RICHMOND’S announcement last year that it would play a home game at Darwin’s TIO Stadium drew little fanfare and less fuss.
Taking the AFL game to a developing market while helping the club's all-important bottom line? Who could argue with that?
Fast forward to the game itself. Never mind the power failure that caused the floodlights to dim just before the game and that nearly caused the game’s postponement, the most damage on the night was caused to Richmond, which lost to Port Adelaide by 15 points.
Had the Richmond home game been played at the MCG, it is hard to imagine the Tigers dropping the points. The Tigers have been good at their ‘true’ home ground for much of the season and with 40,000 fans in full voice, they would have rammed that advantage home against an opponent down on form and confidence, and without a win at the MCG since round 4, 2009.
Now they’re out of the eight and in the midst of what will become a logjam for positions in the lower half of the finals race, along with Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs and the suddenly resurgent St Kilda.
If the Tigers fall short at the end of the season, be it for a home final in the opening week of the finals (not so likely) or the finals themselves (a bit more likely), moving a home game to Darwin, and then losing, will be offered up as a key reason why.
It has happened before. Melbourne ‘sold’ a home game to the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba every year between 2001 and 2007, and the effect it had on both clubs in some of those years was quite dramatic.
2001: The Brisbane Lions beat Melbourne by 49 points. The Lions finished second that year, earning a home qualifying final against Port Adelaide, which they won. Had the clash with Melbourne been at the MCG and the Demons had won, then Port would have hosted that first final and the Lions might not have won, making their path to the Grand Final all the more difficult. The Demons, with one more win to their name, would have been right in the mix for a finals berth.
2004: The Lions enjoyed a comfortable 40-point win over Melbourne at the Gabba in round 10. But the Demons were 7-2 at the time and flying. They would nearly have won it at the MCG. The net effect was that the Demons finished a game out of fourth (and the double chance) and were bundled out of the finals in the opening week by Essendon amid cries of protest towards the club’s administration by Melbourne supporters.
But the biggest loser out of the switch that year might have been St Kilda, which finished third - equal on points with the Lions but 10 percentage points behind. The Saints were belted by the Lions at the Gabba in the qualifying final. But had they the luxury of a home game in week one, they may have won through to a home preliminary final, where the odds of making the Grand Final, in what was a very even season, would have been greatly enhanced.
Granted, there are lots of ifs, buts and maybes in any discussion about what the results of games might have been had the venues not been switched. But while Port Adelaide hasn’t been overly successful at TIO Stadium (with three wins from seven encounters) it is familiar with the venue and the tropical environment and this gave it a tremendous advantage against the Tigers, who were visiting for the first time.
Take away the black shorts and it was an away game for the Tigers in every other respect and as we know, developing teams struggle to win on the road.
Heaven help the Tiger administration if they drop their other transplanted home game, against Gold Coast in Cairns in round 17.
Masters 2, Apprentices 1
There were three instances of ‘master v apprentice’ over the weekend, with the masters coming out on top.
It started at Metricon Stadium on Saturday for the ‘love-in’ featuring Gary Ablett and his reunion with his former teammates from Geelong. It was almost a shame they had to play a footy game in the midst of all the platitudes Ablett and the Cats were heaping on each other.
Good first half from the Suns, great second half from the Cats. Ablett played well enough to earn votes in some of the media awards, but the Cats, as a whole, played better. Ablett will get to enjoy some wins over Geelong in his guise as captain of the Suns, just not this year.
At the MCG on Sunday, it was Mick Malthouse taking his coaching record against his dual West Coast premiership captain John Worsfold to nine wins from 13 matches. The Pies ramped up the pressure every quarter and, as Worsfold pointed out afterwards, showed the Eagles how far they need to improve.
Across town at Etihad Stadium, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson admitted after the 29-point win over the Western Bulldogs that the Hawks enjoyed some ‘inside knowledge’ of the Bulldogs thanks to the insights of his newly-installed senior assistant Leon Cameron. Two years ago, the Hawks didn’t kick a goal in the first half against the Dogs under the Docklands roof. On Sunday, the game was as good as done at quarter-time.
As a former Bulldogs player and long-time assistant coach, Cameron is part of the furniture at the Whitten Oval. Some have him pegged as the logical replacement for Rodney Eade, whenever that may be. But his input at Hawthorn has been invaluable and the improvement to the forward line - more mobile and less predictable than in seasons past - is plain for all to see.
