Round 22 Scores

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Jay Neagle made his long-awaited debut for Essendon this week. Neagle, whose father Merv played for Essendon, has battled stress fractures in his ankles since joining the club at the end of 2005. Coach Kevin Sheedy also coached Merv, a member of the 1984 premiership team.

The Eagles opted to rest Chris Judd this week, hoping he can recover from a groin problem for the finals.

Bulldog Jason Akermanis missed this week with an ankle injury.

Carlton debuted several youngsters this week. Debutant Mark Austin was named at center halfback. Austin hails from Glenelg in the SANFL, the same club as fellow 2007 debutant Bryce Gibbs. Ryan Houlihan (respiratory infection) returned to the side this week while Brad Fisher missed with a knee injury.

Melbourne regained James McDonald (virus) and Matthew Bate and Paul Wheatley from injury this week.

Leo Barry (hamstring) and Lewis Roberts-Thompson (foot) returned for Sydney this week. Barry Hall (hamstring) was rested this week.

Shane Tuck (broken thumb) and Jake King (ankle) returned for Richmond this week.

ADE  5.3   6.5   10.8   14.10 (94)
COL  2.0   6.3    9.6   11.9 (75)

GOALS: ADE - Burton 3, Ricciuto 3, Gill 2, Thompson, Porplyzia, Shirley, Welsh, Reilly, Goodwin; COL - Rocca 3, Pendlebury 2, O'Bree 2, Thomas, Buckley, Reid, Burns

BEST: ADE - McLeod, Thompson, Edwards, Ricciuto, Shirley, Bock, Burton; COL - Pendlebury, H. Shaw, Clement, Swan, Lockyer, Goldsack, Rocca

INJURY: COL - Rusling (corked thigh) replaced in selected side by Reid

UMPIRES: Rosebury, Ryan, Vozzo

CROWD: 47,915 at Telstra Dome

With one blow of the whistle, field umpire Brent Rosebury ended not only Collingwood's season, but St. Kilda's and Brisbane's as well. More on that in a moment. Collingwood began the match the better of the two, monopolizing possession of the ball at the start of the game. All that hard work was foiled by pressure and flooding from Adelaide. The Pies also let themselves down in front of goal. Cloke was one culprit as he missed two early shots. The Crows had so many players in Collingwood's attacking zone, that a number of Magpies were left unmanned in the center. A dangerous proposition for some teams but not the Crows. When they got ball, they simply ran forward with it where Thompson posted the first goal. Ricciuto was next in line. It wasn't until almost halfway through the term that Pendlebury posted Collingwood's first. The Crows added three more before Pendlebury kicked the only other goal for the Pies just before time, leaving the Crows with a 21 point lead at 1/4 time.

Collingwood rallied in the second term. They matched Adelaide's intensity, manned up better and defended better, restricting the Crows to just on goal for the term while adding four of their own to trail by just two points at 1/2 time.

At the start of the third term, the Crows won the ball and headed into attack. The ball spilled free in Adelaide's forward area. Young Crow Gill went for the ball. So did Magpie defender Clement. The pair collided in a bone-jarring bump. Gill kept his feet and goaled on the run while a rattled Clement picked himself up off the turf. It was the first of three unanswered goals in eight minutes which gave Adelaide a 20 point lead. Collingwood came back with three of their own to cut Adelaide's lead once more. They then muffed several chances to steal the lead. Clement kicked the ball out on the full giving the Crows a free kick, then Cloke offended again, and Burns' kick was picked off by Shirley. He kicked long to Gill who goaled. The Pies came again when Rocca marked and then goaled after the siren to cut the Adelaide lead to eight points at 3/4 time.

The Magpies squandered three chances early in the last term to swing the game their way. First Rocca missed from 50 meters (55 yards), then Cloke's shot was ruled to have been touched on the line. Thomas tried and missed on the run from 50 meters and his kick was rebounded by the Adelaide defenders. At the other end, Ricciuto popped through two goals before O'Bree and Rocca goaled to give the Magpies a chance. It was late in the term when Gill was chasing a loose ball near the boundary and Collingwood defender Wakelin came in to soccer it away. The ball skittered about 10 feet before rolling over the line. Wakelin was harshly and controversially penalized for deliberate out of bounds. Gill took the free kick which found Reilly who kicked a goal on the run to sink the Magpies. Goodwin ensured the win a minute later with another goal.

