AFL Round 20
At the MCG:
Hawthorn 5.3 5.5 8.10 9.13.67
Adelaide 1.2 6.8 12.9 13.16.94
Big win for the Camrys to finish their tough run of fixtures, recovering from a slow start to account for the Hawks pretty easily. Although, the Camrys' tough games mightn't have ended, the Weegles will be arriving on the back of three straight wins next Satdy and then there's the Blooze away in the final round, whom the Cows could play again the following week. The Hawks won't make the eight, and apparently lost interest a little while ago. "We've won eight out of twenty," Clarkson pointed out after this one. Mentioned last week Jarryd Roughead was sent for season-ending surgery on knee cartilage. Trent Croad, who hasn't played since last year's Grand Final, also opted for surgery to fuse bones in his troublesome foot. It's not clear if he'll be able to play again. Stuart Dew will retire at the season's end. In selection here Horforn supporters rejoiced as the battlin' Tom Murphy copped the axe at last, along with Beau Dowler and Brendan Whitecross. In came Brad Sewell, Beau Muston, Jarryd Morton and a debutant, midfielder Shane Savage from Noble Park. Jordan Lewis played his 100th game. Adderlayed also had a new kid, hard-tacklin' Rory Sloane from Upwey-Tecoma in the Dandenong Ranges. Always-injured forward Trent 'Potential' Hentschel returned to the Camry side, the pair replacing Brett Burton (corked gloot) and the dropped Taylor Walker. Nathan Bock has a stress fracture in his heel, placing his finals participation in doubt.
This was a tactical battle early, we were told, the Awks' zone against the Cressidas' 'cluster'. It's a bit hard to appreciate this stuff on the TV, here in the lounge room it looked like the Camrys over-used the ball in the first quarter. Cyril Rioli, who's struggled a bit since his mid-season hamstring injury, set the Hawks going early. His tremendous tackle on Bernie Vince set up the first goal, Rioli jabbed his resulting free inboard for Sewell to mark and convert. A bit later Rioli soccer-volleyed the agate from a ball-up 30m out clean through the big sticks. Some strong tackling at half-forward saw Camry Andy Otten cough up the ball and some quick Orc handball created an easy goal for Ben McGlynn, the Awkers led by 20 points. The Corollas clamped down a bit and not much scoring occurred for a while, although the Hawks continued to do most of the attacking. Late in the term the pressure told, Jordan Lewis, playing well, won the ball determinedly and handballed to Sewell, his tumbly kick took a handy bounce for Jarryd Morton to gather and snap through. Then Buddy Franklin's hammering tackle on Scott Stevens forced the ball loose and a rapid handballing sequence set up Lewis for a point-blank slam-through. The Awkers led by 30 points and the Camrys had no goals, but got one late as Lewis punched the ball away from, er, himself in an uncontested marking contest - no talking - and Camry Scott Thompson gathered to dribbly-snap a pretty good goal from the pocket. The Horks led by 25 points at the first break. Adderlayed re-organised their zonal cluster or something for the second stanza, or maybe the got the ball forward more quickly to pressure the rickety Horforn backline. Chance Bateman kicked an early point but the Camrys constructed a move from the kick-in, leading to big goal-square grab for Kurt Tippett as he drifted in from the side, and played-on to poke it through. Coronas Andrew McLeod, playing very well, and Brad Symes kicked behinds and from the kick-in of the latter Hawk Josh Kennedy was forced into an under-pressure hack clear, Lewis spilled a difficult marking chance and McLeod gathered and passed for Jason Porplyzia to mark and punt truly. Some chipped passes set up Vince to mark just inside the 50m line and hammer it home and the Orcs' lead was down to 6 points. Trent Hentschel put the Cows in front with a great kick threaded through from the boundary-line, after Porplyzia's soccer kick rebounded off Ryan Schoenmakers's shin and out on-the-full. Tippett had a free-kick on the attacking 50 for Luke Hodge's front-on spoil, Hodge wasn't happy about it, but Tippett kicked rapidly to find Thompson marking alone 25m out and he majored. Five unanswered from the Cows and they led by 8 points. They missed a couple of shots and Hawk ruckman Brent Renouf scored a behind, their second score of the term after that early Bateman miss. Horker Morton clutched a great grab in the pocket, but fractionally after the siren and the Camrys led by 9 points at the long break.
The Hawks had a bit of a crack in the third term with Franklin, who'd spent some time in midfield, now stationed more forward. Without Roughead and Mark Williams the Hawks' forward-line was weak. A good, early Hawk move ended with Bateman chipping a smart kick for leading Franklin to mark and punt for a goal. The Cows replied as Hork Sam Mitchell was tackled as he kicked at half-back and the ball slewed into the path of three Camrys, Michael Doughty gathered and slotted. The Orcs pressed for a bit but Kennedy, Rioli and Morton missed shots, incrementally reducing the Adderlaid lead to 7 points. The Cows responded, Tippett roved Porplyzia's contest on the 50 and passed to Hentschel lurking in the pocket, Hentschel fired a poor handpass too far ahead of Richard Douglas who ended up shinning it through acrobatically during a goal-line somersault. Sewell punted the Orcs into attack from the restart and Franklin roved Rioli's marking contest to gather and major with a very good left-foot snap. The Cows clung to a 7-point lead but now the unlikely Hentschel gave them a boost, he flapped with an unconvincing single hand at marking attempt but the ball dropped usefully for Hentschel to gather behind Schoenmakers and stab for a goal. A minute later Porplyzia's slick roving handpass allowed Symes to tumble a punt forward and Hentschel was in front of Robert Campbell to mark on his chest and convert. Classic running from half-back by Graham 'Stiffy' Johncock and McLeod allowed leading Porplyzia to mark and convert and the Camrys had jumped to a 25-point lead. Behinds from Horks Lewis and the lad Shane Savage had the Cows 23 points up at the last change. The final term was mostly an entertainment-free slog, the Hawks missed some early chances including a particularly poor one from Rioli. But McLeod's long kick-in was marked by Hodge, he jabbed a centering pass to Franklin who was bumped fractionally late by Johncock, a 50m penalty and Buddy poked it through. The Camrys' lead was 18 points after that but the Hawks'd get no closer, an error led to an answering Cressida goal as Kennedy's centering pass towards Renouf was poor, over and behind the big man and loose Camrys swept upon the ball, eventually Chris Knights marked and popped it through. The Cows led by 25 points and very little happened thereon, some tired players making plenty of errors. In the final minutes Horks Bateman and Sewell came up with consecutive posters, symbolic of a season in which very little has gone right for the Orcs.
Runnin' Camry midfielders were pretty good here, headed by Andrew McLeod (26 disposals, 0.3) who's having a very good season. Bernie Vince (33 touches, 9 marks, a goal) and rugged Michael Doughty (24 possessions, 7 marks, a goal) were busy and there was a very pleasing return from Trent Hentschel (14 touches, 6 marks, 4 goals), even if he didn't exactly get them like a big forward. Scott Thompson (19 possies, 7 marks, 2 goals) and running backman Graham Johncock (23 handlings, 8 marks) played well, as did Brent Reilly (23 possies, 6 marks). Jason Porplyzia kicked 2 goals. Hawk Jordan Lewis (33 disposals, 5 marks, a goal) lifted himself to a big milestone performance and Lance 'Buddy' Franklin (14 touches, 4 marks, 4 goals) did what he could to enliven the forward-line. Sam Mitchell (33 possessions, 7 marks) and Ben McGlynn (38 touches, 5 marks, a goal) worked hard, Mitchell starting in the back-line and Chance Bateman (24 handlings, 9 marks) wasn't bad. "It's getting pretty tough (to make the eight)," said Clarkson. "We've only won eight games and there's two to go. Unless the other sides above us fall over drastically I think our chances are pretty slim to get there. I don't think any side should justify a good performance throughout the course of the year if you only win ten to get into the eight. It will be tough for us and we'll still hang in there in terms of just wanting to play good footy and finish off the season in a good manner. They (next two games, Tiggers and Bummers at the 'G) will be good competitive games and we've been pleased with the progress of some of our young players and some of those guys played well again tonight for us. We'll continue to give those guys opportunities and hopefully with another summer of pre-season training we'll be able to bounce back strongly next year . . . Our side certainly doesn't function as well when Roughy's not playing. He's going to get injuries and we need to be able to structure up when he's absent. When you get Dew and Williams out of your side who are both proven goal kickers and Roughy down too it makes your goal kicking options pretty scarce . . . I thought our endeavour and how we hung in there despite having a poor second quarter, the first, third and fourth quarters I felt we more than matched Adelaide but we just didn't have the polish and experience they've got in their side. Some of their guys are pretty experienced campaigners and steadied the ship for them a little bit. They were able to finish off their work a lot better than what we were." Neil Craig was asked about the finals too - the Camrys've won one in five years under Craig. "Once finals start there will be the speculation about our record and we understand that. It's there, it is not going to change until we change it. Our next challenge is to do a bit more in finals. I just believe this group have got the energy and the want and desire to give it their best shot. The squad has changed, and relatively quickly. But I just know that the mentality of this group is a real joy to coach and the best example I can give is tonight. In the past, not this year, we would have lost that game so they've got some real fight." Craigy went on to give Hentschel a big wrap.
