With finals just around the corner, this was the Round of Opportunity! Adam and Joe discuss who took theirs and reshaped the tiers. And with one round to go, there's is still plenty to play for in the final round - whether it be the top four, the top eight or parochial hometown pride.

Down the Guts AFL Round 22, 2022 "The Round of Opportunity"

It's supposed to be a week off, right? No chance! In a monster Adam and Joe discuss the start of AFLW Season 7, as the men begin their ascent to the crescendo of the AFL finals, on the backdrop of Awards season. Plus the trade period hasn't officially begun yet, but does the speculated trades of Izak Rankine and Luke Jackson give us insight into how clubs are going to target players in the future?

Down the Guts AFL - The 2022 Bye Round Before the Finals Storm

The first week of the AFL finals was a footy feast; Brisbane and Richmond brought the delicious cocktails which barely touched the sides; Melbourne and Sydney were the entree, with playful flavours dancing on the tongue; Geelong and Collingwood were the main course, a flame-licked steak with all the trimmings; and Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs were a sweet dessert paired with some cheese. How could you not be satisfied with what was on offer? Adam and Joe go through it all and what it means for the semis.

Down The Guts AFL Finals Week 1 - A footy feast for the ages!

We're back! With Season 2023 bearing down on us Adam and Joe get stuck into a lengthy preview and some leading theories about nine of the AFL teams. 

Adelaide (1:37), Brisbane (28:52), Carlton (43:40), Collinwood (1:00:25), Essendon (1:16:40), Fremantle (1:31:12), Geelong (1:47:25), Gold Coast (1:58:12), GWS (2:09:18).

 It's a time capsule podcast - how right were the boys in terms of ladder prediction, number of wins and the players to watch?

Down The Guts - Season 2023 Premiere (part one: Adelaide through to GWS)

A brutal opening to the 2023 AFL Season, with horrific injuries, brutish bumps and teams exposed in round one. 

Adam and Joe look at just a few of the storylines that emerged from Round One including, Richmond can't win the close ones like they used too; Collingwood deserve more respect, Port WERE hiding something before the season started; the extraordinary leeway Adam Simpson has been given at West Coast and the Crows flaws exposed when the heat was on.

Down The Guts AFL - Round 1, 2023 - A Brutal Opening

Do you believe in your team's start to the 2023 AFL season, or do you hold concerns? Adam and Joe cast their eye over the teams that have started 2-0 and those that are 0-2. 

Plus... has Adam cracked the Collingwood code? And what is the difference between a star of the competition... and a superstar? 

Do you believe in...
Sydney's start - 2:39
St Kilda sitting second - 3:41
Essendon's undefeated opening - 7:54
Collingwood? Yes. But here's how to crack the Collingwood code - 11:41
North Melbourne/Clarko - 25:28

Are you concerned about? 
Hawthorn - 28:30
Western Bulldogs - 33:11
Gold Coast - 40:23
Adelaide - 43:40
Geelong - 48:37
Fremantle - 51:02

Showdown breakdown - 54:53

The difference between a 'Star' and a 'Superstar"  - 1:08:21

Down The Guts AFL - Round 2, 2023 - Belief vs Concern, Collingwood code cracked

ANZAC Day clashes rarely disappoint and Collingwood did it again! Does it propel Nick Daicos to the MVP? Who would you rather be: Carlton or Essendon? The boys track a couple of bid trades from the off-season plus how to address the power imbalance in the trade week, should players be able to be traded against their will? 

Some big questions posed on the pod - some big answers laid down.

Down The Guts AFL - Round 6, 2023 - Would you trade players against their will?

Who do you believe more in right now: Port Adelaide or Sydney? The Power's "Untenable Ken" outcoached Ross the Boss, while Sydney had another 4 points stolen from them. Are last year's Grand Finalists counting themselves out of finals action in 2023? 

Plus what does Tasmania need for long term success when they're granted an AFL license? And who comes in after them as the 20th team? is the NT and Darwin assured of a team or does someone else want it more. 

It's a monster pod!

Down The Guts AFL - Round 7, 2023 - A tier-changing round with Tassie on the horizon

First it was Hawthorn stealing a win from the Saints. Then the Dockers demonised Naarm, before the Giants clawed the Cats at Kardinia as the  Suns shone brightest against the Dogs in Darwin... while the Crows blew Brisbane away in Adelaide. If you tipped more than five in Round 11 of the AFL season, you've done very well! 

But what does this round of upsets actually show?  It's shuffled the boys tiers around, who also decide to take an in-depth look at the Tigers' list as Damien Hardwick makes the first move off the coaching merry-go-round in 2023.

Down The Guts AFL - Round 11, 2023 - An upsetting round, as baffling as the Bermuda Triangle

Round 13 is the round of defiance: The Demons defy the Pies in a close one; Hawthorn defy a top four team; Essendon begin to defy gravity; Port defy the record books and are the Bulldogs defying themselves? 

