Golf Clubs

So it looks as though the eight playoff sides have been determined. As you can see by a look at the ladder after week 22, St. Kilda is the only side that can catch North Melbourne. They're one game back of North with one game to play. The Saints play Brisbane and the Kangaroos face GWS. The odds favor North Melbourne ending the season tied with St. Kilda. 

However, StK would have to win by something like 25 goals and the Roos would also have to lose by that amount in order for North Melbourne to miss the playoffs, because of percentages. So it's not very likely.

AFL ladder after round 22

Also, Hawthorn has lost two of their last three to fall to fourth from the top spot. If they don't fall further, they'll play in the first round of the finals still with the opportunity for a bye should they win. The disadvantage is that it'd be a road game.

The Hawks lost last week to West Coast, who lost their big ruckman Nic Natanui to an ACL tear during the game. Nic Nat will be out till the middle of next year. Bummer. It's fun watching him play. The Eagles will make the eight, but making a deep run in the postseason is less likely without the big man.

Last week I watched North fall to Sydney. I saw today that Kangaroos player Brent Harvey at age 38 will not be offered a contract for 2017. There seems to be a greater emphasis on the team and the collective in the AFL, because the reason given was that they want to get young players game experience. I don't know-- Harvey just set the league record for games played and still looks to be in fine form. I get that his days are numbered, but his loyalty and commitment to the club and to the game should give him the opportunity to exit on his own terms.

Adelaide overcame beat Port Adelaide to move into a tie for the top spot. Eddie Betts of the Crows had a great game in helping his side to their 16th win of the season. It's amazing what they've done, since their head coach Phil Walsh was killed during the 2015 season. Walsh's son stands accused of killing his father.

Anyhow, what they've overcome is awesome stuff.

Up for this week: West Coast (without a key piece of the puzzle) meets Adelaide, and Melbourne faces Geelong. When the week is over, everyone else gets to head out to the golf course and play 18 and get ready for 2017.

Hawthorn gonna Hawthorn

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.

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. 

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.

Round 9

I typically record two matches per week on Fox Sports 1 or 2 and watch them during the week, as mentioned. This week did not include the Richmond Tigers, a side that I've seen play several times this season.

The first game I watched was Sydney vs. Hawthorn, featuring two of the better sides in the AFL, and a rematch of the 2014 Grand Final, won by Hawthorn in a blowout. This game saw the Swans get a big lead early and keep their opponent at arm's length down the stretch. It was an entertaining affair. The Hawks have won the last three premierships so I knew they'd make a run and they did but fell short.

What I've noticed over time is the commentators' weird love affair with Lance "Buddy" Franklin, an outstanding Sydney player. Granted, he kicked a goal from 70 meters, but two weeks ago they showed footage and talked about one of the water boys smiling because he got to give the great Buddy a water bottle. Maybe the guy was just happy because Buddy just kicked a goal. I don't know. It just seems strange is all.

I also picked up West Coast at Port Adelaide. I like watching games at the Adelaide Oval because they show an old hand-operated cricket scoreboard in the background that has the match score. It seems to me that scoreboard (which is right next to a snazzy electric one) has been used for a long, long time and could tell a story or two.

West Coast, last year's premiership runner-up, has a hard time winning road games, and they had trouble putting away the Power after leading by 30+ in the second half. The Eagles did pick up the win and got the job done. Port will lose defender Tom Jonas to suspension for six matches after he struck Eagle Andrew Gaff with an elbow, knocking Gaff out for a few minutes.

So here is the ladder (standings) after nine rounds:

Top 8 teams make the postseason. The percentage column indicates the amount of points a team scores for every 100 points scored against it. Hawthorn, in 7th position, is winning but not by wide margins, as they're scoring 102.7 points for every 100 their opponent tallies. 

My DVR is already set to record North Melbourne at Sydney and Richmond/Essendon this week. I'm particularly looking forward to North/Sydney, which should be a good one.