AFL Round 11
At Docklands:
North Melbourne 3.2 10.4 15.7 17.12.114
Geelong 7.0 11.6 17.7 19.13.127
Norf produced one of those rugged, never-say-die efforts but didn't quite have the skill edge the Cats enjoy, Geelong hanging on in a tough game. Considering the Cats slaughtered the Kangers in their last two encounters, this was a better effort from Norf. The Ruse went in handicapped by the loss of forwards Nathan Thompson (knee) and Corey Jones (ankle), whereas Geelong were stronger with Cameron Mooney and Paul Chapman returning, at the expense of Harry Taylor and, as suggested, Tom Hawkins with Tom Lonergan retained. Joel Selwood missed with 'flu. It was two goals each before the Cats surged clear, with Gary Ablett playing a blinder, managing 14 possies in the first quarter alone. Steve Johnson kicked two of four straight majors, before Lindsay Thomas pulled one back for Norf. But big men Cam Mooney and Brad Ottens kicked the last two goals of the first to have the Catters 22 points ahead. Roo uber-stopper Brady Rawlings replaced Ed Lower as Ablett's opponent for the second term, but he didn't do much better. Norf did though, Harding and Hale booting goals in the first two minutes of the second. Mooney kicked a couple for the Cats but Brent 'Boomer' Harvey snapped an absolute corker from the boundary, consecutive goals from Dan Harris and Matt Campbell narrowed the Cat lead to 8 points. Two goals each to half-time kept the difference at 8 points, the Cats having lost backman Matty Scarlett with hamstring trouble.
Roo Drew Petrie cut the gap to 2 points with a sausage early in the third, but the Catters began to move clear. Mooney was causing trouble, he kicked two more goals and Lonergan got one while Norf missed a coupla shots. Jahlong led by 19 but Roo Campbell got a major with a 50m penalty and direct from the restart Leigh Brown marked Adam Simpson's kick and dobbed it. Cats by 6, Ablett and Chapman won the next centre-clearance and Corey Enright thumped a long goal, Travis Varcoe slotted from close range and the Pu55ies led by 18. Norf stayed alive with two goals beyond 30 minutes in the quarter, Harvey and Campbell set up a narrow-angle slot for Thomas, Lower converted from a mark and the Catters were 6 points up. But the unstoppable Ablett bagged one prior to the last break, Pu55ies by 12. Cat Johnson bagged one early in the last and Jahlong led by 18 again, as the game slowed. A handful of behinds before Hale converted from a big goal-mouth grab, Cats by 10. The Ruse rushed a few lazy behinds for the Cats, before Hale marked and goaled again for Norf, they were 7 points in arrears. Mooney kicked what proved to be the sealer, doubling-back to gather Ottens's punt and snap it though. Ablett finished with 39 disposals and 2 goals in what folks called the best game of his career. Rawlings said Laidley instructed them not to bother tackling Ablett in the end, because a) it was useless and b) it drew attention from other Geelong players. Mooney kicked 7 goals and escaped report for a tummy-tap on Scott Thompson, Steve Johnson (3 goals, 25 touches), James Kelly, Cameron Ling and Corey Enright were also good for the Cats. Norf were led by Harvey (28 touches, 2 goals) with Adam Simpson, backman Josh Gibson and big David Hale (4 goals) also handy. Drew Petrie and Dan Harris were good, Matt Campbell kicked 3 goals. "We're not happy," Laidley said. "We lost the game, but I was proud of the way the players took it on board and backed themselves. We had 11 players with under 60 games. We had nine different from our preliminary final performance and all the players that we have brought in, they are our future. I'm sure every supporter who came along would have been very proud, as I am, with the way they went about it." He then hooked into a journo Clarkson-style, except the meedya don't dislike Laidley, they laugh at him. Bomber Thompson said "It was a weird sort of game. The last two times we played them we've beaten them by a lot and we always knew they would come out. They never ever give up and they didn't tonight. To walk away with a victory is the only thing that matters. Football has changed this year. There are different challenges and we can just work through them on a weekly basis and try to evolve our game so that when it comes to the most important time of year . . . we are ready for the best that football teams can throw up against us when it matters most."
At the MCG:
Richmond 6.2 9.7 11.9 14.12.96
Adelaide 5.3 7.5 15.11 22.14.146
You'd reckon the teams swapped guernseys at half-time, if you didn't know the Tiges. Only the Tiges could scratch out an inadequate lead after dominating possession for the first half. Only the Toigs could allow a defensive Camry side without Brett Burton to kick 22 goals. Yeah, okay, the Camrys did play a lot better after half-time but the Tiges stopped as if shot. The game-plan which involves relentless running everywhere either can't be enacted by the Tiges or just doesn't work. Wallace blamed the players. This was a great and handy win for the Cows who face a tough upcoming month. Burton wasn't playing due to a two-week suspension for hitting Bommer Slattery last week and they didn't have ruckman Jonathan Griffin either, a hip injury. Replacements were Luke Jericho and Ken McGregor. Richmun lost captain Kane Johnson for up to six weeks with a knee injury, Jack Riewoldt and Chris Hyde were dropped after the abject effort in Siddey. In came Graham Polak, Luke McGuane and Greg Tivendale, possibly for his last game as he was terrible. So were the umpires, but they never get sacked.
The Tiges lined up slightly differently this week, with Matty Richardson and Richard Tambling forward and Nathan Brown on-the-ball. The Corollas had Jericho at full-forward in Burton's place. There were a lotta ball-ups early, the Cows managed goals with their first two attacks. Simon Goodwin set up the first with a strong grab, he passed to leading Jason Porplyzia who squared a pass to Bernie Vince. A ridiculous 50m penalty gifted Vince a goal. A minute later Tivendale was palpably caught in possession trying to run clear from a ball-up and Camry Scott Thompson, terrific in this game, free-kicked a major. The Camrys had an early 12-point lead. But the Tiges controlled the game early with some ferocious tackling and relentless running. Tivendale missed poorly, a minute later Richardson kicked a goal from a down-field free-kick after Matt White was pushed while kicking. A lengthy short-passing build-up led to Joel Bowden's long kick, Troy 'Snake' Simmonds plucked goal-square pack-mark and converted to level the scores. Trent Cotchin snapped one after the Tiges won the ball from a throw-in and a slick handballing move ended with Nathan Foley marking Cotchin's kick, with some subtle shepherding from King, and punting a goal. Jericho missed poorly for the Cows before the Tiges marched on, Richardson marked out wide and received a stupendously soft 50m penalty for Nathan Bassett's 'holding', Richo majored again. Adam Pattison converted almost as weak a free-kick, held by Bock, and the Tiggers led by 24 points, having scored six unanswered goals. The Camrys put men behind the ball to congest the Tiges' forward half and manufactured some late majors, Tige Brett Deledio's fumbling and pressure from Richard Douglas allowed Thompson to gather the ball and snap truly. Bowden's lazy bomb forward allowed the Camrys to rebound swiftly, Kurt Tippett marked on a long lead and punted to the 'square, battling Douglas snapped a smart, tough goal. Ivan Maric missed badly but in the dying seconds good work from Michael Doughty got the ball to Jericho, he kicked long and Tippett won a free for holding. Tippett majored right on the siren, reducing the Tiggers' lead to 5 points. Both sides had extra men in defence in a tighter second term, but the Tiges continued to have more of the ball. Shane Tuck had a free at the opening bounce and passed for leading Richardson to mark and convert. Soon the Big Pu55ies were running forward again, King kicked to the top o'the 'square when he could've had a shot but Simmonds out-marked Maric and slotted from a tight angle, the Tiges led by 17 points. Tippett dropped an uncontested mark in the goal-square, rushing a behind which was embarrassing. The Tiges wasted chances going forward with some poor decisions and sloppy disposal and the Cows ground back. Graham 'Stiffy' Johncock slipped forward and passed to leading Porplyzia for a mark and goal. There was a bit of end-to-end stuff without any scoring, the consequences of both sides flooding back. Richardson marked on a long, long lead to the back flank and kicked quickly to find Polak's lead, Polak was awarded a 50m penalty as Stevens tugged his guernsey and Polak majored, Tiges by 17. There were a coupla misses each before Cressida Brent Reilly found space to run forward and lob a good kick for Thompson to hold a one-handed, with-the-flight mark. Thompson goaled and the Tige lead was down to 12 points. Polak postered, then Richardson marked 30m out in the dying seconds. His shot was a wobbly mis-hit touched on-the-line, Richmun led by 14 points at the long rest.
