Round 5- Gather Round

Round 5 of the AFL season is here, and the pressure is already building.

With early contenders looking to cement their place, struggling teams desperate to stay in touch, and several blockbuster matchups on the schedule, this round could be a turning point in the season.

Round 5 is shaping as one of the most important rounds of the year so far and it is Gather Round!

Tune in as we give our predictions, players to watch, and the talking points that could define the weekend.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome back to the friends. You're listening to the podcast of the love of the game runs in the family. I'm Matt, and I'm here with my dad Mark, and every week we've done me into all things for you. We'll be turning into the biggest monuments when the game's just gone. Breaking down the winds, the losses, and everything in between. Plus, you're looking here to wait on the matchups. You're about to watch predictions and big danger along the way. Whether you're a Donhard supporter or just rather good gang when you're in the right place. Excitement is building together around, isn't it, Dad?

SPEAKER_01 0:39

It sure is, Max.

SPEAKER_02 0:40

Lots to talk about, which we will get into a little late in the podcast, but for now let's get into Stories and Sirens, where we break down the week that was, diving into the biggest moments, standout performances, and all the things we noticed from the games just gone.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

First game is Brisbane Lions versus Collingwood. Brisbane got away and won by 54 points. Nick Dakos was a late withdrawal out of that game, and they had no Pendlebury, no Nick Dakos. Looked like Collingwood struggled a bit, didn't they?

unknown 1:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Lowman kicked four goals, and Ashkoff was a huge in the midfield. So it's good to see Brisbane get back on the winning ways. But a few question marks over Collingwood.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

Next one, it was the Good Friday appeal. Marvel Stadium. North Melbourne got away by 10 points. North Melbourne came back from 22 down at three-quarter time. Massive final quarter. Seven goals to two.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

Didn't Carlton fade out again in that second half?

SPEAKER_02 1:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:54

They stopped. They were in front.

SPEAKER_02 1:56

Yeah. Jake Wiedering got concussed in a big incident.

SPEAKER_01 2:01

That didn't help the blues. Losing in full back in the injuries and near the end of the game.

SPEAKER_02 2:07

Yeah, not good.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Alright, then we look at Adelaide versus Fremantle. This was a game we could normally see Fremantle lose last year, but they found a way to win.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Just quietly.

SPEAKER_02 2:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:21

I was impressed by that game. Fremantle actually played well.

unknown 2:28

Yes, Zach.

SPEAKER_00 2:29

Don't let anyone know that.

unknown 2:31

Okay. Except the listeners.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

Except the listeners.

SPEAKER_01 2:36

But Adelaide were disappointing, weren't they?

SPEAKER_00 2:38

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

Yeah, they get they gotta find a way to beat some of the top teams. But Freo, well done on getting the win. Alright, next game we have Richmond versus Port Adelaide at the MCG. Port Adelaide won by 42. Richmond were a little bit grumpy in that game. A couple of players got charged with a bit of rough conduct. Darcy Byrne joins for Port Adelaide as court. Oh, there are there. It was good as well for Port, but Richmond are rebuilding and Port played well, but it wasn't much excitement in that game, but good to see Port Adelaide get the win.

SPEAKER_02 3:13

Yeah. West Coast Sydney, Okta Stadium. As Eagles supporters were so sorry to say that Sydney won by a whopping 128 points.

SPEAKER_01 3:23

Say that again.

SPEAKER_02 3:24

A whopping 128 points.

SPEAKER_01 3:27

Are you sure?

SPEAKER_02 3:28

I am not kidding.

SPEAKER_01 3:29

Oh no.

SPEAKER_02 3:31

Eagles have just been so exciting to watch lately, but unfortunately Sydney played a great game on Saturday, and Eagles just weren't able to show up like they have in the past few weeks. Was a strong interstate for the Swans. And also that was actually the biggest losing margin at October Stadium in history.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Well, not a good stat to have, is it?

SPEAKER_02 3:57

No. No.

