[AFL-Review] AFL Round 7

AFL Round 7

 

No report next week, there's a break for something called the Hall of Fame Tribute Match, which ostensibly celebrates the 150^th anniversary of the first game of footy in 1858. It features a Victorian side against something called the Dream Team, not the US Olympic men's basketball team but a rep side of all the other states. 

 

At Subiaco:

West Coast  2.1    2.7    8.9   10.14.74

Carlton     2.4   10.7   12.8    17.9.111

 

Chris Judd's return to Perth ended happily for him (Mostly. He injured an ankle, although it may be one of those state-game excuses). His Bluies defeated the increasingly awful Wiggles for a rare interstate win. Judd's return dominated the build-up to this one, last Monday Weeg coach John Worsfold admitted to shock and sadness when learning of Judd's intention to leave, but by the end of the week he was saying it didn't matter. A few Melbourne presspersons attacked Worsfold for writing off the Eegs' season last week, pointing out the core of the Weevil side had played in two Grand Finals and was a kick away from the prelim last year. Poor, weak leadership from 'Woosha' and his senior players, said the scribes. That ignores the fact the core of the side is gone (to borrow John Loffler's pun, they're Judderless) and the rest are either injured or hopelessly out of form. Or you could believe the Weegs are tanking already so they can claim local teenage sensation Nicholas Natanui in the draft. The Weegs turned up without Daniel Kerr, suspended 3 games for head-butting Scott West, Adam Hunter (hyper-extended knee), Shannon Hurn (injured shin) and the dropped Brent Staker. Replacements were Chad Fletcher, Jaymie Graham, Jamie McNamara and Mark Nicoski. The Blues should draw plenty of confidence from this victory, handily fixtured right before the break. The Blues selected Simon Wiggins, Setanta O'hAilpin and a new lad, rookie-listed David Ellard from Swan Districts. They replaced Bret Thornton (strained medial ligament), Adam Hartlett (hamstring) and the dropped Darren Pfeiffer. 

 

Guessing the crowd's attitude to Judd was the meedya's favourite game in the build-up, when the Bluesers emerged the boos out-weighed the cheers (he did captain a premiership side for the Weegs, after all). Judd was tagged by Adam Selwood, a possibly apocryphal story has their opening exchange thus; Selwood: "I see your shoulders are still bad"; Judd: "Yeah, from carrying you and your mates for the last six years." Judd was worked over pre-bounce by Beau Waters and, er, Jamie McNamara. The Bluies had the better of a cagey opening with some good running rebound moves but didn't put it on the scoreboard. Andrew Carrazzo had the ball on a string. Bloo Marc Murphy bagged the opening goal after slinging the dithering Waters in a tackle and collecting the spilled ball, indeed the Weegs were terrible with lots of ragged running play and wayward handball and kicking. They looked like the Dees or Bommers. Discipline was absent too, Judd missed with a free-kick amongst copious booing after being knocked down by Selwood, then Brendan Fevola booted a goal with a down-field free after Nick Stevens was pushed over by McNamara. Fevola 'shushed' the crowd after converting but karma bit him as Fev proceeded to miss consecutive set-shots. The Blooze led by 14 points and the Weegs'd barely attacked, eventually Ben McKinley tumbled an aimless kick forward and after some scrap the unlikely Will Schofield snapped a goal for them. Bloo Jordan Russell had a shot after Selwood knocked Judd down off-the-ball, he missed. A bit later Selwood had to depart under the blood rule, 'accidentally' collected in the eye by Judd's elbow. The Weegs managed a late goal, a long Quinten Lynch handball was gathered by David Wirrpanda and he passed for leading Steven Armstrong to mark, Armstrong converted with a great kick from the boundary. Josh Kennedy and Dean 'Big' Cox sent snaps on-the-full prior to the first break, the Bluies 3 points up. The Blooze established a big lead in the second term as the Weegs came very close to disintegrating. In the first minute Weegle Lynch missed woefully from 20m, right in front. The Blues advanced, good work from Eddie Betts set Kade Simpson running, his kick to the top o'the 'square was marked strongly by Cameron Cloke who goaled. A bit later O'hAilpin marked on a lead and dished off a handpass to Simpson, his pass was marked in the pocket by Fevola who played-on and hooked it through. Fev laughed at the Weeg supporters and a minute later had an easy poke-through from the goal-square, thanks to Waters flattening Murphy for the pass and a subsequent 50m penalty against Darren Glass, for not retreating on-the-mark. Replays suggested the Wiggle skipper was hard done-by but the Bluies led by 21 points. The Weegs managed a spell of pressure but forward Chad Jones missed two or three consecutive shots, I lost count. Another bout of wrestling between Judd and Selwood broke out, Selwood gave Juddy some jumper-punches and Chad Fletcher got involved, he was reported. The Blues attacked again and as debutant David Ellard roved Fevola's contest he was tripped, Ellard free-kicked a major. A down-field free-kick for Stevens being knocked over again allowed another Bloo junior, Steven Browne, to boot a goal. Judd steamed clear of the restart and passed for leading Fevola to mark, Selwood biffed Shaun Grigg off-the-ball and a 50m penalty was added, gifting Fev another simple conversion. Stevens had a free at the next centre-bounce and passed to leading Fevola again, he fired a quick handpass for running Simpson to thump it home. And a minute later Simon Wiggins sausaged with the aid of yet another 50m penalty, pushed over after marking by Nicoski. Brad Fisher's poster had the Blues 48 points up at half-time and the Eegs a rabble all over.

 

No doubt Worsfold gave his lads a rocket during the break and they played better in the second half. The Blues went further ahead to begin with, Grigg mongrelled a kick forward and Betts showed some skill to gather the pill, sell a dummy and snap truly on the left boot. Blooze by 53 points. A coupla goals from Judd's 'replacement', Josh Kennedy, got the Weegs going. The first came from Judd collecting Selwood high for a change, the ball went to Lynch on a long lead and he centered, Kennedy held a strong grab and converted. Cox won the Sherrin at the restart and kicked to McKinley's wide lead, the junior forward punted to the top o'the 'square again. Kennedy couldn't mark but roved his own contest and snapped truly. Bloo Adam Bentick missed a sitter. Commentator David 'Ox' Schwarz said the Eagles needed "more weapons in their arsenary".  The Eegs kept coming, Andrew Embley appeared interested for a change and he goaled with a free-kick and a 50m penalty, against Jarrad Waite's late, high contact. Lynch was having an effect too, playing in the ruck. He grabbed a throw-in and dribbled a kick forward, Embley tapped on and Armstrong did well to collect the ball and snap a major. The crowd found their voice as the Eegs closed the gap to 30 points. The Bluies scored a relieving goal, Brad Fisher had a free and passed to unopposed Bryce Gibbs, who'd slipped forward. Gibbs majored. But the Eegs were going now, a centre-clearance and McKinley's free-kick led to Chad Jones bagging a goal and then Kennedy marked again at CHF, he stabbed a short pass to Selwood all alone 30m out for a conversion. Replays showed Judd had been decked away off the ball, allowing Selwood to get free. Whatever, the Bloo lead had been cut to 23 points at the final change. Lynch managed to kick a coupla behinds early in the final Mario, another awful hook-foot miss from 20m and a high snap which postered. A bit later Nicoski got a quick 5m kick away from a ball-up, Matt Rosa caught it and his wobbly left-foot snap drifted through for a goal. Nicoski and Cox combined to win the following centre-clearance for the Eegs, Lynch lumbered out to mark Cox's punt and finally kick accurately. The gap was down to 9 points and the Bluesers were in genuine trouble. Cox affected another centre-clearance and Armstrong was awarded a free, 20m out right in front. He missed, as did Fletcher with a flying snap moments later. The Blooze were only 7 points up but had some relief now, Paul Bower's tough grab at half-back initiated a rebound and handballs went to Carrazzo, Murphy, O'hAilpin and finally Simpson who slotted a noice running sausage. There was some rugged play for a bit, then a telling passage. Judd roved a ball-up close to the sticks, broke a coupla tackles and slipped a handpass to Gibbs, who snapped it through. The Bluesers led by 20 points and that goal proved the straw that nailed the camel's coffin, or something. Wiggins's smart tap-down allowed Grigg to set up a mark and goal for Fisher and as the Eegs gave up Carlton scored a coupla goals in the final 2 minutes. Stevens steered one through from the boundary and cleared the restart, Fevola's ridiculous bicycle-kick attempt knocked the ball forward and Betts coasted in for a tap-through. 

