The Gold Coast are (at this stage) not the worst team in the league, and the critics that said that they would be in last place at the end of the season may have a lot to answer for come round 24.
The likes of Swallow, Stanley, Lynch, Matera and Z Smith will provide an incredible foe for teams come seasons in three to four years time. They have the talent, the youth, the smarts, the game plan, but they don't have the experience.
Ablett, Bock, Harris, Rischitelli, Brennan, etc. are all players that will be able to guide the Gold Coast's young boys to their futures - but they aren't the team. The young guns are the team that the Gold Coast have to nurture through to their early twenties to make themselves competitive, and they are well on the way to doing this successfully.
Guy McKenna has raised a team that in future years will be absolute hell. If all goes well, they will be infallible (except by maybe Greater Western Sydney when the same happens to them).
The day that the Gold Coast team step up and transform from boys to men will come later this year as they get more game experience at the top level; it's only a matter of time.
Friday, 20 May 2011
Why Geelong Is Still So Good
Since 2007, Geelong have been the dominant team in the league. They've been at the top every season and, though many thought the Cats would fall this year, they're undefeated after 8 rounds.
So, why have they been able to stay up for so long, and when will they fall?
Geelong's ability to mix the young guns with the old has proven to make them almost infallible. For example, Joel Selwood is only in his early 20s but is one of the best players in the league. Names that we associate with being great players like Chapman, Bartel, Scarlett are still at the top of their game four years after their first premiership and are showing no signs of aging.
Though you can consider Geelong as one of the 'older' teams in the league (i.e. compared to Richmond or Melbourne), they are in no way done yet. Their midfield is second to none in the league, and with youngsters such as Menzel and Christensen showing signs of the great things to come, there's no reason that the Cats should be slowing down any time soon.
An AFL team list is all about balancing the young with the experienced, and that's exactly what the Geelong selectors and recruiters have done. Collingwood have done the same thing, and it showed signs of flourishing last season, and Essendon and Richmond have shown signs that a similar system is working beautifully with both teams rising up the ladder significantly on last year.
Can the Cats win the premiership? Yes, they can. They could probably even give a good run for the flag next year, too. They've got great, young talent and, mixed with the experience of Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett and Cam Mooney (as examples), there's no reason why Geelong can't stay at the top for years to come.
So, why have they been able to stay up for so long, and when will they fall?
Geelong's ability to mix the young guns with the old has proven to make them almost infallible. For example, Joel Selwood is only in his early 20s but is one of the best players in the league. Names that we associate with being great players like Chapman, Bartel, Scarlett are still at the top of their game four years after their first premiership and are showing no signs of aging.
Though you can consider Geelong as one of the 'older' teams in the league (i.e. compared to Richmond or Melbourne), they are in no way done yet. Their midfield is second to none in the league, and with youngsters such as Menzel and Christensen showing signs of the great things to come, there's no reason that the Cats should be slowing down any time soon.
An AFL team list is all about balancing the young with the experienced, and that's exactly what the Geelong selectors and recruiters have done. Collingwood have done the same thing, and it showed signs of flourishing last season, and Essendon and Richmond have shown signs that a similar system is working beautifully with both teams rising up the ladder significantly on last year.
Can the Cats win the premiership? Yes, they can. They could probably even give a good run for the flag next year, too. They've got great, young talent and, mixed with the experience of Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett and Cam Mooney (as examples), there's no reason why Geelong can't stay at the top for years to come.
Tips For The Week
This week will be interesting; there will be a few close clashes.
Carlton vs Geelong
Carlton should give Geelong a run for their money, but the Cats should run out victors by a few goals with a last quarter surge.
St Kilda vs Melbourne
Both teams are in poor form, but expect St Kilda to finally get their act into gear and win a hard fought match.
Port Adelaide vs Fremantle
Fremantle haven't been in the greatest form, but Port are just terrible. Fremantle to win easily.
Brisbane vs North Melbourne
Brisbane have been on the improve, while North haven't been really showing how well their team can actually play. Brisbane should probably win this one at the GABBA.
Richmond vs Essendon
Dreamtime at the 'G. Both teams are in great form and it could go either way. Despite Essendon's injuries, they should be able to sneak into the bye with another win.
Collingwood vs Adelaide
Pies. Need I write more?
Sydney vs Hawthorn
Sydney and Hawks are both top 8 teams this year and this should be a cracker of a match, but Sydney should win it by a couple of goals unless Buddy and Rioli get going.
West Coast vs Western Bulldogs
West Coast is on the rise and the Dogs are down; West Coast should win with their home state advantage that they love so much.
Carlton vs Geelong
Carlton should give Geelong a run for their money, but the Cats should run out victors by a few goals with a last quarter surge.
St Kilda vs Melbourne
Both teams are in poor form, but expect St Kilda to finally get their act into gear and win a hard fought match.
Port Adelaide vs Fremantle
Fremantle haven't been in the greatest form, but Port are just terrible. Fremantle to win easily.
Brisbane vs North Melbourne
Brisbane have been on the improve, while North haven't been really showing how well their team can actually play. Brisbane should probably win this one at the GABBA.
Richmond vs Essendon
Dreamtime at the 'G. Both teams are in great form and it could go either way. Despite Essendon's injuries, they should be able to sneak into the bye with another win.
Collingwood vs Adelaide
Pies. Need I write more?
Sydney vs Hawthorn
Sydney and Hawks are both top 8 teams this year and this should be a cracker of a match, but Sydney should win it by a couple of goals unless Buddy and Rioli get going.
West Coast vs Western Bulldogs
West Coast is on the rise and the Dogs are down; West Coast should win with their home state advantage that they love so much.
