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by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

THE TEAMS

HAWTHORN
B: Stephen Gilham, Trent Croad, Brent Guerra
HB: Grant Birchall, Thomas Murphy, Luke Hodge
C: Stuart Dew, Sam Mitchell, Chance Bateman
HF: Cyril Rioli, Michael Osborne, Shane Crawford
F: Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, Campbell Brown
Foll: Robert Campbell, Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell
I/C: Rick Ladson, Brent Renouf, Mark Williams, Clinton Young
EMG: Xavier Ellis, Jarryd Morton, Cameron Stokes

In: Crawford
Out: Xavier Ellis

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Lindsay Gilbee, Dale Morris, Tim Callan
HB: Ryan Griffen, Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Brad Johnson
F: Jason Akermanis, Will Minson, Scott Welsh
Foll: Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Daniel Giansiracusa
I/C: Jarrod Harbrow, Josh Hill, Shaun Higgins, Farren Ray
EMG: Andrejs Everitt, Wayde Skipper, Stephen Tiller

In: Hudson, Ray
Out: Sam Reid, Wayde Skipper

ADELAIDE
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Nathan Bassett
HB: Andrew McLeod, Nathan Bock, Michael Doughty
C: Brad Symes, Simon Goodwin, David Mackay
HF: Nathan van Berlo, Scott Stevens, Richard Douglas
F: Kurt Tippett, Nick Gill, Bernie Vince
Foll: Ivan Maric, Scott Thompson, Tyson Edwards
I/C: Brad Moran, Kris Massie, Robert Shirley, Chris Knights
EMG: Ken McGregor, Bryce Campbell, Brent Reilly

In: Moran
Out: Jason Porplyzia (shoulder)

COLLINGWOOD
B: Simon Prestigiacomo, Nathan Brown, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Martin Clarke, Nick Maxwell, Harry O’Brien
C: Tarkyn Lockyer, Rhyce Shaw, Shannon Cox
HF: Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke, Leon Davis
F: Chris Dawes, Paul Medhurst, John Anthony
Foll: Josh Fraser, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: John McCarthy, Dale Thomas, Chris Bryan, Ryan Cook
EMG: Danny Stanley, Shane Wakelin, Sam Iles

In: Thomas
Out: Danny Stanley

SYDNEY SWANS
B: Leo Barry, Craig Bolton, Martin Mattner
HB: Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Ted Richards, Tadhg Kennelly
C: Jared Crouch, Jarrad McVeigh, Nick Malceski
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Adam Goodes, Jarred Moore
F: Amon Buchanan, Barry Hall, Paul Bevan
Foll: Peter Everitt, Brett Kirk, Jude Bolton
I/C: Luke Ablett, Craig Bird, Kieren Jack, Darren Jolly
EMG: Ryan Brabazon, Jesse White*, Patrick Veszpremi

In: Goodes, O’Keefe
Out: Heath Grundy, Patrick Veszpremi

* White replaced Heath Grundy as an emergency on Friday

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Ed Lower, Josh Gibson, Michael Firrito
HB: Daniel Pratt, Lachlan Hansen, Shannon Watt
C: Lindsay Thomas, Daniel Wells, Matt Campbell
HF: Brent Harvey, David Hale, Shannon Grant
F: Aaron Edwards, Nathan Thompson, Scott McMahon
Foll: Drew Petrie, Brady Rawlings, Daniel Harris
I/C: Sam Power, Adam Simpson, Jess Sinclair, Leigh Harding
EMG: Gavin Urquhart, Ben Ross, Leigh Brown

In: Lower, N. Thompson, Sinclair
Out: Hamish McIntosh, Corey Jones, Gavin Urquhart

GEELONG
B: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Josh Hunt
HB: Corey Enright, Andrew Mackie, Darren Milburn
C: Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney , Mathew Stokes
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Lonergan, Travis Varcoe
Foll: Brad Ottens, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Mark Blake, Brent Prismall, Max Rooke, Harry Taylor
EMG: Ryan Gamble, David Wojcinski, Shannon Byrnes 

In: Mackie, Rooke
Out: Shannon Byrnes, Ryan Gamble

ST KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Max Hudghton, Raphael Clarke
HB: Sam Gilbert, Sam Fisher, Jason Gram
C: Clint Jones, Nick Dal Santo, Robert Harvey
HF: James Gwilt, Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna
F: Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke, Adam Schneider
Foll: Steven King, Lenny Hayes, Brendon Goddard
I/C: Charlie Gardiner, Andrew McQualter, Xavier Clarke, Robert Eddy
EMG: Jack Steven, David Armitage, Shane Birss

