AFL 2006 - Round 4

[CyberKev]

Great result for the Tigers who were up against it, but weren't going to lie down on a night where they simply HAD to get the points. A look across the stats sheet seems to suggest a strong team performance, which was exactly what was required on the night, and will probably be enough to beat this Brisbane side more often than not. They'll be a good chance against Carlton next weekend in what should be a solid clash, and have a chance to get their season back on track.

Brisbane are definitely in strife. Power, Akermanis, Black & Brown all got plenty of ball last night, and in past times this would have ensured a win, especially against a struggling side, lacking sound defensive options, and coming off a Perth game (Brisbane also had a 9-day break).

Lappin & Hadley are gone for the year; Voss is far removed the great he once was; Black is a shadow of his former self; Leppitsch is missing through suspension, but is too injury-prone to get significant value out of anyway; the club's rucks are none-too-flash; the Scott boys & Chris Johnson are more of liabilities than assets these days...

Its Hawthorn circa-1995 if you ask me, and if it wasn't for the still imposing figure of Jonathan Brown, what fear would sides have of coming to the Gabba? Leigh Matthews has sounded a little flustered of late, so perhaps Aker's criticisms are hitting a bit too close to home.

Elsewhere, it was another win to the Crows to leave me 0-4 on the 'lock of the round' front and to brutally bugger my tipping for the round.

 

[roosters06]

2/4 so far in a tough round to tip. Still, could get very ugly with some close games still to come over the weekend.

 

[roosters06]

Some (many?) would say I need saving, but that horse has long bolted. Very dull work conference...

Gee these commentators can say some daft things at times. How's Dwayne Russell suggesting to Pagan that his side was "whitewashed" during the final quarter of last night's game??!! :roll: If you want to see a whitewash, I can recommend the second half of last year's Port vs Hawthorn farce...

Carlton actually did well, all things considered. Its a bit tough when you enter a game without your two key forwards, but Carlton's workrate never eased last night. They remind me much of Hawthorn last season, light-on for forward targets and low on confidence, overplaying a short possession game. I thought they weren't disgraced against a dangerous multi-pronged Hawk attack and fought hard in the centre. Whitnall was fabulous (after a horror first term) and Walker showed enough to suggest that his many detractors will be gorging on humble pie come season's end. Carazzo and Betts also showed plenty of good signs.

A good injury run is a wonderful thing and Hawthorn is making the most of good fortune on these lines early in the year. Hopefully Franklin will be back for the Bombers game, as a forward line containing: Franklin, Williams, Everitt, Croad, Dixon and Campbell Brown will be very hard to contain. Croad was superb at CHF tonight and with Roughead playing strongly out of CHB, I'd expect Clarkson to stick with him up forward for awhile longer.

Hodge was special again. If you wanted to create a highlights reel it would be dominated by the number 15. While his kicking skills are well known, I'd argue that there isn't a better handballer going around today.

That said, we'll have to lift against Essendon and hold to the predominant long to forward style play. There was too much lairising through the middle of the game for my liking.

You guys will have to play well to beat us. We have improved significantly in the midfield, and your lack of real tall forwards in the ilk of Rocca (apart from Croad) could really hurt you. If theres one thing we have an abundance of at Windy Hill, its small defenders.

Fletcher takes Croad. Bradley/Solomon takes Franklin if he plays.

Your defence will have to be on song - even if we are missing Lloyd, we still have plenty of goal scoring options (Hird, Lucas, Lovett etc.)

All in all, will be a great match between two historic rivals.

 

[CyberKev]

You guys will have to play well to beat us. We have improved significantly in the midfield

True. But the sting in that tail is that Hawthorn has improved more, remembering that Mitchell & Bateman were among the many absentees the last time the two sides met. With Hodge going from strength to strength, Young coming-on on the outside, Vandenberg finding touch and Lewis coming off the bench to get his twenty touches a week as relief; Hawthorn looks to have a very clear edge in this part of the ground.

Hodge looms large as the biggest headache either side has going in. He destroyed Essendon out of the centre last time around, and has been in the top 3 players on the paddock in all 4 games thus far.

and your lack of real tall forwards in the ilk of Rocca (apart from Croad) could really hurt you. If theres one thing we have an abundance of at Windy Hill, its small defenders.

