1. The Showdown should not be a twilight fixture
Some of the big name media and sports personalities this week including respected sports broadcaster Gerard Whateley and former Essendon star, Tim Watson, have criticised the AFL fixturing of the Showdowns. They have both suggested the Port Adelaide v Adelaide Showdown clash deserves to be a night game and not a twilight fixture.
They definitely raise a good point, whilst the game was a sell-out on Saturday night, the twilight time slot doesn’t suit a game with such a big rivalry and hopefully the AFL will consider a Friday or Saturday night game next year.
2. Could the Crows be one of the best teams in history to miss the AFL finals?
The Crows have had a horror run with injury this year; however they are starting to hit their straps and are getting key players back into the side. They had a gutsy three-point victory over the Power on the weekend in Showdown 45, however with only three games to go and the Crows needing to win all three games plus rely on other results going their way, the odds are against them.
After playing off in last year’s grand final, the 2018 season has been one to forget for the boys from West Lakes with nothing going right. In the Showdown they won all of the key statistics including contested possessions (+17), inside 50’s (+22) and clearances (+10).
3. The AFL should just leave the game alone
There has been controversy in recent weeks with the state of the game, however with some of the best games seen all year in Round 20 perhaps the AFL should think twice about making any more rule changes.
With five games decided by less than a goal and two of the games having both sides score over 100 points the spectators were treated to some of the best footy that they could ask for.
4. Alex Johnson's comeback to football is one of the feel good stories of this year.
The 2012 premiership defender played his first game for the Swans since the premiership after having a horrible past six years. Johnson has had to undergo 12 knee operations and five of those were knee reconstructions so the fact that he was able to play again is remarkable in itself.
Johnson was resolute down back for Sydney and finished with 15 disposals and 11 marks and helped his side to a thrilling two-point victory over the Magpies.
5. Andrew Gaff’s brain fade against the Dockers could prove to be very costly
The star wingman from the Eagles had a brain fade in the third quarter of the big derby against the Dockers on Sunday. The normally composed midfielder reacted to some close attention from Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw by punching him in the jaw. It started a huge melee and Brayshaw was taken to hospital with doctor’s revealing his jaw had been broken.
Gaff is expected to be given a lengthy suspension which could potentially cost him a Brownlow Medal and more importantly have a big bearing on the West Coast’s premiership chances in 2018.
Gaff’s run and elite disposal efficiency is going to be very hard to replace and they face a huge game this Saturday against Port Adelaide, another team who is competing for a top four spot.
