Reigning Cats, Not Dogs

While this may be the first Sunday of the NFL season, it is also the first weekend of the Aussie Rules finals series. In the AFL each of the top 4 teams get two shots at the playoffs which pits the top four teams against each other in the first week. Those who win get a bye into the semifinals while those who lose return the next week to play the winners of the game in the lower four. Click on the above link to see the bracket, trust me, it's awesome.

In the first game of the weekend, the number two seed Hawthorn Hawks toppled the third place Western Bulldogs 18.19(127) to 11.10(76) behind 8 goals from their leader Buddy Franklin. The win showed that their is a huge gap between the Hawks at number 2, and all the teams below them. Whomever the Hawks get in two weeks, they are in trouble.

The first of two games on Saturday pitted #5 seed Adelaide Crows against the #8 Collingwood Magpies who ended up at the bottom of the playoff ladder after a late season swoon. This game was played in Adelaide, but for all but one quarter it was all on Collingwood's terms. They pulled away in the second half to a 19.11(125) to 14.10(94).

The second Saturday game was at the former Olympic stadium in Sydney as the hometown #6 Swans (about two feel tall, white with a black and orange bill...a swan) took on 7th seeded North Melbourne Kangaroos. The Roos were giant killers during the season, regularly taking out top of the ladder teams, but they slacked off during the end of the season. The Swans are two years removed from playing in two consecutive Grand Finals, winning one. The game was played in the rain, and in the end Sydney pulled away from the Roos 17.8(110) to 11.9(75). The season is done for North, while Sydney will have another challenge when they take on the Bulldogs.

After watching the three above games on the TIVO, I stayed up very late to watch the fourth game live. It started after midnight here in Pennsylvania, and didn't end until after 3AM but it was well worth it. The reigning champion Geelong Cats took on the surprise #4 seeded St. Kilda Saints. The Cats overcame some erratic kicking early to bash the boys from the beach 17.17(119) to 8.13(61). All of the Cats fantastic skill was on display from the Defense right through the midfield and up to the forwards. The Cats earn the week off to lick their wounds (not always wise with that sandpaper tongue) while St. Kilda has a short turn around for next weeks game against Collingwood.