Aussie Rules Footy

_Sian_ said:

So. As always, every team I barrack for has displayed their ability to loose after holding a winning margin.

*sulks in the corner with her Saints and her Roos paraphernalia*

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Wait, do you go for Hawthorne, Mr Zebra?

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At least your teams held a winning margin at some point.

Eagles. And that's Mrs. Zebra.

Lol, apologies. You lot are still in the top 8 though.

And my gosh, this melb vs tigers game. They've been level, point up, level, point up for the past 5 minutes.

Nope, nvm, the Riewold genes are coming through...

There's a good chance ajaye doesn't have any fingernails left at this point.

Great game. And a great crowd, considering the weather at the start -- apparently it's the fourth biggest H&A crowd ever in Melbourne (~85,650 or something).

It's a massive crowd. And just overly nail-bitting. It's a bit hard to notice what with all the behinds, but they've had 5 straight goals in this last quarter. That's not half bad.

Also, just thinking - both teams are Melbourne teams, so their supporters are all here, and it's a public holiday tomorrow. It was probably always going to be big.

I don't think I could manage to be at the ground with it that close.

ETA: YAAAAAY

I do like the Tiger's song Very odd that they're doing so well though - 5 wins in a row? Bodes well hopefully.

Game over. That was a helluva comeback.

Yay, ajaye!!

_Sian_ said:

Very odd that they're doing so well though - 5 wins in a row? Bodes well hopefully.

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As someone on the radio pointed out (before last night's game): "So far they've beaten the teams currently sitting 13th, 14th, 15th, and one that can't travel. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves."

My theory's always been that even if you beat crap teams early on, those wins help build confidence. And confidence gives you more chance of winning against the better teams. Last night's comeback probably did wonders for Richmond's confidence, because Melbourne's a decent team. But yeah ... I've gotta think if Melbourne hadn't lost two players (including their ruckman), Richmond wouldn't have won that game. OTOH -- take the wins however you can get 'em!

(Also, can I have your Rioli please, ajaye? My team has a new Rioli, but he's older and a little chubbier and has missed the start of the season after needing hamstring surgery. Yours is already a star in the making).

McDonald-Tipungwuti's always good. He's great to watch. Sad to think if not for the Bombers' scandal, he may never have had a crack at the big leagues.

I was really impressed with Daniher today. He's bulked up a lot recently; looks less like a spindly weedy thing. Wish he'd shave that pathetic worm above his lip though. It's ... not a good look.

I'll take the man buns over the headbands a few guys are currently sporting.

Having said that, not many pull off the man bun. The only one I kinda approve of is Callan Ward. He's far spunkier with his newly longish hair.

Round 6

A cracker to start proceedings tomorrow night, with 2016's prelim final rematch. A clash of two unbeaten teams to end things (sorry, ajaye, I think your Tiges are going down this week). A western derby that's sure to end in alien zebra Tears of Despair[SUP]TM[/SUP]. And--weirdly for this season so far--no matches before Friday or after Sunday. Tradition, FTW!


Greater Western Sydney vs Bulldogs
Hawthorn vs St Kilda
Carlton vs Sydney
Brisbane vs Port Adelaide
North Melbourne vs Gold Coast
West Coast vs Fremantle
Essendon vs Melbourne
Geelong vs Collingwood
Adelaide vs Richmond

Do not get me started on Brian Taylor, ajaye. Ranting inevitably ensues.

Back shortly with my tips.

eta:

Greater Western Sydney vs Bulldogs
Hawthorn vs St Kilda gotta go with the Hawks, even w/o Rioli. Make me feel better about last week!
Carlton vs Sydney Sydney to get off the mark against Mr. BF's hapless Blues
Brisbane vs Port Adelaide tough one. Brisbane was superb in the first half last week
North Melbourne vs Gold Coast torn on this one, so I'm going with the home team
West Coast vs Fremantle if I were an impartial observer, I'd be tipping Freo in all honesty
Essendon vs Melbourne gah, another tough one. Dunno if Hogan'll play after his dad died today
Geelong vs Collingwood easiest tip of the round for me. Which means I'll probably get it wrong
Adelaide vs Richmond sorry, ajaye.

