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But the performances of West Coast and Richmond, the last two premiers, have greater significance for the shape of the top four.
It is not that these teams have both won their way back up the ladder, but that they have returned with players back, or about to come back, who make their teams look considerably better and more threatening for the finals.
Nic Naitanui immediately made the Eagles significantly better than they have for 12 months – including last years finals series. His impact in the two games back has been profound. The Eagles midfield runners are excellent but Naitanuis touch offers them first use that is on another level.
If there were doubts on his athleticism after another knee reconstruction he answered them with the way he not only worked around the ground but, with his power, to clear the ball from packs by following up his own hit-outs. He does not look diminished or in need of time to find his best form again after such an extended break.
The presence of Tom Barrass over the past five games has made the Eagles much more settled behind the ball, and at the other end of the ground they have also found another small forward in Jarrod Cameron. West Coast should now get at least one home final, and again look extremely difficult to beat in September.
Thats the reigning premiers. Then there are the premiers that preceded them. Smashing the Suns does nothing to change perceptions of Richmonds season and the forecast of what might come next except for this little moment of symmetry. After 16 rounds Richmond is sixth on the ladder with nine wins, which is precisely where they were in 2017, and their percentage is about the same as it was then.
That season they had barely an injury; this year theyve barely had a player who has not had an injury.
Richmond oddly enough now look like a better team, because of the players they have uncovered and developed out of necessity. Some, like Sydney Stack, probably would have got chances without injuries, but the injuries opened up opportunities sooner. Injuries certainly expedited things for Mabior Chol. Toby Nankervis will be back within a fortnight. Jack Riewoldt will be back next week.
The measure of Richmonds season is that now they are worrying about not who is missing from their best 22 but who will be forced to miss out. The injury wheel has turned at Punt Road.
Chol does not deserve to miss out but with Riewoldt, Josh Caddy and Tom Lynch in the forward line, how many tall target players can they use? The Tigers game that had been structured around one tall and five pressure smalls was always going to shift with Lynchs arrival but the emergence of Chol changes the dynamic again.
Lynch is third in line for the Coleman Medal presently. He has 17 more goals than the next best Richmond player, and has had a below-par season.
When he has a good season, after a full pre-season, Richmond will be formidable.
Lynch is getting better. Richmond is getting better. Its easy to be carried away smashing the bottom side but the Tigers have managed to hang on in the most meaningful way by winning sufficient games. Trent Cotchin is back and has seamlessly recovered his form. Dion Prestia might be leading the Jack Dyer medal at the moment. Jason Castagna is having more of an impact on games than ever before.
Great to see Daw back
Twenty minutes of VFL football on Sunday were the most enjoyable of the year.
That was all Majak Daw played but the fact he was able to get out there at all is the most pleasing moment of the season.
For North Melbourne plainly the football part of Daws comeback story has rightly been secondary to his broader recovery but now that he is back playing, there is undoubtedly a serious football consideration.
Daw was outstanding last season and his absence this season has been significant. Given the injuries he had, and the fact he was unable to walk just before Christmas, it is remarkable he is back playing at all.
As a result the Kangaroos will be patient and slow with Daws gradual physical build-up, but there must now be a reasonable likelihood he could return to senior football this year. The way the Roos are playing that is a proposition that could significantly improve the form team of the competition.
Dees salvage some pride
Twice Melbourne have now snatched wins in the final minute. The first time was against the Suns, and now this against the Blues.
The fact they have only snuck home against the two lowest sides on the ladder says something about the Dees. But Melbourne were better than that yesterday. This would not have been a close game at all if they had not lost so many players.
Clearly Tom McDonalds knee injury, which might wipe out most of the rest of the year but did not appear likely to be an ACL, robbed the game of the most influential player.
Angus Brayshaw is right in saying the win could be defining for MelbRead More – Source
Advertisement
But the performances of West Coast and Richmond, the last two premiers, have greater significance for the shape of the top four.
It is not that these teams have both won their way back up the ladder, but that they have returned with players back, or about to come back, who make their teams look considerably better and more threatening for the finals.
Nic Naitanui immediately made the Eagles significantly better than they have for 12 months – including last years finals series. His impact in the two games back has been profound. The Eagles midfield runners are excellent but Naitanuis touch offers them first use that is on another level.
If there were doubts on his athleticism after another knee reconstruction he answered them with the way he not only worked around the ground but, with his power, to clear the ball from packs by following up his own hit-outs. He does not look diminished or in need of time to find his best form again after such an extended break.
The presence of Tom Barrass over the past five games has made the Eagles much more settled behind the ball, and at the other end of the ground they have also found another small forward in Jarrod Cameron. West Coast should now get at least one home final, and again look extremely difficult to beat in September.
Thats the reigning premiers. Then there are the premiers that preceded them. Smashing the Suns does nothing to change perceptions of Richmonds season and the forecast of what might come next except for this little moment of symmetry. After 16 rounds Richmond is sixth on the ladder with nine wins, which is precisely where they were in 2017, and their percentage is about the same as it was then.
That season they had barely an injury; this year theyve barely had a player who has not had an injury.
Richmond oddly enough now look like a better team, because of the players they have uncovered and developed out of necessity. Some, like Sydney Stack, probably would have got chances without injuries, but the injuries opened up opportunities sooner. Injuries certainly expedited things for Mabior Chol. Toby Nankervis will be back within a fortnight. Jack Riewoldt will be back next week.
The measure of Richmonds season is that now they are worrying about not who is missing from their best 22 but who will be forced to miss out. The injury wheel has turned at Punt Road.
Chol does not deserve to miss out but with Riewoldt, Josh Caddy and Tom Lynch in the forward line, how many tall target players can they use? The Tigers game that had been structured around one tall and five pressure smalls was always going to shift with Lynchs arrival but the emergence of Chol changes the dynamic again.
Lynch is third in line for the Coleman Medal presently. He has 17 more goals than the next best Richmond player, and has had a below-par season.
When he has a good season, after a full pre-season, Richmond will be formidable.
Lynch is getting better. Richmond is getting better. Its easy to be carried away smashing the bottom side but the Tigers have managed to hang on in the most meaningful way by winning sufficient games. Trent Cotchin is back and has seamlessly recovered his form. Dion Prestia might be leading the Jack Dyer medal at the moment. Jason Castagna is having more of an impact on games than ever before.
Great to see Daw back
Twenty minutes of VFL football on Sunday were the most enjoyable of the year.
That was all Majak Daw played but the fact he was able to get out there at all is the most pleasing moment of the season.
For North Melbourne plainly the football part of Daws comeback story has rightly been secondary to his broader recovery but now that he is back playing, there is undoubtedly a serious football consideration.
Daw was outstanding last season and his absence this season has been significant. Given the injuries he had, and the fact he was unable to walk just before Christmas, it is remarkable he is back playing at all.
As a result the Kangaroos will be patient and slow with Daws gradual physical build-up, but there must now be a reasonable likelihood he could return to senior football this year. The way the Roos are playing that is a proposition that could significantly improve the form team of the competition.
Dees salvage some pride
Twice Melbourne have now snatched wins in the final minute. The first time was against the Suns, and now this against the Blues.
The fact they have only snuck home against the two lowest sides on the ladder says something about the Dees. But Melbourne were better than that yesterday. This would not have been a close game at all if they had not lost so many players.
Clearly Tom McDonalds knee injury, which might wipe out most of the rest of the year but did not appear likely to be an ACL, robbed the game of the most influential player.
Angus Brayshaw is right in saying the win could be defining for MelbRead More – Source