[AFL-Review] AFL Semi Finals

AFL Semi Finals

 

How did both codes of rugby and the soccer manage to get their games live-to-air on Sydney TV on Satdy night, but the footy was on a 2-hour delay? Channel Ten decided we had to see the kids' movie 'Madeleine' for the seventeenth time. Channel Seven were scarcely better, the Swans' game on Friday night wasn't live either. Why on earth not? The All-Australian team is announced tonight, ten Geelong players have been nominated so it'll be pretty similar to last year, you'd think. I messed up Nathan Bassett's final stats last week, he played 210 games for the Camrys (none for the Dees, although he was on their list) and was an All-Australian in 2006.

 

At the MCG:

Footscray  2.3   6.5   11.9    16.10.106

Sydney     2.4   5.7    5.13    9.15.69

 

Recent history repeated as the Dogs beat the Swarns for the third time this season, Footyscray bouncing back from their mauling against the Hawks. The Dogs were tough enough, ran enough and outplayed a tired-looking Siddey mob. This is about where the Swans were anticipated to end up, there was a period mid-season when they were seen as a genuine contender but they struggled later in the season with injuries and moderate form. And they cannot beat Collywood. The question asked continually regarding the Bloods these days is their age and the need to rebuild. It's happening already with blokes like Jarred Moore, Kieran Jack and Craig Bird coming through this year but looking at some of those running 'round, there are some problems. How Jared Crouch gets a game is a mystery, Leo Barry should think about it and if Tadhg Kennelly really wants to go back to Ireland, now would be the time. But they can probably squeeze another season or two out of Hall, Goodes, O'Loughlin and co. Ruckman Peter 'Spida' Everitt surprised no-one by retiring straight after the game, the best tap-ruckman of his era Spida played 291 games, was a three-time All-Australian and a great performer for the Saints and the Hawks where he won best-and-fairest awards, he hasn't done much for Sydney though. In selection here the Bulldogs made just one change to the side thumped by the Awks, Stephen Tiller replacing softy runner Farren Ray. No change to the Swan side which overran North.

 

A fairly open, end-to-end start to the game, thought to favour the Bullies. Both sides had numbers back though and there was some poor early shooting. An accurate Ben Hudson snap for the Dogs was touched off-the-boot, then Adam Goodes, Ryan O'Keefe and Psycho-Barry Hall all missed for the Bloods, Hall's a very difficult banana-shot from a tight angle. The Doggies had Brian Lake on Hall in an enticing match-up, Dale Morris on Goodes and Ryan Hargrave on O'Keefe. Ten minutes ticked by prior to the first goal, coming from a soft free-kick to Bulldog Tim Callan. He passed to Daniel Cross, who lobbed a poor pass short of leading Robert Murphy. But Murphy did well to gather, spin away from Paul Bevan, have a bounce and spear it through. The Swans replied quickly, Amon Buchanan was tackled without the ball by Akermanis and Buchanan punted his free-kick smartly forward, Hall shoved off Lake to mark and convert. The Dogs attacked a bit but Josh Hill and Will Minson kicked points, leveling the scores. A minute later Goodes won the ball with some strong battling in the centre, he handballed to Patrick Veszpremi who kicked long. Hall juggled and spilled a mark but got a throw-pass away to allow ruckman Darren Jolly to soccer a major. The Bloods led by a goal and a Nick Malceski point made it 7 points. But a bit later Doggy Jarrod Harbrow found leading Daniel 'Guido' Giansiracusa with a lobbed pass, Guido handballed to Nathan Eagleton whose long punt spilled from the goal-square pack and Scott Welsh soccered a typical Welsh goal. The Swans led by a point at the first break. The game was tightening up with more stoppages, favouring the Bloods' style. Not much happened in the first few minutes of the second, save O'Keefe failing to receive a 50m penalty when smacked in the gob after marking, by Callan. O'Keefe didn't 'sell it'. Then the Dogs had a goal, Murphy led wide to mark on the flank, he wheeled about, drove a long kick in and the ball was fought over. Jolly tried to barge clear for the Swans but was tackled, Welsh gathered his handball and handpassed in turn to Shaun Higgins who snapped truly to put the Bullies 5 points ahead. Shortly Higgins had another chance, leading to mark 30m out. But no - the Bulldogs had messed up an interchange and under this stupid rule the Swans had a free-kick 30m out, at the other end. But in the first of several crucial Swan misses, backman Kennelly's gently poked kick hit the post. Siddey went alright for the next few minutes though, Spida Everitt juggled a two-grab pack-mark and punted to the 'square where Hall was thrown out of the contest by Lake, Hall free-kicked a major. There was some rugged stuff, Bully Brad Johnson had already had Craig Bolton's full weight in the middle of his back, now Johnno was clattered by Bolton, then Mattner in the same contest. Poor ol' Johnno staggered off. Siddey defender Lewis Roberts-Thomson kicked a rare goal thanks to a free for being held without the ball, plus a 50m penalty when slung to the ground afterwards by Cooney. The Swans led by 9 points now. The Bullies lifted late in the term, Callan did well to win the pill and tumble a kick forward, the agget spilled from Hill and Barry's contest and roving Mitch Hahn stabbed a sausage. The Swans won the following centre-clearance and handballs went from Hall to Jude Bolton to Jarrad McVeigh, McVeigh passed to leading Goodes who marked and steered a major from a bit of an angle. Still Swans by 9 points but the Dogs reclaimed the lead before half-time. Murphy led up wide to mark again, he passed towards leading Welsh who was shoved heftily in the back by Ted Richards. Welsh drove his resulting free-kick for a 50m goal. Brad Johnson returned for the Doggies and immediately crashed a pack, crunching Luke Ablett and getting a handball away to Higgins. Higgins's lobbed kick dropped for well-placed Murphy to mark in traffic, Murphy majored and the Pups led by 3 points. Minson engineered the following centre-clearance, Akermanis raced clear and had a shot but it was rushed through. Bulldawgs by 4 points at half-time.

