So North Melbourne is continuing their stretch of playing teams toward the top of the table. They battled hard but fell against a Hawthorn team that seems to be rounding into form a little bit.
Something I can't shake when watching the Hawks is that they just keep coming and coming. They are very steady and very cool when other sides are bringing their best, such as the Kangaroos did in round 13. It reminds me of watching Hawthorn early in season 2016 vs. Western Bulldogs, who are an up and coming side with aspirations. They brought their best, but the Hawks got it done. They're very professional and know what to do and how to do it when it matters most. It was a fun match to watch, but... Hawthorn just keeps doing what they do winning by nine points, taking advantage of North's inability to kick straight.
Fremantle is probably already playing for 2017, as they are trying to fit some new pieces into place. Ruckman Aaron Sandilands has been out for a while and reigning Brownlow Medalist Nat Fyfe is out for the season with a broken leg. These are two key players for the Dockers, along with forward Matthew Pavlich, who is nearing retirement. Freo started 2016 by losing their first 10 games. Port was trying to hold on to stay within shouting distance of the eight.
You would have trouble knowing which side was at the bottom of the ladder and which was battling for a playoff spot-- Fremantle won their third in a row, defeating the 2004 Premiers by 17 points.
Round 14 sees the start of bye weeks, not to be underestimated by players who have been punishing their bodies for the last three months. I get three matches, well two and a half as I didn't get the DVR set in time. Coming up this week: Adelaide/North, Geelong meets St. Kilda and I get my first chance to see Gold Coast as they face Hawthorn.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Round 12
We're in the middle of a busy period here on the grounds...
This week saw another Collingwood match-- this time against Melbourne. It was Queen Elizabeth's birthday, so we got Monday footy.
The Demons are on the back end of a supplement scandal that had center stage a few years ago. They were closer to the basement the last couple of seasons, but they're in the middle of the pack right now. Collingwood doesn't seem to be playing all that well right now, and Melbourne spanked them by 46 points. Mason Cox kicked two goals for the Pies, but they're just not a very good side right now. 104-58 was the final for Melbourne.
Geelong-North Melbourne was one of the better matches of the week. North had some injury concerns during the game, which affect substitution patterns and fatigue sets in later in the game when guys don't get the in-game rest they need. These injury look to be a problem for the Kangaroos as they go forward. The Cats played well in disposing of North by 31 points.
The Kangas stay a game clear on the top of the AFL ladder, as the GWS (Greater Western Sydney) Giants beat second-place Sydney. GWS is a new side, having come forth within the last five years. They were in sixth place at the start of the round, and beating a quality Swans side can only help their confidence going forward.
Coming up this week... North Melbourne's rough patch of scheduling continues as they meet reigning premiers Hawthorn, and Port Adelaide meets Fremantle. I haven't seen Freo play since early in the season. They lost in the preliminary final last season but lost their first ten matches to start 2016.
This week saw another Collingwood match-- this time against Melbourne. It was Queen Elizabeth's birthday, so we got Monday footy.
The Demons are on the back end of a supplement scandal that had center stage a few years ago. They were closer to the basement the last couple of seasons, but they're in the middle of the pack right now. Collingwood doesn't seem to be playing all that well right now, and Melbourne spanked them by 46 points. Mason Cox kicked two goals for the Pies, but they're just not a very good side right now. 104-58 was the final for Melbourne.
Geelong-North Melbourne was one of the better matches of the week. North had some injury concerns during the game, which affect substitution patterns and fatigue sets in later in the game when guys don't get the in-game rest they need. These injury look to be a problem for the Kangaroos as they go forward. The Cats played well in disposing of North by 31 points.
The Kangas stay a game clear on the top of the AFL ladder, as the GWS (Greater Western Sydney) Giants beat second-place Sydney. GWS is a new side, having come forth within the last five years. They were in sixth place at the start of the round, and beating a quality Swans side can only help their confidence going forward.
Coming up this week... North Melbourne's rough patch of scheduling continues as they meet reigning premiers Hawthorn, and Port Adelaide meets Fremantle. I haven't seen Freo play since early in the season. They lost in the preliminary final last season but lost their first ten matches to start 2016.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Mason Cox
The past week's matches saw North Melbourne get past Richmond, getting the league-leading Roos back in the win column and ending Richmond's three-match winning streak. Collingwood started out well in the first five minutes in their match with Port Adelaide, but the Power took control as things progressed, especially in the second half. Here is the ladder after 11 rounds:
One nice story about Collingwood actually comes from the states. Mason Cox was a member of some good Flower Mound Marcus (Texas) soccer teams that won consecutive state titles. He was already 6'5" then he grew six more inches. But he didn't play basketball for the Marauders.