Adderlayed lifted their intensity in the second half and made some good moves. Notably, hard men Goodwin and Porplyzia were shifted onto the ball along with Andrew McLeod, who'd been very quiet in the first half. (Adelaide) booted an early goal. The Tiges replied as good work from Brown set up a major for Shane Edwards. The Camrys were tackling and running harder then the Tiges now, whose first-half intensity had vanished. Good play from McLeod sent Doughty forward, his lobbed kick was marked by Jericho, playing in front, who majored. The Cows won the next centre-clearance and Vince kicked for Porplyzia to hold an excellent mark in front of Newman, 'The Porpoise' booted a long sausage to cut the Tigger lead to a point. Tivendale messed up again, an awful turnover 'cause he hasn't a right foot. It led to another chance for Jericho but he missed, leveling the scores. The Tiges grabbed the lead back, Tambling playing-on after marking with a burst of speed and passing to Bowden for a mark and six-pointer. A minute later Bassett prevented a Tigger goal with a mark right on the goal-line, the Camrys rebounded quickly and Jericho found himself alone 70m out, no-one ahead. He played-on and whacked it through to put the Cows ahead, by a point. Chris Knights had a free at the restart and a 50m penalty as King ran through the mark, Knights goaled as the Camrys got a real run-on now. Knights again punted long with a free from a throw-in, his kick cleared the pack and Jericho lurked at the back to soccer it through. A minute later Thompson tumbled a kick forward from a ball-up, Tige backman McGuane dropped a straightforward grab and Jericho soccered another major, his fourth of the stanza. Thompson was allowed to snap a very easy left-footer from a throw-in and the Camrys led by 26 points with five consecutive goals. Tige Cotchin failed to make the distance with a free from 55m after the siren. Maric cleared the opening bounce of the last korter with a free, another free-kick to Thompson against Newman for in-the-back brought Thompson another major. The Tiges replied quickly with a centre-clearance of their own, Tambling and Simmonds setting up Bowden for a goal. But Addleaid killed off the game with the next two majors, Maric and Goodwin combined to clear the next centre-bounce and Tyson Edwards was tackled high by Tigger Moore, Edwards free-kicked a major. Some awful, lazy rubbish from the Tiges coughed up possession and Porplyzia lobbed a high kick forward, setting up Thompson for a with-the-flight mark and goal. The Camrys led by a decisive 39 points. The Tiggers managed a coupla quick majors, a terrific bit of play from King set up a running goal for Deledio, a centre-win followed and Kayne Pettifer ran ahead of the play to mark in the goal-square and pop it through. Back to 29 the diff but there was no hope of a Toiga win and the Camrys powered home with the last four goals. Jericho booted another with a good grab over Jay Schulz and Porplyzia scored with an absolutely ridiculous free-kick, which had Moore rightly very angry. More sloppy Tiger garbage allowed Edwards to snap one and Vince bagged the last of the day.
Scott Thompson (23 disposals, 6 goals) was terrific for the Camrys and Luke Jericho (5 marks, 10 kicks, 5 goals) slotted into Burton's role with great success, although Craig was reticent on Jericho's future in the side. Simon Goodwin (18 touches, 7 marks) and Bernie Vince (30 handlings, 3 goals) were important midfielders, especially in the second half, and Jason Porplyzia (18 handlings, 6 marks, 3 goals) again showed some ability. Tyson Edwards (28 touches, 10 marks, 2 goals) was pretty good and Robert Shirley (11 tackles) tagged Nathan Foley successfully. Following a slow start, Nathan Bassett (24 possies, 8 marks) ended up being useful. The Tiges were all about first-half performances, Nathan Brown (34 disposals, 8 marks) was very good midfield and Trent Cotchin (25 touches, a goal) was leading possession-winner on the ground to half-time. Brett Deledio (30 handlings, 8 marks, a goal) was pretty good throughout, Chris Newman (30 disposals, 9 marks) played well off half-back although his man was Porplyzia, Matty Richardson (11 marks, 17 touches, 3 goals) galloped about a bit. Troy Simmonds and Joel Bowden kicked 2 goals each. Plough Wallace wasn't happy. "We were able to win both the first two quarters, and that was a pleasing aspect. But even late in the second quarter I thought we had chances to be further in front than what we were. We didn't take our chances, and obviously when the game broke and they took control in the second half, they took their opportunities . . . After half time, we were murdered out of the middle of the ground. I think the score line was three goals to 11 from stoppages for the match. That's non-competitive. I thought the other factor was early in the game we kicked the ball, when we had blokes in the middle of the ground that actually wanted to use it by foot, we controlled how the game was played . . . we can't have blokes like (Shane) Tuck, (Nathan) Foley and (Brett) Deledio getting three handpasses for every kick that they get, because it just puts other blokes under pressure. I think we had something like 11 goals from turnovers again, but it's that overuse of hands that gets you into the trouble." Neil Craig said "Our guys are a confident group. They are not cocky but they have set really high expectations about where they want to go and they continue to fight games out . . . I thought our guys held their nerve really well. You can sense in a game if the playing group starts to waver in that area and not once did I sense that. It is great credit to them and their fighting ability."
At Docklands:
Essendon 3.3 8.4 10.7 11.12.78
Hawthorn 4.3 9.5 15.11 19.16.130
Lance 'Buddy' Franklin tormented the Bommers with another 9 goals, as he did last year. Franklin now has 59 goals at the midway point of the season. He was lined-up for snarky criticism by some pompous meedya last week, after being thrown out of a nightclub. The meedya welcomed the chance to have a go at Clarkson and his "arrogant, undisciplined" Hawks, the Horforn coach doesn't like the football meedya and the feeling is clearly mutual. Clarkson's post-loss, expletive-laden attack on a footy journalist last Saturday, in front of the TV cameras (for which Clarkson later apologized) added extra fuel. The Bommers were competitive for two-and-a-bit quarters here but faded poorly, committing some very tired-looking mistakes in the second half. The Bommers made just one change following the narrow loss in Adelaide, Tom Hislop (shoulder) replaced by debutant ruckman Tom Bellchambers of Launceston. Scott Lucas played his 250th game for the Dons, well done to the big man. The Orc side was strengthened by the return of Luke Hodge and Tim Boyle from injury, they replaced Brad Sewell (shoulder) and the dropped Thomas Murphy.
No telecast of an Essadun/Horforn game can take place without multiple references and flashbacks to the 2004 'line in the sand' contest at the 'G. Coverage commenced with the obligatory footage of Richie Vandenberg whacking various Dons. The Bombouts wasted some decent early pressure with weak skill errors in the teeth of goal. They did manage an early goal, Adam McPhee marking in acres of space in the Hawk 'zone' and chipping a pass to leading Sam Lonergan, who was pushed over after marking by Stephen Gilham, I think. A 50m penalty and Lonergan converted. The Bommas swept forward from the restart, McPhee cantered into an open goal but missed, badly. Then Angus Monfries dropped an uncontested mark 15m out and the Hawks cleared. Lucas missed a set shot and Andrew Lovett hooked wide as he ran into goal, the Dons were blowin' it. There were misses at the other end too, Franklin's first shot was a tight-angle snap which postered. The Dons soon had a second major, a clanger by Hawk Cyril Rioli leading to a chain of Don handballs and Matty Lloyd snapped it through from 10m. Essadun led by 12 points. Hork Hodge won a free at the restart and dished off to Chance Bateman, he passed for leading Tim Clarke to mark and Don Fletcher jogged through the mark, a 50m penalty giving Clarke an easy conversion. The next centre-clearance went wide to Orc Jarryd Roughead, he kicked for back-pedalling Hodge to mark bravely in front of oncoming Franklin and Don Paddy Ryder. Hodge steered it through to level the scores. The Hawks won the next centre-clearance with Bomma Stanton done for 'bawl', Jordan Lewis passed to Rioli who in turn looked for leading Franklin, Rioli's kick missed the target but Franklin wheeled, gathered and snapped a very good major. The Dons were in a bit of trouble but those discipline problems at Horforn helped 'em out. Franklin ploughed Bachar Houli with a typically ragged tackle and as Houli prepared to take his free, Lewis threw Leroy Jetta to the ground - a 50m penalty and Houli kicked to a big pack, Lloyd got a run at it, juggled a good grab with a big jump and goaled. Scores level again but Franklin majored before the first break, leading to mark Robbie Campbell's pass. Hawks by 6, the Bommas played some keepings-off in the final 90 seconds of the term and Walls whinged about it tiresomely. Coupla quick Hawk goals to open the second term, for the first Sam Mitchell won the ball toughly and Clint Young kicked long, Hodge held a with-the-flight mark on the point-line and hooked it through. Hodge proceeded to win the following centre-clearance and punt forward, Franklin was caught behind Ryder but directed his spoil to roving Mark Williams, who handballed back to peeling Franklin for a sausage. The Hawks'd jumped 18 points clear but the Dons fought back, Lovett found McPhee on-the-lead and he kicked quickly for Lucas to buffet smaller opponent Campbell Brown aside and take a grab, Lucas majored. Mitchell's handball at the restart was pinched by Lovett, he punted forward and the ball bobbled around elusively before Lonergan tumbled a short kick and Jason Winderlich marked strongly in front of Ladson. Winderlich's goal cut the Orc lead to 6 points. The pace slowed a bit, Hawk ruckman Campbell departed with a sore shoulder and Lovett wasn't paid a clear mark 30m out from goal. Franklin majored from a mark on-the-lead to extend the Horforn advantage to 13 points. Mitchell went down off-the-ball, Andrew Welsh the apparent culprit. No video. Lovett won the ball well and centered with a pass to Mark McVeigh, he kicked for Lucas to mark strongly in front of Brown and boot a major. Strong play from Josh Kennedy set up the Hawk reply, Kanga's grandson broke two tackles before handballing to Simon Taylor, his handpass released Hodge for a long, running bomb between the big sticks. Lucas replied again for the Dons, marking David Myers's low, drilled kick, playing-on and banana-ing it through on the left. The Hawks scored in turn, Bateman finessing overly before lobbing a kick in and Franklin out-maneuvered poor ol' 'Dustbin' Fletcher to mark and punt another. The Bummers got a reply in before the break, good work from McVeigh setting up McPhee for a mark and goal after the siren. Hawks by 7 points at half-time.