WCE   5.1   12.2   19.4   21.6 (132)
ESS   2.3    5.6   11.8   19.10 (124)

GOALS: WCE - R. Jones 3, Morton 3, LeCras 2, Seaby 2, Chick 2, Cousins 2, Staker 2, Wirrpanda 2, Cox, Lynch, Stenglein;
ESS - Lucas 8, Winderlich 3, Neagle, McVeigh, Lloyd, Hird, Heffernan, Bradley, Stanton, Monfries

BEST: WCE - R. Jones, Hunter, Stenglein, Cousins, Cox;
ESS - Lucas, Hird, Peverill, McPhee, Lovett

INJURY: WCE - Priddis (corked thigh), Selwood (calf) replaced in selected side by Morton; ESS - Ryder (leg) replaced in selected side by Hille

UMPIRES: Head, Meredith, Jeffery

CROWD: 42,761 at Subiaco Oval

Essendon Coach Kevin Sheedy was making his way up to the coaches' box when an enthusiastic female fan planted a kiss on him. He got to the box just in time to see Eagle Cousins win the ball and kick a goal from the boundary line. The Eagles were off and running. It was the first of four straight for West Coast. Hird started badly when his first kick went out on the full. Brett Jones took the free kick and promptly kicked the ball straight back to Hird. Essendon got two of the last three goals for the term and the Eagles led by 16 points at 1/4 time.

Goals to Lucas and McVeigh had the Bombers within four points early in the second term. That dissipated when a Lovett turnover allowed Morton to kick one for the Eagles. West Coast simply overpowered the listless Bombers and put on a clinic. They blitzed Essendon with a further six goals to the Bombers' one for the remainder of the term, setting up a 38 point lead at 1/2 time.

The Bombers lifted in the third term, staying right with the Eagles. Hird provided one last gem of a goal for his highlights reel. It was one of six for Essendon. However, another seven to the Eagles kept the Bombers at bay and gave West Coast a 44 point lead at 3/4 time.

At the last break, Hird pleaded with his teammates to give him one last memory. It looked as if that memory would be one to forget when a goal to West Coast stretched the lead out to 51 points. Enter Hird and Lucas. Hird won the ball at a center clearance and kicked to Lucas for a Bomber goal. In an amazing burst, Essendon rallied and Lucas was unstoppable. He came close to equaling the all- time record for goals by a single player in a term, kicking seven of Essendon's eight goals to West Coast's three. He had one last chance to kick his eighth for the term but missed. It would have given Essendon the lead and a chance for a fairytale end to two great careers. However, it was not be as Staker soccered through a goal for the Eagles to ice the game. For the record, Hird ended his career with one goal and a game-high 34 possessions of the ball.

Lucas' seven goals in that final term equaled the record held by nine players including Hawthorn's Jason Dunstall (vs. Geelong 1990), Eagle Peter Sumich (vs. Footscray, aka Western Bulldogs 1991), South Melbourne's (aka Sydney) Bob Pratt (vs. Footscray 1934) and Essendon's own John Coleman (vs. South Melbourne 1950. The all-time record of 8 goals in a term by a single player is held by just four players: Melbourne's Henry Davie (vs. Carlton 1925), Bob Pratt twice (vs. Essendon and Carlton both in 1934), Collingwood's Gordon Coventry (vs. Hawthorn 1929), and Footscray's Kelvin Templeton (vs. St. Kilda 1978).

Afterward, Eagle fans farewelled Sheedy and Hird with one last traditional jacket and scarf wave while still showing their appreciation for the duo. Hird and Sheedy thanked the crowd for the atmosphere they created.

West Coast will play Port Adelaide in a Qualifying Final next week in Adelaide.