 

The Blues' midfield was very good with Judd (24 disposals) a modest one of several contributors. Andrew Carrazzo racked up a hefty 42 disposals with 11 marks, with damage also done by Nick Stevens (28 touches, a goal), Kade Simpson (21 touches, 8 marks, 2 goals), Marc Murphy (19 touches, a goal) and Adam Bentick (20 possies). Heath Scotland collected 32 possies off half-back. Big numbers all around. Brad Fisher (11 marks, 19 touches, a goal) was busy across half-forward and Brendan Fevola had some fortune in managing 4 goals from 6 marks, 11 possies. Eddie Betts and Bryce Gibbs kicked 2 goals each. For the Eegs Dean 'Big' Cox (25 disposals, 36 hit-outs) tried very hard again and Josh Kennedy (8 marks, 17 disposals, 2 goals) showed plenty as a CHF. Andrew Embley (22 disposals, 7 marks, a goal) did a bit in the second half and Quinten Lynch (21 touches, 11 marks, a goal) had some influence as a ruckman. Tyson Stenglein (25 possies) and Chad Fletcher (21 touches) were okay, David Wirrpanda (14 kicks) had a good first half, not so good later. Steven Armstrong kicked 2 goals. Worsfold asked the big questions before renewing his optimism. "[I was] pretty disappointed. In that second quarter, for sure. It's probably the first time I've really questioned whether they were still prepared to keep the fight up. In the third quarter, I think they played like you would expect a team to go out and play. I don't think they did anything more, they just raised the standard to where the minimum should be." Were the Weevils in crisis, he was asked. "No, no. We've got injuries, and we're in poor form, and we've got some players who need to lift," he said.  "To me, a crisis would be where there's no direction given to the players, or the players don't want to go down the direction that's been given to them, players don't want to play for the club or the coach. I don't think we're in a crisis, no." Brett Ratten said "We know that John Worsfold teams will come out swinging and scratching if they're going to go down and to their credit, they got right back into the game. From that point of view, what I see from our blokes is a young group that composed themselves (and) worked their way through. I thought it was just outstanding for a young team to be nearly headed in the last quarter and to fight back and get a victory by close to six goals . . . (I thought) if we could stop them kicking goals, we were a chance to win. But I thought this was the storm that we had to weather and we did it and then we refocused. We got that one against the flow from Simpson and that seemed to be the one that burst their bubble."

   

At Kardinia Park:

Geelong   4.1   7.6   11.8   15.15.105  

Brisbane  5.6   6.8   10.9   11.12.78

 

The Cats were forced to work unexpectedly hard for this seventh straight win, against a Brisbun side suffering the late withdrawals of Jonathan Brown (thigh strain) and Simon Black (groin trouble related to osteitis pubis). The Cats were without Gary Ablett though (calf strain), dampening the anticipation of this one. In the end the Cats knuckled down to find a way to win, despite being out-played for significant periods as last week. The Lyin's probably didn't take their chances, but lost no admirers. Max Rooke replaced Ablett for Geelong, Brisbane also had Travis Johnstone (hamstring) and junior James Polkinghorne (knee) out of the side which thumped the Dees. Replacements were a recalled Ashley McGrath playing his 100^th game, junior spearhead Mitch Clark, Troy Selwood and Albert Proud.

 

Brisbun dominated a first quarter in which the Catters played as badly as Mark 'Bomber' Thompson could remember. The Lyin's bored in hard, tackling furiously. Their Joel Patfull booted the opening goal after a 50m penalty against Darren Milburn for umpire abuse, then Daniel Bradshaw snapped one after shoving Tom Harley in the back to collect Jared Brennan's long kick. Bradshaw was to have only two more touches, and no goals, he was smothered by Matthew Scarlett. James Kelly cleared the restart for the Pu55ies, Mathew Stokes collected his kick and handballed for Joel Corey to boot a long goal. A minute later Jimmy Bartel clutched a strong grab at CHF and converted to level the scores. Jed Adcock and Luke Power combined to win the restart for the Brians and Scott Harding booted a long goal, Lyin's by 6. But they failed to convert subsequent pressure and from a kick-in Pu55y speedster David Wojcinski raced afield and kicked long, Tom Hawkins seized a strong mark and majored to level the scores again. Brisbun did a bit but young Clark missed a couple of shots and Bradshaw kicked a point, before consecutive goals to Anthony Corrie and Michael Rischitelli saw the Brians skip 17 points clear. But the Cats won another centre-clearance and Hawkins marked in a pocket, his awful, mongrel shot dropped short but Ryan Gamble managed to mark it and convert. The Lyin's again controlled the ball in the opening part of quartier du, but again behinds from Jamie Charman and Cheynee Stiller wasted it before Mitch Clark got on target, following a great grab at CHF. Brisbane led by 19 points at this stage and the natives were restless. Some great work from Stokes lifted them, he snapped a goal after Cam Mooney's tough work to feed the ball out, then Stokes booted a long goal from the flank after running onto Andrew Mackie's sweeping handpass. The Lyin's lead was cut to 5 points and Jahlong were on one of them surges. Steve Johnson missed a coupla shots before Hawkins wrestled the ball clear of a throw-in and tumbled a kick forward, Mooney seized a good mark and steered it through from a tough angle to give the Cats a 4-point lead at the long break.

 

Half-time had come just in time for the Lyin's and again they started the third stanza in spirited fashion. Brennan and Tim Notting combined to win the pill away from the opening bounce, Power roved Clark's contest and slotted a great goal from the boundary. Rooke booted an answering goal for the Cats, completing a good end-to-end move but then Power kicked another for Brisbun, a very good pass from Adcock set him up. The Lyin's led by 2 points. Twelve minutes elapsed with only another Steve Johnson behind to show for it, as the Lyin's tried to play some keepings-off a long way from home. The Catter fans were again frustrated and making it known. Then young Cat ruckman Shane Mumford marked a hurried Lyin' clearing kick and dished off to Milburn, his long kick was marked in the goal-square by Gamble who poked it through. But the Lyin' midfielders worked hard to win the subsequent centre-clearance, Rischitelli kicked long towards Clark again who couldn't mark but roved his own contest to snap it through. The Lyin's led by a point. The Pu55ies put on a bit of surge late again, winning the next centre-break and Steve Johnson finally kicked straight from point-blank. Gamble gathered Mooney's kick and handballed for Bartel to bag one. The Cats led by 12 points, close to the siren but Rhan Hooper bobbed up to bedevil them. Charman thumped the ball forward from a throw-in, McGrath gathered and handballed for running Hooper to blast it through from 50m. Hooper missed a late chance and the Catters led by 5 points at the last change. Four minutes into the ultimate stanza Lyin' Clark led out to mark Adcock's pass and convert, leveling the scores. All to play for then, but the Cats ground clear like a good side. As last week, Joel Selwood was a big factor. Steve Johnson held a good mark under pressure at CHF and kicked a goal, then Joel Selwood raced clear of the centre and kicked long for Mooney to hold a strong grab in the pocket, he handballed on to Chapman for a goal-mouth tap-through. Cats by 12 points and a minute later Lyin' Corrie raced into an open goal, but missed poorly. A crucial event as the Lyin's flagged and the Cats finished strongly, but inaccurately with goals from defenders Mackie and Milburn featuring in a tally of 2.6 from that point.

 

Matthew Scarlett (20 disposals) won the plaudits on an unremarkable day for the Cats, holding Bradshaw to one goal. Running backmen Andrew Mackie (34 disposals, 9 marks, a goal) and Darren Milburn (18 touches, 9 marks, a goal) were very good while Jimmy Bartel (27 touches, 6 marks, 2 goals), Joel Corey (31 touches, a goal) and James Kelly (31 possies, 7 marks) worked hard in the midfield. Ryan Gamble, Steve Johnson and Mathew Stokes kicked 2 goals each, Stokes was reported in the second quarter for biffing Rischitelli. Brisbun had great service from Jared Brennan (23 disposals, 9 marks), spending more time on-the-ball these days, and Jed Adcock (20 touches, 10 tackles), also ruck-roving. Joel Macdonald (30 possessions, 10 marks) picked up a stack of touches as a rebound man and Joel Patfull (16 handlings, 9 marks, a goal) was a very handy half-forward. This game must've set a record for featuring blokes named Joel. Luke Power was tagged by Cameron Ling but played forward, picking up 16 touches and 2 goals while keeping Ling out of it. Mitch Clark bagged 3 goals. Leigh Matthews was happy with the effort. "It was a big task . . . when so much of your leadership isn't there and one of your power forwards isn't there it's easy to emotionally give it away," Matthews said. "I think this team has a belief that if it does the right things they can compete against anybody. Nothing guarantees you winning but you're capable of matching up on anyone. This same group of players, two years ago, would have got smashed down here. There's been a lot of growth in a lot of players that aren't necessarily your household names . . . We had an extremely hot Sunday afternoon last week and a short break. That might have been a factor. It just might have been that Geelong can play high tempo for longer than our group can at this stage of their development. We looked more fatigued than they did in the end and they got us in the last ten minutes." Bomber Thompson acknowledged his lads aren't at their best. "We've had great patches," Thompson said. "We haven't played our best footy and we're learning to cope with what the opposition are throwing at us on a weekly basis . . . football's changed, and it's changed from last year. Teams are certainly defending with more method and certainly attacking the games quicker and more goals are being scored . . . there's more [forward] entries. So yeah the game's changed from last year. We just have to sit down, learn from it and work out ways to be better at what we do."     

 

At the MCG:

Hawthorn     5.4   8.6   14.9   24.10.154

Collingwood  2.0   5.3   10.8   13.11.89

 

Further proof, if it were needed, that the Hawks are currently Geelong's main challengers. The press gave their strategy plenty of attention during the week, focusing on the very disciplined 'rolling zone' with which the Awks control the middle of the ground. The Tigers'd tried to run-and-handball through it and became mired in fierce tackling, this week the Pies tried to chip their way around it and mostly went nowhere. Collywood's hard man-on-man tackling was predicted to trouble Horforn and the Poise battled hard, stuck close through some grit and invention but were blown away in the end. The only downside for the Hawks was a hamstring injury to Luke Hodge. The Orcs made one late change to their side, Chance Bateman out with a hand injury and replaced by Stuart Dew, himself returning from a hamstring problem. The Poise welcomed back skipper Scott Burns, at the expense of Sharrod Wellingham. Burns played his 250^th game for the Maggies. There'd been speculation Anthony Rocca was dropped for Anzac Day (officially he'd been out with 'soreness') and he didn't play here either (now it's a foot injury). If he was left out of this one deliberately, it was a mistake. Not that 'Pebbles' playing would've changed the outcome.

