Jun 22, 2026

AFL

The Monday Knee Jerk Reaction: Round Fifteen

15 Comments

Footy is a passion, not some cold hearted, spread sheet dominated rational exercise. 

On a Monday, you want irrational reaction. You want emotion to trump reason.

What you really want is idiotic hysteria.

You've come to the right place.

Thursday

Fremantle (99) v Geelong (90)

It’s getting a bit ridiculous now.

A win over Geelong means the Dockers have thirteen wins in a row, with four of their next six games at home.

Down 28 points in the second quarter, the Dockers seemed in trouble, against a Geelong side missing Bailey Smith and Tom Stewart.

They needed something special.

Enter Luke Jackson, who delivered 28 disposals, three goals, nine tackles and 25 hitouts. He’s an elite midfielder trapped in a ruckman’s body. 

It’s like in Jurassic World when they mixed the DNA of a T. rex with a Velociraptor and the thing got loose and they had to shut the park.

I mean, how many times do they make the same mistake in those Jurassic movies?

Surely the first movie taught us not to mix dinosaurs and people, especially in a theme park setting. Yet they do it time and again. It’s an alarming lack of risk management and the lawsuits would be immense. 

All the sequels should just be class actions in court.

Wait, what were we talking about? 

With the World Cup on, this week’s Sports Bizarre Podcast looks at the Battle of Santiago, the most violent game in World Cup History.

Friday

Gold Coast (97) v Hawthorn (113)

Four losses in a row for the Gold Coast, and it’s a bit hard for Damien Hardwick to argue the umpires were at fault in this one.

The Suns were thereabouts in this until the Hawks unleashed a four-goals-in-four-minutes barrage at the start of the four quarter.

Hawks fans would be thrilled with Will Day returning to his top form but less thrilled with Josh Weddle breaking Daniel Rioli’s jaw.

A three-match ban is hardly helpful for the Hawks, especially with Jarman Impey also going off injured.

The Suns remind me a lot of my friend Jeff. He goes hard early on a night out, but about halfway through he gets very quiet, and then he ghosts.

Gold Coast does this every season. 

If you want to ensure you get my columns every week, the best way is to sign up for the email.

Saturday

Adelaide (79) v Melbourne (62)

I watched this in a restaurant inside Adelaide Oval and I must say, the Wagyu steak was fantastic, and the wine pairing was top-notch.

They had some great sides too, including a potato dish lightly seasoned with paprika.

In the third quarter, a cheese selection was offered that really blew me away.

This made the Dees loss incredibly disappointing and really spoiled a fantastic dining experience.

The real difference was in the key moments; the Crows were just more polished.

The Dees had their chances, but like my love life, they made massive mistakes that were impossible to overcome. 

If you want to ensure you get my columns every week, the best way is to sign up for the email.

Greater Western Sydney (65) v Carlton (88)

A few years ago, they looked like the Giants were about to win ten premierships in a row.

Now they have been overtaken by Carlton’s rebuild, which is like watching a Ferrari get overtaken by someone on a mobility scooter.

This season, they appear less like an orange tsunami and more a spilt can of Fanta.

Josh Fraser not only has the Blues winning, but on the weekend, he had them not fall apart when challenged in the second half.

The Giants looked like they were coming, but Carlton steadied and lifted.

For Fraser to get them to do that, well, it’s up there with Jesus turning water into wine.

He needs just one more verified miracle to be made a saint.

It might be one of life’s great ironies that the only person on the planet who can coach Carlton, doesn’t want to.

Collingwood (78) v Port Adelaide (52)

Surely the MCG set a record for most outstanding warrants in the one place on Saturday.

It was a difficult night for Port fans, losing three players to injury in a nightmare of a third quarter.

Jack Lukosius, Ewan Mackinlay both went off, but Esava Ratugolea’s injury was the worst with a ruptured patella tendon.

One word you never want in connection to your body is ‘ruptured.’

Port looked in good shape, and Collingwood looked in trouble, until Jordan de Goey got involved.

De Goey was the spark plus, kicking three goals from 26 disposals, playing the sort of game you always think de Goey should play.

Nick Daicos once again had video game-type numbers.

He had 41 touches, nine clearances, 10 score involvements and a goal.

It halted the Power’s momentum, who then helped the Pies out further by missing some key shots.

Sunday

Richmond (48) v North Melbourne (73)

This game was so bad, it made me regret being blessed with the gift of sight.

If you got two groups of British Backpackers, who had never seen AFL, and had been on the cans for several hours, and sent them out there, they wouldn’t have looked out of place.

So bad were the skills and decision-making that this would be a wonderful video to teach people how not to play football.

The Tigers seemed confused as to where the goals were, heading sideways when they got the ball. They seemed allergic to heading towards the goal.

North’s saving grace is that they were playing the Tigers. Anyone else, and they would probably have been belted.

To think, the AFL charged people to watch this 

St Kilda (61) v Western Bulldogs (83)

Being a Saints supporter would be tough.

