AFL 2026 Easter Round Reviews And Gather Round Tips

We rip through AFL 2026 Easter Round with blunt reviews, best on ground picks, and the moments that actually swung each result. Then we shift into Gather Round predictions in Adelaide and explain why form, percentage, and late-game nerve shape every tip. 
• Brisbane’s statement win over Collingwood and what changes without Nick Daicos 
• North Melbourne’s late surge against Carlton and what it says about system 
• Fremantle’s near collapse in Adelaide and Alex Pearce’s defining moment 
• Port Adelaide’s control over an injury hit Richmond side 
• Sydney’s demolition of West Coast as a class gap reality check 
• Melbourne’s win over Gold Coast and the feel of a new midfield mix 
• Western Bulldogs’ second-half drop and why percentage matters 
• Hawthorn v Geelong thriller and the scoreboard pressure lesson 
• Gather Round tips for Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and Barossa Park 
Let me know your tips in the comments. 
If you enjoyed the video, make sure you give a like and stay tuned for the next week's Gather Round reviews. 

Transcript

Welcome And What’s Coming

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Hello everyone. Welcome to the Easter Instead of Beast Results and Procedures for Gather Round for the AFL two thousand twenty-six. Welcome aboard. Hello! What a huge Easter round of preview of well of footy with all those reviews. We are blowers upset and one of the one point fillers, what I think is the game of the round. We'll have all my pretrictions of that gather round right here. Well in South Australia for round five. We'll have Aiden's reviews from Esa as we're Aiden sharing his previews for Gataround. Sit back, relax, welcome back once again. Let's get into it. So I'm gonna break it down and how I we go my best three best on grounds. I'm not gonna do stacks and over and who I think. I think these players deserve to be f these. But first up, well done Brisbane taking the 11965 victory, Brisbane dominating with kick off at the Gallerant as well, between the Brisbane Lines and Connor and Map Pies. And I may not seen a lot of this game, but in fact, I think it was a great dominator from Brisbane. They knew they can start well and finish strong. And the statement win from Brisbane deserved this. Yes, missing key players. And first win at home for the Brisbane Lions, step back, and no home. You know, since opening round, it's you know being a bit slucky, and again St. Killed at Marble, and you know, that confidence, but Jack Chris, then Mustay, and then Houston from Conningwood and Rocky Neal, Curant, Coldman, and Zach Bailey, all from Brisbane Best top three players. Not by stats or anything like that. I think these these three best players from each team dominated massive win. First win for the season and big confident boost. Alright, let's get to the next game. Well, we hit to game two out of game one off Good Friday football between North Melbourne, Canaroos, and the Cullen Blues footy club. Melbourne Vite Done. 968 win. That first win for Good Fighter over Carlton. Standouts, Lou Davis, Geen Khan, Judge Wiley, and Craig, Daniel and Dove North Melbourne, and Patrick Ribbs, Samush and Harry Mackay from Carlton. This is not just a statement. This is showing that North Melbourne want to win games. And they've done it. They got the job done. And congratulations to North Melbourne. They are looking at a North Melbourne team that I have not seen in years. Same with their supporters. Well earned high win. Not easy. They have to work hard for these wins. Defense wins games. Tagging football speed. Goal after goal after goal. Well done to North Melbourne. I back you, I've backed Risbon. Good start for my footy tipping. But how did it change from there? We'll find out very soon. But really think that North Melbourne did really well over Carlton. Tone had their moments, of course. They fought hard, they're in front, and really Tone was front very much of the game. North Melbourne will fight always. Always. All the best against a very good solicide Brisbane and got around. And Carl will face Adelaide Cruz. Alright, on to the next game. And this is not just about all. This is the road victory to Western Australia to Adelaide, South Australia. But look at the standout from Jordan Dawson, Locking McAndrew, and Wayne Manilla from the LA Cruz and Andrew Bradford, Josh Tracy, and Colin Stroin. This is not just an upset. But this is one to go down to the wire. Friends are strung home by two points. They were winning by up to about four goals. Five goals, three and tall. And something just LA'd had to lift in that final lane in that third quarter. They respond LA. But their skills were not great. We know that LA can play well. When you have 48,000 plus screaming, that's a big effort. But when you are not performing well, there's a lot going on. Quite someone's financial on the wind, but there's a lot going on behind the scenes. And I'm a little concerned. It's a little bit concerned that how much that Frianto wanted it. They wanted that. They win the foot in the middle. That's how it works. And I went to this game, but believe it's happening, and we're up LA by 10 