 

The Pies lined up with Tarkyn Lockyer forward again, Cameron Wood and Nick Maxwell assisted Travis Cloke as the big forwards. At the back junior Nathan Brown took on Lance 'Buddy' Franklin, with plenty of help. The Orcs put an actual defender, Campbell Brown, on in-form Poi Paul 'Steak Knives' Medhurst. Initially it appeared the Hawks' inability to kick straight was entrenched, Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Cyril Rioli all missed early chances (Rioli on-the-full) as did Poi Wood (also on-the-full). Ten minutes elapsed before the first goal, the Poise had resolved to chip the ball steadily around the boundary lines and such a move ended with Cloke marking on a long lead. He kicked riskily to CHF but Marty Clarke collected the spilled ball and snapped a long goal. Roughead missed again following a great one-handed grab before Dew waddled through the centre, exchanged handballs with Jordan Lewis and thundered a long kick for a goal. Pie Josh Fraser had a free at the restart and kicked wide to Ben Johnson, his punt sent the ball into CHF and Maxwell's battling got the ball to Leon Davis, he snapped truly. Pies by 3 points but the Hawks got on-target late. Pie Tyson Goldsack's hurried clearing kick dropped for Brent Guerra to mark, he passed to Ben McGlynn and on to leading Roughead for a mark and accurate kick at last. Soon Rick Ladson's good effort and a Clint Young pass set up Mark Williams for a mark and goal, then Luke Hodge bagged a very good major on his right (wrong) foot. Franklin missed after marking but a bit later dithering Pie Pendlebury was caught in possession at a throw-in, Rioli free-kicked a major. The Awks led by 22 points at the first break and early second-Mario signs were ominous. Brad Sewell roved a throw-in and centered the Sherrin, Hodge swept up the pill and smacked a 50m banana-kick for a terrific goal. Horks by 28 points with the last five goals, the Pies' chip-attack wasn't working. Handily for them, Johnson won the following centre-clearance, leading Medhurst was dragged down by Campbell Brown and Steak Knives free-kicked a goal. The Orcs won the next centre-break - Sam Mitchell was great here - and some slick handball released Shane Crawford, his kick spilled from Franklin's contest and roving Williams snapped an over-the-shoulder sausage roll. Still Horks by 28, but a Lewis clanger helped out the Scragpies. The Hawk midfielder stabbed a pass straight to Shane O'Bree for some reason, O'Bree passed quickly for Lockyer to mark and convert. Horforn led by 21 points as the pace of the game slowed, due mainly to the Pies playing some keepings-off and deliberately slowing the tempo. It aided them, with the Hawks missing a couple more shots. Horforn broke the shackles after a while, Dew punted long and as the ball hit the ground from the contest, Roughead was placed in a head-lock by Pie Brown. Roughead free-kicked a major. At the restart Hawk ruckman Simon Taylor dropped the ball in O'Bree's tackle, Mitchell kicked it away adding a 50m penalty to O'Bree's free. O'Bree sausaged, the gap was 21 points again and the Poise had won the korter, by a point.  

 

Again the Hawks threatened to blow the game apart in the early third. Mitchell's cross-field pass and Sewell's handpass released Young for a typically raking left-foot goal. Hodge raced clear of the restart and kicked long, but strained his right hamstring in the process. Franklin out-marked Brown but took his tally to 0.4, as Hodge limped off. He was probably BOG to that point. Roughead converted a ridiculous free-kick against Shane Wakelin for holding, Mitchell won the following centre-clearance and speared a pass for leading Franklin to mark. Buddy finally majored, having missed his previous 11 shots at goal. The Hawkers led by 39 points. The Poise clung on. Dale Thomas, who's not done much this season, showed some speed and smarts to get around Ladson and escape The Zone, Lockyer had run ahead of The Zone and he accepted Thomas's kick to waltz into an open goal. (A bit later) Davis snapped a major and the Pies reduced their deficit to 26 points. Franklin was troubling young Nathan Brown and the Poise in general now, with a constant stream of supply. His kicking was the only worry, Buddy missed yet again after marking strongly in front of Brown, a minute later Buddy used his considerable reach to pluck a grab over Brown and kick straight this time. At the other end Davis postered with a free-kick, Guerra messed up the kick-in but Lockyer's snap was off-target. Fraser lobbed a high kick from a ball-up and Heath Shaw, who'd pressed forward, out-marked Dew in the goal-square and popped it through. The Pies were 25 points in arrears. Horforn spurted again, Franklin snapped a close-range goal after tough work from McGlynn to set him up, McGlynn was also involved in the next goal as he marked Michael Osborne's good kick and produced an equally fine pass himself to find Williams, marking behind Franklin. Willo's six-pointer had the Hawks 37 points ahead. The Pies forced themselves forward again and Hawk Trent Croad's attempt to rush a behind was deemed a throw, Lockyer hooked the resulting free for a Magpoi goal. Pies Burns and Rhyce Shaw worked the ball clear of the next centre-bounce, Lockyer shoved Croad meatily under the ball without penalty to take a grab and stab an inboard pass to Ben Johnson. BJ converted and the Pies were still thereabouts, 25 points down at the last change. But the floodgates, which'd been straining, finally burst in the final stanza. Orc ruckman Robert Campbell started the flow, he did very well to out-mark Fraser in the centre of the ground and frustrated Fraser knocked over passing McGlynn, adding a 50m penalty and goal for Campbell. Another strong Campbell grab and switching kick allowed Croad to advance, his long punt bounced up handily for Franklin to gather and snap through. Shortly Guerra picked out Dew in the centre with a good pass, the tubby Hawk kicked for Roughead to mark strongly in front of Wakelin. Roughead's sausage had the Orcs 46 points ahead and both sides realized it was over. The Hawks piled on the percentage though, great handballs from Rioli and Lewis set up a goal for Ladson and Roughead bagged another from a goal-square grab, sending the Horks 59 points clear with 6 consecutive goals for the korter. Poi Dane Swan snapped a tight-angle major to break the run, Thomas and Cook with the lead-up work, and after Franklin missed again a slick Pie move set up a goal for Lockyer. Franklin replied with a six-pointer at last, answered in turn by a major from Maxwell with a good grab. The Orcs bombed through the last three goals, two for Williams and another for Roughead. 

 

The Orc's twin towers Jarryd Roughead (7 marks, 12 disposals, 6 goals) and Lance Franklin (21 touches, 10 marks, 6 goals 4 behinds) dominated, with the supply coming from the very good Sam Mitchell, mainly (39 disposals). Brad Sewell (26 possies) and runnin' half-back Grant Birchall (24 disposals, 10 marks) were also good for the Orcs, with Luke Hodge (15 touches, 2 goals) terrific until injured. Mark Williams chipped in with 5 goals from 14 touches and 5 marks, while ruckman Robert Campbell (21 hit-outs, 10 possies, a goal) and ol' Shane Crawford (25 touches) were also pretty good. Trent Croad (13 touches, 7 marks) did a decent job on Cloke. Pie winners were hard to find, apart from Heath Shaw (34 disposals, 16 marks, a goal) in defence. Tarkyn Lockyer managed 4 goals from 15 touches and 7 marks, Scott Pendlebury (22 touches) was reasonably good and Scott Burns (18 possies) battled away on-the-ball. Rhyce Shaw (22 disposals) had the better of young Rioli. Leon Davis bagged 2 goals. "There's a lot of work to be done and we'd be kidding ourselves if we didn't acknowledge the fact that we've got some weaknesses across the board and this is the challenge now," Mick Malthouse said. "I'm not despondent over this game because I think there's so many things that we can look at and think 'well, we know we can get better'. I'd hate to come away from a game like that and think 'gee, where do we start?' or 'we've got nothing to work on'. We've got plenty to work on. We were beaten in a lot of aspects of the game. If you get beaten like that and you've got nothing to say about the loss then you've got nowhere to go." He went on to bag defenders Wakelin, Brown, Goldsack and O'Brien. Al Clarkson said "It might have seemed [we always had their measure] to you guys watching but it certainly didn't feel that way in the coach's box. We always had a buffer of two to three goals across the bulk of the game, but it just felt like we couldn't nail them as early as we would have liked. They're a terrific side, Collingwood, and they're very well coached and disciplined, so to even think we were going to get the four points today was going to be a tremendous bonus, let alone to win as convincingly as we did in the end . . . The most satisfaction any coach has is when you have 22 contributors. We don't necessarily care who kicks the goals, as long as the goals are kicked. We had guys who played very important roles for us in the back half, and through the middle of the ground. And then you get the icing on the cake when you're able to finish as well as we did today."

