Power Play
Club Legend
Which fixtures tend to be the best in terms of standard of footy, and which fixtures tend to be the worst? Here's the fixtures I see as best and worst.
Best fixtures:
Collingwood vs West Coast - this is probably the biggest rivalry in the game between two teams based interstate from each other, and there have been countless classics between these two sides over the years, in both home and away matches and finals.
Geelong vs Brisbane - an underrated match up which has produced several classics over the past decade, most notably the miracle on grass game in 2013 plus a handful of games decided by a point either way. Amazingly there's been no draws.
Port Adelaide vs Richmond - another underrated match up where the two sides always tend to bring out the best in one another, and it seems whenever we play Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval (which is every year thanks to the FIXture) the Power turn up to the game like it's a Showdown.
Richmond vs Fremantle - I'm not sure what it is about this match up, but these games always seem to be thrillers, always going down to the wire, especially at the MCG, and even when the games don't go down to the wire, the two teams still seem to have a knack of bringing out the best in each other. Most notably was the game in 2015 where we towelled up a previously undefeated Fremantle outfit on their home deck, in a game mostly remembered for Basil's commentary.
Richmond vs West Coast - year in, year out, these two teams always tend to produce games that are of a high standard, whether it be at the MCG or at Optus Stadium. It's a shame the two sides haven't played each other twice in a season since 2009.
Sydney vs GWS - in my opinion, this is the best interstate derby by far, and it's already surpassed both the Showdown and Western Derby. These sides genuinely hate each other and see each other as genuine rivals in terms of being Sydney's number one AFL team, and the spectacles of footy between the two sides tends to reflect this.
Worst fixtures:
Collingwood vs Geelong - I don't know what it is about these two teams which always leads them to bring out the worst in each other. Ever since the 2011 grand final, games between these sides have always tended to be of an ugly and low standard of footy, with even the recent finals matches between the two sides (2019 QF and 2020 SF) being largely forgettable finals. To be honest, I'm surprised there's little to no rivalry between these sides, given they've played 25 finals against each other.
Hawthorn vs Collingwood - not too dissimilar to Collingwood vs Geelong, in that games between these two sides have always tended to be of an ugly, low standard of footy since the 2011 preliminary final. Not only that, but the games always tend to be one sided, as Collingwood have only beaten Hawthorn twice in the past decade.
Hawthorn vs Fremantle - these games have always tended to be either one sided or an ugly standard of footy, but mostly a combination of both. The biggest game played between the two clubs happens to be known as the grand final which produced the most forgettable, and ugliest standard of footy seen in a grand final in recent memory, with the game devoid of highlights and the result never in doubt. Hawthorn never looked like losing and Fremantle never looked like winning. For all the flack the 2005 grand final cops, at least it was a nailbiter, with the result hanging in the balance right down to the very last second of the game.
Richmond vs Adelaide - aside from the 2017 grand final, the most memorable game played between these two sides happens to be a game widely renowned for being one of the worst spectacles of Aussie Rules ever witnessed at the highest level. The basketball/keepings off game in 2006.
St Kilda vs Sydney - I don't know what it is about these two clubs, but they always tend to bring out the worst in each other, and it's not just because of Paul Roos and Ross Lyon coaching. The round 5 2002 game coached by Rodney Eade and Grant Thomas was an absolute abomination, and the game ending in a draw was a fitting result. Hopefully Eade and Thomas agreed to throw the match tape in the bin afterwards.
Port Adelaide vs Gold Coast - these games are always incredibly boring to watch, and they always tend to follow the same script, which is Port Adelaide getting the jump on Gold Coast and then going into cruise control for the rest of the match, leading to a glorified training run for the Power as they play kick to kick, while the Suns apply very little pressure, looking like they don't even want to be out on the field.
Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle - easily one of the most forgettable fixtures on the footy calendar, and I can't remember the last time a match between these two sides was on free to air television nation wide, and I doubt there's very many neutrals who would go out of their way to watch these two sides play each other.
