Round One Results

DOCKER DESTRUCTION

70 points. That was the season opening margin that Fremantle pulled over Collingwood. I disagree with Nathan Buckley, Fremantle weren’t undermanned but assuming they were, what does that say about Collingwood? 5.16 for four quarters simply isn’t good enough for a team that claims to be flag threat. That being said, Fremantle were very good and did a lot of the damage in the second quarter when they held the Magpies to only 4 points for the quarter while adding 40 of their own.

Take your pick of Fremantle players for Best on Ground. There’s a long list with the Rat (Ballantyne) topping it with three goals.

Fremantle play against Gold Coast in Perth in an easy opening two games for a team that made the Grand Final last year. In my opinion they should’ve played Geelong, Sydney and then Hawthorn, not necessarily in that order though. Collingwood regroup and play Sydney at the mud pit of a ground called ANZ Stadium, which could result in a second loss.

My Tips: 1 from 1

LITTLE BROTHER TOPPLES BIG BROTHER IN BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE

No one would’ve picked the Giants to defeat the Swans in their third year in the competition. Or should they have? Last year the Suns pulled an impressive third year performance and the Giants showed they are more than capable of the same. Not only did they beat the Swans, they did it comfortably by 32 points, slotting the last 6 goals of the game. It’s also worth noting that the Giants only lost the first quarter, winning the other three, but 99 to 67 sends a message to the other teams that they might have to do more than just show up to win against them. Also, scoring 9 goals for the game, the Swans would’ve wanted at least 3 of them to come from Buddy seeing as how that’s what they’re paying him $1.1 mil a year to do.

Best on Ground is Cameron with 4 goals, launching his campaign to take the Coleman medal, losing it to Roughead last year.

The Giants play the Saints in two weeks in a winnable game while the Swans get a chance at redemption against Collingwood at ANZ.

My Tips: 1 from 2

SUNSHINE AGAIN ON THE GOLD COAST

Richmond has a horrible record in Queensland against the Suns. It’s almost like they find it impossible to win up there. It doesn’t help that Metricon is still a fortress for the Suns (although, how long it lasts will be seen over the rest of the season). That being said if the Tigers want to win games, then they have to lead for longer than 2 or 3 minutes of it.

Best on Ground is Ablett (of course) with 41 disposals and 2 goals.

Gold Coast take on Fremantle in Perth in two weeks, which they will probably lose while Richmond battle Carlton on Thursday Night in two weeks.

My Tips: 2 from 3

Fast as Lightning Power

The Blues aren’t match fit. That much was evident on Sunday a fortnight ago when then they played 2 and half quarters of the game before falling away 1 goal to 7 in the last quarter. If Carlton want to play Finals then they need more than that. They need to play at least three quarters, then maybe they can get away with falling away in the last in their defence is good enough. Port of course were renown for their fast finishing game style last year that saw them into the 8, and will most likely be up there again.

Best on Ground Westhoff who, despite who copped a nasty hit from Walker, booted 5 goals. Also on Walker, I’ve watched the footage of it multiple times and to me it’s ambiguous. You can’t say definitively that Walker took his eyes off the footy in the spoiling attempt. He may have at the last second, but you can’t tell from the footage available alone.

Carlton have an Elimination Final rematch against Richmond on Thursday Night while Port Adelaide have two weeks to prepare for their Showdown at Adelaide Oval.

My Tips: 3 from 4

Cats Maul the Crows

The Crows are missing Tex. Or at least a strong hit up full forward. The Cats realized that and exploited it. The Crows fought though for three quarters but the lack of that forward really hurt them in the fourth.

Best on Ground is Jimmy Bartel, kicking 4 goals in his 250^th game. Probably should’ve had 5, but still a great effort.

The Cats have another easy win against the Lions at the Gabba while the Crows get their Showdown against Port

My Tips: 4 from 5

Bombers Dominate Roos at Docklands

Well, I guess I got proved wrong. Although I think it’s a case where Essendon didn’t the game, North Melbourne lost it. 9.6 is not a score Brad Scott or the North Melbourne board will want to see again, but the bombers took advantage of it to stake a 39 point win.

Best on Ground goes to Lindsay Thomas. It would be easy to give to Essendon player in Chapman or Goddard, but Thomas was the only player for North who really looked like he was trying, kicked some great goals and took great contested marks. His performance is probably what kept it from being a 10 goal flogging.

North get to prove something against the Bulldogs at Etihad again while the Bombers take on the Hawks.

My Tips: 4 from 6

Hawks Duplicate NAB Challenge Display

Straight to Best on Ground for this game because everyone knew that the Hawks would win. It’s a tie between Roughead and Bruest who kicked 10 goals between them.

Hawks play Essendon who could challenge but will most likely be beaten while the Lions play against Geelong at the Gabba.

My Tips: 5 from 7

Saints Spoil Roos’ Demonic Persective

The Demons would’ve fancied their chances here, but after quarter time they were fighting heavy one-way traffic to give Alan Richardson his first win as an AFL senior coach.

Best on Ground has to be Riewoldt, doesn’t it? 3 goals and 23 disposals almost single handedly giving the Saints the win. I’d say that qualifies as a BoG performance.

The Saints take on the Giants in an interesting game. One of them will be 2-0 unless it’s a draw. For the Saints that would be the best start to a season since Ross Lyon left and to the Giants it would be the start they’ve ever had. The Demons, they don’t get an easy game. West Coast who have pummeled them the last four times they’ve played them at least.

My Tips: 5 from 8

Eagles Demonstrate Their Power at the Start of a New Era

The Eagles won’t be easy beats this year. No injuries, 2^nd on the Ladder and an attention grabbing 65 point win to start the season off. We all knew West Coast would win, it was just a question of by how much. I’m a little upset that we didn’t dethrone Fremantle from 1^st, but if it puts Collingwood on the bottom, then Fremantle can stay there for now.

Best on Ground has to be LeCras. 5 goals and back near his best. He will be a force to be reckoned with in tough games.

The Eagles play Melbourne and the Bulldogs play North Melbourne. Both the games already decided.

My Tips: 6 from 9

Total tips: 6 from 9 games

66.6% correct

Things that should’ve been looked at but weren’t

Nothing this week. Pretty happy with how the MRP did things (for once). Wellingham probably should’ve challenged and Rockliff was probably a bit stiff to get a week, but overall it wasn’t too bad