ZoBlitz
The Ghost Who Walks
- Moderator
- #1
Date – Sunday, July 19th
Time – 1:10pm
Venue – MCG
Weather- 14° Mostly Sunny
Preview by ZoBlitz
The Opposition – Melbourne
As anyone who read my well-regarded and equally short preview from last season that I may plagiarise from, Melbourne is definitely one of my favourite teams to watch. I mean, I must have watched them play at least twice since 2009 when they weren’t playing the Lions. I’m pretty sure they were kicking the occasional goal too so they were probably games from before Roos was coach. I was also lucky enough to get some free tickets to the Fremantle-Melbourne game earlier this year and I have to say that it was an amazing spectacle and it was very unfortunate that I had a prior engagement watching a particularly interesting section of freshly painted wall dry.
So how have Melbourne been going this season? You’d have to say better. They look like winning more than four games in a season for the first time since 2011 having beaten Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Richmond and Gold Coast. They have also had some big losses but that’s probably to be expected with their list where it is. Some of their high draft picks actually look like they might become decent players this time around and Nathan Jones continues on being the least ambitious player in the AFL. Jesse Hogan, unfortunately, looks like he’ll develop into an absolute beast, especially since he’s coming third in the AFL in contested marks which is pretty amazing for such a young player.
Melbourne, with the weight of the competition on their shoulders last week, were unable to beat the “courageous” Bombers in a fairly uninspiring contest. The Demons haven’t had the best luck with being favourites in recent years and it looks as if they’ll be the book-makers’ choice again this week.
Our Lot
Well if you only saw the first three quarters of our games in the last three weeks you’d be assuming we were making our usual mid-season charge into a more respectable section of the ladder but sadly not. Our ability to run out games as well as our inability to make the opposition pay in key moments in games in recent weeks has ultimately cost us. Things are definitely starting to fall into place, though. Last week we arguably had our full strength midfield for the first time this season and Merrett returning to defence helped strengthen our defensive structure. Hanley and Rocky will be better for the run, Zorks is getting back into some form, Christensen showed his line breaking ability and Beamso was just his usual superstar self.
Do we have anyone who can kick a goal though? Well, not really. The combined problems of not having a top quality key forward as well as our general inability to kick to the advantage of our forwards has meant that we’ve struggled to kick winning scores. Oh, and all the injuries to everyone.
Martin comes back from suspension but we lose Gardiner for the rest of the season after the sticky tape that was holding him together fell off. You’d assume one of the key forwards will be dropped or moved back to cover Gardiner. Do we re-structure by bringing a smaller defender like Harwood or Cutler for Gardiner? I wouldn’t expect too many changes and I hope Staker holds his spot just for the possibility that he might do that step again (and ignoring the horrendous shot at goal afterwards).
The Game
Well, I’m expecting this to be exactly like our 2014 game in that we’ll win but I’ll barely remember anything of the game a year later apart from two or three quality contested marks. Probably Hogan’s, but whatever. To reinforce the defensive nature of this contest, Melbourne and Brisbane have the lowest inside 50 tally of all the sides in the AFL. Similarly we have the second and third worst marks inside 50 tally too. Also we rank last and third last in goals scored. If that doesn’t scream out a high scoring thrill-ride of a game, then I don’t know what will!
If we can close down on Garlett and Hogan, we should be able to somehow cobble together a winning score from our midfield getting on top but we really need to focus on a four quarter effort this week as well as taking our chances. Staker, if he survives the cut, could be a big factor if he can just find his touch again but that might just be wishful thinking.
We’ll finally play four quarters, actually kick goals in the last and win by 10.
Time – 1:10pm
Venue – MCG
Weather- 14° Mostly Sunny
Preview by ZoBlitz
The Opposition – Melbourne
As anyone who read my well-regarded and equally short preview from last season that I may plagiarise from, Melbourne is definitely one of my favourite teams to watch. I mean, I must have watched them play at least twice since 2009 when they weren’t playing the Lions. I’m pretty sure they were kicking the occasional goal too so they were probably games from before Roos was coach. I was also lucky enough to get some free tickets to the Fremantle-Melbourne game earlier this year and I have to say that it was an amazing spectacle and it was very unfortunate that I had a prior engagement watching a particularly interesting section of freshly painted wall dry.
So how have Melbourne been going this season? You’d have to say better. They look like winning more than four games in a season for the first time since 2011 having beaten Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Richmond and Gold Coast. They have also had some big losses but that’s probably to be expected with their list where it is. Some of their high draft picks actually look like they might become decent players this time around and Nathan Jones continues on being the least ambitious player in the AFL. Jesse Hogan, unfortunately, looks like he’ll develop into an absolute beast, especially since he’s coming third in the AFL in contested marks which is pretty amazing for such a young player.
Melbourne, with the weight of the competition on their shoulders last week, were unable to beat the “courageous” Bombers in a fairly uninspiring contest. The Demons haven’t had the best luck with being favourites in recent years and it looks as if they’ll be the book-makers’ choice again this week.
Our Lot
Well if you only saw the first three quarters of our games in the last three weeks you’d be assuming we were making our usual mid-season charge into a more respectable section of the ladder but sadly not. Our ability to run out games as well as our inability to make the opposition pay in key moments in games in recent weeks has ultimately cost us. Things are definitely starting to fall into place, though. Last week we arguably had our full strength midfield for the first time this season and Merrett returning to defence helped strengthen our defensive structure. Hanley and Rocky will be better for the run, Zorks is getting back into some form, Christensen showed his line breaking ability and Beamso was just his usual superstar self.
Do we have anyone who can kick a goal though? Well, not really. The combined problems of not having a top quality key forward as well as our general inability to kick to the advantage of our forwards has meant that we’ve struggled to kick winning scores. Oh, and all the injuries to everyone.
Martin comes back from suspension but we lose Gardiner for the rest of the season after the sticky tape that was holding him together fell off. You’d assume one of the key forwards will be dropped or moved back to cover Gardiner. Do we re-structure by bringing a smaller defender like Harwood or Cutler for Gardiner? I wouldn’t expect too many changes and I hope Staker holds his spot just for the possibility that he might do that step again (and ignoring the horrendous shot at goal afterwards).
The Game
Well, I’m expecting this to be exactly like our 2014 game in that we’ll win but I’ll barely remember anything of the game a year later apart from two or three quality contested marks. Probably Hogan’s, but whatever. To reinforce the defensive nature of this contest, Melbourne and Brisbane have the lowest inside 50 tally of all the sides in the AFL. Similarly we have the second and third worst marks inside 50 tally too. Also we rank last and third last in goals scored. If that doesn’t scream out a high scoring thrill-ride of a game, then I don’t know what will!
If we can close down on Garlett and Hogan, we should be able to somehow cobble together a winning score from our midfield getting on top but we really need to focus on a four quarter effort this week as well as taking our chances. Staker, if he survives the cut, could be a big factor if he can just find his touch again but that might just be wishful thinking.
We’ll finally play four quarters, actually kick goals in the last and win by 10.
