Down The Guts

We're back! It's going to be a bit more sporadic this season, but we're checking in and trying to break down blocks of the season. Tiers and MVPs are back, plus Who Would You Rather?, and Who's Sinking or Who's Swimming? Plus we're trying to find the trends with our Trend Setters.

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 the latest draft period has many wondering what 2025 will bring. Who got what they needed in the AFL National Draft? Is there a clear strategy for clubs like North Melbourne, St Kilda and GWS? Did Carlton overplay their hand by moving to pick #3 to take Jagga Smith? And did Esse...

If you're a long time listener to Down the Guts, you will have heard the boys' redraft series, where Adam and Joe have re-examined and re-drafted the years 2000 to 2010. Now comes the mega-draft - ranking the best players of a decade, the decade which dramatically shaped modern football. A decade which started with an unbelievable and almost unbeatable Bombers outfit, and ended with a drawn Grand...

How to build a list like Gold Coast? In their first 14 years, the Suns are yet to play in the finals, while fellow expansion club GWS have played in multiple campaigns and even made it to the Grand FInal. Although, that's not exactly comparing apples with apples. Adam and Joe go back to 2010 and examine what the Suns did well and the picks they'd like again, plus the lessons learned for Tasmania w...

At the end of the 2004 season, Richmond were one of three clubs which had priority picks, having just won the wooden spoon. They also had 5 of the first 20 picks - not too dissimilar to what they have in 2024. Adam and Joe cast their eyes over the 2004 draft, redrafting the first round, and see what could have been for the Tigers as well as what lessons they could learn as they look to rebuild for...

At the end of the 2002 AFL Season, Brisbane has completed back-to-back flags, and thanks to a shrewd trade shipping Des Headland off to Fremantle, jag pick #3 in the following draft. That pick was supposed to be pick #4, had it not been for Carlton paying a hefty price for breaching the salary cap and being stripped of their #1 draft pick, which cost them Carlton supporter Brendan Goddard. This wa...

The AFL's trade period has again thrown up choas as it came to a close. But it's struck Adam and Joe there were several clubs on the sideline who should have been in the fray. The boys run their eye over whether each club has improved their squad or seen a regression, plus looked at the strategy the clubs are employing with their remaining list spots remaining. Richmond 3:05 North Melbourne 8:22 C...

A trade bomb lobbed by Hawthorn has put a fork in the road for several clubs and several headline trades. Adam and Joe look at who's got the leverage after the reshaping of the trade landscape, as well as look at the remarkable deals Geeloing has pulled off in recent years. Plus why it is the clubs that have the power to enforce the right prrice is paid for top draft picks, and why this is the yea...

There's never been a better time to be a mid-tier player coming out of contract with free agency beckoning. That's shown by the stream of players switching clubs as soon as the AFL's Free Agency period opened up and the salaries they're being offered to register Band 1 compensation. With that in mind, the boys look at the players on the trade market, who are trying to find new homes are really wor...

Brisbane triumph in a roarsome performance, leaving the Swans tasting grand final defeat twice in three years. The Lions also become the first club to simultaneously hold both the AFL and AFLW cups at the same time. Adam and Joe explore how they got to this point, and whether they truly have the beginnings of a dynasty. They're joined by special guest commentator Matt Clinch from ABC Sport, as wel...

It's going to be a battle of the north! But the city of Melbourne won't feel like it's missing out either. The AFL Grand Final is almost here and Adam and Joe break down where they think the game is going to be won and lost, plus they touch base with spiritual leader in chief for the Brisbane Lions Ash from the 'We are the Footy' and 'We are the Pride' podcasts. Plus the boys speak with rising RIc...

You couldn't have scripted a more thrilling semi final weekend, with tense, tight and tough contests and a sprint finish to behold from Brisbane. And not to forget a drama filled spray post game in Adelaide which leaves big questions ahead of the preliminary final weekend. Adam and Joe delve into the truths of the semi finals, plus the big questions ahead of the penultimate weekend of football in...