Club by club
Geelong: Tom Hawkins has been told in no uncertain terms by his coach as to how he is going. Kudos to Chris Scott for not serving up the usual positive dross when asked about Hawkins. Many a coach would have had a third party - i.e. a friendly journalist - do the dirty work on his behalf.
Collingwood: At first Dale Thomas was all about the flash. Then it was all about the grunt. Now his game features an equal and alluring mix of both, which is why he has emerged as one of the best players in the competition.
Hawthorn: Josh Gibson doesn’t get the headlines (at least on the field) of some of his more decorated teammates, but might just be a contender for Hawthorn's best and fairest after nine games.
Carlton: How many weeks until Matthew Kreuzer has his name inked on the team sheet? He could be the missing link for the Blues.
Essendon: Finally gets to strut its stuff on the Friday night stage this week against Melbourne. It is the start of a big few weeks for the Bombers, with winnable games against the Demons, Fremantle and North Melbourne as they continue their push for a top-four berth. Of the six contenders for the top four, the Bombers have the toughest draw.
Sydney Swans: A touch fortunate to eke out the win against North, but the dominance by the Swans of the contested footy in the final, frantic few minutes on Saturday was reminiscent of how they played under Paul Roos.
West Coast: Terrific learning experience against Collingwood. Top four is probably beyond the Eagles this year, but winning most games at home should ensure top six and a home final. Not to mention a new contract for the coach.
Fremantle: Mark Harvey is likely to make some changes for Sunday's MCG clash with the Hawks, but the names suggested don’t inspire a heap of confidence. He might need to drop a big name or two to shake up the place just a bit. See Port Adelaide below.
Richmond: With the promise by coach Damien Hardwick of some heavy training to come, the Tiger boys won’t be putting up the feet for too long over the bye period.
Melbourne: Played not to lose against Carlton and predictably lost.
St Kilda: Played the game on its terms from the opening minute against Fremantle. Won’t be allowed the same luxury against Collingwood next week. Hope Brendon Goddard gets himself right to play because he’s showing glimpses of his best once again. We suspect a conservative approach will see him missing.
Western Bulldogs: Tom Williams to the forward line is a move Rodney Eade should persist with.
Adelaide: This year's defeats by Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane are as bad as any by Adelaide in recent memory. Desperate game looming at Etihad against North on Sunday, although Neil Craig remains positive despite all the "noise" around him.
North Melbourne: Stiff not to get the win against Sydney given some missed free kicks late, but a 9.17 scoreline always promotes the risk of a heart-breaking defeat.
Brisbane Lions: Playing for their coach and their captain. The honesty has returned to the side, if nothing else.
Port Adelaide: Strong statements at selection (Brett Ebert and Steven Salopek both dropped) led to a resounding effort in Darwin. It is Coaching 101.
Gold Coast: The first quarter against Geelong might have been even better than the match-winning final quarter against Port Adelaide back in round five.
Player of the week
Marc Murphy (Carlton)
From all reports, the contract keeping him out of the clutches of the Giants will be signed this week. On the basis of some great football this season, notably his masterful 31-possession effort against Melbourne on Friday night, he is worth whatever it costs for the Blues. Chris Judd alone won’t be able to power this side to a top-four berth.
Twitterati
“Leadership advice from dermott???? This is coming from a guy who missed 39 matches through suspension! Thanks but no thanks mate!!” - North skipper Brent Harvey (@Boomer_29) responds to queries from Dermott Brereton about his leadership.
“Thanks for the positive messages.... Great effort by the boys, just dropped of our intensity in the second half! Well done to the Geelong” - Gary Ablett (@GaryAblettJnr) after the loss to the Cats.
“Weldone to the boys yesterday, in my eyes the best 4 quarters the team has strung together all year! #magpieblood #winning” - Collingwood’s Dale Thomas (@DT_13) on the big win over West Coast.
Next week's game not to be missed
As part of the AFL’s fixturing policy (or is it hope?) that good things come to those who wait, Collingwood and St Kilda will finally reprise last year’s two Grand Finals with their round 11 match-up at the MCG on Saturday night. It was shaping as a fizzer a fortnight ago, but thanks to St Kilda’s resurgence, looks an enticing match-up once more.
You can follow Ashley Browne on Twitter at twitter.com/hashbrowne
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
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