Fox Footy Podcast: What'll happen in dramatic last round

Published Aug 20, 2024, 5:54 AM

Max Laughton, Ben Waterworth and Ben Cotton review Round 23 and preview Round 24 of the 2024 AFL season on the Fox Footy Podcast, with analysis of the finals race and how the last round of the season will play out, who's best-placed heading into September, plus Fair or Farce, the Mailbag and much more.

The big footy issues from every angle, dissected by a team that follows the game closer than anyone else wherever you are around the planet. This is your ultimate guide to the AFL. This is the Fox Footy Podcast.

And so it all comes down to this. Another classic tight run Home boils down to a handful of crucial games this weekend and who would want to be a Dockers fan. They face a tantalizing weight just to see if their final game will be live or a dead rubber. We'll run through all the possible scenarios with our run Home Guru, plus breakdown all the big issues and deliver the biggest laughs. On the Fox Footy Podcast. Ben Waterworth with you as is the man ahead of his Grand Final. Max Lawton, Hello, Maxy.

And what's good about my Grand Final is that I only work one of the three days of my Grand Final.

But you are no. You technically are work across the whole three days now.

Well I'm across it, yes, But the last few Saturday nights, my girlfriend's been absolutely thrilled as we finish watching TV and then I go into my room and type up scenarios of the finals until about midnight you know, like all young people do.

As Max says, he's one of the most live people online people I think I've ever messed sickening also joining us for a second straight week ahead of a very relaxed Well, there's no way Collinwood can make the final short truly now, Max, isn't it relaxed? Friday Night? Ben Cotton, Hello BC, So.

He's saying there's a chance, that's what all the.

Chance or something like that.

Well, they only need to win by one hundred and have other teams that lose by one hundred, so, you know, probably not.

BC filling in for David Z speaking of losing.

Hello there, David the Devil. Yes, I have been on here.

Here is my David Why the podcast?

There's a lot going on and I just need to It's just to wear a rich snow and under at the Thank you Max, use the.

Microphone or podcast.

I don't know if you're sick or not.

I just I'm very it's been very difficult at the moment work wise.

We're just a bit busy.

And when I was asked if I could take just a moment, perhaps forty minutes to quite well cast, how would you describe what transpired.

Was the producer tonight not a fan?

Oh no, he just he just said it. He was was it wasn't well received.

It wasn't well received.

That was a very high voice there.

But it's good and one of our favorite actors. Just quickly, please, this needs to be discussed. He posted something randomly. He posted a quote from one of his movies. Do you want to explain what you said? Well, he's taking a screenshot of this.

So Michael Caine, a frequent guest of the podcast Office getting on for some reason, tweeted out a quote. But I don't think he knows what movie he was in.

Right, Yes, he said, what why are we fool?

So we can learn to pick our shelves up? Right?

And then he and then he writes to the bottom, batman, begin, you know, begin begins rosuably.

The prequel without a plural.

Anyway, I hope you have a great podcast. I apologize I did. I did the thing on Reddit recently asked me stuff, and I saw comments saying they went sure if I liked Max, and it seemed like I really didn't enjoy doing the podcast.

That's not true.

It's all like fa sad, much like much of my life, basic keeping, and I apologize. I apologize if that's I actually very much enjoy the podcast and I'm sad I haven't been here recently.

I've not been on strike.

It's my standard and I hope that everything goes well and I don't have to It's fine, and I'll give you back to Ben Cotton. All the very best to you and your families.

David Zeda from Foxforce News. You can follow this tribunal blog if you're listening to this prior to four pm, which would be a minor miracle. If actually there's probably more of a chance of you listening to this prior to four pm on Tuesday than colling and making the finals. I would say so this year it's a bit of a bit of a late drop, but yes it'll be actually Lockey Ash who has the four o'clock tribunal appearance and then Dan Houston at six thirty eastern.

Is there a bigger combination possible of the gap between actual player quality and name value in Victoria? Like if you want to go on witness protection, go on the half back line for a non Victorian club, no one knows who you are. Dan Houston might be a duel all Australian even, and it's like.

It feels like we have to sell how good of a player he is.

Locky Ash is pretty good player too. Very few people in Victoria would know who he is, so interesting times and he needs to play it against the board.

Of talking pure like visuals like how he looks, or just like he's actually playing ability.

Well, I think a bit of both, but name value. I'm thinking of Locky Ash. Maybe some super coaches might know him, but I can't imagine he's a huge points accumulator either. I think they're both.

They're okay, I want to reveal my allegiance in the Fantasy world, of.

Course, but you love super Coach and news Corp.

I believe, yes, I believe they're both better in that platform as well.

Okay, great Dan Houston. How many weeks does he get tonight? Beer Max sort.

