AFL Betting Tips 2020 round 2 review
So we are away with AFL Betting Tips after ARL round 2 kicked off on Thursday night with Richmond versus Collingwood. The two AFL heavyweights and early season favs for AFL Grand Finalists put on a shocker to get us started to the AFL Betting Tips Season 2020. After waiting months for the resumption of the AFL season a 36-36 draw is not the way we expected it to resume. Those looking forward to blockbuster got anything but when the Tigers took on Collingwood.
Defense and more defense
The water cooler talk on Friday morning was about how the game is stuffed and the shorter quarters are bad. It of course didn’t play out that way over the whole weekend but it certainly pushed home that defence is the cornerstone of the great sides and its what wins finals. So as lacklustre as it was it was the two heavyweights feeling each other out with neither able to hit a knockout blow.
Hawthorns fourth rate midfield
Geelong asserted themselves as a dominant side in the competition easily dismantling big rival the Hawks. It’s been nearly 15 years since the Hawks headed down the freeway to Geelong and they probably hope it’s another 15 years.
Clarkson was irate branding his experienced midfield as 4th rate and he slammed the lack of desire of his side to run or put body pressure on. The Cats continued where they left off at the start last year with laser type accuracy kicking 17.6. The little master Ablett who looks like he’s consumed a few to many donuts in the isolation phase was still able to produce a best on field effort
Fremantle Dockers ok but Brisbane too good
The Dockers were ok here and nearly pinched a win after another poor start. New Coach Justin Longmuir has the delicate path to take with his players between criticism and praise. There is a bit to like about them but the starts simply have to improve. We saw Brisbane’s big recruiting coup pay off in spades again as when you boil it down Charlie Cameron was the difference with 4 goals (wonder if the Crows notice this!). Brisbane will once again be testing at the Gabba and the Dockers were creditable in game one of their hub experience
Melbourne and Carlton…who would know
Both of these sides seemed to play the same tune as last year. We were waiting to see one of these sides stand up in this game and announce they have arrived and it didn’t happen. Melbourne flirted with the idea of showing us they were good piling on 7 goals before the Blues had a major. A 42 point Demon lead you thought they were home except it seems the players thought the same thing and switched off completely conceding 7 of the last 8 goals of the game. Melbourne got home by a solitary point. Carlton make a habit of terrible starts and coming with big finishes under Teague. They simply need to start better if they are to improve. We learned nothing out of this game.
Adelaide Crows “bruise free” football going from bad to worse
Well if it is not bad enough having your clubs greatest ever player pasting you for a lack of culture, getting smashed by your cross town arch rival is! And that is exactly what happened to the Adelaide Crows against Port Adelaide in a 110-35 smashing of 75 points.
Is there a bigger insult on the character of a footballer than being accused of playing “bruise free” footy? Probably not but when it comes from the senior coach then multiply that by 10!! Every key stat we can see was miserably against the Crows and it was such a poor performance pundits are now openly talking of a bottom place for the Crows. An away game against resurgent Gold Coast now comes crucial.
Adelaide was beaten by a record margin and unfortunately their “searching” review last year (that was going to be made public and wasn’t and was also presented to the Board by the CEO not the reviewees) has failed to do what was intended. That was to make a full break from the problems of 2018 & 19 and start afresh. Whilst the coach, head assistant and head of football moved on, it would appear that this will not be enough to make the quantum change required at Adelaide. The Roo confirmed today it is a 3 year rebuild and that may be a minimum. Bottom spot does not look out of reach for the Crows.
Port are on the right track but are still looking to earn trust. We have seen this from Port before promise the world and come up short. They did look quick and sharp with outside speed that many sides do not have. Ken may keep his job after the last four years of under performance by the Power.
West Coast Eagles on holiday as young Gold Coast on fire
Adam Simpson will be hoping his charges awaken from holiday mode as they were caught asleep at the wheel by the young Suns side who looked to put their poor past behind them. The Suns defended with vigour and as Simpson put it “we are a mature side they are a young side, tonight we played like a young side they played like a mature side”.
The Eagles failed to handle the pressure that was thrown at them and for a side second in betting on the AFL betting tips premiership odds they have a long way to go. The new recruits for the Suns, number 1 pick Rowell and number 2 pick Noah Anderson had a big influence with Rowell producing a BOG performance in just his second game of footy. The Eagles have to rebound and quickly and they must embrace the hub and commit to effort. For the Suns, the expectation will now be back to back wins.
North Melbourne bring the Giants down
Rhyce Shaw implemented his former Sydney strategies to perfection. A disciplined Roos outfit scrapped and scraped to get down and dirty getting the game on their terms, something the Giants were unable to overcome.
The Giants normally known for their toughness were “out toughed” and in the end outclassed by North Melbourne that were more committed. The Kangaroos travelled up on the day of the game catching a 6am flight it was an effort worthy of merit as not many get over the top of the Giants in Sydney.
This was a poor loss for the Giants and to us smells of Grand Final hangover. Really committed focused sides with the talent GWS has simply do not lose these games. The Giants did not need a reality check this early in the season on the back of Grand Final embarrassment the next few weeks are crucial.
Essendon home in another Bombers/Swans classic
Small margins continue to be the order of the day when the Swans meet the Bombers and so it turned out to be. Essendon known for their attacking flair were probably most impressive by their desire to work two ways in this game. It was a big effort given they had caught a plane at 6am and had to wait around at the airport for 4 hours as the COVID rules don’t allow teams outside of hubs to get hotel rooms due to contamination fears. Essendon remain unbeaten but the results could easily have gone the other way with the margin at just a goal. Sydney will be dirty with the loss but with no forward targets (Franklin, Reid and Roncke all injured) the fact they were able to kick 11 goals will be pleasing. Sydney has a tough game next against the undefeated Roos and travel to Melbourne for the clash.
St Kilda takes a step forward over backward Bulldogs
You could sense it in the pre season but there is no doubt a new optimism at St Kilda. A new coach and key recruits have Saints fans getting excited. They gave up a big lead in round 1 to go down by a kick but they kept the foot on the throat after leading by 4 goals against the Dogs chalking up a clinical 39 point win.
The Bulldogs have become the new enigma of the AFL. These dogs made a terrible start to 2019 before getting their act together and charging to September. But something is missing here again and instead of carrying that momentum on they are playing like lost puppies. They allow easy goals and seemingly lack the grunt around the contest. After two drubbings in the opening 2 rounds the Dogs need to rediscover their bite and quickly.