At the MCG:
Richmond 2.1 3.3 6.5 8.11.65
Collingwood 7.8 13.13 20.18 22.20.152
Poi supporters were singing about winning the flag through the second half of this one, as their lads smashed the pathetic Tigger kiddies. Was it two or three goals the Magpiss scored against Sinkilda? But that was a while ago and the Poise recent form is as good as anyone's. It's difficult to draw much from this, apart from a handy whack of percentage, as the Tiggers were rubbish. Oh, there was a big fight, which provoked a lotta disproportionate comment. The Tiges coaching hopefuls have been narrowed to a quartet of Rawlings, the hyped Damien Hardwick, Ken Hinkley and Alan Richardson. This game was a farewell to Joel Bowden, who's retiring after 265 games for the Tiggers, a twice best-and-fairest and twice All-Australian. Bowden's been a scapegoat, one of many, for the Tiges' many years of failure. Bowden was a superb ball-user and reader of the game at his best, he was brilliant in that 2006 win at Docklands over the Camrys, where the Tiges played keepings-off for a half. Unfortunately his worst came along a little often with the 'Captain Clanger' periods and chippy sideways-kicks. Not the toughest bloke, either. In his defence, Bowden was asked to play key defensive roles for too much of his career when a wing or back-flank was a natural home for him. Anyway, Shane Tuck and Mark Coughlan were recalled along with Bowden here, in place of Matt White (hamstring tightness) and dropped pair Kel Moore and Jayden Post. One change to the Poi side victorious in Addelaid, Tyson Goldsack (strained achilles tendon) replaced by Sharrod Wellingham. Leigh Brown played his 200th game.
This shaped as a good game, for about six minutes. Poi spearhead John Anthony scrambled the opening goal from a ball-up, Tige Daniel Jackson kicked the Toigs into attack from the following centre-bounce and followed up to collect Richard Tambling's handball, Jackson stabbed a left-foot pass to leading Jack Riewoldt who marked and majored. Then Mitch Morton caught Harry O'Brien palpably in possession and Morton free-hooky-kicked! a major from the left-hand pocket, the Tiggers led by 7 points. The Pies closed the gap after Paul 'Steak Knives' Medhurst free-kicked a goal, a kinda dubious one for over-the-shoulder as he led for a mark. But alarm bells really began clanging after Riewoldt, following Heath Shaw, was awarded a free-kick deep in the Tige defence. Shaw had a prolonged whinge about it - no 50 - but Riewoldt's pass to Shane Tuck was a fraction low and Shaw tipped it away from Tuck, Pie Scott Pendlebury gathered and handballed to Shaw who snapped a goal he very much enjoyed. The scoreboard would go on to flatter the Big Pu55ies, Anthony came up with a coupla poor misses as the Magpiss began to roll over the hopeless Tiges. A clearing kick from Tige Ben Cousins went straight to Dane Swan, he jabbed a pass to Tarkyn Lockyer alone in the pocket and he majored. 'Neon' Leon Davis missed badly before Travis Cloke free-kicked a major, catching Alex Rance in possession. The Pies scrambled the agate forward from the restart - one of the most annoying things from a Tige perspective was the way Pie players could fumble but recover the ball under no pressure, Ben Johnson did so here and Davis ended up snapping a tight-angle, close-range goal. Medhurst produced another poor Poi miss before Swan managed to win the ball against both Jackson and Luke McGuane in the goal-square - the Tiges got in each others' way - and poke a major. The Pies led by 37 points at korter-time.
More of the same into the second term, Tige skipper Chris Newman and Alan 'The Murderer's Accomplice' Didak kicked points before Cloke scored a goal following a mark over Will Thursfield and terrific long kick. A lot of handballs ended with Brad Dick having a snap which bounced over Newman and Dale Thomas and through for a major. Cloke missed poorly again prior to The Big Fight, the Poise 51 points ahead. Tigger hard man Jake King had applied a close, niggling tag on Didak, with the Pie man known to be upset by such tactics. Didak had a free-kick in the centre after being biffed in the stomach by King, for which the Tige was reported. Didak tried to play-on with the free and was very well tackled by King, who stripped the ball, three Pies jumped on Kingy and a big blue ensued. Twenty players have been charged with participating in the melee and King eventually jogged off with his guernsey torn to shreds, to applause from the Tige fans. After the game Poi captain Nick Maxwell publicly criticized King and the Tiges in general for starting the fight but not going hard at the ball. Self-righteous git. Age columnist Rohan Connolly used the fact that King was applauded off by the Tigger fans to attack the entire club, its culture and "living in the Seventies" attitude. Still bitter about that Essadun loss to Richmun a few weeks back, is Bommer man Connolly. It just looked like a frustrated, outclassed side letting off some steam, to me. Anyway. Once play recommenced Didak caught Coughlan high as the latter dived after the ball, Coughlan passed his free to Riewoldt who produced a very good kick for Robin Nahas to mark, play-on and drill through for a goal. Evidence that maybe the fight had sparked the Tiges into action, but Nahas missed a follow-up shot and the dawn was as false as all of the Tiges' for the last twenty-seven years. Didak produced a good spoil a minute later and Johnson gathered, weaved and slotted a noice goal. Tige Brett Deledio went on a long run but his fourth, or maybe fifth, bounce ballooned awkwardly up over his head and he lost the pill, the Poise rebounded and Anthony passed for Dayne Beams to mark and score full points with an excellent kick from the flank. A flowing Poi move under not a lot of pressure ended with Swan blasting it through from point-blank, lastly Didak was now the umpires' friend as King was penalized for a guernsey-tug and Didak free-kicked a goal. The Poise led by 70 points at half-time.
I'm recapping all of it, just to keep a clear conscience. Didak stabbed a close-range goal early in the third term, after roving Anthony's contest, and the Maggies led by 75 points. The Toigs then managed consecutive majors, Shane Edwards ran clear of a throw-in on the wing and handballed for Deledio to slam it though from 50m, then Tom Hislop ran onto a loosely bouncing kick to soccer-volley a fairly spectacular major. The Magpoi lead was slashed to 63 points. A dead cat bounce as Davis scored the next goal with a terrific bit of roving, hitting a contest at full speed, scooping the ball cleanly and spearing it through. Pendlebury won the pill from the next centre-bounce and passed for leading Anthony to mark and thump it home from 55m. A bit later Sharrod Wellingham clutched a very good mark at half-forward, played-on and kicked long where Anthony held a back-pedalling mark in the goal-square and popped it through. Unfortunately for Wellingham he'd hurt himself there and limped off. Tige ruckman Angus Graham lobbed a clearing kick from the back-pocket but Poi Leigh Brown marked it and handballed for marauding defender O'Brien to get in on the goal-scoring act. The Poise led by 90 points. The Toigs scored a goal, Nahas affected a good spoil from a Poi kick-in and Cousins handballed for Nahas to kick it. But then a Dick snap bounced through for another to the Poise and after Cloke and Anthony missed again a very good Maxwell spoil enabled Davis to snap a major. The Poise led by 97 points at the last break. Into the final Mario and Davis gave the Maggies a triple-figure lead, intercepting a Tige handball and having a few bounces before popping it through. But the Pies began to switch off now, as the Tiges concentrated on giving Joel Bowden some touches in his final quarter. The Poise led by a peak 107 points after Pendlebury potted a running goal but as they switched off Tiggers Tambling and Hislop kicked some goals. Hislop was also reported for biffing a shepherding Shane O'Bree.
First-year Poi man Dayne Beams (30 disposals, 7 marks, a goal) was very good here, all the Pie midfielders had a decent time of it including Dane Swan (34 touches, 7 marks, 2 goals), Scott Pendlebury (31 possessions, 5 marks, a goal) and half-back Heath Shaw (21 disposals, a goal). Ben Johnson (27 handlings, a goal) ran about a bit and Travis Cloke (21 possies, 10 marks, 2.3) enjoyed the rapid, regular supply. Alan Didak (29 touches, 6 free-kicks, 2 goals) faced the music. Leon Davis bagged 4 goals, John Anthony kicked 3 and Brad Dick 2. Best of the Tiges was Brett Deledio (31 touches, 6 marks, a goal) with Robin Nahas (19 handlings, 7 tackles, 2 goals) and Chris Newman (25 disposals) alright. Tom Hislop kicked 2 goals. Jade Rawlings said "We came up against a very well-oiled machine in Collingwood. Their chemistry to be able to play for each other and understand what their style is, is very good. They're probably as good a team as we've come up against this year. They really taught our guys a lesson about what's required with work rate both to put pressure on the opposition, but also to work over to where the ball carrier is to run and support. It's hard when you're a side that's where we're at. There's a massive gulf between where our team is at and where Collingwood is currently, but if we keep giving the ball back to the opposition who are very skilled it makes it hard. I think the guys tried, but we were just well short in the trying stakes . . . I'm certainly not looking for the end (of the season). I've spoken to the playing group about not looking for that. Sometimes when you've been through a lot in a season as a footy club and as a team that could be an issue amongst the group, but I've asked that the players don't think that way." Had the last two (three, really) pi55weak Tigger efforts hurt Rawlings's chances of securing the job full-time? Yes, but Rawlings couldn't say that. "It's not about me. I'm included, I'm part of this team - don't get me wrong - but it's not about whether it hurts me or not. It's more about the footy club in the broader sense. Even though we are a fair way away from the best teams, [it's about the supporters] being able to walk away saying that there was something there to hang their hat on. Unfortunately with our last two performances they'd be disappointed with what they've seen." Malthouse had to leave early as his mother was ailing, she's passed away since - condolences. Poi assistant - and new North coach - Brad Scott did the press conference. "We put certain things in place and the boys followed the game plan to the letter, really, probably apart from the last 15 minutes where subconsciously, it's difficult to keep the pressure up when you're that far in front," he said. "We were very pleased with the boys' effort . . . I think it's shown throughout history that sides with percentages 120 and above are genuine premiership contenders. We're closer to that now, and that's been a goal of ours." Scott praised Didak for "not being distracted." But what about the fact that Mick Malthouse's Mum was dying and he STILL out-coached Rawlings by 15 goals . . . too soon?
At Subiaco:
West Coast 1.2 6.3 13.7 17.8.110
North Melbourne 1.4 4.5 6.9 10.12.72
The Weegles recorded a third consecutive win to dispel any notion of tanking, but of course the talk's going the other way now - of how the Weegs could be in the finals if they'd had some luck or played a bit better earlier in the season. Fans are fruitcakes and the meedya does the boiling. But the Weegs have made significant progress this season. Since this game North have appointed Brad Scott as their new coach, the former Horforn and Lyin' hard-man overtook favourite Damien Hardwick at the final interview stage and the Ruse singled out his hardness as a factor. Hardwick wasn't a shirker, eh? Scott has a decent pedigree though, having played under Leigh Matthews and assistant-coached to Mick Malthouse at Collywood. Both of these sides were winners last week and neither made a change in selection.