Of AFL probably asking for five by the sounds of things, because they didn't put a number down in the press release, yes, which they did when they wanted four for rankin primory, so five seems like the minimum. If he gets four, he's effectively out for the season, because the only way he play again is if port make a Grand final while losing a qualifying final.

And if he does get for the Antennas sort of a few AFL followers go up thinking, oh, they just maybe being a little bit lean in so he does get the slight chance he'd be available for a Grand final.

Interesting. I mean, expecting Port to lose a final isn't the worst bet in the world.

I guess they have lost a few finals. It has to be said during the Kenning Cley.

Year, well, but you know it could be there is still a chance they get the third qualifying final of Port v Gelong Adelaide Oval in five years, the matchup that no kats fan wants to see again.

It's not quite as big as the Brighton Maynard incident from last year, but it is, though it is not the sequel if you will, of like another Big Finals ramification style suspension with a player that could or corner could or may not play in a Grand Final.

Don't get me wrong, this is an important thing for a top two team that you know is I think you know Sydney's going to be pretty well placed to make the Grand Final from here, especial if they're playing Gelong in the qualifying final. But Port to be hosting one, so you know there's a there's a real open path. They could be three wins away from a Grand five.

Is there a chance so that when Port Adelaide plays Freemantle, which the AFL is scheduled as the last game of the home and away season, is there a chance that that game is actually a dead rubb not a dead rubber? But no, no, you already know a dead rubber. Yes, we already know how it's all going to be.

I mean, please watch it. Yes, a greatest purposes it five four, Yeah, back to back to back, three games on Sunday, we'd love to see it. But also yes, Freemantle may be eliminated by the time they take the field if the Bulldogs, Hawthorne and Carlton all win their games earlier in the weekend. So Carlton, that three twenty game again Sint Kila is pretty important. The Blues fighting their way in after a big win over West Coast.

How much the Dockers would be like the players would be taking notice of that game as it happens.

You have to be somewhat conscious of it, surely, And we saw last year we were expecting a really exciting last round last year and then a few things went wrong and there wasn't as much drama as we wanted. The top four is not locked locked. Geelong still has to beat West Coast, which is you know, they always beat West Coast in Geelong.

So you clean round in the last home and away round.

That's true, so you would think they would get that done and lock up the top four. But otherwise it is the bottom half of the eight where honestly, so I've done my power rankings, yes, oh boy, I have the Western Boardogs number one, oh in the.

Bulldogs number one, and they currently sit on the ladder sixth six in finals.

If they lose, they are probably going to miss the finals. So it is that is the definition of balance this season. They have done so much right over the second half of the season and yet that Adelaide loss, which you know, yeah it was terrible, but every team's had terrible losses this year. They are so close to a disastrous situation. They could miss the finals with thirteen wins and a percentage above one hundred and twenty.

Yeah, that is incredible, absurd.

And they're probably the most likely to drop of the three inside at the moment, would we say.

They have the toughest game. I think you could argue Carlton Carlin sent Kilda is tougher than it since sin Kilda, as Geelong just found out, is a terrifying component at this time of year, even like the Saints have done pretty well to get themselves into some sort of shape. There are ten wins.

But then so we'll see what carl does.

Because I don't know what you guys thought about the Carlton West Coast game and how much of that was West Coast just not showing.

They were ordinary, extremely ordinary, But so I think they gave carl From a good leg up. But I think the sort of hearing Patrick Crips and Michael Voss after the game, there was a sense of energy and of rejuvenation amongst a younger team. Whether that younger team would have gone as well against a team maybe even two spots up from West Coast and latter at the moment remains to be said.

We'll see that exactly with against the Kilda.

But sometimes you can play a lesser opponent and regain confidence and that actually plays you into four ye Like, It's not always that cut and dry, but.

That might have happened with Sydney a couple of weeks ago against Collingwood.

It can literally just build belief in springboard you and make you think, okay, we can actually do this, we are actually a good team. Because they were clearly very low in confidence and Hawthorne absolutely beat the confidence out of them and back.

It was the exact opposite where they looked like they just fell apart emotionally halftime of that game. So that is a very interesting watch. Ye, Sunday will still be interesting. Please watch. Yes, and you know Hawthorne should win their way in on Saturday against North Melbourne, completing an incredible rise. I've said a few times I think it is better than Sydney coming back from oh and six to make finals because the Ones were supposed to be good that year. The Hawks were not. But they're going to end up winning what fourteen of seventeen or eighteen or something crazy. They are one of the hottest teams in it. I will point out though they have had one good win over a proper top eight contender all year. It was Brisbane at Marvel mid season.

Is that due to their draw? Yes? Because they finished low last year.

