Round 20: the other games. Almost all of them are relevant.

[dejavoodoo44]

In a situation that the AFL must be pleased about, the only game of the round that doesn't have any bearing on the make up of the finals, is the Sunday afternoon fixture between Essendon and North (I was going to call it a clash, but fixture seems more appropriate).

The round kicks with a match that can rightly be called a clash: Fremantle hosting Melbourne. Although, neither side has been convincing of late. To the extent that the loser might struggle to maintain their place in the top four, being usurped by someone like, oh, I don't know, Sydney? And on current form, I wouldn't say that the winner would be totally secure. Don't really know who to go for, in regards to our ladder position?

The first Saturday game is one where I had no trouble deciding who to go for: Collingwood v Port. While I wouldn't mind seeing a finals series going on without Port, I'm definitely over Collingwood maintaining their position above us, with desperate comebacks and nail-biting wins. I mean, surely the luck has to turn.

Of course, all the permutations become less relevant, if we don't beat GWS. It appears that they may have set themselves for this one, which may make it a danger game. However, I tend to think that in one of the quarters, we'll kick 50 and put the game away.

The twilight game is St Kilda and Hawthorn. If St Kilda can't win that, then they probably don't deserve to be in the finals. And it'd be nice if Hanners got a win or two before the season's out.

Then kicking off the night's entertainment, is Geelong hosting Western Bulldogs. While there's a part of my mind, that would be vaguely optimistic that we could eventually catch Geelong if they lost, there's another, perhaps more deeply entrenched part of my psyche, that says, @@@@ I'd love to see the Bulldogs miss the eight.

In the other night game, it would be nice if Adelaide did us a favour by beating Carlton.

In the first Sunday game, Gold Coast need to beat West Coast, to keep their slim finals chances alive, and perhaps West Coast need to lose, in order to keep their number one pick chances alive? How the once mighty have fallen.

In the next game, Richmond are actually favourites to beat Brisbane. Which seems a bit odd, since Brisbane have been in better form and are possibly the better side. I guess people are making much of the fact, that Brisbane haven't won on the MCG since 2014? But I suspect that's more of a statistical quirk, than some sort of hard to counter, real world obstacle. I mean, both the MCG and the Gabba are brutalist bowls, so there's unlikely to be some sort of mystifying wind condition that's exclusive to the MCG. And looking at the ground measurements, the MCG is six metres wider and two metres longer, which I think is unlikely to tire out the Lions. And I doubt if there's anything particularly intimidating about Richmond fans. So, maybe people adding a bit too much significance to a minor blip in the statistics?

As stated earlier, the final match of the round is the only one that has no final's relevance. I suppose it will be vaguely interesting seeing what sort of performance North put in. One that shows a bit of spirit, or one that seems tailored to convince the AFL to award them a priority pick or two?

[i'm-uninformed2]

One - I've decided I'm death riding Melbourne, as I reckon they have the harder run home, so it's best they keep losing rather than win some, lose some - and we then get the added benefit of their draft pick sliding.

Totally agree on Port.

Happy for St Kilda to win as a) yay Hanners! and b) who cares if they make the finals, as they're crap and no threat to anyone.

And yes, may the Dogs lose because, well, they're dirty cheating dogs.

[dejavoodoo44]

One - I've decided I'm death riding Melbourne, as I reckon they have the harder run home, so it's best they keep losing rather than win some, lose some - and we then get the added benefit of their draft pick sliding.

Totally agree on Port.

Happy for St Kilda to win as a) yay Hanners! and b) who cares if they make the finals, as they're crap and no threat to anyone.

And yes, may the Dogs lose because, well, they're dirty cheating dogs.

Yes, I'm starting to swing towards going for the Dockers tonight. Though, a bit too much home town umpiring might swing me the other way, if it gets out of hand. As it can do in Perth.

[Sandridge]

Again, thanks for starting the weekly "Other Games" thread, deja. Greatly enjoy the opportunity to lambast the numerous clubs I detest!