 

The Puppies kicked away in the third term, out-numbering the Bloods at contests and just about everywhere else, it seemed. The Swans appeared a tired outfit. Early in the stanza Hargrave roved a contest on the wing and his centering kick found Stephen Tiller in plenty of space, Tiller kicked into the pocket where Josh Hill was awarded a two-grab mark against big Spida, who claimed the first touch was all his. Spida had a case, but Hill booted a good goal from a tricky angle. Hill had another chance a moment later, a free kick for being held by Malceski, but Hill missed awfully. Bully Adam Cooney dropped an easy mark when leading and then wasn't awarded a marginal grab in the goal-square, Higgins free-kicked a point after being clattered off-the-ball by Barry. The Dogs were pressing, the floodgates straining and they finally opened. Cooney's over-head handball found running Callan, he punted long and Hill arrived to seize a good grab, he converted to have the Doggies 19 points ahead. At the other end Mattner snapped a behind from a ball-up, Siddey's first score of the korter and a poor miss in context, Mattner had time to steady. The kick-in led to a throw-in which Hill cleared with some class and skill, his kick was swept up in the centre by Lindsay Gilbee who handballed to running Lake, the Bully full-back charged to the 50m line and hammered a long goal which he very much enjoyed. The Doggies led by 24 points, a minute later Swan Jarred Moore delivered a pass to leading Hall who marked 45m out. The importance of Hall's shot was clear to everyone, but Big Mad Barry's kick from the 50m line hooked for a behind. The outcome got worse for Siddey as the Dogs moved the kick-in with the best play of the night, Akermanis marked and handballed inboard to running Johnson, his long punt went to leading Giansiracusa, 'Guido' handballed over to running Ryan Griffen, who raced away from McVeigh with three bounces and speared it through from 25m. A two-goal turnaround and the Dogs led by a healthy 29 points. Minson missed a set shot and Siddey's McVeigh hit the post after marking 20m out, then Doggy Gilbee passed for long-leading Murphy to mark again, he punted long and Minson clutched a big pack-mark in the teeth of goal. Minson stabbed it through and the Bulldogs looked home, 33 points up and 32 at the final change-about. The Bloods gave some early cheek in the last, Lake had to lunge to touch Buchanan's goal-bound snap, from the kick-in Johnson clangered a pass over Daniel Cross's head straight to Brett 'Captain' Kirk, he passed to unopposed Hall who popped it through. The Swans were 25 points down but the Doggies slammed the door rapidly. They won the following centre-clearance through Hudson and Matthew Boyd, Higgins got a dubious handball back to Boyd who gathered and got a quick handball to running Akermanis, he curled a low, spearing kick for full points. Soon Hargrave was driving a long kick forward, Hahn won the pill strongly and handballed for Johnson to slot a kick through from the flank. Hudson tumbled a punt forward from the next centre-bounce and Murphy marked behind Leo Barry, Murphy booted truly and the Bulldogs had kicked out to a 43-point lead. It was still willing for a while as the Swans showed some frustration, Leo Barry was reported after coat-hangering Higgins; the first report of Barry's career, apparently. Then the Swans crept up a bit, good play from Mattner sent Jared Crouch running inside 50 and the ageing Swan battler booted a decent major. A minute later Paul Bevan converted after marking Jude Bolton's pass, then a tough gather and a bit of finessing from Buchanan allowed him to find Hall marking alone 30m out, Bazza majored and the Swans were 25 points down, with over six minutes remaining. Again the Dogs responded, Crouch hacked a clearing kick which went straight to Hill, he jabbed a short one to Eagleton who thumped it through from 50m. Now it was over and the game slowed down, although Welsh gave Roberts-Thomson a back-handed whack which might attract tribunal interest. The Bullies scored the final goal, Hahn smothered Everitt's kick and Minson collected the ball, he was tripped as he tried to run clear and handballed the free to Eagleton, who thumped another long sausage.

