Monday, April 14, 2014: 4 and a half stars...

Donnie Darko, The Big Lebowski, A Clockwork Orange... all great pieces of art that developed large audiences out of apparent obscurity, going on to cement the artistic legacies of their creators.

Panned by critics for it's drawn out opening sequences and seeming lack of narrative structure, this latest piece by Melbourne-based installation artist Andrew Demetriou could be well on it's way to joining this list of cult classics. 2014: Glory In A Shitstorm is the final offering in Demetriou's controversial annual series which documents society through a series of cruel and tedious events that poke fun at the idea of competitive and equal sport.

Revisiting the egalitarian motif of previous years, Demetriou cheekily pokes fun at the capitalist system that funds his work by continually talking about equality while selectively funding his few favourite assets to the detriment of others. Though the ghosts of his haunting 2013 work 'The Darkest Day...' still linger in this piece, it is his use of comedy that gives this piece the colour and flair for which it will it become renowned.

The continued torture of Richmond gives the viewer an almost sadistic pleasure, while the narrative that surrounds Sydney's big-name recruit makes on ponder on the real value of apparent panaceas to non-existent problems. The true value of this work, however, lies in Demetriou's fixturing.


After an extended first round, a second and third marred by disappointing crowds and a fourth which lacked any semblance of the notion of competition, Demetriou has assembled a fifth round that will make this fixture a star in its own right. Enticing combinations like the undefeated Hawthorn and Geelong juxtaposed perfectly with the morbidly horrid Richmond against the winless Brisbane Lions. Interest in games like St. Kilda v Essendon, GWS v Adelaide or Carlton v Western Bulldogs would nearly impossible to anticipate a few weeks ago.

This is a piece that rewards those adventurous enough to push themselves through the tedious opening stanza, blossoming into an experience that is not to be missed. 4 and a half stars.


The Monday Wrap:
Friday
Collingwood 110 defeated Richmond 72
Saturday
Melbourne 81 defeated Carlton 58
Port Adelaide 159 defeated Brisbane 46
Western Bulldogs 110 defeated GWS 83
Geelong 107 defeated West Coast 32
Hawthorn 148 defeated Gold Coast 49
Sunday
North Melbourne 91 defeat Sydney 48
Adelaide 136 defeated St. Kilda 50
Fremantle 113 defeated Essendon 60

Ladder
Hawthorn - 16 - (WWWW)
Geelong - 16 - (WWWW)
Port Adelaide - 12 (WWLW)
West Coast - 12 - (WWWL)
Fremantle - 12 - (WWLW)
North Melbourne - 12 - (LWWW)
Essendon - 8 - (WLWL)
GWS - 8 - (WLWL)
Collingwood - 8 - (LWLW)
Western Bulldogs - 8 - (LLWW)
Gold Coast - 8 - (WLWL)
St. Kilda - 8 - (WWLL)
Sydney - 4 - (LLWL)
Richmond - 4 - (LWLL)
Adelaide - 4 - (LLLW)
Melbourne - 4 - (LLLW)
Carlton - 0 - (LLLL)
Brisbane - 0 - (LLLL)

In the news...
A round 5 trial will see players from all teams wearing their own names on the back. This is disappointing news for the 16 Carlton players who are currently attempting to fly under the radar in a dismal team.

St. Kilda's woe following their thumping at the hands of the Crows has been compounded by the loss of young midfielder Nathan Wright for up to 12 weeks with a leg injury.

Essendon, meanwhile, are hoping to bounce back from their Fremantle defeat with Brendan Goddard and Patrick Ryder both expected to be available for round 5.