[AFL-Review] Round 18

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Essendon 16.12.108 Defeated St Kilda 11.9.75
History repeats and it was general knowledge that the Bombers had some sort of hoodoo over the Saints, but, not many listened. And so it passed. The Saints are not looking like a hot premiership prospect at the moment with 2 losses and a draw from their past 3 games. And the knives sticking out of Matthew Knights' back from a couple of weeks ago are actually those trick magician knives where the blade pushes into the hilt. "It was just a joke Matty. All is forgiven!" Flaky Essendon supporters who should be doing something a little more constructive like intimidating members of the Essendon Lawn Bowls club so they will say yes to an extension of the Windy Hill ground to enable the Bombers to enter the 21st century with adequate training facilities. Monfries kicked 4 for the Bombers and Bachar Houli, the forgotten and much maligned Essendon half forward, kicked 2. The return of Fletcher to the Essendon backline was a major contributing factor for the Bomber win and the guy is 35 years old! Reiwoldt provided a bit across half forward for the Saints but they had a lot of players go missing.
 
Collingwood 15.15.105 Defeated Carlton 9.3.57
This was a very one-sided game thoroughly enjoyed by Collingwood supporters. At half time the Blues had kicked only 2 goals and the game was gone. The Pies led by 73 points at one stage and went into cruise control which allowed Carlton to kick 6 goals in the last. Carlton coach Brett Ratten stated that he was embarrassed by the effort of his guys and watching the game from the heights of the Southern stand at the MCG he was justified. Players did not attack the ball hard enough and constant fumbling and unsure ball handling allowed the Magpies to continually apply pressure and set up forward attacks at will. Poor goal front accuracy by Cloke for Collingwood who kicked 2.5 but took 12 marks kept the margin to under 10 goals at half time. Swan, Ball and Pendlebury dominated possessions around the ground and Didak and Davis were just brilliant up forward as well as around the ground. Judd copped a shoulder injury which didn't help Carlton's cause either. The Pies face Geelong next week, another BLOCKBUSTER, while the Blues will continue to fight for a finals berth.
 
Port Adelaide 13.14.92 Defeated Hawthorn 12.12.84
This was the second shock result of the weekend as Port stormed over Hawthorn in the last quarter. The result takes the pressure off the top 4 teams a bit but has now added pressure to the teams placed 5th to 13th. It seems Primus is making a difference at Port. The game was close all day with little separating the teams and it was just a last quarter goal kicked by Port's Stewart that sealed the result. Schultz, a Richmond reject, kicked 4 for the Power and Buddy put through 3 for the Hawks. The job Cornes did on Hodge was a contributing factor in Port Adelaide's win as the Brownlow favourite was kept to 18 possessions.  Mitchell and Renouf were best for Hawthorn and as well as Schultz and Cornes for Port Westhoff and Cassisi were prominent. The result has probably put paid to Hawthorn's top 4 aspirations but has kept a faint hope glowing for a finals spot for Port Adelaide – very faint.
 
Geelong 20.5.125 Defeated Sydney 9.18.72
The score line shows 27 shots for Sydney and 25 scoring shots for Geelong and still the Cats won by 53 but it was not inaccurate kicking for goal that cost the Swans the game. Just 4 goals down at half time the Swans succumbed to a Geelong onslaught that yielded them 8 goals to Sydney's 1 and from that point the game was really over. The Cats cruised in the last quarter which allowed the Swans to bridge the enormous gap that existed at the end of the 3rd quarter. Steve Johnson kicked 6 goals for Geelong  along with 25 possessions and Ablett had 29 touches for his 3 goals. Goodes again played a lone hand for the Swans around the ground and up forward with 3 goals. It doesn't get easier for Sydney next week against the Hawks while all eyes will be on the Collingwood clash with Geelong at the MCG next Saturday night.
 
Melbourne11.8.74 Defeated Brisbane 9.10.64
The Demons once again had a good start and allowed Brisbane back into the game in the 3rd quarter. Near the end of the game there was only 5 points in it as the Demons sealed the result with a late goal compliments of a 50 metre penalty against Rockliff of Brisbane in the last 2 minutes. 3 wins from the last 4 games has the Demons knocking on the door of the top 8 and let's face it, most of us had them on the bottom of the ladder again this year. Brisbane, after a really good start to the season is now in a fight with the Eagles for the wooden spoon having lost 12 of the last 13 games. The new, young blood at Melbourne are all learning, the old guns are all still firing, rejuvenated one would surmise, so it is looking good for them in the future. Hard to reconcile where Brisbane is headed but after winning 3 premierships in a row, well, who cares for a while?
 
Richmond 15.1.100 Defeated Adelaide 11.14.80
The Tigers continue to win games and put paid to the resurgence of Adelaide who at one stage looked like they would make the finals. Not so. Richmond came out in the 2nd half and kicked 10 goals to 4 to make sure of another victory. It was nice to see Ben Cousins play one of his best games for the Tigers ably assisted by Tuck who had 33 possessions. Reiwoldt has gone off the boil a bit but managed 2 goals but was well held by Rutten of the Crows. Neither team will make the finals but Richmond has a bit to work on for 2011 and the Crows will need a few better players to be competitive.
 
Western Bulldogs 22.11.143 Defeated North Melbourne 10.12.70
Into the 3rd quarter this was a reasonably close game. The Bulldogs went crazy in the last term and piled on 9 goals to kick the sweep for the second week in a row. North still has a mathematical chance of making the finals and the Bulldogs are in the top 4 to stay. Barry Hall continues his good form with 7 goals alongside Giansiracusa who kicked 5. Hall has given the Doggies a pretty good return this season considering most critics thought he was a risky recruit. Matthew Boyd racked up 40 touches for the Bulldogs and players like Cooney, Cross, Lake and Higgins all had big possession days. As usual North's Harvey played well with 27 possessions and 3 goals and Rawlings with 30 plus as well contributed. North has blown a couple of chances now to make the top 8 and time is running out. The Bulldogs are looking very good and the early season prediction of them making the GF now has some substance. Look out the other 3 teams in the finals campaign.
 
Fremantle 24.16.160 Defeated West Coast Eagles 13.7.85
The mighty Dockers kicked the sweep and one can only imagine the frenzy of the purple mist that will be present in the streets of Perth after that effort. The Fremantle score at half time was 13.8 which was 1 point better than the Eagles finished with. Amen. Freo's niggling little forward Ballantyne kicked 6 and Pavlich returned to some form and kicked 4. LeCras continued his goal kicking with 5 for West Coast and he sits tantalisingly 3rd for the Coleman medal as a small half forward. Wooden Spoon for West Coast and some finals glory for the Dockers. Heave Ho.
 
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