Why Melbourne could be the team to beat in 2021 A Set the default text size A Set large text size
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Since 2000, of the 11 teams who went 7-0, only Essendon (2000), Hawthorn (2008) and Geelong (2009) went on to win the premiership.
Teams with a 7-0 record that did not win the flag were Hawthorn (2001), St Kilda (2004 and 2009), West Coast (2005), Geelong (2008 and 2013), Fremantle (2015) and North Melbourne (2016).
But with Melbourne having out-muscled and outplayed Richmond two matches ago to win by 34 points – with the latter arguably the toughest team going around for the last four seasons in terms of its attack on the ball – the Demons sent a message to the other 17 teams by overcoming an early three-goal deficit against the premiers.
The Roar s AFL expert tips and predictions: Round 8 A Set the default text size A Set large text size
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Tipping is a mug’s game.
I got four last week (as did Liam Salter and the Crowd) and I don’t wanna talk about it. Fancy new boy Dem Panopoulos got six and now leads us by three points. Good for him.
Fortunately, this week looks a heck a lot easier, so hopefully we can all recover with some nice scores and I’ll be in a much nicer mood next week.
Around the Country: Jamarra held quiet by ex-Blue, Pies youngsters star
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We’ve gone through all the big storylines from an AFL perspective:
Howe throws hat in the ring, Dunstan dominant again
Box Hill made it two on the trot by beating Sandringham by 30 points in the VFL.
Daniel Howe threw his hat back in the ring for the Hawks with 30 touches and a goal while Conor Nash took nine marks and had 20 disposals.
Box Hill players Fergus Greene and Vincent Adduci combined for nine goals with Hawks-listed forward Tyler Brockman chipping in with two.
For Sandy, Luke Dunstan continued his strong form with 35 possessions and three goals in a dominant display following on from 46 touches in Round 2.