The Bombouts drew close with the first goal of the third Mario, Lonergan punted 'em forward from the start and a wild bounce enabled Monfries to gather and snap it home. The Orcs' lead cut to a point but they opened a gap quickly, aided by some poor Essadun mistakes. Franklin out-marked Fletcher again and frustrated Dusty slapped the ball away afterwards, a 50m penalty gifting Franklin a simple major. McPhee dropped an easy mark just 25m out and was then tackled strongly by Young, 'bawl' and Lovett kicked the Sherrin away afterwards, adding 50. Young passed to lurking Brown, on to Franklin, mark, goal. Some poor Bomma fumbling and wayward handballing in their backline led to an inevitable turnover, Hawk Williams handballed to Rioli, another to Roughead and the big Awk snapped truly. Horforn led by 20 points now. The Dons pulled one back, Lovett's tap-on getting the ball to Jetta, he kicked to Winderlich who couldn't mark but gathered the ball and weaved coolly to stab it through. A rushed point reduced the Hawk lead to 13 but they accelerated to the end of the quarter. Fletcher was not having a good time and his weak, flappy attempt to mark or spoil in front of Franklin only allowed the ball through to the big Hork, who handballed for Tim Boyle to snap truly. Franklin missed after out-marking Ryder, this time, and an awful Bomma attempt at a 'switching move' from the kick-in saw Stanton crushed in a tackle, but Rioli hooked the resulting free into the post. Ryder affected a pass to McPhee with a torpedo-punt, but more modern skills were soon on display as Hork Michael Osborne rolled a dribbly-kick through for a goal from a ridiculous angle. Franklin missed another set-shot but from the kick-in Jay Nash clangered awfully straight to Roughead, who sausaged. The Hawks led by 34 points at the final rest and the ragged Don errors continued into the last, Lovett-Murray was caught hopelessly in possession by Young, who passed his free to Williams, a centering kick went to leading Franklin for a grab and major. Essadun managed a rare goal with the aid of a 50m penalty, Hawk Taylor jogging through the mark as he headed to the bench. Don junior Tayte Pears booted the goal. The Hawks scored a coupla points before rebounding Ladson passed to Young, instead of Franklin, and the Hawk winger's goal put the Orcs 43 points up. Bateman departed thanks to nasty corked thigh as things began to get a little willing. Taylor held a decent pack-mark in the Horforn backline but in the aftermath punchy Lewis biffed Kyle Reimers, the umps gave Reimers a free which he converted. Fletcher limped off and Lloyd, almost touch-less since quarter-time, went down back. Roughead marked and goaled, well set-up by Taylor, as a bit of sniping went on. Franklin booted his ninth goal after marking in front of Ryder and could've brought up double-figures, but the ump decided his late grab had been touched in-flight by Ryder. Replays suggested Buddy was very unlucky.
Buddy Franklin's final stats were 10 marks, 18 disposals (16 kicks) and 9.5. Helping him out were Luke Hodge (22 disposals, 3 goals) and Chance Bateman (23 handlings) with Jordan Lewis (28 possies) and Clint Young (18 touches, 9 marks, a goal) also very handy. Simon Taylor (15 hit-outs, 12 disposals) performed well as solo ruckman with Campbell off for most of the game, Michael Osborne (18 touches, a goal) was busy and Trent Croad became the latest full-back to give Lloydy a pasting. Jarryd Roughead chipped in with 3 goals. Andrew Lovett (19 disposals, 6 marks) was a very effective midfielder for the Dons and Brent Stanton (26 touches, 12 marks) and Bachar Houli (23 handlings, 8 marks) weren't bad. Dustin Fletcher (24 possies, 11 marks) stopped Roughead okay but didn't enjoy his battles with Franklin, Mark McVeigh (24 disposals) was alright and Sam Lonergan broke even in a tough battle with Mitchell. Scott Lucas (4 marks, 3 goals) fired up in the second quarter, Jason Winderlich (20 touches, 2 goals) did a bit and Matty Lloyd also kicked 2 goals. Knights admitted the Bommers had no answer to Franklin, before addressing the game in general. "I was really disappointed in the midfield because when [Hawthorn] started to win clearances and come inside 50 without much pressure, it really put a lot of extra pressure on Patrick and Dustin and the guys down there. (Franklin) is a very good player, he was on top of his game, and we weren't good enough to hold him . . . (Early in the game) we were generating energy and we were also getting some good ball inside 50, and it's fair to say that we didn't take opportunities that presented early. We probably could have ended up with a couple more goals in the first half, so that was disappointing. In the second half, it was basically the opposite. We didn't take the game on, we became stagnant, we went back off the mark too much and took too long." Al Clarkson gave Franklin a wrap. "It's hard to keep things low key when a guy kicks nine goals. He's a tremendously resilient player both in the way he handles things on the field and the pressure that he's under because they know he's a key target for us up forward. Sides drop players back on him, not that Essendon particularly did that tonight, but sometimes he's got to compete against more than just his direct opponent. He's also remarkably resilient off the field too, it hasn't been an easy week for him in terms of the publicity, but he's got a tremendous attitude to his training, loves his footy club, loves his teammates and I think that was reflected in the manner in which he handled today; it was first class."
At Subiaco:
West Coast 6.1 8.7 8.11 11.12.78
Sydney 0.4 2.7 6.9 12.11.83
Like a Ramones song, you know exactly how a Wiggles/Swans game is going to go but they're still thoroughly entertaining. The Weegs choked, wasting a great start and coughing up a six-goal half-time lead through a combination of their own lack of confidence and the relentlessly grinding Swans. Wiggle fans could be upset over the eventual winning goal, a dubious free-kick to Jude Bolton who clearly ducked into the tackle. The Weevils made a hefty seven changes to the side massacred by Collywood, most of them forced by injury, officially. Brad Ebert and Matt Rosa both had ankle injuries, Will Schofield a thigh strain and Josh Kennedy a knee problem, while Beau Waters was suspended for crunching into O'Bree's head. The only men dropped were forwards Steven Armstrong and Ben McKinley. The Eegs had some handy players return though, most notably Adam Hunter and Sam Butler, the latter for his first game since the 2006 Grand Final. Mark Seaby returned too and Jaymie Graham, Chris Masten, Mark Nicoski and Ryan Davis earned recalls. Just the one change for the Bloods, Ed Barlow recalled at the expense of Craig Bird.
The memory of Barry Hall whacking Brent Staker back in round four, and the Weevils' failure to 'fly the flag' in the aftermath, hung over this game. Hall is still suspended - he'll be available next week - so Weeg Tyson Stenglein crunched Adam Goodes instead, at the opening bounce. Senior men Kerr, Hunter and Butler powered a great start by the Eagles. They had three goals in five minutes, Nicoski slotted the first after Seaby gathered Ryan Davis's under-hit pass and handballed to him. Dean 'Big' Cox and Adam Selwood combined to win the following centre-clearance, Kerr gathered Cox's kick and snapped a major. Selwood booted the next, as he bent to collect the ball Goodes smashed his hip into Selwood's head, a free-kick and a report for Goodes - who's been offered a 'reprimand'. As Leigh Matthews said, Goodes is a protected species. Selwood converted his free and the Weegs led by 18 points. The Bloods got a grip on the game but managed a handful of points only, then in time-on Weeg juniors Tim Houlihan and Beau Wilkes combined to send the ball inside 50, Brent Staker gathered and chipped a pass for David Wirrpanda to mark and boot a goal. Kerr won a free at a throw-in and booted a long goal, late in the stanza Staker also converted from a free and the Eegs led by 33 points at the first break. The game assumed a more Siddey-like pattern thereon. They didn't get any closer in the second stanza though, eleven minutes ticked by in the term before Jude Bolton bagged the Bloods' first goal, snapping truly after Spida Everitt tapped a throw-in to him. More pressure brought a coupla rushed points only, then Staker clutched a good, strong mark on the attacking point of the centre square and kicked long to unopposed Seaby, he marked and converted. The Wiggles led by 32 points. Jarrad McVeigh replied for the Swans, jabbing it through from close range after a tough effort by Kieran Jack to win the ball and Spida's tap-on. The Eegs pressed hard to the end of the quarter, forcing the Bloods to rush a flurry of behinds surrounding one great goal; Adam Hunter got a superb hovering ride on Craig Bolton to pull down an absolute screamer and boot the goal. Eegs by 36 points at half-time.
