{"id":62695,"date":"2024-04-18T11:26:46","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T01:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=62695"},"modified":"2024-04-18T11:52:16","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T01:52:16","slug":"footys-super-saturday-all-bangers-all-the-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2024\/04\/footys-super-saturday-all-bangers-all-the-time\/","title":{"rendered":"FOOTY&#8217;S SUPER SATURDAY &#8211; ALL BANGERS, ALL THE TIME."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>June 17th, 1994 is the single most famous day in sports broadcasting history.<\/p>\n<p>It was the day that the OJ Simpson white bronco car chase happened (RIP to the ultimate \u201cbut fuck he could play, though\u201d athlete in the long history of athletes committing crimes against women and basically getting away with it).<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"OJ Simpson Bronco chase\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PhVs14QmJdY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>On the same date as the car chase, the following things also happened:<br \/>\n\u2022 Arnold Palmer was playing his final round at the US Open,<br \/>\n\u2022 The 1994 World Cup kicked off in Chicago,<br \/>\n\u2022 The New York Rangers were having a ticker tape parade on Broadway,<br \/>\n\u2022 Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Rockets was on, and was being simulcast with the chase, and<br \/>\n\u2022 Ken Griffey tied Babe Ruth\u2019s record for most home runs in a single MLB season.<\/p>\n<p>That date, that moment in time, is so famous that ESPN made a 30 for 30 about it.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"June 17, 1994 - Greatest Sports Stories Promo\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kMr6LzRsLds?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>What does it have to do with footy?<\/p>\n<p>Have you looked at the fixture for Saturday?<\/p>\n<p>If June 17th, 1994, is number 1 then April 20th, 2024, is in the conversation for number 2.<\/p>\n<p>Have a look at these games:<br \/>\n\u2022 Collingwood v Port at the MCG,<br \/>\n\u2022 Carlton v GWS at Marvel,<br \/>\n\u2022 Brisbane v Geelong at the Gabba, then finally<br \/>\n\u2022 West Coast v Fremantle at Optus.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s like Kendall Roy\u2019s birthday, all bangers all the time.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cAll bangers all the time, yeah all bangers all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nobody tries to sell cool more awkwardly and painfully than Kendall Roy. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xMbKKLNt0F\">pic.twitter.com\/xMbKKLNt0F<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tim Ryan\ud83e\udda4 (@TheSportsHernia) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheSportsHernia\/status\/1466163005591334912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 1, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>To prepare you, and myself, for that feast for the eyes starting from 1:45pm on Saturday, here\u2019s one question that I have heading into every game.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Collingwood v Port Adelaide \u2013 Can Collingwood keep up with Port\u2019s territory game?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Who could make the trip to the &#39;G? \ud83d\udeeb\u2935\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Yartapuulti FC (@PAFC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PAFC\/status\/1780438535868424375?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 17, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s no secret that Collingwood<a href=\"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2024\/03\/whats-the-deal-with-collingwood-and-brisbane\/\"> haven\u2019t been quite the same side as they were last year,<\/a> and nor are Port.<\/p>\n<p>After playing probably the game of the regular season in Round 19 last year, it seems that Port has taken a step forward while the Pies have taken a step back.<\/p>\n<p>This year Port are like the Roman Empire in 117 CE with the way that they dominate territory.<\/p>\n<p>Port are third for metres gained, second for metres gained per disposal, plus first for opponent metres gained and metres gained differential.<\/p>\n<p>That dominance is how they are second for inside 50 differential, first for marks inside 50 differential and first in expected score by five full points.<\/p>\n<p>After a year where the Pies were second for metres gained differential and\u00a0 opponent metres gained, their defensive game has slipped dramatically to the point that they now sit eighth for opponent metres gained and 12th in metres gained differential, in large part because they sit 16th for metres gained, ahead of only West Coast and North.<\/p>\n<p>If the Pies can\u2019t stem Port\u2019s territory game, they\u2019ll be lucky if the ball gets over half-way.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Carlton v GWS \u2013 Can GWS keep the game moving?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Can the GIANTS backline cover the loss of Sam Taylor and mitigate the impact of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay this weekend?<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GWSGIANTS\/status\/1780466128860635355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 17, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>GWS have been so good this year.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re so good they\u2019re at the point where you can almost see them cycling through gears in-game.