STK   4.8   7.12   11.15   14.18 (102)
RICH  2.2   8.5    12.12   13.14 (92)

GOALS: STK - Gehrig 5, Koschitzke 4, Riewoldt 3, Montagna, Milne; RICH - Pettifer 4, Deledio 2, Richardson 2, Newman, Brown, Edwards, Tuck, Tambling

BEST: STK - Koschitzke, Montagna, Riewoldt, Gehrig, Dal Santo, Birss; RICH - Pettifer, J. Bowden, Newman, Tuck, Deledio, King

CHANGES: STK - Ball (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Thompson, Harvey (corked thigh)

REPORTS: RICH - Jackson for allegedly engaging in rough conduct against Montagna

UMPIRES: Kennedy, Allen, Goldspink

CROWD: 42,472 at the MCG

The Saints had the imposing trio of Gehrig, Koschitzke and Riewoldt up forward and the Tigers were unable to counter them to any great effect. St. Kilda looked to be in control through much of the term and Kosi had three goals to his name by the first break. However, for all their dominance around the ground, they were let down by some poor kicking for goal. Deledio and Pettifer snagged two for the Tigers and it was the Saints by 18 points at 1/4 time.

It was more of the same in the second term, as the Saints could not put the Tigers away. Midway through the term, the Saints led by 25 points before the Tigers came to life late in the term. Pettifer goaled and suddenly the Tigers fired with goals to Tambling, Tuck, and Pettifer again. The surge cut St. Kilda's lead to just one point at 1/2 time.

The Saints threatened to blow the Tigers away at the start of the third term. By midway through the term, Koschitzke, Gehrig, Montagna and Milne had goaled to blow the margin out once more. Again the Tigers rallied as the Saints took their foot off the pedal. First it was Deledio's tackle on Saint defender Sam Fisher which forced the ball free. Richardson pounced and goaled. Newman bobbed up with another soon after. The Saints attacked again but a dropped mark (catch of the ball) by Fiora was cleared by Richmond and Brown goaled. Richardson's next goal gave the Tigers a three point lead at 3/4 time.

The Tigers kept the pressure on early in the final term. Richardson had roamed far up the field and his chase and tackle forced another spill of the ball and a turnover. Pettifer swooped in and goaled to give the Tigers a nine point lead. The Saints attacked again as Gehrig's bobbled handball was soccered through by Riewoldt in a goalsquare scramble. Then Gehrig marked and goaled to restore St. Kilda's lead. The final minutes of the game were as frenetic as a final. Milne won the ball and kicked to Gehrig just as the siren blew. Gehrig gave himself and the Saints one last hurrah with a goal after the siren.

Before being chaired from the ground, Gehrig stripped off his guernsey and gave it to a young Saints fan in the crowd.

GEEL   5.2   9.4   15.10   22.13 (145)
BRIS   2.1   6.6    9.10   15.13 (103)

GOALS: GEEL - Mooney 4, Ottens 4, S. Johnson 3, Stokes 3, Chapman 2, Byrnes 2, Ling 2, N. Ablett, Kelly; BRIS - Brown 7, Copeland 3, Brennan 3, Adcock, Johnson

BEST: GEEL - Selwood, S. Johnson, N. Ablett, Stokes, Enright; BRIS - Lappin, Selwood, Brown, Adcock

INJURY: GEEL - Egan (foot), Mooney (hand)

Egan will require scans next week to determine the extent of his injury while Mooney will be OK to play next week

UMPIRES: Grun, Wenn, Woodcock

CROWD: 34,107 at the Gabba

Geelong continued its barnstorming ways despite the best efforts of Lion Jonathan Brown. The Cats essentially had the game well in hand when they slammed on the first four goals of the game. Two of those came from young Stokes. The Lions kicked two of the last three for the term but it was the Cats by 19 points at 1/4 time.

The Lions had half a chance with two early goals in the second term cutting Geelong's lead to just four points. The Cats then went on another goal spree. Mooney, Ottens, and Johnson with three were in the thick of the action as the Cats piled on six goals for a 16 point lead at 1/2 time.

Geelong gave itself another percentage booster with a dominant third term. The goals continued to flow for the Cats as they ran Brisbane ragged. They kicked another six to Brisbane's three for the term to lead by six goals at 3/4 time.

