Time for your weekly dose of footy education.
A five-leg multi of hindsight that we like to call, FIVE LESSONS LEARNED AFL
What did we learn?
Read on and find out.
(1) Weekly Praise for Collingwood
All is well at Magpieland, top of the Aussie Rules ladder with a game clear (8-1), and they didn’t need to worry about an epic last-quarter comeback for a change on the weekend.
Along with a less stressful win on the weekend, a 2018 Preliminary Final-like performance from the big Texan Mason Cox dominated in the Pies 65-point win.
With 19 disposals, 25 hit outs, four clearances and two goals, one could argue it was the best game of his career.
The Magpies are $4.25 favourites now to win the premiership according to Ladbrokes punters, $2.25 to make the AFL Grand Final and $2.75 for the minor premiership.
Collingwood opens the betting as $1.35 favourites as they look to inflict more pain on old foe Carlton this weekend. One for the multis.
(2) Keep your eye on the Red and the Blue
A lot of attention might be on the Magpies, but Melbourne is as much of a contender in the premiership stakes.
In his weekly column for ESPN, Rohan Connolly described the Dees as a bit “off broadway” but while the Dees are banking wins against the likes of North, Gold Coast and Hawthorn it all adds up to when it matters.
No matter what is thrown at them, Melbourne simply knows how to win (bar a poor performance against Essendon and Brisbane), and this is a sign of a team set to go deep into September.
RoCo also points out the Dees are number 1 in key statistical categories such as number 1 for points scored, number 3 for fewest points conceded – again, handy to have.
Melbourne is currently the second premiership favourite at $4.50, Friday night’s game against Port should be ripper and don’t rule out the Round 13 Kings Birthday/Big Freeze match against Collingwood possibly beating the 99,256 record home and away crowd when these two sides met on the same public holiday in Round 10, 1958
(3) Good Times, Great Classic Richmond Hits
The Tigers got the band back together on Friday night, scoring a terrific 25-point upset win against the Cats.
It was very much a case of “I like your old stuff, better than your new stuff” as the old campaigners got together, played the hits (nothing from the new album) and reminded people there’s a pulse for the hopes at Punt Road this season.
With the likes of Dustin Martin (4 goals), Trent Cotchin (3) and Jack Riewoldt (2) combining for 9 goals between them, the old boys put on a performance from the glory years and is something we’ve got to cherish given their respective retirements are looming.
Will Friday night’s win over the Cats put the Tigers back in contention?
Richmond faces Essendon, Port, GWS and Freo in the next month – if they can win all four, or at least three of these matches – the $3 currently on offer for Richmond to make the eight looks like very good value, but they’ll need to play the hits and find a few new number 1 singles soon.
(4) Pride of South Australia
Are we talking about the Crows or Port Adelaide?
We’re talking about both.
Port and the Crows are in the eight after this weekend and everyone in SA is up and about.
Playing the Crows at Adelaide Oval is now seen as one of the most daunting tasks in Football, as they did it easily over the Saints.
Not only that, Adelaide is becoming a bloody hard team to play against, with wins over St Kilda, Port and the Blues – all within the exact spot of the ladder and thrillers against both Geelong and Collingwood.
Port Adelaide keeps on keeping on, making it six on the trot with a 70-point against North in Tassie and sitting fourth on the ladder.
Friday night’s game against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval is set to be huge, not to mention the Crows’ trip to Ballarat to face the Western Bulldogs.
If trends persist, the best rivalry in footy is set to really ramp up in SA over the coming weeks and months.
(5) Carlton fans, do yourself a favour.
Unless you’re a sucker for punishment (which following the Blues has been for at least the past 20 years), there’s no need to watch the footy shows, read the papers and call into SEN talkback.
However, in terms of entertainment for everyone else, please contribute your views on the Blues and call for everyone to be sacked.