AFL Qualifying and Elimination Finals
Here we are, eventually. Brisbun didn't waste any tine, appointing Michael Voss as their new coach the day after Leigh Matthews announced his resignation. It was 'always the plan' for Voss to succeed Lethal, said the Lyin's president Brian Propertydeveloper. I think that's his name. Vossy had taken the assistant job at the Eagles as Matthews couldn't name a date. As expected leather-magnet Freo rover Rhys Palmer won the Rising Star Award with 44 votes, ahead of very good Hawk Cyril Rioli (37) and young Tiger champion Trent Cotchin (21). Gary Ablett collected the AFL Player's Association MVP Award, voted on by his peers; the second year in a row Gazza's won it. Richo came fourth, which was surprising, behind Buddy Franklin and Roo Brent Harvey. But ahead of Chris 'Dud' Judd.
At the MCG:
Hawthorn 4.5 10.12 15.17 18.19.127
Footscray 2.1 4.4 7.7 11.10.76
Buddy booted a lazy 8 as the Awks thrashed the poor old Bullpups. Sadly for the Doggies, it was anticipated. They carried their poor recent form in and some blokes who were playing well during their terrific early-season run have lost all form. Adam Cooney, sheesh. The Horks have been a little erratic of late too, but fired-up to produce their best here. In selection the Hawks recalled Shane Crawford but not Simon Taylor, the lad Brent Renouf preferred as Robert Campbell's rucking partner. A harsh but fair choice. It was Campbell's 100th game too. Backman Stephen Gilham ('flu) was a late withdrawal, replaced by small forward Cameron Stokes. The Dogs had Ben Hudson and Farren Ray return at the expense of Wayde Skipper and last week's debutant, Sam Reid.
The oft-mentioned six weeks both sides had to prepare brought about only one surprise, Horforn's Cyril Rioli starting on a wing. He was picked up by Jason Akermanis. The Dogs had Dale Morris on Lance Franklin. Nervous start by both sides, Bully Brad Johnson missed a sitter and Hawk Jarryd Roughead managed to miss the same shot twice. The first goal didn't look good for the Doggies, three of 'em left the ball for each other and Awk Sam Mitchell nipped in to get a quick, high kick away, Brent Guerra marked in a lot of space and jabbed a short kick to Roughead, he thumped it home. The Horks cleared the restart with a free-kick and Franklin led, marked and hooked on-the-full. Plus ca change. A moment later Bully Robert Murphy leaped to take a grab and was 'tunnelled' by Trent Croad, a free-kick which Murph passed to Nathan Eagleton, he kicked for Johnson to hold a good grab and receive a 50m penalty for being knocked down afterwards by Jordan Lewis. Johnno majored and a minute later the Bullies grabbed the lead, Mitch Hahn nudged Luke Hodge under the ball to take a grab, play-on and lob a kick into the goal-square where Daniel 'Guido' Giansiracusa marked, he popped it through and the Dogs led by 5 points. Their night'd peaked early. The Hawks got going, a free-kick to Mitchell and Crawford's long kick allowed Franklin to leap over Morris, he spilled the grab but recovered the ball on the ground and snapped truly. Buddy did that a bit. Roughead missed again but the Hawks were starting to dominate, the Dogs were flooding back and being trapped in their own backline. They held the Orcs out for a bit prior to two late goals, Mark Williams gave Tim Callan a hefty shove to collect the ball, run off with a couple of bounces and unsteadily draw the Dogs before lobbing a handball to Franklin, Buddy managed to scramble a kick through while being tackled. The Hawks cleared the restart and Campbell Brown marked, he converted and the Hawks led by 16 points at the first break. Horforn also cleared the opening centre-bounce of the second term, Roughead marked but kicked another point. A moment later Rioli also behinded after Dogs Akermanis and Eagleton made an appalling mess of things. Mitchell was leading a contested-ball romp for the Hawks and only the inaccuracy of his forwards was keeping the Dawgs alive. Eventually Rioli hacked the ball forward, Franklin fell over but he managed to half-smother Brian Lake's handpass and the ball came back to Buddy, his tumbly-snap rolled through with shepherding from Roughead. Of course Franklin shot on-the-full a minute later, but he was clearly too big for the honest Morris. Perhaps a bit worried by the misses, Franklin passed after marking 40m out, to Crawford in the pocket who steered it through. Great kick from Lewis to find Buddy, too. Grant Birchall swapped passes with Rioli and kicked towards Franklin again, who shoved off Morris to take another grab, play-on this time and smack it through from the flank. The Hawk lead had ballooned to 36 points now and the Dogs, with just two goals on the board, made some changes. Rob Murphy went back and Akermanis and Cooney were sent forward. Aker delivered immediately, he led out to receive a pass from Shaun Higgins and kick quickly to the goal-square where Cooney soccered a major. A minute later a complicated handballing move ended with Daniel Cross roosting a kick in and Akermanis held a good pack-grab, he booted a goal. The Bulldogs were 24 points down but the Hawks and Franklin spurted again, Franklin reverse-swung a free-kick against Morris through from 45m out on the flank and Morris was replaced by Lake. This provided some entertainment as Lake goaded the not-terribly-bright Buddy into knocking him down a few times, conceding a free and two 50m-penalties. The move also paid other dividends as Lake was able to quell wrestling-obsessed Franklin for a while. But other Hawks stepped up to feast on the supply, a truly awful kick from Cooney - in both decision and execution - went straight to Orc Brad Sewell, he set up a mark and goal for Michael Osborne. Rick Ladson held a good grab and kicked to the pocket where Osborne again leaped high for a mark, he converted and the Hawks led by 44 points at half-time.