The record crowd was treated to a goalfest in the final term. Unfortunately for the home crowd, it was the Cats who prevailed with seven goals to Brisbane's three. It wasn't until late in the term that Brown wowed the fans with three more of his own. He had one last shot just before the siren but missed. Had he kicked the goal, it would have equaled the club record of 77 in a season set by Alistair Lynch.

PA   4.7   8.7    11.9   17.15 (117)
FRE  1.2   4.7   10.11   12.13 (85)

GOALS: PA - S. Burgoyne 4, J Westhoff 4, Motlop 3, Ebert 2, Rodan 2, Lade, Cassisi; FRE - Pavlich 4, Foster 2, McManus 2, Crowley, Mundy, McPharlin, Farmer

BEST: PA - K. Cornes, S. Burgoyne, Cassisi, P. Burgoyne, C. Cornes, Pettigrew; FRE - McPharlin, Thornton, Foster, Gilmore, Johnson, O'Brien

INJURY: PA - Brogan (corked knee); FRE - Duffield replaced in selected side by Murphy, Crowley (hamstring), O'Brien (cut head)

UMPIRES: Donlon, McLaren, Chamberlain

CROWD: 39,270 at AAMI Stadium

Port started the game knowing any sort of win would give them second spot in the standings and the all important double chance in the finals. They were coming up against a severely depleted Fremantle which was already missing key players Sandilands, Matthew Carr and Heath Black through injury and Josh Carr suspended. That was compounded by the midweek disciplinary club suspensions of Peake, Dodd, Headland, Grover, Hasleby and Solomon. Port could consider themselves lucky considering their shaky start. Some very wasteful kicking landed them just one goal and six points by midway through the first term. The Dockers finally got on the board with a long goal to Pavlich, but the Power found their accuracy and slammed through three late goals to lead by 23 points at 1/4 time.

Motlop and Shaun Burgoyne kicked a pair of long goals for Port at the start of the second term. Rodan added another when he sharked the ball from a throw up. Port added a fourth soon after to give themselves a handy lead. The Dockers roused themselves to force turnovers as Port fell off the pace and also gave away undisciplined free kicks. It gave the Dockers the confidence to slam through the next three goals but they still trailed by 24 points at 1/2 time.

Despite missing several gettable shots, the Dockers outscored Port six goals to three in the third term. It was Pavlich at one end and Westhoff, Motlop and Ebert at the other. The Dockers found themselves within four points at 3/4 time.

At the start of the final term, Shaun Burgoyne was shifted forward and he obliged with three goals. Port then steadied and settled to kick four of the last six goals of the match to cinch second place.

KANG   4.4   10.9   16.13  23.19 (157)
WB     6.5    6.5   11.5   14.9 (93)

GOALS: KANG - Sansbury 5, Harvey 3, McIntosh 3, Grant 3, Wells 2, Petrie 2, Jones, Watt, Edwards, Hale, Brown;
WB - Johnson 5, Robbins 3, Cooney 2, Grant, Gilbee, McDougall, Boyd

BEST: KANG - McIntosh, Wells, Sinclair, Rawlings, Simpson, Pratt, Harvey, Grant; WB - Cooney, Johnson, Harbrow, Boyd, Harris

INJURY: KANG - Firrito (heel), Swallow (concussion)

UMPIRES: Farmer, Margetts, K. Nicholls

CROWD: 29,261 at Telstra Dome

How fortunes can change in the space of just a few months. At the start of the season, the Bulldogs were favorites for the finals with their fleet-footed band of runners and free wheeling scoring. The Kangaroos were not even rated as finals contenders let along flag favorites. The Dogs have slipped badly while the Kangaroos have shot up the ladder. The Bulldogs started brightly enough while the Kangaroos were slow in getting going. Johnson slotted four of the Bulldogs' six goals for the term. Although the Kangaroos had four, they could have had more but it was the Bulldogs by 13 points at 1/4 time.