points, but Financial find away. We just couldn't we just couldn't attack. In our defense, we're working harder now. That no LA's other team would have out from last year. Not easy feature for the LA close, and only losing by less than 10 points. This is the lowest margin against the dogs, then the cats. The cats are the highest dogs, with some bottles, what I mean. And I've found the dogs. From two at home, the LA Dival and one in Geelong. There's some brave efforts. But we're gonna start well. What a game that'll be. Here we go, next game. Okay, it's the football. And we're on the first out of two. We've got only two games on the Susleigh schedule. Well, I can't say Richmond and Port Ale. Really both teams are going to struggle this year, but not this Richmond on the Wii Bield, but Port A bit unsure. Port Alay powered, too strong here. 98-48. Biggest winners there. It wasn't just a win, it was a dominating performance. The players stood up for Richmond Tigers, Ben Miller, Jacob Hobba, and James Short, the two experienced players for the Tigers. And then Port Adelaide, Wood Dussey, Burn Jones, Justin Horner Francis, and Jordan Sweet all dominate for Port Adelaide. And it's always a really good thing that Port Aide can win at the MCG. And even they can go all try their best. They miss in some key players, Port Adelaide. No different in Richmond. And good effort from Richmond. Really fight effort. He didn't lose, you know, heavy. He didn't get the other team to score 100 plus. So that's a really good result. But that's alright. I won't say too much about this game to continue on. But I think I think this was a really good win for Port Alain. And Massie, George, Josh Carr. Be very happy with this win. Very, very happy at the MCG. With Richmond, you know, you get their Tiger supporters around each other, get around this team, because you would you'll get stronger. And trust. Just trust. And it will come. And I know the result will come. Alright. Well on to the three. Each team stand up play for this game. Here we are, the next game. Saturday night football imperfect altar stone between the West Coast Eagles, Sydney Swans. I'm not going to say too much. They're stand blow after Sydney destroyed West Coast Eagles. That's it. That's the word I'm going to really pull it out. It was it was not the Easter battle. You go, if you're going to start a season on a very good notice, don't go flipped. And this is what Sydney came off about. They wanted to show you West Coast improved. They're showing they'll get some good notice. But Archie Reed, William Dursmer, and Tim Kelly stand up for West Coast and Tom Papley, Isaac Hingy Willy's return, and Brodie Grundy as well for Sydney, Sydney's best friend. After two weeks off, Sydney just came to Perth and just seemed like West Coast having very improved. And confidence. Knowing that West Coast will come back home and show their supporters what they can be made of. I can't say too much because West Coast got destroyed everywhere in a lot of ways. So well done. On Sydney Swans, big win there. And West Coast. Just do your best next week against the cat Sydney Swans. And Garda Brown. On the Avil app we have the Sydney Swans will face. Okay. Unsure exactly what the teens who playing who. The app has been a bit strange lately. So I do absolutely apologize for any situation. So the Sydney Swans will play someone in fortunately not showing the stats and stuff like that. So if any of delay, I do apologise. But Sydney Swans will play in Adelaide and Gataround. And I'm unsure which team. If I know the other team will play Sydney Swans, stay tuned. I'm hoping they've got all that answer correct. But one on to Sydney on the biggest win and West Coast, heads up, heads up, you play Geelong, be a man of chess. Alright. On to the next game. Amana domination. And I understand it is the Goku's son who pays 60 swans, but hope that is all correct. Melbourne, I am absolutely unsure. But this is what Melbourne. They're playing smart football and they took a 20-point victory. They're down Melbourne. And they found a way. The Dominators from the Demons, Tom, Sparkroyd, Jack, Jake, Mint Shell, and Matt School from the standard and the demons. And they got ghosts. Will Graham. John Louby and Will Graham. So this is what's the same right now. Melbourne are looking very good. This is the this is a very different Melbourne tank. We have not seen in years. In actual years. Melbourne. The first half. That's the first half the next. But have we had a massive upset? Absolutely do. A 20-point victory. Take it. Melbourne. Roll Cost heads up. You know, you missing 16 players. And that's happened. And it hurts. But we know that you'll bounce back. To hopefully to get them on a win at Ganeman. And hopefully we see some stars for the Draw Cost Sons in Melbourne. Go face Essen and what it should be a good game. Alright, let's go. Here we go. Nothing else to say, but really interesting to say. It's not a blowout game for this between these two. 34-point victory to the Western Bulldogs. And that's it on rowing. Conveying Western Bulldogs victory there. Bay Dale, Mashe Kennedy, and the mongoose bomb. Dominating from the Bulldogs, from the Bombers, Jacob