The first term was a fair bit of scrappy rubbish, both sides over-using and handballing far too much. Fourteen minutes ticked by prior to the first goal arriving, Weevil Matt Rosa took an unusually tough mark just outside the 50 and dished off a handball to Mark LeCras, his long punt saw Callum Wilson hold a back-pedalling grab in the goal-square and pop it through. The Eegs led by 5 points then, shortly Roo Leigh Adams bullocked his way through a ball-up 30m from the sticks and got a kick away which rolled through for a major and the Ruse led by 2 points. The other significant event of the first korter was the first of two game-ending injuries to Wiggle players, handy defender Mitch Brown sustaining a broken foot and he limped off to take no further part. The Wiggle midfield began to move the ball more slickly into the second term, led by Adam Selwood and rebounding backman Shannon Hurn. Norf scored an early goal though, their strong tackling led to Weegle junior Tom Swift throwing the ball away and Corey Jones free-kicked a major for the Kangers, they led by 8 points. But the Wiggles powered into it with the next four goals. Josh Kennedy converted with a long kick following a mark over back-pedalling Rue rover Andrew Swallow, Kennedy seemed to get away with a big shove in Swallow's back. Or maybe the Kanger played it up. Roo Michael Firrito was caught by LeCras as the Kanger tried to run the ball from defence, Weeg Matt Priddis collected the spillage and had a long shot which David Wirrpanda soccered through from the goal-square. The Eegs led by 4 points but now suffered a second injury, useful young rover Chris Masten straining a knee ligament; it's a posterior cruciate, the 'good' one, but still enough to end Masten's season, probably. The Eegs pressed on in the meantime, Patrick McGinnity won a free and a 50m penalty at half-back, he kicked long to find Adam Selwood on the attacking side of centre and Selwood passed for leading Wirrpanda to mark and convert. The Weegs cleared the following centre-bounce with some rapid handball and McGinnity lobbed a kick into the pocket which LeCras ran onto and, with the help of Nick Naitanui's shepherd, LeCras dribbly-snapped a very good sausage from a tough angle. The Weegs led by 16 points after that, but the Ruse broke the run with some snappy under-pressure handball from Brent Harvey and Jones allowing Adams to slot a running goal. The Weegs replied, Kanger Levi Greenwood's clearing kick was marked by Weeg Quinten Lynch, he drove a long kick back in which spilled from the pack and roving Priddis dummied a back-pedalling Nathan Grima a coupla times before dobbing a six-pointer. Weegs by 17 but Norf had the final say of the half, big Todd Goldstein had a pretty weak, one-handed go at marking Harvey's centring pass but Matt Campbell swept up the ball with some excellent roving at speed and speared a great goal. The Weegs led by 10 points at half-time.
Despite being two men down, and running players at that, the Wiggles kicked away in the third term. Young ruckman Naitanui had a big korter. Early major for the Weegs as Norf defender Daniel Pratt roved a big pack but was tackled strongly by Ben McKinley, Wirrpanda collected the loosed agate and snapped his third goal. North replied with a decent rebound move, Jones marked 65m out and as Weegle defenders backed off to fill the 50, Jones was allowed to advance and kick long where Lachie Hansen held a grab behind Hurn, with hands into Hurn's back which went unpenalized. Hansen'd marked right on the boundary and hooked a very good kick for full points, reducing the Wiggle lead to 10 points again. A minute later Roo rover Liam Anthony produced a good spoil on leading McKinley but the pill spilled backwards and handballs from Weegs Lynch and Tim Houlihan allowed Kennedy a point-blank poke-through. The Eegs scored a coupla rushed behinds before Adam Selwood intercepted Pratt's clearing kick and passed for McKinley to mark and convert. At the following centre-bounce Naitanui not only won the tap but produced a second and third effort to get the agate to Priddis, he handballed to Andrew Embley who walloped a running sausage. The Weegs'd cleared out to a 30-point lead now. The Ruse had a bit of a go but Lindsay Thomas missed a pair of chances before Naitanui roved his own dropped mark - shoulda held it - and bundled the ball to Adam Selwood who scrambled a kick for a goal while lying on the ground, the ol' Darren Jarman. The Eegs led by 34 points. Norf managed one after Jones was crunched head-on in a marking contest - no free - but roving Campbell and Harvey set up Hamish McIntosh for an easy mark and goal. The Weegs had the running though, Wilson walloped a huge kick for full points after marking 50m out and McKinley converted following a good, strong grab against Pratt, the Eegs ended up 40 points in front at three quarter time. Nevertheless, Norf rated themselves a chance with the Eegs down to 20 men, and later 19 when Brad Ebert strained a pec, I think. Hansen missed an early chance before Drew Petrie, again playing well at CHF, free-kicked a goal after being held back while trying to lead. Adams kicked a behind, then Swallow made Daniel Harris's poor up-and-under kick look good by holding a great mark in front of Scott Selwood. Swallow goaled. Firrito's switching pass allowed Adams to run into space, advance to the 50m line and boot a long goal and the Ruse had reduced their deficit to 20 points. At the subsequent centre-bounce Wiggle Priddis was ridden into the ground by Swallow, then awarded a 50m penalty for Firrito's mark-encroachment. Priddis majored and the Weegs breathed with a 26 point lead. But Norf kept coming, Swallow sold a good dummy and kicked long to the pocket where Goldstein reeled in a one-handed mark in front of Darren Glass and banana-ed a major from the tight angle. A poor Petrie miss narrowed the gap to 19 points and the Kangers were a bit of a chance. The Weegs had a break when Roo Hansen marked over Wilson at half-back, but Hansen had again used his hands in the back and this time he was penalized, Wilson free-kicked a goal. Hansen needs to get rid of that reflex. A minute later McKinley slipped in front of Anthony to mark Embley's tumbling kick and boot a goal and the Eegs could relax, leading by 31 points. LeCras kicked a major after the final siren, marking Adam Selwood's pass after Pratt clangered a clearing kick to him.
Adam Selwood (33 disposals, a goal) played very well here and combined with rebound man Shannon Hurn (19 possessions, 5 marks) to move the ball very effectively for the Weegs. Rangy winger Tim Houlihan (27 touches, 6 marks) has been good value since coming into the side and David Wirrpanda (15 possies, 5 marks, 3 goals) was a handy forward. Matt Priddis (27 possessions, 6 tackles, 2 goals) did well on the ball and Quinten Lynch (25 possies, 8 marks, 10 hit-outs) continues to pinch-hit in the ruck effectively. Ben McKinley and Callum Wilson kicked 3 goals each, Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras scored 2 majors each. Brent 'Boomer' Harvey (31 disposals, 5 marks) led the way for the Kangers again and local lad Liam Anthony (29 touches, 6 marks) was effective in a rebounding role from defence. Drew Petrie (14 touches, 10 marks, a goal) played well at CHF once more and Scott McMahon (19 touches, 8 marks) ran from the back decently too. Leigh Adams (20 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals) bagged some useful majors and backman Nathan Grima (20 possies, 7 marks) wasn't bad. Darren Crocker wasn't happy with the outcome. "We had 22 fit men and I would have thought that was all the incentive our guys needed to really work hard and run hard and put the Eagles to the sword," Crocker said. "Our inability to do that was really disappointing; that was the disappointing aspect of the day. You can always take some positives out of it, but I thought that was our most disappointing performance since I've taken over . . . We just stuffed around with the ball too much. We just wanted to handball far too often to blokes standing still (and) we didn't want to spread and work hard forward from the contests. I just felt that the third quarter was where it really slipped away from us. When we came out after half time our blokes just didn't work hard enough . . . I thought we'd got ourselves back into a position where if we had have just been able to get the next goal (when 20 points down) maybe they may have tightened up. It was disappointing for it to then blow out." 'Woosha' Worsfold said "I think our improvement compared to last year is fairly obvious and we've got to make sure we can improve that much again going forward into next season. I think our big name players are playing well as well, but we've got a lot more of those developing players in the team at the moment. So it has to happen for us. They need to keep improving (and) it's exciting to see them coming along at the rate you'd hoped they would." Worsfold was asked if retiring Chad Fletcher would be given a 'farewell' game. "We'll pick the best team to go forward next week taking all things into account," he said. "If you've got a young kid that wants to play AFL to show that he deserves to continue on in his contract with the West Coast Eagles, is that more important than offering a player a farewell game? They're the things that you have to weigh up and that's one of many criteria we'll look at."
At the Gabba:
Brisbane 2.3 4.8 8.8 12.12.84
Footscray 5.2 10.5 13.10 15.12.102
Very handy, if somewhat costly victory for the Dogs as they suffered more injury woe. But the win was the key as it kept the Bullpups in the top four, with tough finishing games against the Cats and Magpoise to come. With their percentage gap over the others in the eight, a win in one of those will keep the Doggies in the top half of the eight. Brisbun coach Mick Voss was pretty unhappy afterwards and the Lyin's continue to be confounded by their slow starts to games, which proved costly here. But the Bulldogs were worth their very good win. In selection the Lyin's made one change to the side which drew with the Bommers, Travis Johnstone replacing injured tagger Troy Selwood (sore neck). The Bulldogs had more problems with key midfielders Daniel Cross (ankle) and Ryan Griffen (hamstring) withdrawing, while Brennan Stack and Andrejs Everitt were dropped following the upset loss to the Weegles. On the upside Robert Murphy, Liam Picken and Scott Welsh returned, along with junior Sam Reid.
