[AFL-Review] Round 19

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Carlton 23.11.149 Defeated Essendon 9.19.73
A 10 goal last quarter by the Blues and 2 missed goals….by the goal umpires and it looks like Carlton play finals and the Bombers are back to hopeless. The reaction from the lads at Carlton was expected after their own coach labelled them soft….ish. Judd played a major part in getting the hard ball at the stoppages while the rest of the players stood on the fringe waiting for him to release the ball. It works a treat. Garlett, who had been missing for a few weeks was given enough room to kick 6 goals and Waite contributed 4 – well 5 really but the one he skidded off his instep was disallowed. Friday night seems to bring out the 'crazies' in the umpires who liberally applied inexplicable 50 metre penalties during the game. Stanton played okay in a losing Bomber side and as can be seen from the score line most of the Carlton players contributed to a big win.
 
North Melbourne 19.9.123 Defeated Fremantle 10.9.69
Fremantle had far too many good players missing, add to that they played away and North had a lot more to play for with wins to Sydney and Carlton denying them entry to the top 8 and the result was predictable. Brent Harvey played another great game – 3 votes for sure and considering his age and the lack of experience of players around him it's great to see his contribution. North had a 6 goal lead at the end of the 3rd quarter and it was really game over for Freo from that stage. Wright and Bastinac along with Harvey all booted 3 goals for the Kangaroos but it was a sad story for The Dockers whose injury list may be the reason they don't really get anywhere in the finals including the strong possibility of losing the right to have a final in Perth. Shame about that.
 
Sydney 19.15.129 Defeated Hawthorn 13.7.85
The Hawthorn coach was heard to say that his team had returned to that deep hole they were in early in the season. Sydney must have noticed that and decided to bury them deeper. Punters who like to have a bit on the Brownlow will be fretting a bit as Luke Hodge applied a careless tackle on Adam Goodes that will certainly go under the microsdopes of the tribunal. This was another game that was over at half time when the Swans led by 46 points! O'Keefe kicked 4 goals for Sydney and Franklin ditto for Hawthorn. The Hawks will be under some pressure to remain in the 8 should they drop 2 of their remaining 3 games which is a distinct possibility. Melbourne and North are knocking.
 
Collingwood 14.23.107 Defeated Geelong 12.13.85
A great game of footy but the Pies applied pressure often enough to bring about some unusual Geelong turnovers. Stats will show that Collingwood dominated this game in most areas and their scoreboard inaccuracy flattered the Cats. At one stage in the 2nd quarter the Pies had raced to a 28 point lead and it looked like a matter of how far for them. But the Cats hit back and not only bridged the gap but held a 1 point lead at half time compliments of a stupid 50 metre penalty. Inaccurate kicking looked like it was going to cost Collingwood dearly but they continued to put the Geelong ball players under the pump and at the 3 quarter time break they held a 13 point advantage. The Magpies never really let the Cats back into the game in the 4th quarter, increasing their lead and shutting down Geelong forward moves. It was pretty to watch. Another goal umpiring stuff up saw a clear goal kicked by Geelong's Burn disallowed. I guess that umpire will be waving flags at one end of the Ovens and Murray league 3rds game and the goal umpire that called Neagle's  clear goal for Essendon in the game against Carlton a behind will be at the other end. We have the technology – use it. We won't be calling up a replay of every goal kicked, just the real close ones and that's maybe 10 times a year. Anyway, Collingwood pressed their advantage in the final quarter and 37 shots on goal against 25 speaks for itself as a statistic. Stokes kicked 3 for the Cats as did Beames for the Pies.  Didak was brilliant and he was ably assisted by Pendlebury for Collingwood and Chapman and Ablett were among the best for Geelong. Is it too early to get excited?
 
Brisbane Lions 10.10.70 Defeated West Coast 9.11.65
One can imagine the papers in the west headlining the Jonathon Brown bump in the back to the West Coast player and it not being paid as a free kick. Subsequently Brown kicked the winning goal with 15 seconds remaining and relegated the Eagles to their first wooden spoon. Sad. The game was not great as a spectacle with heaps of turnovers but it was close and that in itself makes it exciting for the supporters. Both teams kicked just 1 goal in the last quarter so it was similar to a game of soccer – like a 1 all draw. Brown kicked 5 for the Lions which was pretty amazing considering the team kicked only 10 for the whole game. Eagles coach Worsfold spouted some positive garbage after the game but it's got to the stage that the only person listening to him is his missus – maybe. All teams go through lows and the only positive you can take from this as a West Coast supporter is that it cannot get any worse. Brisbane also has a long way to go before a finals appearance presents itself but both teams can at least look forward to the introduction of the Gold Coast Suns to vie for the Wooden Spoon next season.
 
St Kilda 23.13.151 Defeated Port Adelaide 8.9.57
A Saints victory was predicted but this was a thrashing that most of us didn't see coming considering the reasonable form shown by the Power over the previous weeks. While the game was not quite over by the end of the 1st quarter it was definitely over by half time. Whenever Milne kicks 4 goals for the Saints you know they have a healthy, winning score. Riewoldt also booted 4 for the Saints and between them it was almost enough to beat the Power. With a 94 point margin the Saints are back in the premiership betting and Port has a lot of work to do. Hayes and Goddard seemed to be the best for St Kilda while Boak tried hard for Port Adelaide.
 
Melbourne 16.13.109 Defeated Richmond 11.14.80
The game was close all day as expected but a 6 goal last quarter by the Demons sealed the result. Can the Dees make the finals? It's still possible. Dunne with 5 goals and Jurrah with 4 were the main contributors for the Demons and Ben Cousins is showing why the Tigers better make sure he is on their list next year. Riewoldt could manage just the 1 goal for Richmond so the fight for the Coleman medal remains alive. It will be interesting for the Demons to see if they can add a place in the finals to the other accomplishment of eliminating their debt this year.
 
Western Bulldogs 8.13.61 Defeated Adelaide 7.11.53
If ever the Bulldogs needed a reality check after their last few games, which they have in a canter, then this was it. An extremely defensive game and Adelaide was unlucky not to win as was the Bulldogs lucky to win. Almost a tipster's nightmare. Barry Hall did not manage a goal and the wet conditions did not make for pretty football.  Thompson and Symes played well for the Crows and Giansiracusa, Eagleton and Boyd tried hard all day for the Doggies. In a score line like that the major goal kickers don't rate a mention.
 
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