AFL Round 14 Part 2
At Football Park:
Adelaide 0.1 2.5 4.8 8.8.56
Geelong 4.6 9.8 12.10 18.16.124
Not the margin of the Cats' previous outing but the performance was just as impressive. Geelong thumped the Camrys and returned to the top o'the ladder, recording 460 disposals, 9 shy of the leeg record. They look ahead now to rounds 16 and 17 when they face the Bulldogs and Hawks in successive weeks. Addleaid made plenty of noise in the build-up about being more attacking, running the ball and exerting the kind of tackling pressure that enabled the Poise to defeat Jahlong for the only time this season. But talking about it and doing it are two different things. As Bomber Thompson said a few weeks ago the Cats have reverted from hunted to hunters, their superb pressure and skill forced the Camrys to crumble very early. Three straight losses now for the Corollas, who face Collywood at the 'G next Satdy, then a Showdown and Siddey away. It doesn't get easy. Two changes to this Camry side, Andrew McLeod was out with a knee injury and Luke Jericho dropped, in came defenders Kris Massie and Brad Symes. The Cats were strengthened by the return of full-back Matthew Scarlett and small forward Mathew Stokes, outgoing were Harry Taylor and Brent Prismall.
The Cats were terrific early and crushed the Camrys with some great skill and tackling. The Camrys visibly wilted as their plan fell apart, afterwards Camry coach Neil Craig used the word 'rattled'. The first fifteen minutes were played in the Pu55ies' attacking half. First goal came as Cameron Ling lobbed an optimistic pass towards outnumbered Paul Chapman, but Chappie leaped and fisted the ball ahead, Steve Johnson anticipated to gather and slot it through. The Camrys made extremely slow, hard work of their first attack - the opposite of their plan - before Brett 'Birdman' Burton snapped on-the-full. Cat Cam Mooney missed after a great grab against Ben Rutten. Cat Andrew Mackie's wide kick appeared to go out on-the-full, but the boundary ump decided it'd bounced on the line. From the throw-in Johnson was ploughed into the turf by Nathan Bock's fierce tackle. Johnson free-kicked a major and the Cats led by 14 points. Travis Varcoe managed to miss from point-blank after great work from Johnson and Ablett to set him up, from the kick-in Cow Graham 'Stiffy' Johncock punted on the full, the Camrys rushed a point from Varcoe's free. Cat Joel Selwood, playing very well, snaffled the next kick-in but missed again. It was one-way traffic. Two minutes into time-on Nathan Van Berlo banana-snapped a behind, the Cows' first score bringing some Bronx cheering. The Pu55ies swept downfield from the kick-in, a great kick from Selwood allowing Mathew Stokes to mark on the 50m line. He played-on and kicked to find Tom Lonergan all alone 15m out, Lonergan converted and the Cats led by 22 points. Camry defenders Bassett and Bock exchanged some harsh words along with plenty of gesticulating as the players jogged back to the centre. A long Lonergan effort was just touched through, late in the term ruckman Mark Blake marked in the centre and was slightly hassled by Richard Douglas, a soft 50m penalty ensued. Blake converted after the siren and the Cats led by 29 points at the first break. The Corollas scored a belated opening goal early in the second Mario, Jason Porplyzia following a strong pack-mark. But the Cats replied quickly after the hapless Douglas spilled a grab at half-forward for the Camrys, Geelong rebounded and some fumbling between Camry defenders Johncock and Rutten allowed Lonergan to sweep up the ball and snap truly. A minute later Lonergan led up to mark Max Rooke's pass and kick to the top o' the 'square, Cameron Ling was pushed outta the contest by Thompson and Ling free-kicked a major. The Cats led by 35 points. Good play from Tyson Edwards led to an Addleaid goal, he kicked for Burton to hold a good grab 50m out and 'Birdman' stabbed a short pass for leading Douglas to mark and convert. The Camrys trailed by 29 points again and tried hard for a bit, tackling well. The Katz absorbed the pressure, half-back Corey Enright collecting 11 disposals in ten minutes, so Bucks told us. There were few points each before the Cats attacked from a kick-in, Rooke and Johnson did well to set up a with-the-flight mark for James Kelly, he handballed over-the-top to Lonergan for a goal-square tap-through. Paul Chapman lobbed a pass for leading Mooney to clutch and convert as Adderlayed man Robert Shirley, tagging Ablett, departed with a broken nose. He returned presently. A good Camry running move ended with Porplyzia's shot hitting the post, the Cats again advanced from the kick-in and a multitude of short-passes ended with Mooney centering the ball to Varcoe, he majored. The Cats led by 46 points, a behind from Camry Thompson made it 45 at the long break.