Going through another underwhelming season got a lot worse on the weekend with a slew of injuries.

Jack Sinclair went off with a significant calf injury and then Tom De Koning copped a knee which resulted in a punctured lung and two broken ribs.

If the medical imaging clinic hadn’t already made enough off the Saints, Rowan Marshall was also sent for a scan on his collarbone after battling through the rest of the match.

It’s a massive blow for the Saints, who started the year looking to challenge for a premiership, but are now seeing their chances of finishing in the top ten slip away.

The game itself was worth it for a single moment, when Marcus Bontempelli, at full speed, with the ball coming at him along the ground, gathered it with one hand, turned, and snapped it for a goal.

It was like watching Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel, a work of genius that will be remembered throughout the ages.

Byes: Brisbane, Essendon, Sydney, West Coast 

You can help support me in producing this ridiculous nonsense I churn out on a regular basis. Find out more here: https://titusoreily.com/support-titus

 

COMMENTS

Lilac Mist

Jun 22, 2026

Once again I get the impression you didn’t actually watch the Freo game?! Port v pies combined arrest warrants gags is top shelf though.

Running Dog

Jun 22, 2026

Just as well you enjoyed the dining exerience in Adelaide, Titus. If you had really pumped up Melbourne beforehand you would have had to eat crow.

And how about that poor stand-up comedian who did his ACL on stage? Limped off to a rupturous ovation.

Hui…

Jun 22, 2026

It is rumoured that when Josh Fraser took over as fill in couch his words to the team were “Start playing football or you’ll be traded to Essendon”
Just a rumour!

The G-Station

Jun 22, 2026

Most of the St Kilda players are being enrolled in post graduate courses of various sorts at Melbourne Uni. When the University of Melbourne's Dean heard Ross Lyon say for the 60th consecutive week, that there were "good learnings" from the game, the Dean knew the SK players were ready to plant their learnings into the rich fertile soil of academia. He has hypothesised that young men with so much 'learnings' will be fertile minds for greatness, MBAs, PHDs...... and if they keep losing and keep gaining 'learnings', he's theorised that some of them may be on the road for a Nobel Prize

John Harrison

Jun 22, 2026

Brutally accurate summary of Tigers v North - an appalling spectacle. Possibly the Tigers worst outing in living memory (other than that match when Karmichael Hunt kicked the goal after the siren in Cairns)

WOODYD

Jun 22, 2026

Saints millionaires one week than back to Mother Earth busted and bruised after an encounter with the Bullies. Blues missed the bus now playing a triumphant mini-season within the regular season. Meanwhile fans await a return to regular service. But don't blame the bus driver. Titus I was under the impression crows were indigestible but most of the population west of Bordertown apparently manage.

The g train

Jun 22, 2026

Agree with everything you wrote this week, Titus. Except for one tiny bit. You wrote: “Surely the MCG set a record for most outstanding warrants in the one place on Saturday.” It should have read: “The MCG set a record for most outstanding warrants in the one place on Saturday.”

“Being a Saints supporter would be tough.” You think, Titus? YOU THINK?!!!! Mellon Collie and the Infinite Loss Lyon.

Son of plugger

Jun 22, 2026

A masterful knee jerk reaction this week, Titus. You always shine when the Ds lose a game that they might have won.

Crows vs Ds was very close throughout! Except for the second half of the second half of the second half. In that half, the Crows absolutely belted the Ds. It only takes one good half to win a game of footy.

The G Station nails it. There is only learning (and ultimately success) upon failure. The majority of the current crop of St Kilda players will be magnificently and magically and spectacularly successful in life. Just not in footy. But Ross sees the bigger picture. He’s Zen.

Paul

Jun 22, 2026

You are back in top form, loved all the comments esp the Crows v Dees long lunch.

Harley Mackenzie

Jun 22, 2026

Just like to point out Essendon did not lose this week! We can hold our heads high again.

Peter

Jun 22, 2026

I heard that both the Collingwood and Port Adelaide supporters caught Public transport to the game and then drove themselves home after the game.

Rodney Hunter

Jun 22, 2026

I normally don’t comment on my Tigers but guys this Mario from Doncaster territory. I still tremble at the thought

Purple Heart

Jun 22, 2026

Can I just say, you're on fire this week Titus. I thought you were just King of glib.

As a freo fan...Gold : Enter Luke Jackson, who delivered 28 disposals, three goals, nine tackles and 25 hitouts. He’s an elite midfielder trapped in a ruckman’s body. It’s like in Jurassic World when they mixed the DNA of a T. rex with a Velociraptor and the thing got loose and they had to shut the park.

Fat Side

Jun 22, 2026

Freo fans could be heard singing the mis-heard lyrics of Purple Haze after the game, “Scuse me while I kiss this guy”

Peter

Jun 22, 2026

Having had the waygu there previously and being a crows man myself I can only just imagine the sheer ecstasy of such a moment……….obviously wasted on you but nonetheless I envy you. 👌

Leave a comment

We promise to never share your email with anyone else.