<\/p>\n<p>Against the Saints in the third quarter, St Kilda started to mount a comeback as GWS\u2019 run and effort slowed down, and the Saints got it back to a 7-point game. Shortly thereafter, GWS put the Ferrari back into gear and screamed out to a 30-point lead by \u00be time.<\/p>\n<p>I know that the Saints came back to lose by a point, I\u2019m not saying that the gear thing always works.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that they have it already is a good enough indication for me that this is an excellent football team.<\/p>\n<p>But more than how good they are, it\u2019s how watchable they are. They move the ball so brilliantly and when they\u2019re on.<\/p>\n<p>Because of that desire to keep the game moving, GWS games are 16th for total ruck contests per game.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re like a great white, they dread stagnation.<\/p>\n<p>Carlton, on the other hand, loves it.<\/p>\n<p>Their games are sixth for total ruck contests because, I think, they view their clearance and contested ball game as their strength (not that that has particularly played out as they sit 16th for total clearances).<\/p>\n<p>If GWS can get the game on the outside, the Blues\u2019 lack of leg speed will come back to bite them, and they\u2019ll lose.<\/p>\n<p>If Carlton drags GWS into the muck, it\u2019s not out of the realm that the Blues beat them with experience.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Brisbane v Geelong \u2013 Is Brisbane back?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Mutedly, as at the day of writing, I say the answer is yes.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Happy Monday \u263a\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rkx7OZoMmd\">pic.twitter.com\/rkx7OZoMmd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/brisbanelions\/status\/1779654084506923447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 14, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll say it emphatically if they beat Geelong.<\/p>\n<p>Brisbane\u2019s statistical profile is still excellent this season.<\/p>\n<p>They lead footy in clearances, second in inside 50s, second in forward half stoppages and third at winning them.<\/p>\n<p>They also create the most forward half in intercepts of any team.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, they\u2019re seventh in expected score.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve struggled a bit to capitalise on that forward half dominance and Geelong are no easy beat in any of those stats.<\/p>\n<p>But if Brisbane can recreate the lethal edge that they showed against Melbourne, Brisbane\u2019s statistical dominance will be backed up by three wins on the trot, two against premiership contenders, and one at the MCG.<\/p>\n<p>At that point, it\u2019s time for the rest of the competition to fret.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>West Coast v Freo \u2013 Was last week West Coast or Richmond?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>West Coast got their first win of 2024 last week over a depleted Richmond side.<\/p>\n<p>But before that, they put together decent quarters or halves against each of GWS and Sydney.<\/p>\n<p>After a run of decisions since 2021 that would put them on the Mt Rushmore of own goals next to Ben Roberts-Smith, Bruce Lehrmann, and Andres Escobar, could they finally be turning it around?<\/p>\n<p>Harley Reid looks like an honest-to-goodness superstar.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sunday: First Eagles win<br \/>Monday: AFL Rising Star nomination<\/p>\n<p>A special few days for Harley Reid \ud83d\udc4f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6H34MICaif\">pic.twitter.com\/6H34MICaif<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; AFL (@AFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AFL\/status\/1779796810111799630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>But more than just him, West Coast are starting to build their game from the inside out sitting above the league average in both centre clearances and total clearances, a clear departure from their usual home at the bottom of virtually all statistical categories except opponent points.<\/p>\n<p>Fremantle will be a good test because Freo tend to choke games and constrict ball movement, while also being an excellent clearance side.<\/p>\n<p>While they themselves don\u2019t score much, it will be a good test to see if West Coast can both stay in touch with Fremantle and break even (or win) around the middle.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b><i>Like what you read from our hard-hitting columnist?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b><i>Follow\u00a0<\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/guywholikesspo1\"><b><i>@Guywholikessport<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i>\u00a0on Twitter or check out his\u00a0<\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/guywholikessport.wixsite.com\/guywholikessport\"><b><i>FULL BLOG HERE\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":62708,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8298,344],"tags":[29,8614,3311,1329,8260,3094],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-62695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australian-rules","category-guywholikessport","category-sports","tag-afl","tag-afl-2024","tag-aussie-rules","tag-australian-rules","tag-guywholikessport","tag-opinion"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":null,"md_tip_date_end":null,"md_market_url":"","tip_date":"18\/04\/2024","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62695"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62695\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62695"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=62695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}