In: McQualter, X. Clarke
Out: Sean Dempster (knee), Shane Birss


HAW  4.5   10.12   15.17   18.19 (127)
WB   2.1    4.4     7.7    11.10 (76)

GOALS: HAW - Franklin 8, Osborne 4, Roughead 3, Brown, Crawford, Lewis; WB - Akermanis 3, Giansiracusa 2, Cooney 2, Hill 2, Higgins, Johnson

BEST: HAW - Franklin, Hodge, Mitchell, Osborne, Sewell, Lewis, Roughead; WB - Griffen, Cross, Giansiracusa, Akermanis, Boyd, Minson, Lake, Hill, Callan

INJURY: HAW - Croad (ankle), Birchall (corked thigh), Ladson (AC joint), Stokes (corked thigh), Gilham (virus) replaced in the selected side by Stokes

UMPIRES: Donlon, Rosebury, Ryan

CROWD: 76,703 at the MCG

It was another Buddy Franklin special at the MCG as the Hawks demolished the Bulldogs. Hodge was instrumental in setting up countless attacks from the back line and helped the defense cut off Bulldog attacks. Sewell, Mitchell and Lewis ran rampant through the midfield while Franklin and Roughead were too good for the Dog defense. Morris and Lake both tried to stop Franklin but he would not be denied, even as Bulldog midfielders dropped back into defense in an attempt to block Franklin. The Bulldogs' normally efficient use of the ball evaporated as they often fumbled the ball or turned it over.

Players from both sides may have had a slight case of early Finals jitters as they missed several shots on goal, but the Hawks soon took control. Roughead marked (caught the ball) and finally put through the first goal of the match. A few minutes later, Lewis kneed Johnson in the back after a mark and Johnson was awarded a 50 meter penalty (55 yards) for the Bulldogs' first goal. The Dogs hit the front when Giansiracusa goaled, but it was all Hawthorn after that and Franklin began his party tricks. First he recovered an attempted spoil of the ball by Morris to kick a goal. A few minutes later, he took a handball from Williams and was promptly tackled by Hargrave. The tackle didn't phase him as he pounced on the loose ball for another goal. Brown kicked the Hawks' fourth goal to give them a 16 point lead at 1/4 time.

The Hawk lead could have blown out even more early in the second term but Rioli, Roughead and Williams all missed early shots on goal. Enter Franklin again as he swooped on a loose ball and drilled through another goal. Midway through the term, Crawford and Franklin added two more to give the Hawks a 36 point lead. The Bulldogs mounted a brief challenge as Cooney soccered through a goal from close range after Akermanis' kick went wide of the mark. Akermanis made amends a few minutes later with a goal which cut the Hawk lead to 24 points. It all came undone when a Giansiracusa kick was picked off by Guerra and the ball eventually found its way to Franklin who goaled from a dubious free kick. Osbourne got in on the act with two goals in two minutes and the Hawks led by 44 points at 1/2 time.

The Bulldogs again tried to challenge early in the third term with goals to Akermanis and Hill cutting the margin to 32 points. Again the Bulldogs blew it when Hargrave conceded a silly free kick with an off the ball bump on Osbourne. Osbourne goaled from the free kick and added another soon after and the game was as good as over with Hawthorn in front by 45 points. Hill managed another goal for the Dogs in between a pair to Roughead and Lewis which had the Hawks 58 points in front at 3/4 time.

The Bulldogs came out firing early in the final term with the first three goals. However, the Hawks then added three in reply. Both sides then missed several shots on goal before Akermanis kicked one last goal for the Bulldogs late in the term.

The Hawks now have a week off as they advance to the Preliminary Final. They will be hoping Croad, who missed the second half, and Brown will be fit for the game. The Bulldogs will play in a Semi Final next week.


