Through the Eyes of an Eagle: April 2014

Tigers break Blues Hoodoo

It was close. As it always is between these two clubs. The Blues though couldn’t make amends for the Elimination Final loss. The Tigers took the momentum early kicking the first four goals before Carlton hit the scoreboard. Although both sides kicked 14 behinds, Carlton had a lot of easy shots that they missed, which could’ve given them a strong chance of winning. Which they nearly did. After three-quarter time, the Blues erased a 23 point Tiger lead to nothing before the Tigers took back control to win by 12 points: 98-86.

Best on Ground goes to Vickery with a 4 goal bag, or Murphy for Carlton who collected an unmatched 28 disposals.

The Tigers take on the Bulldogs which should be an easy win. The Blues get another arch-rival in Essendon on Sunday night.

My tips: 0 from 1

Premiers Outlast Bombers in a Friday Night Thriller

The Bombers rated themselves a chance against the Hawks. Most would’ve thought that was gone the Hawks lead 9.3(57) to 3.7(25) at halftime. To their credit, Essendon came out erased it completely scoring 6.3 to just 4 behinds in the third term, setting a massive final quarter in which Rioli scored the winning goal, leaving Hawthorn to defend 4 points for 57 seconds.

Best on Ground, Ambrose for Essendon, the only player to kick 3 goals. For the Hawks would have to Burgoyne with 30 disposals.

The Hawks will go in to the Grand Final replay without Hodge who was subbed out with a groin injury. Essendon face off against Carlton.

My tips: 1 from 2

Saints Defy Giant Lead to Claim Two Straight

The Giants are a threat now. There’s no disputing that. While they’re not a top eight threat like Gold Coast, they’re enough of one to push sides to the limit. The Saints played very well, taking full advantage of their first two weeks, but expect them to quickly dropout from hereon in.

Best on Ground, for the second week in a row, is Nick Reiwoldt who bagged 5 goals. Also, whoever shut down Cameron keeping him to just 1 goal deserves a best on ground as well.

The Saints play West Coast over which should result in their first loss for the season, although they do look like presenting a better challenge than the Bulldogs or Melbourne. The Giants have Melbourne, who would love a win here, but with virtually no forward line, it will be difficult.

My tips: 1 from 3

Power Keep Tradition Alive

The return of Tex cannot come fast enough for Brenton Sanderson or Crows fans. A lack of that tall, lead up forward resulted in the Crows falling away half through the third and barely having an impact in the fourth as the Power stormed home to 54 point flogging. Winning first and last Showdowns at AAMI, now the first Showdown at Adelaide Oval, the Crows wasted what be their last opportunity to break that curse.

Best on Ground: Wingard and Betts with 4 goals each. Betts was the only player who stood up for the Crows. Dangerfield was very quiet, making no impact on the scoreboard.

The Power take North Melbourne at Etihad and recent form would suggest a win while the Crows take on a winless Swans which will result in one side being 0-3, unless it’s a draw.

My tips: 2 from 4

Dockers Strong on a Wet Day

First of all, Fyfe will be talked about later and whether or not he should be considered a “sniper” now. Fremantle were very good and there is no doubting that their defensive capacity is a strong as it was last season. Twice in two weeks they have succeeded in holding teams to less than 50 points (Collingwood scored 47). It is this stranglehold that, while boring to watch, will carry them into the Finals again. The Suns, not much to talk about, they were completely outplayed, never won even a quarter.

Best on Ground would have to be Crowley who kept Ablett scoreless and to only 24 disposals.

Fremantle have a Grand Final replay that they will go into without Fyfe, Barlow and Dawson, while the Suns go back to Metricon to try and notch up a their first ever win against Brisbane.

My tips: 3 from 5

Magpies Continue Swans Shocker

There’s no doubting that this is far from the perfect start for both teams. Especially for the Swans. They lead for most of the game, Collingwood only lead for just over a quarter of game time. The question is, is Buddy Franklin making problems at the Swans? Is he providing competition as a lead up forward and the Swans can barely mark inside 50 as a result? If he is, they need to do something fast. Twice now, they may have well as not scored in the last quarter: 5 points against the Giants and 8 points against Collingwood. It’s simply not good enough.

Best on Ground is Elliot with 3 goals for Collingwood. Pendlebury also very good for Collingwood with 33 Disposals.

Collingwood now play Geelong which will hopefully result in another loss while the Swans take on the winless Crows to try and avoid starting the season off 0-3.

My tips: 3 from 6

Cats too Strong for Dismal Lions

Straight to Best on Ground honours. We all knew the Lions wouldn’t be much of a challenge for the Cats. Mayes for the Lions was the only player from both teams to kick 4 goals. No one else was really impressive.

The Lions take on Gold Coast in their QLD Derby while the Cats face the Magpies and try to go 3 from 3.

My tips: 4 from 7.

Dee-Stroyers

Yes, I’m borrowing the West Australian headline. Sue me. Actually don’t, that was a joke. Almost like Melbourne who scored a solitary point in the first quarter and finished with only 30 points for the game. The Demons never lead and when your opposition is kicking at least 4 goals a quarter, it’s very hard to lead at any stage of the game.

Best on Ground, Kennedy with 4 goals in 150^th, very well done.

West Coast take on the Saints to try and go three-nil and retain top of the ladder. On a side note, we are not happy about being top of the ladder. I mean we’re happy about it (obviously), but it’s secondary to being in our rightful place which is above Fremantle on the ladder. The Demons try and salvage a win against the Giants.

My tips: 5 from 8.

Boomer Gets the Roos Home

The game was scrappy to say the least. I don’t think anyone wanted to be there. You can see that when the quarter-by-quarter scores are nearly reversed at halftime, but it was Harvey who got them home overall, allowing them to survive until halfway through the last quarter when the floodgates opened.

Best on Ground, as you might’ve guessed, goes to Boomer Harvey with 3 goals and 25 disposals proving he is still essential to the Roos.

North battle Port Adelaide in an interesting match while the Bulldogs take on Richmond in what should be another dismal loss.

My tips: 6 from 9.

Total Tips: 12 from 18

66.6% correct

WHAT SHOULD’VE BEEN LOOKED AT BUT WASN’T

I’m thinking I might change the name of this, but the big talking point is Fyfe who will miss the Grand Final replay for his bump on Rischitelli. The real question is did he have other options? I think he did. The tackle probably wasn’t the best option, but the smother was definately there. That being said, I don’t believe he intended to make head-high contact, and I personally think the rule needs to be changed. I think it should be that if head high contact is deemed to be primary, or part of, the bump then yes the player who bumped should be liable and take the consequences (free kick awarded and a report made). If the contact is secondary, or a result of the bump, then only a free kick will be paid. If the umpire is doubt, make a report, and then the MRP can sort it out and if the player disagrees then they can take it to the tribunal. It saves a lot of unnecessary suspensions for things out of the player’s control which, under the current rule, they are liable for. All others made to MRP I’m okay with again, though I think Lewis may have escaped his staging.

Watch ‘Charged’ below to see full footage of all incidents. No, I’m not being paid by the AFL to promote it, it’s just easier to use it than go through every game and isolate the incidents myself. I have uni assignments, so no time to do that. Also, and I can’t stress this enough, I don’t want to do that if I did have the time to do it.

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-03-31/charged-round-two

round 3 tips will probably be short and out tomorrow or Friday morning

Through the Eyes of an Eagle

Friday, April 4, 2014

Round 3 Tips

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Round 2 Results