There's a lot to love about the Hawks and the Bombers, but who to chop in the forest that is the Bulldogs forward line, or is there a way they can make it work with at least three talls sitting forward?

Plus the boys have some mid-season awards to hand out including:
The Prematurely Finished Award
The Unexpected Rising Star
The Breakout Superstar
The Comeback King
The Reverse MVP

Down The Guts AFL - Round 13, 2023 - Who to chop in the Bulldog Forest?

The top four tribe has emerged, as Port show they're capable of overcoming many challenges to go top of the table. 

And while Carlton may have finally clicked, Fremantle and the Gold Coast are among those that have let opportunities slide in the Bye rounds. 

Adam's had a gutful of Ken Hinkley's contract conversation outside of the club. 

Plus what did the boys get right and what did they get wrong in the preseason? Will their do-over get them any closer to the mark come season's end?

Down The Guts AFL - Round 14, 2023 - The top four tribe emerges as others look to survive

Finally the Bye rounds are done, but normal transmission has already resumed with Colingwood collecting another close win. But is this a trend the Magpie faithful need to be worried about?

Does the AFL need to be worried about West Coast's poor form hitting a new low? And do the Demons need to be worried about their avenues to goal?

Plus the tiers return as the boys cast an eye over how much has changed since the bye rounds began a month ago.

Down The Guts AFL - Round 15, 2023 - Bye, bye Byes as Collingwood continues the close finishes

We thought it was nerves at first, not the alarm bells are going off for the topw four teams. What's brought on the Collywobbles; Can Melbourne kick a winning score; how sore is Port and does Brisbane lack a killer instinct?

Down The Guts AFL - Round 21, 2023 - Alarm bells now ringing for the top four

It's the non-review that has reverberated around the league. The Crows season brought to a sudden and abrupt end with a goal umpire's call that was wrong. Where to for the Crows which outperformed some of the best teams in the competiiton in 2023 but won't play finals? 

And so too the Western Bulldogs who are danlging by a spider's thread? Has Luke Beveridge been given too much leeway? Yes, he's won a premiership. Yes, he's made a subsequent Grand Final... but why can't he get his team to finish in the top four, or, frankly, play consistently?

Plus the Premiers' back-to-back campaign is over. Is their dynasty also done?

Down The Guts AFL - Round 23, 2023 - An asterisk at the wrong time of the season

Ouch! For the second season in a row, Melbourne has wasted a top four finish and failed to win a final. While Port Adelaide's 13-match winning streak propelled the Power to a double chance, both were blown before the Prelims. 

Where does this leave Melbourne and its hopes for a dynasty, and after 11-years at the helm, Adam ponders what will it take for change at the top at Alberton? Is it a player revolt? Because the current results don't appear to hold sway with the club's hierarchy. 

Plus is there any room left on the Blues Bandwagon? The boys predict there'll be plenty when it returns from Brisbane. And are the Giants now a genuine threat of upsetting the Pies at the G in front of 90,000? They've shown no fear so far in the finals.

Down The Guts - Straight sets semi finals exits pose lengthy legacy questions

The trade period is done, as all attention turns to the AFL draft. 

But who's improved their list, who's regressed and who's stayed the same? The boys go through all 18 clubs. 

Plus does trade period need to be condensed or turned into a larger window like other codes?

Down the Guts - Ehhhh, what's the strategy Doc?

At the end of the 2005 AFL Season, the Swans are celebrating a drought-breaking premiership, but at the draft that's to follow, a young Scott Pendlebury makes it on to an AFL list and sets in motion  a career that is now destined for elevation to Legend status in the AFL Hall of Fame. 

But who else goes in the top 5 of the class of '05? Adam and Joe try to reshuffle the picks and reassign the first round.

Down the Guts - Scott Pendlebury top of AFL draft class of '05 - but who's second?

Adam Cooney was the prized #1 selection in the 2003 draft and went on to win a Brownlow, but does he go #1 20 years later? Adam and Joe take a look back at the draft, as well as discover a few of the lessons clubs learned two decades ago which may still be relevant today.

Down the Guts - 20 years from the 2003 draft, who makes the top five?

Summer is almost here and for many of us, there's a few months off before the next AFL season roars back into life - but there's plenty left to ponder heading into 2024.

Who got what they needed in the AFL National Draft? Is there a clear strategy for clubs like Richmond? Did West Coast play it safe by holding on to their first round picks in the 2023 and 2024 draft?

Plus what's the solution to the grumbling around the NGA and father son picks? Some clubs have more than raised their eyebrows after the Suns were able to secure their four NGA prospects in the first round of the draft, but there's been little mention of how many father/son picks Collingwood had in their Premiership winning side this year. 

Also a bg thank you to everyone who tuned in at some stage throughout this season. Your support is invaluable.

Down The Guts - Season finale 2023

Is it that time already? Season 2024 is sneaking up on us like Heath Shaw on Nick Riewoldt in a Grand Final, so Adam and Joe begin their season preview looking at what lies ahead and the players who need to be in the spotlight (if they're not already).

Who will they deem the teams they are:
- Most excited about?
- Most nervous about?
- Most intrigued about?

In this pod: Sydney (3:36), Melbourne (19:08), Brisbane (30:47), Carlton (44:52), Gold Coast (57:33), Richmond (1:06:54), GWS (1:17:25), Collingwood (1:28:09), West Coast (1:41:31).

It's a time capsule podcast - how right were the boys in terms of ladder prediction, number of wins and the players to watch?

Down The Guts - Season 2024 Premiere (part one)

It's probably the best time of the year to be wrong, but doesn't it feel amazing to be right! 

Badges handed out left, right and centre on this pod for the team the boys are most excited, nervous or intrigued about. 

The boys go through the final nine teams including:
- Essendon 2:14
- Hawthorn 18:30
- North Melbourne 28:13
- Geelong 38:04
- St Kilda 50:55
- Adelaide 1:05:58
- Western Bulldogs 1:22:31
- Port Adelaide 1:36:43
- Fremantle 1:53:46

The time capsule is now complete in podcast form - how right were the boys in terms of ladder prediction, number of wins and the players to watch?

Down The Guts - Season 2024 Premiere (part two)

In a game filled with stars, how do you separate out those that shine the brightest?

Adam and Joe hand out their superstar status for the class of 2024. Who makes the cut? Who do you think should have get a jacket?

Plus have the pre-season games changed your mind about the prospects of any club this year?

Down the Guts - Separating the stars from the superstars in 2024

How will the AFL's Opening Round be received? It's about to kick off and Adam and Joe explore if it's having the desired effect for fans and the AFL, as well as the major storlyines and the ramifications of the opening round matches.

Down the Guts - Opening Round, 2024 Speed Run preview

Only four games in the inaugural Opening Round of the AFL 2024 Season, but some storylines and results that are almost impossible not to overeact to. Carlton's coming of Age? Collingwood with the Collywobbles early? Giants into flag favouritism? New dawn rising at Gold Coast?

Adam and Joe sit down to discuss it all, plus where Opening Round sits in the grand scheme of things.

Down The Guts - Opening Round overreaction vibes

Everyone's now joined the party after Round 1, and there was a bit of ghosting from a few teams. Should we be concerned, or do we need to all settle down?

Down The Guts - Round 1, 2024 - Time to be concerned or let's all settle down?

Which team is the clear frontrunner after two full rounds of the AFL 2024 season and why is it Sydney? 

Plus is St Kilda's emerging brigade better than the teams around it who are vying for a top eight spot?

And a special tribute to Travis Boak after another milestone win - this time notching up game 350.

Down the Guts - Round 2, 2024 - The systems that are reigning supreme

"Staying humble". You hear it all the time from athletes in sports all over the world... well, round 3 threw out a few lessons in humility for a number of clubs. 

The Crows are one step away from being completely humiliated, Port were humbled at home (despite long periods of dominance), and Richmond found a way to pinch a win off a contender despite their humble list. 

Plus Adam and Joe do a few site inspections on a few AFL clubs who are quietly building their lists.

Down the Guts - Round 3, 2024: Staying humble or be humbled

The AFL's second 'Gather Round' was a roaring success, ask anyone who attended including Adam. 

But how many Gather Rounds should there be in future seasons and where? 

Also, do you bacak the Umpires to make game-changing calls for indiscretions like dissent as seen the Fremantle v Carlton match? Put the whistle away or hold your tongue? This is a debate you won't want to miss.

Down the Guts - Round 4, 2024: Magic, the Gathering in Adelaide, despite umpire controversy

The Down the Guts Stock Exchange is open for business. Adam and Joe float a few teams and where they think they're currently priced. Are you buying, selling or holding at these values? 

Plus the MVP returns. Who's in the boys respective top 5s?

Down the Guts - Round 5, 2024: Who are you buying/selling on the DGX?

We finally have our first complete picture of the AFL season and we see West Coast begin to soar off a back of a roaring Harley, Geelong purring nicely and Carlton score important wins while undermanned. 

Plus Adam poses the question, why should the Father-Son (see also Father-Daughter) draft rule continue to exist?

Down the Guts - Round 6, 2024: Life father, like son?

Welcome to Down the Guts where we get to the guts of what’s happening on the footy field and try not to get bogged down with the trivial stuff. This is unfettered and unfiltered footy discussion!

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