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Rohan Connolly will be blogging here live from midday. Join the conversation then or get in early and leave a question now.
THE LAST WORD
The Numbers
I don't think the umpiring in Saturday night's Western Bulldogs-Adelaide clash was terrific. And it's not often a team can get to three-quarter time, as did the Crows, having received only five free kicks (though the Dogs themselves won just four for an entire game a couple of years ago!) But debates about whether the Doggies win free kicks because they get to the ball first aside, talk about alleged skulduggery (Troy Pannell's supposed team allegiances, Victorian prejudices, etc.) is, as per usual, so much rubbish. Do people seriously believe umpires can get to AFL level, or the league itself get away with on-field vendettas, via the free kick count? Give it a rest, children.
The Tantrum
Speaking of which … In between hosting a pay TV show no one watches and obsessing about ABC bias, political commentator Chris Kenny is also an official ambassador of Adelaide (just the footy team, Port fans will be relieved to hear). Kenny was far from the only person bemused by the free kick discrepancy on Saturday night. But, true to form, he also managed to frame it as some sort of political conspiracy as he imploded on Twitter. "None of this will change until Crows fans refuse to put TV on for Melb. games and refuse to travel. Then AFL might reform," he thundered. Yes, quite. We're not sure if Chris's toys are back in the cot just yet.
The Progress (I)
St Kilda are 13th on the ladder with a 2-5 record, the win-loss ratio exactly what it was this time last season. But if ever those numbers should carry some sort of asterisk, St Kilda's should. Alan Richardson's team is vastly improved on 2015, and underlined it again on Sunday, pushing the top team on the ladder as close to defeat as anyone has thus far. The Saints could so easily be 4-3, and but for a poor last quarter in round one, 5-2. They hang in games longer, and almost pinched Sunday's against North Melbourne after trailing by 26 points 10 minutes into the last term. They're also getting more even performances from the kids. There won't be a game this season in which they can't be considered a serious chance.
The Progress (II)
St Kilda fixed up Melbourne last week, too, but the Demons' response up on the Gold Coast was a good example of their increasing maturity also. Not to mention firepower. Thirteen players shared 24 goals, the 160-point tally Melbourne's highest score since round six in 2004. The Demons' caterpillar to butterfly trick has been stark indeed, and beautiful to behold. Last year, Melbourne ranked 16th for scoring at a sluggish 71.5 points per game. They're now fifth, going at 109.2. That's more than six goals per game better off, a stunning improvement, with not just Jesse Hogan, but Jack Watts and Jeff Garlett averaging more than two goals per game. However this season ends up, they've already given their fans more value than for a long time.
