There's supposed to be footy on tonight but that wretched coronavirus has ruined it for everyone.
Nonetheless, there's still a whole history of the game we can look back on.
While Round 2 should be upon us, we've at least been able to go back over the last 20 years and pick out some of the best indiviual performances in the second round of a season.
The Top 10 individual Round 2 performances:
1. Peter Everitt
(Geelong v ST KILDA) - 2000
The Saints were beaten by 40 points down at Kardinia Park but not for the efforts of Spida Everitt. Resplendent with his peroxide white hair in bobbling cornrows, Everitt kicked 9.6 (15 of St Kilda’s 24 shots) and took 12 marks in a dominant display. It certainly was a tough day for Cats defender Ben Graham. However, Spida was beaten to the three Brownlow votes by Garry Hocking who had 26 possessions and 10 clearances in the blue and white hoops.
2. David Neitz
(MELBOURNE v Richmond) - 2004
The dead-eye Demons forward had one of his most prolific seasons in 2004 (which resulted in 69 goals), and it all started early on with a nine-goal haul against Richmond on Friday night footy at the ‘G. The Dees smashed the Tigers by 59 points and Neita simply had his way with Darren Gaspar and co. on his way to three Brownlow votes while equalling his career-high goal return. It was game number 228 as well.
3. Josh Kennedy
(WEST COAST v Carlton) - 2015
JK didn’t hold back against his former club early in the 2015 season. For the third time in his career, he reached double figure goals when he banged home 10.1 from 13 kicks at Subiaco in a 69-point drubbing. Carlton defenders Sam Rowe, Lachie Henderson and Michael Jamison were all at odds with how to stop him. When Kennedy nailed his 10th, Dennis Cometti put it aptly: “Runs around, kicks the goal and brings the house down.”
4. Michael Voss
(Adelaide v BRISBANE) - 2004
Normally known for his contested ball-wining ability, Vossy had an absolute day out against Adelaide at Footy Park in 2004. With Alastair Lynch and Jonathan Brown out of the side, the three-time premiership skipper was thrown forward by Leigh Matthews and didn’t disappoint. He bagged seven goals to go along with 21 disposals, six marks and three Brownlow votes in his 225th game. He could have made a great forward late in his career if the Lions midfield didn’t need him so much.
5. Nathan Buckley
(COLLINGWOOD v Fremantle) - 2001
Bucks carved up the Dockers at Colonial back in 2001. The Magpies got over the line by 17 points, but it may have been a different story if their inspirational leader did not step up. He amassed 46 possessions (20 contested) including a remarkable 32 kicks, 13 inside 50s and eight clearances in a sublime midfield showing. Even with the game wrapped up and only 19 seconds left on the clock, Buckley burst out of the centre square to rack up his 46th of the night. The performance landed him maximum votes from the umpires.
6. Simon Goodwin
(ADELAIDE v West Coast ) - 2008
A wingman who could go forward with immediate effect, Goodwin had a day to remember in 2008. The Crows belted the Eagles by 76 points at Footy Park courtesy of a masterclass from the now-Melbourne coach. Goody snagged seven majors (best return of his career) to go along with 24 touches, 13 grabs, seven inside 50s and three Brownlow votes.
7. Jonathan Brown
(BRISBANE v Carlton) - 2010
Browny was roaming forward 50s with menace throughout the 2000s and often liked beating up on Carlton. Among his 58 goals in 18 games against the Blues was a bag in 2010 when he teamed up for 10 goals with former Bagger Brendan Fevola in front of an expectant crowd at the Gabba. Brown helped himself to seven snags, took 12 marks, pumped the ball inside 50 on six occasions and received three Brownlow votes for his efforts in the 19-point win.
8. Nick Riewoldt
(ST KILDA v North Melbourne) - 2010
Just like Brown, Rooey was a frightening sight for opposing defenders during the 2000s. In 2010, he took the Kangaroos to the cleaners when returning seven goals in a 104-point drubbing at Etihad. Riewoldt ran the Roos into the ground, taking 15 marks, picking up 23 possessions and delivering six inside 50s in a clear best-on-ground display.
9. Robbie Gray
(PORT ADELAIDE v Fremantle) - 2017
Robbie Gray got in on the act in 2017 when the Power flogged the Dockers by 89 points at Adelaide Oval. The small forward/midfielder racked up 30 touches, took seven marks and had six inside 50s - those numbers alone simply a great return. But that season’s All-Australian half-forward flanker also registered six goals in what was a remarkable return which certainly attracted the umpire’s attention. Look out for the sixth goal where he completely embarrasses Lachie Neale with an ankle-breaking candy sell.
10. Tom Lynch
(Carlton v GOLD COAST) - 2018
The Tigers premiership player has loved stepping out against the Blues over the course of his career and on a beautiful sunny day in 2018, he again feasted during his time with the Suns. Lynch had kicked five by midway through the second quarter to end up with eight goals which remains the best return of his career. To go along with that, he had 21 disposals - only two Suns had more on the day. He simply ran Liam Jones ragged. It was the third occasion in his career that Lynch had claimed three Brownlow votes and the second time against Carlton.
Honourable mentions
- Tom Mitchell (Geelong v HAWTHORN ) - 2018 - (40 disposals, 2 goals, 13 clearances, 9 inside 50s)
- Jack Riewoldt (RICHMOND v St Kilda) - 2013 - (7 goals, 10 kicks)
- Dane Swan (North Melbourne v COLLINGWOOD) - 2011 - (40 disposals, six tackles, six inside 50s, six clearances)
- Kent Kingsley (GEElong v North Melbourne) - 2006 - (8 goals, 10 marks)
- Daniel Bradshaw (Western Bulldogs v BRISBANE) - 2000 - (7 goals, 11 kicks, 8 marks)
- Jonathan Brown (BRISBANE v Essendon) - 2006 - (25 disposals, 17 marks, 3 goals, five inside 50s)