This week…
Schedule? What schedule?
The Cats didn’t fuck up a momentous occasion
and there are no more unbeaten teams left in the competition
Welcome to Balls of Steel’s AFL Beat!
This was yet another interesting week. Remember how last week the AFL issued the schedule for Rounds 6 and 7?
Well, the COVID-19 situation in Melbourne and the State of Victoria has gotten worse, so the neighboring states have implemented restrictions on Victorians traveling there. This has forced the AFL to completely revamp the schedule and institute new hubs in Western Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. Starting on Round 6, all Victorian teams will play outside of Victoria.
The Western Australian hub that will feature Victorian teams traveling to Perth for three weeks at a time will remain as scheduled. That means that the first teams to go will be the Geelong Cats and the Collingwood Magpies. They will be quarantined in their respective hotels and will play each other during the quarantine while the Dockers and Eagles play each other. Then, the Cats and Pies will play the Eagles and Dockers in the following two weekends.
The South Australian teams have been allowed to leave the Queensland hub after Round 6 and will return to play games in South Australia and away in other states. The South Australian government has specifically rejected any a South Australian hub that involves Victorian teams, but that may change.
All Round 6 games will be played in either Queensland or New South Wales. The Western Australian hub will begin in Round 7 and one game will take place in South Australia. It is unknown at this time when Victorian clubs will be able to play in Victoria again.
Once again, the AFL is being both very proactive and extremely flexible. They quickly announced the schedule change after the state governments took action, so it is clear that they have done a very good job of exploring contingencies and having plans in place. That’s really all you can ask for. It really is the best-run sports league in the world.
Here are the results and highlights from Round Five:
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Carlton Blues 55 v St. Kilda Saints 73 at Marvel Stadium
The Saints were too good for the Blues. They are playing pretty well right now.
Friday, July 3, 2020
Collingwood Magpies 48 v Essendon Bombers 63 at the MCG
The Pies are in trouble. Injuries, suspensions, and a losing streak are not good things.
West Coast Eagles 77 v Sydney Swans 43 at Metricon Stadium
Finally the Eagles looked like the good team they’re supposed to be!
Geelong Cats 89 v Gold Coast Suns 52 at GMHBA Stadium
It was nice to see the Cats play well for Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett Jr. It was a good victory.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Western Bulldogs 87 v North Melbourne Kangaroos 38 at Marvel Stadium
Yes, the Roos were shorthanded, but that was a dominating victory by the Doggies.
Brisbane Lions 85 v Port Adelaide Power 48 at the Gabba
Something good is going on in Brisbane. They are building on last year’s finish and getting better.
Adelaide Crows 34 v Fremantle Dockers 54 at Metricon Stadium
This was a fun match to watch with you guys on the Saturday Night Open Thread.
Melbourne Demons 52 v Richmond Tigers 79 at the MCG
The Tigers are back to playing the way they used to play. It was the Demons, though.
Sunday, June 28, 2020
GWS Giants 83 v Hawthorn Hawks 49 at Giants Stadium
A solid all-around performance from the Giants has them climbing the ladder again.
***
Let’s take a look at the ladder, shall we?
| P | TEAM | W | L | T | PTS | % |
| 1 | Port Adelaide Power | 4 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 170.1 |
| 2 | Brisbane Lions | 4 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 129.6 |
| 3 | Geelong Cats | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 120.5 |
| 4 | St. Kilda Saints | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 112.0 |
| 5 | Essendon Bombers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 111.3 |
| 6 | Gold Coast Suns | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 108.9 |
| 7 | GWS Giants | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 107.4 |
| 8 | Western Bulldogs | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 103.5 |
| 9 | Hawthorn Hawks | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 91.0 |
| 10 | Collingwood Magpies | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 133.5 |
| 11 | Richmond Tigers | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 97.9 |
| 12 | Carlton Blues | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 88.9 |
| 13 | North Melbourne Kangaroos | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 87.3 |
| 14 | Sydney Swans | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 84.7 |
| 15 | West Coast Eagles | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 82.4 |
| 16 | Fremantle Dockers | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 87.2 |
| 17 | Melbourne Demons | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 78.2 |
| 18 | Adelaide Crows | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 53.3 |
Here is the Balls GraphTM:
[gview file=”https://www.doorfliesopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AFL-Ladder-2020R5.pdf”]
***
Footy Tipping Contest
Here is where we are after Round Four:
| P | TIPPER | Round Tips |
Round Margin |
Total Tips | Total Margin |
| 1 | SonOfSpam | 8 | 9 | 28 | 114 |
| 2 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 160 | |
| 3 | BFC | 7 | 7 | 27 | 99 |
| 4 | Dolph Ucker | 5 | 24 | 27 | 126 |
| 5 | Litre_cola | 7 | 15 | 26 | 114 |
| 6 | BALLS | 7 | 15 | 26 | 116 |
| 7 | Sunrisesunrise | 7 | 7 | 26 | 133 |
| 8 | Yeah Right | 6 | 10 | 24 | 128 |
| 9 | WhyEaglesWhy | 6 | 23 | 23 | 124 |
| 10 | BC Dick | 5 | 18 | 22 | 131 |
| 11 | Reverend Mayhem | 4 | 13 | 21 | 102 |
| 12 | Game Time Decision | 3 | 25 | 21 | 147 |
| 13 | Maestro | 4 | 18 | 18 | 111 |
| 14 | Sharkbait | 6 | 57 | 16 | 177 |
Congratulations to SonOfSpam for getting top score this week (an impressive 8!) and taking over possession of first place! The rest of the field is pretty bunched up, so good job to everyone!
