Back in the before times of November 2019, when COVID-19 was merely swilling around in the lungs of a bat somewhere in China, the AFL released the fixture for 2020 and an early marquee game was the Easter Thursday clash between Brisbane and Collingwood.
It wasn't just randomly spat out by the AFL’s fixturing software. Rather, it was the result of a commercial deal that guarantees that fixture at that ground on that date for the next few years, with the Pies and their legion of fans converging on the Gabba for the game then spreading themselves across the length and breadth of southeast Queensland for the rest of the holiday period.
Alas, like most things in 2020, that idea was killed off, but the Pies visiting the Lions at the Gabba in prime-time has been salvaged and they meet on Friday night, although in another quirk peculiar to this season, they meet in the last game of round 15.
And the next round begins just 24 hours later, after a Saturday afternoon totally devoid of footy. Go figure.
In any event, Brisbane and Collingwood should be a good one. The Pies have held their season together admirably and their win over Carlton on Sunday was magnificent. Playing off a short-break against the rested Blues, and with four of their best players watching on, they came back in the second half, keeping Carlton goalless and winning by 24 points.
Just when you thought Collingwood’s list of absentees had reached the tipping point, with Steele Sidebottom joining Jeremy Howe, Jordan De Goey and Adam Treloar on the sidelines, the Pies humiliated their oldest enemy to not only cement their place in the eight but give themselves a rough chance of making the top four.
They’ll need to win out to do so and the starting point is Friday night. Two factors in their favour is six straight wins over the Lions heading into this one with an average winning margin of 37 points and that the Lions haven’t knocked them over at the Gabba since 2010.
Brisbane will be rested for this one, having not played for 12 days, which might have allowed Chris Fagan to properly address the goalkicking woes that have afflicted his team all season. Their 6.14 return against the Saints last start came on the back of other score lines in 2020, which include 4.17, 7.11, 6.10 and 10.23.
The amateur psychologists have had a field day trying to identify where the Lions are getting it wrong near the sticks, but they certainly have had some time to try and rectify things.
Poor kicking cost them badly at the pointy end of last season and threatens to do so again this year. You have to bring your best to beat the Pies, and the Lions will need to find a way to nullify Scott Pendlebury, Taylor Adams, Brodie Grundy and Darcy Moore, who were all outstanding and helped will their side over the line against the Blues.
As noted, it is rare to have the Friday night game close out the round, but the best game of the round should be worth the wait.
It’s also a big week for…
1. Adelaide
Is this the week? Adelaide gets battling Hawthorn on its home deck even if the Hawks are somehow the listed home team. Adelaide has had a 10-day break, Hawthorn just five. Daniel Talia and Brad Crouch are very handy inclusions. All signs point to a competitive showing from the Crows and quite possibly their first win for the season. And Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson hardly engendered much confidence when he said on Monday, “Our focus isn't on the urgency of a win or a loss here, otherwise we wouldn't be shaping our side the way we are with a five-day break.” If the Crows get up, then by our reckoning, five players – Lachlan Sholl, Shane McAdam, Harry Schoenberg and Ben Keays – as well as coach Matthew Nicks might be enjoying the Powerade shower and singing the club song for the first time. Hope they know the words.
2. Essendon
The best advice for the Bombers this week was not to roll the dice with Joe Daniher for his second game in five days. But they couldn’t resist and with key defender Michael Hurley returning, together with skipper Dyson Heppell for the first time since round two, the Bombers are starting to look powerful once more. But they are walking a fine line with Daniher. Granted, he was so exciting last Thursday as he lit up the second half against the Hawks, but some of his injury concerns can be sheeted back to a couple of years ago when he pushed the envelope by playing twice in a few days, including the Anzac Day game. Fingers crossed he gets through this one OK, but the world will be coming for the Bombers, and fair enough too, if he breaks down again.
3. West Coast
Eagles fans are a bit twitchy. The loss to the Tigers last Thursday makes them 2-4 in Queensland for 2020, but they almost deserve a mulligan what with the cross-country trip and just four days to prepare. Lose to Essendon however and perhaps the doubts will begin to creep in. And while the Eagles deserve credit for hatching the plan to ‘host’ North Melbourne at Optus Stadium in the home and away finale, competition integrity demanded it be played in Queensland as scheduled.
4. GWS
The Giants played brilliantly to dismantle Fremantle in their last game in WA before heading back to Queensland and looked formidable. But can we trust them?
5. Metricon Stadium
Despite all the money invested, it wasn't built to become the home of football. The surface has become worn and mottled. Can the overworked ground staff keep things going for four more weeks?
Tips
Hawthorn v Adelaide (10)
Essendon v West Coast (6)
Richmond (29) v Fremantle
Sydney v Melbourne (19)
GWS (14) v Carlton
Brisbane (8) v Collingwood
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