The footy world rallies in the face of tragedy
The footy world has always had a way of rallying around its own like no other, evidenced by the outpouring of grief shown after the passing of former Melbourne coach Dean Bailey or Port Adelaide player John McCarthy, or more recently the support shown towards Neale Daniher and his brave public battle with motor neurone disease. From the outside it’s clear – football clubs are like families, and like the closest of families they ride the good times and the bad times together. The days following the tragic death of Adelaide coach Phil Walsh early on Friday morning have been hard enough for fans emotionally invested in the game; let alone the hundreds of players, coaches and staffers Walsh impacted during his 30-plus year career in the game. With Sunday’s Crows v Cats game sensibly cancelled, the remainder of the league respected Walsh the best way it could. Players and coaches shared touching tributes via social media, flags flew at half-mast at clubrooms and AFL House and fans left flowers and scarves at the Crows’ West Lakes headquarters. On the field, subtle additions spoke volumes. Players of all 16 competing teams wore black armbands and paused for a minute’s silence pre-game. Team songs weren’t blared over PA systems; nor sung in change rooms by victorious players. The most poignant moment of the weekend was the sight of all 44 Collingwood and Hawthorn players, as well as coaches Nathan Buckley and Alistair Clarkson, linking arms in the middle of the MCG and bowing their heads post-match on Friday night. It was a gesture replicated after every other game over the weekend. Those images, as well as the sight of thousands pouring into an empty Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon to pay their respects, will be remembered for generations to come.
Swans revert to a premiership formula
Only those with the memory of a goldfish would have thought Sydney’s forward line would struggle against Port Adelaide with both Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett on the sidelines. It was only three years ago that the Swans won the flag with neither Bondi Billionaire at the club – so with the suspended pair unavailable on Thursday night, the Swans simply reverted to a flag-proven formula. In that premiership year, Sam Reid and Adam Goodes combined for a total of 68 goals and played key roles in the finals. Against Port, they combined for six and some flashes of brilliance. Goodes turned back the clock with a burst out of the centre before burning off Ollie Wines and drilling a goal on the run, while Reid was close to best on ground in the first half when he kicked three and set up another to first-gamer Toby Nankervis. He’s an interesting case, Reid. When he signed a lucrative five-year extension at the end of 2011, he was seen as one of the game’s best young talents. But with Franklin and Tippett now commanding the forward line, Reid’s spent much of the past 18 months as a jack-of-all-trades, playing up forward, down back and on the wing. On Thursday, he was the main man up forward and reminded everyone of those assured hands and smooth skills. He’s contracted to the end of 2017 but clubs will surely come knocking before then. With Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy and Kieren Jack also hitting the scoreboard against Power, the Swans certainly weren’t bereft of firepower. They’re equal second on the ladder but are flying under the radar more than any other contender. If Geelong 2009 and Hawthorn 2013 taught us anything, it’s to never underestimate a vanquished grand finalist. The Swans are in this premiership race up to their eyeballs.
So close yet so far for Collingwood
For the second consecutive week, Collingwood took it right up to a premiership fancy only to fall short in the dying minutes. But while it felt like Fremantle owned the big moments last week, the Magpies will ultimately rue Friday night as a huge opportunity they let slip. Collingwood won most of the important stats – more scoring shots, possessions, clearances and tackles – except the one that matters most, on the scoreboard. The ball lived in their forward half for long stretches in the third and fourth quarters but they just couldn’t deliver the knockout blow. It was the third, when they kicked a wayward 2.9, which ultimately cost them. The flow of play suggested that Collingwood should have had a handy lead at the final change, but instead they found themselves narrowly in arrears to the reigning premier. Travis Cloke and Alex Fasolo were the main culprits, adding a combined 2.7 for the night while at the other end Cyril Rioli and Luke Breust contributed a blemish-free 8.0. Late in the game, Jesse White opted for a low-percentage pass into the pocket instead of shooting from 50m after taking a strong mark. In a game of inches, poor decision-making and inaccurate goalkicking mean everything. Cruelly for Collingwood, they’ve lost two on the trot despite playing arguably their best football for the season. As Nathan Buckley mused after the game, they’re a good team striving to become a great team. The last fortnight has proven they’re oh-so close to that turning point.
Gary Ablett must be the game’s best leader
His leadership was questioned during his injury-enforced three-month layoff, as his side endured defeat after scandal after defeat. But Gary Ablett simply must be the best leader in the game. How else can you reconcile the 1-11 Gold Coast Suns, clearly the most disappointing side of 2015, with the Suns that absolutely belted finals aspirants North Melbourne on Saturday evening? The game’s greatest player worked his way into the game after a tentative start, finishing with a team-high 31 possessions and kicking three goals despite wearing a tight tag by Ben Jacobs for most of the game. The magic was still there, evidenced by his trademark 50m bomb that was the final nail in the Kangaroos’ coffin with 15 minutes to play. Statistics aside, Ablett simply makes his teammates stand taller. The Suns have been completely lacking in confidence all season but rediscovered it this week – the run and carry was back, as was the play-on-at-all-costs attitude. With Aaron Hall and rookie Adam Saad running rings around North players, Kade Kolodjashnij and Steven May controlling proceedings down back and Charlie Dixon kicking a career-high seven goals, the Suns finally resembled the side many of us thought were finals-bound this year. And it all began with Ablett. The game was poorer for his prolonged absence, and as long as that shoulder holds up, the Gold Coast Suns may just become a real football club again.
The Western Bulldogs have a new cult hero
Fans in the cheap seats at Etihad Stadium could have been forgiven for thinking that a rogue Auskick kid had remained on the field after half time during Saturday night’s Western Bulldogs v Carlton game. But that pint-sized little fella in the helmet and the #35 Bulldogs jersey was debutant Caleb Daniel, subbed into the game at the main break. Taken at pick 46 in last year’s draft, the 167cm midfielder is the league’s shortest player since Tony Liberatore – proof that if nothing else, the Dogs’ recruiters over the decades have never discriminated based on height. In just two quarters of footy, Daniel cemented himself as a new cult hero. He buzzed around like a fleet-footed small forward while accumulating possessions like a midfielder, finishing with 14 touches and nailing a set shot from just inside 50m. No doubt Daniel, like Brent Harvey, Mathew Stokes and Jarryd Blair among others, would have been told by many that he was too short to have a sustained football career. Perhaps with those critics in the back of his mind, on Saturday night Daniel scrapped and fought for every touch of the leather. It’s a mentality that seems perfectly aligned with what Luke Beveridge wants from his side.
If the 190cm Nat Fyfe – just two centimetres shorter than Matthew Pavlich - is the prototype of the modern-day midfielder, Daniel is a throwback to old-school football when a player’s ability to win the ball meant more than his GPS results.