 

At Docklands:

Richmond   4.1   9.4   13.8   16.11.107

St. Kilda  4.4   7.5   13.7    17.8.110

 

Only the Tiges could miss two match-deciding shots for goal. With under a minute to go Kel Moore postered from 30m, right in front, and Jack Riewoldt's after-the-siren shot from 55m dropped short to leave the desperate Sainters narrow victors. Or maybe it was after the siren, there was another time-keeping stuff up. The Stains were under plenty of pressure to win and while they weren't convincing, the fact they lost Nick Riewoldt and Xavier Clarke but gritted down and won is a credit to them. Stephen Milne's terrific 7 goals were a huge factor and this is the sort of victory-in-adversity which sometimes turns seasons around, although the jury remains out on Lyon's battling Saints. The Tiges are attracting favourable comment for 'competitiveness', and Wallace's dumping of players like Bowden and Pettifer for younger blokes. Getting close, without actually beating rated opponents is very frustrating for their fans. In selection the Tiges called up Daniel Jackson to replace injured Graham Polak (hamstring). The Saints lost full-back Max Hudghton (hamstring) and dropped Michael Rix, Leigh Fisher and Jason Blake from the weak effort in Adelaide. In came Michael Gardiner, Fraser Gehrig, Adam Schneider and Raphael Clarke.   

 

The first goal arrived when Tige defender Jake King juggled a marking attempt and Milne stole the ball from behind to snap it through. Classic Milney. Otherwise the opening term was characterized by the Tigers working furiously to win the contested ball, then giving it away with a series of terrible turnovers. Not that it was a one-way street in that regard, the Tiges' first goal came from Sainter Brendon Goddard overstepping the line on a kick-in, from the resulting ball-up Mitch Morton soccered a goal. But then a terrible Chris Newman kick went straight to Nick Dal Santo on his attacking 50, Dal Santo ran clear with a few bounces and slotted a goal. Nick Riewoldt used a free-kick to find leading Milne, he played on quickly to pass to David Armitage for a grab and major, the Stains led by 12 points. The Tiges worked back into it, their Jack Riewoldt held a good grab, played on and found leading Matty Richardson for a mark and goal. Richo wandered about from a wing again, but spent more time up forward in this one. Saint Xavier Clarke postered from a tight angle but his great smother a moment later retrieved possession, Sean Dempster coasted forward and found former Swan team-mate Adam Schneider for a mark and goal. Saints by 14 points before the Toigs pegged 'em back late, ruckman Troy 'Snake' Simmonds marked and converted following good work from Chris Hyde to set him up, a bit later Luke Ball smothered Newman's kick at a throw-in and the ball rebounded to Hyde, he handballed for Shane Edwards to dob one. Saints by 3 points at the first break. The Saints had the flood going in the second stanza and the Tiggers tried to do some precision kicking about the ground, at which they weren't very good. An attempted Jay Schulz pass sailed on-the-full but the umps plucked out a mystery free-kick to Simmonds, 'Snake' booted his second goal to put the Tiges in front, by 4 points. Richo sent a shot on-the-full during a good spell for the Tiges, in which they didn't score enough. Or at all. Sure enough Sinkilda goaled against the run, Armitage found Nick Riewoldt leading into a pocket and 'Rooey' hooked a smart centering kick for Robert Harvey to grab and convert. Harvey, hearing the 'too old' call often this season, played well here. The Tiges' Jack Riewoldt put them in front again, majoring after marking Edwards's pass. Back came the Saints, Shane Birss converting a free-kick when clouted in the head by Nathan Foley at a throw-in. Birss was tagging Foley and doing a good job. Back came the Toigas, King sped outta defence and kicked towards Jack Riewoldt, he collected the ball on-the-bounce and hooked a quick kick for Edwards to mark in the goal-square and convert. Then the Saints, a steady, slow build-up of chipped passes had Nick Riewoldt kick to the top 'the 'square and Milne collected the pack spillage for an easy snap, to level the scores. Richmun were continuing to win most of the contested ball though and they made a bit of a break late in the half, good roving and a handpass from King set Matt White running, he sold a smart dummy and slotted on the left boot. Some Nathan Brown genius brought another, he trapped a loose ball with some skill and whipped the ball through the sticks on the left boot. Tiges by 11 points at half-time.

 

The Saints were facing crisis if they lost and lifted their intensity and attack to open the third term, with Justin Koschitzke in the ruck now and Luke Ball and Lenny Hayes winning more midfield possession. Gehrig and Milne spoiled each other in an early marking contest, a ball-up resulted and Milne did cleverly to win a free-kick (backing into his man King) and boot a goal. A bit later the Saints broke quickly from a ball-up and Dal Santo found leading Gehrig for a mark and goal. Gehrig did little and probably shouldn't be playing, with reports he's suffering arthritic hands. But the Saints' later injuries will probably see him retained. Anyway, the G-Train had levelled the scores and after the Tiges missed a chance the Stainers swept downfield from the kick-in, Harvey looked like he threw the ball to Nick Riewoldt who snapped a very good goal off the left. A minute later Sinkilda's Riewoldt was slung heavily to the ground by tackling Luke McGuane and immediately clutched his left knee, clearly in some pain. Riewoldt's night was over, it'll be 3-4 weeks they reckon. But the Saints' good patch continued, Charlie Gardiner used a free to go long, Koschitzke roved his own contest and handballed for Milne to snap another. Loud swearing a minute later when Tigger Schulz wasn't paid a mark 25m out because the kick to him hadn't travelled 15m, apparently. No, it'd travelled at least 20. The Saints rebounded and Ball led up for a mark a CHF, he kicked quickly to all alone Charlie Gardiner for an easy sausage roll. The Satiners had kicked the last 5 goals of the game and led by 18 points now. But they had personnel problems in addition to Riewoldt, CHB Matt 'Goose' Maguire was off with a foot problem, it's now emerged he'll be out for the season. Tige Jackson won the centre-clearance after the Gardiner goal, the ball went to Adam Pattison and he passed for leading Morton to mark. Morton's low, flat punt drifted through for full points to stop the Saints' run. A minute later Shane Tuck lobbed a high kick from a throw-in to the goal-square and Richardson reeled in a one-handed mark behind Sam Fisher, Richo majored. Simmonds belted the ball forward from the following centre-bounce, Brown gathered and handballed for White to drill a running goal and the Tiges were back level. Xavier Clarke did very well to win the following centre-clearance, the ball was fought over in Stinkilda's forward pocket before squirting out to Harvey, he shrugged a tackle before slotting from a tough angle. The Tiges replied direct from the restart again, Brett Deledio spearing a pass to leading Richardson, he converted. A rushed point had the Tiges ahead by it at the final change. Early in the last Richardson booted a goal from an impossible (for him) angle, after marking Tuck's pass, and the Toigs led by 7 points. But Milne emerged as the key figure, Dal Santo tumbled a kick forward from the restart and Milne swooped on the ball at pace. His wobbly left-foot snap just cleared Gehrig and McGuane and bounced through for full points. Leigh Montagna sent a long kick forward from the next restart, Milne lurked behind the pack to gather it and pop through another. Saints by 5 points, a minute later they lost Xavier Clarke with a torn hamstring. Maguire was back on, under duress obviously. But they extended the lead, Hayes did well to send 'em forward and Koschitzke's soccer kick was marked by Charlie Gardiner, he converted from 30m to send the Saints 10 points ahead. Back came the Toigs, some snappy handballs got the ball to Brown and he passed for Richardson to seize an emphatic grab on-the-lead, with confidence high Richo majored again. Goddard slipped forward for Sinkilda but missed a shot, a bit later adrenaline-fuelled Richo steamed onto a loose ball for the Tiges, wheeled like the Queen Mary II and wobbled a punt goal-wards. Handily Brown read it, spun and snapped truly and the Tiges led again, by a point. But Milney - he sliced a tough set-shot on-the-full but had an easier chance within moments, holding off Newman with one arm and marking Birss's punt with the other. Milne majored again and the Saints led by 5 points, in time-on now. A Brown dribbly-snap trickled into the post, after a series of ball-ups in the Saints' attack the Tiges got clear. Deledio held a great grab on the flank and drove the ball long, defender Kel Moore jumped to mark over Charlie Gardiner, just 20m out. His nervous, jabbed punt swung sharply into the left-hand post. The umps halted the Saints' kick-in and brought the ball back, the clock ran on erroneously depriving the Tiges of about 11 seconds. Eventually the Tiges recovered the kick-in and Foley centered the ball for leading Jack Riewoldt to mark, on the 50. Siren, he couldn't make it and the Saints escaped.

 

Stephen Milne was the Saints' saviour with 7 goals from 6 marks and 17 disposals. They had some decent midfield efforts from Luke Ball (21 touches) and Nick Dal Santo (27 handlings, a goal) with Robert Harvey (26 touches, 12 marks, 2 goals) proving he can still run a lot, his goals were a bonus. Shane Birss (13 touches, 7 marks, a goal) did a good job on Foley and Adam Schneider (21 touches, 7 marks, a goal) was useful. Charlie Gardiner booted 2 goals. For the Tiges, the golden autumn of Matthew Richardson (13 marks, 22 disposals, 5 goals) continued and they had great drive in the middle from ruckman Troy Simmonds (20 touches, 7 marks, 32 hit-outs, 2 goals), Kane Johnson (24 possies) and Shane Tuck (21 touches). Nathan Brown (29 disposals, 2 goals) was very busy and skilful, Brett Deledio (22 touches) played well again and Chris Hyde (19 handlings) did a good stopping job on Montagna. Shane Edwards, Mitch Morton and Matt White kicked 2 goals each. Wallace whinged about the time-keeping error at length, on the game he said "It's always hard to see through the trees when you play in those types of games and come out with superlatives and positives. We've been here now, twice in the last three weeks, and been in games where we've had winning chances in both games and really the opportunity to seal the game and in both games we've come away with two points against some pretty good sides. So you can look at that a number of ways. We clearly look at it with disappointment . . . (St. Kilda) kicked eight goals to one in 19 minutes of footy and that was the difference between winning and losing the game at the end of the day . . . in reality it was their experience in the early part of the quarters that probably cost us." Lyon praised 'grit'. "There is relief, and there's some pride with the group's effort after half time under a lot of adversity, and a number of individuals down," he said. "Collectively we played with a real spirit, I thought. We willed ourselves across the line. I don't think it was pretty; we've kicked 17 goals, which will keep a couple of people happy, including me, to get across the line. But, I thought we showed real fight and will and effort, and eventually the form will come."