So it went on, the Dawgs tried hard but were out-played. The third term started quietly, Franklin had stopped trying to mark the ball and instead wrestled Lake. Hawk Campbell Brown hurt his thumb and departed for a bit, he was restricted thereon. The Bullies had a chance when Hork Stu Dew's handball from a throw-in missed the target, Guerra could've tidied up but he elected to flatten Higgins instead, allowing Akermanis to gather the pill and snap an over-the-shoulder goal. Then a good move from the Bullpups ended with Matthew Boyd kicking long and Josh Hill was dragged down in the goal-square by Ladson, Hill free-kicked a major and the Doggies appeared a bit of a chance, trailing by 32 points. But Bully Ryan Hargrave's indiscipline didn't help, Hargrave decided to knock Osborne over at a ball-up at the Horks' CHF and Osborne free-kicked a six-pointer, his third. Franklin missed a set-shot before Osborne kicked another goal. Roughead forced the ball free on the ground and Osborne toe-poked it into the clear, he gathered and ran head-down straight through Callan's 'tackle' before stabbing it through from point-blank. A minute later Hodge's tough defensive mark led to a lead, mark and goal for Roughead, set up by Mitchell. Franklin had moved up the ground to expose Lake's lack of mobility and now Buddy collected Sewell's handpass in midfield and hammered a running kick home from 50m. The Orkers led by 57 points. The Doggies got one, Will Minson producing a decent run and an accurate left-foot pass to leading Hill, who booted the goal. But the Hawks responded, Lewis snapping a terrific left-foot sausage roll after roving Renouf's contest. Horforn led by 58 points at the final change and their only worries were injuries, concussion for Trent Croad and Thomas Murphy's hamstring twinge. The Bullies didn't surrender, scoring the first three goals of the last quarter. Giansiracusa roved Rob Murphy's contest and Guido proceeded to collect his own off-target handball to slot a goal. Cooney free-kicked one after being placed in a head-lock by Franklin, Cross and Jarrod Harbrow combined to win the next centre-clearance and good work from Murphy allowed Ryan Griffen to curl a snap through. The Doggies'd cut the margin to 40 points but they had no hope. Sure enough Franklin restored the Orc momentum with a terrific goal, trapping the ball with a basketball-bounce under close attention from Lake, Buddy got a kick away off one step which sailed through from 45m out. "He's the Usain Bolt of football," exclaimed McAvaney. "Well, he's the same size and shape," added Leigh Matthews. The Awks kicked away, symbolically Clint Young dived in under Akermanis to win the ball for the Hawks and it led to a mark and goal for Roughead, found by a noice pass from Rioli. Osborne did well to win the Sherrin and kick long where Franklin leaped to mark emphatically between two Doggies, giving Lindsay Gilbee a heavy knee in the hip in the process. Franklin's eighth had the Hawkers 58 points ahead once more. The game wound down over the final five minutes, a handful of behinds before Akermanis kicked a late goal, marking Scott Welsh's pass.
Lance Franklin kicked 8.2 (plus about four on-the-fulls) from 14 kicks and 7 marks. But the battle was won midfield where Sam Mitchell (30 disposals) was brilliant, with back-up from Brad Sewell (31 touches, 8 marks) and Jordan Lewis (22 handlings, 8 marks, a goal). Luke Hodge (15 kicks, 6 marks) was a terrific rebounder again when afforded the opportunity and there was a great contribution from small forward Michael Osborne (20 possies, 6 marks, 4 goals). Cyril Rioli (17 touches, 6 marks) and Jarryd Roughead (18 possessions, 10 marks, 3 goals) were pretty useful too. Far-and-away the Doggie's best was rover Daniel Cross (39 disposals, 13 marks), although his stats are inflated by his deployment as a spare man in defence. Half-forward Daniel Giansiracusa (25 touches, 11 marks, 2 goals) was alright as was Will Minson (17 possessions, 17 hit-outs). Brian Lake (22 possies, 11 marks) did okay against Franklin considering and Josh Hill (15 touches, 6 marks, 2 goals) did a bit. Jason Akermanis (17 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals) was middling only, Adam Cooney kicked 2 goals. Eade didn't mince words. "We were beaten by a far better side," he said. "It looks like we got overawed by the whole occasion, which is disappointing. I think their pressure was very good but there was a lot of inferred pressure where we made mistakes we shouldn't have made. It was very disappointing, and certainly from the club point of view and the supporters' point of view, it was a very poor performance. A player like Matthew Boyd, who's been such a good player, I've never seen him fumble and make basic errors like he did tonight . . . We just had a lot of players down tonight, but apart from that it was just the mistakes that we made. We fiddled round with the ball, which is something we didn't practice this week (eh?). That was very disappointing, but this group has got a double chance and that's why we finished third . . . We've all got to take some responsibility." Hawk man Alastair Clarkson said "I'd still like to think we can improve our footy on what we produced tonight. I know that might sound a little silly because we were really pleased with our effort, but finals' footy quite often isn't won by the team that plays the most attractive brand of footy. It's usually won by sides which are just generally hard and tough. I thought for the bulk of the game our guys, and their intensity at the ball, was better than the Western Bulldogs." He was asked about Buddy's effort. "We're obviously really pleased he's on our side and not the opposition's," Clarko said. "He did some pretty special things. That goal he kicked about 10 minutes into the last quarter . . . for him to kick that goal from 48m out, and hotly contested, was a super effort."
