Round Seven: The Family-Friendly Edition

One of the great romantic (in the traditional, rather than the Barbara Cartland sense of the word) appeals of the AFL to its supporters is the way in which great names continue to reappear down the generations. Three generations of Hirds plus a fairly handy Fletcher or two have appeared at Windy Hill, Shaws and Clokes continue to bob up at Collingwood, Geelong's 2007 flag was produced on the back of a Scarlett and a couple of Abletts, and Port Adelaide has a couple of players whose fathers were allegedly champions in Die Bundesliga some decades back . The father-son rule has helped ensure that the progeny of the elite are generally able to ply their trade while wearing the old man's colours. It also helps to have a coach like Kevin Sheedy who will move heaven and earth to ensure that brothers can turn out in the same side- playing all four Daniher brothers in a match once being the most obvious example.

However there are also players who become "family" in the broader sense of the word, with their exploits on the field endearing them to their club's supporters beyond standard loyalties. The sense of betrayal experienced if such a player is to move on and play for another club is severe indeed for club supporters, particularly when the player returns to play against their original club. Think of Ron Barassi lining up against the Demons in a Carlton jumper; Doug Hawkins running around the Western Oval wing for Fitzroy; Dermott Brereton standing on an ex-Hawks teammate's head while wearing red and white. Difficult to watch indeed, particularly for the bloke with Brereton's boot on his head. Such was the case on the Friday night of Round Seven when the great Chris Judd returned to Subiaco Oval to take on the Eagles for the first time in the navy blue of Carlton.

Judd's move back to Victoria at the end of last year was a very big story. He'd won every award not nailed down at the Eagles: premiership captain, Brownlow Medal, Norm Smith Medal; second prize in a beauty contest, you name it. His stated reason for wishing to depart West Coast was a desire to return to the Garden State. However many believe that it had more to do with a fervent wish to be shot of the Eagles' appalling off-field soap opera, including this bloke- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPPxCEIC0gA. Unfortunately for West Coast, Judd's departure coincided with that of his troubled midfield partner Ben Cousins, and the Eagles are now a shadow of their old selves. Fortress Subiaco has been comprehensively levelled in 2008. At halftime of the Round Seven fixture the Blues were up by eight goals and the Eagles looked awful. They did mount a bit of a fightback later on but Carlton were able to ride it out and run away with a rare away win. All in all a very bitter pill for the blue and yellow faithful to swallow; if you're losing at home to a side which recently equalled its longest ever losing streak it might be time to start thinking about draft picks.

The bloke who had the thankless task of running with Judd was one Adam Selwood, who shot to fame last year by unwisely sledging Dockers' hothead Des Headland's (admittedly dodgy) tattoo of a figure who was (allegedly) his daughter. Although given the quality of the tatt it could just as easily have been the guitarist from Motley Crue. However, I digress. Selwood is also notable for being part of the latter-day AFL Von Trapp family- not since the Danihers has there been four brothers running around the AFL at the same time. Unlike the Danihers, however, the clan Selwood is spread far and wide. Adam is at the Eagles, his twin Troy is across at Brisbane, number three son Joel is down at Geelong, and somewhat disappointingly the youngest son Scott is also at West Coast. Many had been hoping that Scott would have been drafted by either Sydney or one of the South Australian clubs, therefore allowing the Selwoods to singlehandedly encapsulate the national competition within a single family unit. Although Ma and Pa Selwood are no doubt relieved, had that scenario come to pass they would have had to fund the planting of trees in an area the size of the Daintree Rainforest in order to offset their carbon emissions from travelling to see their sons play each week. Troy and Joel met up on the Saturday afternoon as the Cats hosted the Lions, with Brisbane looking resplendent in the old Fitzroy colours. Like many a title-holder before them, the Cats of 2008 are rapidly discovering that everyone wants a piece of the champion. The Lions shot out of the blocks in the first quarter to take the lead, only for the Cats to slowly reel them in. Another week, another win for Geelong, but they're getting progressivly more difficult.