 

Very even team effort from the Bulldogs. Ruck-rover Matthew Boyd (33 disposals, 7 marks) lifted from last week to be an important ball-winner, similarly running men Lindsay Gilbee (28 touches, 9 marks) and Ryan Griffen (20 handlings, a goal) were much bigger factors than against the Awks. Down back Dale Morris (15 possies, 8 marks) kept Goodes very quiet and Ryan Hargrave did well on O'Keefe, Tim Callan (12 possies) did some useful things. Daniel Giansiracusa (18 disposals, 7 marks) was a handy half-forward and Mitch Hahn (14 possies, a goal) used his strength again, forwards Robert Murphy (16 possies, 11 marks, 3 goals) and Josh Hill (9 touches, 3 marks, 2 goals) were important. Noice game from ruckman Ben Hudson, too. Scott Welsh and Nathan Eagleton kicked 2 goals each. No stand-out for the Swans, Brett Kirk (22 disposals) battled hard and kept Cross pretty quiet, Barry Hall (16 touches, 10 marks, 4 goals) had the better of Lake in the end and Amon Buchanan (19 touches) wasn't bad. Jarrad McVeigh (20 disposals, 6 marks) has had a good year, pity about that missed shot, and Marty Mattner (19 handlings) was alright. Craig Bolton (17 possies, 5 marks) did his usual job on Brad Johnson. Paul Roos reckoned he was happy with the year overall. "We had our chances (tonight)," he said. "Coming off last week with a bit of momentum, against a team you knew was going to bounce back, you've got to take your chances and we probably didn't. Their belief started to grow and grow and they're a very good team. You don't finish third on the ladder if you can't play . . . I think we've improved on last year which is something we tried to do in then off-season and address some of things that we knew we weren't quiet as good at last year. I think we have improved as a team. Midfield talent, with the way the game is played now, is probably a little bit more important than your forward talent. That's probably an area we still need to look at." Is it rebuilding time, Roosy? "I'm not sure - possibly. It's something we need to assess in the off-season because it's hard to do it straight after the game. I think what you've got to be careful of is going down (the ladder) just for the sake of going down. As a club we have to make sure we make smart decisions and I think we've done that reasonably well [in the past]. It may be a rebuilding year but we'll see what happens in the next month." Bulldog man 'Rocket' Eade said "Obviously we didn't play very well last week and it was very disappointing, and people were circling and even some of our supporters jumped off a bit, which was also disappointing. I think they showed character with the way they played and being able to not let last week's result engulf them, and with a lack of finals experience, to be able to do what they did and bounce back like they did. We proved tonight that we should be at least in the top four. I think the players didn't want to let that slip . . . We just thought with the bigger ground, with our run . . . (the Swans) had a tough game last week, we were up there watching it and it was a tough and physical game. We thought if we could slog it with them for a half, we would probably be able to run over the top of them. That was our focus." Cats next week? "Anything can happen in a two-horse race. You can't beat them if you're not there," Eade said. "We'll go in with, and rightfully so, no one picking us, and that's fine because they're a great team. But anything can happen and there will be no pressure on us from that aspect. We've just got to play our way and back ourselves."

