Round One 2007 Scores and Standings

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

STK   2.7   7.7   11.12   13.15 (93)
MELB  4.3   6.3    6.5     9.8  (62)

GOALS: STK - Gehrig 4, Baker 2, Koschitzke 2, X Clarke, Fiora, Goddard, McQualter, Harvey; MELB -. Neitz 3, Robertson 3, Green, Bruce, White

BEST — STK - Gehrig, Montagna, Dal Santo, X Clarke, Ball;
MELB - Moloney, Bruce, Jones

INJURY: MELB - McLean (ankle)

UMPIRES: McBurney, Stevic, Meredith

CROWD: 49,490 at the MCG

For all the trivia buffs, David Neitz kicked the first goal of the 2007 season. Green got the next and the Dees were out to a two goal lead. That lead looked relatively safe as the Saints hit the post three times in succession. Gehrig then lost a goalsquare contest to McLean. McLean cleared the ball to White who, in turn, found Green for another Demon goal. Demon Matt Whelan then delivered a massive hip and shoulder bump on Luke Ball. In the process the pair clashed heads, sending both to the bench for the rest of the term with Whelan seeing stars and Ball getting a cut head patched up. While Whelan was consigned to the bench for the rest of the match, ball was able to return after the first break. The Saints, who looked hesitant early, sparked and pressured the Demons into turnovers. It took until late in the term for the Saints to add a pair of goals. The Demons added one more to lead by 8 points at 1/4 time.

Demon ruckman Jeff White opened the second term with his 100th career goal, but then the Saints took over and kicked the next five goals. Just before the siren, Robertson put in his bid for goal of the year when he got boot to ball while flat on his back. It cut St. Kilda's lead to 10 points at 1/2 time.

The Saints kept the pressure on and went man-on man. They also employed flooding tactics to prevent the Demons having a clear path to goal and forced defensive turnovers and would then charge forward with hard running. The strategy worked with the Saints piling on 4 goals to just two behinds for the term. And if they'd kicked a bit straighter, the lead would have been more than 37 points at 3/4 time.

Melbourne got the first goal of the final term, but Gehrig virtually sealed the result when he goaled from a 50 meter (55 yards) penalty, giving the Saints a 36 point lead midway through the term. Although the Demons added two more goals while the Saints added just one more, they couldn't overtake the Saints.

For the Saints, Gehrig was excellent with his chasing and leading, taking 10 marks and 16 kicks. Leigh Montagna led the midfield with 24 possessions while Xavier Clarke also put in a stellar performance. Most pleasing for the Saints, who were without Riewoldt, Hamill, and Hudghton was seeing Koschitzke, Hayes, and Maguire not only come through unscathed but also played strong games.

COL    2.1   5.5    5.8   12.10 (82)
KANG   3.4   7.10  8.15   10.19 (79)

GOALS: COL - Medhurst 2, Davis, Cloke, Pendlebury, Clement, Licuria, Lockyer, Thomas, Maxwell, Burns, Johnson; KANG - Harvey 3, Grant 2, Jones 2, Brown, Hale, Trotter

BEST: COL - Clement, Lockyer, H. Shaw, R. Shaw, Thomas, O'Bree, Medhurst; KANG - Harvey, Simpson, Grant, McIntosh, Firrito, Thomas, Pratt

UMPIRES: Hendrie, K. Nicholls, Wenn

CROWD: 44,760 at MCG

The Kangaroos have been boasting that they would be a harder running more direct team this year after the failure of 2006. And for three terms, it looked like the preseason training was going to pay off. But they would be ruing a number of missed opportunities and should have led by more than 9 points at 1/4 time.

The inaccuracy continued on both sides in the second term, but it was the Kangaroos who prevailed with 4 goals to three for the term to lead by 17 points at 1/2 time.

The Kangaroos were the better of the two sides in the third term as the defense held the Magpies goalless for the term. But again their inaccuracy was telling as they kicked 1.5 for the term. They did just enough to lead by 25 points at 3/4 time.