At Football Park:
Adelaide 2.2 9.6 11.7 14.10.94
Collingwood 4.3 7.6 14.9 19.11.125
The Poise love these interstate finals, especially in Addleaide. The occasion seems to focus 'em on the task, the Scraggies were back to their hard-tackling, committed, inventive best while the nervy Camrys made a series of errors. If you'd told the Camrys and their supporters beforehand they'd kick 14 goals, and Pie Travis Cloke wouldn't be a factor, they probably would've figured on a 4-5 goal win. But conceding 19 goals to the Pies was not expected. Thus the Corollas' season ended as many predicted, a lower-eight finish and early finals exit. Injuries to forwards are the in-built excuse with no Jason Porplyzia (who didn't play here, clearly his shoulder is too badly damaged) and Brett 'Birdman' Burton, but you need more than two blokes to kick goals. Neil Craig's early-season promise for the Camrys to be more attacking evaporated, due to the injury excuse but you wonder where this side is going without scoring more goals. The Camrys made one change in selection, Brad Moran replacing Porplyzia. This was the last game for Nathan Bassett, the tough defender and Dennis Commetti's favourite player is retiring after games (starting with for the Demuns), Bassett has diabetes and wanted to retire before injuries took their toll. Only one team change for the Magpies too, Dale Thomas returning at the expense of Danny Stanley. Looks like Scott Burns and Shane Wakelin weren't being rested, as they weren't right to play.
The Pies started quickly, out-working the Camry midfield. An unusual Malthouse move, Nick Maxwell tagging Camry ruck-rover Scott Thompson, worked very well. The Poise scored a coupla points before 'Neon' Leon Davis had a free on the 50m line, he kicked long where Cow defender Nathan Bock almost marked it, but didn't and Poi Shannon Cox grabbed the spilled ball to snap a major. Soon came the first of three great first-quarter 'run-downs' by the Pies, Harry O'Brien catching Andrew McLeod. From the turnover Poi Scott Pendlebury lobbed a kick in front of leading John Anthony, who gathered, finessed around Rutten and kicked long where the Pies had a two-on-one and Chris 'Rufus' Dawes marked easily, Dawes majored. Kurt Tippett booted Addleaid's first score, a point. Soon the Pies were attacking again, there was a scrap in which Anthony appeared to throw the ball clear, Davis got a handball away to Rhyce Shaw and was dragged down afterwards, softly, by Chris Knights. The ump awarded Davis a free, ignoring the fact Shaw had booted a long goal. Luckily, Davis thumped it through from 50m. The Pies led by 20 points, 3.3 to a point. The Camrys got moving, a poor decision by Davis to kick backwards into the centre turned over possession and Corolla man Knights kicked long to allow Scott Stevens to mark behind O'Brien, Stevens converted. The Mag-lies answered with Rhyce Shaw taking a terrific running, with-the-flight grab, he handballed to Cloke who produced an awful centering kick but big Josh Fraser showed great agility to scoop up the ball and snap it through from 40m. The Pies led by 19 points but the Cows managed a late goal, Tyson Edwards converting a soft free-kick for an alleged over-the-shoulder tackle from Goldsack. Pies by 13 at korter-time. Oh, the other great run-downs were both of Camry Thompson, by John McCarthy and Thompson's direct opponent Maxwell respectively. As Malthouse noted afterwards, a deficit forces a defensive side to attack and the Camrys fired-up in the second term, led by a career purple-patch from Scott Stevens. Early on Nick Gill led up to take a good mark on the wing, Gill produced a switching kick towards Graham 'Stiffy' Johncock who nudged Shaw under the ball, gathered and ran inside 50 to slot it through. A bit later Simon Goodwin fired a handpass out from the bottom of a pack and McLeod produced an accurate over-the-shoulder snap, the Pie lead was cut to 2 points. Behinds from Gill and McLeod leveled the scores. A bit later O'Brien hacked a kick clear from a ball-up but Rutten collected it, crashing through young McCarthy in the process. Rutten handballed to Knights who booted long, Stevens juggled a pack-mark and booted a six-pointer - the Camrys led. Tight for a bit with a few behinds, before the Camrys manufactured a terrific end-to-end running, handballing move started by David Mackay's skilful-pick-up and ended by Mackay receiving Edwards's handpass and spearing it through from 40m. Noice effort from the lad Mackay. The Cows led by 11 points. The Pies managed one, Paul 'The Cutting Edge' Medhurst led up to mark 60m out, he passed towards Chris Bryan's lead only for Maxwell to run in from the side and pinch the mark off Bryan, colliding a bit heavily with his ruckman. Maxwell majored but the Camrys had a run-on, their Brad Moran had a free at the restart and he handballed off to Doughty, a long kick which Gill almost marked but ruckman Maric gathered and handballed for Stevens to snap truly. A minute later Goodwin kicked to the top o' the 'square, the pill spilled from a big pack and Stevens again was there to snap an over-the-shoulder sausage roll. Then Nathan Van Berlo advanced and booted long, Stevens plucked a good grab over Goldsack on the flank and punted a centering pass towards leading Maric, who marked strongly in front of Prestigiacomo and booted a goal. 'Presti' hurt his shoulder in that contest and his day was over. The Cressidas were cruising with a 24-point lead, but scuttling Poi Dane Swan managed to boot two late goals which proved fairly important in context. For the first Swan ran into a 'paddock' to give Tarkyn Lockyer a target, Swan duly marked Lockyer's kick and majored. A minute later Marty Clarke finessed a bit and kicked long, Medhurst produced a disciplined spoil, he would've tried to mark it in the past, and the ball went to Swan who jabbed a low kick through under pressure. The Camrys only led by 12 points at the long rest.
