This week…
We are at the end of a shitload of games in a row:
and at the beginning of a NEW shitload of games in a row!
Welcome to Balls of Steel’s AFL Beat!
We finally get a bit of a break as the AFL goes to a traditional schedule for Round 13, which will be the Doug Nicholls Round. I still have not seen anything coming out from the AFL talking about any special guernseys coming out for this year. I’ll keep you posted on that if I see anything. In the meantime, I ordered myself a beautiful long-sleeved 2020 Geelong Indigenous Guernsey. Isn’t she a beauty?
We’ll see how long it takes for it to arrive…
Here are the results and highlights from Round Twelve:
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Sydney Swans 66 v GWS Giants 25 at Optus Stadium
This was the surprise of the round. The Giants matched their lowest ever total, set in the Grand Final last year.
Friday, August 14, 2020
Geelong Cats 91 v Port Adelaide Power 31 at Metricon Stadium
This was a very pleasant surprise. The score is deceiving because a brutal fourth killed the Power.
North Melbourne Kangaroos 52 v Brisbane Lions 53 at Metricon Stadium
The Roos gave the Lions all they could handle. One missed kick in the end was the difference.
Saturday, August 15, 2020
Melbourne Demons 100 v Collingwood Magpies 44 at The Gabba
I have no idea what’s happened to the Pies. This loss was shocking.
Fremantle Dockers 36 v Carlton Blues 40 at Optus Stadium
This one came down to a kick After The Siren in a crazy and controversial last two minutes:
Here are the full-game highlights:
Western Bulldogs 111 v Adelaide Crows 54 at Metricon Stadium
The Doggies had complete control the entire game and should have won by more.
St. Kilda Saints 68 v Essendon Bombers 33 at The Gabba
This was a big win after last week’s loss to the Cats for the Saints. The Bombers, meanwhile, are lost.
Sunday, August 16, 2020
West Coast Eagles 81 v Hawthorn Hawks 49 at Optus Stadium
It was a nice and easy win for the Eagles, who are Premiership favourites.
Monday, August 17, 2020
Richmond Tigers 53 v Gold Coast Suns 32 at The Gabba
It was close for three quarters, but then the Tigers’ experience overwhelmed the young Suns.
***
Let’s take a look at the ladder, shall we?
| P | TEAM | W | L | T | PTS | % |
| 1 | Port Adelaide Power | 9 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 127.5 |
| 2 | Brisbane Lions | 9 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 118.3 |
| 3 | Geelong Cats | 8 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 138.5 |
| 4 | West Coast Eagles | 8 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 121.1 |
| 5 | St. Kilda Saints | 8 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 115.8 |
| 6 | Richmond Tigers | 7 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 119.0 |
| 7 | Collingwood Magpies | 6 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 104.9 |
| 8 | Melbourne Demons | 6 | 5 | 0 | 24 | 118.2 |
| 9 | GWS Giants | 6 | 5 | 0 | 24 | 98.2 |
| 10 | Western Bulldogs | 6 | 6 | 0 | 24 | 97.9 |
| 11 | Essendon Bombers | 5 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 86.1 |
| 12 | Carlton Blues | 5 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 95.5 |
| 13 | Gold Coast Suns | 4 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 98.0 |
| 14 | Fremantle Dockers | 4 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 88.3 |
| 15 | Sydney Swans | 4 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 84.8 |
| 16 | Hawthorn Hawks | 4 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 82.5 |
| 17 | North Melbourne Kangaroos | 3 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 83.1 |
| 18 | Adelaide Crows | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 54.7 |
Here is the Balls GraphTM:
[gview file=”https://www.doorfliesopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AFL-Ladder-2020R12.pdf”]
***
Footy Tipping Contest
Here is where we are after Round Twelve:
| P | TIPPER | Round Tips |
Round Margin |
Total Tips | Total Margin |
| 1 | BFC | 6 | 60 | 72 | 243 |
| 2 | SonOfSpam | 5 | 61 | 71 | 296 |
| 3 | Dolph Ucker | 6 | 56 | 71 | 301 |
| 4 | Litre_cola | 5 | 54 | 68 | 276 |
| 5 | BALLS | 5 | 55 | 67 | 296 |
| 6 | 6 | 72 | 66 | 392 | |
| 7 | Yeah Right | 5 | 41 | 63 | 280 |
| 8 | Sunrisesunrise | 6 | 91 | 63 | 433 |
| 9 | BC Dick | 6 | 41 | 62 | 286 |
| 10 | WhyEaglesWhy | 7 | 41 | 59 | 291 |
| 11 | Game Time Decision | 4 | 63 | 56 | 376 |
| 12 | Maestro | 6 | 41 | 51 | 287 |
| 13 | Reverend Mayhem | 2 | 41 | 44 | 272 |
| 14 | Sharkbait | 2 | 41 | 44 | 438 |
Thanks to Sydney, there were no perfect scores this week. Congratulations to WhyEaglesWhy for getting the week’s top score! For the first time all year, we did not have any movement in the ladder as all positions remained the same!
