Mid Season AFL Review – The Underbelly Awards (part 1)

With round 12 just completed, tipping us just over the midway point of the home and away season it is time to review what has just gone. Considering that Australia’s best TV series, Underbelly, has just concluded and there were solid ties to the notorious Carlton Crew and Carlton Footy Club (not to mention Jason Moran and Wayne Carey) it is only fitting to hand out “The Underbelly Awards” for the season so far (by taking quotes from the show).

And that was the beginning. Looking back, what the media called the gangland wars started the night Alphonse Gangitano killed Greg Workman for no good known reason at a St Kilda party.

To the Essendon Bombers who finally freed themselves of Kevin Sheedy’s shackles and under new coach Knights came out and slaughtered North Melbourne in round 1 using an attacking, free running style, based around speed. Their amazing display had Essendon on top of the football media for the first week, for that week they were the Black Prince, king of Lygon Street.

They also kicked off one of the “footy experts” main obsessions for this season, speed. Like Alfonso starting the gangland murders with a single action, the Bombers speed in that single game was so blinding that people were actually giving them a chance to knock off the reigning premiers Geelong in round 2.

The Prince is dead, long live the Prince.

Geelong came into the round 2 clash with a chip on their shoulder, some felt, because of the media love granted to the Bombers in that first week. This was one of the few games that the Cats got up for this year and showed 100% effort, killing this seasons Black Prince. After that week the Bombers collapsed with a number of defeats, several embarrassing, as Knights attacking style was destroyed by opposition and injuries. They came into the season with the flurry of Gangitano’s Underbelly reign, and by round 2 it was time for their funeral.

This shithead is perving on us!

To all the West Coast Eagles fans (which includes myself) who cannot help but perve on what Geelong now has. Through 8 rounds last year the Eagles were on top of the world, sitting on top of the ladder and favorites to win back to back flags. All the while hopeful of Ben Cousins returning from his “indiscretions” to complete the best midfeild in football; Cousins, Kerr and Judd.

Since then, Judd, Kerr and Cousins were struck down with injuries, Judd left the club and Cousins went to cop shop shirtless. Geelong won the premiership and has begun this year in similar fashion, fielding what is probably an even better midfield and team than West Coast had.

(Futhermore, as far as perving goes, the Eagles fans are also checking out what Judd is doing for Carlton every week - do not deny it, you know you are - part dreaming, part spite, not knowing whether to hate him or be happy for him).

It’s just Carl, he’s harmless.

How do I know you’re not just a lazy, greedy, wanna be, boy?

The Carl Williams award at this point in the season goes to the Western Bulldogs. After last year not much was expected of the Bulldogs in 2008 (everyone choosing to ignore the fact that last seasons team was ravaged by injuries). Even after their 3-0 start people were not keen to jump on board, like Carl’s early days, there were no expectations, bar the fact that people thought their lack size around key positions would eventually lead to a breakdown when they couldn’t use their speed to advantage.

The St. Kilda game surprised everyone but it wasn’t until they knocked off Sydney at the SCG that the Dogs got their own pill press and went into business. Which brings us to…

The Moran boys thought the world was theirs for the taking, but they had overlooked a home grown threat.

To the Hawks who were loving life one game clear of Geelong at the top of the table. Just as the Moran brothers thought they had eliminated their problems by eliminating Alphonse Gangitano, Hawthorn thought they would be clear of the Cats for quite sometime. No one expected another Melbourne side to come in and upset them, but that is what the Bulldogs did in round 10, finally cementing their place as a legitimate contender this year.

(Consider this; the Bulldogs are literally 5 points from being 12-0 right now).

- Stay tuned over the week as we post part 2 of the awards.