            

At the MCG:

St. Kilda    4.1   8.1   14.2    17.4.106

Collingwood  3.4   4.11   5.16   9.18.72

 

The value of the double chance was shown again as the Saints climbed up off the mat and cruised to victory over the Magpoise. Strange journey for the Stainers, written off by many after a very weak loss against the Poise in the wake of the 'Porky Pies' incident, they improved a bit, enjoyed a healthy slice of luck to finish fourth and are now in a prelim final against the Hawks, whom they beat the last time out. Opinions are divided regarding the Maggies' year. One argument says they and coach Mick Malthouse have done very well, given the players absent here and through the season; Heath Shaw, Alan Didak, Ben Johnson, Scott Burns, Anthony Rocca, Sean Rusling. When Shaw, Didak and Johnson were suspended following the Porky Pie thingy, most assumed Collywood wouldn't even make the eight. On the other hand, a 12-10 record in the home-and-aways is average and suggests they've a way to go to become a contender, despite being the Cats' apparent nemesis. It'd be good for the Poise if they could actually land the oft-touted big-name signing; a rumour circulated a week or so ago reckoning Jonathan Brown was 'signed and sealed' turned out to be nonsense. In selection here the Sainters made two changes to the side dismantled by Geelong, David Armitage and junior forward Jarryd Allen replaced flighty flankers Xavier Clarke and Charlie Gardiner. Luke Ball was named but was never any chance to play, apparently. Last week Fraser Gehrig announced his retirement again, G-Train's abortive comeback this season yielded 5 games and 9 goals. The Pies revisited the Porky times last Friday when Scott Burns declared he was certain to play, but he didn't. Neither did Simon Prestigiacomo, who hurt a shoulder against the Corollas; Shane Wakelin replaced him.   

 

The stats tell a tale of this game. Collywood had more inside 50s and, as you can see, scored a lot of behinds. This came from the fact none of the Maggie forwards could take a mark, not helped by some awful delivery to them, resulting in a lot of hurried, roving snaps or rushed behinds by spoiling Saint backmen. And a massive number of Sainter marks in their backline. At the other end Nick Riewoldt played a towering game for the Stainers, a big part in their amazing goal-kicking accuracy. Sinkilda also won the tackle-count, a facet in which Collywood are very rarely beaten. Maligned Ross Lyon also made a coupla very good match-ups, Clint Jones tagging 'Neon' Leon Davis and Sam Fisher on Paul Medhurst. On the other hand Mick Malthouse produced a poor non-match-up, allowing form-lite Nick Dal Santo to run free. Despite all that, the first half was pretty close, as the Pies still won a lot of the ball. As would happen the Maggies opened with two behinds rushed by spoiling Saint defenders. Big Saint Justin Koschitzke didn't begin well with a clanger and a dropped mark but he soon atoned with a goal, after taking a diving mark of Robert Harvey's pass. Medhurst had a free-kick shot after being manhandled by Fisher, it drifted 'cross the face where Nick Maxwell took a good grab, but he banana-ed it on-the-full.  Dale Thomas missed with a long pop before the Poise got on the board, Shannon Cox drove a long kick in and three Sinkilda backmen rose to spoil Tarkyn Lockyer. But one of 'em, Raphael Clarke, gave Lockyer a bit of a shove and the ump awarded Lockyer a free, he converted. The Pies led by 3 points, Sinkilda responded quickly as Cox was palpably caught by Jason Gram, who handballed his resulting free-kick to Harvey. 'Banger' passed to leading Riewoldt, who marked strongly and thumped it through from the flank. Pie rovers Shane O'Bree and Ryan Cook combined to win the ball from the restart, roving handballs from Medhurst to Davis and then to Dane Swan allowed Swan to jab a sausage. Pies by 3. Davis won the ball very well against Jones but kicked a selfish dribbly-point. Wakelin lobbed a telegraphed pass towards Maxwell which was picked off by Stainer Brendon Goddard, he passed to Harvey and he on to leading Riewoldt who had a mark and easy shot from 30m out, right in front. Saints by 2. Dal Santo hit the post, badly, before the Pies reclaimed the lead again, Chris Dawes roved his own contest and handballed to Davis, whose left-foot tumbly kick allowed John Anthony to ride Harvey for a decent grab, kneeing ol' Harvs heftily in the ribs. Anthony goaled, Pies by 3. Saint Robert Eddy had a free at the restart and handballed to Dal Santo, his pass dropped short of leading Riewoldt who was shoved meatily in the back anyway by his man Nathan Brown, into oncoming Goldsack too. Riewoldt appeared to hurt his shoulder in that, but converted the resulting free-kick. Three goals in the first term to Riewoldt as the Sainters led by 3 points at korter-time.

