...but I've been out of it for a few days now. Let's catch you up on events from the last weekend's games:
CFL: There was a moment when the western division was four teams at 2-1...and Saskatchewan balancing the records at 0-4! They've lost four games by a total of twelve points, with two of those in overtime! (So, in our rating system, we actually count those as "losing by zero", so they've lost four games by seven points!) The RoughRiders have played well, and will win several games soon. But Calgary's back where they're used to being - leading the division at 3-1 now after a win against Winnipeg on Saturday. On the East side, Toronto sits at 2-1, with Montreal and Ottawa both at 2-2, and Hamilton at 1-2 with two tough losses to good teams - basically, it looks like if the RedBlacks are for real, it'll be a four team race all season long!
Last week's scores: Montreal over Hamilton, 17-13; Edmonton for the second time over Ottawa, 23-12; BC over the Riders for the second time, 27-24; and Calgary by one over Winnipeg, 26-25.
Round 5 forecast: Two easy picks.... Calgary over Ottawa and Edmonton over Winnipeg...and two that are too close to call...Toronto/British Columbia and Hamilton/Saskatchewan.
AFL: Two emotional games on Sunday - St. Kilda and Richmond played "Maddie's Match" honoring Madelaine Riewoldt, sister of SK's Nick and cousin of Richmond's Jack, who died of bone marrow failure syndrome in February; and of course the Adelaide Showcase, the first following the death of Adelaide Crows head coach Phil Walsh, who was a long time assistant coach with the Port Power as well - so, an emotional week, an emotional game for both teams. Many writers and pundits argued that it may change the fundamental nature of the adversarial relationship between the two teams going forward.
The other big story was Hawthorn's utter annihilation of fellow favorite Sydney by 89 points, IN Sydney, immediately following their 72-point rout over Fremantle last week. If you haven't already pencilled the Hawks in as the current favorites for the flag...do it now.
Last week's scores: Kangas by 25 over Essendon, 93-68; Geelong holding on vs. Western, 72-64; GWS holding off Gary Ablett's incredible game to beat Gold Coast 94-79; West Coast finishing off Collingwood's rough month ofer four winning 87-56 (Collingwood played four great teams, and played well enough that despite losing all four, they RAISED their rating about a point!); Fremantle surviving Carlton 95-53; Melbourne got four points by outlasting Brisbane 60-36; Richmond 89-73 over the Saints; Port Adelaide scores the last four goals...but needed five: Adelaide won, 116-113. And of course, Hawthorn 146, Sydney 57, but Lance Franklin kicked three incredible back-to-back-to-back goals in the second, the center one being his 700th all time.
Round 17 forecast: Hawthorn is favored by 69.5 points over Carlton; Adelaide should handle Gold Coast; take Port Adelaide over Essendon; North Melbourne should be able to beat Briabane (should, that is); St. Kilda looks more reliable than Melbourne; and Sydney probably has no answer for Nic Natainui in the ruck at West Coast. Not sure on Geelong/ GWS, but tradition says the Cats find a way; can Western take advantage of a Collingwood losing streak? Maybe... And believe it or not, we're taking Richmond on form over Fremantle this week!
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