The Multicultural AFL Football TV and Radio Show – Round 23

L-R: Vanessa Gatica, Akec Makur Chuot, Habir Singh Kang & Gabriel D'Angelo

The Multicultural AFL Football TV and Radio Show – Round 23

By Fiv Antoniou
21/8/2019

Round 22 kicked off last Friday night from the MCG with another dismal Demon display - well done to the young Swans taking the win. Carlton beat the Saints by 10 points in David Teague’s first game as permanent coach of the Blues. Brisbane is on top of the ladder, one game clear, after their come from behind one-point victory over the Cats. The Magpies are definitely on the way back after thrashing Adelaide, while North Melbourne destroyed the Power. In the other games, Fremantle at home lost their chance for the eight to Essendon. The Bulldogs decimated the Giants big time and the Hawks had a nice walk in the park at the Suns’ expense.
What I thought was a game worthy of a Grand Final preview was the Richmond v. West Coast Eagles match from the MCG on a wet Sunday afternoon. Somewhere in the early part of the second quarter the Tigers were about 5 goals down, but somehow came back to win by a goal. A super effort and one that has rung the bells of several finals contenders that the Tigers are a  genuine chance for the flag and will not go away.
In other news the AFL retirees list just keeps getting longer and longer. Last week Hawthorn star and multi-premiership player, Jarryd Roughead, Fremantle’s giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands and the Sydney Swans former captain, Jarrad McVeigh all announced their retirement from AFL Footy. Carlton and Collingwood great “Daisy” Thomas, Brett Deledio Richmond and the Giants, Michael Rischitelli the Lions and Suns, Jordan Lewis from Hawthorn and Melbourne, David  Myers, Essendon, and Kieren Jack from the Swans also retired - Even before I finished this paragraph another coach hit the dust, Ross Lyon just got the sack as coach of Fremantle. How pathetic of the Dockers Footy Club, they couldn’t hold their nerve until the end of the season!
Anyway onwards to the very last home and away round of the 2019 AFL Premiership season which gets underway on Friday night from the MCG where the Magpies play the Bombers, in a game where winning means a lot to both sides. Collingwood has drifted past the bad times and is now coming back with a vengeance. Over the last three weeks, Essendon has been erratic, losing badly and winning ugly, so I don’t make much of that except to say that the Bombers are not quite right and I don’t think they are ready for the finals. Collingwood by 48 points.Saturday, it’s Sydney playing St Kilda at the SCG. Sydney at their home ground do not play as well as they do away. How much either side values the victory will determine the ultimate winner. Being the very last game of the year I am going for St. Kilda because of Brett Ratten, their coach. If they want him to stay, the Saints will have to win this one.
North Melbourne face off against the Demons in Hobart. After last week’s sterling performance by Ben Brown kicking a bag of 10, I think he will be up to kicking a few more goals this week for North and taking home his Coleman Medal. Every Roos player will be looking for Ben in the forward line, giving him ample opportunity to win the AFL’s goal scoring competition.
The Cats host Carlton at Geelong this weekend. Normally with so much at stake and with a top 4 position up for grabs, it would be easy to pick a winner - Geelong. As history has it, the Cats have always struggled against the Blues a number of times over the last few years. Now it’s a different Blues side under their new coach and may give the Cats a run for their money! Geelong to defeat Carlton but only because of their home ground advantage! 
In Saturday’s remaining games, the GWS Giants travel to the Gold Coast to take on the Suns. This is it Giants! No excuses left – It’s your chance to haul in a massive percentage boost and score a win at any cost because another loss this time around and the Giants will be toast!
The West Coast Eagles at home are in for a hard game as Hawthorn still has a mathematical chance of advancing into the final 8. Again I am picking the home side for just that reason, it’s being  played at Optus Stadium in Perth and one, the Eagles can’t afford to lose and two, they need to win to carry momentum into their finals campaign.

So, on to Sunday and with one result all the mathematics and aspiring finals contenders are completely out of the picture as only the  Bulldogs can qualify for eighth position with a  win when they go head  to head with the Adelaide Crows from Mars Stadium in Ballarat. I expect the Bulldogs to have the desire to take their place in the finals and will play fearless footy for a deserving victory.

The most interesting game of the round will come from the MCG, where the Richmond Tigers take on the Brisbane Lions. This may even be a prelude to the grand final. The Lions are having a stellar year and have almost beaten all comers. Last time they lost was against the Blues in round 12, since then they have been unbeatable. Over the last 10 weeks, Richmond has also come alive and like Brisbane, they are an in-form side. Both sides defeated their top 4 opponents last week by narrow margins. Depending on the weather and/or injuries, the Tigers at home will win, but it will be very close and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lions happen to beat the Tigers. Either way, Brisbane will still finish on top.

Port Adelaide take on Fremantle for the title of ‘pretender’. Like pin the tail on the Donkey, any side can win, but Adelaide Oval and a change of coach at Fremantle, I will have to go with the Power!

Catch you next week for the first of the finals blogs.

Round 23, I am picking: Collingwood, St. Kilda, North Melbourne, Geelong,
GWS Giants, West Coast Eagles, Bulldogs, Richmond and Port Adelaide.
(Progressive tip score: 129) Leading AFL tipster(s) from the AGE have 123 and from Foxtel 118.

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