COL  4.3   7.6   14.9   19.11 (125)
ADE  2.2   9.6   11.7   14.10 (94)

GOALS: COL - Dawes 3, Anthony 3, Swan 2, Maxwell 2, Cox, Davis, Fraser, Cloke, R. Shaw, Lockyer, Thomas, Clarke, Medhurst;
ADE - Stevens 6, McLeod 2, Mackay, Edwards, Maric, Johncock, Bassett, Gill

BEST: COL - Swan, O’Bree, Maxwell, Pendlebury, Anthony, Medhurst, Thomas, Davis, Swan;
ADE - Stevens, Bassett, McLeod, Bock, Edwards, Moran, Shirley, Bock

UMPIRES: James, Stevic, McLaren

CROWD: 37,685 at AAMI Stadium

Collingwood went into the game without injured duo Anthony Rocca and Scott Burns, as well as Heath Shaw and Alan Didak who were suspended by the club for disciplinary reasons. The Magpies still had plenty guns fill in with Davis, Anthony and Dawes up forward and Swan, O'Bree, Thomas and Pendlebury roaming the midfield. After their dismal performance against the Dockers last week, the Pies came out firing to stun the sluggish Crows with goals to Cox, Dawes and Anthony for a 20 point lead. Davis was one of the keys early as won plenty of the ball and set up plenty of chances for teammates. The Collingwood forwards also applied plenty of pressure against the Crow defense to prevent them moving the ball forward. Stevens finally added a goal for Adelaide. Fraser added another for Collingwood and it was only a goal to Edwards after the siren which kept the Crows within 13 points at 1/4 time.

Adelaide took over in the second term with McLeod switching between defense and attack and Stevens in fine form. Johncock, McLeod and Stevens goaled to put Adelaide in front. Stevens kicked another as the Crows piled on seven goals for the term. Medhurst's shot hit the post before Maxwell added one. Swan kicked a pair of goals to have Collingwood within 12 points at 1/2 time.

Collingwood again fired in the third term with four of the first five goals, one going to Cloke from a 50 meter penalty (55 yards). They leveled the scores midway through the term, then Dawes threw himself in front of a pack of players in an effort to catch the ball. He made the grab, but dropped it. Much to the displeasure of the home crowd, the umpire paid the mark (catch of the ball) and Dawes goaled to put Collingwood in front once more. Retiring defender Bassett even drifted forward for a rare goal for Adelaide but the Pies added two more, including a long range goal from Thomas after the siren to give Collingwood a 20 point lead at 3/4 time.

Stevens and Gill goaled early in the final term to have Adelaide within seven points. Medhurst, who had been relatively quiet for most of the match, sparked in the final term as he set up several goals for Cook and Dawes. Adelaide managed just one more goal for the game while the Pies added three more, including the sealer to Medhurst late in the term. Shortly after the game, Bassett returned to the field still in his playing gear to have a kick and chat with the fans and pose for photos.


SYD 1.5 4.6 12.7 17.8 (110)
NM 4.1 6.4 10.5 11.9 (75)

GOALS: SYD - Hall 3 Jack 3 Goodes 3 Moore 2 O’Keefe 2 Malceski McVeigh Richards Veszpremi;
NM - Grant 2 Hale 2 Harvey 2 Lower 2 Petrie Sinclair Thompson

BEST: SYD - Kirk, Richards, Goodes, McVeigh, O'Keefe, Hall, Jack, Buchanan, J. Bolton; NM - Harvey, Petrie, Pratt, Harris, Lower, Hale, Wells, Simpson

INJURY: SYD - Bird (groin) replaced in selected side by Veszpremi; NM - Hansen replaced in selected side by Urquhart

UMPIRES: Vozzo, McBurney, Chamberlain

CROWD: 19,127 at ANZ Stadium

Wet and heavy conditions kept many fans away. There was also media comment that the steep ticket prices ($45 or more) also contributed to the lowest Sydney crowd for a final in 10 years. Those that did turn up witnessed a slow starting Sydney outfit. Hale snagged the opening goal from a free kick less than two minutes into the match. At the other end, North set up a defensive wall to keep Hall and Goodes in check. It was effective enough to them goalless and restrict them to just a handful of possessions. It took until midway through the term for the next goal which went to the Kangaroos thanks to an incorrect umpire decision. Harvey had dashed into the goalsquare and soccered through a long kick from Lower. However, video replays clearly showed Harvey connected with the ball after it had crossed the goal line. The Kangaroos continued to dominate as Veszpremi twice missed chances to get the Swans close on the scoreboard. Harvey added another goal. From the next bounce, Jolly and McVeigh combined to win the ball and McVeigh's long kick was marked (caught) by O'Keefe who defied the conditions and drilled a goal from 50 yards out. Hall and Goodes could manage just two more points, leaving the Kangaroos with a 14 point lead at 1/4 time.