The Cressidas had another go early in the third but all they did was halt the Pu55ies' progress, rather than cut the margin. Burton kicked an early goal, set up by a pass from Nathan Bassett who'd moved to CHF. There were no goals for the next ten minutes, the Cats lairizing a bit but the Cows did exert some good tackling pressure. Then a great blind-turn from David Wojcinski and Enright's terrific handpass sent the Sherrin to Chapman free, he rode a tackle and Rooke was involved twice as the ball went to Mooney, another handball inboard to Joel Corey brought a great team goal. A minute later Symes's lazy kick forward was snaffled by Darren Milburn and Andrew Mackie kicked to Steve Johnson's lead, he marked and punted quickly, Mooney soccered it through from the goal-square. "They're Harley's Globetrotters," quipped commentator Tim Watson as the Cats led by 51 points. The Cows managed a belated goal, which they probably deserved for effort. Simon Goodwin kicked to Ivan Maric's lead, the young ruckman played-on to find Massie alone 40m out and Massie majored. But Corey was awarded a free at the restart and sent the ball wide to Milburn, he kicked for Stokes to juggle a grab and thump it through from 50m. The Cats led by 51 points at the last change. The margin expanded quickly in the last, 'cause the Cats respect the opposition. Ablett tumbled a kick forward from the opening bounce and Stokes gathered, executed a 360-degree blind-turn and launched a high snap which bounced through, just. Kelly's tap-on and a few handballs set up Ling for a pass to leading Lonergan, he marked and majored. Johnson's great fend-off and speared pass saw leading Chapman marking and sausaging and the Katz had leaped 68 points clear. They relaxed a bit and the Cows had some chances, but Thompson mongrelled a shot 20m and Douglas hooked hopelessly on-the-full, sandwiching a good running goal from Edwards, set up by Goodwin's handpass. Porplyzia intercepted a Harley handpass and gave the ball to Bock, he kicked for Maric to mark and convert. The Camrys were 'only' 58 points down. The Cats missed a coupla shots, then Enright spoiled Rutten's kick-in and the ball spilled to Corey, he kicked for Stokes to mark alone in the goal-square and pop it through. Johncock replied for the Cows, sweeping up the ball and drilling it through after Nick Gill crashed a contest to create the chance. Douglas produced another terrible kick at goal but it was straight, and wobbled through as Johncock's attempted soccer-volley distracted the Cat backmen. Cats by 55 points but they scored the final two goals, Mackie had an easy slot after Corey and Jimmy Bartel set him up, Corey bagged the final one after Johnson's mongrelled centering kick, intended for Mooney, dropped into his arms. A superb pass from Varcoe to Johnson set that one up. The Cats are still the yardstick.