As always,
DON’T FORGET TO PUT THE FOOTY TIPS IN!
***
I’ve been providing, for your advanced Tipping reference, the schedule for the next few rounds (All times Pacific). Here is what Rounds 6 and 7 were supposed to look like:
Round Six
Thursday, July 9, 2020
2:40 AM – St. Kilda Saints v Geelong Cats at Marvel Stadium
Friday, July 10, 2020
2:50 AM – Collingwood Magpies v Brisbane Lions at the MCG
7:45 PM – Fremantle Dockers v Melbourne Demons at Metricon Stadium
10:05 PM – West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows at The Gabba
Saturday, July 11, 2020
1:05 AM – Hawthorn Hawks v Gold Coast Suns at the MCG
2:40 AM – Essendon Bombers v Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium
8:05 PM – Port Adelaide Power v GWS Giants at Metricon Stadium
10:35 PM – Carlton Blues v Sydney Swans at the MCG
Sunday, July 12, 2020
1:10 AM – North Melbourne Kangaroos v Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium
Round Seven
Thursday, July 16, 2020
2:40 AM – Essendon Bombers v Hawthorn Hawks at Marvel Stadium
Friday, July 17, 2020
3:10 AM – Geelong Cats v Collingwood Magpies at Optus Stadium
8:45 PM – Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions at the SCG
11:35 PM – Melbourne Demons v Western Bulldogs at the MCG
Saturday, July 18, 2020
2:40 AM – North Melbourne Kangaroos v Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium
2:40 AM – Gold Coast Suns v Carlton Blues at Metricon Stadium
8:05 PM – St. Kilda Saints v Port Adelaide Power at Marvel Stadium
10:35 PM – Richmond Tigers v GWS Giants at the MCG
Sunday, July 19, 2020
1:35 AM – Fremantle Dockers v West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium
and here’s what they look like now:
Round Six
Thursday, July 9, 2020
2:40 AM – Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions at the SCG (new matchup)
Friday, July 10, 2020
2:50 AM – Collingwood Magpies v Hawthorn Hawks at Giants Stadium (new matchup)
7:35 PM – Fremantle Dockers v St. Kilda Saints at Metricon Stadium (new matchup)
10:05 PM – West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows at The Gabba
Saturday, July 11, 2020
1:05 AM – Melbourne Demons v Gold Coast Suns at Giants Stadium (new matchup)
2:40 AM – Essendon Bombers v North Melbourne Kangaroos at Metricon Stadium (new matchup)
8:05 PM – Port Adelaide Power v GWS Giants at Metricon Stadium
10:35 PM – Richmond Tigers v Sydney Swans at the Gabba (new matchup)
Sunday, July 12, 2020
1:45 AM – Carlton Blues v Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium (new matchup)
Round Seven
Thursday, July 16, 2020
2:40 AM – Geelong Cats v Collingwood Magpies at Optus Stadium (new time, same matchup)
Friday, July 17, 2020
3:10 AM – Essendon Bombers v Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium (new matchup)
8:45 PM – GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions at Giants Stadium (new matchup)
11:35 PM – Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns at the SCG (new matchup)
Saturday, July 18, 2020
2:40 AM – Richmond Tigers v North Melbourne Kangaroos at Metricon Stadium (new matchup)
8:05 PM – Carlton Blues v Port Adelaide Power at the Gabba (new matchup)
10:35 PM – Hawthorn Hawks v Melbourne Demons at Giants Stadium (new matchup
Sunday, July 19, 2020
1:35 AM – Fremantle Dockers v West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium (same matchup, same time)
2:40 AM – Adelaide Crows v St. Kilda Saints at Adelaide Oval (new matchup, new location)
There is still no word on how the schedule will need to be adjusted to fit in the postponed Essendon-Melbourne game.
***
Without further ado, it’s
Balls’ Sechs
1- Both West Coast and Richmond looked like they were back to their former selves, but it’s going to take a few more games to convince me they’re back. I mean, they beat Melbourne and Sydney. They’re not exactly lighting it up.
2- The Gold Coast Suns played really well after their star player, #1 draft pick Matt Rowell, dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter. He will be out for an extended amount of time and it will be a good test to see how good the Sunnies really are.
