This week…

We are in the beginning of the second shitload of games in a row:

Welcome to Balls of Steel’s AFL Beat!

Thank you to BFC for providing a link to an article that showed all of the Indigenous guernseys being worn by the teams this year.  Some were from previous years as the pandemic has, understandably, disrupted normal operations.  Some teams, however, were able to produce new ones for 2020.  I encourage everyone to follow this link and read up on them.

BTW, no, mine has not arrived yet, though I was notified that it shipped.  Maybe this week?

In other AFL news, the AFL announced that they would be cutting many positions at AFL Headquarters and otherwise do massive restructuring in order to cut costs and keep afloat.  Similarly, individual teams are expected to cut staff.  One thing to remember is that AFL teams are not owned by individuals or families like in the NFL.  This handy dandy video will explain the ownership structure very well:

So, when you see that clubs are making cuts, it’s not because rich owners are greeedy and trying to keep more money for themselves American-style.  It’s because the clubs need to maintain financial health for the future.  Same with the AFL as it is a non-profit.  It is worthwhile to note that the recent cuts have been to high-level positions, not to low-level employees.  Another reason why I like the way the AFL is run better than the NFL…

Here are the results and highlights from Round Fourteen:

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Hawthorn Hawks 71 v Essendon Bombers 87 at Adelaide Oval

Big win for the Bombers that keeps their season alive and, effectively, kills Hawks hopes.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Richmond Tigers 88 v West Coast Eagles 61 at Metricon Stadium

The Tigers made a YUUGE statement in beating the red-hot Eagles.

Friday, August 28, 2020

Western Bulldogs 61 v Geelong Cats 72 at Metricon Stadium

A remarkable comeback after a 36 point first quarter deficit keeps the Cats in Top Four position.

Port Adelaide Power 73 v Sydney Swans 47 at Adelaide Oval

The Power took care of business at home against a game but inexperienced Swans squad.

Fremantle Dockers 53 v GWS Giants 91 at Optus Stadium

This was a much-needed win for the Giants and a bad loss for the Dockers.

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Melbourne Demons 52 v St. Kilda Saints 49 at TIO Park in Alice Springs

The Saints Sainted and the Demons decided to win another game they had no right winning.

Carlton Blues 48 v Collingwood Magpies 72

The Blues were right there at Three Quarter Time and then the bottom fell out. 

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Gold Coast Suns 91 v North Melbourne Kangaroos 28 at Metricon Stadium

The Sunnies have righted the ship while the Roos are in shambles.

Byes:  Adelaide Crows and Brisbane Lions

***

Let’s take a look at the ladder, shall we?

Here is the Balls Graph^TM:

[gview file=”https://www.doorfliesopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AFL-Ladder-2020R14.pdf”]

***

Footy Tipping Contest

Here is where we are after Round Fourteen:

We have a shakeup at the top as SonOfSpam and Dolph Ucker have both gotten top scores this week and are now tied for first place. Maestro also did a great job with getting a top score.  On the other side of the table, a hearty well-done to Sharkbait, who has gotten out of the cellar by outdoing the Rev this week!  Keep up the good work, everyone!

Games start again tonight so, 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 Fifteen

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

12:40 AM – Hawthorn Hawks v Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval (FS1, TSN1)

3:10 AM – West Coast Eagles v Essendon Bombers at The Gabba (FS2, TSN1)

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

2:10 AM – Richmond Tigers v Fremantle Dockers at Metricon Stadium (FS2, TSN1)

11:40 PM – Sydney Swans v Melbourne Demons at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns (FS1)

Thursday, September 3, 2020

2:10 AM – GWS Giants v Carlton Blues at Metricon Stadium (FS2, TSN1)

Friday, September 4, 2020

2:50 AM – Brisbane Lions v Collingwood Magpies at The Gabba (ESPN2, TSN1)

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 (ESPN2, TSN1)

8:05 PM – St. Kilda Saints v Hawthorn Hawks at Metricon Stadium (FS2)

10:35 PM – Geelong Cats v Essendon Bombers at The Gabba (FS1, TSN1)

Sunday, September 6, 2020

1:10 AM – Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles at Metricon Stadium (FS1, TSN1)

Monday, September 7, 2020

2:10 AM – Melbourne Demons v Fremantle Dockers at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns (FS2)

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 (ESPN3, TSN4)

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

2:10 AM – Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns at The Gabba (FS2, TSN4)

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 (FS2, TSN5)

Friday, September 11, 2020

2:50 AM – Geelong Cats v Richmond Tigers at Metricon Stadium (ESPN2)

8:45 PM – North Melbourne Kangaroos v Fremantle Dockers at Metricon Stadium (FS2)

11:35 PM – Port Adelaide Power v Essendon Bombers at Adelaide Oval (FS1)

Saturday, September 12, 2020

2:40 AM – GWS Giants v Melbourne Demons at The Gabba (ESPN3)

8:05 PM – Carlton Blues v Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium

10:35 PM – Hawthorn Hawks v Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval (ESPN3)

Sunday, September 13, 2020

1:10 AM – Sydney Swans v Bribane Lions at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns (FS2)

Monday, September 14, 2020

2:10 AM – Collingwood Magpies v Gold Coast Suns at The Gabba (FS2)

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- The Marquee Matchup of the Round did not disappoint.  It was definitely a different ballgame without Eagles star Josh Kennedy, who got knocked out with a concussion early.  It makes for an appetizing rematch in finals.

2- Melbourne is a very perplexing team.  They win when they shouldn’t and they lose games they should win.  On the other side, St. Kilda tease like the worst high school girlfriend ever.  Blue Ball City.

3- The Giants can sneak into finals if they continue to win. It’s difficult, but not impossible and anything is possible if they can get in.

4- I don’t know what to say about the Cats.  The first quarter was awful, but they managed to right the ship and got the win.  That’s a good sign and a bad one at the same time.  They shouldn’t have been behind by that much against the Doggies.

5- The North Melbourne Kangaroos join the Adelaide Crows as being mathematically eliminated from finals as they were embarrased this weekend.  Hawthorn and Sydney still have a mathematical chance but are realistically out while Fremantle must win every single game going forward and hope for help.

6- This round will be a bit weird as many teams are on Bye and there are only 6 matches before the weekend.  Make sure to put your footy tips in!

***

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 15 live broadcast schedule with North American broadcast partner:

Round Fifteen

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

12:40 AM – Hawthorn Hawks v Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval (FS1, TSN1)

3:10 AM – West Coast Eagles v Essendon Bombers at The Gabba (FS2, TSN1)

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

2:10 AM – Richmond Tigers v Fremantle Dockers at Metricon Stadium (FS2, TSN1)

11:40 PM – Sydney Swans v Melbourne Demons at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns (FS1)

Thursday, September 3, 2020

2:10 AM – GWS Giants v Carlton Blues at Metricon Stadium (FS2, TSN1)

Friday, September 4, 2020

2:50 AM – Brisbane Lions v Collingwood Magpies at The Gabba (ESPN2, TSN1)

Round 15 Byes: Gold Coast Suns, North Melbourne Kangaroos, Port Adelaide Power, Western Bulldogs, Geelong Cats, and St. Kilda Saints

***

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 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!