GAME OF THE ROUND
A banger round this one, with arguably 4 matchups that could be classed at the game of the round. But when one of them features top the table taking on their father who also happens to have 8 straight victories, well, there’s your game of the round.
By my estimation there are likely only two games before the end of the home & away season where MaherShalalHashBaz’s potentially recording breaking season might falter. This game is one of those two.
Both teams have some major outs – but MSHB are particularly hurting on this front. No Merrett, Green, Dunkley and Callaghan in the middle. No Zorko down back. No Cameron up front. The Sparkles lose McCluggage and Stewart from the stars column, but mostly solid role players beyond that. Advantage Sparkles.
Those bye machinations mean this is probably the most difficult round MSHB will encounter for the rest of the season. To emerge victorious would be phenomenal, and would keep the possibility of going 20 and 1 alive.
For the Sparkles, it represents an opportunity. To score a psychological victory over the competition’s best, yes, but perhaps more importantly they could find themselves in second place and in the box seat to claim a finals bye if results go their way in the other round 16 blockbuster.
Everything to play for here.
Key Outs
MSHB: Merrett, Green, Dunkley, Callaghan, Zorko, Cameron, Wilmot, Blicavs
Sparkles: McCluggage, Stewart, Greene, Windhager, Lobb
Last time these two met
Happened to be the last time the Sparkles lost a game. But boy did they lose, going down in Round 7 by 279 points. The Sparkles had some solid scores, including 2 of the 3 vote getters. But MaherShalalHashBaz had just 2 players score less than 70, and 14 of their 22 went 90 or above.
DangerGawn votes
| Dayne Zorko |  | 124 |
| Tristan Xerri |  | 122 |
| Nick Daicos | | 120 |
SNEAKY INTERESTING MATCHUP
The Devils have been the form team over the byes, and they’ve been the top scoring club in each of the last 3 rounds.
Bodes well I’d say.
Who knew shipping out Josh Treacy would pay such immediate dividends. They look back to their minor premiership best. They may even have the league leaders wondering if they might prefer to finish second instead to delay a possible finals meeting for as long as possible.
The Roughnecks will be without two of their best 3 scorers in Bailey Smith, who leads the league in pps, and Lachie Whitfield. The Devils lose Nic Martin and his massive ceiling, and Jarrod Berry, who has been in rock solid form over the last month.
On paper these outs suit the Devils – but they’re looking thin in terms of overall bodies and may need to make some waiver moves if they want a suite of emergencies. The Roughnecks also welcome back a bunch of Crows and Hawks who, theoretically, have favourable matchups this week. The Devils have a few representatives from those clubs, so it may not prove to be a massive advantage. But given their opponent’s recent form, the Roughnecks will be looking for any edge on offer.
Another interesting dimension of this matchup is courtesy of the AFL’s fixturing. The round opens with Port Adelaide hosting Carlton, meaning the Devils will likely have 8 players with scores locked in one game down. They’ll be hoping for a high scoring affair.
The round ends with St Kilda taking on Fremantle. So it may come down to Jordan Clark, Luke Jackson, Shai Bolton, and whatever lead the Devils have banked, trying to hold off Wanganeen-Milera, Marshall, and Macrae (and maybe Owens?)
Key Outs
Roughnecks: Smith, Whitfield
Devils: Martin, Berry
Last time these two met
Was a classic, with the Roughnecks escaping with a 24 point victory in a round 7 game where both teams broke the 1900 barrier.
Bailey Smith and Wanganeen-Milera were the heroes for the Roughnecks. The Devils had a 131 of their own from former DangerGawn Medallist Patrick Cripps – and a lowest on field score of 55! But in the end it was the Roughnecks who scored in the 80s when their counterparts scored in the 70s that proved the difference.
DangerGawn votes
| Bailey Smith |  | 132 |
| Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera | | 131 |
| Patrick Cripps |  | 131 |
STRAY OBSERVATION
While the bulk of this preview focusses on the top four also facing-off, the four teams most likely battling for one finals spot also take on one another.
Te Puke Pukekos will find their finals push hard indeed if they fall short to Threat Level Midnight this weekend. Such a result would give the Wolves a two-game buffer – which might prove very handy given Pukekos has a points scored advantage.
Winning might also be made more difficult due to their bye induced absences. No Ash is a stinging blow. No Parish or Ashcroft either. This is not a team currently known for their depth. TLM have a series of absences down back which will put them under some strain, but the stars are all available. That might be enough.
In the other matchups the Chiefs could play the role of season ruiner… or at least season impeder, with a win over a Vipers side that has lost 4 of it’s last 5 and is hanging onto its current finals spot by less than 250 points. Essendon and Brisbane’s bye might make victory borderline impossible for the Vipers, given how many best 22 players they’ll need to cover. The Chiefs lose their Geelong contingent, but they can comfortably field 22 players. The Vipers won’t be doing that comfortably as currently constituted.