 

At Football Park:

Adelaide         1.8   6.11   14.11   15.17.107 

North Melbourne  2.2   4.3     5.6     11.8.74

 

Dull game enlivened by a superb third quarter from Camry half-forward Jason Porplyzia. 'The Porpoise' kicked 4 goals for the term and had a hand a few others as the Cows put the seal on an emphatic win over the Kangers. Norf's forwards were thrashed, starved of supply and Dean Laidley was not happy at all. In selection the Corollas recalled Kris Massie and junior Jarrhan Jacky and gave a debut to ruckman James Sellar from Glenelg. They replaced injured pair Ben Rutten (back) and Brad Symes and the axed Ken McGregor. Norf lost forward Aaron Edwards for an extended period with a fractured ankle and dropped Ed Sansbury and the unfit Jess Sinclair. Replacements were Leigh Brown, Daniel Pratt returning from suspension and first-gamer Josh Smith, a big lad from West Perth.

 

Camry big man Kurt Tippett missed from 15m to start the game and the Cressidas carried on in that vein for a long while. Norf's Shannon Grant bagged the first goal and when 'Lethal' Leigh Harding dobbed one the Ruse led by 10 points, 2.2 to 0.4. But the Camry midfielders, led by Michael Doughty and Simon Goodwin, were generally dominant and the rejigged backline without Rutten and Symes but with Graham 'Stiffy' Johncock, Nathans Bassett and Bock, were going well. Tippett converted after marking  before a flurry of points to end the first term, scores level. The soft, slippery surface wasn't helping the standard but was helping Norf turn it into a low-scoring scrap into the second term. Harding accepted Brady Rawlings's handpass to boot his second early in the Mario. Simon Goodwin replied for the Coronas with a long free-kick but some more slog ensued before Lindsay Thomas restored Norf's 5-point lead, well-found by Scott Thompson's pass, um, the Roos' Scott Thompson that is. The Ruse fifth goal was to be a long time coming. The Camrys made their possession tell late in the quarter, Tyson Edwards slotted a running goal after accepting Nathan Van Berlo's handpass, Richard Douglas converted after marking and Brett 'Birdman' Burton ran onto Van Berlo's long kick to stab one. Jarrhan Jacky booted a goal thanks to a free-kick and 50m penalty against Pratt, which had Laidley fuming afterwards. The Camrys led by 20 points at half-time and accelerated like Divine Madonna early in the third, thanks to Porplyzia. He booted the first goal of the stanza after holding a strong grab in front of Ed Lower, playing-on quickly and slotting it through. Porplyzia also kicked 'em forward for the next, Chris Knights collected the loose ball and handpassed to Goodwin, Burton collected the captain's centering kick and majored. Then it was Porplyzia again, collecting McLeod's kick from the restart, spinning out of trouble and thumping it home. Three goals in four minutes and the Cressidas led by 37 points now. North held the fort for a while before Tippett converted from a pack-mark - he's good at those - and shortly Porplyzia scooped Jacky's kick and handballed for Goodwin to boot another. Addleaid led by 48 points now before Brent Harvey broke the Kangers' goal-drought, Michael Firrito drove a long switching-kick into space and Grant tapped-on for speeding Harvey to stab it through. Porplyzia kicked his third for the term almost immediately, again collecting the ball on-the-bounce, swiveling way from poursuivants and raising the twin calicoes. Porplyzia was then poised for a fourth after intercepting a clangered Norf kick, but instead passed for Burton to do the honours. The fourth duly arrived though, Porplyzia leading up to mark Bock's pass and thump truly. A Goodwin goal early in the last quarter gave the Camrys a 65-point lead and they eased up. North scored some consolation goals including a couple for Nathan Thompson.

 

Jason Porplyzia (20 disposals, 4 marks, 4 goals) was the star of the night but the Cows had plenty of other good players too, like Graham Johncock (22 disposals, 6 marks) on Grant and young half-back David Mackay (23 disposals). Simon Goodwin (25 touches, 3 goals) was very good in the Ricciuto-like role of half-forward switching in the middle, Scott Thompson (28 disposals, 6 marks) and the much improved Michael Doughty (22 touches, 9 marks) also played well. Usual suspect Tyson Edwards (27 handlings, a goal) was good and Brett Burton (9 marks, 14 kicks, 3 goals) contributed in attack. Kurt Tippett bagged 2 goals. The Kangers had the old stager Adam Simpson (31 disposals) work hard on-the-ball and Brady Rawlings (25 handlings) did a good job on McLeod. Leigh Harding (23 possies, 7 marks, 2 goals), restored to the forward-line, was dangerous early and defender Drew Petrie (19 handlings, 5 marks) was okay. Daniel Pratt (25 disposals) wasn't bad but Laidley was furious with his indiscipline later. Daniel Wells (21 touches, a goal) and Brent Harvey (24 possies, 2 goals) were intermittently effective. Nathan Thompson and Shannon Grant kicked 2 goals each. "The way we used the ball by hand and foot was just absolutely appalling - absolutely appalling," Laidley said. "Disgraceful, bordering on. They kicked 11.8 from our turnovers. That's it in a nutshell. And until our players get better at that it will be costly for us. (Early) I thought our pressure was very good. And we made the most of our forward 50 entries. We probably should have only been two goals down at half-time - but then you get an undisciplined Daniel Pratt. He's really got to look at himself, because the coach is getting sick and tired of him giving away 50m penalties . . . (and) you end up going three-and-a-half goals down. Then quickly you find yourselves seven or eight goals down and the game's been blown open." He threatened wholesale changes. Craig Neil said "I thought our first three quarters were fantastic against a really quality side. I think North Melbourne is one of the stronger sides in the competition in terms of the way they play and with the maturity of their squad. There needs to be recognition of our performance in the first three quarters, but as good as we were for the first three, I thought we were as poor in the last. What that really is, is an indication of where we're at and how much more work we've got to do. If you look at the two quality sides in the competition at the moment, Geelong and Hawthorn, have a look at their last quarters. I think you need that (ruthless) streak. I don't know exactly what Hawthorn did in the last quarter against Collingwood today, but it was a big score I think - a ten-goal quarter - and without knowing the exact details of Geelong's game, I'd say it was the same sort of thing. That's what we need to aim for, so we can play the full four quarters. So, it's a great win for us and an important win, but there's still some work to do."

 

At the SCG:

Sydney     5.4    6.5   10.10   14.10.94

Footscray  3.1   10.2   14.2     18.4.112

 

The Doggies made it a trio of undefeated sides after 7 rounds with a rare but good win over the Swans at the SCG. Siddey started well but this game emphasized the absence of Barry Hall and they wasted a stack of chances coming forward, turning over and missing shots. Take nothing away from the Bulldogs though, they dominated contested ball wins after quarter-time and were well worth the victory. Adam Cooney had a great game and is deserved Brownlow favourite at this point. In their search for a Hall replacement the Swans dropped Nick Davis again and called up ex-Cat Henry Playfair for his Siddey debut along with ruckman Peter 'Spida' Everitt for his first game of the season, following a bout of knee trouble. Low-skill tagger Ben Mathews was also selected, with Luke Ablett out with a calf strain and big junior Jesse White dropped. One change for the Bulldogs, young forward Stephen Tiller in for Scott West, who has continuing knee trouble. And a headache from Kerr's head-butt.

