The Serve

The Big 5: AFL Round 17

Heart Rate monitors, Alex Fevola and the Bombers finals chances. They’re part of the AFL big 5 for round 17.

5. Are Hawthorn on the slide?

A thirty seven point loss to the Kangaroos was not fair. To the Kangas. Hawthorn may have missed Buddy Franklin and Sam Mitchell, but the kids are showing signs of fatigue. Essendon next week will tell us plenty.

4. Will Alex Fevola make a good reporter on A Current Affair?

Who cares? As long as we see lots of ‘stand ups’ (television term for pointless shots of the reporter talking to the camera), the community will be served nicely.

3. Has West Coast regained favoritism?

If the competition was stopped this week and defending champions West Coast were pitted against number one contender Geelong in a heavyweight showdown at the MCG, the Cats would be ever so slight favourites. However, Geelong has to survive the journey to the grand final. West Coast has pedigree, we know, and is more likely to trek through the minefield more safely. That first week of September will be crucial. Geelong will be praying the Eagles don’t finish fourth.

2. Are we ready for an onslaught of heart rate monitors and other such novelties?

Channel Ten gave viewers a fascinating insight into the effort level players endure from start to finish. Seeing these fit machines nearing 200 beats per minute early in the first quarter had more impact than ramming home the fact players run half marathons ever has. It was terrific. Once. We’ve seen it now, so enough already. Lets not have a repeat of Saturday when a graphic was perched on the screen when a goal was kicked.

1. Can Essendon give Sheedy a finals finish?

In the tradition of sacked coaches, The Bombers won the week after. Carlton bucked that trend with a ten point loss, however an encouraging performance that didn’t spoil priority picks is a better result than any single win. Back to Essendon, who have four winnable games on the trot. They may have to win the lot, although three plus a decent percentage boost will probably do. Hawthorn next week is by far the biggest challenge, but with the Hawks slide and the Bombers to welcome back Hird, Lovett and Fletcher, they’re a chance.