Absolutely, it is they've had a and they've taken advantage of that, and they had some tougher matches at the start of the year, so you know, the fixture has put them in the scenario where they were oh to five and one and six and then recovered. They've definitely played better. No one's doubting that they're an incredibly good form and I put a lot of value in beating bad teams by a lot. That means a lot to me. I don't call them flat trek bullies. But if you're going to say something about the Hawks, it's that they haven't really beaten a lot of contenders this year, and if they have, they've been very close games.

And if it could be a scenario where they played the Western Bulldogs in Week one of the finals, which would be a reasonably juicy liner and probably the only game in Melbourne for that week.

Yes aspect, so it'd be the most anticipated game of the week one of the finals, I would think. I really liked the way Maxiono, you're saying that they haven't necessarily betten anyone of note. I love the way that they embarrassed both Collingwood and Carlton two of the build sort of premiership contenders throughout stages of the year and they just blew them both off the park like big statement wins. So the Hawks are looming large. They have to get there yet, but they are looming large as a smoky.

Their last four wins have all been by ten goals plus. It's crazy. So like they knew then, it is to build percentage, and percentage might still impact who finished seventh between them and Carlton, and that's important because if you've got the choice between playing a final at the MCG and playing Brisbane at the Gabba in an elimination finals.

Yes, so you mentioned that Geelong had to win against West Coast this weekend to finish top four. It's it. It feels strange though that Geelong is going to be finishing the top four. It feels like a remarkable achievement, but they are far from convincing. And I was thinking about this earlier if there is going to be a team that goes out in straight sets. At the moment, they are clearly of that top four I think the number one.

Teams, especially since if they're playing Brisbane in a semi final at the MCG, I know it's the MCG. So it's Brisbane, so it's scary for them, but that's a pretty tough game.

I think if they do go out in straight sets, I still think it'd be a successful season, just in terms of how they're positioned long term, trying to lure players to the club and stuff like Chris Scott's done a remarkable job with that list that probably doesn't have the talent of some of the other contenders. They've just positioned themselves for the next five to ten years to say we're still six, we still have a successful program and we still want to keep winning, which is how you lure plays.

And this is the value of a fast start. Like people talk about the two zero and three thing is ridiculous, but you look at Collingwood and Brisbane have started poorly, and Brisbane and Collingwood one's going to miss the finals entirely, and one's going to miss the top four thanks to Collingwood. Good on you beating them at the MCG That was a one last glimpse of the old Pies before they have the September off and then you've got this weird situation where the top four right now I think they all started incredibly well. They might have been the top four after five or six rounds gws Port, Sydney and Geelong, and I could argue that the better half of the eight is the bottom half of the eight. I'm more scared of Brisbane, the Dogs, Hawthorne, maybe not Carlton. You know, there's one bad team and there're one okay team, but two of them are going to get knocked out in week one.

So then I've heard to both sides of the debate of the value of the top four in twenty twenty four. So how valuable BC is a top four spot now with the double chance compared to being in the bottom half of the top eight, knowing the form fluctuations of every team, particularly all eight teams that will finish in the finals, where do you sit on the balance of that?

I still think no matter what, no matter what year is pre finals by no pre finals by, I think having the double chance is always clearly a big advantage over the other teams.

It's a bold stance, ben I like it.

But in saying that this is gonna be a weird way to wrap it up, I think the teams that are outside the top four have clearly got the best chance ever of winning the flag this year because I think those teams that are in there, like Sydney, Port and the Giants, if they will make the Grand Final. Although if one of those three teams make it, if you're one of those other teams outside the top four, you're going to play an interstate club in the Grand Final. So it's the most realistic pathway to winning a flag from outside it that I can recall in a long time.

In negating the Victorian advantage.

Yes, very like if you're you know, Hawthorne of the Doggies, you make a Grand Final and you play Port Sydney or the Giants, you'd be full of confidence you could win, like the Bulldogs did in twenty sixteen. But in saying that, like the top four is the top four, it's the double chance you get a chance to lose and reset. So I haven't really answered your question, but.

I think it means more this year. I think in an even year pretty clearly the fact that one of Port or GWS is going to host a prelim like I'm the low man on GWS, Like they won seven in a row. Look they're good.

All low on the Giants, all the power.

The Giants the power. There's some legitimacy there, like their defense is genuinely stiffened up, and they've got clearly star talent. The Giants have star talent, but I've criticized the expected score element of it. They should have lost three of the games they've won in this winning streak.

They have won on the weekend.

Yeah, they did deserve to win, but it was another like Jesse Hogan's kicked like twenty three goals, two from set shots or something.

She's in whole clock form.