The Scraggies lifted again to start the third stanza. McCarthy was involved early, leading up to take a mark 50m out. There were some uncertain switching-kicks and handballs before Maxwell had a pop from just outside 50 and his punt sailed through to raise the twin calicoes. A minute later McCarthy beat Johncock to the ball and slapped it clear, Shane O'Bree drove a low left-foot kick in which Anthony marked in front of his man and booted a goal, leveling the scores. Adderlayed went ahead again as Gill led up to mark 50m out, his kick to the top o' the 'square was a shocker, bouncing freely before Tippett gathered and handballed off to Edwards, his looping handball found McLeod in space and 'Bunji' slotted. The Pies replied, some terrific tackling pressure in their forward 50 forced Kris Massie to drop it cold, 'bawl' they cried plus a 50m penalty as Edwards kicked the ball away afterwards. Travis Cloke scored the unmissable goal, scores were level again. The Poise ground ahead, Swan lobbed a high, floating under-pressure punt towards the sticks and Dawes arrived from the side of the pack to take a 'mark' in front and convert. Then McLeod helped the Pies out with two terrible efforts. McLeod's lobbed kick from half-back into the dead centre was picked off by Clarke, he passed to Medhurst who played-on to find Shaw marking in-stride, Shaw ran on to drill one. Next 'Footsteps' McLeod pooped his pants under a kick he should've marked, electing to fist it back behind him instead. Some advice from team-mates might've helped him. McLeod's spoil went straight to Dale Thomas, he kicked to all-alone Lockyer for a goal. The Pies led by 20 points now. With 40 seconds to go in the term Goodwin drove the Camrys into attack, Nathan Bassett had lurked forward and was poised to mark when he was dragged back by Cox, Bassett free-kicked a major. But the Mag-lies got one with 10 seconds to go, Cox atoned by leaping over a ball-up to punch the ball to Thomas, who slapped the Sherrin on his boot and saw it sail through from 40m. Still the Poise by 20 points at three-quarter-time. The Coronas had a crack at staying alive, in the first minute of the final Mario Mackay gathered a clearing Pie kick and tumbled it back in, Maric gathered, was tackled by Clarke and allowed an age to get a kick away, which went straight to Stevens alone in the goal-square. He poked it through. Some hard slog for a bit, until Maric tapped a ball-up to Thompson, his quick kick was marked on his chest by Gill. Not the most reliable of kicks, Gill steered it through and the Poi lead was cut to 8 points. The Maggies replied from a ball-up as Fraser handballed to O'Bree, he kicked long and Bassett's spoil spilled out the back where Anthony had handily stayed to avoid the contest and be presented by fate with an easy goal. Back came the Camrys again, Thompson punted 'em forward and Poi Nathan Brown punched the agget away from Stevens, but Shaw over-ran it and Johncock handballed back to Stevens who snapped a goal. The Poi lead was down to 7 points at this stage and when their young battler Ryan Cook managed to hit the post from 20m out right in front, the pub I was in was filled with much swearing. But they were soon cheered, speedy Thomas burned off Van Berlo and handballed to Pendlebury, Pendles passed to leading Medhurst who played-on along the boundary and kicked across the face of goal where Dawes marked all alone. Dawes booted a major. A bit later Clarke was clattered by Knights as he had a snap and Clarkey free-kicked a major, the Pies led by 20 points with 6 minutes to go. They made sure of it, good play by Davis and Fraser set up leading Medhurst for a mark and deserved goal. To cap it off Fraser marked on the defensive side of the centre, wheeled about and kicked to an area where the Pies had loose men everywhere. Anthony marked, pretended to slip over so he wouldn't have to give off a handball and then booted a major from 45m.
Alleged future Poi skipper Nick Maxwell (12 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals) kept Thompson to 4 touches in the first half but the Camry man had 17 in the end and a decent second half, nevertheless the papers nominated Maxwell as BOG. In truth he was one of many good Poise, Dane Swan (27 touches, 8 marks, 2 goals) was reliable as ever and Marty Clarke (20 handlings, a goal) was very good too. Dale Thomas (20 possies, 5 marks, a goal) had a good second half and Josh Fraser (15 handlings, 6 marks, 21 hit-outs, a goal) contributed, as did Shane O'Bree (24 disposals, 7 marks). The inexperienced Poi forwards Chris Dawes (6 marks, 7 kicks, 3 goals) and John Anthony (3 goals) surprised yer Camry folk. On the Addelaid side Scott Stevens (19 possies, 9 marks, 6 goals) had a terrific day and there were decent efforts from Nathan Bassett (16 touches, 6 marks, a goal) and centreman Michael Doughty (21 possies, 6 marks). Others were a bit erratic, stop-gap forward Graham Johncock (16 disposals, a goal) hasn't kicked enough goals and Andrew McLeod (23 disposals, 2 goals) balanced good with bad. Nathan Bock (13 touches, 3 marks) sacrificed much of his rebounding to curb Cloke and Tyson Edwards (18 disposals, 5 marks, a goal) wasn't bad. Craig said "We went into half time two goals up and it was still obviously a strong game of footy, but after half time I just thought Collingwood bulldozed us and were too dominant. We were disappointed last year with our performance in the elimination final and we need to be disappointed with this game as well. Let's not shy away from that. It was on our home ground and I just thought it was a general poor performance from us." It was pointed out to Craigy the side had won two of seven finals under him. "We all understand that big reputations in this game are made in finals and we haven't been able to do it yet, but that doesn't mean we back off. If you don't want to be disappointed or experience the hurt that goes with it [finals] - don't even put yourself up. We just need to re-group, be pretty critical of ourselves in terms of the way we've gone about it and the way we need to go, and that's me included. There's only one way to fix it and that's to get good enough to get back there and have another go. We're a long way from being a power in the AFL, but we're making some inroads in it. I think we made some steps last year and we'll need to make some this year, but I don't think we should kid ourselves about where we sit in the AFL as one of the 16 teams." Mick Malthouse compared the Camrys to the German soccer team, showing his cultural chops. "Once they get in front, they're happy with a one-nil lead and they'll defend it and win the game . . . You cannot give Adelaide an opportunity to be in front on their home ground, because it's very difficult to come back. They'll close the game up on you. That's why it was so important that we didn't let them get in front. They did, but we were able to rebound in that third quarter, which was terrific. Then the pressure went back onto the other side, and they had to score. Once we got our nose in front [in the third quarter] it was a matter of then seeing how they reacted to get back in front. So if we could hold that out, I thought we had a fair chance of winning." He was asked about the Dane Swan goals just before half-time. "They were critical, there's no question about that," Malthouse said. "It was against the play in many respects. You don't get cheap goals against Adelaide . . . they weren't cheap, they were well thought out by Swanny. I had a go at him four or five weeks ago because he just wasn't kicking goals. Since then I think he may have missed one or two but he's kicked pretty well. They were very important goals to keep us in touch." They'll start favourites against the Saints.