 

Into the second and the Pies looked alright to start with, Anthony ran down Sam Gilbert but the usually accurate big man missed with the resulting free. As the Saints moved up the ground on a rebound Poi Tyson Goldsack smartly smothered a Sainter handpass, gathered and booted a clever goal to have the Pies 4 points ahead. A bit later Koschitzke managed to get himself reported, slinging Wakelin to the ground in a tackle after the Pie man had got rid of the ball. 'Kosi' has carry-over points which could have him in trouble. It was tight for a while, the Saints played some keepings-off and the Pies delivered the ball terribly inside attacking 50, bombs from O'Bree and Davis were marked by Gilbert and Goddard respectively, then Medhurst chipped a kick neatly to Jason Blake. The Saints got going again as leading Riewoldt marked strongly in front of Brown and handballed off to Gram, his hurried snap curled through for a major. A set-shot miss from Pie Anthony leveled the scores, then a series of chipped Sainter passes from Jason Blake to Dal Santo, to Lenny Hayes, to Harvey, then to leading Milne, then finally James Gwilt saw Gwilt's shot from 50m just drop through for full points. Anthony booted another long behind for Collywood. Pie backman Brown had a rare win against Riewoldt as the Sainter man pushed him in the back, Brown passed his free-kick to Rhyce Shaw but as the Poise ran it out junior John McCarthy dropped Shaw's handpass. Trying to tidy up, Shaw was tackled by Schneider and the ball spilled to Stephen Milne, who snapped a goal. O'Bree punted the Pies into attack from the next centre-bounce but Raphael Clarke marked easily for the Saints, the limitations of Anthony and Dawes as key forwards were being exposed. Travis Cloke had done nothing, it'd been rumoured he was suffering glandular fever which the Pies had denied, but Cloke did have an illness of some kind. Late in the term Goddard drove a long kick in, Riewoldt got big fly over O'Brien and Milne but couldn't hold the grab, handily Milne was like lightening in pouncing on the spillage and snapping truly. The Saints led by 14 points at half-time. 

 

Early in the third Cloke led up to take a mark on the wing, producing much Bronx cheering. "I don't think that's Bronx cheering," reckoned Tim Lane. "The crowd are trying to encourage Cloke." In a roundabout way, I 'spose. Schneider ran into an open goal for the Stainers and missed awfully, their second behind of the night. But a minute later Poi Marty Clarke chipped a pass over Fraser's head, from the turnover Leigh Montagna advanced for the Sainters, his kick was half-smothered but spilled to Milne who raced inside 50 and booted a sausage roll. As the TV folk noted, when Milne's kicking goals it's usually good news for the Sainters. They led by 21 points now. Swan and Medhurst missed shots for the Poise, then Riewoldt led long for another mark and kicked forward. David Armitage produced some slick roving and handballed to Harvey, his shot didn't make the distance from 40m but sat up handily until Schneider arrived, gathered and poked a major from point-blank. Swan booted the Pies into attack from the restart and the ball rolled out for a throw-in in the forward-pocket. From it Cloke was awarded a mystery free-kick and punted a goal, reducing the Saints' lead to 19 points. Pie ruckman Chris Bryan had a free at the restart and a 50m penalty as Gram failed to return the ball quickly enough, but Bryan missed poorly. Cloke marked 60m out and assessed options for about 15 minutes before trying for the sticks, his wobbly punt dropped short and was marked by Gilbert. Sums up the Pie night. Medhurst kicked yet another point for the Scraggies (tough shot), the Saints advanced from the kick-in and Gilbert kicked towards Koschitzke. He was dragged back by Wakelin, Kosi passed his free-kick to all-alone Riewoldt for an easy mark and major. The floodgates opened, Riewoldt led long for another grab and centered a pass to Dal Santo, from his kick Koschitzke flew from behind and knocked the ball down, roving Schneider stabbed a pass to Andrew McQualter who marked and converted. Schneider found leading Riewoldt for a mark, 'Rooey' played-on to find Dal Santo alone 30m out and Dal booted a major. That was enough for Nathan Brown and Nick Maxwell replaced him as Riewoldt's opponent. Too late. Maxwell produced a good spoil on Riewoldt in their first contest, Maxwell soccered the ball clear but straight to Gilbert, who drove a long kick where Gram marked alone in the goal-square. Gram popped it through and Stinkilda led by 41 points, pretty healthy. Poi McCarthy kicked a long behind on the three-quarter-time siren, so the Saints led by 40 then. Pie hopes were raised slightly in the early final stanza, Cloke used a free-kick to switch flanks and find Fraser alone, he passed to leading Scott Pendlebury who in turn passed for leading McCarthy to mark and boot a goal. The Saints led by 34 points, their ruckman Steven King tapped the following centre-bounce to Hayes, a handball to Montagna and he kicked long where Koschitzke won a free against manhandling Wakelin. Kosi majored. Pendlebury added to the Poise enormous tally of behinds before a weak effort from Goldsack allowed Gram to collect the ball for the Stainers, it went to Dal Santo and fittingly on to Riewoldt for a mark and the sealing goal. The Stainers led by 45 points and it was over. Not much happened for a while before Medhurst led for a mark and goal, his 50^th sausage of the season which is a fair effort. Medhurst also set up a mark and goal for Brown, after a behind each Marty Clarke used an 'advantage' call to run clear of a ball-up and slot a major, reducing the Saints' lead to 28 points. But the Saints had the final say as Koschitzke marked strongly in front of under-sized Wakelin and booted a major. Kosi's fate at the tribunal is Sinkilda's main worry - apart from the Hawks.   