So their accuracy combined with opponents inaccuracy is boosted them to this top four position. But now they're what three wins away from a Grand Final, which would be pretty damn impressive, and they clearly have the ceiling to win one if they get there.

So of the bottom half you mentioned that that scary bottom half of the top eight. Who would be your pick or most likely to win a premiership?

I know Max is probably going to say the Doggies. I'm probably still Brisbane being probably the second form team in the second half of the year along with Hawthorne and the Doggies. I just think Brisbane's got the most talented list. I think they might potentially be smarting from the weekend in a way, like they've got good experience in big finals at the mcg which some of those other clubs don't necessarily have. The challenge with Brisbane is going to be having to win on the road in the finals to even make a Grand final. We know how good they are at the Gabba, but I still look at that line's list and I say that is a premiership team. I can't necessarily say that about the other teams.

Yeah, I think it's Brisbane too, because of the pathway they're going to get. So they're either finishing in the top four if Geelong losers, or they're finishing fifth hosting an elimination final at the Gabba against whoever finishes eighth. I reckon that's probably Carlton or Frio, So that's a winnable elimination final. Then you're probably getting Geelong in a semi final, as I mentioned before, winnable, and then because of how the bracket works, you're avoiding the Swan's prelim, so then you're playing Port or GWS in that prelim. That's winnable. They've had some interesting games into the Giants this year. Is seen. I think they've feed them twice. But it's still going to be a path that you can set, look at and go every game they can win, that they can win, that they can win that it's just the problem of you've got to win four and so three. That's what makes it so much harder.

To that point as well, if Carlton finishes eighth and could get past Brisbane at the Gabba, they suddenly have a pretty realistic pathway if they can get players back and find it refine their touch.

Virtually a home final against Gelong. Yeah, that's who they play.

Gelong would not want to play Carlton. That's a dream.

He seacount for Carlton, So you know, they could be alive all of a sudden, they could be.

There's a lot to play out. We'll have a almost a roaming live ladder scenarios on Foxfooty dot Com TODAU right throughout the weekend. But now it is time for this and now.

On the Fox Footy Podcast. Another strong edition of Australia's Favorite segment, Fair or Fast.

Australia's Favorite segment Fair or Fast BC twenty twenty four has been a Melbourne pr disaster. Fair or fast.

That is fair. That is fair, as we spoke about last week, as there has been discussed in recent weeks, the club has been Turmore was probably a little bit strong, but under a lot of pressure from the preseason through to now and now it's probably reached boiling point when your best player of the last five to ten years is disgruntled and may ask for a trade or may not. Now we're hearing that Port's asking the question of because I.

Pick it stand by the picket stuff.

Yes, well there's clearly clubs can clearly smell blood in the water and they're trying to really just exploit this situation at Melbourne. It has been a disaster, a power disaster at least, as we said, going into the year under a lot of pressure. As Jared Watley pointed out on AFL three sixty last week, it could have gone two ways. The club could have galvanized and had a really strong year, finished top four and just said, you know, our culture overrides all these things.

Well, they kind of couldn't have fallen.

Apart, and there is an element of maybe they were just on the decline and it's just so happened that that coincided with some offfield stuff, but for the most part, with all these things happening in the background and the team sliding, it has been a pretty catastrophic season.

Max. The only club Melbourne should entertain trading Christian Petrarca too, is Tasmania fair or fast.

That would be legal for a little while.

This is factually correct, but I don't mind the idea for a long term view.

Gary Lyon, Yeah, from Melbourne's perspective, fair Melbourne's perspective, I totally understand why they've said, you know, we're not trading Petrarca, because why would you if you have any hopes of being a good team. Hey, we've got this guy contracted for the next five years. He's one of the best players in the comp when playing. You know, we're not why would we give him up. It's a similar thing to Clayton Oliver. I don't know why you'd give him up when he's at the low point of his value. Patraca is not a low point of his value, but he is disgruntled, which lowers his value because he's more gettable, if that makes sense. So it's a tricky situation when he's clearly frustrated. I think more with his situation and how the last three months have gone more than with Melbourne itself. Per se like he's probably not thrilled that Melbourne looks like it might be declining. He wants to win another flag, obviously, but he also would know that he can't request the trade if there's any scenario where it doesn't happen. And I don't think there's any scenario where it does happen. So he's not going to request a trade. But it gets out in the media and everyone thinks, oh, well, you guys are blowing this up that he's requesting a trade. No, he's unhappy, and the fact that he's even considering asking it is newsworthy in itself.

If he does request the trade, who are the club's well placed to potentially make an unlikely play for him?

