1. The Dees are the real deal
Melbourne hardly put a foot wrong in their first September appearance since 2006 and they absolutely dominated Geelong across the field. A lot of people were expecting them to get to the finals and not be a contender but aside from Richmond, Melbourne was the most impressive team in the first week of the finals. Their younger players stood up and they just wanted it more than Geelong. They take on the Hawks this week and if they play like they did on the weekend, they are every chance to make it to a prelim.
2. Good luck trying to stop the Tigers
People say that nobody is unbeatable, but I think when it comes to finals at the MCG, Richmond just about are. Where is their weakness? What can a team target to beat them? The only way a team can get a look in is if the Tigers are having an off day, but they stepped it up to another gear on the weekend and took it to a level that the rest of the teams donโt have in them. If they werenโt playing all their games at the โG then it would be a different story but I canโt see them getting beaten unless they donโt turn up.
3. Buddy Franklin is slowing down
When Sydney had only kicked two goals to half-time on Saturday, they needed Buddy to come out in the third quarter and get involved and do something special. And then he came out and didnโt leave the goal square. That isnโt the Buddy we know. Some people think he was injured but then why was he out there? He had zero impact on the game and Phil Davis had an absolute field day. Heโs 31 and will be 32 come the start of next season and it seems like heโs edging closer and closer to hanging up the boots.
4. The Cats super midfield was a failure
Geelong brought in Patrick Dangerfield and they didnโt win a premiership. Then they brought Gary Ablett back to the club and they got knocked out in the first week of the finals after just scraping in. They might have the best midfield in the league, but the rest of their side, bar Tom Hawkins and Tom Stewart, is pretty average. The successful teams of the past few years have had an even spread across the ground, which Geelong simply don't have. They had zero forward pressure against Melbourne on the weekend and they never looked like getting back into the game unless the Dees laid down for them. Chris Scott needs to go back to the drawing board and look for some youth.
5. Elliot Yeo should have been in the All Australian team
Elliot Yeo is a genuine superstar and how he missed the All-Australian team is completely mind-boggling. Heโs had a terrific year and has barely played a bad game with an average of 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five marks and six score involvements per game. He was absolutely outstanding in the Eaglesโ win over Collingwood on Saturday night with 36 touches, 24 contested and nine tackles. The All-Australian selectors have made a big error.