At a dewy, slippery Gabbatoir the Lyin's began well enough. Astute tipsters will have noted the Bulldogs have a strong recent record in Brisbun and the Dogs scored the opening goal, good running from Jarrod Harbrow saw him gallop off half-back and pass to leading Rob Murphy, run on to receive Murphy's handball and pass again for leading Mitch Hahn to mark and convert. Some relief for Doggy fans there, after their 0.11 start last week. "Hahn, a Queenslander, he'd know where the goals are here," said 'Dwaynepipe' Russell. Eh? How would Hahn know that, unless he'd played for the Lyin's, which he hasn't? The Lyin's got the next two in standard fashion, Daniel Bradshaw sausaged following a strong leading mark in front of Dale Morris, then Jonathan Brown steered one through from the pocket after Justin 'The Shermanator' Sherman's good tackle on Ryan Hargrave and subsequent pass set up Brown. The Lyin's led by 7 points. But the Lisbon Brians don't appear to want to run much early in games and against the Bulldogs, that's asking for trouble. The Bulldogs began to pressure them, hefty youngster Sam Reid roved Hahn's contest to stab a goal and the game was tight for a while, with a handful of behinds, prior to the Bullies scoring three goals in time-on. Jason Akermanis, booed loudly by the locals, set up Nathan Eagleton to thunder a running major from 55m, then Callan Ward produced a very good kick for leading Hahn to mark 55m out, Hahn played-on away from a lazy Joel Macdonald and kicked to the goal-square where back-pedalling Welsh was spoiled front-on by Lyin' Josh Drummond. Illegally, the ump decided and Welsh free-kicked a goal. Some rugged Bully tackling forced a turnover at their half-forward and handballs from Hahn and Adam Cooney set up a running slot for Akermanis, the Bulldogs led by 17 points at the first break. Lyin's Johnstone and Bradshaw missed shots early in the second before the runnin' Bulldogs pressed their advantage. Lindsay Gilbee hammered a running 50m punt for full points and a minute later Eagleton did likewise, created by Harbrow's free-kick. Bulldog ruckman Will Minson had a mystery rucking free at a throw-in on the wing, followed by a 50m penalty against mouthy Jared Brennan. Minson's resulting major had the Bulldogs 33 points ahead and the local crowd was kinda quiet. The Lyin's had a break at the following centre-bounce, their ruckman Mitch Clark was whacked in the face by Ben Hudson and Clark lobbed his free-kick into space for Michael Rischitelli to run out and mark, Rischitelli majored. But the Dogs had the answer as Scott Welsh conned the ump with a big dive in front of Joel Patfull as the pair ran under a pass, Welsh free-kicked a goal much to the annoyance of Patfull. At the restart Bulldog Matthew Boyd coughed up possession when tackled and Luke Power passed for leading Bradshaw to mark and major. But after a few points each the Dogs had the reply, a series of handballs to clear a throw-in released Gilbee to spear a smart kick home through an empty goal-square and the Bulldogs led by 33 points at half-time. It wasn't all good though, Brad Johnson staggered off after colliding with the goal-post and defender Tom Williams was also benched, with a suspected broken foot.
But as we know Johnno is a bit of a drama queen and he lined up in a forward pocket for the third term, and did some damage to the Lyin's. Bully Dylan Addison's great tackle on Patfull set up an early chance and Hahn handballed wide to Johnson, who steered a goal from the flank. The Bullpups led by 39 points. Brisbun began to get running now, and some noice examples of such from Ashley McGrath, then Sherman led to a goal for Bradshaw. Josh Drummond was shifted forward and he ran off the wing to pass to Cheynee Stiller, Drummond ran on to receive Stiller's handpass and thump a running sausage from 50m. Consecutive majors from the Lyin's as they trailed by 27 points. Brad Johnson stung the Lyin's again though, whipping a snap through from a tight angle after Josh Hill's skilful gather and handpass. Brisbun closed again with some sharp running handball ending with James Polkinghorne snapping truly off the left boot. The Doggies led by 27 points once more and they revisited last week now with four consecutive behinds, including two from Johnson and one, jeered point from Akermanis. Eventually Akermanis tidied a scrappy passage with a handball to Murphy, he jabbed a pass for Eagleton to mark just inside the 50m line and The Bald Man punted a long major. The Doggies led by a healthy 37 points, well into the third stanza. The Brians did score the final goal of the term, Drummond lobbed an excellent kick into the 'hole' for Brown to run into, mark and convert; Brown was struggling again, well-held by Brian Lake to this point. The Bullies led by 32 points at the final change. The Lyin's fired up into the final term, a good switching move involving Polkinghorne and Sherman allowed Drummond to thump another long, running goal and a bit later Drummond poked a kick ahead from a throw-in and Brown dived to take a low grab, big Jon Brown booted very good major himself. Simon Black missed a shot but from the Dogs' kick-in Drummond took a decent grab over back-pedalling Lake, played-on and speared yet another long sausage roll. The Lyin's had scored the last four goals of the game and trailed by just 13 points now. The game tightened up as the Dogs worked hard to defend, just three behinds were scored in the next twelve minutes. Then, wouldn't you know it, the deadlock was broken by Akermanis, who roved his own spilled mark on the left forward-flank and steered a superb, all-too-familiar, left-foot kick from the boundary-line between the big posts. As everyone's noted, Aker's done that many times at the Gabba. The Bulldogs led by 20 points following that Aker magic and a minute later they caught another break, Minson was awarded a mysterious free-kick as he led into the pocket and then received a 50m penalty following Daniel Merrett's complaints. Minson popped it through from point-blank and the Bullies led by 26 points with just over five minutes to go. The Lyin's won the following centre-clearance and Brown handballed for Stiller to boot a goal, but that was the final major as the Dogs hung on.
Puppy full-back Brian Lake (19 disposals, 13 marks) is said to be pushing for All-Australian honours, he had the better of Brown here. Matthew Boyd (29 touches, 8 marks) and Adam Cooney (25 disposals) worked hard on-the-ball for the Doggies and Nathan Eagleton (21 touches, 9 marks, 3 goals) did some damage with running and long kicking. Robert Murphy (21 disposals, 11 marks) lurked about handily, although he copped a cork thigh in a heavy collision during the third term. Jarrod Harbrow (31 disposals, 8 marks) was very good running from defence and old stagers Brad Johnson (23 possies, 10 marks, 2 goals) and Jason Akermanis (18 handlings, 8 marks, 2 goals) did the business in attack. Lindsay Gilbee, Scott Welsh and Will Minson kicked 2 goals each; both of Welsh's and Minson's came from frees, with added 50s for Minson's. Simon Black (37 disposals) and form ruckman Mitch Clark (22 touches, 5 marks, 24 hit-outs) led the way for the Lyin's. Hard running Justin Sherman (27 possessions) is in good form and Daniel Bradshaw (13 touches, 8 marks, 3 goals) was their best forward. The move of Josh Drummond (18 possies, 6 marks, 3 goals) was almost a master-stroke. Luke Power (24 disposals) was alright, Jonathan Brown bagged 3 goals. "I just think that our team fabric fell apart and what we stand for as the Brisbane Lions fell apart today," Voss began, damningly. "We were insipid in the way that we played in our first half. We got seduced by the game, we didn't really sort of move the ball with any real ascendancy, [we were] almost waiting for permission to play the style of footy that we want to play." Akermanis's last quarter goal? "It was just a good finish and it was a good finish at a critical stage and that's something that we just couldn't get tonight," Voss said. "We had some really strong scoring opportunities in the first half, [but] they just finished off better than us. Over the course of the year we've been pretty good finishers so it's a bit unusual for us the last two weeks to see that we haven't been able to finish off our work . . . We don't have much of the season left and for us to make progression any further, then we've got to sort it out pretty quick," 'Rocket' Eade was full of praise for his blokes. "We had three blokes that couldn't run after half time and with our players out . . . it was just a courageous, tough win up here, playing for a top-four spot," he said. "They were virtually at full strength. It was a courageous, courageous, great win . . . I think last week's loss made these next three weeks ultra-important against three good teams, starting tonight. We viewed it as a final. Our finals have come early so we've got another two finals the next two weeks, then we start the real stuff. We're under no illusions what's in front of us, but having said that I think the guys will get a bit of momentum from it. To do that I think can be a real turning point for our players."
At Stadium Australia:
Sydney 2.3 5.5 8.7 13.9.87
Geelong 3.4 6.5 9.11 13.14.92
Terrific game at the Olympicy venue. The Cats are no longer the hunter, but the hunted and required a superlative game from Gary Ablett to carry them across the line to victory. Handy as it assures the Cats of a top-two finish and Sinkilda-avoidance in week one of the finals, which was in a bit of doubt in recent weeks. The Swans produced their third consecutive excellent performance, but the upshot has been a loss to the top two sides by a combined total of a goal and the eight is now out of reach. Siddey fans will ponder those poor losses against Essadun at the SCG and Carlton at Docklands just a few weeks ago, from almost the same twenty-two. And Psycho-Barry Hall blowing it against the Horks. Last week Siddey coach Paul Roos confirmed what many suspected, having won a flag Roosy's not sticking around for rebuilding. Roos will leave at the end of next season and current assistant John 'Horse' Longmire will take over in a succession deal mirroring Collywood's Malthouse/Buckley arrangement. The Siddey team here had two changes from the side which belted the Tiggers, 'Leaping' Leo Barry came in for his first game of the season, Barry's retiring at the season's end due to persistent knee problems. Paul Bevan was also recalled, they replaced Jarrad McVeigh (hamstring) and Jared Crouch (cork thigh). Adam Goodes played his 250th game. The Cats were strengthened with key backmen Matty Scarlett and Harry Taylor returning, ruckman Mark Blake was recalled and defender David Johnson given a chance. They replaced Darren Milburn and David Wojcinski (injured ankles both) and Max Rooke (knee) while Kane Tenace was dropped - he couldn't last.
