AFL Round 3

[45HG 1,559]

First up, let me reiterate what I said the first time I did this. I enjoy Aussie Rules. I love the Demons but I take a lot of joy from watching most games. If you don't care for the rest of the AFL, this thread is not for you.

Round 3

Again, there are some absolutely cracking match ups which could help reveal the fibre of a few clubs.

Fremantle v Essendon

This promises to be one of the mouth-watering clashes for Round 3. On Friday night, Perth will witness two teams in cracking form comprising of two very different game styles.

The Bombers play an agressive, free running style and like to back in their forwards to do the job. Traditionally, Ross Lyon's teams are probably some of the hardest to coach/play against/watch.

Watson, Heppell and Zaharakis are very dangerous in the middle but will get no where near the freedom they got last week. Fremantle are great at shutting out space for the opposition and I'll look for them to be too good at the crucial stages.

Dockers by 7

North Melbourne v Sydney

Mouth-watering clash number 2. The Roos may regret this game being played in Tassie. At the Dome, I'd have them winning almost comfortably - down there it's about evens.

North have been in good form but have come up just short against two very good teams. Sydney have just gone against the two new AFL sides.

This is a battle of the working-class midfield against the diamond encrusted working-class midfield. North's guys just get the job done consistently and, with Petrie firing and Thomas lively, their work is well rewarded. Sydney are obviously the reigning premiers and it's hard to judge their easing into the season.

With North up and about and keen to impress their new fans, they should get up over the Swans - could it come down to Petrie v Reid? A loss could be tough to take for the Roos, who would slip to 0-3 despite showing some great form.

North by 9

Melbourne v West Coast

As John Longmire said, there are no easy games in footy...unless you're playing Melbourne.

With that out of the way, I'm going to go well against the tide. Before Round 1 I said I thought one of Freo or West Coast will turn out to be pretenders. I don't think it's the former and, without Nic Nat, I think West Coast struggle.

This could be the battle of the inside 50s, with two of the comps lowest teams for that stat facing up to each other. The thing is, the Eagles have enough players to damage the opposition when it does go in (scoring at about 65% of the time they enter). Melbourne will be up and about for this in my opinion. I think Neeld will loosen his grip on the side and the boys will revel in their freed up environment, ready to run and support one another.

We'll try very hard (I've invited friends for some birthday fun to this game, labelling it as part of the International Comedy Festival) and it'll be a whole lot closer than others are expecting.

However, our lack of fitness and finesse will hurt us in crucial stages and as the game wears on.

West Coast by 37

GWS v St Kilda

The Saints need to get on the board and will refuse to lose to the other expansion side having already succumbed to Gary Ablett.

GWS are not the push-overs they were expected to be this season (yet) and will be tough to shake in patches but I'm looking at the flat-track specialists to do a job on GWS.

Saints by 73

Geelong v Carlton

This game's great because one of them has to lose.

Geelong simply do not know how to lose. Carlton simply do not know how to ignore their own hype.

The Cats have won the last 3 against the Blues (interestingly, these teams have not played twice in a season for 10 years). A tough game to read for a number of factors but the biggest, in my mind, is the Blues run on.

Against the Tigers, for a quarter, they looked unstoppable. At their best, they use the ball well and run forward of the play in flocks. Against the Pies they were well up and about but just succumbed to a better side. Will it happen again?

I can see this being one of those games where Carlton thrash the first half and it'll depend on how well Geelong do their comeback.

Either team by 11 points

Gold Coast v Brisbane

The battle of the bananas, or whatever they call it, is often a close match (2 our of 4, anyway) and this should be no different.

I've watched a lot of Melbourne games and have no qualms about saying that the last time these two teams played each other was easily the worst game of football I've seen.

GC are very hard to shake at home and, with Gary Ablett, nothing can be taken for granted.

For the March champions, this signals the possibility of going 0-3 - almost unthinkable going on pre-season form.

The Lions will be desperate for the win to get their season on track, the Suns will be itching to roll their neighbours and go 2-1.

Brisbane's experience should win out, however.

Brisbane by 27

Richmond v Western Bulldogs

The Tigers are flying and the Bulldogs, despite the Dockers taking their foot off the pedal, were brought back to Earth on the weekend.

Richmond's midfield is very hard to stop and the only thing that really can hold them back are, really, moments of just being Richmond. This occurs, most often, in their backline.

The Dogs forwardline, however, won't be enough to cause that to happen and the Tigers will be too strong.

Tigers by 42

Collingwood v Hawthorn

Yum.

A true blockbuster.

Collingwood will need a lift from Cloke but the biggest thing will be their drive of half back. Hawthorn struggled against the Cats foot speed from the back line and the Pies will need to manufacture this. Thomas may be back for the filth but the big name is L Hodge. It's no surprise, really, that the Hawks did a job on the Eagles when he came back in.

The thing is, though, for two big teams that are pretty evenly matched, Hawthorn traditionally win this game - and often win it well.

They both love the big stage and they both love a contest.

Hawks by 17

Port Adelaide v Adelaide

The round ends with a but of fun in the showdown - there's always something of interest that happens in these games.