With 460 disposals, it won't surprise to learn twelve Cats had 20 or more possessions. Standouts included half-back Corey Enright (36 possies, 8 marks), centreman Joel Selwood (37 disposals) who was terrific early and ruck-rover Jimmy Bartel (41 touches, 13 marks) who was better as the game progressed. Half-forward Steve Johnson (26 touches, 2 goals) was very good and Cameron Ling (25 possies, a goal) had the better of tagging assignment Thompson. Andrew Mackie (24 disposals, 6 marks, a goal) was handy and Tom Lonergan (10 kicks, 5 marks, 4 goals) ensured Tom Hawkins stays in the VFL for the time being. Joel Corey (30 touches, 2 goals) was pretty good too, Mathew Stokes kicked 3 goals and Mooney bagged 2 goals. Best for the Cressidas included old hands Simon Goodwin (34 disposals) and Tyson Edwards (26 handlings, 8 marks, a goal). Rebound men Scott Stevens (24 possies, 9 marks) and Kris Massie (22 touches, 8 marks, a goal) were okay. Richard Douglas managed 2 goals. Neil Craig respected the opposition, too "There needs to be great credit given to Geelong. That was an unbelievable performance, what we witnessed tonight," he said. "Whilst they [Geelong] were far superior on the night, I thought we got rattled by the pressure of the game. If you're talking about finals football, which is when the pressure comes on, you've got to be able to hold your nerve for a period of time and I don't think we absorbed it at all. We looked hesitant, rushed and we fumbled the ball, so that would be the most disappointing thing to come out of the game for us. They were exceptional and I think everyone recognises they are the best team in the competition. What does that game add to our club? A recognition that that is the level. We've played against it, we've been exposed badly and we couldn't handle the pressure, so that's what we take out of it. Now we're crystal clear about the level that's out there and where we need to go. That's really important for our playing group." Bomber Thompson was pretty happy. "We've never come to this state and won by so much against a pretty classy opposition, so we're pretty pleased with that effort," he said. "It's a really hard job to play the Adelaide Crows here. It's a really hard place to play when the stadium's full of opposition supporters. To win by so much is outstanding. (But) of course we can (play better). We didn't play the perfect game. And we haven't played it yet, so we'll continue to strive to seek perfection. We'll strive to be a better team." Did they over-use the ball? "I don't really count possessions," said Bomber. "Someone told me that we had 460, but it's almost irrelevant. It's not important to some football clubs; it's not important to Geelong. We try to measure other things that are important to us . . . (Fast starts are) something we've been trying to work on, to have better starts and win first quarters. That's in the areas that we measure. It sets up the rest of the game. You always try and take the crowd out when you play interstate, tonight we did it particularly well."
At Stadium Australia:
Sydney 1.3 1.5 2.7 6.14.50
Collingwood 1.5 5.7 8.12 11.13.79
Not a good night for the Swans as they went down to the Poise, their bogey-side, for the fifth consecutive time. It wasn't great game overall and pea-brained Barry Hall managed to dong someone again, too. Great win for the Pies though, re-establishing their credentials following two lacklustre efforts. How much this game is generally indicative, or unique to these two teams, remains to be seen. The Bloods do have a tough run over the remainder of the season, including another game against Collywood thanks to the ridiculous fixture. The Pies'll look forward to it. For the first time in eight-and-a-half years the Swans took to the ground without Adam Goodes, suspended one game for biffing Dee Clint Bartram a fortnight back. A run of 204 consecutive games, that. Ruckman Peter 'Spida' Everitt returned to replace him. The Poise lost Anthony Rocca (ankle), for the season apparently, Ben Reid was out with a broken foot and Alan Toovey and Sharrod Wellingham were dropped from the loss to Carlton. Incoming were Travis Cloke, following suspension, 'Neon' Leon Davis, defender Shane Wakelin and solid big man John Anthony.
