AFL: IT’S AN OPEN SEASON | The Sporting Base
[google-translator]

AFL: IT’S AN OPEN SEASON

April 17, 2023

AFL: IT’S AN OPEN SEASON

AS each week goes by in the AFL the picture in terms of the premiership seems to only get cloudier.

Melbourne does what they tend to do these days and that’s lose when everyone has acclaimed them as the team to beat.

They look most teams lack depth and if you get them without Max Gawn and Jake Lever as the Bombers did then they are vulnerable.

They are still equal favourites with Collingwood at $5 with TopSport.

Who were the winners from The Gather Round in Adelaide?

Was it a success?

Yes if you ask the Adelaide public and the media cohorts who went across and spent the whole weekend telling the people back in Melbourne and the rest of Australia how great it was.

Probably not for the people who weren’t there though as the matches which were televised seemed to lack atmosphere.



They had a support act feel to them with lots of murmuring throughout the match which replaced the usual wall to wall passionate noise of barrackers.

Also Port Adelaide and Adelaide both got an extra home game which they made the most of. How is this fair to the other teams? Surely they have to play their Derby during Gather Round.

Who were the winners from the round in terms of teams?
Essendon produced their biggest win in years. They were too fast and slick for the Demons.

Adelaide is playing brilliant high pressure and skilled football. Could they be the smokey at $21 with TopSport?

Brisbane is really getting their act together but can you take the North Melbourne form seriously?

Same for the Cats who beat up on an inferior team for the second week in a row.

Losers

Richmond: Yes they have injuries but so to did the Swans. They fumbled and turned the ball over as if they were coached to play that way.

Carlton: Their lack of depth was on display again.
Melbourne: Once they don’t have their best 22 they seem susceptible.

West Coast and North Melbourne: Both were up and about early but already it’s seeming like a very long season in store for them.

Join our AFL group chat where we share our tips with all AFL fans while they talk all things footy related.

Click Here to join for FREE

Tell Us What You Think Below

March 10, 2026

RACING: Warwick Farm Best Selection & Value Play 11/3

Midweek Sydney racing returns to Warwick Farm for the 2nd consecutive Wednesday Our analyst likes an ultra consistent Clarry Conners 3yo and a Victorian raider that looks to have a class edge as Read More

March 10, 2026

Knights hand Smith No.6 chance; Toia, Fox's quick returns — NRL 2026 round two teams

There are several big returns for the 2026 NRL season, including star State of Origin backs Josh Addo-Carr (for the Eels) and Robert Toia (for the Sydney Roosters), while the Knights have had to tap Read More

March 10, 2026

'Can't fine everyone': AJ wants fans to storm field if he breaks tryscoring record

Wayne Bennett and the NRL are trying to stop fans from flooding the field when Alex Johnston breaks the long-standing rugby league tryscoring record, whether its this week or in the future, but the Read More