Fall, Zach Mallett, and Archer Roberts from Essinem's best. I can't say too much that Essin' will respond and not get huge bee embarrassment losses. But they stay in the contest. I tell you right now, SNM look alright. But not with the results, but but the dogs, they dominated and they they look really strong. They look really, really, really strong. They're looking very, very their list is really the best. And they're in the right mindset now, the dogs. And um looking forward to seeing what they can do in season 2026 and the and coming through this year, including Gatheround. So Esendon will take on Melbourne. The dogs are unsure. The app's not been the friend of seeing what games there is. But well done to the Western Bulldogs. Heads up Essendon, all the best for the Gataran. Alright, on to the next game. And final game, this is the game of the round. Nine point one point victory, the game of the round, as I mentioned just before. Easter Monday 4T at the MCG. Absolute classic. That's the word. Just one Dylan Moore and Connor McDonald for Geelong, Max Holmes, Chanel, and Lockie or Lawrence Sun Humphreys from Geelong's best. I watched the last two minutes of this game. And I'm gonna say big bit oh, I thought Geelong had it. Geelong had this game, Mickey Acker said Geelong and Horthorn didn't. Geelong I got out of head. Do you have chances to win games like this? After that eight point win, I was a little concerned. That all fun will come out. And I tell you right now, that'll be dangerous. John on the other hand, they gave it all. Don't win at half time. That man, I just mentioned Sharnel. The key four for Geelong kept the beauty on the half-time siren. That's where I saw it. You know, and then I didn't watch the third quarter. But I tell you right now, Holvin are still very, very strong. Very strong. That's all I think of my thoughts here on the hawks and the cats. I didn't even win that 60 football, but the hawks actually put that 60 football. So long did that time. So well on to the fleet center players as well, quite around on them, and Hawthorne was the one point victory. Okay. You can see on your screen. Allies 300, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Hawthorne, Geulong, G. Day S Giants, and St. Kilda. Let me know your tips in the comments. But that's my gun for Trichens. And there you go. Hello again, everybody.

Melbourne’s New Look Midfield Clicks

Easter Monday Thriller Breakdown

Gather Round Predictions And Best Bets

Wrap Up And Next Week Preview

SPEAKER_00 19:12

This is Aiden for the BJ Show. Now it is already round four. Oh, it's coming up to round five of the 2026 AFL C. This is coming up together around this week in Adelaide. Now, obviously, I've been away the first couple of weeks of the season, but now I'm back and ready to go, giving you my weekly thoughts every week through this on the Thursday night. Pretty much every week on Thursday night now. But this is the Easter Thursday game, the holy Thursday game between Brisbane and Collingwood. And we're going to get straight in to that one now. So Brisbane winning this one at a score 1717-119. Collingwood 10-565. And the game was had a big story coming out of it from from even before the first story. So Nick Dacos straight up was going through his warm-ups, pulling up score, tried everything he could to get on the park, but just couldn't in the end. That was the end of the game before it even started. Collingwood just looked completely lost without Nick Dacos. It is very fair to say that there is two teams. There is the Collingwood with the Collingwood with Nick Dacos, and there is a Collingwood without Nick Dacos. Brisbane Brisbane very much all over Collingwood from the beginning of this one. It was very, very much all in the hands of the Lions throughout the game, quarter by quarter, six goals to three, then three goals to two, two goals to three. So Collingwood come back a little bit. The Collingwood come back a little bit in that third quarter, and then the final quarter was a real runaway for Brisbane. Six goals to two. That's how we get 17-70, 17-17, 119-10-5-65. Now, Brisbane played an absolutely outstanding game. I cannot take that away from them. Winning against Collingwood Hill thing will be around the mark, if not in that wildcard spot, come the end of the home and away season. The the thing with Brisbane that I find right now is they've they've they've finally clicked. This has been the problem with Brisbane the the last couple of years. Their premiership run has been can we win the big games early? Has been can we win the big games early? And that's been a real concern. The last two years I've looked pretty dodgy the first couple of weeks, I have to say. But this this year they've got it right on the big stage against another contending rival. Now, play of the game for me here. I have to give it to Zach Bailey. He was he was just everywhere. Whenever he needed to be, Addis Bailey is gonna be my player of the game. 112 fancy, two goals, 25 touches, 17 kicks, eight handball, seven marks, three tackles for him on Thursday night. Now we move over to Marvel for the good Friday game between North Melbourne and Carlton. And this one and Carlton and this one