Herald Sun’s AFL reporters give their review after eight rounds of the season
LIKELY premiers, disappointments, big improvers, Nathan Buckley’s future and favourite moments. Ahead of Round 9, the Herald Sun experts give their take on the season so far.
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LIKELY premiers, disappointments, big improvers, Nathan Buckley’s future and favourite moments.
We’re nine rounds into what looms as the most even AFL season on record.
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So what have we learned and what’s surprised us? The Herald Sun’s expert footy team gives us their take on the season so far.
JON RALPH
PRE-SEASON I tipped the Western Bulldogs to win the premiership. And after eight rounds I think I am one back and one out. Still happy with that choice.
The team I’m MOST DISAPPOINTED with in 2017 is Collingwood. A full list, an OK draw, just can’t get it done yet.
The PLAYER WHO’S SURPRISED ME this season is Jarrod Witts. I thought he was a spent force at AFL level but is averaging 35 hit-outs and providing a real presence at the Suns.
The RULE THAT’S MOST FRUSTRATED ME in 2017 is the deliberate out of bounds rule.
We seem to finally have the balance right over the last week of officiating. But why with every rule we bring in does it take a ridiculous over-reaction for the AFL to set the tone, then four weeks of scrutiny, then finally an appropriate balance found? It’s not that hard, is it?
The VIC CLUBS THAT CAN WIN THE FLAG are Geelong, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda and Melbourne. Why would you rule anyone out when all of those four sides have shown their best is incredible. Clearly consistency is an issue but who hasn’t had issues with that this year?
They won’t make the 8 this season but the club I’M MOST BUOYANT ABOUT is Carlton.
A nice balance of talls forward and back, Kreuz is finally playing great footy, the coaching is impeccable. Good foundations.
NATHAN BUCKLEY will coach Collingwood this week. Apart from that, who can be sure? Seriously, though, I think he coaches until the precise moment finals are mathematically impossible. Then it might be time for a chat. This club has three potential caretakers — Sanderson, Burns, Harvey — who giving a month of coaching to might actually prove quite constructive.
Talk of a POTENTIAL FINALS WILDCARD WEEKEND from 2018 is great. But only for an 8 v 9 single playoff. Let’s face it, if you only finish 8th with 12 wins, you aren’t going to win the flag anyway. Having nine sides eligible for finals would mean clubs down to 15th might still have a finals sniff with 4 or 5 weeks left. That’s good for footy
DUSTY AND NAT FYFE are yet to re-sign. I think they will both stay for contracts north of a million bucks.
MY FAVOURITE MOMENT of the season so far was Anzac Day. It’s always pretty hard to beat but I think the game on the night before is building something pretty special. Safe to say the Shanghai contest is a long, long, long way down the list.
MICK WARNER
PRE-SEASON I tipped GWS to win the premiership. And after eight rounds I’m still confident, but the injuries are mounting.
The team I’m MOST DISAPPOINTED with in 2017 is Gold Coast. The end-of-season shake-up will be bloody and dramatic.
The PLAYER WHO’S SURPRISED ME most this season is St Kilda’s Sebastian Ross. He’s gone to another level in an emerging team.
The RULE THAT’S MOST FRUSTRATED ME in 2017 is deliberate out of bounds. Laughable until last weekend when common sense kicked in.
The only VIC CLUB THAT CAN WIN THE FLAG is the Dogs. Hoping for a repeat of last year’s epic prelim — the best game I’ve ever seen.
They won’t make the 8 this season but the club I’M MOST BUOYANT ABOUT is Carlton. Green shoots are now shrubs and there’s a forest on the horizon.
NATHAN BUCKLEY will coach Collingwood on Saturday but not for much longer if Hawthorn get the chocolates.
Talk of POTENTIAL FINALS WILDCARD WEEKEND from 2018 shows that clubs should use their power to vote out the commission and start again.
DUSTY AND NAT FYFE are yet to re-sign and will look very ordinary if they leave.
MY FAVOURITE MOMENT of the season so far was Stevie J’s saliva-fuelled matchwinner last weekend.
JAY CLARK
PRE-SEASON I tipped GWS to win the premiership. And after eight rounds I think their depth is being seriously tested.
The team I’m MOST DISAPPOINTED with in 2017 is Gold Coast. When will this team ever rise up?
The PLAYER WHO’S SURPRISED ME this season is Ben McEvoy. Thought he was cooked. Now in the frame for All-Australian.
The RULE THAT’S MOST FRUSTRATED ME in 2017 is deliberate out of bounds. Sometimes it is just a skill error out of congestion.
The only VIC CLUBS THAT CAN WIN THE FLAG are Bulldogs, Geelong, St Kilda and Melbourne. Wide open year.
They won’t make the 8 this season but the club I’M MOST BUOYANT ABOUT is Essendon. Doing a lot right from the club that’s been in crisis for four years.