One day he was just playing around on the basketball floor at Oklahoma State when he caught the attention of a member of the OSU women's basketball staff. Next thing he knew, he was "Brittney Griner" in practice, helping in practice by imitating her as the team prepped for matchups against those outstanding Bears teams Griner anchored.
Then Cox got onto the men's scout team, and he even got to play a little bit as depth became an issue. He was a mechanical engineering major at OSU and even had a job in Houston lined up with a big oil company after graduation. Over two years ago, he went to Los Angeles for an AFL combine, made an impression as a big man who can move, and is now a starter for the Magpies. It's more remarkable because the track record is not good when American athletes try out for the AFL. Different skill sets are required.
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| Cox's bio from the Collingwood team website. |
He splits time between ruckman and the forward line. At the ruck position he helps win possession off center bounces, and as a forward his height is an advantage when the ball is kicked to him. Mason kicked two goals for the Pies in the loss to Port.
Not bad for someone who hadn't even heard of the game until he went to the combine a few years ago.
What I'm watching this weekend: Cox and his Collingwood teammates play Melbourne, and another test for North Melbourne as they play the Geelong Cats.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Dreamtime at the G
Round 10 of the AFL season is the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round, where the league raises awareness of Aboriginal culture in Australia. The term 'indigenous' refers to the people already living in Australia in the late 1700s when the British started colonizing. The history between settlers and Aborigines has often been unpleasant, so this is a great chance to bring people together and bring about a deeper knowledge and understanding. Doug Nicholls was a prominent Aboriginal Australian who played for the old Fitzroy Football Club in the 1930s.
Additionally, each AFL team wears specially designed guernseys to commemorate the week.
The 'Dreamtime at the G' match is the highlight of the round, played at the end of Reconciliation Week by Essendon and Richmond each year since 2005. The two sides were chosen because their combined team colors constitute the colors of the Australian Aboriginal flag. Both sides wear black jumpers. Richmond adds a gold sash, Essendon a red one. There were two groups of Aborigines who performed ritual dances prior to the start of the game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, known as 'the G' by the locals.
Richmond seems to be getting things turned around a bit, picking up their third straight win with their victory over the Bombers.
My other match of the week was North Melbourne/Sydney. One old AFL memory I have is of John Longmire playing for the Kangaroos many years ago. He now wears the red and the white of Sydney as their head coach. The Swans ended North's undefeated run to start the season, but the Roos are still a game ahead of Sydney, and two games ahead of five other teams that are tied for third position on the ladder.
On tap for week 11-- another tough test for Richmond as they play North Melbourne. I'll also check out Port Adelaide at Collingwood. Interesting fact: Mason Cox played college basketball at Oklahoma State and is getting minutes with the Magpies. We'll talk about him more next week.
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| Flag of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. |
Additionally, each AFL team wears specially designed guernseys to commemorate the week.
The 'Dreamtime at the G' match is the highlight of the round, played at the end of Reconciliation Week by Essendon and Richmond each year since 2005. The two sides were chosen because their combined team colors constitute the colors of the Australian Aboriginal flag. Both sides wear black jumpers. Richmond adds a gold sash, Essendon a red one. There were two groups of Aborigines who performed ritual dances prior to the start of the game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, known as 'the G' by the locals.
Richmond seems to be getting things turned around a bit, picking up their third straight win with their victory over the Bombers.
My other match of the week was North Melbourne/Sydney. One old AFL memory I have is of John Longmire playing for the Kangaroos many years ago. He now wears the red and the white of Sydney as their head coach. The Swans ended North's undefeated run to start the season, but the Roos are still a game ahead of Sydney, and two games ahead of five other teams that are tied for third position on the ladder.
On tap for week 11-- another tough test for Richmond as they play North Melbourne. I'll also check out Port Adelaide at Collingwood. Interesting fact: Mason Cox played college basketball at Oklahoma State and is getting minutes with the Magpies. We'll talk about him more next week.
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