So I put together a story today running through every club and how they're all positioned. I think the club that's clearly in the best position is Carlton. The other team that I think that probably the only two clubs that he would really want to get to would be Carlton and Collingwood. I think it'd be a big club, big games teams that are sort of relevant for lack of a better term, and I think Collingwood doesn't have its first round pick, so it's near impossible to come up with a scenario. Carlton has its first round pick, and I think Carlton would seriously consider trading Harry McKay if they could get Christian Petrarca. I think I was thinking about it today and I was thinking, like Melbourne would ask for it, and my first reaction was Carlton wouldn't do it. But when you consider where Carlton's been in the last few years, the fact that they've already got another key forward starring Kerno, I don't think that they'd be willing to trade. I think they would legitimately consider putting Christian Petrarca in that midfield with Cribs. I think that's the only way that they would consider trading one of their two key forwards. I think that's the one scenario that they might do it, and considering that they've been started with success for so long, this might be the one deal that they would consider.

Well argued, that also negates the salary cap issues because you're offloading some cash and realistically no one has the draft picks to do it not until next year when you can start trading picks two years in advance. So Pa Truck has almost gone a year early with his unhappiness. But yeah, that does make sense. That gives the trade some extra value picking a first rounder of Makai for Petruca.

And also that's interesting. Can you imagine the excitement that Petrarca going to Carlton would create for that club the same no matter who hinged, it would be massive, And I just I think that counts for something on top of what he actually provides.

Sure, I still think Melbourne wouldn't do it in the end, though probably not.

BC Port Adelaide must make Kaizai picket priority number one this offseason, fair or fast?

Fair or fast?

Let me let me do they have to prioritize based on what's realistic or in terms of star quality? That's the interesting part there.

If in terms of all their off field moves during the off season, including trade and draft, getting Kaizai pick it should be priority number one?

Also fair? I mean they don't have a first round pick at the moment, but Dan Houston is expected to leave to get them at least one first round pick. I would think that that's probably the market value for Picket as well. So if you were to swap Houston for Picket, I'd say that's a pretty good result.

If they can convince Houston to go to Melbourne apparently he hates Melbourne now, but even if he goes to Carlton or elsewhere, and then they get the pick and they do it a sort of three way swap or whatever, he probably the number one priority purely because I don't think they're going to be doing a Heape else and their list is in pretty good order.

They've got their forward line set, their midfield set, and their defense is a little bit clunky, but they've already made their upgrades there, so I think why not. He's a great player and he braises their ceiling.

Max we are too soft now on the Ragining Premiere fair or fast?

I think that's a fast okay actually, So it is very interesting and very strange. The last four premiers have all failed to win a final the next year, three missing the eight and then Richmond Melbourne going out straight sets in twenty two. Pretty wild. I think it also speaks to the very much intended moves by the AFL to equalize the competition. And you look at Colin Good right now. They're on twelve wins effectively, so they might miss the eight with thirteen. That's pretty unlucky. No one's ever missed with the eight with thirteen before. But this is the new era, so we're just in a scenario where it is that much tougher to back up. The physical requirements of a longer season make it harder for the team that makes the Grand Final and particularly wins it, with all the requirements that that brings to back up and have a full pre season, so you have players who aren't quite right. You didn't get the same players in for surgery after around twenty four like other teams do. It's all these disadvantages and everyone targets you. Everyone tries to play around what your strengths are. And you also just come back to worth a little bit because naturally, to win a flag almost everything has to go right. So if you have average luck, the next year, you fall out a bit. And maybe that's happened with Collingwood a little bit. I might have said that a few times.

No, yes, very much. It feels like this. Whoever wins this year's flag, fans of that club savor it because it feels like this will be one of the hardest earned flags in recent times.

If Sydney wins it, there's still a chance they become the club of this decade. They are young enough and good enough to take over and be good for top four for the next five years. Otherwise, Brisbane to an extent because they're at the end of a really strong era. But otherwise there's no team that's dominated this decade. Melbourne had the chance and hasn't taken it. Collingwood have had the chance, hasn't taken it. Gelong spin up for ages, so it's hard to define their era. So yeah, you're right. It's going to make each flag more valuable in a way because it's going to take so much more to grab one than you had that period in the twenty tens. But the same four teams were great every year and they were just trading it between them until Porthormon a bunch.

Oh yes, that was fun. BC A red card in the AFL seems inevitable, fair or fast.

Fair because I want it to be. I don't know if it will be inevitable, but I believe it should be. I just think we need to get to a point where it's been argued for many times. But if someone commits an act like what Dan Houston did to Isaac Rank, and there has to be some immediate repercussions outside of I'm I have to deal with the tribunal on Monday. There's got to be an immediate turn off to doing that and disadvantage outside of the opposition player going down and being done for the day and then Houston just being able to play on. I think it makes no sense the way it's currently set up. I understand it's a little bit hard to police, but clearly it's only going to get used for extreme examples, like you know, even if it's two or three times a year, I think that's enough to set a president to stop players doing acts like that. And I think the AFL is the only code in the world or just that I could think of where there's no immediate disadvantage for a player doing something like that, Like NBA has got technical fouls, soccer's got obviously red card, nrol's got send off, like every code has it. I just don't understand why we don't have it, and for a physical sport.