looked like it was gonna be all one way in the early part of this game. Carlton it was Carlton. Up by a point at quarter time 3-3-3-4. The Blues. North come back hardly in the second. Well, they stay behind, but they get the better of the scoring chances. They go to 5-7 to Colton's 6-4. So North easily could have had to had to lead at halftime. Second quarter, Carlton all over the game. This looked like it was over. Colton were going to win the game at this point. They add five goals three to North's two goals two in the third quarter. And then Carlton absolutely collapsed in the last. North kicking seven goals three in the last quarter, two goal one, as they get rolled again this year. This is the well, it's the third time out of four. Should have been four and four that have been rolled late. Carlton in a real disarray at the moment. They do get rolled by North Melbourne from 20 to 26 up in the third quarter. North, come on, winner, win this one. North, come on, winner, win this one by ten. And a big, big win by the Kangas. This is, you know, it's a big win for the Kangaroos. It's also a big loss for the Blues. This is, as I said, the third time in the opening month of play, Carlton has been up at halftime, been up at three-quarter time, been very much in the contest, and just completed by the Kangas. This is a very impressive win by the Kangas, the way they just stayed to their system and got themselves over the line. Now, my player of the game here in this one, I'm going to give it to Caleb Daniel for the Kangaroos. 115 AFL Fantasy. Obviously, he doesn't score as a defender, but 27 touches, 16 kicks, 11, 27 touches, 16 kicks, 11 handballs, and 10 marks for Caleb Daniels. So a triple double there for him as well. So that is a great performance for him. Second, I think I'd have to give it to Cooper Trembeth. 93 Fantasy, three goals. 11, only 11 touches again, but he's a forward rock. So three goals, seven kicks, four handballs, six marks, roll tackles, 11 hit outs. I'm gonna end those are my two players of the game. Then we have the second Good Friday game from Adelaide Oval. This is Adelaide versus Fremantle on Good Friday night. Now, Fremantle come into this as a team who I tipped. I did tip Fremantle in this one. I just thought Adelaide just aren't there. They're just not the same. I was proven absolutely right. Then absolutely wrong. Then absolutely right when it was all said and done. Fremantle nearly binned another one. Let's get straight into the scores quarter by quarter. We go for Adelaide versus Fremantle. So in the first quarter, we have three goals to the Crows, four goals to the Docker. The second quarter, Crows one goal, Dockers, four goals. Now Fremantle is up at this point, looking very, very good, looking like a team who's gonna win the game by a country mile. And they get a better start in the third as well. They add only one goal in the quarter. Crows, though, get five in that third quarter. So now going to the final quarter, it is Adelaide quarter. So now going to the final quarter, it is Adelaide 9-5 to Fremantle 9-9. Final scores here. Fremantle, we're right on the ropes. Adelaide came back hard. Adelaide 1110-76. Fremantle saved by Captain Pierce 1112-78. Fremantle realizing they wanted this more. Fremantle realizing that they were in a position to win a game and not throw it away. Because once they've done that, that is going to open a lot of eyes for them this season. Because when they were at Geelong in week one, we think back to week one when they played the Cats. 36 points up against Geelong and nearly got into the 40s against the Cats. Bin that. This could have against the Cats, been that. This could have been a similar situation if it wasn't for Alex Pierce saving the day for the Dockers at the end of the game. Adelaide, though, I am starting to get a little bit worried about just this is a team where I've been saying that they put all their eggs into the beat Collingwood at the MCG basket, which they've done. They got a big tick on that one. But then poor performance against poor performance against the Doggies, poor performance against the Cavs, poor performance against the Dockers. So four teams they're going to be seeing in September. Only one win. This is a fire cry from the team last year who was very good against top eight opponents. Now my player of the game for is a full free manner. That is Alex Pierce. I'm not going to have to go over his stats. I'll just have to look at that one moment where he absolutely did save the deck. The Dockers smothering the shot a goal to keep Fremantle and Head in the dying stages. And for that reason, Alex Pierce is my player of the game in Adelaide versus Fremantle. Saturday footy started off at the MCG for Richmond versus Port Adelaide. And this one was one of two teams down the bottom end of as one of two teams down the bottom end of the table. Now, Paul, we've seen how good they can be because of what they did against Essendon earlier in the year. Richmond, another team on the rise. Poor team on the fall, though. It's a battle of risers and fallers at the MCG. The final scores, though, Richmond, 6-12-48. Port Adelaide's a non-starter in this one. Even Paul was a