The ground surface was an issue again, cut-up from rugger league's Origin game the preceding Wednesday and rain the next day. It didn't help the standard. The game moved at a glacial pace, particularly when the Swans had the ball. There was no run at all from them, no playing-on, the complete opposite of the Cats the night before. How much that had to do with Goodes's absence is moot, but blokes like Kennelly, Malceski and Buchanan did absolutely no running either. The Pies were happy to play along for the most part, their edge coming in attack where they had more variety and inventiveness. The Poise' Dale 'Daisy' Thomas was the game's key player early, Thomas sporting 'serious' non-peroxide brown hair following a coupla ordinary performances. Hall missed the first shot, marking 40m out, before Travis Cloke led wide for a grab and punted quickly to the goal-square where Thomas got a ride and took a great grab over Marty Mattner. Thomas popped it through. A minute later Thomas leaped for another strong mark in front of opponent Paul Bevan but missed from a tough angle. Tarkyn Lockyer missed an easy shot and Cloke hooked wide from distance during a good spell for the Pies. The Swans couldn't get beyond their attacking 50m, Hall was penalized a coupla times after tangling with 'autumn leaves' Shane Wakelin. Had Barry simmering, no doubt. The Swans finally managed a goal when Craig Bird's speculative left-foot shot from the boundary drifted through. The Pies cleared the restart and their ruckman Cameron Wood charged out to clutch a very good grab, but he produced a shocking kick, preceding a few more behinds as the term petered out. O'Loughlin missed terribly from 30m out. The Magpiss put a gap in 'em in the second term. Thomas's aerial skills were crucial, he booted an early goal after slipping Bevan to mark Chris Bryan's free-kick. Thomas soon snapped a behind and Cloke missed again as the Pies crawled to a 10-point lead. The Bloods helped 'em out, under-pressure Mattner and Leo Barry should've rushed a behind but determined to keep the ball alive, Barry was tackled in the goal-square and handballed straight to Cloke, who snapped it through. Oops. A minute later Rhyce Shaw clutched a decent grab 60m out and dished off rapidly to Ben Johnson, he punted long and Thomas rode Bevan for another great speccie. Thomas lobbed it through. The Scragpies won the ball from the restart, captain Scott Burns punted towards leading Cloke who held off Richards while clutching a one-handed mark to his chest. Cloke walloped a punt home from 55m, the Pies led by 28 points now. Swan Hall had been benched for a bit, frustrated by the lack of supply and Wakelin's close attention and the TV caught him wheeling and clouting Wakelin in the face with an elbow, unlike the Staker punch the contact was glancing at best. Wakelin went down like he'd been hit by a train, but the umps hadn't seen it so he leaped up and carried on unfazed. Hall and Ryan O'Keefe kicked behinds in time-on, the Swans' only scores of the quarter, so they trailed by 26 points at the long break.
The third quarter was the worst of the game, especially the first half of it. You'd have thought the Swans might take some risks and try and run a bit, but they didn't. The Pies were happy to chip the ball around and take no risks either, as they led by 5 goals, effectively, in a very low-scoring game. Thirteen minutes elapsed with four behinds scored. Thomas was a bit quieter for the Pies now but Paul 'Steak Knives' Medhurst was starting to get a bit of it and he broke the goal-drought, reading Johnson's quick kick from a throw-in to gather on-the-bounce and banana-snap it through. Sinney were 34 points down now and had scored one goal in nearly three quarters. In time-on the umps helped 'em out, Jarred Moore won a free on the wing for in-the-back against Heath Shaw and Shaw decided to give the ump a mouthful, conceding a 50m penalty. Moore moved within range and punted truly. The Pies managed two decisive late goals though, Leon Davis gathered Shane O'Bree's scrubby kick and appeared to be out-of-bounds when he punted to the goal-mouth, Medhurst slipped behind Malceski to mark, play-on and snap it through. Wood won the ball at the next centre-bounce and his quick kick was marked by Tyson Goldsack, he kicked long where Cloke was wrestled out of the contest by Barry. Free-kick to Cloke and he majored, the Poise led by a healthy 41 points at the last change. The Swans managed some belated running pressure in the final stanza. A complicated move from a throw-in ended with Marty Mattner stabbing a short pass to unattended Hall, he kicked a goal. Jude Bolton missed with a straightforward shot, sending a Swan supporter next to me into a rage. ("He NEVER kicks goals, he's RUBBISH!"). Swan