Gary Ablett was kinda fired due to a newspaper article by Tim Watson, Dad of Jobby, which reckoned Ablett is too busy stat-chasing so he can win a Brownlow, rather than doing anything useful to help the Catters win a game. Strong but fair, Gazza has been possession-collecting, lately. Abberlett responded superbly with a great and key performance here. He missed the game's opening shot before TomaHawkins kicked a goal, a free-kick given away by Leapin' Leo Barry. Doh! The tactics were very much man-on-man with lotsa tacklin', and there was a bit of slog for the next ten minutes. Kieren Jack was Ablett's first opponent, but didn't do so well as Gablett managed 14 touches in the first term. The Katz scored the next goal eventually, Joel Selwood stabbed a pass over leading Hawkins's head but lurking Steve Johnson gathered the agate and snapped truly, the Cats led by 13 points. The Swans got moving as Brett Kirk lobbed a kick forward from the restart and Ol' Mick O'Loughlin rode Andrew Mackie to take a great grab and punt a long (for Mick) goal. The Cyats replied, Cameron Mooney gathered a wobbly pass with some skill and handballed for Travis Varcoe to pass for Shannon Byrnes, all alone, to mark, play-on and poke through. But there was a better highlight to come, Swan Jesse White took a great grab with a ride on Mark Blake and as Blake peeled back to the goal-square, White hacked a mongrelly kick into the pocket where Jarred Moore took a sliding grab and converted right on the siren. The Catters led by 7 points at the first break. Sloggin' sloggeration into quartier le deuxieme, halfway through Mooney kicked a goal with a free-kick, Lewis Roberts-Thomson dived on top of him as Mooney dived for a low grab. How are you supposed to spoil that? White kicked a point for Sinney but Scarlett's kick-in to Joel Corey was spoiled cunningly by Jude Bolton, roving Jack stabbed a pass for unopposed O'Loughlin to mark and convert. Gary Ablett kicked another point - he doesn't kick straight too often - before Catter Tom Lonergan helicoptered a major following a great pack-mark 25m out. Lonergan must've been relieved to be outta defence. We were into time-on and Ablett produced a very good pass towards Selwood which he would've marked if Kirk didn't grab his arms and pull 'em backwards, Selwood free-kicked a major and the Pu55ies led by 18 points. But the Bloods responded with two late goals, good work from O'Loughlin allowed Jude Bolton to mongrel a punt forward which White scooped skillfully and handballed off to Kirk, The Captain bagged a sausage. A bit later Rhyce Shaw drove a long, low kick in and White marked strongly in front of Scarlett, White raised the twin calicoes and the Bloods were a goal down at half-time.
The battle ground on into the third. Catters Mathew Stokes and Blake missed early shots before O'Loughlin had a free-kick, shoved out of a marking contest by Scarlett, and stabbed a centering pass for leading Marty Mattner to mark and punt for a goal. Good move, Mattner forward. Swan ruckman Darren Jolly kicked a behind and Varcoe booted a couple, Varcoe later hurt his shoulder. The Bloods went ahead, Moore intercepted a David Johnson handball and burst clear before wobbling a low kick forward, junior Daniel Hannebery marked on the 50m line and advanced a step or two before smacking a left-footed major, the first of his career. He enjoyed it as the Swans led by 3 points. But the Pu55ies responded with a great move, Scarlett's long kick-in was marked by Corey, he stabbed a pass to the wing and Mackie who ran ahead and also punted long, retreating Mooney held a mark behind Roberts-Thomson and popped it through. Mooney, playing well, led up to the wing for a grab and passed ahead to Mackie, he produced a terrifically weighted pass for leading Hawkins to mark and kick truly. Some good footy there as the Catterers led by 9 points. The Swans replied as Ryan O'Keefe tumbled a kick ahead from a throw-in and O'Loughlin gathered smartly and handballed for Mattner to snap it home. But Jeelong had the final say as Jimmy Bartel lobbed a high kick in and two Swarns flew against Mooney, leaving roving Byrnes alone to grab the spillage, speed clear and stab a major. The Cats clung to a 10-point lead at the final change.
The Pu55ies put the pressure on into the final stanza, Bartel had a free at the opening bounce and passed for leading Mooney to mark 55m out, Mooney wheeled about immediately and kicked long where Ablett couldn't mark in front of Paul Bevan but shrugged him off to gather the spillage and stab a goal. Ablett's stats were great but what they didn't show were the second and third efforts and broken tackles in his intense determination to win the ball and do something with it. The Swans answered, Kirk's long handball found Adam Goodes who ran ahead, dummied Tom Harley, shrugged off Mackie's attempted tackle and booted a tremendous running goal. Goodes had been more than handy at CHF again. The Catters now appeared to take charge, Mooney seized a strong mark of Mackie's long punt and handballed to Byrnes for a point-blank tap-through. At the restart Swan Jack coughed up the ball when tackled and Blake handballed for Selwood to run clear, have a bounce and kick long where once again Mooney slipped behind Roberts-Thomson to mark, play-on and poke it through from point blank. The Catters led by 22 points now, large in context. But the Swarns wouldn't go away. Their good pressure and loose Catter handballs gave the Swans a chance, Siddey's Luke Ablett dived in to force the ball clear and Hannebery handballed for O'Loughlin to roll a snap through for full points. O'Loughlin was putting in an effort in his last game at Stadion Australie, soon he marked again on the forward-flank, good effort from Matt O'Dwyer to find him, O'Loughlin sold a noice dummy and stabbed a pass for Jude Bolton to mark and kick a major. The Cats' lead was cut to 11 points but they nudged ahead again, Roberts-Thomson soared over Mooney to take a huge, classical screamer, a top grab deep in defence. LRT chipped a pass sideways to Moore but he sent one across the face of the sticks towards O'Keefe where Cat Corey had anticipated it, intercepted, raced into the open goal and poked it through. Whoops as the Pu55ies went 17 points ahead. Swarns White and O'Keefe missed shots, from the kick-in of the latter Bloods Shaw and Nick Smith did well to win the agate and Smith passed for leading Goodes to mark and thump a terrific sausage roll from the flank. The Swans came again and tired Cyat David Johnson over-ran the ball as he fresh-aired an attempted soccer-kick, O'Loughlin punted forward and the ball bounced up for O'Keefe to gather and spear home. The Pu55y Cats' lead was cut to 4 points with a huge eight minutes to go. But they clamped down on the game, Ablett was especially good in this period. Mooney missed a shot with about thirty seconds to go, Shaw played-on from the kick-in and whacked a kick into the centre but the Catters dived on the ball and locked it up 'til the siren.
Gary Ablett (44 disposals, 4 marks, a goal) was very, very good. Cameron Ling (29 touches, 7 tackles) also enjoyed the tough nature of the contest. Andrew Mackie (23 possessions, 9 marks) ran very effectively off half-back and Jimmy Bartel (32 possies, 5 marks) and Joel Corey (38 handlings, 7 marks, a goal) played well in midfield. Spearhead Cameron Mooney (14 disposals, 9 marks, 3 goals) played his best game for a while and Shannon Byrnes (15 touches, 3 marks, 3 goals) was also useful in the Catz forward-line. Tom Hawkins kicked 2 goals. For the Bloods Jude Bolton (23 disposals, 11 tackles, a goal) battled hard and Rhyce Shaw (25 touches) did his running job from defence very well. Ryan O'Keefe (28 possies, 6 tackles, a goal) has had a great year. Up forward Marty Mattner (16 disposals, 6 marks, 2 goals) was useful as were Adam Goodes (21 possies, 12 marks, 2 goals) and Mick O'Loughlin (16 touches, 7 marks, 3 goals). Roos laid it out. "We were in a winning position late in the game and it was a bit like the St Kilda match," Roos said. "We have a young team out there and the footy we have played in the last month has probably been the best footy we have played in the last two years." Big call. "We have played the best two sides in the competition over the past three weeks and we have lost one by a point and the other by five points," Roosy continued. "We had a genuine chance to win both of those games so the experience the younger guys are getting is invaluable. Our goal is to play as well as we can every week . . . We had three players on (Ablett) throughout the night but when he is playing that well it is very hard to stop him. We probably don't have anyone with the size and strength other than Goodes but he is playing mainly forward. So, we had three guys have a crack at him (Jack, Mattner, Paul Bevan) and they weren't all that successful. At a press conference during the week I said he would get 50 possessions so I was only six short." Mark Thompson was asked if Tim Watson's comments had spurred Ablett on. "I think so. He was out to prove a point and it was fabulous," said Bomber. "It's great to see a good player put a good display on and he was outstanding. I think everybody in the room would admit he was clearly best on ground. It's great to see performances like that from an individual . . . You always need key forwards and it's been a long year for Cam (Mooney) but in the last couple of weeks, he's got his head together. He's taking shots, kicking goals and really presenting for us. It's a good time of year for him to come good . . . I think the momentum of the media and the support and even our opposition . . . we were feeling that they thought we were slipping. And we probably were, and we've probably got a fair bit of work to do yet to get back to ultimately giving ourselves the best chance [at a premiership]."
At the MCG:
Melbourne 4.0 9.4 13.5 20.7.127
Fremantle 3.4 4.7 6.9 9.10.64
Tanking theorists copped a battering as the Dees thumped the Dockulaters at the 'G. Despite Freo's big win over Port last week, the Demuns were always going to be favourites here and, with recuperating president Jimmy Stynes sitting amongst the cheer squad again, they embraced the opportunity. Besides, the Deez are still in position for a priority pick - they have to win another game to lose that. On the other hand, Demun fans would very much like their side to beat the Bluies next week, even if the Blooze are already confirmed finals participants. Freo - meh. They'll focus on their remaining home game against the Dons. In pickin' here the Dees regained Liam Jurrah, Brock McLean and Jared Rivers from injury and recalled Russ Robertson, out went Cameron Bruce (wrist injury), Rohan Bail (thigh strain), Michael Newton (strained achilles tendon) and dropped ruckman Jake Spencer. One change for the Dokkers with Luke McPharlin returning at the expense of Clancee Pearce.
