Zevon
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Last week’s round of close finishes looked set to continue in the first installment of Sir Doug Nicholls round after the first three games ended in tight results, but then some blowouts starting rolling in. Let’s wrap…
Suns v Hawks, Thursday night: For a ground that is often maligned for its dewy conditions, Darwin has played host to two ripping games this year. The Suns lost most of their big lead last week before holding on; this week they lost all of it but came back gamely and nudged out a very good Hawthorn side. Still a long way to go but no objections at all if these two meet up again in September.
Swans v Blues, Friday night: A couple of injury-hit sides battling for form meant this wasn’t a particularly high quality or high scoring spectacle, but it was a decent contest all night. Both teams are still in striking distance of the 8 with plenty of season left, but sheesh they’d need to improve.
Pies v Kuwarna, Saturday arvo: The Crows were right in this for most of the game, barring a patch late in the third term/early in the fourth when the Pies kicked four goals in a row. In miserable conditions at times, the home side gutsed out yet another close win. Serious 2023 vibes about this team now. Unrecognisable from the rabble that was steamrolled way back in Opening Round.
Giants v Walyalup, Saturday twilight: When the orange tsunami looks good, it looks good. When it breaks down it looks horrendous. Unfortunately for the Giants it’s been breaking down more often than not lately. Also, side note - Easter Show or not, it seems unfair that the Giants become a traveling roadshow for 6+ weeks every season. They almost forget what their home ground looks like. Meanwhile there are Melbourne teams that barely leave Victoria for similar stretches. Anyway, that likely didn’t affect the result here. The Dockers came well prepared and took down the home side from the get-go. Might that finally kick start their season?
Yartapuulti v Cats, Saturday twilight: Oh look, another random Power capitulation. Just a minor 76 point glitch this time. You watch, they’ll play fairly well for a few weeks now then BAM they’ll have a 15 goal loss out of nowhere. Set your clocks to it. Well done Geelong for taking full advantage, but don’t get ahead of yourselves. The Warrnambool under 18s could beat the Power when they have one of those nights.
Dogs v Essendon, Saturday night: Ah crap, I used all my blowout material on the previous game. What on earth was this?? I think most tipsters would have had the accomplished Dogs winning this one, but 91 points? In fairness I didn’t really know where to place the 2025 Bombers prior to this game, and I still don’t. I don’t buy that they’re THIS bad, and they did have plenty of young players out there. Shocking night, perfect opportunity to bounce back next weekend.
Tigers v Roos, Sunday arvo: We all owe the Tigers and North an apology. Sometimes it’s the games you least expect that end up delivering a great afternoon’s entertainment, and so it proved here. It was a close end-to-end game all day and I thought it was great to watch.
Lions v Narrm, Sunday twilight: Reckon that win would have felt AMAZING for the Dees. Just what they needed. Maximus Gawn was gargantuan all day and especially in those last few minutes; harder to move than a battleship when there was a 50-50 ball in the air. The Lions become an interesting prospect now. They’ve had one or two impressive performances surrounded by some very so-so ones. Still right up the pointy end of the ladder, are they just priming themselves to be peaking later in the year or are they looking shaky? Huge game against the Hawks next week.
Waalitj Marawar v Euro-Yroke, Sunday twilight: Another side for whom a win will work wonders! Bravo Eagles. There was the faintest smell of an upset going into this one and that turned into a revolting odour for the Saints when the home side set up a lead early and refused to give it back. Stand by everything I said about Ross Lyon when the Saints beat the Dockers a couple of weeks ago. He found a sucker that fell for his 2008 playbook that night but his deficiencies have been well exposed in two games against lowly opposition since. It’s a shame because I quite like the Saints as a side but I simply can’t cop that they’ve got the right man in charge now.
Don’t forget to post your Liked, Learnt, Hated below… along with any other thoughts you had about Round 10!
Suns v Hawks, Thursday night: For a ground that is often maligned for its dewy conditions, Darwin has played host to two ripping games this year. The Suns lost most of their big lead last week before holding on; this week they lost all of it but came back gamely and nudged out a very good Hawthorn side. Still a long way to go but no objections at all if these two meet up again in September.
Swans v Blues, Friday night: A couple of injury-hit sides battling for form meant this wasn’t a particularly high quality or high scoring spectacle, but it was a decent contest all night. Both teams are still in striking distance of the 8 with plenty of season left, but sheesh they’d need to improve.
Pies v Kuwarna, Saturday arvo: The Crows were right in this for most of the game, barring a patch late in the third term/early in the fourth when the Pies kicked four goals in a row. In miserable conditions at times, the home side gutsed out yet another close win. Serious 2023 vibes about this team now. Unrecognisable from the rabble that was steamrolled way back in Opening Round.
Giants v Walyalup, Saturday twilight: When the orange tsunami looks good, it looks good. When it breaks down it looks horrendous. Unfortunately for the Giants it’s been breaking down more often than not lately. Also, side note - Easter Show or not, it seems unfair that the Giants become a traveling roadshow for 6+ weeks every season. They almost forget what their home ground looks like. Meanwhile there are Melbourne teams that barely leave Victoria for similar stretches. Anyway, that likely didn’t affect the result here. The Dockers came well prepared and took down the home side from the get-go. Might that finally kick start their season?
Yartapuulti v Cats, Saturday twilight: Oh look, another random Power capitulation. Just a minor 76 point glitch this time. You watch, they’ll play fairly well for a few weeks now then BAM they’ll have a 15 goal loss out of nowhere. Set your clocks to it. Well done Geelong for taking full advantage, but don’t get ahead of yourselves. The Warrnambool under 18s could beat the Power when they have one of those nights.
Dogs v Essendon, Saturday night: Ah crap, I used all my blowout material on the previous game. What on earth was this?? I think most tipsters would have had the accomplished Dogs winning this one, but 91 points? In fairness I didn’t really know where to place the 2025 Bombers prior to this game, and I still don’t. I don’t buy that they’re THIS bad, and they did have plenty of young players out there. Shocking night, perfect opportunity to bounce back next weekend.
Tigers v Roos, Sunday arvo: We all owe the Tigers and North an apology. Sometimes it’s the games you least expect that end up delivering a great afternoon’s entertainment, and so it proved here. It was a close end-to-end game all day and I thought it was great to watch.
Lions v Narrm, Sunday twilight: Reckon that win would have felt AMAZING for the Dees. Just what they needed. Maximus Gawn was gargantuan all day and especially in those last few minutes; harder to move than a battleship when there was a 50-50 ball in the air. The Lions become an interesting prospect now. They’ve had one or two impressive performances surrounded by some very so-so ones. Still right up the pointy end of the ladder, are they just priming themselves to be peaking later in the year or are they looking shaky? Huge game against the Hawks next week.
Waalitj Marawar v Euro-Yroke, Sunday twilight: Another side for whom a win will work wonders! Bravo Eagles. There was the faintest smell of an upset going into this one and that turned into a revolting odour for the Saints when the home side set up a lead early and refused to give it back. Stand by everything I said about Ross Lyon when the Saints beat the Dockers a couple of weeks ago. He found a sucker that fell for his 2008 playbook that night but his deficiencies have been well exposed in two games against lowly opposition since. It’s a shame because I quite like the Saints as a side but I simply can’t cop that they’ve got the right man in charge now.
Don’t forget to post your Liked, Learnt, Hated below… along with any other thoughts you had about Round 10!