non-starter in this one. First quarter, very bad. Richmond, one point to Port Adelaide 1-6. This game could have been over at quarter time if Port were a little bit more accurate at goal. Then second quarter. Richmond, three goals, Port four goals. Then Richmond, one goal in the third, Port three in the third. Richmond three in the third. Richmond, two in the last two, five in the last four, Port Adelaide. They go out and win this one. 42 points. You know, Richmond, a team with a lot of injuries and a lot of young players. Now the young players being injured means the depth is exposed. Those second level players come in. Those those guys who are real VFL players and not probably players with say uh at the AFL standard, have to come in and fill those spots. And that's one of the things about having a young list is you've got the young AFL talent there, but when that go when those young players are unavailable, you have to fill it with with state league talent. Now, Richmond, this is sort of the result I expected from them. I think Port are still showing signs of being being capable. They were definitely capable against Effson. They should have beaten West Coast as well, but they just didn't get over the line against West Coast. They do here against Richmond, and as I said, Port showing signs of wipe still. I still don't think they're gonna count too much come the end of the year. Although, with the finals now being a top 10, those 9 and 10th spots are absolute gold. 9 and 10th spots are absolute gold. So if the power will get into one of them, they would still be a finals team. Although I don't see it happening. We'll get straight into my player of the game here in this one. And my player of the game here is for the power. I'm gonna give it to DBJ, Darcy Byrne Jones. Really solid effort across the park here. 107. Well, we move now into our second game on Saturday. And our second game on Saturday was it was a night game across the country, but it was a twilight game in West Australia, West Coast versus Sydney, and this one was this one was an absolute horror show from the jump. Quarter by quarter, Wessex 2, two goals in the second for West Coast, seven for the Swans, one goal in the third to seven, as I said, seven, another seven, sorry, yeah, another seven for the Swans in the third quarter, then one goal in the last for West Coast and Sydney, four goals, nine in that last quarter, and nine in that last quarter when they were just throwing everything at goal to see what would stick. Now, this one I don't think that we have to do too much of a conversation about more of an autopsy report on this. Was West Coast, a team who had done really well playing against some of the lower teams, getting that reality check of who's who around here in around here in the AFL. Sydney, far, far, far the class above. This one really wasn't much of a contest at all from a West Coast perspective. This was a poor performance from them. None, not to say the Sydney were good. Sydney were great. Sydney had a great game. West Coast also had one of those performances where young players are still flying their footing in the AFL. That's the real golfing class. Final scores 4-11-35, 24-98, 163. The Sydney Swans have won this one by 128 points. So that's not just a 100, that's a 120 plus here, nearly a 130. So Sydney definitely a team who are putting themselves on the map again under Dan Cox. Westney, definitely a team who are putting themselves on the map again under Dan Cox. West Coast, this is a hard loss for them, but they will come back and they will rebuild from this, and they will be again contending against some of the lower teams in the continuation of the season. Player of the game for me in this one. There's so many good options here. There really is. But Keeney, our Isaac Heaney, 126 AFL Fantasy 4 goals, 26 touches, 16 kicks, 10 handballs, 8 marks and 2 tackles. Now if we go down the ranking points, Jai Sarong has a triple double for the Swans or 105 AFL Fantasy, one goal, 27 touches, 16 kicks, 11 handballs, 107 touches, 16 kicks, 11 handballs, 10 marks and 1 tackle for Jai Sarong here in this one. So West Coast are gonna look to rebuild off of this Sydney, just putting themselves right in the mix with a win like that. They are definitely a team to look out for in season 2026. But let's get straight into our Sunday footy. Footy. So Sunday, we kicked off at the MCG with Melbourne versus Gold Coast, and this one was a real shock. Melbourne, still a team with a lot of question marks about them, a lot of doubts surrounding them still. They moved on from Petra and Oliver, but they did bring in a Jack Steele. And I think Jack Steele at this point can be considered an absolute ill. He has been a star for Melbourne in the opening couple of games. One of my favourite players to watch in this first month of the year. He has come in and he has ridded the workload of Petra and Oliver with help of the other the new midfield Windsor players around them. So the new midfield for Melbourne really, we get rid of midfield for Melbourne, really, we get rid of Petracker and Oliver, but then we bring in Windsor and we bring in Steele. And now these this is a midfield group again who are