Sparse crowd of 13,000 huddled under cover (apart from Stynesy) in a gloomy, rain-swept MCG. The Dokkers' first quarter was their best as Matty Pavlich and Paul Hasleby won some ball for 'em and Luke McPharlin did a bit in attack. McPharlin kicked the opening goal following sliding mark of Pavlich's long kick. The rainclouds cleared and sun emerged before Ricky Petterd replied for the Deez with a gutsy with-the-flight mark of Russ Robertson's punt, meant for leading Brad Miller. McPharlin missed his next chance prior to two majors from Dee Brock McLean, the first snapped through from a scramble 15m out, the next with a similar genesis but drop-punted home from 40m as the Dokkers failed to clear under some decent tackling pressure from the Dees. Melbun led by 10 points but it was against the run and McPharlin kicked the next two sausage rolls. The first of those was a free-kick way off the ball for James Frawley's holding, then McPharlin took a with-the-flight mark and converted from Pavlich's lobbed kick, after heavy tackles from Matt de Boer and Nick Suban had won possession for Freo. The sandgropers led by 4 points but Melbun scored the final major of the term, Liam Jurrah led up into the centre-square to mark Matthew Bate's pass and then stab one to second-gamer Tom McNamara 40m out, McNamara converted and the Dees led by 2 points at the first change. Freo were over-using the ball a bit and the Dees began to pressure 'em into mistakes in the second Mario. Dee man Aaron Davey brilliantly intercepted a clearing Hasleby kick to bag an early goal, but Des Headland responded shortly for Fremandle with an under-pressure snap from 50m which sailed through. The Deez scored a coupla behinds over the next ten-odd minutes, then Dee ruckman Paul Johnson hacked a quick kick away from a ball-up 25m out and it rolled through for full points. The korter ground on a bit with some uninspiring stuff on display - this was the bottom pair, after all - before Robbo enlivened proceedings with a big ride on and speccie over Garrick Ibbotson. As usual, Robertson had taken off very early and used his legs to shove Ibbotson out, then taken the grab with back parallel to the ground and not far from it. Robbo majored and the Deez led by 15 points. A bit later a neat passing move ended up with Jurrah marking 15m out and converting, good of Colin Sylvia to pass when he could've easily kicked the goal himself. A rubbish Ibbotson handball caused a Freo turnover and Dee Nathan Jones passed ahead to Miller in plenty of space, Miller played-on and slotted and the Demuns led by 27 points at orange time.
The margin only expanded thereon as the Shockers appeared less interested. Freho did score the opening goal of the third, Suban ran onto Stephen Hill's well-placed kick to gather and stab a low kick home from 45m. A great tap from Johnson down to James McDonald won the subsequent centre-clearance for the Dees, Dokka man Greg Broughton would've marked McDonald's kick if not crashed into by team-mate Grover and Jurrah collected the loose ball to snap a goal, aided by Martin's shepherding. Melbun led by 27 points still and again we had a dullish patch before Melbun began to open a more substantial lead. Big Dokker Aaron Sandilands marked a Demun shot in the goal-square but was forced to kick to a pack and Dee Bate gathered the ball, his smart, hooked pass saw Robertson marking at the top o' the 'square and converting. Dee Shane Valenti tumbled a punt forward from the restart and Davey sped off the wing to gather it, weave onto his left boot and spear a terrific low kick for a major. Davey was having a big day as the Demuns went 39 points clear. The Dockulaters got one back after their Dean Solomon and Melbern's Jones collided heavily in the centre, Sandilands collected the ball and kicked towards Kepler Bradley who held a decent grab in front of Rivers. Bradley punted accurately with a tricky shot from the flank. Melbun responded presently as Jones spoiled Marcus Drum's fairly insipid pass off half-back, Jones followed-up to collect Davey's handpass and stab a centering pass to Bate who thumped it through. Melbun led by 38 points at the last change. The final term started sluggishly again, ten minutes saw three behinds scored before the floodgates blessedly opened. Jurrah started it with a free-kick for Steven Dodd's front-on spoil plus a 50m penalty for, um, something, Jurrah popped it through from point-blank. In rapid succession Sylvia walloped a set-shot home from the edge of the centre-square - it sailed through with metres to spare - and Robertson kicked another following a lead-and-mark of Jones's pass. The Dees led by 57 points. A quick Freo rebound saw them break the run, Pavlich's pass saw Chris Mayne marking in space and he played-on to drill it through. But the Dees rattled 'em on, Jurrah scored the weekend's second 'Jarman' when he jabbed a kick for a goal while lying on his back in the goal-square, somehow two Freo men standing over Jurrah failed to stop him getting the shot away. Bate followed up with the next two goals, the first a roving snap from Robbo's contest, the next from the following centre-bounce with a strong grab of Petterd's kick. After Valenti drilled one on-the-run the Dees led by a hefty 75 points, but the Dockers got a coupla junk-time goals from Hill and Mayne.
Aaron Davey (31 disposals, 2 goals) revelled in the slippery conditions to have a very good game for the Dees, Matthew Bate (25 touches, 8 marks, 3 goals) was a busy half-forward as he has been and the Dees had good service on the ball from Brock McLean (26 possies, 2 goals), James 'Junior' McDonald (25 handlings, 6 marks) and Nathan Jones (28 disposals, 4 marks) - tankologists noted the Dees' contested-ball wins were double their normal value (i.e. in games where the Dees lose). Once again Liam Jurrah (18 possessions, 6 marks, 4 goals) displayed his undoubted ability and there was a decent effort from Lynden Dunn (22 possies, 8 tackles) on Pavlich, Cale Morton (23 touches, 7 marks) was handy too. Russ Robertson kicked 3 goals. Paul Hasleby (27 disposals) and Matthew Pavlich (25 touches, 6 marks) worked hard for Freo, Paul Duffield (19 possies) was good too and Chris Tarrant (15 disposals) did well at full-back on Miller. David Mundy (20 touches) and Greg Broughton (20 possies) went alright. Luke McPharlin kicked 3 goals but wasn't seen much after korter-time, Chris Mayne finished with 2 goals. Mark Harvey pondered the nature of inconsistency. "How can you play so well the week before against a finals side and then go out and play like that? It's bewildering," Harvey pondered. "Overall we didn't have many winners, if any. We weren't fluent enough in anything we did. Things like inaccuracy early, players not holding their footing and not winning the contested footy. We weren't competitive enough and we lacked intensity. What happened in the space of seven days? We've got to find the answer . . . The fluctuation in form from home and away is something we've got to nail. Players need to assess themselves and their preparation to make sure on a weekly basis that they can handle this competition wherever you have to play. We were trying to continue on our good week . . . we were playing to our structures, but they were breaking down because of our lack of composure and our inability to maintain possession." Dee man Dean Bailey said "The guys deserve a pat on the back for coming out and playing well and winning the game - they were good. I'm pleased for the players. They've been to hell and back, if you like. I've said in the last month and I've said it for the last couple of years that they are very supportive of each other. They really are committed to helping each other." Next week, tank? "Carlton has got a lot to play for at the moment," dead-batted Bailey. "The challenge for us is: can we get ourselves up to play against a team that's in the finals?" Bailey also had kind words for Jurrah, with a warning. "He'll go home (to Yuendumu in the post-season) and he already is a star there - that's no different for him - but the type of program we give him has got to suit the environment that he's in. It's going to be important he comes back (for pre-season) in reasonable condition."
At Football Park:
Port Adelaide 3.6 4.7 8.10 9.13.67
Carlton 2.4 8.8 9.11 18.13.121
Ah, Port. The flat-track bullies. The front-runners. The chokers. And still potential finalists. Round 22, at home to the Ruse, appears crucial. Slightly unrelated, but it's not clear what Port are doing with their coaching situation, either. Merely a few weeks after re-signing Mark Williams for two years they're rumoured to be trying to put a succession deal in place, involving firstly James Hird (he knocked it back), now ex-Choco assistant Damien Hardwick. Carton's performance was excellent here as they powered away in the final korter, now confirmed finals participants and an outside chance at a top-four finish; although they'd be happy to finish fifth or sixth and avoid an interstate trip. For them also, round 22, the Camrys at Docklands, will be crucial in that regard. In selection here the Powder made five changes to the side beaten by Fremandle, experienced men Peter Burgoyne, Josh Carr and Brett Ebert were recalled along with Steven Salopek and Paul Stewart, out went Jason Davenport (groin strain) and Jacob Surjan (hip) while Nick Salter, Tom Logan and Toby Thurstans were dropped. Carr was playing his 200th game, a notable achievement for the Port hard-man. One, late change for the Bloobaggers as Cameron Cloke replaced Shaun Hampson; not sure of the reason.
