AFL Round Seven Recap: Pre-Season Favourites Still Struggling

Brisbane and Collingwood don’t Find the Wins they Needed

Last year’s Grand Final matchup between Collingwood and Brisbane was a riveting battle and one that fans will remember for years to come. Collingwood came out on top in the end but it was very clear that those were the league’s two top teams.

Most expected this year to be similar, with each team battling for a top four spot. However, in a shocking turn of events, they both sit out of the top eight currently, and failed to grab momentum in round seven.

For Collingwood, it wasn’t their worst result of the year. Matched up with a solid Essendon side, they were hoping for a win to propel them to the brink of the top eight.

The way the game began however made it seem as though they were going to get drubbed. They gave up four goals in the opening 10 minutes to go down 24-0 and by the end of the first quarter were well behind at 37-18.

They fought back in the second quarter to go into halftime just one down. The second half was a tight battle and after a late behind from the Magpies, the match ultimately ended in an 85-85 draw.

The result was certainly not what the Magpies wanted but the two points still moved them within two of the top eight.

Brisbane on the other hand weren’t able to salvage anything from their match with GWS.

The Giants have been one of the league’s best this season and their 113-59 win over Brisbane may have been the final nail in the coffin to fans who still believed the Lions could compete with the best.

It was a tight match at halftime, with GWS up 52-44, but when they turned up the intensity in the second half, it got ugly quick. Brisbane managed just two points in the third, while giving up 32. The fourth quarter wasn’t much better as the Giants cruised to the 113-59 victory.

With the loss Brisbane still sits on just two wins this season and are 13th in the ladder.

Geelong the Team to Beat

Unbeaten Geelong have once again flexed their muscles as the team to beat this season with a victory over a solid Carlton Blues side.

The Cats took a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back, keeping the lead the rest of the game en route to a 118-105 win. Though they won by just 13 in the end, the game never really seemed in doubt.

They were up 19 at the half and 11 going into the fourth quarter but played their way the whole time and never looked troubled.

Geelong is alone atop the table with 28 points while they gave Carlton just their second loss as they now stand on 20 points.

North Melbourne still Winless

North Melbourne had a solid chance this week of finding their first win of the season, taking on the one-win Adelaide Crows.

Unfortunately for the Kangaroos they cemented themselves as the league’s worst team, falling handily, 138-81.

They never led in the match and trailed by 40+ for the majority of the second half. With the win Adelaide is now one spot above Brisbane in the ladder.

Recap of Round Seven’s other Matchups

Elsewhere from round seven, Melbourne defeated Richmond 85-42, Port Adelaide beat St Kilda 82-72, Fremantle took down Western 95-71, Gold Coast beat West Coast 112-75, and Sydney thumped Hawthorn 118-42.