 

Big game from Nick Riewoldt (20 disposals, 15 marks, 5 goals), the Saint you've got to stop - I think folks knew that already. Nick Dal Santo (32 touches, 8 marks, a goal) played his best game in an age, not given respect by Malthouse or the Poise. Robert Harvey (22 possessions) was good early and avoided his final game yet again, Jason Gram (22 disposals, 2 goals) and Leigh Montagna (29 handlings, 10 marks) were handy too. Down back Sam Fisher (27 touches, 17 marks) did the job on Medhurst and Jason Blake (27 handlings, 18 marks) kept Cloke very quiet, although Cloke wasn't a hundred percent. James Gwilt (14 touches, a goal) and Raphael Clarke (25 disposals, 13 marks) were good and Justin Koschitzke (17 disposals, 10 marks, 3 goals) had a big second half - a huge tribunal coming up. Stephen Milne bagged 3 goals. For the Poise battling Dane Swan (23 possessions, 6 marks, a goal) was best, but you'd struggle to find a clear winner. Josh Fraser (20 disposals, 8 marks, 16 hit-outs) played well 'round the ground and Scott Pendlebury (23 touches) had good stats, but minimal influence. Rhyce Shaw (21 disposals) and rover Shane O'Bree (21 touches) were okay, backman Harry O'Brien (16 possies) went in hard as usual. The Maggies had nine goal-kickers. Malthouse blamed 'tiredness' but looked ahead positively. "It's been a long year for a lot of those players - I just sensed, even at quarter time, that we had opportunities to be a better score than what we did, but I just sensed that almost every element of our indicators were down. We just didn't seem to have that energy, and it's been a pretty arduous last month or so - we've been on the road three of the last five weeks. It does catch up with you, I think anyway, probably in the second week, if you've been away a few times . . . It's no excuse, I think it's a reasonable reason that a lot of the players - particularly younger players - just lacked some of the things they gave us over the last month. So I can hardly be critical of young players, and I thought three or four of our senior players just never got near their best." He went on to stonewall a reporter who demanded to know what Mick said to the players post-game, and to berate the Pie supporters who Bronx-cheered Clokey ("I sometimes get very upset with the Bronx cheers for a bloke who was our best-and-fairest winner last year, Travis Cloke. Travis really was quite ill after last week's game."). Ross Lyon savoured a good night. "There was a couple of times where they (Collingwood) had it and they looked to go [forward] and someone got a fingernail in and we were able to turn it over. The pressure skills were good. It was important, as it would have been for the Bulldogs, that we didn't go out in straight sets. The heat would have been on the club. So it was pleasing for a lot of people who worked hard that we go a little bit deeper into the finals series. We're under no illusions about what we've got ahead of us next week, but I don't really want to talk about Hawthorn tonight and I don't want to talk about 'Buddy' [Lance Franklin]. Let me enjoy tonight and I'll go and review and get it done quickly and move on." Looks the closer of the two prelims, but the Hawks will still be warm favourites.

 

Next week, Preliminary Finals:

Geelong v Footscray, MCG, Fri. night.

Hawthorn v St. Kilda, MCG, Sat. night.

 

Cheers, Tim.  

 

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