Port were back in their original jumper, the half-black, half-teal one with the white number-panel. The Bluesers had the rather soft-looking, (nearly) all-white guernsey. The Flowers kicked off with the requisite, expected intensity. Justin Westhoff scored an early goal with a back-pedalling mark over Bret Thornton, noice work from Travis Boak to set that up. The next few minutes were pretty rugged, Port did the bulk of the attacking but could only managed a coupla behinds as the Bluies flooded back in numbers. Josh Carr's smother at half-back led to the next goal, passes from Alipate Carlile and Warren Tredrea ended with Matt Thomas marking 40m out and milking a 50m penalty by plummeting to earth as Jordan Russell bumped lightly into him. Thomas popped it through and the Power led by 13 points. That smother ended up being Carr's only effect on the game as he soon departed with an ankle injury, a disappointing milestone. Might've been his last game, too. Carton soon scored as Kade Simpson lobbed a kick to the top of the goal-square and Brendan Fevola marked emphatically in front of Carlile, Fev popped it through. More misses over the next few minutes, from Port mostly including two from Robbie Gray, normally very accurate. Finally skipper Dom Cassisi leaped to spoil Nick Stevens's risky pass to Bryce Gibbs and Tredrea swept up the spillage to snap a very good major. Port led by 16 points but Carton scored one against the run as Chris Judd crept forward to nudge out Thomas and mark Heath Scotland's kick, Juddy converted. Misses from Marc Murphy and Scotland left the Powder 8 points ahead at the first break. The momentum reversed in the second Mario as Bluies Murphy, Gibbs and Andrew Walker took it up to Port's flaky midfielders. Eddie Betts kicked an early major after marking a mis-hit Fevola shot, Scotland stole the pill off Brogan at a throw-in and a coupla handballs later Murphy slotted a running goal. Five minutes later Richard Hadley marked a long Powder kick-in and jabbed pass for Gibbs to mark and convert, at which stage the Bluies led by 11 points. Pord ruckman Brendon Lade pulled a goal back, he slipped forward from the next centre-bounce to mark Thomas's pass and punt truly. Tight for a bit before the Blooze punished in time-on, their Cam Cloke lurked forward and was kicked in the family jewels by O'hAilpin . . . sorry, marked Andrew Carrazzo's long kick uncontested and stabbed a pass for Andrew Walker to mark and convert. Then Gibbs capped good rebound work from Dennis Armfield and a pass from Simpson to boot a long sausage and the Bluies led by 18 points. Fevola led, marked Murphy's pass and majored after which the Bloozers led by 25 points, also the half-time margin.
The Power had a bit of a crack in the third Mario, with the brothers Burgoyne doing very well around packs. Must've been some half-time acid from Choco as the Burgoynes doing something hasn't happened for a while. Judd missed an early chance before Bloo Mitch Robinson's clearing kick was stabbed too low and Flower Danyle Pearce plucked it, leading to a mark and 50m goal for Gray. A bit later Bloo Paul Bower smacked a long Hail Mary kick from the back-pocket and Dean Brogan juggled a very good one-handed mark of it, Cloke was over-enthusiastic on the mark and a 50m penalty allowed Brogan to punt a major. Poor Taddleaide trailed by 13 points. Fevola supplied Bloo relief with an excellently-judged goal-square grab (and goal) as Carlile and Chad Cornes flailed about. Fevola missed a subsequent shot before Tredrea, having a good korter, out-marked Bower and potted a sausage. Tredrea then had trouble with accuracy and a hatful of behinds followed, very late in the piece Lade tapped a ball-up perfectly for Gray to collect and snap through and the Power were in it, 7 points down at the last change. Williams pulled his standard maneuver of shifting the huddle to the outer wing, in front of the fans. But it didn't work as the Blooze steamed away in the ultimate stanza. Judd and Gray kicked respective points before O'hAilpin marked on the 50 and drove a kick in which Fevola marked one-handed on the point-line while being clattered by Troy Chaplin. Fevola played-on and stabbed his shot into the post, but the ump called the ball back to 'set the mark' properly. Given time to focus, Fev checkside-kicked a goal this time and signaled as much to the Porty fans behind the goals, they weren't happy as the Blooze led by 13 points. Port could only manage a Shaun Burgoyne behind in the next five minutes before the floodgates opened, long handballs from Scotland and Murphy cleared a ball-up on the wing and Carrazzo bagged an unlikely running goal from the flank, then Fevola out-marked Chaplin and Carlile again, the Powermen demonstrating a remarkable inability to judge the ball in flight. Fevola kicked a goal, by the way. Fev missed again before Robinson majored courtesy a 50m penalty against frustrated Cassisi, who'd clattered him pointlessly after a mark. The cup of grass came when midget Murphy rode Chad Cornes for a great grab in the pocket and slotted, how embarrassment. A Nick Stevens goal made the Bluies' lead 43 points, Port's Brogan and Blooze Betts, Murphy and Fevola kicked majors late on.
Marc Murphy (33 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals) had a good game even before humiliating The Chad, along with Bryce Gibbs (32 handlings, 2 goals) and Andrew Walker (23 possies, a goal) in midfield. In attack Brendan Fevola (20 touches, 8 marks, 6 goals) showed the Powdermen how to actually mark the ball. Some good efforts came from Heath Scotland (30 possies, 5 marks) and Ryan Houlihan (24 possessions) while Dennis Armfield (15 disposals) ran effectively from the back. Eddie Betts bagged 2 goals. Travis Boak (27 disposals) and Shaun Burgoyne (25 touches) supplied occasional flashes from the Port engine room and Kane Cornes (24 possies) collected the ball as usual. Matt Thomas (22 disposals, 7 marks, a goal) battled a bit and up front Warren Tredrea (16 touches, 10 marks, 2.2) and Robbie Gray (10 touches, 3 marks, 2.3) tried hard. Pity they couldn't have kicked straighter. Mean Dean Brogan kicked 2 goals. "It was pretty obvious today that for two quarters we looked okay and for the other two quarters we were inept," Williams said. "The players looked to have an inability to run or wouldn't run . . . whatever it is. There was a definite feeling of [a lack of] work ethic in the second and last quarters. It's always a factor when someone is down, but we were really disappointed with how we finished off that's for sure." Refreshingly, Choco named names. "We were looking for our experienced players and players over 100 games to actually do something. Carr couldn't, Peter (Burgoyne) didn't, Salopek didn't and Ebert didn't," Williams said. "We just spent quite a bit of time looking at the mix of the players. We see Hamish Hartlett and Travis Boak as being the right sort. Dom Cassisi runs and tries hard. It's just getting the right mix of players that do that." The right? "We are where we are. You can ask all the other sides almost in the eight as well 'do they believe they should be in the eight?' or not," Choco said. "It's a difficult task to get into the eight every year. It's going to be right down to the wire this year and nothing is for certain for the next couple of weeks." Brett Ratten said "I think we're finding out about our group that you have to play a little bit different from week to week, you can't always play pretty, beautiful, kick a hundred goals type scenarios. In the last six to seven weeks we've played some different brands of football. We've had to roll our sleeves up sometimes and play tough, hard football, play one-on-one and things like that. Then some days you get to play with some freedom. That's the pleasing aspect, and our group has matured a little bit from that point of view . . . We've probably cemented our finals position but we control our own destiny going forward. Is it tools down for us? Not at all. It's just a start for us and we need to keep working extremely hard and see how season 2009 pans out and how far the journey goes. We'll keep working on what we have to do, and not what the opposition has to do." Too many tools at Carton to put them all down.
At Docklands:
Essendon 3.3 10.6 16.9 16.14.110
St. Kilda 4.2 7.4 11.10 16.12.108
Sinkilda captain Nick Riewoldt missed an after-the-siren shot to be entirely responsible for the Stains' first loss of the season. Now we see why they want Tigger Jordan McMahon, according to 'The Australian'. A pleasing symmetry to it, Essadun's unbeaten run in 2000 came to an end in round 21 and here it was the Dons ending Sinkilda's chances of a perfect season, in round 20. Not quite symmetrical, then. Essadun's relentless running footy is a brittle thing but here it was allied to a clear victory in contested ball wins, headed by a terrific Jobe Watson. But the victory was costly enough to be Pyrrhic, despite jumping back into the eight the Bommers may've lost Paddy Ryder, Dustin Fletcher and Courtenay Dempsey for a few weeks. Which made the win all the more remarkable. Sinkilda are rarely beaten in winning the hard bawl and the suggestion was they'd outsmarted themselves by resting so many players last week and bringing them back here. Eight changes to an unbeaten side is ridiculous. But like the Millennium Dons, the Saints teetered on the brink of a loss for a few weeks before finally suffering one. In selection here the Dons called up ruckman Tom Bellchambers, Andrew Lovett and Andrew Welsh returned from injury. They replaced Kyle Reimers (hamstring) and dropped pair Heath Hocking and Bachar Houli. Since the game Scott Lucas has announced his immediate retirement, strange timing with the Dons' big man injuries and the finals in prospect, but Lucas is clearly hampered by injury himself. More on him next week. Big changes for the Saints with Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo, Brendon Goddard, Leigh Montagna, Sam Gilbert, Sam Fisher and Steven Baker all returning, out went Andrew McQualter and Clint Jones ('injured' is all we were told, so presumably they were being rested this week) and dropped group Ben McEvoy, Robert Eddy, Jarryn Geary, Colm Begley, James Gwilt and Jack Steven.
Business as usual in the early minutes for the Saints, Nick Dal Santo cruised clear of the opening bounce and potted a running goal, before the game could be restarted Sam Fisher, who'd started in attack here to stretch the Dons' big man resources, had a free-kick right in front as Nathan Lovett-Murray had broken the anti-handbag rule. A double-goal then and the Saints led by 12 points already. Five minutes later Farren Ray stabbed a low pass for Adam Schneider to mark 40m out and punt truly and the Stains led by 17 points. But Essington were already competing strongly about the ground, their key forwards Jay Neagle and junior Michael Hurley were the problem. At the other end big Stains Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke missed set shots - practice for Riewoldt. The Dons finally managed a goal in time-on, Angus Monfries gathered Lovett's poor pass and handballed to Mark McVeigh whose pass found Neagle alone 15m out, Neagle played-on and stabbed it through. The Saints replied as the handy Fisher led for a grab and booted his second goal, they led by 18 points. The Dons scored a coupla late ones, Lovett-Murray's dicey centering kick was marked very well by Ryder and he was dragged down stoopidly by Fisher, a 50m penalty and Ryder sausaged. The term ended with running Dusty Fletcher hammering a huge running kick for an enormous goal, from inside the centre-square. Watson dived to try and mark it as the ball sailed through and almost touched it, almost messing it up. The Stains led by 5 points at the first break. Eyebrows began to be raised in the second term as the unlikely Monfries gave the Bommers some forward focus. He put the Dons in front with a goal from a fairly lucky free-kick, apparently being ridden to ground in Sam Gilbert's tackle. A minute later Alwyn Davey's tumbling kick bounced over McPhee and Max Hudghton and Hurley gathered, he snapped a major. McPhee's slick gather and handpass and another from Sam Lonergan allowed Monfries to bag another goal and the Dons led by 14 points. Hurley and Monfries scored behinds as did Koschitzke before Bomma Brent Prismall scored full points with a terrific banana-snap. The Dons led by 21 points now. Watson was going well for the Bummers but his usual problem, kicking, let the Saints in as Watson's high, left-foot switching kick across half-back sailed over Henry Slattery's head and Koschitzke marked easily, Kosi majored. But it was mostly one-way traffic, McPhee marked Lovett's good pass at half-forward and scored with a great kick from the flank, then Monfries surfaced again with back-to-back sausages. The first was the product of a superb Watson pass, Watson marked 50m out and lined up for a shot but at the last moment speared a low, angled kick for Monfries to mark alone 25m out and convert. Then Brent Stanton came up with a more prosaic but equally effective pass for leading Monfries to mark and boot truly again, the Bommers led by 33 points and the Saints were clearly in a bit of trouble. They responded with the final two goals of the half, Koschitzke clutched an emphatic pack-mark of Goddard's centering kick 20m out and majored, then Riewoldt out-marked opponent Tayte Pears on the left forward-flank and steered a kick between the big posts. The Dons led by 20 points at half-time.