At Stadium Australia:
Sydney 1.5 4.6 12.7 17.8.110
North Melbourne 4.1 6.4 10.5 11.9.75
The Swans turned on a great second half to send Norf tumbling outta the finals. The Ruse only have themselves to blame; a terrible effort last week cost 'em fourth spot and although this was a better performance, an interstate final against Siddey with all their big names firing was too difficult a task. Roo people often complain their side/club isn't respected enough and they're perceived as running on 'Shinboner Spirit' and little else; unfortunately, results like this (and last week) confirm those beliefs. It's been a big year for the Kangers, with the rejection of a move to Queensland, consequent board upheaval and a return to the club's traditional form. But they are short some quality players and only when they win a final or two - two victories in eight since 'the Carey era' - will people respect them again. This loss meant the end for Shannon Grant, a Norm Smith Medallist for the Kangers in 1999, an All-Australian and Norf's best and fairest in 2005 when a string of match-winning final-quarter performances propelled the Kangaz along. Grant provided glimpses of his goal-kicking genius here, but they weren't enough. The Swans were restored to full strength (near enough anyway, only O'Loughlin absent) as Adam Goodes and Ryan O'Keefe returned, they replaced Craig Bird (groin strain) and the dropped Heath Grundy. Jude Bolton escaped suspension for clobbering Bert Proud last week under the 'Swans in the finals' rule (Hall, 2005). Last week skill-lite tagger Ben Mathews announced his retirement after 198 games for the Bloods. North responded to last week's pathetic effort by dropping Corey Jones and Hamish McIntosh along with junior Lachie Hansen; in came Nathan Thompson, Ed Lower and Jess Sinclair.
Apart from the game, the crowd, or lack of one, was the main talking point here. Only 19,100 turned up, the lowest crowd for a VFL/ AFL final since 1924. Various factors contributed, a major one being Sydney's horrendously wet, windy weather on the Satdy which caused the cancellation of the races. Thankfully the wind had dropped and it'd stopped raining before the teams ran out at the nevertheless saturated, 80,000 capacity 'Australia's Home Ground', Norf for the first time ever. The Ruse started well, 15 seconds in there was ball-up in their forward line, a pile-up and David Hale raked the ball in under Brett 'Captain' Kirk, the Siddey man was done for 'bawl' and Hale free-kicked a goal. The game was also notable for some woeful goal-umpiring; soon Norf man Ed Lower roved a pack and handballed over-the-top ahead of Brent Harvey, who ran after the ball and soccered it through right on the goal-line, although replays suggested the ball was over the line before Boomer's boot got to it. In truth the TV was inconclusive, but it didn't look good. Swan junior Pat Veszpremi missed a couple of times before Roo Daniel Wells used a free-kick to find Harvey marking over Jared Crouch, no doubt about this Harvey sausage. He, Wells and Rue skipper Adam Simpson were going well early. Hale worked hard at a ball-up to get the pill to Daniel Harris, he kicked cross-field where Drew Petrie marked and roosted it through from 50m. Maybe the wind hadn't dropped completely. The Kangers led by 22 points. The Swans managed to clear the next centre-bounce, Jarrad McVeigh kicked ahead and in a promising sign for the Bloods Ryan O'Keefe seized a strong grab in front of Daniel Pratt and thumped a long goal. Psycho-Barry Hall and Adam Goodes booted late points, reducing the Norf lead to 14 points at korter-time. Initially, Syddey drew closer in a slogging second term. They had an early goal when Roo Pratt kicked into the back of team-mate Watt, Goodes soccered the rebounded ball ahead and nearly took Michael Firrito's hand off, it seemed, but play went on and Kieran Jack picked up the agget and saw his shot bounce home through an empty 'square. More goal-umpiring chicanery, clear this time as a tight-angle Matt Campbell snap for the Ruse, a goal, was designated a point by the flag-waver. Geezus. The Swans scored the next goal, officially, as ruckman Darren Jolly punted long and O'Keefe clutched another decent grab between out-of-position Ruse Hale and Firrito. O'Keefe majored again and the Norf lead was down to 3 points. Kangers Thompson and Lower missed shots and Veszpremi behinded again for the Bloods. In time-on Shannon Grant turned the clock back for Norf fans, Aaron Edwards marked on a long lead and kicked towards Grant, who took Bevan under the ball and marked, played-on and slotted it through. A bit later Lower drove a low kick forward, the ball skidded off the wet surface, past a few until it reached Swan Lewis Roberts-Thomson. LRT was well-tackled by Hale and loosed a wild handpass, Grant latched on to soccer another major. The Ruse led by 16 points but the Bloods got a late one, Luke Ablett soccered them into attack from the restart and Ted Richards did well to scoop up the pill and handball to Goodes, he kicked smartly for Jarred Moore to mark and convert. Norf by 10 points at half-time.