NATHAN BUCKLEY will coach Collingwood for the season, regardless. Eddie doesn’t sack coaches midyear.
Talk of a POTENTIAL FINALS WILDCARD WEEKEND from 2018 is a distraction from the Marc Murphy sledge and CBA deal.
DUSTY AND NAT FYFE are yet to re-sign. I think they will both stay put — on big dollars.
MY FAVOURITE MOMENT of the season so far was when Clayton Oliver kicked the miracle goal from the boundary line in the Dees’ extraordinary win over Adelaide, helping shorten his Brownlow Medal odds even further. Now ahead of Fyfe and Selwood with some betting agencies.
SAM EDMUND
PRE-SEASON I tipped GWS to win the premiership. And after eight rounds I think I’m going better than Mick Warner who said the Giants would win 25 games straight en route to flag. Mick, please.
The team I’m MOST DISAPPOINTED with in 2017 is Hawthorn. On the decline, maybe. Not dropping out of the sky like as asteroid.
The PLAYER WHO’S SURPRISED ME this season is Sam Petrevski-Seton. First year, no pre-season games, yet plays every game.
The RULE THAT’S MOST FRUSTRATED ME in 2017 is Deliberate out of bounds.
The only VIC CLUBS THAT CAN WIN THE FLAG are Western Bulldogs, St Kilda and Melbourne.
They won’t make the 8 this season but the club I’M MOST BUOYANT ABOUT is Carlton.
NATHAN BUCKLEY will coach Collingwood tomorrow.
Talk of a POTENTIAL FINALS WILDCARD WEEKEND from 2018 is incredibly harsh for sides who legitimately finish in the top eight.
DUSTY AND NAT FYFE are yet to re-sign but I think they will both stay.
MY FAVOURITE MOMENT of the season so far was Daisy’s baulk and banana to rain on Collingwood’s 125th anniversary parade.
SAM LANDSBERGER
PRE-SEASON I tipped Western Bulldogs to win the premiership. And after eight rounds I still think the Doggies.
The team I’m MOST DISAPPOINTED with in 2017 is Collingwood.
The PLAYER WHO’S SURPRISED ME this season is Clayton Oliver.
The only VIC CLUBS THAT CAN WIN THE FLAG that can win the premiership are Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and St Kilda.
They won’t make the 8 this season but the club I’M MOST BUOYANT ABOUT is the Gold Coast Suns.
NATHAN BUCKLEY will coach Collingwood until the end of the season.
Talk of a POTENTIAL FINALS WILDCARD WEEKEND from 2018 is healthy debate. But I still prefer the 17-5 model.
MY FAVOURITE MOMENT of the season so far was the GWS-WB thriller ... and knowing what that rivalry will produce in the next five years.
GILBERT GARDINER
PRE-SEASON I tipped GWS to win the premiership. And after eight rounds I still think GWS is the team tio beat.
The team I’m MOST DISAPPOINTED with in 2017 is Richmond. They have talent on every line and more depth in the midfield yet still find ways to lose games they should win.
The PLAYER WHO’S SURPRISED ME this season is Clayton Oliver.
The RULE THAT’S MOST FRUSTRATED ME in 2017 is Deliberate Out of Bounds
The only VIC CLUB THAT CAN WIN THE FLAG is Geelong. Just get the ball to Dangerfield and Selwood and they will look after the rest.
They won’t make the 8 this season but the club I’M MOST BUOYANT ABOUT is North Melbourne
NATHAN BUCKLEY will coach Collingwood this year only. He must win 10 of the next 15 just to get to the contract table for next year and beyond.
Talk of a POTENTIAL FINALS WILDCARD WEEKEND from 2018 is madness. Leave the bloody game alone.
DUSTY AND NAT FYFE are yet to re-sign. I think both will stay.
MY FAVOURITE MOMENT of the season so far was Marley Williams running down Gary Ablett in Round 6.
JON ANDERSON
PRE-SEASON I tipped Geelong to win the premiership. And after eight rounds I think the Cats remain a chance.
The team I’m MOST DISAPPOINTED with in 2017 is Collingwood, because I reckon they are better than 2-6 after eight weeks.
The PLAYER WHO’S SURPRISED ME this season is Tim Taranto fromGWS. To be so composed so early.
The RULE THAT’S MOST FRUSTRATED ME in 2017 is third-man up. Ruckmen are being destroyed.
The only VIC CLUBS THAT CAN WIN THE FLAG are Western Bulldogs and Geelong.
They won’t make the 8 this season but the club I’M MOST BUOYANT ABOUT is Melbourne.
NATHAN BUCKLEY will coach Collingwood in 2017/18.
Talk of a POTENTIAL FINALS WILDCARD WEEKEND from 2018 is nonsensical.
DUSTY AND NAT FYFE are yet to re-sign. They’ll both stay.
MY FAVOURITE MOMENT of the season so far was Eddie Betts’ goal.
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