It wasn't all merriment for the Bombouts, late in the second stanza Fletcher twanged a hamstring and his night was over, Michael Hurley was redeployed in defence against big Koschitzke. Soon Dempsey would also limp off with hammy trouble. But there was no effect early in the third as the befuddled Stains made some mistakes, perhaps worried about a 'deliberate', Stainer Goddard handballed blindly across the face of his own goal and Neagle slid in to soccer a major. McVeigh collected a ball right on or probably over the boundary-line and sent a hospital handball towards Watson, he was clobbered by a manic Zac Dawson and Watson free-kicked a major. The Dons led by 32 points. The Sainters began to stir as Jason Gram and Stephen Milne kicked behinds, before Bomma Prismall marked deep in defence and played-on by handballing into Milne's stomach. Milne soccered the loose ball for a major. Dons by 24 points but they scored the next three goals. Jarrod Atkinson raced forward with two bounces "and an escort", pointed out by TV's Brian Taylor, of running Stanton and Lonergan alongside, Atkinson arrived at the 50m line and his long, wobbly kick bounced through with Ryder's shepherding. Stainer Leigh Montagna's hacked clearing kick went straight to Lovett, he marked and goaled. Neagle held a good grab 55m out and his long kick cleared Bellchambers, roving Ryder snapped a great tight-angle sausage roll and the Dons led by 42 points or seven goals. Good Richo! we cried. A handful of behinds before Milne bagged a major for the Satiners, pouncing after Raphael Clarke smothered Prismall's handpass. Three goals were scored in the final two minutes of the korter, a series of chipped passes set up Prismall to boot a 45m goal and the Bommers led by 41 points. But then some good work from Riewoldt allowed David Armitage to score a running goal for the Sainters, then Goddard drove a long kick in and Milne roved Schneider's contest to snap a very good goal, Milne's third of the third. The Bomma lead was 29 points at the final rest.
The Sainters steamed inexorably closer into the final stanza. Goddard capped a long run with lowered eyes and a stabbed pass to leading Schneider, he marked and majored. Don man Hurley lost possession when tackled at half-back and Riewoldt ran clear to bag a goal, the Dons' lead was down to 18 points just over three minutes into the final Mario. In the build-up to that one Paddy Ryder had fallen awkwardly with Fisher on top of him, Ryder limped off with a sore knee. Stanton and Lovett were also carrying leg problems by now. With one man on the bench and him not too fit, the Dons stopped the attacking running and went into survival, keepings-off mode. Their fans didn't like it, mainly 'cause the Dons didn't do it very well, but it was understandable. They chewed up twelve minutes, during which Hurley took an acclaimed mark against Riewoldt, before Koschitzke kicked a major following a terrific mark, sandwiched between Hurley and Pears. A minute later Milne fed a handball for running Armitage to boot a sausage roll, the Dons' lead was reduced to 7 points. A behind each over the next four minutes, then a series of backwards, retreating Essadun handballs came unstuck as the last man in the chain, Slattery, failed to elude Montagna's tackle and Schneider swept up the loosed agate to stab a goal. Essadun by a point. A Lovett miss made it two. Just over a minute remained when Monfries marked 15m out, on a tight angle, and elected to pass backwards but inwards to Prismall. Prismall spent as long as possible lining up the shot, then took it and hit the post. Since then, there's been a suggestion Prismall should have passed backwards and played keepings-off. But a goal would've sealed the game. It didn't matter, as things turned out. The Sainters advanced from the kick-in and Luke Ball lobbed a hopeful kick onto the right forward-flank which Riewoldt marked on his chest as tired Dons flapped about, nine seconds on the clock. The siren was clearly not music to Riewoldt's ears as he twirled the ball about nervously and wiped his hands on his guernsey several times before taking the shot, not an easy one but kickable, 40m out and about 10m in from the boundary. It was always missing right and the Dons fans and players were celebrating jubilantly before the goal-ump signaled a behind.
Terrific game from Jobe Watson (37 disposals, 5 marks, 8 tackles, a goal) who, as the pundits have noted, has lifted himself above limitations (slow, poor kicking) to become a very good footballer. Comparisons with Greg 'Diesel' Williams were drawn. Angus Monfries (20 touches, 7 marks, 4 goals) was terrific in attack and ruckman Paddy Ryder (12 possessions, 2 marks, 19 hit-outs, 2 goals) took on Gardiner and King. Jarrod Atkinson (19 possies, 5 marks, a goal) was very good running off half-back and Henry Slattery (14 touches, 4 marks) was a tough defender, Mark McVeigh (17 disposals) and Brent Prismall (24 touches, 7 marks, 2 goals) played well. Jay Neagle kicked 2 goals. Running midfield men Nick Dal Santo (27 touches, 7 tackles, a goal) and Leigh Montagna (25 disposals, 9 tackles) were very good for the Saints and Justin Koschitzke (11 touches, 9 marks, 3 goals) a tower of strength in attack, against admittedly junior opponents. Lenny Hayes (21 touches, 6 marks, 10 tackles) was as solid as ever and runnin' Jason Gram (25 possessions) was good, Stephen Milne (12 possessions, 3 goals) initiated the fightback. Adam Schneider kicked 3 goals and there were 2 each for David Armitage, Nick Riewoldt and Sam Fisher. "It's a sharp reminder of the preparation and intensity that's required for AFL footy," Ross Lyon said. "It's a really sharp reminder, two weeks out, to really focus in on our preparation and not be distracted by anything outside, which it hasn't been. Really respect the opposition and try to play Saints footy." What'd he do when they were 7 goals down? "We started to rotate heavily, broke some tags, shared the work, just really let them have their head a bit. Just really sat back and watched who was prepared to dig in, and play some Saints footy. A lot of them, to their credit, did that, because otherwise you can't work back from that sort of position . . . We put our best team out, they put their best team out, and I think you have to pay Essendon . . . they won a lot of contested ball today. I thought Watson was absolutely super for them, and in the end they took their opportunities pretty well. All credit to Essendon . . . in the end they'd lost a couple on the bench so they were out on their legs a bit. It's a super win for them and it's a sharp reminder for us how brutal the competition is . . . It certainly gets rid of the streak, and one less article a week would be nice. There's just a lot of noise out there about it, so I think the noise will be a little bit less." Matty Knights said "We always knew St Kilda were going to come, and we were out on our feet with 10 minutes to go. Thankfully, we were able to hang on. When Brent Prismall wrapped that ball around the post, my heart was beating a few notches up from what it normally does. It was a great win for the club, and I said to the guys (that) the 22 players that represented our club today did us proud. We came with a plan to win, and we had a belief that if we did everything right we could win. The players followed through on the plan . . . (Riewoldt's shot) was difficult because it was a 45-degree angle, 45m out, so it's a 50-50 shot. It's a tough shot. I was watching him kick them in the warm up, and he was kicking them pretty well. I thought he'd strike it, but it was a tough shot and thankfully he missed it . . . They (Bommers) always had a belief and a spirit they could win, so we thought we could do well here today as long as we supported each other and we used the ball well. Being three goals down early, it would have been quite easy for the guys to go back into their shells but thankfully they didn't and they kept fighting, got us back on even terms, and we went on from there. The big challenge now is for this group to understand they've got to present the same attitude and mentality to every side like we played against St Kilda today. We haven't been able to establish that this season thus far. We're still battling with our maturity and our inconsistency, but we've showed during the year we can match it with the better sides. We've been hurt by sides that have been beneath us on the ladder. We really have to present with a strong attitude next week and the week after." They certainly do.
Ladder after Round 20
Pts. % Next Week
St. Kilda 76 158.1 North Melbourne (Docklands, Sunday)
Geelong 68 128.5 Footscray (Docklands, Fri. night)
Collingwood 56 123.4 Sydney (MCG, Sunday)
Footscray 52 122.6 Geelong (Docklands, Fri. night)
Carlton 48 112.9 Melbourne (Docklands, Saturday)
Adelaide 48 110.3 West Coast (Football Park, Saturday)
Brisbane 46 106.1 Port Adelaide (Gabba, Sat. night)
Essendon 38 99.5 Fremantle (Subiaco, Sunday)
------------------------------------------------
Port Adelaide 36 88.6 Brisbane (Gabba, Sat. night)
Sydney 32 95.1 Collingwood (MCG, Sunday)
Hawthorn 32 90.4 Richmond (MCG, Sat. night)
West Coast 28 92.4 Adelaide (Football Park, Saturday)
North Melbourne 22 81.8 St. Kilda (Docklands, Sunday)
Richmond 22 76.9 Hawthorn (MCG, Sat. night)
Fremantle 20 74.7 Essendon (Subiaco, Sunday)
Melbourne 16 76.5 Carlton (Docklands, Saturday)
Cheers, Tim.
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