One club I don't detest is Melbourne. Never known a Demon supporter I don't like. Happy to see them return to the winners' list tonight. Hope they don't get another bad run from umps like they copped last week against the Poodles.
Please knock off the Pies, Port! Please!
Saints and Hawks? Hate both. don't care.
Desperately want Geelong to put a big dent in the Poodles finals chances.
Fingers crossed that the Crows can overcome Carlton.
Hope that Brisbane can beat the Tigers.
Ambivalent about the Gold Coast/Eagles and Essendon/North.

GO THE MIGHTY BLOODS!!

[bandwagon]

Sandridge - I am shocked! You had always come across as a supporter who could counted on to responsibly and diligently detest the most loathsome clubs, so how can you be ambivalent about a match involving the Eagles? Remember this corporate entity turned a blind eye to rampant drug use so they could steal a flag off us, plus their fans are amongst the most moronic, one-eyed flogs (boooooo!!!). So clearly - Go the Gold Coast!

[dejavoodoo44]

Again, thanks for starting the weekly "Other Games" thread, deja. Greatly enjoy the opportunity to lambast the numerous clubs I detest!

One club I don't detest is Melbourne. Never known a Demon supporter I don't like. Happy to see them return to the winners' list tonight. Hope they don't get another bad run from umps like they copped last week against the Poodles.
Please knock off the Pies, Port! Please!
Saints and Hawks? Hate both. don't care.
Desperately want Geelong to put a big dent in the Poodles finals chances.
Fingers crossed that the Crows can overcome Carlton.
Hope that Brisbane can beat the Tigers.
Ambivalent about the Gold Coast/Eagles and Essendon/North.

GO THE MIGHTY BLOODS!!

On Melbourne fans, I've recently been listening to a newish podcast/YouTube show, by well-known Demons fan, Titus O'Reilly, and Mick Molloy. It's called Sports Bizarre, and it's very good. I especially enjoyed their history of doping in Le Tour de France. For those people who think doping is more or less a modern thing: think again. Going back a century or so, it was actually a fair bit worse. In that they had a lot less knowledge of things like physiology, toxicity and the effects of pharmaceuticals. So, the doping tended to be somewhat more experimental.

[Agent 86]

In a situation that the AFL must be pleased about, the only game of the round that doesn't have any bearing on the make up of the finals, is the Sunday afternoon fixture between Essendon and North (I was going to call it a clash, but fixture seems more appropriate).

The round kicks with a match that can rightly be called a clash: Fremantle hosting Melbourne. Although, neither side has been convincing of late. To the extent that the loser might struggle to maintain their place in the top four, being usurped by someone like, oh, I don't know, Sydney? And on current form, I wouldn't say that the winner would be totally secure. Don't really know who to go for, in regards to our ladder position?

The first Saturday game is one where I had no trouble deciding who to go for: Collingwood v Port. While I wouldn't mind seeing a finals series going on without Port, I'm definitely over Collingwood maintaining their position above us, with desperate comebacks and nail-biting wins. I mean, surely the luck has to turn.

Of course, all the permutations become less relevant, if we don't beat GWS. It appears that they may have set themselves for this one, which may make it a danger game. However, I tend to think that in one of the quarters, we'll kick 50 and put the game away.

The twilight game is St Kilda and Hawthorn. If St Kilda can't win that, then they probably don't deserve to be in the finals. And it'd be nice if Hanners got a win or two before the season's out.

Then kicking off the night's entertainment, is Geelong hosting Western Bulldogs. While there's a part of my mind, that would be vaguely optimistic that we could eventually catch Geelong if they lost, there's another, perhaps more deeply entrenched part of my psyche, that says, @@@@ I'd love to see the Bulldogs miss the eight.

In the other night game, it would be nice if Adelaide did us a favour by beating Carlton.

In the first Sunday game, Gold Coast need to beat West Coast, to keep their slim finals chances alive, and perhaps West Coast need to lose, in order to keep their number one pick chances alive? How the once mighty have fallen.