The Bloods got moving after the break, usual suspects Brett Kirk, Goodes and Ryan O'Keefe lifting their efforts to assist Nick Malceski, who'd been their only winner so far. Malceski intercepted a telegraphed Weeg kick, raced clear with a bounce and booted the first goal of the third. Hunter and Swan Mick O'Loughlin missed shots before O'Loughlin bagged a goal, a string of handballs got the pill to O'Keefe and he punted long to the pocket, O'Loughlin did superbly to paddle the ball ahead on the boundary, gather, cut inside and snap a beauty. Another point each as time-on approached, then Goodes was twice-involved in a high-pressure sequence, the Swans 'working in a phone box' as Dennis Commetti would have it, before stabbing a short pass for Kirk to mark and boot truly. The gap was down to 19 points, a Quinten Lynch miss made it 20 before another Kirk goal in the dying seconds of the term, he and McVeigh rugby mauled the ball goal-wards in a furious tackling battle before Kirk poked it through from point-blank. The Weegs led by 14 points at the last break. The Coasters had some relief early in the last, Kerr and Hunter combined to get the ball to Wirrpanda on the flank and he steered a very handy sausage, putting the Weegs 19 points ahead. A bit later Jude Bolton's smart kick outta defence found Lewis Roberts-Thomson in space, he took off on a two-bounce run and passed to McVeigh, leading into the pocket. McVeigh slotted, but the Eegs replied direct from the restart. Seaby won the ball and handballed to running Brett Jones, he kicked long and an attempt by the Swan backmen to rush a behind didn't work as Staker soccered a point-blank major. The Weegs led by 19 points again but the Bloods kept coming. Kerr turned over with an under-pressure handball and Playfair kicked to CHF, the ball bobbled about before Paul Bevan swept it up skillfully and slotted a major. Bevan also kicked the next goal, marking 30m out after good efforts from Spida and Jude Bolton to set him up. The Weegs led by 7 points and hung tough for a bit, until Hunter won a free, shoved meatily by Kirk while trying to mark. Hunter passed for big Lynch to mark and convert, all happy at Sooby as the home side led by 13 points. Lynch missed a later set shot before the Bloods pressed again, bundling and tapping and mauling the ball forward in their usual last-ditch style until Luke Ablett's very good handpass allowed Amon Buchanan to snap truly. Jarred Moore missed a comparatively easy chance when he pinched Cox's tap, but soon the Swans had another goal. O'Keefe kicked into space ahead of Goodes, who galloped onto it and tapped-on to Malceski who snapped it through from close-range. A point the diff now, Staker saw a tight-angle snap go on-the-full, the Swans advanced rapidly from the free, aided by a 50m penalty to Leo Barry, but Malceski's shot also hooked on-the-full. The Eegs made a mess of trying to clear the ball though and it went for a throw-in, from which Jude Bolton won the fateful free, grabbed high as he ducked into Hunter's tackle. One of the umps clearly yelled "he ducked" on the TV coverage, but another paid the free. Lucky, Bolton converted and the Bloods led by 5 points with 1:20 to go. West Ghost's last chance vanished as Brett Jones's poor pass was picked off by O'Loughlin in the centre, the Swans played keepings-off 'til the siren.
Nick Malceski (28 disposals, 12 marks, 2 goals) and his knee held together by string was the Bloods' best, with huge second-half efforts from Brett 'Captain' Kirk (21 touches, 2 goals) and Adam Goodes (21 possies, 8 marks) crucial. Jude Bolton (18 handlings, 2 goals) and Jarrad McVeigh (22 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals) were also important, with Ryan O'Keefe (19 possies) busy midfield. Paul Bevan bobbed up with 2 big last-quarter goals. For the Weegs, Daniel Kerr (23 possessions, 2 goals) tried tremendously hard as did Dean 'Big' Cox (16 disposals, 26 hit-outs). Quinten Lynch (11 marks, 19 disposals, a goal) was a solid worker in attack and there was a pleasing comeback from Sam Butler (17 touches). Adam Selwood (15 possies, a goal) played well as did winger Andrew Embley (22 possies), Adam Hunter (7 marks, 11 disposals, a goal) made a useful return too. David Wirrpanda and Brent Staker kicked 2 goals each. Worsfold sounded unnervingly like Mark Harvey (see below). Maybe it's something in the water over there. "You accept it for what it is, an outstanding effort by the group, the whole squad were heroes . . . I'm sure they're tired and sore, but they're moving forward rapidly. Every week, whether you win or lose, if we had have won that game by a point and held on in the last minute or so we learn the same lessons. A little bit of belief in themselves, a little bit of excitement about what we've got happening around the footy club at the moment, where we're heading and a lot about doing the hard work. I think Sydney tonight would think we are a real force in the competition, other teams will be very nervous playing us throughout this year. But we'll also have some hiccups along the way, because that's the nature of where we're at, at the moment." Paul Roos made more sense. "I just felt Woosha (Worsfold) was obviously gearing up for a really big contest," he said. "In the first half they just smashed us. So we were fortunate to get back in the game in the third quarter and gave ourselves a chance at least to get close. And then it always seems to come back to the last minute, minute-and-a-half . . . We were really poor at half time but they were very good and that's what we talked about. We had to put more pressure on them, we had to slow their ball use down, we had to play the game more on our terms and we were able to do that. I thought Goodes and Kirk were probably two that really just lifted the whole team. Bevan finished up with two really critical goals, McVeigh another couple of goals as well , so everyone seemed to get on board. But I think when you're playing poorly like that you do need some senior guys to stand up [and] Kirk and Goodes were the two who really stood up."
At the Gabba:
Brisbane 2.1 8.5 11.10 14.12.96
Fremantle 2.3 3.7 7.9 10.14.74
"When you write about Fremantle, make sure you write about how dangerous we are and don't just go over the top with the critical bombardment we have been copping . . . Tell everyone, from now until the end of the season we're dangerous!" Thus spake Dokka coach Mark Harvey to some sniggering hacks after this game. Harvey famously refused to submit to psychological testing when applying for coaching jobs in the past and we're beginning to see why, as he's unraveling. In addition to his awful media performances, Harvs threw a fit at his players during half-time here. He could be the first coach for a while not to last his debut season, he'll end up in a rubber room. The game itself was a pretty boring victory for the Lyin's, their fourth straight. Dan Bradshaw's hamstring injury was the most noteworthy event, there wasn't even a Freo final-quarter choke to comment on which was just as well, really. Coming in Brisbun lost three players to hamstring injuries, Jason Roe, Josh Drummond and Ash McGrath. It's an epidemic up there. Replacements were Robert Copeland, Matthew Leuenberger and first-gamer James Hawksley, a lean flanker from WA's Peel Thunder. Jonathan Brown played with his knee heavily strapped. The Dorkers regained Peter Bell and recalled Mark Johnson and ruckman Robert Warnock, out went Marcus Drum, Paul Duffield and Byron Schammer.
