AFL 2007: Early Rounds Season Defining Games
While not an exact science, as shown by Essendon defeating Sydney last season as well as the Demons slow start, the early games can give an indication of how a team will go for a season. While there are many games to look forward to, these are some early games that may show us if teams are contenders for 2007 or pretenders.
Adelaide: Rounds 2, 3 and 4
The Crows will know how good they are after playing the Bulldogs at the MCG and then battling the Power and Swans back in SA.
Brisbane: Round 2
The Lions start the season with a bunch of winnable games, including an away game at Carrara against the Kangaroos. But it will be the round 2 game against the Saints that will show if the Lions can compete for the finals like their coach thinks they can.
Carlton: Rounds 1 and 3
The Blues don't play a team from the Top 8 of 2006 until round 4, when they travel to face the Eagles. But maybe the season, or the coach, is already gone by then. The Blues play their first three games on Saturdays, but all with different starting times. If they can beat Richmond in round 1 they might get on a roll, but if they lose their first two games against the Tigers and Cats it will be a game against Essendon in round 3 that will be important. The loser of that game might be playing for the "Veszpremi-Kreuzer Cup".
Collingwood: Round 2
Magpies' fans might be looking forward to round 10 at the MCG against Fremantle, but in round 2 the other WA team is their opponent. If the Magpies are going to be a finals team this away game to the Eagles will be a good indicator.
Essendon: Round 2
The Dockers in Melbourne used to be a game teams wouldn't just pencil-in as a win but they would use ink for that. Now the Dockers are much improved and often the favourite for clashes in Melbourne. Hird and Lloyd should be fresh and healthy, if the Bombers are going to make noise in 2007 they will need to win home games like this.
Fremantle: Round 3
The Dockers play the Eagles in round 3, whoever wins this is a good chance to play in the last game in September. Although both these teams might get there.
Geelong: Round 1
Geelong was a big Grand Final favourite during the opening rounds of 2006. This time around their round 1 opponent, the Bulldogs, will have that title. If Geelong are a serious contender, and if the coach is going to see out the season, then this game could be the barometer.
Hawthorn: Round 2
This clash between the Hawks and Demons will show which team is on the up and which team is not. The veterans of the Demons, Neitz and White, versus the young stars of Hawthorn, Franklin and Hodge. If the Hawks can win this game they might start the season with 4 wins out of 5 games, and if they get some early confidence it will help a lot.
Kangaroos: Round 1
The Magpies are their opponent in round 1. They matchup well with Collingwood and will hope to win the opening game. They are already training for next season so the Kangaroos will definitely be ready.
Melbourne: Round 1
The Demons kept what they had, the Saints added Gardiner, Birss and Lyon. If Melbourne still have the Saints' number it will be a good start to the year. 5 of their first 6 games are at the MCG, they can't afford to start 2007 like they did 2006.
Port Adelaide: Round 3
The Power probably enter the showdown with a 1 and 1 record. If they win against the Crows then all is well, if they lose then there will be questions about the coach's future.
Richmond: Round 2
The Tigers will be thinking the round 1 game against Carlton is a win, so the round 2 game at the MCG against Sydney will give them an indication of how far along the road to the Top 8 they really are. If Polak can help stop Hall the Tigers might be able to get a winning streak going to start 2007.
St Kilda: Round 3
For a lot of 2006 the Saints were Victoria's best team, but the Bulldogs are better now. The Bulldogs will have Akermanis, the Saints should have Hayes back, the winner of this game will get a lot of momentum. The Saints are a chance to get on a roll early with 6 wins, whihc would setup a huge game at Telstra Dome in round 7 against the Swans.
Sydney: Round 1
The Eagles were 1 point better than the Swans, but now the venue is Telstra Stadium in Sydney and Peter Everitt will be playing for the Swans. This game will be the higlight of round 1 and could again be one of the games of the year.
West Coast: Round 3
Maybe it should be the round 1 game, but the round 3 game against the Dockers is just as big. If the Eagles lose in Sydney then they could be 1 and 2 if the Dockers defeat them again. But even if the Eagles do lose those two early games they will probably win every other game of 2007.