The locals seized control after half-time, with a big lift from on-ballers Kirk, McVeigh and Jude Bolton. And O'Keefe continued to play his best game in a while. Another strong 'Rokky' grab early in the third set up a goal as Hall shook off opponent Josh Gibson to mark on his chest and convert. Kirk and Jude Bolton combined to clear the restart, Goodes couldn't hold a difficult marking chance but roving Bevan lobbed a high, short kick forward, Goodesey hared ahead to take a great with-the-flight mark and boot a goal. The Swarns led for the first time, by 2 points. A bit later Jolly tapped a throw-in down for McVeigh to collect and punt truly from 30m, a classic Siddey move. Wells kicked a point for the Ruse but he'd disappeared from the game, he had a few mates in blue and white. Kirk hacked a kick forward from a ball-up and the agget took a handy bounce for O'Keefe to gather, he punted quickly ahead again and Hall nudged Gibson aside, collected the pill, weaved away from Pratt and snapped a terrific left-foot, across-the-body major. Siddey led by 13 points now. The Kangers managed the next centre-clearance, Sam Power punted them into attack, Harris forced 'em further forward and Grant got a handball away for Thompson to dribble it through on his left boot. But the momentum was with the locals. Amon Buchanan ran and had a long shot, Roo backman Gavin Urquhart half-stopped the ball but couldn't prevent Veszpremi scoring a goal finally, soccering it through from point-blank. A minute later Hall executed a skilful pick-up in the centre, shook off Gibson again and kicked into space for Jack to collect the ball and drill it home. The Swans led by 19 points. Norf rallied with two goals from Ed Lower. For the first Lower gathered Swan Everitt's big spoil, slipped out of one-arm Kennelly's attempted tackle and stabbed a low sausage. The next came after Power punted long, Harvey got away with an early ride and spilled mark over Kennelly but Lower half-gathered the spillage, was tackled by Crouch and dived like Mick Mitcham, convincing the ump he'd been tackled without possession. Crouchy was upset as Lower free-kicked a major and the Swan lead was back to 7 points. But the momentum. The Swans won another clearance, Jolly tapping a throw-in to McVeigh who jabbed a centering pass to Nick Malceski, he marked and majored. Goodes soccered the ball into oncoming Pratt and it rebounded off the unfortunate Roo for an on-the-full free-kick to Goodes, who played-on immediately and ran inside 50 to spear another goal. Goodesey wheeled away kissing his black arm-band, a tribute to a recently deceased relative. A point from Goodes had the Bloods 20 points ahead, but late in the stanza Rooey Grant's kick found Hale on-the-lead, Hale goaled and the Swans led by 14 points at the final change. Norf exerted some pressure early in the last term but could only produce behinds from Grant, Lower and Harris. From the kick-in of the last, the Swans advanced. O'Keefe marked on the wing and kicked into space for Hall to mark ahead of Gibson, Psycho-Barry steered it through from the flank. The Kangers clung on for a few more minutes before the Swans rolled over 'em. Jack snapped a goal from a ball-up 30m out, then O'Keefe's long kick bounced in space and Goodes tapped-on for Moore to run right in and slam it through. Jude Bolton cleared the next centre-bounce with a free-kick, he sent it wide to lurking Richards who advanced to the 50m line and thundered a sausage roll. The Swans led by a more-than-enough 36 points. Goodes free-kicked a major to make it 42 points the diff prior to a late Norf consolation goal, Jolly attacked Jess Sinclair at a ball-up and then gave the ump a mouthful when he awarded Sinclair a free-kick, adding a 50m penalty and easy goal for Sinclair. But Sinclair burst into tears upon the final siren, perhaps an indictor to his future. Grant departed through a guard-of-honour with his child and Mum, but Siddey players didn't feature in the guard. They 'didn't realize' it was going to happen. Bah!
Big game from Ryan O'Keefe (13 disposals, 9 marks, 2 goals), whose recent form has been blighted by injury, apparently. Brett 'James Tee' Kirk (22 disposals, 8 tackles) and Jarrad McVeigh (25 possessions, a goal) wrested control of the contested ball from Norf and Jude Bolton (17 touches, 10 tackles) helped out. Adam Goodes (12 kicks, 4 marks, 3 goals) was inspired, half-back Ted Richards (18 handlings, 8 marks, a goal) played well and there were useful efforts from runnin' Amon Buchanan (27 disposals, 8 marks) and spearhead Barry Hall (8 marks, 10 kicks, 3 goals). All the big guns, Kieran Jack (15 possies, 3 goals) was handy too. Ruse made fitful efforts, Brent Harvey (20 disposals, 2 goals) was pretty good and backman Daniel Pratt (18 possessions, 5 marks) played well again, big forward David Hale (3 marks, 7 disposals, 2 goals) has been an improver this season. Ed Lower (7 touches, 2 goals) provided moments of inspiration and Drew Petrie (12 handlings, 4 marks, a goal) and Daniel Harris (16 disposals) were alright. Shannon Grant bagged 2 goals in his final game. But the Kangers stopped winning the ball after half-time. Dean Laidley tried to put a positive spin on a very poor end to the season for Norf. "[It's] pretty simple . . . first half contested ball, I think we were probably four in front. Second half [was] 50 to 70. [You] can't do that against any team in the competition, let alone the Swans . . . We've worked really hard and to have the results over the last three weeks [is disappointing]. Our two worst performances came off the weeks after we played the premiers from last year, with six-day breaks. Can you stick your finger on there? Perhaps not . . . We've played some pretty good footy at certain stages during the year. Other times we were ordinary. If you're talking about premierships, and let's face it, that's what we're here to do, I would have thought we're closer this year than we were last year. When we walked off after preliminary final day [last year] I thought, 'Hmm, we're a ways off it'. You know Hansen and McMahon [have been good] and Lower was terrific tonight and Campbell and Thomas, they've won us games off their own boot and I think that's been a real step forward for us." There is better group of youngsters there, sure. But they've gotta win their own ball. Paul Roos reflected a generally bullish mood amongst his players. "I felt at half time, we were a really good chance to win the game because, we were only 10 points down and I thought we had a lot of improvement in us, but we needed everyone to dig in," Roos said. "It was really led by the leaders of the footy club, who got us the opportunity to kick eight goals . . . Everyone sort of says 'too old, too slow' and things like that but a week's a long time in footy. I think people tend to look too far forward, [saying] this team's in really good shape for next year or the year after, but it's the here and the now [that matters]. If we get beaten next week, they'll probably take a few pot-shots at us then, but we've won tonight. I'm confident in the group, that they've still got a little bit left in them and they showed that."