ruckman Darren Jolly was exerting influence as the Pie pair tired, Jolly's win enabled Bird to run through the centre and stab a pass to leading O'Loughlin, Mick punted truly from 45m. A minute later great play from Kennelly won the ball, he handballed to Jarrad McVeigh who passed for Henry Playfair to hold an easy grab and convert. Three in-a-row for the Swannies and they trailed by 22 points. They won the next centre-clearance and O'Keefe hooked a quick kick for O'Loughlin to mark on an angle, 20m out but he missed poorly. Soon at the other end Leo Barry again declined to rush a behind, it appeared a smart decision as Malceski received Barry's handpass and ran clear. But the sharp-eyed ump had spotted a throw by Barry, conceding a free to Cameron Wood 10m out. Wood couldn't help but convert. Pies by 27 points and the Swans surrendered with four straight behinds. Kieran Jack missed a running shot from 20m and O'Loughlin missed another set shot, Barry Hall sprayed a stoopid running banana when he should've handballed to O'Keefe. Jack missed again before the sealer, if necessary. The Swans were defending desperately when Bevan's diving handpass was intercepted by Didak, he slotted a good goal on his (non-preferred) right boot. The Pies led by 29 points at the 23-minute mark and the home supporters headed for the exits. O'Keefe and Pie John Anthony kicked goals in the final minutes, Anthony's a fairly spectacular soccer-volley from close range
Difficult to identify best players, for consistent efforts you'd go for Pie Dane Swan (30 disposals, 13 marks) and backman Shane Wakelin (22 touches, 10 marks), limiting Barry Hall to 6 marks and one goal. But Dale Thomas (12 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals) was the key player in the first half and Travis Cloke (8 marks, 19 possies, 3 goals) and, after half-time, Paul Medhurst (21 touches, 8 marks, 2 goals) were both very important. Alan Didak (28 touches, 7 marks, a goal) worked hard all over the ground and Shane O'Bree (19 handlings) wasn't bad, Heath Shaw (19 disposals) was tagged by Luke Ablett but won the duel and did some good things. Winners are even harder to identify for the Swans, Roos was happy with the defensive effort and Leo Barry (19 disposals, 6 marks), Craig Bolton and Marty Mattner (20 touches) were okay. Jude Bolton (21 disposals) and Brett 'Captain' Kirk (29 touches, 7 marks) slogged away on-the-ball, Darren Jolly (20 disposals, 10 marks, 17 hit-outs) was increasingly influential. Jarrad McVeigh did a decent stopping job on Rhyce Shaw. But it wasn't too good. Hall kicked 1.3 and O'Loughlin 1.4. "Probably our forward line tonight really, really struggled. That was probably the difference in the game," Roos said. "They got some really good goals from Thomas and Cloke; we just couldn't seem to get anything out of our forwards . . . We thought we'd planned well but obviously it didn't work well tonight as was the same script as the last three (against Collywood). At the moment, clearly they are pretty comfortable playing against us . . . (We) could've easily been something like four goals in the first half. They took their opportunities and we just couldn't take many of ours. They were just too good for us." Mick Malthouse respected the opposition. "If you ask the player group who I respect personally in this competition, as high as anyone, they'll all say I talk about Sydney because I rate their coach, I rate their discipline and I rate their players," Malthouse said. "Perhaps we do well (against the Swans) because we try to take the best out of Sydney and utilise it. It was scrappy because two sides were going at it to stay in the race for the four, or the eight, if you like. There was a massive amount of pressure from both sides. Probably no excuse for the goalkicking, but there was a massive amount of pressure."
Ladder after Round 14
Pts. % Next Week
Geelong 52 147.4 Fremantle (Kardinia Park, Saturday)
Footscray 50 133.4 Melbourne (Docklands, Sunday)
Hawthorn 48 129.3 Sydney (MCG, Sunday)
Sydney 38 130.9 Hawthorn (MCG, Sunday)
Collingwood 32 119.4 Adelaide (MCG, Saturday)
Adelaide 32 109.1 Collingwood (MCG, Saturday)
Brisbane 32 106.1 Essendon (Docklands, Sat. night)
St. Kilda 28 97.3 Carlton (MCG, Fri. night)
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Carlton 28 95.4 St. Kilda (MCG, Fri. night)
North Melbourne 26 94.0 Port Adelaide (Football Park, Sat. night)
Richmond 22 91.3 West Coast (Subiaco, Sunday)
Essendon 20 78.5 Brisbane (Docklands, Sat. night)
Port Adelaide 16 91.7 North Melbourne (Football Park, Sat. night)
Fremantle 8 90.0 Geelong (Kardinia Park, Saturday)
West Coast 8 66.5 Richmond (Subiaco, Sunday)
Melbourne 8 64.4 Footscray (Docklands, Sunday)
Cheers, Tim.
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