Western Bulldogs: Round 1, 2 and 3
They are not the underdogs anymore, and teams won't underestimate the Bulldogs in 2007. The Cats, Crows and Saints should all be difficult opponents. If they come out of that with 3 wins it could setup a Top 4 finish to the season.
Adelaide: Rounds 2, 3 and 4
The Crows will know how good they are after playing the Bulldogs at the MCG and then battling the Power and Swans back in SA.
Brisbane: Round 2
The Lions start the season with a bunch of winnable games, including an away game at Carrara against the Kangaroos. But it will be the round 2 game against the Saints that will show if the Lions can compete for the finals like their coach thinks they can.
Carlton: Rounds 1 and 3
The Blues don't play a team from the Top 8 of 2006 until round 4, when they travel to face the Eagles. But maybe the season, or the coach, is already gone by then. The Blues play their first three games on Saturdays, but all with different starting times. If they can beat Richmond in round 1 they might get on a roll, but if they lose their first two games against the Tigers and Cats it will be a game against Essendon in round 3 that will be important. The loser of that game might be playing for the "Veszpremi-Kreuzer Cup".
Collingwood: Round 2
Magpies' fans might be looking forward to round 10 at the MCG against Fremantle, but in round 2 the other WA team is their opponent. If the Magpies are going to be a finals team this away game to the Eagles will be a good indicator.
Essendon: Round 2
The Dockers in Melbourne used to be a game teams wouldn't just pencil-in as a win but they would use ink for that. Now the Dockers are much improved and often the favourite for clashes in Melbourne. Hird and Lloyd should be fresh and healthy, if the Bombers are going to make noise in 2007 they will need to win home games like this.
Fremantle: Round 3
The Dockers play the Eagles in round 3, whoever wins this is a good chance to play in the last game in September. Although both these teams might get there.
Geelong: Round 1
Geelong was a big Grand Final favourite during the opening rounds of 2006. This time around their round 1 opponent, the Bulldogs, will have that title. If Geelong are a serious contender, and if the coach is going to see out the season, then this game could be the barometer.
Hawthorn: Round 2
This clash between the Hawks and Demons will show which team is on the up and which team is not. The veterans of the Demons, Neitz and White, versus the young stars of Hawthorn, Franklin and Hodge. If the Hawks can win this game they might start the season with 4 wins out of 5 games, and if they get some early confidence it will help a lot.
Kangaroos: Round 1
The Magpies are their opponent in round 1. They matchup well with Collingwood and will hope to win the opening game. They are already training for next season so the Kangaroos will definitely be ready.
Melbourne: Round 1
The Demons kept what they had, the Saints added Gardiner, Birss and Lyon. If Melbourne still have the Saints' number it will be a good start to the year. 5 of their first 6 games are at the MCG, they can't afford to start 2007 like they did 2006.
Port Adelaide: Round 3
The Power probably enter the showdown with a 1 and 1 record. If they win against the Crows then all is well, if they lose then there will be questions about the coach's future.
Richmond: Round 2
The Tigers will be thinking the round 1 game against Carlton is a win, so the round 2 game at the MCG against Sydney will give them an indication of how far along the road to the Top 8 they really are. If Polak can help stop Hall the Tigers might be able to get a winning streak going to start 2007.
St Kilda: Round 3
For a lot of 2006 the Saints were Victoria's best team, but the Bulldogs are better now. The Bulldogs will have Akermanis, the Saints should have Hayes back, the winner of this game will get a lot of momentum. The Saints are a chance to get on a roll early with 6 wins, whihc would setup a huge game at Telstra Dome in round 7 against the Swans.
Sydney: Round 1
The Eagles were 1 point better than the Swans, but now the venue is Telstra Stadium in Sydney and Peter Everitt will be playing for the Swans. This game will be the higlight of round 1 and could again be one of the games of the year.
West Coast: Round 3
Maybe it should be the round 1 game, but the round 3 game against the Dockers is just as big. If the Eagles lose in Sydney then they could be 1 and 2 if the Dockers defeat them again. But even if the Eagles do lose those two early games they will probably win every other game of 2007.
Western Bulldogs: Round 1, 2 and 3
They are not the underdogs anymore, and teams won't underestimate the Bulldogs in 2007. The Cats, Crows and Saints should all be difficult opponents. If they come out of that with 3 wins it could setup a Top 4 finish to the season.