At the MCG:
Geelong 3.7 7.10 16.15 17.17.119
St. Kilda 1.1 3.2 5.5 8.13.61
The Sainters' chances had been talked up beforehand but the crushing reality came, they were smacked by the Cats as have so many before them been. Sinkilda finished up as mangled as the grammar in that previous sentence, but the Pu55ies didn't escape entirely unscathed with injuries to Brent Prismall and Paul Chapman. Nevertheless, the Catters played here without James Kelly or David Wojcinski who can slot back in, apparently. Before the game Cat coach Bomber Thompson stirred the Saints, pointing out they'd done well with 'players discarded by other clubs like Dempster and Schneider', implicating by omission his own King and Charlie Gardiner in those. "We prefer to develop our own players," reckoned Bomber. What, like Ottens? In selection the Cats recalled Andrew Mackie and Max Rooke following injury and suspension respectively, they replaced poor ol' Shannon Byrnes and Ryan Gamble. Two changes for the Saints, Xavier Clarke recalled for his first game after a long absence with an ankle injury along with Andrew McQualter, replacing the luckless Sean Dempster (knee) and the axed Shane Birss.
An overcast, drizzly day in Melbourne and only the Cats' inaccuracy in front of the sticks prevented an earlier blow-out. Afterwards Bomber Thompson blamed too many tight-angle pot-shots early in the piece. As has become the norm, the Cats deployed their most callow defender in Harry Taylor on the oppositions' best big forward, in this case Nick Riewoldt. But Taylor had some help from team-mates and Riewoldt's butter-fingers, the big Sainter spilling three not-easy but entirely mark-able chances in the first five minutes. Steve Johnson missed a shot and the Cats had a rushed point before the Sainters kicked the first goal, Riewoldt led way up to the flank to mark Rob Harvey's pass and kick long into the forward line, where Adam Schneider nudged Tom Harley under the ball to mark and convert. The Catters replied quickly, some ferocious tackling in their forward-line put the Stainers in deep trouble and their Lenny Hayes's attempted kick didn't come about as he missed the ball with his boot, as Chapman tackled. Droppin'-the-bawl and Chapman free-kicked a sausage, the Catters led by 2 points again. Mostly Jahlong kicked behinds though, Andrew Mackie had a crack from distance which faded wide, not surprisingly big Mark Blake missed a fairly easy set-shot amongst some other rushed points; make no mistake, the Cats were dominating midfield already and the Sainter back-line was under pressure. It was during this period Cat Brent Prismall did his knee, simply changing direction to swerve way from Harvey, Prismall's right knee buckled and he collapsed in great pain. He needs a full reconstruction, terrible luck for the bloke who's forced his way into this side with some great form. The Pu55ies led by 7 points, 1.7 to 1.0, before they managed some goals in time-on, just as a brief rain-shower drenched the 'G. Jimmy Bartel leaped to mark a Saint kick-in in front of the pack and dish off to Joel Corey, who chipped a pass along the boundary to leading Cam Mooney. Late-arriving Max Hudghton gave Mooney a shove and a 50m penalty, Mooney popped it through from point-blank. Soon the Cats fought hard to retain possession in the centre, Rooke and Enright especially, Cameron Ling sent the ball wide to Josh Hunt who had a shot. It drifted across the sticks but Bartel arrived to seize a good overhead grab on the point-line and banana it through from the tough angle. Catterers by 18 points at korter-time. The second term saw some more tough, slippery slog as the Sainters fought hard, but you could see it was having minor effect. They couldn't win the ball. Early on Darren Milburn literally ripped the ball from junior Saint Robert Eddy's grasp, it went to Blake in the centre who passed to leading Tom Lonergan, he kicked long where Brad Ottens marked easily as his man Jason Blake slipped over. Ottens majored. Sinkilda managed a rushed behind - hurrah! - before Stephen Milne kicked a goal, Mackie intercepted a Riewoldt handpass in the Cats' defence but Mackie's own handball put Taylor under pressure, there were a few panicky Cat handballs before Schneider tapped-on and lurking Milne snapped truly. The Saints were 17 points behind but the Cats ground ahead. Rooke missed poorly but Bartel, who loves the wet, marked the kick-in again and a coupla handballs later Ling was driving it through from 50m. More Pu55y points followed before Gary Ablett absolutely mongrelled a free-kick from the boundary, Steve Johnson gathered it on the bounce and hooked a kick forward where Mooney nipped in front of Sam Gilbert for a chest-mark and close-range sausage. A minute later Corey slipped tackles and kicked into the pocket where Ottens took a good, low grab in front of Hudghton, Ottens steered it through to have the Cats 38 points ahead. Justin Koschitzke punted the Saints into attack from the following centre-bounce, during some scrap at CHF Harley jumped onto Xavier Clarke's back and X. Clarke free-kicked a goal. Geelong led by 32 points at orange time.
