Ins and Outs of AFL

Sport reporters David Bryceson(DB) and Adrian Polykandrites(AP) discuss the current comings and goings in the AFL.

AP: Can anyone beat the Crows in September the way they're playing?

DB: West Coast. Interesting thing about the two sides, they don't have a big-gun up forward like Barry Hall or Brendan Fevola.

AP: No, but I think the Crows are more flexible than the Eagles. And Riciutto is a pretty good forward. They've got some good players to come back into the side, too.

DB: So what do you think of the bump, rule it out? Suspend the player who caused the head injury for the same duration as the injured player? Blake Caracella's serious neck injury is unacceptable.

AP: I might not watch if they did. The Caracella injury was very unfortunate but I don't know how you can stop that. Tim Notting was trying to win the ball. It's a contact sport.

DB: Don't touch the head. The clean hard contest for the ball where you use the body to get between the opponent and the ball is what we want to see. Nothing above the shoulders. So mate, how's our prediction doing?

AP: We thought six of the teams in the eight after round six would play finals and that's on track. Freo and Hawthorn are now out. Melbourne won't miss the finals. Can Port stay in? Are the Cats still a chance?

DB: Short answer: one week at a time.

AP: Come on Dave, I know you've got a soft spot for the Cats. Can they still win the flag?

DB: Nup.

AP: Did we over-estimate them?

DB: We all over-estimated them. I think they over-estimated themselves for a long time, they took some of their losses very hard and came crashing down like a Zeppelin.

AP: Time to wrap it up. Give us your biggest surprise and disappointment so far and tell me who Victoria's best premiership chance. I'd say Richmond Kangaroos and Melbourne.

DB: The Aurora Stadium siren shenanigans, Cats, and Collingwood.

AP: I like Adelaide for the flag.

DB: Too early to say.