you SYDNEY FAN. Might as well call the nobs on seven the cheer squad. Sad excuse for commentary, that's for sure.

Woody

Aug 20, 2017

Hey come on, as if Channel 7 would support Adelaide against any eastern state club! You're so right about the BT factor - he's a pain in the bum all over

Neddy Nitpicker

Aug 21, 2017

Get a decent proofreader!