very strong. This is interesting because they played Gold Coast, no Petracker for Gold Coast. Gold Coast, play Melbourne without Christian Petracker. A lot of stuff was made about this game when it came out on the table early for Gold Coast this week. Now, you know who was available? A lot of other people. So stop dwelling about the one player who may or may not have been there, ended up not being there, and think about who was there now. Quarter by quarter, Gold Coast right in top early. Two goals to four on the opening term for the Gold Coast Suns. Then the opening term for the Gold Coast Suns. Then in the second quarter, Melbourne come out come out with six in the second quarter to four for Gold Coast. Coming out of halftime, Melbourne had five, Gold Coast at four. Melbourne are suddenly in position to beat Gold Coast. Melbourne are a strong team if this keeps up. Let's look at the final quarter. Melbourne finished 16-13-109. Gold Coast 14.5-89. Melbourne, your winners here by 20 points. As this was one of the shock, one of the shocks of the year from a true talent perspective. Melbourne looking like they're moving on from the Simon Goodwood era of players and bringing in Stephen King and Gold Coast now amassing that talent. As I say, like Krush and Petraka. It's directly from Melbourne. Now, Melbourne, I think this proves a lot of people wrong about them. I think they're definitely in the mix. Again, with the wildcard in play now, Melbourne sneaking into nine on ten could be dangerous. We know does that hold up because Gold Coast played off the bye this week. They lost to Melbourne. Now, the top four, top six have a buy. Seven through ten are going to be playing in that buyer week. It's going to become wildcard week. So seven and eight defending those seventh and eighth seeds in the final against nine and ten. Melbourne, definitely a team I could see sneaking into eight. Melbourne, definitely a team I could see sneaking into eight. If not, definitely nine and ten, if not sneaking into seven or eight at this rate. Very strong start to the year for Melbourne. Very confident start to the year for Melbourne as well. Gold Coast, as I said, came off the bye, lost. Blood was made about Patracker. That probably didn't help them going into the game, going into Melbourne. They thinking to his team he's going to be in the mix for the last day in September. My player of the game here in this one. Again, there's a lot of great choices I can give it to. Now, I am going to give it to a player from Melbourne who played a really, really good game. I'm going to give it to Tom Sparrow. He was, again, in and around the contest. 102 AFL fantasy, 21 touches, 11 kicks, 10 handballs, 2 marks, 10 tackles. Pressure there from Tom Sparrow. Earns him not just my player of the game, but a BJ show, triple double. And another shout out as well to Jack Steele, who had a great game. 26 touches, 10 kicks, 16 handballs, 5 marks, 8 tackles, 100 touches, 11 kicks, 11 handballs, 5 marks, 3 tackles, and 32 hit outs. Still one of the best rockman in the comp is Max Gorn. But now we move to Sunday night football. Yes, it is Sunday night football again. It is Easter week, so we do have a Sunday night game here on the table. This one was Western Bulldogs versus Essendon, and this was a game of well, it was actually a really interesting game. It was a game of two halves, but it was a very interesting complexion to the game. Bulldogs come out strong, seven goals in the first. Essing and one goal three. Second quarter, Essington only 4.3 goals for the dogs. So we think, oh, this game, it could be quite a blowout. And you think that, and you'd be right to think that. But what it was was in think that. But what it was was in fact the very opposite. The Bulldogs just went, we're better than you. We do not need to continue this. They basically put up the white flag. They only scored seven points in the third quarter, did the Western Bulldogs to Essendon's four goals. And in the final quarter, Bulldogs 14-15-99. Essingon 9-11-65. Bulldogs winning this one by 34 points, in which could have been a lot bigger and a lot more. Now, Essingdon, great performance in the second half. I'm really, really, really pleased with this performance. I'm going to get to the dogs at the moment because I'm not happy. I'm going to get to the dogs at the moment because I'm not happy with the death. I'm not happy with the dogs. I am not happy with it, but right now, but Essendon, this was a really strong performance in the second half from them. Again, this game could have got away so much more than it did, but they they played really, really good footy and they kept it to a respectable margin considering the two teams are heading this season. The other team, the other end of the stick here, is the Western Bulldogs. Now I'm not happy with you, Western Bulldogs. I'm not happy with you at all, Foot Scray. Here's the thing percentage matters. If you lose a couple of games through the midseason in the back end, you are going to be wanting that percentage from this game. Because let me tell you, other teams are going to are going to play Essington. Other teams are going to beat Essington by more, probably a lot more