This was a big round.
Baners already have a thin list. With two out they looked Bristenth. (Who's that bloke in the ruck?) Zorko and Bailey really matter to any side. The Baners can't cover them. I thought Andrews bungled but levelled up and was relentless in endeavour. Won me back. The market hates them now. But there's not much around.
Dees very fresh after the byes. (Oh, dear. We wanted them still jaded - but there is time.) Fists of Flimsy Lever looked vibrant and free in movement. Year-best game. Petracca still down at least 10m in kicking but regained half a yard. Brisker, fresher. More sound. Salem (star back from injury) ok. Then the big development. Jackson was barely holding his own against Oscar Mc Potato for - 45 minutes? But he rallied. And he led the swarming inside midfield monsters of Melbourne on the break. Hmm. Weak company? Very. But Jackson levelled up. He was terrifying for an our. (Right now, I've got Melbs 1.65 for the flag. Not to say we can't lift. But as it stands nobody else can.)
Did Longmuir lose his load early? Nice play to defend Fyfe. But they looked better with no Fyffe and no Taberner. Who's picking the side at Fremantle? Is it Fucky Bell? Taberner and Fyfe are 70s footballers. Dump.
Carlton bounced after the Richmond loss and exposed the Levi Strauss Dockers. It was a road game for Freo but their midfield was humiliated. Mundy quiet and Fyfe absent. Blues have no defenders except Saad but Freo has no forwards. Barayshaw and Serong outnumbered. Cripps working and Walsh off the leash. Kennedy far too busy for his Freo victims.
Sydney is at least a year ahead of Freo, with better established talent and crucial youth coming through. All McCartins are hopeless and must be replaced. But Gulden is special, Campbell will make it, and McDonald. Warner is the youngest strike mid in the game. And Blakey played the best running back game of all time this year. (Shithouse the next week.)
The lack of tall backs will kill them and Mills has laboured with achilles tendonitis. But Sydney is in the mix in 2022. And too good for an unstable StK.
Cats had no Parfitt. Ball winner. Worker. And no Clangerflop who can get a kick. Tigers not Prestia and no Cotchin. (Balta injured all year.) Cat's emerging youth SDK good, Stengle awesome, Parfitt absent. Tiger's emerging youth Daniel Rioli flakey but trending up. MoJu rushed back in but very effective. Baker unknowable but maybe building a tank. (Maybe it's tank not weather with him.) Gibcus trending down. Juddy looking overwhelmed. Ross a pass for a youngster and Short barely that but working. Martin and Shai humiliated at CBs. (Maybe they'll lift. They used to be good at football.)
Cats $6.5 for the flag. Tigers $13 - correction $11. (That didn't take long.)
Pies awesome buy in, planning, plan for the ball, game phase plan. Emerging youth. All the stuff. Ruck stocks much better in the absence of Grundy. Very impressive year so far.