Freo skipper Matty Pavlich won the toss and elected to kick against the breeze, indicative of his team's decision-making all afternoon. In addition to the wind it was pretty damp and spongy underfoot, the game itself scrappy with lotsa turnovers. Brown set the pattern by dropping his first marking chance and then kicking into Dean Solomon on the mark, when he did take a grab. Brisbun scored the opener eventually, Jared Brennan weaving away from a throw-in and delivering a smart handpass to Simon Black, whose long kick found Brown and Bradshaw spoiling each other but roving Travis Johnstone snaggled a goal. A bit later Bradshaw had an over the-shoulder snap from the boundary, it dropped short but lurking Brown marked easily on his chest and stabbed it through. The Lyin's led by 12 points but Freo were going in hard, just using the ball poorly. They managed a goal after a bit, a classical Freo move involving Chris Tarrant marking on the forward flank and passing to leading Pavlich on the 50m line, Pav chipped a subsequent pass for Jeff Farmer to grab and steer through from a tricky angle. Soon Pavlich marked again but missed the lot with an awful kick, big Sandilands missed from 20m following a grab and Rhys Palmer marked 45m out and hooked on-the-full. But the Dokkers recovered that Brisbun free-kick and Palmer drove the ball in again, Copeland's awkward spoil spilled to Farmer who snapped it through from a tight angle. Freo led by 2 points at the first break - hurrah! Brisbun had an early goal in the second as Travis Johnstone accepted a telegraphed Freo kick and converted, but Freo replied as Heath Black's pass picked out Josh Carr alone 30m out for mark and sausage. Otherwise Heath Black's energy went into a quarter-long brawl with Troy Selwood, which saw both men reported for striking and wrestling. Lyin' Charman marked at CHF and dished off to Tim Notting, who sold a nice dummy before booting a long sausage. Several behinds were scored during an end-to-end phase, before Simon Black tidied a messy passage with a goal walloped through off one step. The Lyin's led by 11 points as more sloppy play ensued, Dokka Palmer committing another poor miss. The game was drifting tediously before a decisive three-goal Lyin' burst late in the half. Their Black gathered a loose ball skillfully and handballed to Luke Power, he passed to leading Brown. Solomon ran over the mark as Brown kicked, a 50m penalty and Brown majored. Solly'd scraped an 'extra' mark to confuse Brown, and the ump as it turned out. Troy Selwood won the next centre-clearance and Brown hauled down a great grab against Solomon, he converted again. A bit later Anthony Corrie centered a hopeful kick towards Michael Rischitelli, but the slight Lyin' midfielder was allowed to juggle a mark against two Dockers and boot a major. The Lisbon Brians had jumped to a 28-point lead at half-time. During the break TV showed Harvey having a full-on, arms-waving, finger-jabbing, spittle-flying fit at his men. At one point he threw his notes to the ground and kicked 'em, unwittingly empathizing with Freo supporters everywhere.
Harvs's mad rant had little immediate impact, although he did successfully move Bradshaw's erstwhile opponent, Luke McPharlin, onto Brown. Bradshaw was off with hamstring tightness. Garrick Ibbotson attempted a centering kick to nobody when he should've had a shot early in the third and the ball rolled out-of-bounds. At the other end Travis Johnstone sped away from a throw-in and slotted a goal, young Dockre Palmer missed poorly again prior to another Lyin' goal. Freo man David Mundy was tackled strongly by Charman, the ball spilled and Scott Harding raised the twin calicoes. Brisbun led by 39 points now. Freo were trying though, Sandilands and Ibbotson combined to win the following centre-clearance and Pavlich clutched a good grab against Joel Patfull, he majored. Brown missed a shot for Lisbon and Freo advanced smoothly from the kick-in (for a change), Josh Carr lobbed a kick for Pavlich to out-mark Patfull again and bag another sausage roll. Patfull and Daniel Merrett swapped opponents (resting Freo ruckman) as Freo pressed a bit, but Tarrant and Pavlich managed behinds only. Brisbun now saw Harding depart with a knee injury. The Lyin's had a break when Doccer McPharlin kicked on-the-full, the Lyin's advanced and Corrie's long kick found Matthew Leuenberger dropping behind Scot Thornton for a mark and goal. The Lyin's led by 35 points again but Freo pressed on. A good move ended with Farmer's long kick to find Tarrant marking 15m out, he converted. There were more sloppy turnovers from both sides before Palmer won a free-kick right on the boundary late in the korter, of course, after missing a bunch of easy shots, he threaded it through from the tightest of angles and the Lyin' lead was down to 25 points at the last break. Brisbun had a free from the opening bounce of the final term, a centre-square infringement against Chris Mayne who'd paused to tie up his boots. Oops. A string of handballs ended with a snapped goal for Justin Sherman and the Lyin's led by 31. Mayne made up for it, some good roving won him the ball and he handballed to Bell, another to Sandilands enabled a goal-square tap-through. Carr did well to send Freo forward again and Pavlich marked strongly in front of Merrett, Pav thumped a long major and the Dockers were a chance, trailing by 19 points. But Carr tried to break about five tackles at the restart and was inevitably pinged for 'bawl', from the free Charman took a grab and booted a goal. A bit later Notting and Leuenberger combined on a rebound, Copeland wobbled a pass to Corrie and he marked and majored. The Lyin's were safe, 31 points up again. The game meandered to a conclusion, a few more points kicked by both sides (two by Pavlich) before Mayne kicked a goal in junk time.
No stand-out for the Lyin's but the usual suspects, Simon Black (28 disposals, 8 marks, a goal), Luke Power (27 touches), Travis Johnstone (26 possies, 3 goals) and Jonathan Brown (15 marks, 22 disposals, 3 goals) all made handy contributions. Brown didn't do much after half-time. Of the younger brigade Jed Adcock (21 disposals, 8 marks) was handy midfield and Joel Macdonald (30 disposals) did some rebounding, Tim Notting (28 touches, a goal) continued his good season on the wing (okay he's not that young, I know). First-season man Rhys Palmer (30 disposals, a goal) was Freo's best again, as the meedya point out that's a bit of an indictment on the rest. Matthew Pavlich (18 disposals, 9 marks, 3 goals) fired in the second half and Luke McPharlin (15 touches, 7 marks) did well on Bradshaw first, then Brown later. Defender Michael Johnson played well (30 touches, 15 marks) and Aaron Sandilands (18 hit-outs, 16 disposals, a goal) dominated the ruck again, Chris Tarrant (8 marks, 19 possies, 1.2) wasn't bad but a little erratic. Jeff Farmer bagged his usual 2 goals. Harvey babbled on. "When you hear opposition coaches talk about playing Fremantle, they know not to take us lightly and quite often they comment about that." Eh? Dean Bailey and Brett Ratten, at least, have publicly commented on Freo's last-quarter chokes. But Harvs was waiting for that. "We outscored the opposition in the last quarter today. From what's been happening in the last quarters before today, it shows that we are getting on top of things." Geezus. "In everything in close, we matched it with Brisbane," he continued, "But it's about the opportunity beyond that and what you do with it – a big thing in footy now is punishing turnovers and how you finish when you end up having a shot at goal. We didn't do that as well as Brisbane. Another aspect of the game that I wasn't happy about was that when the tackling component came into the game, (the Lions) still managed to get ball to teammates. We couldn't. When we were getting tackled, it was either a free kick or the ball spilled out and (the Lions) pounced on it . . . It was good to see (our) young guys play well in these kinds of venues. On the road that's what we're looking for looking for - guys who don't just play well in front of our home crowd. (Rhys) Palmer, (Garrick) Ibbotson, (Robbie) Warnock and Mayne are starting to evolve. So it's good signs." Okay, you nutter. Leigh Matthews looked back over the first half of the season. "Seven and four rates as a good first half. If you'd said to me at the start of the season we'll give you seven and four, you'd say 'yeah we'll take that'. It's a good base to build the second half of the season. We play well at the MCG, but the Bulldogs are obviously going as well as anyone, so it's going to be a great challenge to see if we can match it with one of the genuine top-four teams. Confidence tends to be a short term thing . . . but the fact they've (Lyin's) been able to come off the ground and sing the theme song (in the past month) encourages all the things that contribute to playing well, so I guess the confidence levels are pretty good."
At Docklands:
St. Kilda 3.6 4.7 5.9 11.13.79
Footscray 2.0 7.5 11.13 15.16.106
Sure enough the Saints failed to beat the strong again, precipitating another very defensive press conference from Ross Lyon. The progression of the game would've been very familiar for Sainter fans, a good start and impressive opening 40 minutes, then a steady capitulation. Regular features included appalling goal-kicking from Nick Riewoldt and a knee injury to Justin Koschitzke caused by his inability to notice what's going on around him. The Bulldogs did very well after quarter-time, another six goals from red-hot Jason Akermanis. Lyon used the absence of Steven King (back) and Robert Harvey (knee soreness) as an excuse, they were replaced by Leigh Fisher and James Gwilt. The Bulldogs didn't have Robert Murphy, suspended a week for crunching Xavier Ellis last week and injured Tim Callan (hamstring). In came defender Andrejs Everitt for his first game of the season, he's had knee problems and was wearing the legendary Bulldogs' no.3 guernsey. The other Bully 'in' was making his debut, rated midfielder Callan Ward from local (Footscray) club Spotswood.