 

The Bloods looked good early, with Adam Goodes energetic again. He burst a coupla tackles and set up the first goal by handballing to Jarrad McVeigh, who shimmied and broke a tackle before slotting a good one. McVeigh also booted the Swans' second, completing a typically complex short-passing build-up involving passes inside attacking 50 from O'Keefe and O'Loughlin. Adam Cooney bagged the Pups' first, from a ball-up where Will Minson tapped smartly to him. But the Swans won the next centre-clearance and Jude Bolton passed wide to Goodes again, wires got crossed as his pass dropped untouched but O'Keefe swept it up and snapped truly, Swans by 12 points. Bully Robert Murphy, terrific in the first half here, did very well to win the ball in the centre and kick for Brad Johnson to hold a strong grab and major, but ruckman Darren Jolly restored the Swans' two-goal lead with a major thumped through from 50m off a step. The Pups replied, Mitch Hahn kicked a long one after being found by Josh Hill. Henry Playfair put the Swans two goals ahead again prior to the break, driving a low kick through from 50m after marking Craig Bolton's pass. Swans by 15 points at korter-time then, but the Bullpups took a stranglehold on the game with 7 consecutive goals to open the second term. Cooney and Daniel Cross won the ball in the middle, Matthew Boyd quelled Goodes and Hahn bullocked about to some effect. Murphy was very good, he booted the first of those from deep in the pocket after marking Johnson's pass. Johnson then free-kicked a goal when his arms were hit on the lead by Marty Mattner. A bit later Daniel 'Guido' Giansiracusa, also good in this one, faced the flood but banana-ed a smart pass for Tim Callan to mark and convert and put the Doggies in front, by 4 points. Ryan Griffen picked out Murphy for a grab and sausage. Minson won the ball away from the centre and Nathan Eagleton's long kick was marked by back-pedalling Tiller in the pocket, he converted. Murphy led up to mark Jason Akermanis's pass, play-on quickly and stab a pass to Cooney, alone 35m out and he majored. And then some battling from Lake and Tiller inside 50 allowed Griffen a quick snap, it hooked wide but ever-the-opportunist Johnson marked and booted a goal. The Pups were 28 points up and the Bloods hadn't scored in the quarter, continually falling down around the 50m line, when they did get the ball. But very late-on small man Jarred Moore marked in the centre, swapped handballs with Jolly and lobbed a kick in behind even smaller man Kieran Jack, who ran on to gather the agget and slot a goal. The Dogs led by 21 points at half-time.

 

Synney pressed a bit in the third term but the Dogs, specifically Cooney, had the answers. The Swans' inaccuracy didn't help, Playfair missed an early shot before O'Keefe picked out Amon Buchanan lurking in the pocket, he majored. Brett 'James Tee' Kirk behinded, reducing the Dogs' lead to 13 points. Then Hahn used his strength to win the ball and centre a pass to unopposed Minson, who converted. Mick O'Loughlin was ploughed into the turf by Lake and free-kicked a goal, but the Dogs replied as Cooney roved a pack and his low snap somehow went around, or through, Giansiracusa and Mattner and scored full points. The Swans closed the gap to 13 again after Buchanan's second goal, set up by a pass from Spida. Once again the Pups replied, Cooney with a free-kick when shoved out of a contest. Siddey hit back again, Moore showing great strength and a low centre of gravity to bust two tackles and handball to Playfair, on to O'Keefe who sent the ball to Spida Everitt, alone in the goal-square. Spida poked it through, 13 points the diff again. If the Swans could be said to have blown it, they did it now with four consecutive misses. Two were from Playfair, one an awful effort from about 10m which grazed the post. He seemed determined to kick every shot no higher than about 3m. O'Loughlin missed an admittedly tough shot and Everitt sliced one on-the-full from about 15m. Sure enough, after that wasted spell of pressure the Dogs went down the other end and scored a goal. Eagleton took the free for Spida's miss, Giansiracusa and Lindsay Gilbee worked the ball forward and Akermanis marked on-the-lead at CHF. He chipped a short pass to the ubiquitous Cooney who booted his third goal of the quarter and the Dogs led by 16 points at the final change. Giansiracusa won the ball from the bounce to open the last, he passed for Hahn to mark and boot a long sausage. A bit later Giansiracusa was involved three times in a move, finally collecting Akermanis's smothered shot and passing towards Johnson, who was clattered by Leo Barry and free-kicked a major. The Dogs'd kicked a healthy 28 points clear. Goodes saw his high snap from a throw-in sail through for full-points, but the Dogs replied as Cameron Wight gathered in a pocket and stabbed a pass for Tiller to mark and convert. Time-on had started and the Bulldoags led by 30 points. The Bloods had a belated crack in a very long time-on period. A good running, handballing move released Jude Bolton into plenty of space, he drove it through and the crowd fired a bit. Mick O'Loughlin doubled-back to mark Ed Barlow's panicky high punt right next to the post, play-on and snap it through. O'Loughlin also snaggled the next goal, running into space to mark Barlow's smarter, deliberate punt this time. The Swans trailed by 12 points but couldn't get closer, Goodes's fumbling and slip-over to cart the ball out-of-bounds symptomatic of their day. Following a prolonged scrap at half-back over the ball it emerged to Bulldog Minson and he kicked to Akermanis, who like all good half-forward flankers had stayed out of the tough stuff and run ahead of the play. Aker ran clear and had a shot, it drifted across the goals but Johnson marked and stabbed a backwards pass to Eagleton, he drilled it through and that was it.    

 

Big game from Adam Cooney (25 disposals, 5 goals), in great form. Mitch Hahn (18 touches, 7 marks, 2 goals) gave 'em some toughness and Daniel Giansiracusa (26 possies) covered a lot of territory. Brad Johnson (20 touches, 9 marks, 4 goals) was very handy in attack and Robert Murphy (10 marks, 13 touches, 2 goals) important, while Matthew Boyd (24 possies) played well and Daniel Cross (18 handlings) was busy in-close. Stephen Tiller bagged 2 goals. No real stand-out for the Swans, Ryan O'Keefe (32 disposals) worked very hard about the ground but again his goal-kicking was a let-down (1.2). Jarrad McVeigh (24 touches, 2 goals) continued his great start to the season, Adam Goodes (26 disposals, a goal) started and ended well but went missing in the middle. Jarred Moore (20 possies) is a tough nut, Ted Richards (17 disposals) kept Scott Welsh very quiet and once again Mick O'Loughlin (7 marks, 12 disposals, 3 goals) was a decent full-forward. Brett Kirk was pretty quiet and Tadhg Kennelly had a shocker. Don't mention Mathews to any Swan supporter. Following on from that, Roosy was unhappy with a stream of skill errors. "I think at the end of the day that was the difference," Roos said. "If you keep missing goals, you end up losing games and that's what happened today. It's a problem and the players have got to address it and the players have got to fix it. Clearly today it cost us the game, no doubt. We won a lot of ball, tackled really well, played some really good footy. But at the end of the day they [the Dogs] were cleaner with their skills and more accurate with their goalkicking. It is a bit frustrating to be a forward when guys are streaming through the middle of the ground and kicking it to the opposition or kicking it along the ground or kicking into the man on the mark. Some of our better ball-users aren't playing [out injured], and unfortunately some of the guys who don't use the ball well are getting a game at the moment, which makes it frustrating for the coaches and for some of the players as well. And it's also some are our better players not using it as well." Eade was asked whether he savoured victory over the Swans. "People said that after the game but I'm not like that. I'm not an emotional person where it's like we've got to beat the old side or whatever the case may be," Eade said. "I think it's more about being able to play well against them (the Swans) up here because it's such a fortress for them. I think the main thing (we take from the game) is the four points, but obviously it was against quality opposition. We were against a team that plays very good contested footy, and we were able to match them in that area. That was pleasing. I was pretty confident the way we have gone about it the first six weeks and the pre-season. The guys have a fairly strong resolve to be able to play football that way."

 

At the MCG:

Melbourne   1.3    3.8     8.15   17.17.119  

Fremantle   5.6   11.10   13.17   15.23.113

 

Ah, the Dockers. Melbun overturned a 50-point half-time deficit to run all over Fremantle and open their account for 2008 and Dean Bailey. It's the second-biggest half-time lead ever squandered. There were a few tipsters prepared to pick the Demuns here, suggesting they know a bit about the Shockers. Watching it, the obvious conclusion to draw is the Dees abandoned Bailey's run-and-carry plan for some long kicking to the forwards, which did happen but it was appalling Freo's lack of pressure allowing it. A small but hardy crowd of 19,000 were present and overwhelmingly delighted at the outcome. The Deemun side here had Matthew Bate back from injury and junior Colin Garland was recalled. They replaced dropped pair Lynden Dunn and Colin Sylvia. Freo made four changes to the side which played so well against Geelong, three forced. Josh Carr copped a ridiculous 3-game suspension for kneeing Gary Ablett in the thigh last week, his record didn't help. Roger Hayden (hamstring) and Antoni Grover (thigh) were unavailable and junior Clayton Hinkley was dropped. Replacements were experienced men Mark Johnson and Chris Tarrant and juniors Andrew Foster and Brock O'Brien.