As Jared on three sixty said last night, there have been five or six incidents and case and almost test cases throughout the year where you can mount an argument in twenty twenty four that the red card this is the right time for the red card to come in with particularly now with the hard line stance on any signs of concussion, an official diagnosis of concussion. You're out. If the red card does come in, the sub just goes or the sub has to go. But it's so what what what there? Where the grayness is is around what does constitute a red card offense? And you get how do they come to that decision?

Every sport has that gray area that has won and every sport has problems where incidents happened and players get sent off and everyone goes, what that was? Nowhere near? So I mean, in terms of content, that sounds great bringing red cards. We can have more right stories. But I was thinking in my head when you were talking about this, Ben, so there is like the emotional impact theoretically of wow, this something's really bad happened. Our team did this, like I can't believe he did that. We're going to start playing poorly. But then I thought, does that actually happen? So the best example I could think of of like a devastating like oh my god, I can't believe he did that was gaff On Brayshaw YEP twenty eighteen in the Derby West Coast won that game by like ten goals. So it didn't really put them off, I would say so, And you saw in the showdown it arguably helped the power, especially when it was a rank and going off arguably Adelaide's.

Best payer and Adelaide lost their composure.

Yea to that, So I think that only adds to the idea that you need some sort of negative incentive on game day, not just postgame day.

Max. The AFL then must introduce a shoulder charge style rule fair or fast?

Are there so many incidents that we need a specific shoulder charge rule as compared to like bumps being part of the same.

I don't believe that we didn't have a shoulder charge style rule in the effect.

I don't watch enough NRL to know. I don't know you watch a lot of I do like Peter Landi's if he's listening, Yeah, I love your sport mate, also love New South Wales horse racing, big fan. Yeah, if you're bringing it in, you know you wanted to find what it actually includes and incidents like that which to be fair. Port could argue that his first contact was not with Rankin's head, it was with his chest. That may be part of the argument, but that also just explains how even contact not to the head can be dangerous head related contact.

BC more Finals heartbreak looms for Taylor Adams, fair or fast.

I think it's probably fair, and I think it's probably been looming for a while. In the back end of the season. They've had a few injuries and it's enabled some of their lesser guys to keep playing. I always thought it was a bit of a strange fit in going to Sydney, like their midfield is arguably as deep as Collingwood's, if not more. Their midfield's improved drastically this year with Haney going in there obviously Warner going to another level. So without going through the the fine toothcomb of their twenty three, I would think I don't know if he's definitely going to miss out, but he's going to be probably a fifty percent chance of staying in the team, which is pretty significant.

It feels like Luke Parker has probably come back, certainly externally above expectations. If he hadn't have been so influential in his performances, you could probably see Taylor Adams keeping his spot. But the fact Parker stood up and had a real meaningful influence on Sydney victories, particularly in the last two weeks, so that probably doesn't bode well for Taylor Adams.

Lay morehaf four as well, Yes, which is a role. That is the role Adams fled from Collingwood. If he wasn't happy that he's playing that role, He's definitely not playing pure midfield. He's had ten touches against the Pies and then fourteen against this Stington before being subbed out. Yeah, that's not huge lead into the finals, is it.

And Luke Parker can go forward. He's a good contested mark, he can kick goals. Taylor Adams has never really had that second stream to his bow, so if he's not in the midfield, you sort of question what his function is in the team. So I hope that he does stay in that team. I'm a big Taylor Adams fan. He was great for Collingwood, same as Brodie grind I'd love to see both those boys win one for the Swans. But I think right now Taylor Adams is potentially going to miss out.

And Max, we've left the hardest sitting fair or fast to last good. The club mascot costume role has never been more dangerous, fair or fast.

Well apparently in Adelaide anyway. Fair the Power mascot got punched in the.

Face apparently by a kid.

Yeah, but a crow's teenager like thirteen fourteen. To be fair, if if you've seen the port mascot, giant head, giant target.

The severity of it, if it was left a blood no.

And as happens with Port Adelaide, got a concussion test but was clear to come back on. So that's good to see. Yeah, not an ideal situation, to be fair, you would think you'd want the giant head of a Port Adelaide style mascot to protect yourself. Must have been a good throw, you know that. Get that kid in the ring with the Nikita zoo. Next on main events, strong.

