AFL: Contenders pull away from pretenders as a crucial week looms
The AFL’s premiership contenders are beginning to separate themselves from their rivals.
Geelong coach Chris Scott has acknowledged this is a critically important week for the Cats in their quest to secure a finals double chance in late September.
The sixth-placed Cats bookend the week with clashes against elite opposition as the compressed carnival of football begins to separate the flag contenders from pretenders.
West Coast claimed outright premiership favouritism on Sunday they ran over the top of Carlton to secure a spot in the top four. Carlton coach David Teague called the Eagles the best team the Blues have face this year.
Geelong has an opportunity to reclaim fourth spot against the third-placed St Kilda on Monday night in Brisbane and then face the top-of-the-ladder Port Adelaide on Friday on the Gold Coast.
“I haven’t actually run all the numbers, but it is obvious to say that when you are playing the better teams and you have aspirations to be (one of) those yourself, that they do take on a little bit of extra importance,” Scott said.
“Even if we look back over this block of four games, West Coast, St Kilda (and) Port Adelaide have genuine claims to be in that top-four position, so the challenge of the draw wasn’t just that compressed fixture. It was the quality of the opposition as well.
“I think I said (last week) our performance over the next fortnight won’t be a referendum on where we sit in the competition, necessarily, but with the shortened seasons, the games do take on a little bit more value than they do in a 22-game season.”
The Cats have bolstered their side for the pivotal clash, with Gary Rohan, Brandan Parfitt and Jake Kolodjashnij returning after being rested against the Kangaroos.
St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary returns, while Jack Bytel will debut. Zak Jones has been rested and Ed Phillips dropped.
Scott is mindful of just how potent the Saints have been this season, with the Brett Ratten-coached club boasting the second-best percentage in the competition at 123.
“They are deserving of their position on the ladder, there is no question about that,” he said.
“You would be a fool if you weren’t aware of St Kilda’s strengths. Their ability to score and the speed with which both they move the ball and also their leg speed on the outside. They have obvious and significant threats for us.”
Heading into the fast-tracked phase of the fixture between Rounds 9 and 12, there was a theory more mature clubs would handle the unprecedented demands better.
West Coast has proven a clear example of this and continued their strong form in Perth with their 22-point triumph over Carlton.
The Eagles, now premiership favourites at $4.50, trailed the Blues by 19 points early in the third term, but were dominant from then on to claim a fifth-straight win.
Dom Sheed, who kicked two last-quarter goals, said the Eagles are determined to make the most of their opportunities while playing at home after struggling in Queensland earlier this year.
4Q: Sheed Time ⌚ #AFLEaglesBlues pic.twitter.com/a6e8TEo3tn
— AFL (@AFL) August 9, 2020
West Coast, which has a game in hand on key rivals for a top four slot, host Hawthorn and the Giants over the next fortnight before another potential stint in a hub in Queensland.
Similarly to the Eagles, Port Adelaide and Brisbane have negotiated the compressed fixture well and are in a strong position to earn home qualifying finals with six matches remaining.
The Power guaranteed a spot in the finals when they beat reigning premiers Richmond by 21 points on Saturday.
Port Adelaide sits a game clear on top with a percentage 19 points better than the next best performer, the Saints, ahead of Friday night’s clash against Geelong.
Brisbane dealt the Western Bulldogs’ finals hopes a significant blow on Saturday night when they beat them by 23 points at the Gabba.
It was the Lions’ third win in four matches played over 13 days and has them well-positioned in second place, though the Saints can draw level should they defeat Geelong.
“To have two four-day breaks in a row and to come out and play like that tonight against a really good opposition, I was really proud of our team and the grit they showed,” Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge lamented his side’s immaturity at being unable to sustain a high standard of football long enough to challenge the Lions late in the match.
They sit in ninth position, level on wins with Essendon, but the Bombers have two games in hand.
The challengers for the eight are reducing by the week, with Carlton the latest to slip from the peloton after the loss to West Coast.
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