In a stunning turnaround, the Magpies rallied and slowly chipped away at the Kangaroo lead. Young livewire Dale Thomas started the Pies on their comeback when he goaled after a strong tackle on Wells. The Pies kicked three of the next four goals to be within just a few points. They hit the front late in the term when Burns booted another goal from a free kick. A few minutes later, Grant was awarded a 50 meter penalty and could have restored the lead for the Kangaroos, but missed from just 15 meters (16 yards). First-gamer Lindsay Thomas had a chance as well in the dying seconds, but his kick off the ground also missed as he registered his fifth behind for the game and left the Pies in front as the siren sounded.

PA    3.4   6.6   16.7   19.7 (121)
FRE   8.1  10.4   14.5   16.9 (105)

GOALS: PA - Motlop 3, Rodan 3, Ebert 3, White 3, Lade 2, Surjan, Pearce, Krakouer, Cockshell (pronounced Ko-shell), Pettigrew; FRE - Pavlich 5, Solomon 2, Tarrant 2, Duffield 2, J. Carr, Sandilands, Hayden, Hasleby, Crowley

BEST: PA - Rodan, Ebert, Motlop, Salopek, Brogan; FRE - J. Carr, Hayden, Solomon, Pavlich, Sandilands

INJURY: PA - Motlop (ankle); FRE - Bell (corked leg)

REPORTS: FRE - Pavlich striking Wakelin

UMPIRES: Rosebury, Sully, Chamberlain

CROWD: 37,425 at Subiaco Oval

Fremantle started the better, winning plenty of the ball and constantly charging forward. The first goal came via a free kick to Josh Carr. And that would be the case for much of the term with seven of the 11 goals for the term coming from free kicks. The second goal was the result of a downfield free to Peter Bell who got the ball to Pavlich. Motlop also earned a free kick, but sprayed his kick on goal. The Dockers were benefiting from the strong ruckwork and mobility of big man Sandilands and Tarrant was the next beneficiary as the Dockers scooted out to handy lead. Motlop made up for that miss a few minutes later as the two sides then traded goals briefly until Solomon also earned two free kicks and unleashed two massive 50 meter (55 yards) goals. Motlop was having picnic against Dodd at the other end and booted another goal from a soft free. His third came when he got the ball in space to snap another goal midway through the term. He kicked all of Port's goals for the term. The towering Sandilands also earned a free kick and 50 meter penalty to kick another goal for the Dockers. Three more goals had the Dockers 28 points clear at 1/4 time.

Port placed Shaun Burgoyne in defense in an effort to use his run to block and stop the Dockers from having free reign. It worked as Burgoyne successfully kept Tarrant and Pavlich from leading out for the ball. At the other end, goals to Surjan, Lade, and Pearce narrowed the margin to five points before Pavlich added two goals to give the Dockers a 22 point lead at 1/2 time. By then Motlop was off with an ankle injury.

That lead was extended even further with goals to Hasleby and Duffield. early in the third term but, for some strange reason, the Dockers reverted into some of their old and sloppy habits. And Bell was off injured. White started Port's surge with three goals in ten minutes to cut Freo's lead. Salopek earned a free which resulted in a goal to Ebert and Port was on a roll. Ebert booted another and Lade chimed in with a 70 meter (76 yards) torpedo. Those goals were the result of sloppy work on the part of the Dockers as well as some brilliant tap work from Lade and Brogan. Port slammed through three more to record their second best ever term and, more importantly, a 14 point lead at 3/4 time.

Fremantle tried to challenge in the final term, but errors proved costly as Port defended doggedly and outscored the Dockers 3 goals to two, with ex-Tiger Rodan bobbing up for two of those three.

BRIS    2.5    5.10   6.13   9.15 (69)
HAW     1.0     2.3    2.6    6.8 (44)

GOALS: BRIS - McGrath 3, Notting, Lappin, Stiller, Brown, Rischitelli, Sherman; HAW - Franklin 3, Boyle 2, Clarke

BEST: BRIS - Black, Brennan, Power, Lappin, Sherman; HAW - Franklin, Young, Jacobs, Lewis, Croad

INJURY: BRIS - Lappin (thigh), Copeland (hip), Charman (Achilles) replaced in selected side by Macdonald

REPORTS: HAW - Lewis reported for rough conduct against Stiller

UMPIRES: Grun, Head, Pannell

CROWD: 27,104 at the Gabba

It was the first win for the Lions since late last season and a great return for midfielder Nigel Lappin, who missed all of 2006 with a serious ankle injury and a good chunk of the preseason with an elbow problem. But it was as if he had never been out as he led the midfield charge with 22 touches.