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Priddis: The Unsung Hero
If someone asked you about who the best players in the West Coast Eagles line up were, your mind would spring to Cox, Le Cras, Kerr, A Selwood, Glass and Embley, but not Priddis. But why?
Priddis is the type of player who you don't hear much about. He's not really an official leader in the team, but he is one player who does actually lead the team. He consistently gets over thirty possessions in a game - and they're not cheap disopsals either. He's the type of player who gets in under the backs, works hard for the ball and gets a handball out to Embley before anyone has noticed he is there.
The ball goes forward and LeCras takes a diving mark; he lines up and scores the goal. LeCras gets the goal, Embley gets the assist, but Priddis doesn't receive the fame he should.
He's up there with the best in the league at playing the hard ball gets with the likes of Judd, Watson and Pendlebury, and his handballs are as quick and precise as those of Ablett, Selwood and Bartel. He has an average of over 95 points in both DreamTeam and SuperCoach and is one of the most consistent players in both fantasy games, yet is still underrated by online coaches, too.
So, why is he forgotten so?
It's simply because of his hard-working, humble and no-nonsense nature. Priddis doesn't demand the attention that others do. He sticks to his guns and does the training, and his training pays off for the fans on game day. He can acknowledge that this is a team game, not a one man show.
Priddis can't be the only one categorised as such. Other quality players on the down low are Mundy from Fremantle, Stanton from the Bombers or Boak from Port Adelaide. They play the game as well as anyone, but don't let the possibility of the spotlight get in the way - and that's the way it should be.
Priddis is the type of player who you don't hear much about. He's not really an official leader in the team, but he is one player who does actually lead the team. He consistently gets over thirty possessions in a game - and they're not cheap disopsals either. He's the type of player who gets in under the backs, works hard for the ball and gets a handball out to Embley before anyone has noticed he is there.
The ball goes forward and LeCras takes a diving mark; he lines up and scores the goal. LeCras gets the goal, Embley gets the assist, but Priddis doesn't receive the fame he should.
He's up there with the best in the league at playing the hard ball gets with the likes of Judd, Watson and Pendlebury, and his handballs are as quick and precise as those of Ablett, Selwood and Bartel. He has an average of over 95 points in both DreamTeam and SuperCoach and is one of the most consistent players in both fantasy games, yet is still underrated by online coaches, too.
So, why is he forgotten so?
It's simply because of his hard-working, humble and no-nonsense nature. Priddis doesn't demand the attention that others do. He sticks to his guns and does the training, and his training pays off for the fans on game day. He can acknowledge that this is a team game, not a one man show.
Priddis can't be the only one categorised as such. Other quality players on the down low are Mundy from Fremantle, Stanton from the Bombers or Boak from Port Adelaide. They play the game as well as anyone, but don't let the possibility of the spotlight get in the way - and that's the way it should be.
Drummond Out with Knee. Again.
Josh Drummond, Brisbane key defender, has been dropped from the side for this weekends match against the Kangaroos with a knee injury.
Drummond has struggled for the past two seasons with various knee injuries ranging in severity, and, although not surprising, it is disappointing for the Lions to have to leave him out of the side once again.
A good spoiler with a good eye and a long kick, Drummond is as influential as any rebound defender in the AFL when on the ground, but with an injury-affected career slowly developing it is only a matter of time before people begin to wonder how long he will last.
For everyone who brought him into their fantasy team for a bargain last week under the assurances from the club that he was fit; you can't say you weren't warned!
Drummond has struggled for the past two seasons with various knee injuries ranging in severity, and, although not surprising, it is disappointing for the Lions to have to leave him out of the side once again.
A good spoiler with a good eye and a long kick, Drummond is as influential as any rebound defender in the AFL when on the ground, but with an injury-affected career slowly developing it is only a matter of time before people begin to wonder how long he will last.
For everyone who brought him into their fantasy team for a bargain last week under the assurances from the club that he was fit; you can't say you weren't warned!
Mzungu to debut for Fremantle
The much anticipated midfield/forward Tendai Mzungu is set to make his first appearance at AFL level after being sidelined by injury for the first eight weeks of the season.
Mark Harvey admitted that bringing Mzungu into the team for the away game clash against Port Adelaide was a "massive punt", but one that could definitelky work out. Mzungu could provide some depth to the forward line.
Although Fremantle has bragging rights with one of the best midfields in the game in the likes of Mundy, Pavlich, Fyfe and de Boer, they have been struggling to identify key targets up forward for most of the season and perhaps Mzungu can bring the spark back to a team which still has top four potential despite a disappointing first seven games.
Mark Harvey admitted that bringing Mzungu into the team for the away game clash against Port Adelaide was a "massive punt", but one that could definitelky work out. Mzungu could provide some depth to the forward line.
Although Fremantle has bragging rights with one of the best midfields in the game in the likes of Mundy, Pavlich, Fyfe and de Boer, they have been struggling to identify key targets up forward for most of the season and perhaps Mzungu can bring the spark back to a team which still has top four potential despite a disappointing first seven games.
Clarkson Pulls Smith, Hurts Fantasy Footballers
Alistair Clarkson has outed Ian Smith from the Hawks lineup for their Sunday match against Sydney. This puts many Supercoachers and Dreamteamers at risk of copping zeroes for the week as many brought him in as a downgrade option in the midfield or forward line.
However, don't be trading him out! Smith will definitely make an appearance later in the season and should make some good cash for everyone in the future. There is a long season ahead!
However, don't be trading him out! Smith will definitely make an appearance later in the season and should make some good cash for everyone in the future. There is a long season ahead!
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