The Saints began okay, with Nick Dal Santo getting plenty of it and Luke Ball winning the hard ball. But it was undone to a large extent by wayward kicking for goal. The umps didn't help 'em much either. Following some tough opening minutes the Bulldogs managed the first major, a rapid series of under-pressure handballs completed by Daniel 'Guido' Giansiracusa's quick punt for full points. Jason Gram replied presently for the Saints, Shane Birss marked on a long lead and chipped ahead to Sam Fisher, he handballed inside for running Gram to thunder it home. The Pups went ahead again with the next 'goal', I say 'goal' as Farren Ray's shot was clearly touched through by Leigh Fisher, but the umps were oblivious. Sheesh. The Stainers scored next as Koschitzke marked strongly on the flank and kicked quickly to find unattended Lenny Hayes, he majored and the Saints were a point up. Riewoldt then missed his first shot, as did Leigh Montagna. Dal Santo's switching kick found Koschitzke in space, he jabbed a short pass for Birss to mark, play-on and thump a huge kick for full points and the Saints were 10 points up. The Bullies saw full-back Brian Lake go down clutching his knee, but as is often the case with Lake he trotted back on later with no obvious impairment. Riewoldt marked 30m out and produced an absolute shocker of a kick which didn't make the distance. Folks reckon his knees are sore, they're certainly swathed in enough bandages. The Sainters led by 12 points at the first break with 9 shots to 2. The Doggies re-organised their forward-line, moving Brad Johnson upfield and pushing Akermanis closer to goal. Matthew Boyd and Daniel Cross began to win more contested ball. The Pups scored a few behinds to start the second before Ryan Hargrave drove a long kick in, Will Minson's lovely tap-on allowed Akermanis to gather and bang it through from close range. A minute later Johnson kicked long again, Scott Welsh roved his own contest and got a great little handpass away for Akermanis to boot another. The Dogs led by 3 points now, there wasn't much scoreboard action for a bit as the ball went end-to-end. Koschitzke hurt his knee as he ran with-the-flight for a mark but failed to spot, or be aware of, Bulldog Dylan Addison coming the other way. Kosi pulled up awkwardly, hyper-extending the joint. Like Lake, Kosi also returned later but didn't do a lot. The Saints were bombing it long to their big forwards, but getting nothing from them or small men Milne and Schneider. Just before time-on Birss gathered Milne's smothered kick and handballed to Clint Jones, who bagged a goal to put Sinkilda a point ahead. The Bullies replied as Giansiracusa collected ruckman Ben Hudson's handpass on the defensive side of centre, ran ahead with a bounce and thumped a long kick for a sausage roll. Boyd and Cross had big hands in a rebound move, Boyd's long kick was marked by Akermanis lurking in the pocket and he threaded his third goal of the quarter. The final goal of the half had Sainter fans fuming, umpire Scott McLaren awarded Bulldog Adam Cooney a free-kick but signaled the wrong way - Sainter players ran forward, allowing Cooney to kick to Giansiracusa, alone 20m out from goal. 'Guido' popped it through amongst plenty booing, the Dogs led by 16 points at half-time.
Riewoldt was awarded a free 40m out on the flank early in the third, as breaths were held he punted truly at last and the Saints cut their deficit to 11 points. But the Pups running game was clicking into gear now, sharply contrasting with the Saints' slow chip-about. Lake embarked on a long run and kick from defence, Mitch Hahn gathered on the bounce and chipped inside for Welsh to mark and convert. Giansiracusa punted a terrific goal from out wide and the Dogs led by 24 points. They proceeded to score five straight behinds, one from Koschitzke interspersed, before first-gamer Callan Ward was picked out by Nathan Eagleton's pass, Ward played-on and booted a goal (not his first kick). Late in the stanza the Bulldogs stabbed a few short passes about until backman Tom Williams found Akermanis on-the-lead, Aker converted and the Bullies led by 40 points at the last change. Akermanis also bagged the first goal of the last term, dropping into the pocket to mark Johnson's pass, to put the Bulldogs 47 points ahead and it was all over, really. At least the Stainers finished strongly, as Lyon threw defenders Gram, Brendon Goddard and Sam Fisher into the midfield. Koschitzke and Milne won the ball from a throw-in and Birss snapped a goal, Akermanis kicked another after good work from Lindsay Gilbee to honour Aker's lead. Milne and Dal Santo majored in rapid succession for the Sainters, Williams replied for the Puppies with the aid of a 50m penalty. Dal Santo cleared the restart for the Saints and eventually Jason Blake goaled with a free-kick. Giansiracusa won the next centre-break for the Dogs and Eagleton kicked for Ryan Griffen to mark on-the-lead, he goaled. The Bullies led by 40 again, Riewoldt and Jones kicked late majors for the Saints.
People are talking Brownlow again for Jason Akermanis (24 disposals, 12 marks, 6 goals), he and Daniel Giansiracusa (24 touches, 10 marks, 4 goals) had terrific games here. Brian Lake (22 touches, 9 marks) did very well at full-back and Dale Morris (18 handlings, 9 marks) frustrated Nick Riewoldt, also in the Dogs' defence Tom Williams (15 possies, 7 marks, a goal) did well on Matthew Ferguson. They all profited from the Saints bombing it in. Matthew Boyd (34 disposals, 13 marks) and Daniel Cross (24 handlings) gained gradual ascendancy on the ball and Ryan Griffen (22 handlings, 9 marks, a goal) continued his good recent form. Nick Dal Santo (27 disposals, a goal) and Luke Ball (20 touches) were the Saints' best, with winger Clint Jones (19 possies, 8 marks, 2 goals) okay. Shane Birss (14 disposals, 5 marks, a goal) was a handy half-forward and Jason Gram (28 possies, 2 goals) appears their only consistent, speedy runner. Nick Riewoldt kicked 2 goals. Lyon said "My instincts were that we slaughtered the footy and they used it very slickly which we know about the Bulldogs; the punishment factor is really high for them. We're five-six and the obvious question you ask is 'are your finals over?' Clearly it makes it more and more difficult, but we need to get to work on the things that we need to be competitive for four quarters and at the moment we are inconsistent in that. If we can build our consistency clearly we are going to be in a lot of games of footy, but at the minute it's frustrating for myself and the group; the inconsistency in our football . . . We do need to build through (the midfield), we need to recruit speed, we need to add in speed and complement what we've got." 'Rocket' Eade channeled Mick Malthouse. "It's a real pleasing thing at the club that we've got a lot of talented youngsters," Eade said. "Josh Hill was best on ground for Williamstown yesterday, we want to get him back. And Jarrod Harbrow and Higgins [who]is out injured. It was Everitt's first game back, Farren Ray has been back for a few weeks, he's a good young lad. Callan (Ward) can play, and there's still some other young lads like Brennan Stack that we want to give a game because he's really improved. The pleasing thing that has been part of our philosophy over the past two or three years is to get as many kids in [as we can]."
At Football Park:
Port Adelaide 3.5 6.8 8.12 8.15.63
Carlton 1.4 2.9 3.12 10.15.75
Fantastic win for the Bluies, they produced an amazing final quarter in the rain to overhaul Port. Even better, it was youngsters Marc Murphy and Matthew Kreuzer leading the way, although Juddy was the key. It was the sort of win that can make a side. Folks rip Freo for being final-quarter chokers, but Port have produced two shocking fade-outs this season, both in the rain. Their on-ballers stopped winning the ball and the intensity disappeared alarmingly, something that's happened a bit often to Port this year. That "best 0-4 side ever" was rubbish really, they were terrible against the Swans in round 2 and worse against the Lyin's a fortnight later. The Port side had one change from last week, Dom Cassisi returning at the expense of Jacob Surjan. Carlton had Jarrad Waite return following suspension, replacing Paul Bower (shoulder).
It rained steadily throughout the game. Port got away to good start, David Rodan, who loves the wet, bagged a goal direct from the opening bounce. Soon Steven Salopek soccered ahead, Warren Tredrea marked and he played on quickly, kicking into a very open forward-line for Daniel Motlop to run onto the ball and snap truly on the left boot. Port flooded back, frustrating Bloo spearhead Brendan Fevola who often found himself heavily out-numbered. Coupled with the Bluies' slow delivery of the wet ball it made things tough for Fev, whose every failure was greeted with jeering from the Port supporters. There were a couple of misses each, from a rushed Powder point their Travis Boak intercepted Marc Murphy's kick-in and booted a goal, giving Port a 19-point lead. The Blues had a break soon, from a ball-up Port's Dean Brogan tried to thump a rushed point but he was too far out and Blue Bryce Gibbs gathered the ball to snaggle a major. Gibbs was tagging Chad Cornes, who'd been called 'soft' by Fevola on The Footy Show last week. Blues Kade Simpson and Shaun Grigg missed from tight angles and Tredrea missed a shot after the first siren, Port led by 13 points. The game slogged on into the second term, the key difference being Port could turn possession into points and the Blues couldn't. Seven minutes elapsed before Waite kicked the first score of the stanza, a point. Flowerman Justin Westhoff banana-ed into the post from an acute angle, then Bloo Jordan Russell helped 'em out. Russell fired a handpass over Carrazzo's head and Nathan Krakouer gathered, he produced a good handpass to Salopek for a running goal. A minute later another wayward Russell handpass missed the target, Chad Cornes collected and handballed to Rodan, who dummied his way into the goal-square and popped it through. Port led by 25 points. Chad Cornes proceeded to out-mark Fevola in Port's defensive goal-square, which the crowd loved. Bloo ruckman Cameron Cloke kicked on-the-full, from the free Michael Pettigrew kicked to Boak's lead, he in turn passed to leading Robbie Gray who bagged a major and Port led by 30 points. Fevola snapped on-the-full and then gave jostling Alipate Carlile a bit of a love-tap, Carlile crumpled to the ground in Wanganeen-esque fashion adding a 50 to the Port free. The crowd enjoyed that. The Bluies managed a goal finally as Grigg's long kick bounced and slithered away from a few, handily junior Dennis Armfield gathered and bagged a major. Cloke postered with a late, soft free and Port were 23 points ahead at the long break.
