AFL 2007 Round 19

 

Digger is pleased to report that the cars will be on the ground on Grand Final day but it we not sure what role they will play.  Fancy this, Toyota, the leagues main sponsor has requested (read demanded) that cars be part of the days events.  Digger is sure that the cavalcade of retired stars will see them being driven around the ‘G in Toyota Klugers.  WTF name for a car is a Kluger.

This weeks round is Ladies Round in the continued attempts by Commandant Andrew and the cadre to socialize the league and the game.  While the round is a commendable effort to highlight breast cancer awareness, see the crowd in pink at the Telstra Stadium, Digger feels that this is against the grain as they did not allow Essendon to wear yellow arm bands celebrating and highlighting other forms of cancer earlier in the year.

Anyway, thanks Mum for polishing my boots when I was a youngin".

Last Friday night the Western Bulldogs played St. Kilda with both teams needing a win to consolidate a strong chance of playing in the finals.  With both teams needing a win and both teams not needing a loss they drew.  This was a fairly pitiful display of football and even if either or both teams make the finals Digger cannot see them having any influence of the outcome of the season.  A disappointing game all up.  12.13.85 a piece.

Carlton, for the second week in a row under caretaker coach Brett Ratten, competed strongly but in the end the more polished Collingwood team won the game by 4 goals also kicking the last 4 goals of the game.  Anthony Rocca and Travis Cloke kicked the ‘woods to a winning score and they were well supplied by Dane Swan.  Fevola, his head supposedly on the chopping block, performed well in front of goal with 6 majors.

The highlight of the game between Geelong and Richmond was the spectacular mark by former Cat skipper, Stephen King over the goal umpire.  Surprisingly, he was not charged by the AFL constabulary for interfering with an umpire.  Again umpires try to steal the thunder with guru Darren Goldspink over riding a goal umpiring decion when the goalie was in perfect position.  Geelong won easily and in an all round team effort stay on top of the ladder with an increased percentage.  Kudos to Tiger Matthew Richardson for presenting himself all day against all odds.  A 70 point win to the Cats.

The Brisbane team continue their late season charge at the finals when they defeated the lethargic Kangaroos in a scrappy and unattractive contest at the "Gabba.  Jonathan Brown again was in form in the square and notched 6 goals.  The Kangaroos had 5 individual single goal scorers.  Not much more to say about this slog.

Wet, windy and woeful was much of the "Show down" between Adelaide and Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last Saturday night.  Port with a real chance to consolidate a top 4 finish led for most of the game, fell asleep with 10 minutes to go and got rolled.  This enables the Ravens to cling to a finals hope with 4 games to go.  Simon Goodwin was best for the Ravens and him staying in form will dictate how much further the Ravens go.  Port have strong chance to bounce back soon but their final quarter fade out will worry coach Mr. Smug.  Really, the highlight from Diggers perspective was that is it the first time he can recall the Big Macs, umpires McBurney, McLaren and McInerney all officiating in the same game.

The annual Sydney late season surge continued when they easily accounted for a hapless (hopeless) Melbourne at Manuka Oval in Canberra.  The Swans bounced away early and apart from a late sprint in the final quarter the Demons never threatened.  The Swans has 12 individual goal kickers defining that they do not rely on Barry Hall.  Holland kicked three for the Demons and was by far their best player.

Do you believe in miracles?  Well Digger does not anymore after witnessing the dispirited, lethargic and hugely disappointing effort by the Essendon players last weekend.  Hawthorn bounced back to the winners list but had no opposition and it is hard to say whether their slide is over.  While a 10 goal victory over a fellow finals aspirant looks excellent on paper, Digger is not sure if the gloss is as shiny as perceived.  The again,  Buddy was back and kicked 4.  Only time will tell what this game really represents.

Digger gets asked every week why he refers to Fremantle as the Mentals.  Well if you ever get a chance have a look at games when they start favourite and lose and then at games that they are tipped to lose and win.  And they were at it again last week, upsetting the Weagles in the Perth derby.  For Fremantle, Josh Carr motored all day, Jeff Farmer ploughed his way through packs and Peter Bell rang the bell.  Dean "Big" Cox was the best for West Coast.  The Dockers eventually running out convincing 27 point winners.