 

The early stages were promising before the Dees fell into the usual pattern of ball over-use and errors. Dokka Dean Solomon, so good last week, crashed a pack early and forced the ball free, Garrick Ibbotson booted a long goal. Melbun replied quickly as CHF Brad Miller took a good grab and kicked long, Brad Green held a with-the-flight mark in the goal-square and popped it through. Jeff 'Wiz' Farmer missed a simple shot, to much jeering from Dee fans, but a bit later Farmer's gutsy effort to run with-the-flight and spoil led to a mark and goal for Tarrant. 'Taz' was very good in the first half, taking a series of grabs across half-forward during some end-to-end stuff, both sides falling down in attack. Eventually Freo rover Byron Schammer collected a Dee kick-in and got the ball to Rhys Palmer, who swapped handballs with David Mundy and booted a goal. Matthew Pavlich proceeded to miss three consecutive shots, one gifted by his mates the umps. Tarrant collected the ball by the point-post and kicked 40m backwards to Ibbotson, whose mongrel punt dropped for Pavlich to mark and convert finally. Palmer won the ball away from the restart and passed for Mark Johnson to hold a strong grab, he speared a quick pass to leading Tarrant and the Dockulators had another goal, they led by 27 points at the first break. Into the second and Dee supporters had that familiar feeling. Freo man Peter Bell was ploughed into the turf at a ball-up by James 'Junior' McDonald and free-kicked a goal, Freo by 33. A Demun running, handballing move actually worked and Paul Wheatley passed for Austin Wonaeamirri to mark 50m out, he played-on and saw his punt drop through for a goal, with shepherding from Mark Jamar. But further efforts at run-and-carry fell apart in the usual manner, audibly angering Dee supporters tucked into the Members' and eventually one cost 'em, Garland and Jeff White messed it up and Farmer scooped up the ball, he handballed and a Solomon kick bounced through for a six-pointer. More pressure a minute later saw Farmer pinch Daniel Bell's handpass and slot a sausage. Dee Aaron Davey weaved and dummied himself into trouble and lost the ball, Schammer kicked forward and Pavlich bullocked opponent Jared Rivers aside to gather and boot another goal, Freo led by 46 points. At the next centre-bounce Dee McDonald gathered and kicked long, bringing much Bronx cheering from the Dee faithful. They were vindicated as Russ Robertson roved his own contest and handballed for Miller to snap a goal. But the Dokkerz replied quickly, Sandilands tapped a throw-in to Ibbotson, his quick kick lobbed in a pocket where Tarrant dribbly-snapped a Daicosian cracker. Taz was back and so were the Dockerators, at this stage anyway, leading by 46 points again. The last bit of the term saw the standard degenerate, perhaps presaging what was to come. There were behinds at both ends, the TV folk bagged Melbun in general and Matthew Bate in particular, the Fanta-pants wingman was making a few mistakes but he was getting a lot of the ball. Bate's dropped mark and subsequent 'bawl' in a tackle led to a goal for Mundy and Freo led by 50 points. "Bate's a bit rusty," punned Tim Watson, unintentionally until his mates pointed it out. A coupla behinds each ended the half, Freo well in control with a 50-point lead. It was over, Luke Darcy reckoned.

 

Solomon missed a sitter to start the third term. The Dees had a chance a minute later, Dokker Palmer turned over and Davey threaded a pinpoint pass to leading Green, he booted a long major. A bit later the Dees turned the tables and forced a Freo running move to collapse with some pressure, Robertson handballed for Miller to boot a goal. Consecutive majors! for the Dees, with more coming soon. The Dees advanced from a kick-in, Bate went for a run and passed for leading Robertson to mark wide on the flank, in front of the Members'. Robbo thumped it home and turned to exhort the crowd, who responded as the Dees trailed by 32 points. Robbo missed a subsequent shot but a bit later Brock McLean punted the Dees forward, Green collected the ball on the bounce and slipped a handpass to Davey who steered a low shot home. The Demuns were 25 points down now and Freo rallied a bit. Perhaps overlooked later was the loss of Freo full-back Luke McPharlin at this point, with back spasms. The desperate Dee backmen rushed a few behinds and Ryan Murphy's snap hit the post. The Demons reclaimed the momentum with a great effort from Davey, he marked about 80m out and, at the third attempt, dummied around young O'Brien on the mark, had a few bounces, sold another dummy and smacked a long goal. Miller missed a shot and a Robertson snap hit the post as the Dees cut the deficit to 20 points, swarming all over the sandgropers now. McLean, Bate and Miller were leading the Deez but confidence was the biggest factor. Old hands Solomon and Pavlich stood up for Freo, Solomon passed for a mark and goal for Pavlich, Solomon also bulldozed the ball clear from the following centre-bounce, he handballed to Pavlich who thundered a great long goal. Pavlich missed a late snap and Freo led by a still healthy 33 points at the last change. But the final Mario opened with an extraordinary event, Pavlich penalized for dropping the ball. It's never happened before (a free-kick against Pav, that is). McDonald was so shocked his free went out-of-bounds, but from the throw-in Brent Moloney snapped a goal. Ruckman Jamar had a free at the restart and handballed to McLean, he passed to leading Bate whose long kick dropped from the goal-square pack and Wonaeamirri shinned a goal. He was pretty happy about it. McLean also got the ball away from the next centre-bounce, handballs went to Cameron Bruce and Cale Morton and Miller marked on a lead, he goaled. Freo man Farmer held a very good mark on a lead, but his kick dropped short and was rushed through. The Redlegs advanced, Bruce involved twice before passing to White on the boundary. White's very high kick was marked on his chest by Robertson as Rivers shunted the Freo men aside, Robbo goaled and the Dees were only 9 points behind. Solomon helped the Shockers out again, combining with Sandilands to clear the next centre-bounce. Dee junior Garland's spoil forced the ball towards the goals and roving Farmer soccered it through. Yet another centre-clearance led to a Dee major, Moloney found Bate again and the ball went on to leading Robertson, a sausage and the Deez trailed by 9 once more. Docker Shaun McManus was face-planted in a fierce tackle and the TV enjoyed showing his grass burn. The Dokkers hit back again, Pavlich holding a good pack-mark and slotting from the pocket. Ten minutes to go and they were still 15 points ahead, 16 after Farmer missed from a tight angle. But there was no stopping the Demons. McLean again punted them forward from a contested situation, Green gathered and clearly threw the ball to Robertson who snapped it home on his left boot - with the angle, the umps couldn't have seen Green's chuck. The Shockers had stopped to a walk and a very sloppy, tired series of handballs turned over possession, Miller stabbed a pass to leading junior Wonaeamirri and he goaled, the rampant McLean won the next centre-break and found Miller again, his long kick spilled from a big pack and roving Wonaeamirri stabbed a major to put the Dees in front, by 2 points. And yet another centre-bounce win saw Moloney punt the ball forward, Davey marked at the back of the pack and popped it through. That was the last goal with about 6 minutes to go, Freo scored another 5 points and the Deez 3. None of Freo's chances were easy, hurried snaps or efforts from distance, the Dees rushed a couple. Mundy was shoved in the back when he missed, no free was forthcoming. With about 15 seconds to go Tarrant dropped a mark 20m out, Farmer got to the ball but his effort under pressure slewed wide for a behind. The siren brought joy to the Red and the Blue.

 

Rover Brock McLean (28 disposals) was the engine that powered the Dees' comeback, with Brad Miller (10 marks, 18 touches, 3 goals) terrific across CHF and wingman Matthew Bate (17 possies) handy. Cameron Bruce (31 disposals, 9 marks) was a steady influence across half-back and Austin Wonaeamirri (15 disposals, 8 marks, 4 goals) added his name to the list of dangerous Aboriginal small forwards. Russ Robertson (14 kicks, 6 marks, 4 goals) also got in on the act, Aaron Davey (19 possies, 3 goals) and James McDonald (22 possessions) provided some class and grunt respectively. Brad Green kicked 2 goals. Once again Matthew Pavlich (8 marks, 16 kicks, 5.5) was probably Freo's best, with good efforts from Dean Solomon (21 touches, 9 marks, a goal) and rover Rhys Palmer (20 possies, a goal). Ryan Crowley did a great job on the Dees' best player prior to this game, Nathan Jones. Aaron Sandilands (15 possies, 32 hit-outs) was alright but nowhere near as dominant as last week, Steven Dodd (14 touches, 4 marks) was okay when switched to replace McPharlin. Chris Tarrant (7 marks, 12 kicks, 3 goals) had a good first half, Jeff Farmer kicked 2 goals. Needless to say, Mark Harvey wasn't happy again. "We've got to work out what we stand for as a football team quickly and, if not, I'll sort it out," Harvey said. "We can't have margins like that at half-time and, for various reasons, end up losing the game; it happens too much at this football club. Today we played four guys that hadn't played at the MCG so it could be a little bit of [inexperience], but I don't want to make too many excuses. The guys have got to work it out and judge themselves on what they do after half-time in games when it gets tough under pressure and why we let sides get momentum . . . We've got to really sort this out and start to show killer instinct when it needs to be shown." Dean Bailey said "You always have a belief that you're always in the game, especially against Fremantle." Okay, he didn't say those last three words, but everyone thought them. "As long as you do the basics well, the chasing, the tackling and ensure that your skill level is at such a level that they can't rebound on you [you're in the game]," Bailey continued. "So that's encouraging for the players . . . they've been very committed to training and they need a pat on the back, their attitude's been first-class at training for the whole six weeks considering we haven't won a game . . . (the supporters) were outstanding and we thank them for coming along and giving us the support and sticking it out for the game, and I know that they helped us get over the line - there's no question about that."

 

At Docklands:

Essendon       2.1    8.1    12.2     15.4.94

Port Adelaide  6.4   14.10   19.13   24.14.158

 

Port's 0-4 start is a rapidly fading memory as they jumped up to ninth by thumping the Dons. Daniel Motlop turned on a virtuoso display to bag 7 goals. The very baby Bombers, featuring a stack of Knightsey's former Bendigo charges, were all at sea when it came to defensive pressure. Like most kids they're keen to get a kick but not so keen to man-up, chase or tackle. In addition to the already absent Lucas and McVeigh, the Dons were without Dustin Fletcher (groin) and Adam Ramanauskas ('flu) while Jason Winderlich (groin strain) and in-form Kyle Reimers (foot) were also unavailable from the side pounded on Anzac Day. Knights used the opportunity to blood several new players, namely Darcy Daniher, son of Anthony and the fifth Daniher to don the red-and-black, rookie-listed 23-year-old Jarrod Atkinson from Rumbalara and tall defender David Myers from Perth. Tom Hislop, Leroy Jetta and Jay Neagle were also recalled, as Jason Laycock and Tayte Pears were dropped. Port lost Chad Cornes with his broken finger although he was also suspended one game for whacking Leigh Montagna last week, Cornes was replaced by small forward Robbie Gray.