Port opened the gap with a goal direct from the opening bounce of the third Mario, Brogan, Salopek and Cassisi battled and the ball went wide to Michael Wilson, he drove a long kick towards Tredrea who was spoiled but Justin Westhoff gathered and snapped a great goal, given the conditions. Port led by 29 points, the Blues did some attacking but couldn't bust the Port flood. The Flowers scored a few behinds before Rodan played-on from a free-kick and handballed to Tredrea, he slotted a major. Rodan's miss a minute later meant Port led by 38 points, a yawning margin. But if Brisbun could do it . . . as time-on approached Bloo Simon Wiggins marked and dished off to Judd, he drove a long kick towards Fevola who nudged Carlile aside and marked 15m out, Feb dobbed it. Scrambled behinds from Fevola and Adam Bentick left the Bluies 30 points down at the last change. Into the last quarter and Judd produced a huge ball-winning effort, supported by Murphy and Nick Stevens. Matthew Kreuzer shifted to a forward pocket was also important. A point each before Heath Scotland punted the Bluies forward and Kreuzer plucked a big grab over Fev, he converted. Motlop collected the ball midfield and tried one of those cutesy outside-of-the-boot kicks which are great for spectacular goals, but not so good here as Peter Burgoyne waited for the ball, giving Waite a chance to gather it, run forward with a bounce and boot a great long goal. If there was a pivotal moment, it was that. Brad Fisher should've had a free 20m out but a bit later Bloo Russell smothered a handpass, enabling Eddie Betts to soccer a goal. Port's lead was 11 points now, Judd rushed a point for them. Port's Paul Stewart received a nasty hip to the head as he and Jordan Russell dived after the ball, Stewart tried to stand but he was in trouble and stretchered off. Russell was reported, play went on before the stretcher came out and Rodan kicked for Gray to mark 30m out. He waited four and a half minutes while the motorised cart took Stewart to the bench, then drove off the ground. Gray hit the post. The Bluies pressed on, dominating possession. Grigg won the ball toughly and Stevens handballed to Kreuzer, his long shot bounced through with good shepherding from Fevola. A bit later Judd collected a throw-in and centered the ball where Russell held a good grab, he dished off to Murphy who passed to leading Kreuzer. The big Cruiser booted another sausage, reducing Port's lead to a point. There were still seven-and-a-half minutes to go and Port continued to try and save the game, soaking up pressure for another five minutes. Then great work from Murphy, Russell and Gibbs got the ball to Simpson, he marked, played-on and booted a lovely major to put the Blues in front, by 5 points. Judd affected the following centre-clearance and also followed-up, leading to a rushed behind which had the Bluesers a handy goal ahead. As the clock ticked down Waite burst clear of a throw-in and booted long, Fevola marked on his chest and the siren sounded. Fev converted and you better believe he enjoyed it.
Bluie fans in the meedya (there're plenty) worshipped Chris Judd, who had 32 disposals including an alleged 16 contested possessions in the last quarter. That doesn't sound right but it's what Bloo fans believe. Marc Murphy (33 touches, 6 marks) was very good and old plodder Heath Scotland (24 possies) was handy, Adam Bentick (25 disposals) is also a fine winner of the disputed pill and Matthew Kreuzer (5 marks, 8 kicks, 3 goals) was vital in the final stanza. Kade Simpson (20 handlings, 7 marks, a goal) and Andrew Carrazzo (23 possies) made decent contributions, thought ruckman Cameron Cloke (18 disposals, 8 marks) was good. Jordan Russell (17 possies) had a bit of a shocker to three-quarter-time but he did some crucial things in the final stanza. Brendan Fevola kicked 2 goals. Dean Brogan (16 disposals, 5 marks, 21 hit-outs) and Kane Cornes (30 possessions, 8 marks) powered Port along but they couldn't run any more, at the end. Steven Salopek (24 touches, a goal) and David Rodan (11 handlings, 2 goals) were handy and Troy Chaplin (18 handlings, 7 marks) did well down back, ruckman Brendon Lade (38 hit-outs) and half-back Peter Burgoyne (23 touches) were okay. But a disappointed Williams faced the meedya. "We really disappointed everyone today. I thought we probably played over Carlton for a fair time of the night without getting any return. We missed too many goals there for a while and kept Carlton in the game, but to their credit, they kept coming," Williams said. "We're getting into a bit of a routine of being up with three minutes to go and then losing those games. We challenged ourselves about mental toughness tonight, without any doubt, and we certainly can't stand up and say that we are [mentally tough]. The game was there to be won. It was a really important game for our club and we'd be kidding ourselves if we think we're going to be playing finals." Brett Ratten could and should be rapt. "The Brisbane game (against Port) gave us a lot of hope about what could happen, but we needed to apply the pressure and do the roles that were expected, and I thought we did that. I think Port are a very good team and they'll win a lot of games of footy this year, but at the end of the day when it came down to the crunch our boys applied themselves a bit better . . . it was one of the great wins for us in 2008. It does keep us in contact with the eight. We've mentioned that a fair bit. We've a big month of footy ahead of us with Port Adelaide, Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond. And we needed to get this win. I thought it was fantastic for us and it could help keep us in contact with the eight, and, maybe who knows down the track. We're certainly getting confidence as a group."
At the MCG:
Melbourne 4.1 7.4 11.9 13.17.95
Collingwood 3.2 8.5 15.8 17.14.116
Collywood's first win in the Queen's Birthday game since 2001, the Dees had a fair crack but the Pies used the ball better. The lead-up was all about the Deemuns, league oberfuhrer Andrew Demetriou threatened to take the Queen's Birthday fixture away from the Dees unless they could draw 60,000-plus; the crowd here was 59,600, surely enough but Demetriou is all about kicking the weak. Malthouse doesn't want the Pies to play in the fixture anyway, he reckoned, as the Pies have 'blockbuster fatigue'. Diddums. At the pre-game lunch here Melbun board chairman Paul Gardner announced his intention to resign, Ireland-born club legend Jim Stynes will take over. The Dees' problems are primarily financial, with a debt of $4.5 million, a million-plus loss expected this year and the club's auditors describing their financial situation as "inherently unstable". The Dees came in without Russell Robertson, gone for the year with a torn achilles tendon, Simon Buckley and James Frawley were dropped. In came Jared Rivers, Cale Morton and Jace Bode. One change for the Pies, Ryan Cook replacing injured Scott Pendlebury.
Without Neitz or Robertson, the Deez had Brad Green and Adem Yze start up forward with Brad Miller at CHF. Early goal for the Maggies, Tarkyn Lockyer passed for leading Nathan Brown to mark, he kicked long and Alan Didak marked after clearly shoving Jace Bode in the back. The chorus of booing as Didak converted suggested plenty of Dee fans were in attendance. Both sides wasted chances going forward for a while, the Pies' delivery was poor while Demuns Morton and Colin Sylvia missed set shots, Melbun missed too many on the day. A good switching maneuver by Poi Rhyce Shaw found Heath Shaw marking on the run, he raced ahead with a coupla bounces and kicked a long sausage, the Poise led by 11 points. Rhyce Shaw and Dale Thomas missed long shots, but the Dees fought hard to win the contested ball and began to have reward. Nathan Jones hooked a clever pass to Miller, he handballed to running Green who kicked for leading Austin Wonaeamirri to mark and convert. A minute later Wonaeamirri gathered in the centre and sped away from lumbering Cloke, he kicked for Yze to mark and boot truly and scores were level. The Pies won the ball away from the restart, ruckman Chris Bryan thundered a long kick and Didak lurked in the goal-square to poke it home. The Dees came on, Sylvia's smart tap-on allowed Morton to lob a kick in and Green marked, played-on and slotted. Another tough contested ball win had the Fuchsias attacking again, Cameron Bruce kicked long and Miller battled to set up a major for Sylvia. Melbun led by 6 points at korter-time. Poi big woman, er, man Josh Fraser free-kicked an early goal in the second and the Pies locked the ball in their attacking half for a good ten minutes, with little benefit. Thomas and Leon Davis were too unselfish, attempting unsuccessful passes when they should've had a crack. Eventually Thomas held a decent grab out wide, played on with a dummy and lobbed a good handball for running Lockyer to collect and stab a goal, the Pies led by 7 points. Goals were swapped for a while, Bruce and Yze combined to send the Dees forward, Pie Marty Clarke fumbled and Wonaeamirri soccered a major. The Pies won a rugged scrap for the ball on the boundary-line, their Brown got a handpass away and Ben Johnson booted a great running goal. Back came the Dees, a lengthy switch-of-play involving about six players got the ball to Lynden Dunn on the 50m line, he slipped a tackle and curled a lovely snap for full points. Sylvia marked but missed terribly, reducing the Poi lead to a point. Colliwood advanced swiftly from the kick-in, Paul 'Steak Knives' Medhurst held a back-pedalling one-handed mark and dobbed one. A few fights were breaking out, Melbun hothead Brent Moloney a frequent participant. Cloke marked out wide and produced an awful, mongrelled kick into CHF, but Bruce couldn't handle the awkward bounce and Heath Shaw bagged a major. The Poise led by 13 points, but very late in the term Melbun cleared a throw-in and Jones booted a terrific goal, Pies by 7 at half-time. Jim Stynes appeared on TV during the break, outlining (very) vague plans for the Demons. Ah well, he hasn't been elected yet.