than what you did. So this whole park the bus, throw in the towel, leave it as done idea at half time, may and probably will come back to hurt you come the end of the year. This is not football. You do not go out, especially AFL level. You do not go out, you do not go out after halftime and just have a kick and a catch. Do you go out and you dominate your opponents? There is something to be said about sportsmanship, yes, but sportsmanship is also not doing not doing this, not going around for a kick and a catch in the second half. Now, there are two ways to be embarrassed, and this is probably the worst one. If I'm messing the coast right now, because my opponent didn't even bother slaughtering me on the table. They went, we are batting you, we are pulling up stumps, kicking a catch footy, like it's Tuesday night training down at Witt Novel. Come on, doggies. Be better, you're gonna you're gonna win a premiership if you play good footing. You're gonna be a top four team if you play good footy, you're gonna be a top four team if you play decent footy. You'll be a top eight team if you even play, you know, except for your footy. Right now, that that is not good enough. That is pathetic. That is an injustice to what I can't go out to put the TV on and watch footy. That is an injustice to people who showed up. Come on, doggies, what is this? Amateurs? Because I've done amateurs and well, I go out to beat TV when I've coached amateurs. So this is the AFL. Do better. Now, player of the game. And I don't usually do this one, but in a margin like this, you wouldn't think I'd do this. But I'm gonna give it to a wouldn't think I'd do this, but I'm gonna give it to a member of Essendon. My player of the game here, talking about a kick and a catch, it's gonna be Archie Roberts from Essenden 136 AFL Fantasy, no goals. That's fine. 37 touches, 29 touches, 29 kicks, eight handballs, and 12 marks for Archie Roberts. And the odd stat of the week, I have to give to Marcus Bontempelli getting a hit out. So, stat of the week is the Bond getting a hit out, a player of the game, Archie Roberts, player of the game, Archie Roberts. Well done, Archie. Great game. Now we come to Easter Monday. Easter Monday only means one thing. You sit down, you've got your chockies, you've got your Easter biscuits, you've got your Easter chockies, you've got your chocolate eggs, wherever you got, you've got them ready to go. Now Easter Monday comes up always at the MCG, and this is one of the greatest games I have not just seen this season, this decade, but my entire life. That is how highly I am rating this game. This game is a five out of five. Two teams that did not give an edge and did not pack it in when the going got tough. Did not pack it in when the going got tough. Both teams just kept going. This one back and forth, all gay at the G as it should have been. Quarter by quarter we go. Hawthorne three goals in the first Geelong's two goals. Second quarter, Geelong add seven goals to Hawthorne's four. Come out of the big break. Eat Geelong only one. Final quarter, Geelong add four, Hawthorne add three. But here's the thing about AFL, and this is why scoreboard pressure is so important. The difference between these teams is 21 scoring shots to 27. The final score mattered on that. 13-14-92 for Hawthorne. Hawthorn. 14-7-91 for Geelong. So if you take the points out, the cats win the game. But scoring in ones. Now, Fremantle, this is how you score in ones. Jake Gunston scoring in ones off the post in the dying seconds to get Hawthorne over the line. And this was a and this was a game that I think is going to be remembered for a long time. So I could go on and on about this game back and forth, especially that final quarter. Hawthorne came out, started well, got a lead. Geelong came back, got the lead again. Hawthorne came back in the last 90 seconds. Hawthorne finally got over the line on Easter Monday like a long time. Now, so many options for player of the game here. But based on just the end of the game and what the end of the game meant for them and their club, I have to give it to McDonald, giving it to Connor McDonald of Hawthorne. 106 AFL fantasy, 26 touches, six AFL fantasy, 26 touches, 18 kicks, eight handballs, eight marks, and three tackles. But he was in the mix all day getting helping the Hawks get over the line. Other names for Hawthorne were the Wizard as well. He had a great game. Nick Watson, you know, especially at the dead goals, three crucial goals from him as well. Jake Genovan was all over the park. He scored three goals four. So Hawthorne all over the place. Best players for the Cats. Bailey Smith was an absolute runaway best player on ground for the Cats. Max Holmes had a great outing. Lawson Humphreys, Tom Stewart, Tanner Bruin. Jeremy Cameron was a bit off, a little bit disappeared as well, a little bit disappeared as well. Jeremy Canyon, Zach Guthrie was around the mark. Ryan Myers was good. Mike Blitzos played a good game. Jed Bose was good. You know, Shannon Neal, great. Four goals from Shannon Neal. Nearly got the Cats over the line. So again, players all over the park performing, neither team backing an inch. That is what we love to see. Now it's