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Dear Digger,

I have noticed this week that former Brisbane player and current Bulldog Jason Akermanis is in the news again regarding comments he made in his newspaper column.  What are your thought on him and his comments?

Reverend Richard Johnson

Dear Rev.,

Thanks for the letter.  In my humble opinion Jason Yakkermanis needs to take a long hard look and himself and concentrate on his game and not try to deflect his bad form.  His comments that he was sure his opponent was on EPO "as he kept running" away from me and "he had never done that before" reek of a player looking for excuses for being beaten on the day.  Last year when struggling it was his coaches fault.  This year when struggling talk about drugs.  Get a kick boy.  Last weeks return of 11 kicks and 4 handballs is proof enough of deflecting attention syndrome.

Has Digger ever mentioned what a prick of a web site http://www.afl.com.au/ is.  It continually seems to confuse its self.  Click refresh, blah, blah, blah.

Have the "wobbles" returned before the finals for Collingwood?  Thrashed 2 weeks ago by Brisbane and 3 and a half quarters to shake off Carlton does not appear to be good form but it still should be enough to beat Richmond this weekend.  However it will not be an easy task as the Richmond senior players, Richardson, Brown and Bowden will be keen to end the season on a high with a couple of victories.  The ‘Woods will rely on Rocca and Cloke again to kick a winning score.  James Clement at full back maybe the key for the ‘pies.  The Collingwood team to win a close one.

One on the rise and one about to slide the slippery slope and a finals exit maybe the outcome of the Brisbane and Hawthorn clash at the MCG on Saturday.  It is a crunch match for both teams and Digger is going for the form team in Brisbane.  Brown on Brown is the major match up and will have a huge bias on the result.  Brown the Lion to prevail and see his team record a 6^th straight win by 13 points.

Port Adelaide will be back on the winners list after defeating Carlton at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.  Carlton actually defeated Port when they last met but the sides seasons have taken two different tacks since then.  Expect Kane Cornes and Brett Ebert to spank the Blues around the game and young gun Justin Westhoff to kick a bag up forward.  Andrew Carrazzo continues his rapid improvement for the good old Navy Blues but he surely lacks mates.  Port by 6 goals.

Put it this way, if the Western Bulldogs cannot defeat Melbourne this week questions need to raised, answered and acted upon.  The Bulldogs who have thrived on spirit for years rather than a big bank balance seem to have lost most of this spirit in 2007.  What can be said about Melbourne?  Not much is the answer and these 2 teams represent the biggest disappointments in AFL this season.  Western Bulldogs by 2 goals (but I am not convinced).

Pretty in pink at the Telstra Stadium on Saturday night and the last thing former Sydney assistant and current St. Kilda coach Ross Lyon needed this week was a trip to tinsel town.  Expect a low scoring match where players will play behind the lines (flooding), bring the ball to the ground and "work" goals.  The Saints are the more free flowing team but the Swans are the kings of slowing the game and this ability will enable Sydney to record another solid if ugly win.  Swans by 3 goals.

Geelong to continue on their winning ways when the Ravens fly into Geelong on Sunday.  Raven coach Craig Neal has suspended 3 players for breaking curfew, strengthening team culture but weakening his team.  Look out for former Geelong Falcon John Meesen to make his debut for the Ravens.  Geelong will be led again by Ablett, Bartel and Scarlett with all the others contributing the Cats look home and hosed.  Digger cannot see an upset and the Cats to win by 5 goals.

And here we go again.  Can Fremantle win a game they are expected to win?  Can the Essendon players shrug their malaise of last week and put in a decent effort?  Who knows but Digger suspects that the unexpected will happen and the Bombers will win.  Essendon by 3 goals and the rabid Fremantle supporters to tear the grandstand down and lynch some of the players.

That wraps up this weeks reports, reviews, previews and prognostications.  If you ant to ask Digger anything footy related just drop us a line at diggerafl@yahoo.com.au

Digger