As Geelong quietly puts together one of the great AFL seasons, this weekend threw the poverty of whatever threat exists to deny the Cats a tenth AFL/VFL premiership into relief.
On Thursday night, Greater Western Sydney lost in what was described as “controversial” circumstances, conceding five of the last six goals in Essendon coach John Worsfold’s performance review. Shaun McKernan’s game-levelling goal in the dying light of the fourth quarter was disputed by the Giants before time ran out on the much-maligned video review system.
On the evidence available, the decision was likely the correct one, but in the context of the divine lunacy and doggerel coming out of AFL House on the score review issue, who could blame anyone for denouncing the decision? Nevertheless, having denied themselves a chance to move into second spot on the ladder, the Giants again seem to be maybe two-thirds as good as we think they are.
Collingwood, as a result, holds on to second spot. But on Saturday night’s effort, the Pies appear to be headed for a fall after a 44-point loss to a ruthless North Melbourne who metaphorically beat them about the head with an unvarnished broomstick.
“We’re embarrassed by that performance… that’s as big a shellacking in general play that you’ll see in a game of footy,” said Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley.
“The white flag went up from us. If you look at all of the things that we value in the way we’ve gone about our footy, we didn’t see it today at all. It’s inexplicable, to be honest. It’s the first time in a long time we’ve seen some average physical efforts.”
Norman Mailer wrote that “there are two kinds of brave men: those who are brave by the grace of nature, and those who are brave by an act of will.” He left out a third – those who are brave by virtue of being coached by Rhyce Shaw. Make no mistake, this version of the Kangaroos is more brutal than under Brad Scott – enough to give those clubs with coaching vacancies pause while poring over his résumé.
Neither Adelaide side appear capable of launching a legitimate challenge, despite Port Adelaide beating the premiership favourites just last week. On Saturday night, the rain fell on the Adelaide Oval as if the MCG earlier that day had only been a rehearsal. The miserable conditions did nothing to stop them getting “Bonted” in the first quarter, as Marcus Bontempelli helped himself to 11 contested possessions, six clearances and four inside 50s.
“He got us out of the block and set the example in foreign territory,” said Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said. “He handled the ball cleanly and gave us the upper hand and it was a huge first quarter from him.” The Bulldogs will need a huge second, third and fourth quarters from him next week if they are to trouble the ladder leaders, who got past Adelaide with little effort on Friday night, although effort is always hard to gauge in a team whose style appears all ease.
It appears that Geelong’s biggest threat is its 90s nemesis, the West Coast Eagles. Like those teams of the 90s, these Eagles hold no fears of the MCG, having now won their past five games there after beating Hawthorn by a goal on Saturday afternoon.
Luke Shuey certainly holds no fears of playing on the game’s biggest stage, and along with Jack Darling, was ultimately the difference between the two teams, finishing with 20 contested possessions in the wet as well as 11 clearances and nine tackles.
In a backline that was missing Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass, Eagles coach Adam Simpson may have just found another uncompromising defender in Oscar Allen, after the 20-year-old ran back with the flight of the ball in the last quarter to take a courageous mark, before being the catalyst for Jamie Cripp’s winning goal just a minute shy of the final siren.
“He’s got leadership (written) all over him,” said Simpson of Allen. “He does the right thing at the right time.”
But Simpson’s biggest smile was reserved for the return of ruckman-slash-cult hero Nic Naitanui who returned after missing close to a year following an ACL rupture in Round 17 last year.
While only playing for a little more than half of the game and finishing with just six possessions, Naitanui had a game-high 41 hit-outs. But it was those things you can’t measure on a stat sheet that pleased his coach the most.
“There’s intensity, then there’s Nic intensity, and I reckon we saw that once or twice today,” said Simpson. “In the last quarter, the first bounce or two, we just saw that intensity no one can match and we’ve missed that.”
Among most people who love football there is a desire to see some genuine competition for the Cats in the back half of the season. Although with two months to play, there remains plenty of time for other contenders to emerge, including those who have stumbled of late. On that, the last word of the round must go to Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson.
“The capacity to be able to turn things around in this competition is as quick as I’ve ever seen it.”
