AFL Review Round 9
Geelong 12.14.86 Defeated Collingwood 6.14 50
The Magpies will need to go back to the drawing board, lick their feathers and work out what they need to do to be competitive against the Cats who showed why they will be hard to beat in the grand final again this year. The Pies lost all their momentum half way through the third quarter when it seemed they had the Cats in the bag, so to speak. But poor kicking resulted in no scoreboard pressure and in the wink of an eye, which covered about 7 minutes, Geelong had posted 3 quick goals to be ahead. And it didn’t stop there. Again Collingwood, who had kicked over 120 points in every game since the loss to the Saints, could manage only 6 goals for the match. Oh woe is me says Mick and we all nodded our heads. Mooney in his 200th game kicked 3 goals for the Cats as did Stokes in his second game back from suspension for something to do with drugs so let’s assume he will be tested. The Collingwood forwards were shocking and it was Dayne Beams who kicked most of their score with 4 goals and some near misses. Along with Beams, Swan, Shaw and Johnson were good for Collingwood and Kelly, Bartels and Ling played well for the Cats. Sob.
Western Bulldogs 20.7 127 Defeated North Melbourne 7.15.47
As predicted the Bulldogs had far too much class for the young North team. The game was over at half time with a scoreline of 11.1 to 2.10, same number of shots and 8 goals the difference. Barry Hall found a bit of bother after some off ball niggling by Thompson and both will face suspension by the tribunal tonight no doubt. Bazza could cop 4 weeks they reckon and while the actions by Scott Thompson were questionable it’s still a case of Hall having to control temper outbursts. Barry kicked 3 goals for the Bullies and Hill kicked 4 and best players were Cooney, Griffen and Lake the latter having 41 disposals including 22 marks. Rawlings and Harvey were the best of a bad bunch for North who will probably come out and win next week as is usual for them this season.
Fremantle 14.16.100 Defeated Sydney 9.9.63
Much to everybody’s joy it seems the Dockers are the real thing this year. Somebody needs to explain the 180 degree turn around in the form of the Swans after round 6. Freo heave ho. The Dockers have won on the road 3 times this season already which is a major change to their fortunes since the club started and they play with a confidence that belies their years. Another hoodoo has been summarily dispatched with Fremantle winning at the SCG, something they had not achieved in 14 years. Swan’s coach Roos would have to be scratching his head at the form his team is displaying of late and the prediction that Sydney would not make the finals is ringing true. Pavlich is continuing his stellar form and kicked 3 for the Dockers to keep him on top of the goal kicking list and along with Hasleby and Bradley was in the best players for Freo. Malceski, Kirk and Jack were prominent for Sydney in another disappointing performance.
Essendon 19.16.130 Defeated Richmond 14.11.95
The Bombers have done well with two wins in a row and while Richmond is not a big scalp putting together consecutive wins has been difficult for Essendon. The Tigers can take heart with the score they kicked. Essendon certainly improved their finals’ prospects with that win. Hille played another good game with 3 goals and 26 disposals plus 22 hitouts, good enough to win the Dreamtime match best on ground award and for Richmond Reiwoldt kicked 6 goals. Essendon was 5 goals ahead at the end of the first quarter, a margin they kept for the rest of the game.
Melbourne 17.9.11 Defeated Port Adelaide 16.14.110
The Demons seem to enjoy giving their fans heart attacks with some close games. They turned around a 1 point loss to Collingwood with a 1 point win against Port Adelaide. Very hard to work the Power out who seem to get enjoyment from losing the ones they are tipped to win. Port was down by 6 goals starting the last quarter and in the last stanza they almost doubled their score and almost pinched the game off the Demons who had played very well up to that point. When the Power edged ahead by 5 points with 3 minutes to go everybody but Jim Stynes thought the Dees had let another one slip. But to their credit they hung on to win by a solitary point with the ball in the Port forward area. It was an exciting last quarter. Miller kicked 5 for the Demons and Bennell 4. Boak was the main contributor for Port with 3. Green played a great game for Melbourne and in the end he was the difference.
Adelaide 13.15.93 Defeated Brisbane 11.15.81
You would not have thought the Crows could win a game this season apart from beating Richmond but, they found a way to give their supporters heart and inflict a loss on Brisbane who have slumped from finals possibilities to maybes. The Brown Fevola kicked 5 for the Lions but they all came from Fev’s boot as Browny had a dirty day, ask Vossie. If you had watched the Crows play any of those first 5 games you would be forgiven to pick against them even at home but Brisbane just did not have the talent on the paddock to match the Crows. It was nip and tuck and a close finish with a surprising result. Douglas and Dangerfield booted 3 each for Adelaide with van Berlow their best player and McGrath and Banfield were prominent for the sliding Lions.
Hawthorn 16.14.110 Defeated Carlton 8.12.60
The final score line makes no sense at all considering the past form of these two teams. It’s results like this that give tipping a bad name. Picking teams based on form is hazardous enough but this result really takes the cake. And it wasn’t even a close game. The Blues were 6 goals down at half time and didn’t improve. The few, paltry goals for Carlton came from Henderson (3) and Robinson (2). Buddy Franklin was back in form with 5 for the Hawks and his mate Roughead kicked 3. Their combined score almost beat Carlton’s total for the day. The result certainly makes for interesting thought processes when selecting these teams in future. Bah! Humbug!
St Kilda 13.13.91 Defeated West Coast 8.8.56
A few minutes into the 3rd quarter it looked like the Eagles by how much. 10 minutes later the Saints snatch the lead by a point and after that West Coast folded as the Saints piled on the goals to win comfortably. It’s probably true that an umpire doesn’t change the course of a game unless he gives a suspect free kick in front of goal with 10 seconds to go and the that team wins the game from that kick. But, when the ball was kicked out of bounds on the full in the West Coast forward area and the game was in the balance the decision, or lack of it by the boundary umpire, enabled the Saints to move the ball into their forward line and kick a goal I felt was a momentous occasion. By the reaction of the Eagles’ supporters I expect they did as well. Selwood and Priddis did okay for the Eagles with McKinley kicking 4 of the West Coast’s 8 goals and for the Saints the mercurial Milne kicked 3. Hayes and Del Santo were the best for St Kilda and in particular Lenny Hayes in the second half was spectacularly effective.
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