It was per week of upsets and top-eight motion, setting the desk for the house stretch of an enthralling season.
Welcome to the Spherical-Up, the place we digest the week that was.
Chaos within the finals race
Of the entire three bye weeks, this one felt probably the most bye week-ish. The massive canines on the high of the ladder had per week off, so attentions had been turned a bit decrease down.
Fortunately the goings on down there — and by that we imply from about fourth to twelfth — is fairly compelling. The truth is we have one of many craziest finals races in current reminiscence brewing right here.
The massive movers this week had been Richmond, whose win over Carlton each went some method to re-establishing the previous order and introduced the Tigers again into flag consideration.
Such is the evenness of this season throughout the board, Richmond’s expertise on the largest stage and within the greatest video games will develop into an asset.
The identical might be stated for Geelong, who’ve as soon as once more quietly been sucked in by the gravitational pull of the highest 4.
We have stated all yr there’s more likely to be one vacant spot within the high 4 and any variety of groups able to taking it. Proper now, the good cash can be on one among Geelong or Richmond making it their very own by the top of the season.
Maybe that’s overreacting to 1 spherical, but it surely’s exhausting to get too hyped about Sydney or St Kilda after their massively disappointing showings this weekend.
Each had been smacked by groups nicely beneath them on the ladder, mustering little battle and exhibiting little resolve as soon as their attacking instincts had been headed off.
The Swans specifically have been wildly unpredictable this yr, their greatest nearly untouchable and their worst barely value registering.
Collingwood, Gold Coast and the Western Bulldogs are lurking simply outdoors that high eight now. Sporadic brilliance won’t be sufficient to chop it within the race for the eight this yr.
One of the best is true forward of us
We usually attempt to not get too forward of ourselves within the Spherical-Up, but it surely’s exhausting not to have a look at subsequent week and never get excited.
It is as if these three bye weeks had been all simply to set us up for spherical 15, when the 2022 season strikes into its superb residence stretch with all the pieces nonetheless up for grabs.
Take a look at these fixtures:
- Melbourne vs Brisbane on Thursday night: Second vs first on the MCG. Dees off three losses in a row, Lions able to stake their declare because the flag frontrunners. The most important sport of the yr thus far.
- Carlton vs Fremantle on Saturday arvo: Fifth vs third. Blues seeking to show they’re worthy of hanging with the highest 4 contenders, and the Dockers out to show how far they’ve come.
- Geelong vs Richmond on Saturday twilight: Fourth vs sixth. Bear in mind what we stated simply earlier than about these two groups being the frontrunners for fourth? This sport may find yourself being the deciding issue.
- Sydney vs St Kilda on Saturday evening: Seventh vs eighth. Loser might very nicely discover themselves out of the eight by the top of the week.
- Collingwood vs GWS on Sunday arvo: Ninth vs thirteenth. Stakes not as excessive for the Giants, however the Magpies may have the chance to take a large stride ahead and transfer again into the highest eight.
- Port Adelaide vs Gold Coast on Sunday twilight: eleventh vs twelfth. The 2 outsiders. It is throughout for the loser, however the winner will stay within the top-eight image.
Across the grounds
It is most likely good that Richmond publicly advised Shai Bolton off for his showboating, however internally I hope they had been far much less crucial. He’s a particular participant whose aptitude and showmanship must be protected in any respect prices.
West Coast produced their greatest efficiency of the yr this week, and Geelong one among their extra timid. In a bizarre win-win, the Eagles would have been proud of their intent and efficiency and the Cats merely pleased to get out of there with the factors.
We put a line by means of Port Adelaide final week right here. Simply once I thought I used to be out, they pull me again in. So long as there’s a mathematical probability, any workforce with these key-position weapons cannot be fully discounted.
It was exhausting to know the place to look in the course of the Giants’ and Bulldogs’ 80s throwback sport, however it was very simple to know the place to not look. Cody Weightman’s elbow. Returning to play after that may go some method to killing off a few of the chatter across the younger gun and “the best way he goes about it”.
Good for Essendon. It could have been fairly simple to close up store within the third quarter after St Kilda mainly erased the deficit in about 5 minutes, however to seek out the willingness to go once more reveals there’s nonetheless one thing about this workforce. The Dons can actually underline the purpose with a win over West Coast subsequent week.
Wil Powell’s damage was the form of one that may rattle teammates so totally they wrestle to see out the sport. The Suns could not afford that and did nicely to complete the job. However holy cannoli, poor Wil Powell.
Within the clubhouse
Right here we take inventory of who’s main the race for the season’s particular person awards.
A gradual week within the Rising Star race with lots of the frontrunners sitting out, however Nic Martin gave a well timed reminder of his credentials.
We have nonetheless acquired Nick Daicos in entrance for now, however it’ll be genuinely thrilling to see which of the chief contenders — Daicos, Martin, Jai Newcombe and Sam De Koning — run away with this factor.
Sam Draper can take residence mark of the week honours with this stable entry. Not practically sufficient to bother Cam Zuurhar’s lead although.
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Slim pickings on the purpose entrance his week too, so we’ll chuck it to Jack Billings for this one from the identical sport. Ed Langon’s grip on the GOTY title stays.
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