Zevon
Moderator
- Moderator
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A round that had a swag of games with big finals ramifications! A few teams bounced back after some questionable performances last week, while others put themselves on shaky ground with some costly losses. Let’s wrap Round 23…
Bombers v Saints, Friday night: Two overlapping games on Friday night meant that all but the diehard supporters of each club would have stopped watching this one as soon as the finals-shaping matchup in the west got underway. Those that hung around got to see a markedly improved showing from the Bombers, a tight finish and a fourth win in a row for the Saints.
Freo v Lions, Friday night: Just when you think the Lions are in hot water they pull out a performance like this. I shouldn’t be surprised, they’ve been doing it all year. Absolute teases. That being said, if they manage to find this sort of level consistently enough for a few finals games then the sky is still the limit. Shocking loss for the Dockers though. Was basically a 50/50 game going in so to get blown away must be super disappointing, and they’ve put themselves in real danger of being bundled out of finals in the last round now.
Suns v Giants, Saturday arvo: It’s performances like this that still have many people rating the Giants a genuine flag threat. Massive, clutch performance to march up to the Gold Coast for a must-win game and comfortably account for a side that is very hard to beat up there. The Suns on the other hand have slipped out of the 8 for the first time since their opening round game didn’t go ahead, but with that game in hand they’re still in the box seat to get straight back in.
Blues v Port, Saturday arvo: A morale boosting win for the Blues, but this game was the definition of a dead rubber. The Who-Cares Cup.
Hawks v Demons, Saturday twilight: The game itself was a bit of a non-event, so let’s get some love going for 56 year old Jack Gunston who has just racked up a career-best goal kicking year with a round still to go! Seven more goals to bring his tally to 60, and he could have bagged a lazy 10 if he’d kicked straight. Give the man an All Australian jumper for goodness sake. Remarkable.
Crows v Pies, Saturday night: If that wasn’t a finals dress rehearsal I don’t know what is. Tight, tough stuff all night and a crazy close finish. The Crows will be thrilled with the gritty win and securing top spot, but there were genuine signs of life for the ailing Magpies too. If they beat Melbourne next week and nab a top 4 spot they’re still very much in the conversation despite a lean patch of recent form.
Roos v Tigers, Sunday arvo: North should be a couple of years ahead of the Tigers and as such they had no business losing this. Sure enough they got the job done. Harry Sheezel reminded the world how good he’s going to be (already is) with an absolute blinder.
Swans v Cats, Sunday twilight: Powerful stuff from the Cats to go three goals down early against an in-form opponent away from home, then completely take control for the rest of the afternoon. Clear second on the ladder and yet somehow still flying under the radar. In the flag hunt up to their eyeballs.
Dogs v Eagles, Sunday twilight: Into the 8 go the Dogs! They’ll probably have to win a HUGE game against the Dockers next week to stay there, but they did what they had to do this week in a cakewalk against a lowly side. They’ve had a few of those this year.
Don’t forget to post your Liked, Learnt, Hated below… along with any other thoughts you had about Round 23!
Bombers v Saints, Friday night: Two overlapping games on Friday night meant that all but the diehard supporters of each club would have stopped watching this one as soon as the finals-shaping matchup in the west got underway. Those that hung around got to see a markedly improved showing from the Bombers, a tight finish and a fourth win in a row for the Saints.
Freo v Lions, Friday night: Just when you think the Lions are in hot water they pull out a performance like this. I shouldn’t be surprised, they’ve been doing it all year. Absolute teases. That being said, if they manage to find this sort of level consistently enough for a few finals games then the sky is still the limit. Shocking loss for the Dockers though. Was basically a 50/50 game going in so to get blown away must be super disappointing, and they’ve put themselves in real danger of being bundled out of finals in the last round now.
Suns v Giants, Saturday arvo: It’s performances like this that still have many people rating the Giants a genuine flag threat. Massive, clutch performance to march up to the Gold Coast for a must-win game and comfortably account for a side that is very hard to beat up there. The Suns on the other hand have slipped out of the 8 for the first time since their opening round game didn’t go ahead, but with that game in hand they’re still in the box seat to get straight back in.
Blues v Port, Saturday arvo: A morale boosting win for the Blues, but this game was the definition of a dead rubber. The Who-Cares Cup.
Hawks v Demons, Saturday twilight: The game itself was a bit of a non-event, so let’s get some love going for 56 year old Jack Gunston who has just racked up a career-best goal kicking year with a round still to go! Seven more goals to bring his tally to 60, and he could have bagged a lazy 10 if he’d kicked straight. Give the man an All Australian jumper for goodness sake. Remarkable.
Crows v Pies, Saturday night: If that wasn’t a finals dress rehearsal I don’t know what is. Tight, tough stuff all night and a crazy close finish. The Crows will be thrilled with the gritty win and securing top spot, but there were genuine signs of life for the ailing Magpies too. If they beat Melbourne next week and nab a top 4 spot they’re still very much in the conversation despite a lean patch of recent form.
Roos v Tigers, Sunday arvo: North should be a couple of years ahead of the Tigers and as such they had no business losing this. Sure enough they got the job done. Harry Sheezel reminded the world how good he’s going to be (already is) with an absolute blinder.
Swans v Cats, Sunday twilight: Powerful stuff from the Cats to go three goals down early against an in-form opponent away from home, then completely take control for the rest of the afternoon. Clear second on the ladder and yet somehow still flying under the radar. In the flag hunt up to their eyeballs.
Dogs v Eagles, Sunday twilight: Into the 8 go the Dogs! They’ll probably have to win a HUGE game against the Dockers next week to stay there, but they did what they had to do this week in a cakewalk against a lowly side. They’ve had a few of those this year.
Don’t forget to post your Liked, Learnt, Hated below… along with any other thoughts you had about Round 23!