Despite being double-teamed by Gilham and Croad, Brown never stopped trying, but it made it difficult for the Lions to find a clear path to goal. Errors from two young sides also were the order of the day. Franklin booted Hawthorn's only goal - from a 50 meter penalty - for the term while the Lions managed two. The Hawks were lucky that the Lions sprayed so many shots on goal in the term to trail by only 11 points at 1/4 time.

Franklin outmarked his minder Jared Brennan early in the second term for Hawthorn's next - and only goal - for the next hour or so. Although Brown was rendered ineffective scoring wise, his hard work in Brisbane's attacking zone created opportunities for teammates. But once again, whether it be due to the fact that it is only the season opener, or young players finding their feet in the big time, pressure from the Hawks, the Lions were wayward in front of goal. Stiller and McGrath managed two late goals and when Lappin snapped a late goal, Brisbane was out to a 25 point lead at 1/2 time.

The third term was more of the same as the Lion defense completely shut down the Hawk forward line with Adcock stopping Williams and Daniel Merrett (no relation to former Lion Roger) doing the same on Roughead. It left Franklin to play a lone hand but the Lions - and the Hawks ineffectiveness - kept Brisbane in front. Even though the Lions kicked just one goal for the term, they still held a 31 point lead at 3/4 time.

The Hawks rallied in the final term, blasting through 4 goals to be within a few kicks, but late goals to
Michael Rischitelli and Justin Sherman saw off the challenge.

WCE   6.0   10.2   10.6    11.8  (74)
SYD   3.4    3.8   6.11   10.13  (73)

GOALS: WCE - Judd 2, Hunter 2, Seaby 2, Braun, Chick, Hurn, Lynch, Staker; SYD - Davis 2, Dempster, Everitt, Goodes, Hall, Kirk, O'Loughlin, Phillips, Vogels

BEST: WCE - Judd, Seaby, Selwood, Kerr, Braun, Wirrpanda; SYD - Kirk, C. Bolton, Kennelly, O'Keefe, Richards

UMPIRES: Jeffrey, Ryan, Vozzo

CROWD: 62,586 at Telstra Stadium

A member of a comedy troupe fired the first shot at the Eagles when they landed in Sydney. The actor was dressed in an eagle costume covered in white powder and shook some it onto some of the players. If that were not enough, former player and coach Robert Walls said in a newspaper column that the Eagles deserved to get whalloped by the Swans. But the Eagles shook off the dramas of the preseason, the powder and gag, and the Walls' barb to have the last laugh. Already without Cousins and Fletcher, they also went in without Cox (quad strain) and Embley (groin), both of whom were late withdrawals.

They came out firing against a lethargic looking Sydney and beat the Swans at their own game - flooding, an open forward line, and plenty of run. Judd and Kerr were simply brilliant in the midfield, while Wirrpanda provided plenty of run out of defense. Youngster Mitch Brown, Lynch, and Hunter provided a potent attack with Hunter kicking two first term goals and Braun chiming it with one. Seaby kicked another when Everitt gave away a 50 meter penalty. The Eagles booed two more for the term to set up a 14 point lead at 1/4 time.

The Eagles continued the barrage in the second term as the Swans wasted a number of chances to catch up and could manage just handful of points in the second term while the Eagles added four goals to hold a six goal lead at 1/2 time.

The Swans played better in the third term with Kirk booting the first of three goals for Sydney. The Swans finally found some cohesion in the term to keep the Eagles goalless and be within 19 points at 3/4 time.

Goodes marked and goaled early in the final term to reduce the Eagle lead to 13 points. Midway through the term, Seaby restored the 19 point buffer but the Swans rallied with three goals in four minutes to Dempster, Everitt and young forward Simon Phillips to cut the Eagle lead to just one point. The Swans cleared the ball out of the center and were again surging forward. But, as happened in last year's Grand Final, the Swans were halted in their tracks. McVeigh had the ball but a flying tackle from Kerr prevented what could have been a matchwinning goal or least a draw.

