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Thread: Round 7: the other games. Thursday night football, we hardly knew you.

  1. #1
    Veterans List dejavoodoo44's Avatar
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    Round 7: the other games. Thursday night football, we hardly knew you.

    Just going through the draw, it seems like Thursday night football has been quietly killed off. Which is the fate of many of the AFL's innovations. Can't say that I'll really miss it. Not that I had any great objections to it: it's just that they somehow managed to randomly burden a few of the clubs with a dreaded five day turnaround. Also, Friday night games generally feel like blockbusters, whereas the Thursday games often seemed a bit meh.

    This Friday's game definitely feels like a blockbuster. Struggling champion, Richmond, up against a Bulldogs side, that so far, are looking like genuine contenders. Complicating things for Richmond, is that they will be without Dustin Martin, who is currently using his concussion break, to visit his father in New Zealand. Which I suppose is a sensible way to visit a problem relative?
    "Sorry, dad, I'd like to listen to you, but the doctor says I should keep resting my concussion."
    "No, dad, I can't take part in a gang war; I have to guard against head knocks."

    The first game tomorrow is Collingwood v Gold Coast. This is one of those games, where recent form doesn't appear to have much influence on the betting markets; since Collingwood are clear favourites. Maybe the general perception is, that Grundy will get on top of a part time Suns ruckman and everything will flow from there? But of course, a hitout domination, often doesn't translate into a clearance domination. Plus, there's also a chance that Zac Smith will return for the Suns. Alternatively, maybe the pundits think that a loss against Essendon, is better than a win against us. I hope not.

    The other two Saturday afternoon games are Adelaide v GWS and St Kilda v Hawthorn. Wins by Adelaide and St Kilda could see a bottom four of GWS, Hawthorn, Collingwood and North Melbourne. Which I'd quite like.

    We take on Geelong in one of the Saturday night games. I really have no clear idea on how this might pan out. It could be a dynamic upset victory, in which our undermanned side, somehow manage to get back to our early season attacking and creative style. Or it could be a toughly fought nail biter. Or it could be a depressing to watch thrashing.

    If it's the latter, we could possibly start taking a few sneaky looks at the Brisbane v Port game; which should be a cracker.

    While I said before, that there's no Thursday night football in the AFL, there was a Thursday night game in the VFL. There, North's reserves went down by over a hundred points to Casey, to start the season 0/3. After the North v Melbourne game on Sunday, they should have a combined tally of 0/10. I must check if they have an academy side.

    The next game on Sunday is Essendon v Carlton. Which for me, is a care factor zero event.

    The round finishes with the western derby, which is another game where the betting markets don't seem to reflect recent form. West Coast have put in a couple dire performances of late, while Fremantle have been pretty good, yet West Coast are strong favourites. Maybe they think that they're much better on their home ground, but haven't noticed that Fremantle are also like that and are also at home? Who knows?

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    I think Thursday night footy is always just for the first few rounds to appease the footy starved masses early on. I imagine it'll be back in the same fashion next season.

    Yeah, it's a bit of a 'meh' round except for Lions v Port and our game. Hoping for a return to competitive and effective home ground footy from our boys against the now dangerous Cats.

  3. #3
    I don’t think it’s a meh round at all.

    Most of the games carry a lot of significance. Feel like they could shape the seasons of the clubs involved.

    That includes us. Everyone’s trying to figure out if the first 3 weeks were a fluke we haven’t come to playing with that fluency since.

    Really hope we can prove it wasn’t

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    Quote Originally Posted by stevoswan View Post
    I think Thursday night footy is always just for the first few rounds to appease the footy starved masses early on. I imagine it'll be back in the same fashion next season.
    Thursday night games will be back later in the year. The current fixture says from Round 13 for 4 weeks. But who knows what will happen once those rounds are released.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Markwebbos View Post
    I don’t think it’s a meh round at all.

    Most of the games carry a lot of significance. Feel like they could shape the seasons of the clubs involved.

    That includes us. Everyone’s trying to figure out if the first 3 weeks were a fluke we haven’t come to playing with that fluency since.

    Really hope we can prove it wasn’t
    I was thinking 'meh' more from a personal 'care factor' angle.

    I forgot to mention tonight's game, the 'possible' GF preview.....hoping the Tigers can fight back and take the Dogs down a peg or two. The half time free kick count of 9-8 in favour of Richmond totally belies the reality of the level of Fairypup umpiring on display. The number of times the Dogs get away with 'dropping the ball/holding the ball/illegal disposal' is unbelievable. I think I've counted about 10 in this first half already. At least 2 have lead directly to 12 pt turnarounds...that hurts!

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    Absolutely. That one when Wood got tackled, went round and round, and still failed to dispose it properly was unbelievable. They cheat every week and no wonder, they’re given total license to do so.

    The Tigers kick straight and they’re all over this.

  7. #7
    Travelling Swannie!! mcs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by stevoswan View Post
    I was thinking 'meh' more from a personal 'care factor' angle.

    I forgot to mention tonight's game, the 'possible' GF preview.....hoping the Tigers can fight back and take the Dogs down a peg or two. The half time free kick count of 9-8 in favour of Richmond totally belies the reality of the level of Fairypup umpiring on display. The number of times the Dogs get away with 'dropping the ball/holding the ball/illegal disposal' is unbelievable. I think I've counted about 10 in this first half already. At least 2 have lead directly to 12 pt turnarounds...that hurts!
    2016 all over again for the fairypuppies. Heaven help us from that lovefest again.
    "You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."

  8. #8
    I’m on the anyone but Richmond bandwagon

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Markwebbos View Post
    I’m on the anyone but Richmond bandwagon
    Even if it's the Dogs or Pies?

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Markwebbos View Post
    I’m on the anyone but Richmond bandwagon
    I would be if it wasn’t for it involving the Dogs. I’d back in a combination of Donald Trump, Ivan Milat and Osama Bin Laden over the Dogs.

  11. #11
    Yes I’d take the Hawks, Dogs, Trump, Ivan Milat, wicked witch of the West, even Jeffrey Epstein over the Tigers

  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by Markwebbos View Post
    Yes I’d take the Hawks, Dogs, Trump, Ivan Milat, wicked witch of the West, even Jeffrey Epstein over the Tigers
    Haha. That's quite the list. Let's make it a deal if we bundle in Fat Chins McGuire too.

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