 

Apart from Motlop, the main feature of this game was an extraordinary amount of booing directed at the umps by the Bommer fans. Perhaps unable to direct frustration at their own lads, they took it out on the officials, although they had some cause. Motlop dribbly-snapped the opening goal after accepting Dean Brogan's tap from a ball-up, but the next came from a rubbish free-kick to Peter Burgoyne and equally soft 50m penalty to Steven Salopek, who scored it. A minute later Warren Tredrea dropped the ball cold in Courtney Johns's tackle, but was allowed to re-gather and handball for David Rodan to snap it through. The Don fans were quite angry now, but their boys were being hammered. Matty Lloyd opened their account with a free-kick but after Port's Brett Ebert missed a coupla shots Motlop kicked his second, steered through from the pocket after marking Boak's pass. The Flowers were sweeping down the ground under no pressure from the Bombouts, Tredrea converted from a mark and Dom Cassisi bagged one, Danyle Pearce with the assist on both, to send Port 33 points ahead. But the Dons won a centre-clearance and Brent Stanton kicked for Lloyd to hold a good, diving mark against Toby Thurstans, Lloydy kicked a second. Port led by 27 points at the first break, Lloyd tried to speak to the umps during the break but was told to go away. The second term evolved into a furious end-to-end goalfest, as the Dons decided if they couldn't defend, they may as well go all-out trying to score goals. Paddy Ryder was switched into the ruck, a positive move after Brogan'd killed 'em in the first term. Early on Motlop kicked a great goal, riding Tredrea, Johns and his own opponent Nathan Lovett-Murray to take a terrific grab, playing-on when he hit the ground, dummying around a Don and snapping it through from point-blank. A bit later Brogan slapped a ball-up into the path of Robbie Gray, he collected under no pressure, snapped it through and the Powder led by 41 points. Ricky Dyson won a centre-clearance for Essadun and Jobe Watson had a bounce and kicked long, Adam McPhee held a strong goal-square grab and popped it through. Port still dominated possession, but they missed a few shots before new Don Atkinson leaped for a big grab at half-back, played-on and punted forward. Andrew Welsh dropped a mark and then lobbed a short, high kick but Jay Neagle held a very good grab against Thurstans and kicked a goal. Ah, the future. Ryder wasn't paid a mark 30m out provoking more furious barracking from the Don supporters, although replays suggested McPhee had gotten in Ryder's way. The Powder rebounded swiftly from that and Gray kicked a goal. More booing. Port's Adam Thomson had a free at the restart - more booing - and passed for leading Ebert to mark and convert. Booo! Commentator Dwayne Russell, a noted Port man, was even joining in the ump-bashing, perhaps lending it some credence. Or just covering his tracks. Time for more Motlop now, roving his own contest and having a bounce before banana-snapping it through, then marking Cassisi's pass and slotting from wide on the flank. Port were a healthy 62 points in front, but the Dons managed some late goals. Lloyd kicked a third after marking in the goal-square and Andrew Lovett burst clear of the restart to slot one, although Port's Boak did similarly from the next centre-bounce. Lovett bore down on the sticks again but decided to attempt a centering pass to, er, nobody, handily Watson raced onto the ball, busted a coupla tackles and speared a major, it wasn't a bad effort at all. Ryder goaled from a free-kick to much ironical cheering and the Dons'd cut the margin back to 39 points, but great work from Shaun Burgoyne and Tredrea set up a goal for Ebert, kicked after the siren. Port by 45 points at half-time.

 

A similar pattern in the third, with fewer goals. Ebert missed an early chance and the Dons got into an awful mess from the kick-in, with far too much handball. In fact they handpassed too much all night. A long kick from Welsh drew Bronx cheers from the Don supporters, converted into genuine ones as Neagle roved Lloyd's contest and bagged a major. But soon a turnover saw Port move forward again, Boak did well and Ebert kicked into space behind Motlop, who turned, gathered and waltzed into the open goals. Don Jetta was pinged for a throw at the restart and Salopek kicked towards Motlop again, who spilled the mark but collected the ball, swung about and curled a terrific snap through under pressure. Both them goals were kicked against Darcy Daniher, Motlop's fourth opponent and perhaps the least suitable. He's a fairly big lad, Darce. Port's Brendon Lade executed a noice back-handed tap to send Shaun Burgoyne in for a goal and the Flowers led by 59 points. The booing had subsided a bit now, either fatigue or a recognition Port were too good. Probably the former. Lloyd had a ping at the sticks from about 60m, his kick dropped short but Tom Hislop was grabbed without and free-kicked a goal for the Dons. A great piece of running play from Port allowed Salopek to boot a sausage in reply, Lovett got one for the Dons with another free-kick, tackled without the ball by Kane Cornes. The Dons won the ball from the restart, Lloyd did well to win it out wide and handball to Welsh, as his centering kick came in David Hille tried to spoil from behind but managed to mark it and kick a goal. The Dons trailed by 47 points but late in the term Lade clutched an emphatic grab in the pocket and stabbed a short pass towards Justin Westhoff. It was short but Westhoff was allowed to collect the ball, stroll through some very weak tackling and boot another. Port led by 53 points at the last change and it was difficult to maintain interest in the final stanza. Lloyd kicked the first goal courtesy a fortunate free-kick against Alipate Carlile, Brogan responded for Port with a mark and equally soft 50m penalty against Neagle. Lloydy then kicked another goal, his fifth, following a terrific pack-mark amongst three Powder defenders. A great move involving Pearce, Boak and Salopek ended with a goal for Gray and a minute later Port backman Troy Chaplin completed a similar move by thumping a long sausage. Lade missed a sitter but Brogan recovered the Dons' kick-in and handballed for Salopek to boot a goal, then Shaun Burgoyne slotted an easy one and Port led by 71 points. Welsh kicked a consolation goal for the Dons.

 

Daniel Motlop was the star with 7 goals from 7 marks and 14 disposals, after the game he said he was instructed to 'calm down and give off a few handballs' after the seventh goal, although Choco denied any such instruction. The midfielders all had plenty of it, Steven Salopek (33 disposals, 11 marks, 3 goals) was very good and Shaun Burgoyne (27 touches, 2 goals) busy, Peter Burgoyne (27 touches) had plenty of it off half-back and Dean Brogan (11 possies, 7 marks, 24 hit-outs, a goal) did very well in the ruck. Defender Troy Chaplin (20 disposals, 7 marks, a goal) was a strong rebounder and Kane Cornes had 30 touches against Lovett, I think. Robbie Gray bagged 3 goals and Brett Ebert 2. Rover Bachar Houli (26 disposals with 18 handballs) worked hard for the Dons, as did skipper Matthew Lloyd (5 marks, 14 disposals, 5 goals). Andrew Lovett (18 touches, 2 goals) was busy and Jay Nash (19 touches) did alright, David Rodan was effectively tagged by Henry Slattery, I think. Jobe Watson (21 possies, a goal) found a bit of the ball and Paddy Ryder (11 touches, 10 hit-outs, a goal) was okay in the ruck. Courtney Johns did alright on Tredrea, Jay Neagle bagged 2 goals. But they were overrun. Knights made no apology. "There are two schools of thought. You could play two or three numbers behind the ball, and you could get rolled over 12 goals to eight, and that's all good and well. Or you could encourage your players to play a pretty direct style of football, try and link up and take the game on, but at times if you don't get that right, you're going to pay the price. That's what we're doing at the moment. But I would certainly be keen for my players to keep playing against better and stronger opposition and learn the game. I don't think it will help in two or three years time if we put numbers behind the ball. I don't think they'll learn anything. That's my view on it." He did point out the Dons had a lot of injuries. Williams said "There is a mile of footy to go but we are back in among the group. We expected to win and we expected to play well and we did. All you can is deliver on those expectations . . . (Daniel Motlop) does some of the things that bring people to the football. Everyone underestimates what he does for our club and he's a brilliant team player."

 

Ladder after Round 7

                Pts.       %    Next Round

Geelong          28    144.6    Richmond (MCG, Saturday)

Hawthorn         28    144.4    Port Adelaide (York Park, Saturday)

Footscray        26    136.3    Fremantle (Subiaco, Sunday)

Adelaide         20    119.1    Melbourne (Football Park, Sunday)

St. Kilda        16     97.0    Collingwood (Docklands, Fri. night)

Sydney           14    115.9    Essendon (SCG, Sunday)

North Melbourne  14     98.8    West Coast (Carrara, Sat. night)

Collingwood      12    106.4    St. Kilda (Docklands, Fri. night)

------------------------------------------------

Port Adelaide    12    100.8    Hawthorn (York Park, Saturday)

Brisbane         12    100.3    Carlton (Docklands, Sat. night)

Carlton          12     96.8    Brisbane (Docklands, Sat. night)

Richmond         10     99.2    Geelong (MCG, Saturday)

Essendon          8     74.7    Sydney (SCG, Sunday)

Fremantle         4     84.2    Footscray (Subiaco, Sunday)

West Coast        4     66.9    North Melbourne (Carrara, Sat. night)

Melbourne         4     60.7    Adelaide (Football Park, Sunday)

 

Cheers, Tim.  

 

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