The game is the third consecutive one-point match between the two sides and a total of 13 points has separated the teams in the past six games.

ESS   5.1  8.3   12.8   16.9 (105)
ADE   3.4  5.9   7.14   10.14 (74)

GOALS: ESS - Lucas 7, Lloyd 2, Jetta 2, Welsh, M. Johnson, Lovett, Hille, McPhee; ADE - Bock 3, Burton 2, Thompson 2, Perrie, Knights, Van Berlo

BEST: ESS - Lucas, M. Johnson, Hille, Fletcher, Hird, Jetta, McVeigh, Stanton; ADE - Thompson, Knights, Bock, Shirley

INJURY: ADE - Goodwin (corked thigh)

REPORTS: ESS - Davey for high contact on Mattner

UMPIRES: Farmer, Kennedy, Avon

CROWD: 43,064 at AAMI Stadium

The difference between the two sides could be summed up in just a few words: Lucas and Lloyd. Lloyd's presence freed Lucas to be a very dangerous option in attack while the speed of a young and rejuvenated Essendon midfield proved more than match for the Crows. Mark Johnson, Lloyd, and Lucas blasted through 3 early goals versus a point to Reilly. The Crows came back with two to Van Berlo and Burton, who also sprayed an earlier shot. Lucas got his second late in the term, but Thompson replied for the Crows at the other end. Welsh booted one final goal for the term to give the Bombers a nine point lead at 1/4 time.

Essendon's midfield rotations and the defensive work of Fletcher and Michael combined to stymie the Crows, whose attack was ineffective as they missed a number of shots on goal. Lucas and Lloyd were proving to be lethal for the Bombers as each added early goals in the second term. Lucas' fourth goal midway through the term had the Bombers out to a 28 point lead. Goals to Bock and Burton late in the term cut Essendon's lead to 12 points at 1/2 time.

Any momentum Adelaide had evaporated in the third term with woeful kicking for goal and some skill errors. Rutten turned the ball over, allowing McPhee to add another Bomber goal and Lovett was on the end of a defensive rebound. Speedster Jetta set up Lucas for his fifth and then goaled himself from a free kick after being bowled over by Bassett. In between, the Crows managed just two goals and Essendon led by 24 points at 3/4 time.

The Crows cut the margin with 2 early goals in the term, but Lucas was at it again with a huge kick from more than 50 yards out and into the wind. The Bombers saw off the Crows with three more goals to Adelaide's one for the term.

For the Bombers, Jetta showed flashes of brilliance as did Stanton, Lovett, Winderlich, and Welsh. Hille dominated the ruck while Fletcher and Michael led the defense.

For the Crows, Thompson, Edwards, and Bock tried hard for the Crows.

WB    4.5   11.7   15.8   17.11 (113)
GEEL  5.3    7.9   8.13   13.15 (93)

GOALS: WB - Johnson 8, Cooney 2, Giansiracusa 2, Gilbee, Akermanis, Hargrave, Darcy, Murphy;  GEEL - Mooney 3, N. Ablett 3, Wojcinski 2, Bartel, Mackie, Gardiner, G. Ablett, Chapman

BEST: WB - Johnson, Cross, Gilbee, Cooney, Griffen; GEEL - Enright, Bartel, Ling, N. Ablett

UMPIRES: Donlon, Margetts, Meredith

CROWD: 42,626 at Telstra Dome

The Cats got the early jump on the Bulldogs and while the Bulldogs stayed with them through most of the opening term, the Cats seemed headed for a 10 point lead at the first break. But Brad Johnson got hold of the ball and boomed through a goal from over almost 60 yards to have the Dogs within 4 points at 1/4 time.

That was the beginning of the end for the Cats as the Dogs asserted themselves with their renowned running and slick, efficient use of the ball. It was also the first of seven goals the Dogs slammed on, four of them coming from Johnson and another coming from Akermanis - his first as a Bulldog. An uncharacteristic turnover gave Mooney a chance to boot one for Geelong and Wojcinski followed up with a late goal, but the Dogs still led by 22 points at 1/2 time.

The Bulldogs put an end to the game as a contest with a four goal to one third term to lead by 37 points at 3/4 time.

The Cats came alive in the final term to outscore the Dogs five goals to two, but it was too little, too late except to flatter themselves on the scoreboard.