14 minutes plus time on in Carlton vs Sydney ... Mr. BF is trying not to get too excited. He's afraid to jinx his Blues. Surely, surely, they've got this won.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn's been crushed by St Kilda. This does not reflect well on my team's form!! LOL. Can't tell whether Hawks got up for one great match last week after having the fire put under them the whole week prior, or whether my Weagles are just that bad.

*is not looking forward to the derby tonight*

ajaye said:

I reckon the Weagles willl kick arse tonight

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So far, so good! I doubt our ability to keep this up, but I'll totally take a 36 point lead at quarter time.

Mind you, if we do keep it up, all that'll happen is we'll be labelled "flat track bullies" again. #can'twin

ajaye said:

and the Hawkers pulled one out of theirs last week.

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But why did it have to be against my team?? Whhhhhyyyyy??

ajaye said:

Woohoo for Mr BF and his Blueboys .

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He's a happy man tonight. (For once).


eta: Sigh. Case in point. Daniel Cherny (The Age journalist) tweets: "This dominant performance does West Coast's reputation no favours."

Seriously. #can'twin

We lose, we get panned. We win well at home (hopefully from here), we get panned. What the hell can we do? We won at Etihad in Round 1 by, like, 46 points. Does that not count as an away win?

Sorry, ranting. But god it's annoying.

Round 6, aka: Richmond gets a reality check.

The Tiges were actually really good for the first quarter, then Adelaide put its foot down and ... wow.

Adelaide looks scary.

Get a few of them one week suspensions and injuries, wouldya? We have them the week after. Kaythanks.

We have Port Adelaide in Adelaide this week. Which, ugh.

Round Seven

This week sees one team still undefeated and one yet to notch their first win. If Sydney can't manage to beat the Brisbane Lions at home, it's time to pencil them in for the wooden spoon.

Friday night's match could be another prime-time ripper, given both teams are in fine form. (Well, maybe not Josh Bruce. How the hell did he miss that shot for goal last week?? I could've kicked that goal!) West Coast will again try to shake the "can't travel" label, despite having won 4/6 of their last games on the road (and this week they're playing as a seriously injury-depleted unit, against Port Adelaide in Adelaide, who have no players on their injury list. I repeat: none. Port Adelaide has not a single player on their injury list. Travis Boak is listed as "test" in that link, but he's been named in the team and is fine. Sigh).

Meanwhile, traditional rivals Carlton and Collingwood face-off, both coming off recently-not-so-traditional wins. And time will tell if the Tigers can bounce back from last week's horror loss, or if the reigning premiers will deal them another reality-check blow.

Do I have way too much fun writing these preambles? You betcha!


Round 7

St Kilda vs Greater Western Sydney
North Melbourne vs Adelaide
Collingwood vs Carlton
Port Adelaide vs West Coast
Gold Coast vs Geelong
Western Bulldogs vs Richmond
Sydney vs Brisbane
Melbourne vs Hawthorn
Fremantle vs Essendon

How could I miss Gazza against Geelong? D'oh.

Some real toughies (again) this week. And despite at some point professing to tip with my head and not my heart ... I'm totally tipping with my heart again this week.


Round 7

St Kilda vs Greater Western Sydney I've tipped with zero confidence
North Melbourne vs Adelaide conversely, this is tipped with 100% confidence
Collingwood vs Carlton I will not tell Mr. BF (though he'd probably tip the Pies too)
Port Adelaide vs West Coast gulp
Gold Coast vs Geelong
Western Bulldogs vs Richmond sorry, Skates
Sydney vs Brisbane they've surely gotta win one eventually
Melbourne vs Hawthorn nice work, Hawthorn. you show up for on
Fremantle vs Essendon