Pies coming on quicker than some think

Please post a new comment even if you're replying to another. Makes comments and my replies easier to follow - RC.

THE HERO

The following is a plea from all lovers of early '70s sitcoms for Paul Roos to play Jesse Hogan at full-back when Melbourne take on Port Adelaide in a month. No, not really, but even if you don't remember "Hogan's Heroes" and are oblivious to the prospect of another face-off between a Schulz and a Hogan, you have to be excited about the young Demon key forward.

On the books for two years before debuting, too young to play in 2013 and too injured last year, Hogan has had to bide his time whilst dealing with more than his share of hype. But the wait seems to have been worth it. He's big enough to match it physically with his opponents, isn't afraid to split packs, and has managed two goals and at least half-a-dozen good grabs in every game so far.

And to get the better of All-Australian Alex Rance in his current form is no mean feat.

Schulz v Hogan. Make it happen, Roosy. And see if your talent spotters can find a Klink while you're at it.

THE SHOCKER(S)

Can it really only be a month since Gold Coast were widely tipped to make the eight and Brisbane regarded as a potential big improver?

Well, by some of us anyway. And already that looks like one of 2015's worst calls, the only two teams yet to win a game.

The Suns were woeful in Canberra against GWS, any gains made in Geelong last week given up with another lazy, ill-disciplined and disinterested-looking effort.

The Lions were no better on Sunday at home to West Coast, not only impotent up forward, but more ominously getting the ball in the scoring zone just 39 times, their now highly-rated midfield group soundly beaten by the Eagles' oft-maligned on-ball squadron.

Gold Coast have already copped plenty of heat about players with big heads. Perhaps too many Lions, too, thought it was all just going to happen via the arrival of a couple of big names. Well it clearly ain't happening in either Queensland city.

THE SHAKY ISLES

St Kilda's five-year deal to play games in Wellington, New Zealand, will be reviewed shortly. You'd have to think on evidence thus far the Saints would concede the expeditions have hardly been a roaring success.

In fact the crowds have fallen each year, from 22,500 against Sydney in 2013, to only 13,400 against Brisbane last year, to even less, 12,125, against Carlton on Saturday. Officially, anyway. Some media present thought the crowd sparse enough to wondered whether some of those counted might have disappeared five minutes after arriving. And that was after scheduling this year's game in what organisers were convinced would be a more fan-friendly afternoon timeslot.

Let's be honest, none of the three NZ games have been great advertisements for a foreign code. And the promotion of this one seemed even lower key than before. Seems a strange way to go about what remains little more than a curiosity to the Kiwis.

THE BOOKENDS

North Melbourne's defeat of Geelong in round five of 2007 is the loss which effectively kick-started Geelong's greatest era. And the Kangaroos' 16-point defeat of the Cats on Sunday, North's first win at Simonds Stadium since then, might come to be seen as the result which officially spelt its conclusion.

Certainly, at 1-3, with big losses to Hawthorn and Fremantle and a narrow victory last week over the winless Gold Coast, Geelong are a shadow of what they were even last season, when they managed to win 17 of 22 games, as many as both grand finalists. Even a flying start this week wasn't enough to keep the wolves from the door, and the use of Steve Johnson as sub despite the absence of names like Bartel, Stokes, Lonergan and Mackie was significant in itself.

Skipper Joel Selwood led the way once again, but even he can't on his own hold back the hands of time, which finally appear to have caught up with this proud team. Boy, has it been some ride, though.