RIP everybody’s tips! After Round 19 gave us the expected results in roundabout ways, nearly all of our preconceptions were thrown to the wind over the course of this past weekend. Four of the top five went down, and rivalry games delivered some of the biggest surprises of all.

0:00:00 Intro

0:02:05 COL v CAR

0:15:50 GEE v FRE

0:27:21 WB v GWS

0:37:13 GC v BRI

0:45:48 ESS v SYD

0:56:44 ADE v PA

1:09:53 HAW v STK

1:23:12 RIC v MEL

1:31:04 WCE v NM

1:41:54 Awards / Conclusion

We're calling Round 20 the Rematch Round, because 8 of 9 fixtures are rematches from earlier this season — and the odd one out was a double-up in 2022! The Saturday overlaps are two-screen material. Maybe the most important game the AFL has played in Ballarat will take place in the afternoon, before Showdown 54 and a likely eliminator at Marvel are dual nighttime headliners. Look back at the initial fixtures from Sunday to get you hyped up, as all three were close… maybe unnecessarily so?

Sections

0:00:00 Intro / Cricket Musings

0:03:43 COL v CAR

0:08:11 GEE v FRE

0:14:10 WB v GWS

0:21:46 BRI v GC

0:29:02 ESS v SYD

0:36:44 ADE v PA

0:44:30 HAW v STK

0:51:51 RIC v MEL

0:58:26 WCE v NM

1:08:02 Main Characters / Conclusion

As we dive into 2023’s craziest round yet, we expose an industry secret regarding a record which must not be broken. Of course, we also give all the headline results and players their due. Two substitutes — one of them a debutant — proved crucial in tight wins at the G, and the black and white battle in Adelaide transpired in the only way it possibly could.

We recorded well ahead of list announcements, so let's see how close we got in those assessments. This preview has a bigger share of match strategy than most, which makes the talk of the fixtures involving finals contenders all the more compelling. Friday Night Footy may literally be a tall task for Essendon's backs, while all eyes will be on the top two in Adelaide on Saturday night. Ethan, however, is most excited for the Sunday opener, in which a couple of Round 18's surprise winners will square off in the ACT.

Sections

0:00:00 Intro

0:05:14 ESS v WB

0:12:13 RIC v HAW

0:18:38 CAR v WCE

0:25:48 BRI v GEE

0:35:57 PA v COL

0:44:50 FRE v SYD

0:51:16 GWS v GC

0:59:45 MEL v ADE

1:05:58 STK v NM

1:11:39 Main Characters / Conclusion

What spreads? Well, how about a fake quote that rocked all of footy and Australia? Or use of some of our niche terminology? Or our campaigning for one first-year coach to be properly recognized for his brilliance? Round 18 was the most narrative-heavy round yet, so despite only a couple nail-biters and one other close finish, the first seven games may have given us enough material for two weeks.

Sections

0:00:00 Intro

0:03:08 SYD v WB

0:17:43 MEL v BRI

0:27:25 COL v FRE

0:33:27 GC v STK

0:43:50 CAR v PA

0:52:50 GEE v ES

1:08:06 ADE v GWS

1:21:28 NM v HAW

1:27:37 WCE v RIC

1:33:01 Awards / Conclusion

We're definitely in the home stretch now, but we're as shocked as ever by some weeknight light decisions and where the lines are as we record ahead of Round 18. In between discussions of Japanese commercials and getting this podcast banned, we find things that get us more excited about games that will likely not get as much attention from the broader footy world this week — take, for example, the Tasmanian Timeshare Tussle on Sunday. Of course, the marquee matchups get their time as well, with crucial weekend clashes throughout Victoria. (P.S.: Of course Geelong should be at home this week.)

Sections

0:00:00 Intro / News

0:03:08 SYD v WB

0:10:42 MEL v BRI

0:16:20 COL v FRE

0:22:17 STK v GC

0:31:43 CAR v PA

0:40:03 GEE v ESS

0:47:06 ADE v GWS

0:55:46 NM v HAW

1:03:04 WCE v RIC

1:10:42 Main Characters / Conclusion

No, Stuart Dew isn't dead — that's just how the Suns Photoshopped that post. His dismissal is another twist in a round that had plenty of them, from Richmond grinding out a win late to St Kilda's triple injury woes and Carlton's beatdown of the Dockers out west. We somehow have even more questions exiting this round than we did entering it.

Sections

0:00:00 Intro

0:01:51 RIC v SYD

0:13:17 WB v COL

0:23:34 BRI v WCE

0:29:58 GWS v HAW

0:38:59 STK v MEL

0:47:22 PA v GC

1:01:38 GEE v NM

1:15:43 ESS v ADE

1:24:53 FRE v CAR

1:34:21 Nominees / Conclusion

Ethan's in North Dakota of all places as we take on another preview! Round 17 begins with Buddy's last H&A game at the 'G, before the Bulldogs and Collingwood play Friday in a real prove-it game for the host. Saturday is highlighted by a likely slow but meaningful Saints–Dees clash with a father-son debut (one of two for the round), but we're most excited for Sunday. For one, Zach Tuohy will break the Irish games played record. Then, Essendon and Adelaide play what's being touted as a mini-final, while out west, Freo and Carlton can set themselves up for a late-season charge.

Sections

0:00:00 Intro

0:02:18 RIC v SYD

0:08:56 WB v COL

0:17:59 BRI v WCE

0:24:32 GWS v HAW

0:30:46 STK v MEL

0:41:16 PA v GC

0:48:21 GEE v NM

0:55:26 ESS v ADE

1:01:10 FRE v CAR

1:06:37 Main Characters / Conclusion

In the return to nine-game weeks, Round 16 had just about everything — margins big and small, surprise results and close games, and even after-the-siren heroics. Ethan slept through another siren goal, but he was wide awake for the second draw of the season. Meanwhile, Benjamin can be happy about his Eagles for a bit… but he's still soured by the final quarter of the round.

Sections

0:00:00 Intro

0:01:49 BRI v RIC

0:08:44 SYD v GEE

0:21:00 ADE v NM

0:26:34 WB v FRE

0:37:02 GC v COL

0:44:44 ESS v PA

0:58:46 HAW v CAR

1:06:17 MEL v GWS

1:19:16 WCE v STK

1:30:22 Nominees / Conclusion