Most feel that the Cats' primary challengers in '08 will be Hawthorn, and this supposition was given new strength in Round Seven as the Hawks belted Collingwood. Given that Collingwood had themselves belted Essendon the previous week I think I might try and be out of town and out of TV/radio coverage the week the Bombers have to front up against the Hawks. Although the Hawks led all day it was their 10 goal final quarter onslaught that had the pundits oohing and aahing. "Buddy" Franklin booted another six for the day as the Magpies wilted to a 65 point defeat.

Two Saturday night fixtures: over in Adelaide the Crows were largely untroubled in putting away North Melbourne. Back in Melbourne however it was a mighty struggle between the Tigers and the Saints, both of whom would feel that they are very much in contention for a finals spot in 2008. Another family affair, this time it was the Riedwoldts on centre stage. Unfortunately it was a bad night for both Nick of the Saints, from the Gold Coast branch of the family, and Jack of the Tiges, who hails from the Tasmanian end of the diaspora. Nick went down with a damaged knee, while Jack's attempt to win the game after the siren from 55 metres fell short, leaving the Saints with a three point steal. After the game it emerged that the timekeepers had screwed up again, once more losing 11 seconds. What is it about 11 seconds, anyway? Tiges' coach Terry Wallace was less than happy, pointing out that Jack could have used that 11 seconds to pass off to a teammate closer to goal. I'm sure the AFL will be fervently hoping that the timekeepers get it right in Round 8.

Three more games to complete the round took place on the Sunday. Ex-Swans coach Rodney Eade enjoyed his return to the SCG at the head of the Bulldogs, as the Doggies overcame a slow start to take the points and protect their status as one of three unbeaten clubs after Round 7. Essendon's dismal performance at home against Port Adelaide inspired many of their supporters to leave the ground early; not so much to beat the traffic as to avoid beating themselves over the head with anything handy as a means of blotting out the appalling spectacle before them. Less than a third of the season gone and the Bombers are playing for draft picks. The only bright spot for the Dons was that three new players got a guernsey, among them yet another Daniher. The latest of the clan is the son of ex-full back Tony. He goes by the slightly unfortunate Generation Y name of Darcy Daniher, which for mine makes him sound like an angst-ridden female teen character in Dawsons Creek who develops an eating disorder for an episode or two. But it's still better than "Sharrod".

But the big story from Round Seven came at the MCG, where the hapless Demons took on the equally hapless Dockers. Many had feared that this match would draw a crowd that would be outnumbered by the seagulls swooping in from the beach in search of discarded chips. This proved correct, with less than 20,000 spectators spotted around the mighty stadium. But what a game they got to see. In the first half the Dockers came out firing, seeking redemption for their desperately disappointing loss to Geelong the previous week. Melbourne predictably wilted under the fire, and another 100-plus point defeat looked on the cards as they limped into the sheds 50 points down at halftime. Even the TAB bookmakers came over all benevolent, refusing to take bets from those gullible enough to think that the Dees could pull it back. But whatever was in Melbourne's halftime cordial obviously did the trick as they stormed into action in the second half, booting 14 goals to 4 to steal a most unlikely victory by a solitary goal. Dee-lirium for the players and supporters, the monkey finally off the back in 2008. Another Docker Shocker for the purple haze though, two matchwinning leads blown in consecutive weeks has shot their season. Tough days for Mark Harvey and co. The only consolation the Freo crowd have is that at least the Eagles are equally decrepit this year. Expect memberships for the Perth Glory and Wildcats to soar in coming weeks and months.
So another terrific round has been played, and at this point in the season I'm prepared to make the prediction that the final four (Geelong, Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide) is settled. I think that Port is the only team currently outside the eight with a chance of playing finals this year, although given how mediocre teams 5-8 are it's anyone's guess who they'll displace. The battle for next year's number 1 draft pick has officially begun, with any of Melbourne, West Coast, Fremantle or Essendon well and truly in the mix. No club footy on now until the weekend of 16-18 May, but we'll be sure to put something in writing about the rebirth of representative football- look for it right here in the days to come.