For the Bulldogs, Gilbee again was a force across halfback with precision disposal while Cross led the midfield with 37 possessions. Johnson's haul of eight goals was his best ever return as he saw off four different opponents. This game was his 279th. Should he play every game this season, he'll hit the 300 mark in Round 22. And Jason Akermanis had 13 touches in a solid display.

For the Cats, Ling kept the usually prolific West out of the game and Enright was the leading ballwinner with 30 touches.

CARL   5.5   6.11   10.17   15.25 (115)
RICH   5.2   10.4   13.7    15.8 (98)

GOALS: CARL - Fevola 3, Waite 2, Fisher 2, Bentick 2, Walker, Gibbs, Betts, Carrazzo, Russell, Kennedy; RICH - Pettifer 4, Richardson 3, Tivendale 2, Schulz 2, Tuck, Howat, Hyde, Tambling

BEST: CARL - Stevens, Walker, Carrazzo, Bentick, Waite, Murphy; RICH - Foley, Pettifer, Polo, P. Bowden, Gaspar, Tivendale

REPORTS: RICH - McGuane for high contact on Murphy

UMPIRES: Ellis, Kamolins, M. Nicholls

CROWD: 59,847 at the MCG

The Tigers came out firing with some aggressive and direct football, but the Blues managed to keep pace. It was only some inaccuracy which kept Carlton from taking a bigger early lead. The first term was a goalfest with both sides kicking five apiece. One came from boom recruit Gibbs, who joined the ranks of first goal with first league kick as the Blues went to 1/4 time with a 3 point lead.

The second term started out evenly, but the Tigers edged ahead with two goals while the Blues squandered their kicks with just one goal kicked by Russell. Fevola was one of the main offenders with four misses in the term and it left the Tigers 17 points clear at 1/2 time. Fevola sparked a bit of fight at half time when he knocked over Krakouer just as the siren went.

Pettifer extended the Tiger lead with two goals in the space of a few minutes at the start of the third term but the Blues hit back, with Stevens and Fevola leading the way. Carlton kicked four goals and leveled the scores late in the third term before the Tigers added a third to lead by 8 points at 3/4 time.

The Blues lifted in the final term, with Fevola, Waite, Fisher and Kennedy proving too much for Richmond's defense. Stevens, Scotland, Murphy, and Bentick kept pumping the ball out of the midfield and into attack. Fevola kicked two of his side's five goals for the term but the Tigers kept fighting and a late goal to Richardson had the Tigers within striking distance, but Bentick goaled with less than two minutes remaining to seal victory for Carlton.

For Carlton, Stevens (30 possessions) was superb in the middle while Gibbs put a classy display. There was no shortage of support with Bentick, Murphy, and Simpson also running hard throughout the game.

STANDINGS 
             W   L  FOR  AGST   %     PTS
BRISBANE     1   0   69   44  156.82   4
ST. KILDA    1   0   93   62  150.00   4
ESSENDON     1   0  105   74  141.89   4
W. BULLDOGS  1   0  113   93  121.51   4
CARLTON      1   0  115   98  117.35   4
PORT ADEL    1   0  121  105  115.24   4
COLLINGWOOD  1   0   82   79  103.80   4
WEST COAST   1   0   74   73  101.37   4

SYDNEY       0   1   73   74   98.65   0
KANGAROOS    0   1   79   82   96.34   0
FREMANTLE    0   1  105  121   86.78   0
RICHMOND     0   1   98  115   85.22   0
GEELONG      0   1   93  113   82.30   0
ADELAIDE     0   1   74  105   70.48   0
MELBOURNE    0   1   62   93   66.67   0
HAWTHORN     0   1   44   69   63.77   0

GOALS
Johnson (WB)       8
Lucas (ESS)        7
Pavlich (FRE)      5
Pettifer (RICH)    4
Gehrig (STK)       4
Fevola (CARL)      3
Harvey (KANG)      3
Richardson (RICH)  3
Robertson (MELB)   3
Neitz (MELB)       3

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

From Marc Century in North Carolina with the latest Metro Footy scores:

Wolves   2.7   4.8   6.11   7.14 (56)
Rams     1.1   5.3   7.3     9.6 (60)