We’ve written plenty about rivalries in footy in this space before.
Some are based in history and events off the field (hello, Collingwood) and some are largely centered what has happened on the field. Geelong and Hawthorn spring to mind here. Huge rivalry. Hate losing to the other. But the respect between the clubs is genuine.
And then there’s the GWS Giants and the Western Bulldogs. They played one of the great preliminary finals of this era, or in fact any era in 2016 and since then it has been on between them. As with the Cats and the Hawks, they don’t like each other all that much. But nor does there appear to be much respect between them, either.
Since that game, which the Dogs won narrowly on their way to winning the flag, there has been a nasty edge to games between these two. As a viewer they make for compulsive viewing, and they must be difficult games to play in.
Perhaps the Giants have real regrets over blowing that game on their home deck. 2016 represented their best chance of winning the flag; even though they made the Grand Final in 2019, their 2016 outfit was by far their most talented team, and they might have had it in for the Dogs ever since then.
There is some shared history. Giants coach Leon Cameron and former skipper Callan Ward are former Bulldogs. Josh Bruce and Adam Treloar were foundation Giants, although they went elsewhere before lobbing at the Whitten Oval.
But this is almost a chemical reaction. The sight of the red, white and blue Bulldog jumpers inflames the Giants and brings out the nasty side of the Giants and they start hunting the man and the ball. How appropriate this game is in Canberra, by its very existence, the most combative city in Australia.
GWS has had a fine fortnight, backing up the win over Collingwood with a spirited fightback against Sydney in a game Lance Franklin threatened to take apart. But they’ll likely need to find another gear to beat the Bulldogs, 5-0 and firming by the week as the team most likely to challenge Richmond for the flag.
It’s also a big week for:
Simon Goodwin: The Demons deserve every bit of praise for their flying, 5-0 start to the season. But the coach has a headache of the best type at present, how to include up to four walk-up starters in his best 22, into the team for Saturday night. Steven May, Bailey Fritsch, Sam Weideman and Ben Brown would all be huge inclusions for the massive Saturday night, Anzac Eve clash with Richmond, but are four changes too many? Will it unsettle the team? As for the game, it will be a corker, but if there is anything the Tigers like more than winning, it is dashing hopes and dreams. They will be hard to beat.
West Coast: Saturday’s trip to Geelong has flown under the radar somewhat and in any other week, this might be the match of the round. West Coast has three wins (all at home) and two losses (both away) to show for 2021 and they were in winnable positions during both those defeats. They’re not good enough to win the flag from outside the top four as the last two years have shown and they need to start finding some wins away from Optus Stadium to give themselves the best chance of a favourable starting position come September. Can they beat the Cats on the road without Luke Shuey, Elliott Yeo, Liam Ryan and most likely, Josh Kennedy? Probably not, even with Patrick Dangerfield now sidelined for up to two months for Geelong.
Jeremy Cameron: First game in new colours after a delayed start to the season because of a hamstring strain. It will a few for the Tom Hawkins-Cameron combination to find its groove but it has been a flat start to the season for the Cats who have been further deflated by the Dangerfield news. A good start by Cameron in the hoops would ease some worries at Geelong.
Gold Coast: The Swans are missing a few, so the Suns just have to win on Saturday. We’re not buying the ‘as bad as they’ve ever been narrative’ that some trotted out this week, but the concerns will start if the losses start to mount.
Carlton: Another week in the spotlight for the Blues after a poor outing last week against Port Adelaide. What Carlton fans want to see is some toughness and physicality, a trademark of David Teague as a player, but not a feature of the teams he has coached. The opening few minutes against Brisbane on Saturday will be instructive.
Hawthorn: The one time power club on and off the ground is just about the most irrelevant club in the competition. Expectations aren’t particularly high for the Hawks in 2021, and they’re in the midst of a reboot, but they just aren’t telling a compelling story. Still, they’re back at their second home in Launceston on Sunday, in what will be the first game of League footy in Tasmania for 610 days.