SPEAKER_01 3:58

Sydney were very good though. They are one of the premiership favourites, so you can expect that sort of performance. Hopefully, Eagles can bounce back this week. Melbourne versus Gold Coast at the MCG on Sunday. Melbourne won this game by 20 points, which is a bit of an upset. Because Gold Coast were going in undefeated. Melbourne looks like they're still playing that really attacking brand of football and taking the game on. And I think they got they caught Gold Coast by surprise.

SPEAKER_02 4:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:32

I think Damien Hardwick may have put a hole in the coach's box. Getting so angry at the game.

SPEAKER_02 4:38

Whoa. Crazy.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

And then we have Western Bulldogs versus Essendon Marble Stadium Easter Sunday. Western Bulldog looked like they were going to run up run away with that game and win by over 10 goals. But Essendon fought back in that second quarter and actually saved some fight, which is good to see. Marcus Bonton Pele had a great game though. 35 touches and a couple of goals. I'm not sure if anyone actually played on Marcus Bonton Pelly that whole game. He's got the ball very easily. Sam Darcy played well up forward as well. So but look, there's some reproval from Essendon and Western Bulldogs got the job done.

SPEAKER_02 5:24

Next one we have Hawthorne Geelong, the Easter Monday Classic. Big game at the G. A very exciting game. Especially in the last quarter. It too it truly was anybody's game. Hawks, great. Jack Gunson kicked to behind, hit the post with 13 seconds left to win it. One of those crazy endings everyone talks about.

SPEAKER_01 5:53

No, but a good uh Easter Monday of Lockbuster, wasn't it? Those games got a history of being close games, and you couldn't get much closer than that one.

SPEAKER_02 6:00

Yeah, I think this is gonna be one of the Easter Mondays that is one of the ones that will be most remembered.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

I think you're up there. I think you're up. Okay, now we go on to Footy forecast, but we're looking ahead to this week's matchups, predict the big moves and figure out who's gonna bring the heat and who might be caught in a storm. And as we said earlier, this week is gatherown, so there's lots of excitement for footy, lots of people going to Adelaide. And we've even put banners off around the house for good for Gatheround this week.

SPEAKER_02 6:34

Yeah, looks like it's gonna be a big fest of Footy. So Adelaide's gonna be busy. Adelaide versus Carlton, the first game in Gatheround. Big game to start around. Carl Carlton under the microscope after recent losses. Adelaide, get the home crowd again. Well I have to because they're Adelaide.

SPEAKER_01 7:00

Because it's Gatheround. Do you think it's worth people watching the second half of this game? Will Carlton play four quarters?

SPEAKER_02 7:06

I wonder. I think if they lose if they don't do so well in the third quarter and you're a current supporter, just stop the just stop watching the game. You might need to stop watching because I don't think they'll play a good fourth quarter then.

SPEAKER_01 7:22

Oh, and go home.

unknown 7:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

Miss the traffic.

SPEAKER_02 7:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:27

And next game on Friday night, we've got Collingwood versus Fremantle. Can Fremantle make a back-to-back wins at Adelaide Oval? Collingwood will get Dacos back and Penderbury at this stage, and they need to find a bit more form. So that will be a good one on Friday.

SPEAKER_02 7:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:42

Last year, Dockers beat Collingwood at the MCG. So I'm expecting another close game.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

North Melbourne Brizzy, Saturday at the Barossa Park. Unique regional venue. Adds gather around flavour.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

What's uh Barossa known for, Max? Do you know?

SPEAKER_02 8:02

No.

SPEAKER_01 8:02

They're wines. They make delicious wines at the Bar in the Barossa. When you're 18, you can try one.

SPEAKER_02 8:09

Okay. Brisbane trying to assert themselves as a top team. Also, these two teams, I think last year, had the only tie in the whole season.

SPEAKER_01 8:26

I think you're it might be right, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:28

But it definitely was not our prospect.