Jack kicked a great running goal early in the second term, but goals were still hard to come by with the pressure applied by both sides and the rain. It was almost ten minutes before the Swans again won the ball out of the center and Jolly kicked long to O'Keefe who again took a strong grab and goaled to cut North's lead to just three points. Thompson and Lower then missed shots for the Kangaroos as did Veszpremi for Sydney before Grant added a pair in the space of a few minutes to extend North's lead. The Swans again won the ball out of the center and Goodes set up Moore for a badly needed Sydney goal to cut North's lead to just 10 points at 1/2 time.

The Swans lifted in the third term as Hall and Goodes finally broke the shackles of North's defense. Hall and Goodes both goaled inside the first five minutes to put Sydney in front. The small local crowd found their voice as the Swans got on a roll and the Kangaroos seemed to run out of steam against the onslaught. McVeigh and Hall added two more before Thompson broke Sydney's run with a goal for North. This time, it was the Swan defense, led ably by Barry, which thwarted North's attacking moves. Veszpremi made up for his earlier misses with a strong mark (catch of the ball) and goal. Jack, who did a great job in stopping the dangerous Wells, added another a few minutes later to give Sydney a 19 point lead. North continued to battle on with Lower snagging two goals, the second from a free kick to have North within seven points. Malceski replied for the Swans a few minutes later. Goodes then swooped with no Kangaroo player nearby after a kick out on the full for another Sydney goal. Hale added a late goal for North late in the term to cut Sydney's lead to 14 points at 3/4 time.

The Kangaroos did plenty of attacking early in the final term, but with little result as Grant missed, Lower hit the post from close range and Harris missed. Hall goaled soon after and it began a run of five unanswered goals which sealed the deal for the Swans. Sinclair added one late goal from a free kick and 50 meter penalty (55 yards).


GEEL  3.7   7.10   16.15   17.17 (119)
STK   1.1    3.2    5.5     8.13 (61)

GOALS: GEEL - Mooney 3, Ottens 3, Bartel 2, Lonergan 2, Ablett, Chapman, S. Johnson, Ling, Rooke, Stokes, Varcoe; STK - Milne 2, X. Clarke, R. Clarke, Goddard, Montagna, Riewoldt, Schneider

BEST: GEEL - Bartel, Ottens, Ablett, Scarlett, Mooney, Corey, Milburn, Taylor, Ling;
STK - Goddard, S. Fisher, Jones, Hayes, Harvey

INJURY: GEEL - Prismall (knee), Chapman (hamstring), S. Johnson (corked hamstring), Milburn (thumb); STK - Blake (wrist)

REPORTS: STK - Hayes (StK) for striking Selwood

UMPIRES: Kennedy, Meredith, McInerney

CROWD: 71,653 at MCG

The Saints started the game well enough with the opening goal and only Geelong's poor kicking for goal kept the Saints in the match. The Cats soon took over with Mooney kicking one from a 50 meter penalty (55 yards) against Hudghton. Midway through the term, Prismall landed awkwardly and his knee appeared to collapse under him. He was stretchered off and early indications are that he will require a knee reconstruction. Bartel kicked the Cats' third late in the term to give Geelong an 18 point lead at 1/4 time.

Geelong dominated the second term with Ablett, Bartel, Milburn and Corey all winning plenty of the ball and sending it forward. Although St. Kilda tried, they were simply no match for the ruthless Cats. Geelong added four goals to two for a 32 point lead at 1/2 time.

The Cats' inaccuracy continued early in the third term with three straight points before Goddard got one back for the Saints. Ablett came off the bench and kicked a magnificent goal for the Cats. Ottens goaled from a free kick. The ball never made it back to the center as Milne shoved Johnson to the ground, gifting the Cats another free kick and goal to send the margin out to 48 points. Montagna kicked one more for the Saints but the Cats then piled on six more goals for a 76 point lead at 3/4 time.

The Saints at least won the final term, kicking three goals to one.

Next week, it will be Collingwood against St. Kilda and Sydney vs the Bulldogs. Geelong has the week off as they advance to the Preliminary Final. The winners of next week's games will then play in the Preliminary Finals.

Source: Melbourne Age, Herald Sun, afl.com.au. author notes

Article last changed on Tuesday, September 09, 2008 - 2:30 PM EDT


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