A huge difference between AFL and NRL this weekend. One tense, the other had everyone questioning effort levels at some clubs by professional players.
1. AFL. On one hand you had the last AFL round of the season (ahead of their ridiculous bye round pre semis), scheduled brilliantly. Melbourne v Brisbane, Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn, Carlton v Collingwood (90,000+ crowd!) and Swans v St Kilda all influenced the final eight and the excitement was amazing.
In the end Carlton needed to beat Collingwood as a team that had been in the eight all season and in the end were the only team that has ever missed out on the final eight from that position all season long! Incredible impact on the top four and the final eight teams. The Western Bulldogs are cheering! They have done it before from eighth place.
Collingwood have moved from 17th in 2021 to 4th in 2022. Incredible improvement. Sydney limped over the line and will find it tough at the big MCG v Melbourne.
In the end, the top eight AFL match ups:
i. Geelong v Collingwood
ii. Fremantle v Western Bulldogs
iii. Brisbane v Richmond.
iv Melbourne v Sydney
Interested to see Alistair Clarkson head as coach to the perennial losers, North Melbourne. Maybe they can rise from the ashes with his standards and guidance!
Essendon continue their terrible form as a club. Peptides, sacked coaches...a mess.
2. NRL. A smash up! Almost every team not in contention simply just gave up. The Warriors, Manly, the Bulldogs and the Tigers. The Tigers were the worst 72-6 does not help your reputation, especially coach Kimmorley. A coach wearing a hoodie looks slovenly. Keep it for when you get home in front of the tele.
The Wigers club is in crisis. They have lost their soul really. Unbalanced and not many clever players. Not much can improve there either. Likely to lose Brooks and Doueihi - not bad losses in some senses, but they need to rebuild. Korisau and Papallii will help but not solve much. They have lost so many decent players and their best hooker Jacob Liddle looks like leaving too.
So far in 2022 they have also lost: Luciano Leilua (Cowboys), Gildart (Roosters), Garner (signed at Panthers), Nofoaluma has been inexplicably gifted to the Storm... Peachey is playing reserve grade, Utoikamanu has been injured forever and Jimmy Roberts looks like it his last season. They are a mess.
The Broncos were only marginally better, getting thumped by the Storm. bad timing and at home too.
Manly.. incredible decline.
3. NRL Semi Finals. The Panthers (40), Sharks (34), Cowboys (34) and Storm (32) are all locked in to play semi finals with two rounds to go. Parramatta (30) are at greatest risk of missing out on the semi finals, with the worst for and against - a product of their highly inconsistent year. However, Canberra's record is even worse and need one of the other teams to fall over - not the Eels, unless they get belted by a team like the Storm and make up point differential.
The Eels (30) face the Broncos and Storm and could well lose both. Canberra (26) face Sea Eagles and Tigers and must win both. The Roosters (28) face the Storm and Rabbits - challenging. The Broncos (28) face the Eels and Dragons. The Rabbits (28) face the Cowboys and Roosters and also have a tough run home. Tight.
4. England v South Africa Cricket. An England special. Absolutely hopeless if they have to face pace on their own seaming decks. Prefer the opposition batting on it! A crushing loss by an innings and 12 runs as South Africa keep producing excellent fast bowlers. No rescue innings from Bairstow and Root this time!
5. EPL. Arsenal, Tottenham and Harry Kane on fire. (185 EPL goals for Harry Kane and fourth on the highest goal scorers ever! Beating Sergio Aguerro, two behind Andy Cole, 23 behind Wayne Rooney and 75 behind Alan Shearer) ManU scraping the bottom of the table is a disgrace. A million rounds to go however. Leicester in early trouble too. 30 points beats relegation most times.
6. BMW Championship. Adam Scott in with a sniff... two behind heading into the final round. A hope after a long tournament drought...no LIV yet!
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