SPEAKER_01 8:31

North Melbourne, let's see if they can how they go against the top team now after a couple of wins. See if they can play well against Brisbane. Essendon and Melbourne on Saturday Avo, Adelaide Oval. Look, the question's going to be can Essendon bring what they did in the second half of last week's game against the Bulldogs into this at the start of this game against Melbourne and keep the game close. And it'll be really interesting to see also if Melbourne can actually carry on that Gold Coast form because they look good. They were running fast and scoring lots of goals. So look, expect Melbourne to win, but let's see if Essendon can just find a bit more form like they did last week.

SPEAKER_02 9:14

Sydney Gold Coast. Suns are gonna be playing in their pink good jerseys for gatherings, which will flare attention. Sydney have been consistent, whereas Suns have been playing pretty unpredictable.

SPEAKER_01 9:35

It'll be a close game. Battle of the midfield. Sydney Isaac Heaney. Uh Gold Coast have got Maddie Rao Anderson. There'll be some really good contests in that game.

SPEAKER_02 9:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

See who wins that. And then we get Hawthorne, Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval part of the double header. You know, neither Hawthorne nor Western Bulldogs have won in Gatheround. So one after this week, unless they draw, one of these teams will win. Both teams are coming in in form, playing really exciting football. I think this might be their match of the Gather Round.

SPEAKER_02 10:17

Yeah. Now we've got Geelong Eagles at Norwood Oval Sunday. Cats looking to bounce back after a heartbreak loss. That was a pretty close West Coast opportunity to surprise. Last weekend wasn't good for them, but they've had a couple of great games this season already, which shows promise.

SPEAKER_01 10:42

Let's just hope they can bring a bit more form.

SPEAKER_02 10:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:45

A bit more defensive pressure, and that stopped Geelong from scoring. GWS versus Richmond, they're playing at Barossa Park as well. Expect GWS to get over the line here, given Richmond's up and down season so far. But both teams have got injuries, both teams have got young players. So it could be a close game playing down at Barossa. It'll be interesting one to watch, but we'll see.

SPEAKER_02 11:13

Yeah. Now we're on our next home Adelaide game at the Adelaide Oval. Closing closing game for Gatheround Sunday night against St. Kilda for Port Adelaide. Big finish to the round. Port at home in front of a patch crowd. Saint Stevensor's style versus Port's energy.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

Could be a good way to close Gatheround.

SPEAKER_02 11:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:40

Alright, let's get into the tips, Max. Who are you tipping? Adelaide versus Carlton?

SPEAKER_02 11:46

I'm gonna tip Adelaide.

SPEAKER_01 11:47

I'll go Adelaide too. Collingwood versus Fremantle.

SPEAKER_02 11:50

I'm gonna go Freo.

SPEAKER_01 11:52

I'll go Fremantle too. North Melbourne versus Brisbane.

SPEAKER_02 11:56

Bruce.

SPEAKER_01 11:57

I'll go Brisbane, Essendon versus Melbourne.

SPEAKER_02 11:59

I'm gonna go Melbourne.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

I'll go Melbourne as well, Sydney versus Gold Coast.

SPEAKER_02 12:03

I'm gonna go Sydney.

SPEAKER_01 12:05

I'm gonna go Sydney as well. Hawthorne versus Bulldogs.

SPEAKER_02 12:08

I'm gonna go to Bulldogs.

SPEAKER_01 12:10

I'll go Bulldogs as well. Geelong versus West Coast?

SPEAKER_02 12:14

I think Eagles could get over the line because they're pretty close on the level, so I'm gonna go Eagles.

SPEAKER_01 12:20

I'll go Geelong. I hope I'm wrong. GWS versus Richmond.

SPEAKER_02 12:24

I'm gonna go GWS.

SPEAKER_01 12:26

We'll go GWS too and to finish off Port Adelaide versus St. Kilda.

SPEAKER_02 12:30

That's a close one, but I'm gonna go Saints.

SPEAKER_01 12:32

I'll go the Saints as well. Have a great weekend celebrate and gathering. Thanks for listening.

SPEAKER_02 12:37

Yeah, bye.