In the next game, Richmond are actually favourites to beat Brisbane. Which seems a bit odd, since Brisbane have been in better form and are possibly the better side. I guess people are making much of the fact, that Brisbane haven't won on the MCG since 2014? But I suspect that's more of a statistical quirk, than some sort of hard to counter, real world obstacle. I mean, both the MCG and the Gabba are brutalist bowls, so there's unlikely to be some sort of mystifying wind condition that's exclusive to the MCG. And looking at the ground measurements, the MCG is six metres wider and two metres longer, which I think is unlikely to tire out the Lions. And I doubt if there's anything particularly intimidating about Richmond fans. So, maybe people adding a bit too much significance to a minor blip in the statistics?

As stated earlier, the final match of the round is the only one that has no final's relevance. I suppose it will be vaguely interesting seeing what sort of performance North put in. One that shows a bit of spirit, or one that seems tailored to convince the AFL to award them a priority pick or two?

A draw tonight please.

[Sandridge]

Sandridge - I am shocked! You had always come across as a supporter who could counted on to responsibly and diligently detest the most loathsome clubs, so how can you be ambivalent about a match involving the Eagles? Remember this corporate entity turned a blind eye to rampant drug use so they could steal a flag off us, plus their fans are amongst the most moronic, one-eyed flogs (boooooo!!!). So clearly - Go the Gold Coast!

Sorry I disappointed you, bandwagon! As a Melbourne based Swan since 1961, i find that the clubs I hate the most are Melbourne based because I've had more experience over a longer period of time with obnoxious supporters of Collingwood, Carlton, Hawthorn, Essendon, North Melbourne, Bulldogs and St.Kilda.
However, I do take your point. The Eagles cheated us out of a flag with half of their players running around the MCG with drug-fuelled energy and feeling no pain. You've won me over! GO SUNS!!

[Thunder Shaker]

In the next game, Richmond are actually favourites to beat Brisbane. Which seems a bit odd, since Brisbane have been in better form and are possibly the better side. I guess people are making much of the fact, that Brisbane haven't won on the MCG since 2014? But I suspect that's more of a statistical quirk, than some sort of hard to counter, real world obstacle. I mean, both the MCG and the Gabba are brutalist bowls, so there's unlikely to be some sort of mystifying wind condition that's exclusive to the MCG. And looking at the ground measurements, the MCG is six metres wider and two metres longer, which I think is unlikely to tire out the Lions. And I doubt if there's anything particularly intimidating about Richmond fans. So, maybe people adding a bit too much significance to a minor blip in the statistics?

Brisbane's MCG losses, 2015 to 2022:

2015 to 2018: Brisbane won 17 games in 4 seasons and collected one wooden spoon in that time. Brisbane weren't winning many games anywhere. Six games against Melbourne (3 games), Richmond (2), and Collingwood (1).

2019: Two games, Richmond and Essendon. Richmond were the reigning premiers, and Essendon also made the finals, finishing 8th.
2020: Round 1 game against Hawthorn. Hawthorn finished 15th. No further games at the MCG for Brisbane in 2020, or, for that matter, any other clubs.
2021: Brisbane played no games at the MCG.
2022: Brisbane's only game so far has been against Melbourne. Melbourne are the reigning premiers.

So in that run, Brisbane has had 10 losses, but in most of those games Brisbane weren't favourites to win. The Hawthorn game in 2020 was the closest to Brisbane being favourites, but even that game Hawthorn would have been considered a chance (they finished ninth in 2019).

- - - Updated - - -

However, since Brisbane lost the 2004 Grand Final to Port Adelaide, Brisbane has won at the MCG just four times, plus one draw.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Freo will be better when they get Jackson next year, which is now inevitable.

[longmile]

Looking like we'll take Freos place now

[Agent 86]

Looking like we'll take Freos place now

Hmmm… something about counting chickens…