Adelaide were shocking against the Bombers and, save for some Dangerfield magic, looked short against the Lions. The Power have played one poor quarter this year. Form, however, matters little in these clashes.

Like Perth, I feel there's only ever room enough for one team at a time in this town. This year, could it be Port.

On Port, it's important for us Dees fans to remember their finish to 2011. They played the Pies at home and lost 3.3 to 23.21 and a week later to the Hawks 5.2 to 31.11. A week later, they played a poor Dogs side and trailed, at quarter time, 63 to 6. They've turned the corner quite quickly.

Toss a coin.

Game of the round

A few to choose from. Hawks Pies for mine though, but with Dockers/Dons, Kangas/Swans and Cats Blues up there.

Thrashing of the round

Saints over the Giants

Upset of the round

North Melbourne

[titan_uranus 25,045]

Another awesome round.

Game of the round - Collingwood-Hawthorn. Another Sunday arvo MCG blockbuster, hopefully another 80,000+ people.

Thrashing of the round - Melbourne-West Coast. Sad, I know, but I really don't see any other game being this big of a margin.

Upset of the round - Gold Coast over Brisbane (if that's even an upset). Also Port over Adelaide. Maybe North over Sydney.

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

If as what has been suggested that the CEO has divided the club.

I saw that division over the past few years, but thought it could be mended.

This is stage one of the culture change.

Let' hope stage 1 will bring us a win on Sat.

I'll be at the Presidents Lunch by fluke.

It will be interesting to hear what gets said.

[45HG 1,559]

At the risk of bringing up the whole jumper debate, and to resist bumping the previous thread, I do not understand how we had to wear our clash jumper (which had to have a third colour) while Carlton and Collingwood could wear their traditional jumpers. Farce.

[Chook 15,022]

Get a load of the first quarter of the Essendon / Fremantle game.

Melbourne: Causing Teams to Get Ahead of Themselves Since 2007

[P-man 13,366]

Get a load of the first quarter of the Essendon / Fremantle game.

Melbourne: Causing Teams to Get Ahead of Themselves Since 2007

Imagine what Freo are going to do to us...wowee.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Imagine what Freo are going to do to us...wowee.

Was just thinking that. They are almost the real deal.

Their pressure on the footy is ridiculous.

Considering we only have Clark, Viney, Nath Jones and Grimes who don't mind copping a bump to get the ball, then we are in big strife.

[P-man 13,366]

I know the Bummers have their issues that have stepped up again in the past 24 hours, but this highlights just how utterly deplorable the performance was last week.

Watson and Heppell 4 possessions each so far.

[P-man 13,366]

12 mins ino the 2nd qtr and Freo are 7 tackles away from passing our total for the match.

[45HG 1,559]

It does also show how different a match can be if you're a bit off the pace. Dockers have just been Ross Lyon'd. No real special players (save for Fyfe - note I'm a big Pav fan but he's not himself) but everyone playing their role.

It also highlights, for me, the danger of such a defensive game style.

You can dominate play and only lead by a few goals. A couple of easy centre breaks and a momentum change and your lead can be gone just like that.

[P-man 13,366]

It does also show how different a match can be if you're a bit off the pace. Dockers have just been Ross Lyon'd. No real special players (save for Fyfe - not I'm a big Pav fan but he's not himself) but everyone playing their role.

They have quality on every line as well, and players like Mayne and Mzungu have gone up a level or two, but your point is valid. They are not like a Collingwood or a Hawthorn brimming with stars. There's a lesson for those who constantly bemoan our draft failures. If you have players who respect, understand and execute their role you can beat anyone.

[45HG 1,559]

They have quality on every line as well, and players like Mayne and Mzungu have gone up a level or two, but your point is valid. They are not like a Collingwood or a Hawthorn brimming with stars. There's a lesson for those who constantly bemoan our draft failures. If you have players who respect, understand and execute their role you can beat anyone.

Yep - I certainly didn't mean to belittle any Dockers players, they certainly have their share of quality.

However, they're a side who, as a whole, are greater than the sum of their parts IMO.

Ross Lyon...

[rjay 25,093]

Some of the goal kicking has been amazingly bad. The Auskick kids would be disappointed with some of these efforts.

[Deecisive 1,709]

love the pressure Freo is applying.

[45HG 1,559]

Bang. Dockers should've been further ahead for their dominance of general play. 4 straight goals to the Bombers and it's game on. 9 points and it's amazing how rubbish a side can look purely because of momentum.

Zac Dawson should never have lost Hurley then, but he did, twice. Good finish by the big guy.

[P-man 13,366]

I loathe Essendon, but the fight they have is to be admired. They were gone.

[45HG 1,559]

Just like in round 1, I wonder what was "said" at half time in the Essendon rooms.

3:30 to go in the last quarter - I know it's Essendon, but that deliberate out of bounds is the worst decision I've ever seen.

[45HG 1,559]

I could strangle Chris Mayne.

[ucanchoose 1,816]

Pop a few peptides at half time and waddayaknow................................... :lol: