Penthouse and Outhouse: Round 22

Victory ... James Hird sings the song after the win over Carlton. Source: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

FOX FOOTY expert Julian de Stoop casts his eye over Round 22, liking Essendon's on-field efforts but disliking their ongoing off-field dramas.

Do you agree? Join the debate and have your say on the weekend's biggest incidents.

In The Penthouse

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Essendon players
Essendon are unlikely to be given the chance to compete for the premiership this year but in 2013 they may have set the foundations for future success.
Resilience and Essendon haven't gone hand in hand in recent years but the character the players have shown this year under extraordinary circumstances has to be admired.
It's likely to count for nothing but Essendon have pulled off some truly remarkable wins this season. Two come from behind wins in Perth and two famous victories over arch rivals Carlton will be remembered by Bomber fans for years.

Steven Motlop
The Cats have some fantastic young players but Steven Motlop is the pick of the litter.
The 22 year-old has kicked 47 goals in 20 games this season and against the Swans he put in a contender for mark of the year to go with his 3 goals.
It's not hard to see why Motlop has been compared to Hawks star Cyril Rioli.
And in further good news for Geelong fans he is on the verge of signing a new 2 year deal.

Zac Clarke
No Sandilands and no Griffen but there is still no worries for Ross Lyon in the big man department thanks to emerging ruckman Zac Clarke.
The 23 year-old is remarkable athlete for someone who stands 203 centrimetres and on current form he is shaping as one of the keys to Fremantle's finals hopes.
Clarke has been tried forward but like Essendon's Paddy Ryder and Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer he relishes the freedom the ruck brings.
Against Port Adelaide he was one of the best on the ground with 15 disposals, 2 goals and 30 hit outs.

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Collingwood's kids
Collingwood are unlikely to win the premiership this year but the future looks bright thanks to the emergence of some fine young players this season.
Injuries to midfielders Dale Thomas, Luke Ball, Dayne Beams and Clinton Young has given the likes of Josh Thomas and Paul Seedman extra opportunity and both have relished it.
Thomas had a career best 35 disposals against the Eagles while Seedsman also starred with 30 disposals.
Throw in young ruckman Brodie Grundy and Jarrad Witts and it's not hard to see why Nathan Buckley is excited about the future.

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Brad Crouch
Jaegar O'Meara will win this year's Rising Star but one man that is coming home with a rush is Adelaide's Brad Crouch.
Like the young Sun, Crouch was a priority selection for the Crows and spent a year honing his craft in the SANFL.
After being in and out of the side for the first half of the season the 19 year-old has played the past 9 matches and gets better every week.
Against the Demons he arguably had the best game of his fledgling career gathering 31 disposals.

In The Outhouse

Carlton
The Blues certainly missed key players Chris Judd, Matthew Kreuzer, Andrew Carrazzo and Andrew Walker against Essendon plus an early hamstring injury to Brock McLean only added to their problems but there is still no way Carlton should have lost this game.
The old saying of 'bad kicking is bad football' rang true with the Blues kicking just 9 goals from 31 scoring shots with Carlton failing to kick a goal in the final term.
Ironically the Blues may take the Bombers spot in the finals via default but given their form this season they barely deserve to be there.

West Coast
Two weeks ago John Worsfold looked a lock to be given a new contract but even by his own admission things have changed after two horrible losses to Geelong and Collingwood.
Their total of 5.9 on Friday night was their lowest ever score at the MCG.
Injuries have played their part but the Eagles have been the most disappointing of the season and after 12 years in the helm you do have to question whether John Worsfold is the right man to take this club forward.

Sydney Swans
The reigning premiers have got the staggers.
In the past 3 weeks they have been comprehensively beaten by fellow finalists Collingwood and Geelong and this week they face ladders leaders Hawthorn before a possible return bout against the Hawks in week one of the finals.
Rhyce Shaw is now out for the season with a serious knee injury with Adam Goodes and Lewis Jetta are both in a race against time to be fit for the finals.
You never write off the Swans but on current form the Hawks, Cats and Dockers have their measure.

Essendon saga
Last week was a terrible week for the game and we never want to see football matters end up in the Supreme Court.
Thankfully over the last 48 hours some sanity appears to have prevailed and publicly James Hird opened up and showed some contrition which many have been calling for.
Both parties are working hard to find a resolution before the finals.. a finals series unlikely to feature Essendon.
Throw in a record breaking fine, a likely suspension for James Hird and draft penalties and it's fair to say the Bombers are going to pay big time for their questionable supplements program of 2012.
But make no mistake the biggest penalty is becoming the first club in AFL history to be stripped of all its premiership points.
That's a stain the club has to live with forever and for the players simply heartbreaking in a season where they have consistently performed against the odds.

Hayden Ballantyne's "goal"
We have seen so many trivial score reviews this season but when Hayden Ballantyne failed to make contact with the ball in the goal square no review was called for.
Thankfully the match was one sided and Ballantyne's 'air swing' didn't have an impact on the result.

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