The Serve

THE BIG 5 – AFL Round 1

The Crows shocker, the Blues surge, West Coast’s win under pressure, Adam Goodes off season and that blunder by the umpire on Saturday at the MCG. They provide the big questions of out the opening weekend of AFL.

5. Is Adelaide in trouble?

A damaging result to people in those knockout tipping competitions, because this was the lock of the weekend. Essendon were a spoon contender, the Crows were at home. Not only was it a loss, it wasn’t even close. It’s interesting though how one loss can spell doom and gloom. Mark Riccuito’s injury is by no means short term. He’s back in four weeks. Maybe. He isn’t the only concern. One thing is for sure, we’re dealing with the side that won two of last six last year, not the one that blitzed the first half of the premiership.

4. Can Carlton make the finals?

We saw two versions of the Blues yesterday. The NAB Cup champions turned up at the start and the finish, with the wooden spooners taking over in the middle. This was one of the quality games of week one, worthy of such an audience. The Tigers are by no means a benchmark to rate ones season prospects, but the Blues won on the back of their kids and Nick Stevens. You get the feeling the season will run like yesterday. A roller coaster ride, with sparkling footy intertwined with some shockers.

3. What has happened to Adam Goodes?

Anyone can have a bad game, but when the coaching staff openly questions how one spent his off-season, then we have a problem. Goodes has always been prone to going missing in games, so an initial assessment would be to gloss over one bad performance. Maybe that’s the problem. If this wasn’t a dual Brownlow winner, perhaps this would have been addressed well before round 1.

2. Was Shannon Grant or the umpire to blame for the Kangaroos loss?

This would not be a topic if Grant did not miss from 15 metres out. This would not be a topic if the Kangas didn’t butcher a four goal lead at the final change. The AFL has admitted that a mistake was made and Grant should have been given a shot from the top of the goal square. However that one mistake cannot mask the fact that the Roos choked. As one commentator suggested, a tight game like this was North Melbourne’s specialty in years gone by. Let’s assume Grant nailed the goal, what is not to say the Pies would have won the hit out, booted it into the 50 and hit back in the dying seconds?

1. Will West Coast continue to dominate, even without Cousins?

The Grand Final rematch was going to one of two ways. Either the Eagles would be mentally spent, or this group would deliver its most stoic performance. The latter won out as pride stepped in and the Eagles made a statement to the world. That’s one match done. We need to see more. Collingwood at Subiaco will be a nice indicator.