3- The Western Bulldogs are in the Eight after a disastrous start to the season. That’s good coaching and an excellent effort from the players.
4- The GWS Giants are also back in the Eight coming off a big win against the Hawks. With a hub set up in Sydney, this is their opportunity to pile up some wins at home and set themselves up for the end of the season!
5- It will be very interesting how the Victorian clubs do away from Melbourne. For the longest time, it’s been fairly obvious that they have a big advantage over the teams from other states. This could be the year that evens the scales a bit.
6- Next week’s marquee game will be the Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions as #2 takes on #3 on the neutral Sydney Cricket Ground. Too bad it’s on in the middle of the night on a workday!
***
That’s all for this week.
As discussed last week, Fox Sports has the rights to the AFL in the United States while TSN has the rights in Canada and the AFL is pressuring them to have more games available on the FS1, FS2, and TSN networks. Now is the perfect chance for you to see what all the fun is about!
Not only that, but ESPN has jumped back into the AFL pool! They’ll be broadcasting one game per week live on an ESPN network and streaming another live on ESPN3.
You can find the latest broadcast information on the Australian Football Association of North America website here.
Here is your Round 6 live broadcast schedule with North American broadcast partner:
Round Six
Thursday, July 9, 2020
2:40 AM – Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions at the SCG (TSN3)
Friday, July 10, 2020
2:50 AM – Collingwood Magpies v Hawthorn Hawks at Giants Stadium (FS1, TSN1)
7:35 PM – Fremantle Dockers v St. Kilda Saints at Metricon Stadium (FS2)
10:05 PM – West Coast Eagles v Adelaide Crows at The Gabba (FS2)
Saturday, July 11, 2020
1:05 AM – Melbourne Demons v Gold Coast Suns at Giants Stadium
2:40 AM – Essendon Bombers v North Melbourne Kangaroos at Metricon Stadium (TSN1)
8:05 PM – Port Adelaide Power v GWS Giants at Metricon Stadium (FS2)
10:35 PM – Richmond Tigers v Sydney Swans at the Gabba (TSN1)
Sunday, July 12, 2020
1:45 AM – Carlton Blues v Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium (FS1)
See you next week!
Shane Mumford being the best option in the ruck for gws is both awesome and horrifying given how badly he got his ass handled to him in the grand final last year. But I’ll take the win and a forward crew that is awesome even with Cameron being sluggish.
A while ago I was speaking with Aussie who worked for an international client and he loved the sport, but spoke about the women’s side much as many NBA fans speak about the WNBA. The obvious differences due to physical, establishment legacy, and money, but added to that their bitterness towards women in general focused into irrational hatred. Fun times.
That’s weird. I actually really enjoy watching the Women’s game. In many ways (tougher hitting, more effort, more space), it’s a better spectacle.
Australia was one of the few liberty stops that we actually wanted to wear our dress uniforms ashore. Australian dudes (this is 35 years ago, mind you) treated the Sheilas like shit so the ladies were on US Navy sailors like white on rice. I met a gal in Perth whose father almost convinced me to go over the hill.
Black dudes on board fared more poorly ashore, they were considered “Abos” by the local populace. But they would take one duty day for you there in exchange for your taking two duty days for them in Japan, because the Japanese girls liked them very much.
I have no fever this morning. The tentative ruling for my telephonic hearing this afternoon is in my favor. Everything’s coming up Millhouse!
Nice!!
Great news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay7J7wH2W4A
It looks like in the table you have Essendon down for a tie instead of what was clearly a one point loss to the Blues. Man, I hope someone got fired for that blunder.
–
Fixed.
“Sacked” in the porn industry has a slightly different connotation.
Brazilian President has tested positive for the the Covids. Wonder if he’ll be better about it now?
/ we’z in the darkestestest timeline, so nope.
Nope. Either he dies and things trend slightly better, or he beats it and things get worse.
Bets all my moneys on “things get worse”
Well, Boris Johnson beat it, so…
We can always root for a different outcome here.
[Hippo looks for O/U line]
“Go Covid Go!”
—Amazon Rain Forest and Indigenous Peoples of South America
“neighboring states have implemented restrictions on Victorians traveling there”
An idea that has come a couple of centuries too late for much of the rest of the world.
Dockers play at 7:30 on Friday night?
Damn son, that’s right in my wheelhouse!
On TV too!
I’ll be there.
Are these the ones with elastic-stretch waistbands?
I, for one, am glad that those filthy Victorians* have to play outside their state for once. It’s difficult to explain how much of a Victorian bias exists in AFL media, announcers, and the league itself. Imagine that Bawston local media called all NFL games and you get a little taste.
*They are filthy, and insufferable hipsters with chronic America-envy, but I hope they all stay safe.
I’m REALLY looking forward to see how they cope with what the WA, SA, and NSW teams have had to go through. The bias is real and it’s nice to see the Victorian teams on the other side for once.
Also, Eddie McGuire. How the fuck?!?