Strong main event cross promotion and a strong mic drop there for the Port Adelaide Power. That is the end of fair of face. It is now time for this on.

The Fox Foody podcast. It's time to open up the mail bag. Have a question for the panel. Tweet us every Monday morning at Fox Footy and.

They get over in a road down in the mail bag tweets and stuff, and then we read them out. It's good times. Eric begins us with this one, after being fortunate to be at the Sam Darcy game on the weekend, obviously kicking seven goals.

The West Dogs, North fild and Kangaroos.

Lucky man. What is the most memorable breakout game that you can remember attending for tending, Yeah, preferably in the AFL. But if Ben has a seven goal game in under twelves, I'll hear about that.

I definitely did not have a second seven goal game, then, Towels, do you have a seven goal game?

The other tools absolutely not disappointing. And I think I kicked seven goals in my own career or witnessed anyone else breakout.

I kicked zero one breakout game that ided.

I mean, I have a famous game that I attended because I attended the Peter Riccardi goal after the quite quite a nice game in the end.

I was at Anzac Day last year, which was probably Nick Dakos's sort of coming out party. Everyone knew was a Star and that was the day that he really elevated, took himself to superstar level. I think that's fair, and a lot of people were talking about him afterwards.

I can't remember, just because you've been to so many games in this role. It's unfortunately if one comes to mind.

And we've probably been in more games actually probably pride of his role to be honest.

As well, that's what that makes sense. Although it does seem like question once a year you randomly go to a game you have no rooting interest in just to make your son.

Yes, I did this, took Toby to Melbourne versus West Coast Adam Seem's last game.

Blow Faster.

Yeah, it really was.

I mean there's a lot of space at Melbourne Home Games nowadays, so it makes sense. Tasy Diane asks, wouldn't it be better to play all games simultaneously in the final.

Round EPL style?

Yes, purely from a fan perspective, I suppose. I don't think we could logistically film that in Australia.

No, I don't think we could because in terms of I think there's a lot of share like vision sharing that goes across the two networks. Yeah, yeah, I don't think it's I don't know if there would be enough sort of outside broadcast trucks. Yeah, to actually get to nine different venues.

It's a big deal when you have to move like a certain truck for like the Northern Territory games during the season and stuff like that. So just trying to blog that for a purely selfish perspective as well. Impossible to cover, you know, and we where would we broadcast them? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, I liked the idea, but you know, it's we're not going to work. But thank you, Jason X. Presumably the movie itself writing in here, Jason X. It was when Jason from Friday the Thirteenth went to space. Yes, Jason Valldess cryogenically frozen. You know, quality film sci fi area. Well, I've had to bring some za into the show. He's not here anyway, Jason X. The movie rights is this shaping up to be the most open final series ever? We don't know which two teams will make the Grand Final, let alone who will win the premiership. Give us your Grand Final and Premiership tips? Now, if you had to put a flag in the ground, who are you tipping?

I do think there's a bit of a misnomer in this in that like Sydney has been the front runner all season, like, let's not just overlook that.

Well, that dropped off pretty severely for about so I can understand it.

But it's not like the top few spots have changed around. It's been Sydney and then there's been a whole lot of movement.

That's fair.

I've been thinking this is going to be quite a jarring experience for melbourni ins. This is going to be an all Sydney Grand Final, Oh, very possible at the MCG Yeah, which would be quite a jarring experience. I think it'd be fantastic.

Which will be the third state we've had a Sydney Derby final in as well as in South Wales.

Of course, and the winner will be.

The winner would the winner would be the Giants.

Would be the AFL in the northern markets.

Dear man, that's a good, that's a good. That's a good response from me. Ben. I will say, just to be a little bit different, I'll say Sidney Brisbane it's an all non Victorian Grand Final to follow suit, and I think John Longmi's mob will raise the premiership.

I think that's reasonable. I would also go Sidney Brisbane if I had you right now, just because Sydney has got this great path shaping up. You know, if they're hosting Geelong and the SEGA in a qualifying final, I think that's a win. Get a home prelim. You know, you could face a tough team in that prelim, but that's going to happen no matter what. It's a prelimn and then Brisbane, as I said, can go on the other side of the drawer, can win their way through, and then Sidney Brisbane. I did tip Brisbane preseason, so I'll go with the line. I'll stick with it. I tipped Brisbane GWS pre season as the Grand final that's still live very much? Is that'd be fun?

I tipped Collingwood Carlton, so that's to.

Be fair, I've been wrong about everything else. I think I had Max King for the Coleman so just a little bit off. Thank you for that name by us or was it very much?

So?

Yes, that's why I never tipped in that's mailbag. Thank you have running road in this week.