Best fixtures:
Collingwood vs West Coast - this is probably the biggest rivalry in the game between two teams based interstate from each other, and there have been countless classics between these two sides over the years, in both home and away matches and finals.
Geelong vs Brisbane - an underrated match up which has produced several classics over the past decade, most notably the miracle on grass game in 2013 plus a handful of games decided by a point either way. Amazingly there's been no draws.
Port Adelaide vs Richmond - another underrated match up where the two sides always tend to bring out the best in one another, and it seems whenever we play Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval (which is every year thanks to the FIXture) the Power turn up to the game like it's a Showdown.
Richmond vs Fremantle - I'm not sure what it is about this match up, but these games always seem to be thrillers, always going down to the wire, especially at the MCG, and even when the games don't go down to the wire, the two teams still seem to have a knack of bringing out the best in each other. Most notably was the game in 2015 where we towelled up a previously undefeated Fremantle outfit on their home deck, in a game mostly remembered for Basil's commentary.
Richmond vs West Coast - year in, year out, these two teams always tend to produce games that are of a high standard, whether it be at the MCG or at Optus Stadium. It's a shame the two sides haven't played each other twice in a season since 2009.
Sydney vs GWS - in my opinion, this is the best interstate derby by far, and it's already surpassed both the Showdown and Western Derby. These sides genuinely hate each other and see each other as genuine rivals in terms of being Sydney's number one AFL team, and the spectacles of footy between the two sides tends to reflect this.
Worst fixtures:
Collingwood vs Geelong - I don't know what it is about these two teams which always leads them to bring out the worst in each other. Ever since the 2011 grand final, games between these sides have always tended to be of an ugly and low standard of footy, with even the recent finals matches between the two sides (2019 QF and 2020 SF) being largely forgettable finals. To be honest, I'm surprised there's little to no rivalry between these sides, given they've played 25 finals against each other.
Hawthorn vs Collingwood - not too dissimilar to Collingwood vs Geelong, in that games between these two sides have always tended to be of an ugly, low standard of footy since the 2011 preliminary final. Not only that, but the games always tend to be one sided, as Collingwood have only beaten Hawthorn twice in the past decade.
Hawthorn vs Fremantle - these games have always tended to be either one sided or an ugly standard of footy, but mostly a combination of both. The biggest game played between the two clubs happens to be known as the grand final which produced the most forgettable, and ugliest standard of footy seen in a grand final in recent memory, with the game devoid of highlights and the result never in doubt. Hawthorn never looked like losing and Fremantle never looked like winning. For all the flack the 2005 grand final cops, at least it was a nailbiter, with the result hanging in the balance right down to the very last second of the game.
Richmond vs Adelaide - aside from the 2017 grand final, the most memorable game played between these two sides happens to be a game widely renowned for being one of the worst spectacles of Aussie Rules ever witnessed at the highest level. The basketball/keepings off game in 2006.
St Kilda vs Sydney - I don't know what it is about these two clubs, but they always tend to bring out the worst in each other, and it's not just because of Paul Roos and Ross Lyon coaching. The round 5 2002 game coached by Rodney Eade and Grant Thomas was an absolute abomination, and the game ending in a draw was a fitting result. Hopefully Eade and Thomas agreed to throw the match tape in the bin afterwards.
Port Adelaide vs Gold Coast - these games are always incredibly boring to watch, and they always tend to follow the same script, which is Port Adelaide getting the jump on Gold Coast and then going into cruise control for the rest of the match, leading to a glorified training run for the Power as they play kick to kick, while the Suns apply very little pressure, looking like they don't even want to be out on the field.
Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle - easily one of the most forgettable fixtures on the footy calendar, and I can't remember the last time a match between these two sides was on free to air television nation wide, and I doubt there's very many neutrals who would go out of their way to watch these two sides play each other.
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