AFL Round 11

Footy Blog

I've decided to expand the vision of this blog, to extend its use-by-date beyond the trip to Melbourne and turn it into my regular footy blog, .

I'll give some opinions and commentary as well as posting my tips and previews each week.

A few observations from Round 11.

Adam Goodes should not have gotten off without suspension. A cynic would say that the AFL did not want his run of 202 consecutive games to come to an end when he is so close to breaking Jim Stynes' record. The inconsistency of the tribunal and match review panel is becoming more and more of a bad joke.

Hawthorn can deny it all they want but they are protecting Lance Franklin and refusing to acknowledge there are issues to do with his behaviour that need to be addressed. Football players doing the wrong thing and getting into trouble, often as a result of alcohol, is nothing new, but clubs should take a leaf out of Geelong's book. The way they dealt with Steve Johnson's drunkeness at the start of last season ought to be the blueprint for all AFL clubs. Players are young, fit, cashed up and "worshipped" and have lots of free time: that's a recipe for trouble.

Will it take another death, ala Darren Millane, before players and clubs rein in their behaviour?

Comebacks:

No team is safe until the final siren sounds. Fremantle at least gave themselves a chance of winning this week by not being in front at 3/4 time but both Port Adelaide and West Coast let match-winning leads slip in the final few minutes and seconds of their games.