So the last lot of nine game home and away rounds for twenty twenty four. We start with twelve v tenth to finish it off. Melbourne against Collingwood at the MCG.

I think they were hoping the AFL that this game would have at least some relevance instead of technically it does. So when Collingwood wins by one hundred and twenty, it makes me look stupid. And then you know, Carlton Soton needs to lose by eighty. I actually don't know. I will know who I'm tipping when I see who came in Mooney tips because tip the opposite because of the pius, because he's three ahead in the tipping, so I can catch him three back. You know, that's that's winnable.

Interesting times the Cats in the Eagles of GMHBA Stadium.

Max is just going to say for the rest of his tips, well, no, but some of them like I can't tit West Coast refer to.

But also, yeah, come along, come on, be serious.

Tigers. A chance of finishing on the up here against the Suns on Saturday.

Yeah, like Dylan Grimes and Dusty doing a farewell before the game. It's kind of like trying to get one back on Dimmer as well. To of mys, I think gold Coast will win, but It's probably gonna be a close game.

Yeah, I'd do tip them with no confidence.

Hawthorne the two Tasmanian tenants, Hawthorne and North Melbourne at the University of Tasmania Stadium, Lon Sesteon.

Although not for long. They're getting kicked out, presumably the rents being raised. Hawthorne wins their way into September.

Speaking of revenge, we didn't touch on this earlier, but what Clarko could get the chance kick his old mentor or.

His old rinch Clarkson.

Yes, he could kick Sammy Mitchell out of the finals potentially, but I think Sam Mitchell's team has done too much to let this once.

Let I think the main problem there is that his team is not very good.

Yes, like I think, like West Coast, North Melbourn just seems to be limping to the line, Yeah, a little bit at the moment. Brisbane and Essendon at the Gabba.

Brisbane and Brisbane, Yes, correct.

They may not be playing for much, but they still need to ensure they get that fifth spot, so win over the Bombers.

The Brisbane lines probably a dice in Hepple Farewell game. All the Fantasy Seasland so Sydney, Sydney and Adelaide of the SCG. You just wonder if Adelaide sort of through their last they threw down the gauntlet last weekend, and you wonder how much they have left in the tank for this one.

I mean, is it a little bit of a revenge game for last year although they already played earlier this year.

Soon as schedule fixture.

It's what you want, you want antagonism.

This Swan is for man, not a word Sydney.

I said this to Max yesterday. How the heck is Adelaide fifteenth on the ladder with a percentage of one hundred point eight.

That is quite ext long as they don't lose by more than two goals, they'll finish bottom of four with one hundred positive percentage.

The strongest top fifteen I've ever seen.

Well, it helps when you have a very bad bottom three, to be fair, that has enabled this.

And then we have Super Sunday Western Bulldogs and Giants in the rat.

This is a huge game, yes, and I look, if I rate the Bulldogs as highly as I do, I have to tip them. But it would be the most Bulldogs thing ever, it would be to lose this game and then watch Freo and Carlton win and get knocked out of it.

It does feel like the Giants are due for a loss, absolutely yes.

And in Ballarat I think the dog Is are pretty good there, so I'll probably tip the Dogs, but Pan for pound Jedavis is probably a better team, so it's like it wouldn't be shocked if they win, But I don't know. It's gonna be good to watch.

Yeah, good start to the day.

Carlton and some Kilda at Marvel. As we mentioned a potential banana peel game for the Baggers Big Thunder.

I think the most interesting way to end the season is Carlton losing and then Frio actually has something to play for because then Port's playing for Carlton season that'd be interesting and they're playing for top two. So this is one of those games I will probably end up having to Tips and Kilda to catch up to Moons and Ross.

Line's been known as the grinch, you know, it's just it's perfectly scripted. I think Carlton will win there and.

Then the Dockers and the Power to finish off the home and away season.

How do you tip this without knowing the other results? As the problem because if Freo has nothing to play for and port is locking up top two, true, that could be that could really swing it. So my gut would say Freo if they're playing for a spot in the eight, Yeah, I guess.

I think Freo wins at home regardless.

Like Frio is pretty good. Like they've three losing three in a row. The way they have to possibly miss the eight is really unfortunate. They've had five games, they've led it three quarter time and then lost, So they're going to be a good tip next year to bounce back from that. But either way, they've had a season that proves that they are again a contender, which is nice to say.

That is the end of the home and away season, and that is the end of the Fox Footy podcast. Yeah, He's going to be a very very large round. We'll have full coverage on Fox Foody dot com today you as well as every game live on foxtail as well. Thanks for feeling in for Zita BC. You're about to walk out the door and we yes rustled you in.

I'm a man of the people, very much.

A man of the people. Data Keep clicking back to Foxfooty dot com dot AU.

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