The Pies put some early pressure on in the third Mario, Dee backman Daniel Bell coughed the ball up in a tackle and Pie Brown had an easy goal. Moloney had a free at the following centre-bounce but his wide kick took a bad bounce, the Pies swept forward and Lockyer kicked long. Cloke did well to rove his own contest and handball for Davis to stab a sausage. The Pies led by 19 points but the Dees worked hard to stay close, the story of the entire half. Melbun rover Brock McLean, playing well, weaved clear from a throw-in and was tripped as he had a shot, a free-kick and he converted. Yze and Green missed poorly before Bruce marked on the 50m line, he stood about for a while, awaiting an option, before lobbing a hopeful kick in, Yze soccered the pack spillage for a major. The Pie lead was back to 6 points, but soon Dane Swan executed a great pick-up on the run and drove a long kick sticks-wards, it cleared the wrestling pack and bounced through for a major. Didak missed poorly and leather-magnet Scott Burns behinded with a longer shot, from the kick-in of the latter the Dees were penalized for their runner being inside the opposition's defensive 50. A technical one, from the resulting free Sharrod Wellingham threaded a great kick through from out wide and the Scragpies led by 20 points. Demun Green missed badly with a free, the Pies attacked again and Didak hooked a clever pass to Lockyer, he centered a pass to Shannon Cox for a mark and goal. The Dees were struggling to advance but Jeff White's strong contested grab gave 'em a chance, he found unopposed Moloney whose long kick dropped from Sylvia's contest for Wonaeamirri to bag a major. The Pies kept on, Harry O'Brien ran down from the backline to collect Shane O'Bree's handpass and thump anuge sausage. A bit later the Poise broke from a throw-in, Didak's 30m handball found Medhurst in the clear, he kicked long and after some battle Lockyer snapped an extraordinary over-head goal while lying on his back; if dribbling it through from the boundary is a 'Daicos', that should be a 'Jarman'. Darren, that is. The Poise led by 31 points now, again the Redlegs fought back but couldn't kick straight, Sylvia again missing with a snap. In the dying seconds Yze's smart kick found Green marking 45m out, he converted after the siren and the Dees hung on, trailing by 23 points. Collywood played very coolly in the final korter, chipping the ball around patiently in what amounted to an entire stanza of tempo-football. It was a classic demonstration of the Malthouse mantra; it's not goals for, it's goals against that matter. They were helped by an early Bell mistake, the Dee defender telegraphed a kick-in and Davis marked over James McDonald, Davis booted a goal. The Pies led by 31 points again. Cox missed a shot for the Poise and this time Paul Wheatley hammered the kick-in to the centre, White marked and dished a handball to Moloney, his kick found Sylvia alone for a mark and goal. Simple. Poise by 26 points but not much happened for quite a while. Moloney departed after hurting his wrist, joining Jared Rivers who'd suffered yet another leg-muscle injury. There were a few behinds scored during some end-to-end stuff before the Poise began to slow things down. Melbun put together a good move eventually, Miller marked on a lead and kicked across-ground for Sylvia to hold a decent grab and boot a major. The Dees were 19 points down at this stage but couldn't draw significantly closer, Bell's shot from distance hooked wide and Yze was off-target from a very tight angle. Should've centered it. More clock-draining from the Poise as they chipped about and rushed a few behinds, from a kick-in Rhyce Shaw decided to speed forward and pass wide to Thomas, he played-on and kicked to Lockyer, ran on to receive Lockyer's handpass and curl a great kick for a six-pointer. The cup of grass.
Scott Burns (36 disposals, 12 marks) lifted to have his best game of the season, with other Pie ball-winners down on the day or absent (like Pendlebury). Alan Didak (22 handlings, 7 marks, 2 goals) worked busily across the centre and half-forward, with Heath Shaw (19 touches, 9 marks 2 goals) and Rhyce Shaw (20 disposals, 7 marks) both running well from defence. Tarkyn Lockyer (20 possies, 5 marks, 2 goals) and Dale Thomas (19 touches, 14 marks, a goal) played well in attack and Harry O'Brien (19 handlings, 7 marks, a goal) was tough down back as usual. But really, Burns apart, it was a very even performance. Leon Davis kicked 2 goals. The Dees had some tough performers in rovers Brock McLean (36 disposals, a goal) and Nathan Jones (23 handlings, a goal), in attack Brad Green (24 touches, 8 marks, 2.2) worked hard, coulda kicked straighter. Brent Moloney (17 possessions) won some ball and got under peoples' skin, there were decent efforts from Adem Yze (24 touches, 6 marks, 2.3) and ruckman Jeff White (19 touches, 6 marks, 24 hit-outs). Colin Garland kept Travis Cloke goal-less. Austin Wonaeamirri and Colin Sylvia bagged 3 goals each. Dean Bailey drew positives, particularly from the club's 150th anniversary dinner on the previous Saturday. "It was a fantastic event. It was one of the best events I've been to, and it was a lot about the club. It was raw and it was pretty open and transparent about the people that have been involved in the footy club, and our players certainly felt a greater connection or a greater worth of the colours and the jumper from Saturday night. Emotion and passion and all of those sorts of things should be there every time you play for the club . . . We worked for periods of time in the game and we moved the ball well and we didn't take our chances that we created for ourselves. Having said that, you can't let a team kick seven goals in a quarter, but at least we fought it out in the last quarter. At the end of the day, we lost and that's what you get judged on." Malthouse said. "Yes, there are occasions I suppose by playing at the MCG, it's the home of football, massive occasion for one side, should be the same for us, should be. But you can't keep telling players that. There's got to be a respite somewhere where they can play football without the added pressure of 'we're playing Geelong, we're playing West Coast, we're playing Brisbane and we're playing North Melbourne' and it meant everything to the eight. We come here wanting to win the game of footy; it's simply Queen's Birthday weekend. And we're playing Melbourne who believe this is the be-all and end-all game of the universe. I think that's the thing our blokes put up with and fortunately come out the other side with four points." He then had a go at the Dees. "Hassa Mann, (Ron) Barassi, the ghost of Norm Smith, if that's what has to get sides up then perhaps I'm running it differently or wrongly," he said. "That is not a performance of a bottom side, that is not a performance of a side that's been beaten by 60, 70 and 80 points from time to time. I don't want to say we played poorly, because that does Melbourne an injustice. There's no way we played as well as what we had, but I still get bemused by sides that find more in one game of the year. I can understand if it happens 10 or 15 times a year, because perhaps that's the rationale. But once a year? Doesn't make a lot of logic to me." What a great guy.
Ladder after Round 11
Pts. % Next Round
Hawthorn 40 133.1 Adelaide (Football Park, Sat. night)
Geelong 40 127.5 Port Adelaide (Kardinia Park, Sunday)
Footscray 38 128.9 Brisbane (MCG, Saturday)
Adelaide 32 120.9 Hawthorn (Football Park, Sat. night)
Sydney 30 133.6 St. Kilda (SCG, Sat. night)
Collingwood 28 125.5 Carlton (MCG, Sunday)
Brisbane 28 112.7 Footscray (MCG, Saturday)
North Melbourne 22 96.1 Fremantle (Subiaco, Saturday)
------------------------------------------------
St. Kilda 20 97.9 Sydney (SCG, Sat. night)
Carlton 20 92.0 Collingwood (MCG, Sunday)
Port Adelaide 16 99.6 Geelong (Kardinia Park, Sunday)
Richmond 14 89.2 Melbourne (Docklands, Sunday)
West Coast 8 77.8 Essendon (Docklands, Fri. night)
Essendon 8 69.7 West Coast (Docklands, Fri. night)
Fremantle 4 84.5 North Melbourne (Subiaco, Saturday)
Melbourne 4 60.6 Richmond (Docklands, Sunday)
Cheers, Tim.
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