In an incredibly rare event Adam apologises! The first week of the finals in 2024 offered up delight and disappointment across the board, but it exposed a few ugly truths. Adam, Joe and special guest Footyology's Rohan Connolly go through some of the questions those truths exposed, including Port Adelaide suffering stage fright in the big games, the Kardinia Kittens turning into big Cats and Sydne...

September is finally here, and so are the mens footy finals! Adam and Joe attempt a 'speed run' of sorts, outling how each finalist can win their respective finals, the keys to each match, and what the storylines are depending on which result.

A new DtG MVP is crowned after a gruelling season, the length of which we have not seen before. What led to the boys putting the crown on a new King's head in Season 2024? Plus what is the ceiling of expectation for Port Adelaide having finished the home and away season second, despite some Power fans calling for Ken Hinkley to be sacked mid-way through the season? While the finalists are recognis...

Dan Houston has been sent straight to the tribunal after a massive bump that not only left Izak Rankine concussed and ended his season, but has left a hollow feeling for many watching on. But as the bump takes the attention away from Port's showdown triumph, has the Power actually announced themselves as a genuine contender? Plus the boys, joined by a special podcast co-host, take a look at Melbou...

Is this the year of the 'Nationals'? Adam and Joe break down why this is the year the non-Victorian teams could make the finals series a nightmare for AFL House. Plus why Richmond is the BANK at the AFL trade and draft table in 2024. The boys explore why letting Shai Bolton, Liam Baker, Jach Graham and Daniel Rioli is beneficial for the Yellow and Black. And is there any movement in the MVPs with...

Will season 2024 see a Cathy Freeman golden sprint to the finish line or a Steven Bradbury skate through the fallen pack? This AFL season continues to throw up remarkable and unpredictable results throwing weekly tips and ladder predictors into choas. The top two from two weeks ago has tumbled and there's a rumble for the top four, let alone the top eight. Plus with the AFLW season merely weeks ag...

The MVP race has been blown wide open, with wholesale changes made across the boys top 5. The boys also entertain the possibility that someone who potentially wins a third brownlow medal, may not be named the MVP. Plus Sydney and Carlton have hit a rough patch on their trajectory to finals. Is it sluggish form or are these teams actually styling for September? Plus... more footy movies make their...

The rollercoaster of a season continues with twists and turns, complete with a couple of contenders for game of the year. But it's left Essendon on the tarmac waiting to launch into the finals, Collingwood staring down the barrel of missing the finals, and Brisbane eyeing off a return to the top four. Adam and Joe strike out more teams in their tiers, plus grade the runs home for the teams (techni...

West Coast have made the big move that many thought was coming, but still saddened many by ending Adam Simpson's tenure as head coach. But who actually wants to coach the Eagles? Does it need to be a West Australian who understands that football ecosystem, and perhaps their media environment? Plus the logjam around the top eight continues. the boys try to put their best traffic cop uniforms on and...

The boys bring back the tiers for the first time since the byes, take a look who can least afford the wooden spoon, and put their list management hats on and cast their eyes over the Saints and see who's part of their next premiership, and who needs to be traded.

As we tick over into a new financial year, the plethora of games with an eight-point result is throwing the ladder into a roller coaster. So who's asking the tax man for a tax return, and who's looking at an audit? Plus the MVP's return - there's a few movers and shakers!

Cheese and crackers after Round 15 - with the Blue Stilton Baggers announcing themselves, while Port Adelaide looks wafer thin at the moment. Adam and Joe also hand out their mid-season awards, and welcome Port Adelaide's Josh Sinn to the podcast.

They're the leaders of the team that is leading the pack: Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Guldon. Intorucing the three tenors that leads the best midfield of the comp. Plus time to shake up the magic 8-ball. There are lots of 8pt games in the next 8 rounds - will the boys ladder be any different to what it is now? Plus the ringleader of chaos - the boys pay tribute to Dusty in his milestone 30...