The Catters ended the contest, if it was still going, with a goal barrage late in the third. The Saints exerted some minor pressure early, after behinds from Pu55ies Mooney (two) and Lonergan. A rare, fluid-ish Sinkilda move ended with under-pressure Schneider lobbing a punt inside 50 and Brendon Goddard charged out to seize a good grab, he converted. The Sainters were 'only' 29 points down. A terrific running, handballing move involving Ablett, Travis Varcoe and Mackie ended with Ablett running inside 50 and spearing it through for a great goal. It was tight for a few minutes, then the umps helped the Catters out with one of them double-goals. Mackie collected a desperate clearing Sainter kick and passed to Johnson on the boundary, he lobbed a kick to the 'square where back-pedalling Ottens was pushed over by Hudghton, Ottens free-kicked a major. In the aftermath Milne gave Johnson a little elbow in the ribs and Johnson collapsed as if shot, resulting in a free which Johnson enjoyed converting. Jason Blake knocked Johnson down after that, too, but the ump simply warbled "back to your positions", i.e. "I haven't got the cojones to award a triple-goal." The Cats led by a hefty 48 points now. A bit later Gilbert's weak kick in the centre square went straight to Enright, who chipped ahead to find Johnson marking with-the-flight and his kick found Mooney marking alone in the pocket, Mooney played-on and slammed it through from point-blank. Raphael Clarke missed a shot for the Saints but from Hunt's kick-in Xavier Clarke spoiled Joel Selwood and got a handball away to running Leigh Montagna, who roosted it through. The Cats piled on the goals in time-on though, rebounding Scarlett found Ablett in space on the forward flank and Ablett jabbed a short pass to Rooke, who played-on and popped it through. Riewoldt tapped a back-pocket throw-in to team-mate McQualter, but Mathew Stokes stole the ball off the Saint and ran into the goals to poke it through. Ablett was involved a couple of times in clearing the restart and he passed to Selwood, his neat pass hit leading Lonergan for a mark and goal. Another Pu55y centre-break followed, Mooney dived but could only scoop Mackie's kick on the half-volley, but as Mooney slid on his knees he fired a handball to running Varcoe who sped clear and slotted. Arrogant, brilliant stuff. Poor old Steven King was tackled and dumped by Corey, Mark Blake collected the loosed ball and stabbed a pass to leading Lonergan, who booted another Cat major. Nine in the quarter and the Pu55ies led by 76 points at the last change. They put the cue in the rack for the final term, the injury to Chapman (his usual, hamstring tightness) the only worry. Riewoldt scored a goal early in the final stanza, from a forward-pocket throw-in Clint Jones got a handpass to Milne, he shaped for a snap but (because he couldn't) handballed to Riewoldt who snapped truly instead. Bronx cheering. A few minutes and behinds later the Katz scored one, a complicated move at half-back ended with Enright's long kick to find Mooney with a strong grab, he centered a kick for leading Bartel to seize emphatically and convert. As time-on approached the 20-man Cats benched a few and the Saints attacked a bit, Harvey and Koschitzke exchanged dinky passes, Harvs then sent the ball wide where Montagna gathered and kicked back to the top o' the 'square where Raphael Clarke marked alone, he converted. Four consecutive behinds for the Saints followed before Milne booted a goal, collecting the Sherrin in the centre from Gardiner's looping handball, Milne ran inside 50 with a coupla bounces and had the blinkers on as he only ever had one intention. After the final siren Harvey and Scarlett exchanged some angry words, we don't know what it was about. Turns out Jason Blake has some arm and hand problems.
As mentioned Jimmy Bartel (34 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals) revels in the wet, his overhead marking was terrific. Cat fans would've enjoyed Brad Ottens (15 touches, 7 marks, 15 hit-outs, 3 goals) dishing it out to King and Koschitzke, while Gary Ablett (35 possies, 7 marks, a goal) and Joel Corey (32 disposals) were as good as usual. Cameron Mooney (17 handlings, 11 marks, 3 goals) controlled the forward-line and at the other end Harry Taylor (22 touches, 10 marks) won praise for his game on Riewoldt, Cameron Ling (24 possies, a goal) shut out Dal Santo who's had an ordinary year. Darren Milburn (32 touches, 9 marks) played well, Tom Lonergan bagged 2 goals (2.4). Stinkilda had two decent performers, Lenny Hayes (30 disposals, 8 marks) never stops trying although he was also reported for biffing Selwood. Brendon Goddard (23 touches, 9 marks, a goal) had the class necessary to perform in the tough atmosphere. Elsewhere, Sam Fisher (31 handlings, 8 marks) did okay in defence and Leigh Montagna (25 disposals, 6 marks,, a goal) wasn't bad. Stephen Milne was their only multiple goal-scorer with 2. "We knew we were coming in and playing the benchmark team and we thought we had come in with really good form - not only against an undermanned Essendon," began Ross Lyon. "But we had played some pretty good teams over the last 10 weeks and come out on top eight times and won interstate twice.We thought what we had been doing would stand up under pressure and fundamentally they won the contested ball and they used it really well. We struggled to slow them in their ball movement, which we know is a feature. We thought their midfield got on top and we couldn't get our hands on the footy, so they're the three basic areas we had been good in. If you're good in them, you'll stand up and if you're not, you'll get steamrolled, like we did." He looked ahead. "We've earned the right to get a second week and we look forward to that. We went over and watched Collingwood yesterday and they were really impressive and they'll come in, in really good nick," Lyon said. "We'll go in as the underdog this time against Collingwood - they (were) last time. There is no doubt, after the way they performed interstate - they'll be really buoyant. We'll go in as the underdog and we'll have to work hard to earn some respect back." Mark 'Bomber' Thompson reckoned "We've been in some pretty good form. Today the conditions probably didn't help us play our best footy, but in saying that, to kick nine goals on a wet track in a quarter of footy is a pretty good effort. It was a funny start; we sort of went wide with our entries, and we were trying to score goals from outside fifty . . . and it's really hard to score from out there. We weren't playing our best team footy, but we were having shots at goal, we were having entry, and the fundamentals were right. Certainly by the time the third quarter came along, we were pretty fantastic to score 9.5 in a quarter of footy."
Next week, Semi-finals:
Footscray v Sydney, MCG, Fri. night. Winner plays Geelong in Prelim Final.
St. Kilda v Collingwood, MCG, Sat. night. Winner plays Hawthorn in Prelim Final.
Cheers, Tim.
The AFL Review is sent via an automatic email list. To join or leave the list is easy.
Please visit our website at http://www.footy.com.au/fts/newsletters.htm
OR
If you have difficulty with the above please email lists@footy.com.au
No comments:
Post a Comment