As always,
DON’T FORGET TO PUT THE FOOTY TIPS IN!
***
I’ve been providing, for your advanced Tipping reference, the schedule for the next few rounds (All times Pacific). Here then are the game schedules for the rest of the year:
Round Thirteen
Friday, August 21, 2020
2:50 AM – Gold Coast Suns v Carlton Blues at TIO Stadium (Northern Territory)
8:45 PM – Western Bulldogs v Melbourne Demons at Metricon Stadium
11:35 PM – Port Adelaide Power v Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval
Saturday, August 22, 2020
2:40 AM – Essendon Bombers v Richmond Tigers at TIO Stadium (Northern Territory)
3:10 AM – Fremantle Dockers v Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium
8:05 PM – Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval
10:35 PM – Brisbane Lions v St. Kilda Saints at The Gabba
Sunday, August 23, 2020
1:10 AM – West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants at Optus Stadium
Monday, August 24, 2020
2:10 AM – Collingwood Magpies v North Melbourne Kangaroos at The Gabba
Round Fourteen
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
11:40 PM – Hawthorn Hawks v Essendon Bombers at Adelaide Oval
Thursday, August 27, 2020
2:10 AM – Richmond Tigers v West Coast Eagles at Metricon Stadium
Friday, August 28, 2020
2:50 AM – Western Bulldogs v Geelong Cats at Metricon Stadium
8:45 PM – Port Adelaide Power v Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval
11:35 PM – Fremantle Dockers v GWS Giants at Optus Stadium
Saturday, August 29, 2020
2:40 AM – Melbourne Demons v St. Kilda Saints at TIO Traeger Park, NT
10:35 PM – Carlton Blues v Collingwood Magpies at The Gabba
Sunday, August 30, 2020
1:10 AM – Gold Coast Suns v North Melbourne Kangaroos at Metricon Stadium
Round 14 Byes: Adelaide Crows and Brisbane Lions
Round Fifteen
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
12:40 AM – Hawthorn Hawks v Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval
3:10 AM – West Coast Eagles v Essendon Bombers at The Gabba
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
2:10 AM – Richmond Tigers v Fremantle Dockers at Metricon Stadium
11:40 PM – Sydney Swans v Melbourne Demons at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns
Thursday, September 3, 2020
2:10 AM – GWS Giants v Carlton Blues at Metricon Stadium
Friday, September 4, 2020
2:50 AM – Brisbane Lions v Collingwood Magpies at The Gabba
Round 15 Byes: Gold Coast Suns, North Melbourne Kangaroos, Port Adelaide Power, Western Bulldogs, Geelong Cats, and St. Kilda Saints
Round Sixteen
Saturday, September 5, 2020
2:40 AM – North Melbourne Kangaroos v Port Adelaide Power at Metricon Stadium
8:05 PM – St. Kilda Saints v Hawthorn Hawks at Metricon Stadium
10:35 PM – Geelong Cats v Essendon Bombers at The Gabba
Sunday, September 6, 2020
1:10 AM – Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles at Metricon Stadium
Monday, September 7, 2020
2:10 AM – Melbourne Demons v Fremantle Dockers at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
12:40 AM – Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval
3:10 AM – Carlton Blues v Sydney Swans at Metricon Stadium
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
2:10 AM – Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns at The Gabba
Round 16 Byes: Collingwood Magpies and Richmond Tigers
Round Seventeen
Thursday, September 10, 2020
2:10 AM – St. Kilda Saints v West Coast Eagles at The Gabba
Friday, September 11, 2020
2:50 AM – Geelong Cats v Richmond Tigers at Metricon Stadium
8:45 PM – North Melbourne Kangaroos v Fremantle Dockers at Metricon Stadium
11:35 PM – Port Adelaide Power v Essendon Bombers at Adelaide Oval
Saturday, September 12, 2020
2:40 AM – GWS Giants v Melbourne Demons at The Gabba
8:05 PM – Carlton Blues v Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium
10:35 PM – Hawthorn Hawks v Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval
Sunday, September 13, 2020
1:10 AM – Sydney Swans v Bribane Lions at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns
Monday, September 14, 2020
2:10 AM – Collingwood Magpies v Gold Coast Suns at The Gabba
Round Eighteen (Dates and Times TBD)
Adelaide Crows v Richmond Tigers
Brisbane Lions v Carlton Blues
Collingwood Magpies v Port Adelaide Power
Essendon Bombers v Melbourne Demons
Fremantle Dockers v Western Bulldogs
Hawthorn Hawks v Gold Coast Suns
North Melbourne Kangaroos v West Coast Eagles
St. Kilda Saints v GWS Giants
Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats
The postponed Essendon-Melbourne game will be made up in Round 18.