time to go to go to Adelaide. Everyone, gather around for Gather Round in South Australia. We have, it is round five this year, gather round. And we have the Festival of Footy in the Footy state. Sorry, West Australia. Sorry, Victoria. South Australia is the footy state scared to face us in state of origin. And if you did, you'd both lose. Because South Australia is the best state at this game. I ain't making this up. We are better than Victoria. We are better than West Australia. And I would like one of them to actually show up and try and beat us and prove that we're not. But clearly, state of origin game between West Australia and Victoria. We'll say that over and over again. I don't care about politics. I don't care about marketing. I don't care about booking. Joel was scared to face South Australia. And South Australia has gathered around. So here we go, gather around for my gather around predictions. Thursday night, Adelaide versus Carlton. Adelaide, the heavy favors in Adelaide, the heavy favors in this one. I've tipped the Crows here. I've tipped them by 35. And this one could be a lot more, but I'm going to give respect to Carlton here. I think Carlton are going to come back at some point. Gather around. Could it be that point for them? Friday night football. Collingwood and Fremantle have tipped the dirty Dockers. Now, best day, they've saved the day here last week. They know Adelaide Overlet's fresh in their minds. Collingwood a little shaky. Fremantle probably up there to beat them. So I've tipped the Dockers coming off. Strong performance against Adelaide here last week. Saturday at Barossa Park. It's happened again. A case of dejar blue. North Melbourne and Brisbane, the gather round. It seems like the gather around spectacular at this point. I have had to go with the Lions here. North Melbourne, young, exciting, great team to watch, but Brisbane Premiership class puts them ahead in this one. Backs one. Back to Adelaide Oval, Essingdon versus Melbourne. Melbourne, very good to watch, very exciting team. I love Jack Steele at the moment. He is a very, very exciting player. He's very much on form at the moment. Max Gawan has returned to his former his former class as well. So for that reason, Melbourne over in the early game. Now we jump to Norwood Oval for the Swans and the Gold Coast Suns. And this one is the real toss-up of Gallaround. One of the real toss-ups of Gallerand along with Collingwood and Fremantle. Here at Norwood Oval, I have gone for the Gold Coast Suns. I just think that they are a little bit ahead of Sydney on class. They are a little bit ahead of Sydney on class at the moment. And Sydney, although they did come off the big win over West Coast, I think Gold Coast will be hungry for a win to bounce back from losing to Melbourne. So Gold Coast is for me at Norwood Oval. Now we go back to Adelaide Oval for Saturday night. Hawthorne and the West Hawthorne. Now Western Bulldogs, they've lost a few key names. I've lost Timmy English, for example. That's going to be a big out for the Doggies. Hawthorne still relatively full strength and playing good form, coming off the win on Easter Monday against the Cats. Now we move to Gather Round Sunday. Sunday. First up, we go to Norwood Oval, where we have Geelong and West Coast in this one. As much as West Coast has been exciting to watch, this one is really a no-brainer for me. The Cats in this one. We move all the way out to Lindok again at Barossa Park for GWS and Richmond. Richmond. Now, despite their position on the ladder, GWS in 16th, Richmond in 18th, GWS are the ones I take here. Richmond still very banged up over that opening course of games. So GWS, the more proven team, should get the result in Lindell. And our final game for Gather Round in 2000 is St Kilda, but Port Adelaide versus St Kilda of Tip St Kilda coming off the bye. I know I say the bye doesn't win, but St Kilda looked like a class team this year. I know they're behind the power on the ladder right now, but with the early buys, we're just starting to see where everyone shakes up. At the moment of tip St Kilda, I could shake up. At the moment of Tip St Kilda, I could switch that over to the power on Sunday morning. That one is going to be a late game, a 6.45 start at Adelaide Oval. So to refresh and go through them all over again, we've gone Adelaide, Fremantle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Hawthorne, Geelong, Jeta being back here after Gatheround to review all the great stuff that happened in the AFL over Gather Round Week. And I hope you come back to the BJ show so we can gather around to check out the results.

SPEAKER_01 47:25

Well, thank you so much as well. I'm gonna be making sure Aiden joins in. Maybe not in this episode. We'll absolutely have his moments to share his thoughts with you from the east of the round as well, Pleavies and the Gunner. Thank you for watching and listening. Much appreciate for all of the appreciation of that. Next week we'll share all the gun around reviews and weavers into round number six. If you enjoyed the video, make sure you give a like and stay tuned for the next week's Gather Round reviews. Thanks for watching. That's all folks. Cheers peace.