I don't think this is a huge problem either. Campbell's strong ruck form has allowed us to play Everitt up forward for prolonged periods and with Boyle's recent improved from at Box Hill, he may also get a game giving us plenty of height. Brown & Crawford will occupy the smaller Essendon defenders, and the Bombers (as is the case with almost all sides) do not have a strong match-up for Mark Williams, who didn't play in the last game either.

Your defence will have to be on song - even if we are missing Lloyd, we still have plenty of goal scoring options (Hird, Lucas, Lovett etc.)

This is true enough, although the loss of Lloyd certainly helps matters. Lucas & Hird are the two Essendon players who have always worried me most, and while the latter is not the player he once was, he is still dangerous. Most likely Joel Smith will get first crack at him, with Roughead going to Lucas, and Sewell (yet to be beaten in his last 8 games spent as a defensive stopper) on to Lovett. Essendon can cause some headaches, but Jacobs and Guerra (neither of whom played the last time the two sides met) will create plenty of quality rebound ball going the other way.

All in all, will be a great match between two historic rivals.

Indeed.

 

[camsmith]

Never tip Sydney at home again.

 

[lockyno1]

Cam, that was a hard game to tip. The Dees always play well at the SCG. They kick it long and direct and it works for them. The Swans started to play better and should win a few over the next month which will set them up for this year.

ps. Cyber how did powderpuff Pavlich go? Heard he had a great game!:lol:

 

[UndertakerMike]

Saints will get over Port.

 

[UndertakerMike]

1 f**king point :twisted:

Whats the point eh?

:lol:

 

[lockyno1]

Saints will get over Port.

Should but they have a shocking record at AAMI Staduim!;-)

 

[UndertakerMike]

Records are made to be broken.

Especially lame ones :

:sch:

 

[lockyno1]

Records are made to be broken.

Especially lame ones :

:sch:

I hope the saints win becuase otherwise it will be one hell of a boring game!:evil:

 

[CyberKev]

ps. Cyber how did powderpuff Pavlich go? Heard he had a great game!:lol:

Had about as much impact on the game as Brown, although with respect to the Tigers, was playing on a far stronger defence.

Even allowing for his slow start to the year (probably precipitated by off-season surgery) would still easily be the first player chosen at Essendon.

Will need to lift though, if he wants to keep Hodge from his best player in the comp mantle.

 

[meltiger]

Great result for the Tigers

Go Tiges

 

[meltiger]

Had about as much impact on the game as Brown, although with respect to the Tigers, was playing on a far stronger defence.

Even allowing for his slow start to the year (probably precipitated by off-season surgery) would still easily be the first player chosen at Essendon.

Will need to lift though, if he wants to keep Hodge from his best player in the comp mantle.

Stop talking sh*t

 

[chileman]

Go Tiges

Sorry I missed you amigo....did you get my text?

 

[lockyno1]

Even allowing for his slow start to the year (probably precipitated by off-season surgery) would still easily be the first player chosen at Essendon.

Nope, Lloyd and Jason Johnson would be the first two chosen!

 

[roosters06]

Nope, Lloyd and Jason Johnson would be the first two chosen!

With James Hird and Scott Lucas a VERY close third and fourth.

Pavlich might get a look in at 5th.

 

[lockyno1]

With James Hird and Scott Lucas a VERY close third and fourth.

Pavlich might get a look in at 5th.

Exactly, powderpuff has nothing!:lol:

 

[camsmith]

Had about as much impact on the game as Brown, although with respect to the Tigers, was playing on a far stronger defence.

.... Brown had his leg snapped in two so i think to compare his situation with Pavs is reaching a bit far.

I guess that just shows how bad Pav is going if you have to put him next to a guy who is not half as fit as he should be. The difference it seems between Pav and Brown atm, one wants to play football.

 

[lockyno1]

.... Brown had his leg snapped in two so i think to compare his situation with Pavs is reaching a bit far.

I guess that just shows how bad Pav is going if you have to put him next to a guy who is not half as fit as he should be. The difference it seems between Pav and Brown atm, one wants to play football.

Sad but true!:lol: Waits for Cyber to come and dipute this!:lol: