Mark Bickley: Tall tales and what we learned from Round 1
EXPERT columnist Mark Bickley runs through a few of the common predictions from the off-season and determines what were confirmed or dispelled after week one. Plus, watch as he looks ahead with his Round 2 preview.
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IT’S 173 days from the grand final to the first game of round one.
While many of us suffer withdrawal symptoms, it’s also a time of renewal.
New hope your team will improve, and maybe this year will be the one.
We also have plenty of time to pontificate on how the look of the game will change, and who we think will dominate, and who’s likely to fall from their lofty perch.
Let’s run through a few of the common predictions from the off-season and see if any were confirmed or dispelled after week one.
EMERGENCE OF SMALL FORWARD LINE
RICHMOND’S decision to play just one tall forward and a mosquito fleet of small, quick types hellbent on tackling and pressuring the opposition, had many thinking this would be the way forward.
The Crows were the most effective scoring team in 2017 with the three talls of Taylor Walker, Mitch McGovern and Josh Jenkins averaging 110 points per game, just over three goals a game better than the Tigers. But with its failure on grand final day many predicted the death of multiple tall targets.
DISPELLED
Port Adelaide’s use of Charlie Dixon, Jack Watts and Todd Marshall was highly effective, Essendon’s Joe Daniher, Cale Hooker and James Stewart were the difference between them and Adelaide.
While Jon Patton and Jeremy Cameron combined for eight goals in the Giants’ demolition of the Bulldogs.
So while Richmond has created a highly effective forward structure, round one showed the impending extinction of the tall marking forward to be exaggerated.
ABLETT’S DECLINE
I, ALONG, with others wondered if the romance of Gary Ablett’s return to Geelong had clouded the judgement of some at Kardinia Park.
Having averaged just 12 games a season over the past four years due to increasing injuries and a just over a month shy of his 34th birthday at the start of round one. Surely time catches up with everyone, even the absolute greats.
DISPELLED
In the absence of Dangerfield, Ablett played 93 per cent game time, mostly in the midfield, had 39 possessions, kicked one goal, gave another one away, and had 12 score involvements out of a the team’s total of 27. Gary was the highest ranked Geelong player in the AFL Coaches award, eclipsing Joel Selwood who also had 39 touches.
PORT’S EFFICIENCY
Leading the competition for inside 50 entries in 2017 is certainly an achievement, but coming in 11th for scoring efficiency once you’ve got it in there doesn’t get you to where you want to go.
A pre-season focus on forward-entry kicking, the recruitment of Watts, Steven Motlop and Tom Rockliff, who all add to the front-half class and the reassignment of Chad Wingard back to the goal front where he is most dangerous.
CONFIRMED
The Power once again dominated the inside 50s, amassing 60 entries against the Dockers, but this time the scoreboard kept ticking over with 16 majors recorded.
Watts appears to be a great foil for Dixon, Motlop excites through the middle of the ground and with a half-back line boasting the elite foot skills of Dan Houston, Riley Bonner and Hamish Hartlett, they should be able to attack with the best in the competition.
LAIRD’S STAR QUALITY
After a number of years being underrated by most, Rory Laird broke through with his first All-Australian season in 2017. He is a ball magnet, ranked fourth in the AFL for possessions and number one for effective disposals, many see Laird as the architect in the best attacking team in the competition. Laird will have greater responsibility and pressure in the absence of Brodie Smith. Insiders at Adelaide are confident he will rise to the challenge.
CONFIRMED
Under enormous pressure in an undermanned team, Laird stood tall again amassing, 40 possessions at 88 per cent. He makes great decisions and is as brave as they come.
Starting to rival his namesake in importance to Crows.
HAWKS A FINALS CONTENDER
With 12 refreshed premiership stars along with Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O’Meara, James Sicily and Ryan Burton, combined with the coaching intellect of Alastair Clarkson, could see the Hawks return to September this season.
CONFIRMED
Breust, Gunston and Cyril Rioli were all back in the front half and firing, Mitchell and O’Meara through the middle, with Ben Stratton and James Frawley returning from injury to bolster the defence.
Not hard to make a case.
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