***
Without further ado, it’s
Balls’ Sechs
1- Adelaide may become the first team since the 1964 Fitzroy Lions (who later merged with the Brisbane Bears and became the Brisbane Lions) to go winless for an entire season. They are that bad and they face Geelong, Richmond, GWS, Carlton, and Hawthorn to end the season.
2- The surprise of the Round for me was Collingwood getting thrashed by Melbourne. The Pies are not that bad and the Demons are not that good. We’ll see if both teams head down the same path next round.
3- The Lions almost gave the game away against the Roos. It was a win, but it could not have given the Lions much confidence going into finals. They need to play better if they hope to win a finals game.
4- The Saints bounced back very nicely in taking care of the Bombers. They were able to stop the Bombers from playing their style, which is similar to Richmond’s. If they can do this in finals, they could go far.
5- The Hawks tried hard but it was too tall of a task to beat the Eagles at home. The question now is whether they will start playing the kids and planning for next year. And will there be a new coach?
6- We get one normal week before we start another Festival of Footy with games every day until the end of the regular season. It’s going to be great!
***
That’s all for this week.
As discussed last week, Fox Sports has the rights to the AFL in the United States while TSN has the rights in Canada and the AFL is pressuring them to have more games available on the FS1, FS2, and TSN networks. Now is the perfect chance for you to see what all the fun is about!
Not only that, but ESPN has jumped back into the AFL pool! They’ll be broadcasting one game per week live on an ESPN network and streaming another live on ESPN3.
You can find the latest broadcast information on the Australian Football Association of North America website here.
Here is your Round 12 live broadcast schedule with North American broadcast partner:
Round Thirteen
Friday, August 21, 2020
2:50 AM – Gold Coast Suns v Carlton Blues at TIO Stadium (Northern Territory) (ESPN3, TSN5)
8:45 PM – Western Bulldogs v Melbourne Demons at Metricon Stadium (FS2)
11:35 PM – Port Adelaide Power v Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval (FS1, TSN5)
Saturday, August 22, 2020
2:40 AM – Essendon Bombers v Richmond Tigers at TIO Stadium (Northern Territory) (FS1, TSN1)
3:10 AM – Fremantle Dockers v Sydney Swans at Optus Stadium
8:05 PM – Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval
10:35 PM – Brisbane Lions v St. Kilda Saints at The Gabba (FS2, TSN1)
Sunday, August 23, 2020
1:10 AM – West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants at Optus Stadium (FS2)
Monday, August 24, 2020
2:10 AM – Collingwood Magpies v North Melbourne Kangaroos at The Gabba (ESPN2, TSN5)
***
Like before, the AFL Beat will have to run on a different schedule than normal in the next few weeks. Here then are the publishing days and times for the next few weeks:
AFL Beat Round 13: Tuesday, August 25
AFL Beat Round 14: Monday, August 31
AFL Beat Round 15: Friday, September 4 (Another AFL Sexy Friday!)
AFL Beat Round 16: Wednesday, September 9
AFL Beat Round 17: Tuesday, September 15
See you next time!
Congrats on your win in the WEW-Balls Bowl! That was a frustrating game for sure. For most of it it felt like Port just needed one goal to make a game of it, and then Geelong just blew them out in the fourth. Nice win!
Thanks! Yeah, it was really a close game until that fourth. I’m sure if we meet again in finals it will be much closer.
Saints in the Finals. Wont be there long internet friends.
So if first place gets a gently used fleshlight, does last place get this fleshlight?
This gif works every time!
It’s the googly eyes that really bring it together
this GIF needs sound
Cue up the audio from “Anal Vixens 5” and it should work.
I think you can hear the voice (truck/exhaust/wet fart) in your head…….
I can hear that to the tune of God Bless America.