The Dogs couldn't go on with it in the second term as McIntosh began to dominate in the ruck and the likes of Harvey, Wells, Grant and Simpson ran hard to pressure the Bulldogs into errors. Wells was pivotal in the term for the Kangaroos as their defense held the Dogs scoreless. They seized control with six goals to nil to lead by 24 points at 1/2 time.

The Bulldogs put up some resistance in the third term, but the Kangaroos staved off the rally. With Petrie in defense and the continued good work of McIntosh and the midfield helped the Roos kick six goals. Although the Dogs fired in five of their own, the Kangaroos still held a comfortable 37 point lead at 3/4 time.

The Kangaroos proceeded to kick seven goals to three in final term to see of the Dogs in style. Retiring Bulldogs Luke Darcy and Matthew Robbins were chaired from the ground and number of Kangaroo players helped form a guard of honor for the duo.

SYD   5.6   14.8   18.8   22.9 (141)
HAW   1.2    3.3    9.5   10.9 (69)

GOALS: SYD - Davis 4, O'Loughlin 4, O'Keefe 3, Crouch 2, Malceski 2, Bevan, Mathews, Goodes, Richards, Ablett, Barlow, McVeigh; HAW - Dixon 2, Taylor 2, Franklin, Boyle, Ladson, Hodge, Brown, Roughead

BEST: SYD - Goodes, O'Keefe, Kirk, C. Bolton, Davis, Barry, Everitt, O'Loughlin; HAW - Crawford, Vandenberg, Lewis, Mitchell

REPORTS: HAW - Birchall for striking O'Keefe

INJURY: SYD - Ablett (knee); HAW - Bateman (hamstring), Croad (concussion), Mitchell (knee)

UMPIRES: McBurney, Stevic, McInerney

CROWD: 27,498 at the SCG

The Swans started with an open forward line consisting of O'Loughlin, O'Keefe and Davis. The trio stretched and outclassed Hawthorn's defense. Early in the first term, it looked like another Franklin special when he marked the ball and slotted a goal from 50 meters (55 yards). It would be the Hawks last score until late in the term while Sydney kicked five straight goals. O'Loughlin, Davis and Goodes were all prominent as the Swans raced out to a 28 point lead at 1/4 time.

Boyle opened the second term with a goal but Sydney again bombarded the Hawks with nine goals as they capitalized on Hawthorn errors. The Hawks kicked just two more for the term, leaving the Swans with a massive 71 point lead and their highest half time score of the season.

The Hawks at least managed to outscore Sydney four goals to three in the third term. It was little respite and made little difference on the scoreboard as the Swans took a 57 point lead at 3/4 time.

The final term was a mere formality as the Swans again kicked four goals to one to cruise to a big win.

MELB  7.3   12.6    16.11   21.13 (139)
CARL  1.7    4.13   10.15   15.18 (108)

GOALS: MELB - Robertson 6, Bate 2, Newton 2, Bruce 2, Bode 2, Jones, Miller, Johnstone, Brown, Pickett, White, Ferguson; CARL - Betts 5, Gibbs 2, Houlihan 2, Walker, Kennedy, Simpson, Whitnall, Hampson, Waite

BEST: MELB - Johnstone, Robertson, McLean, Bate, Brown, Jones; CARL - Scotland, Betts, Gibbs, Houlihan, Simpson, Bentick

INJURY: CARL - Jamison (shoulder)

REPORTS: MELB - Newton for allegedly charging Bower

UMPIRES: M. Nicholls, Kamolins, Ellis

CROWD: 26,156 at the MCG

Other than being the last game of the season before finals, the only significance was what either club would gain in the way of draft picks. Had Carlton won the match, they would have lost out on a priority draft selection. The media debate on teams "tanking" games to gain draft picks is a hot topic. Some sceptics might view Carlton as doing just that by loading the side with inexperienced kids. However, Coach Brett Ratten will tell one and all that it was done to give those kids the experience they will need next season. Melbourne took full advantage in kicking the first seven goals of the game. The Blues had plenty of chances to score themselves but their kicking for goal was lamentable, as Melbourne took a 32 point lead at 1/4 time.

Carlton's kicking for goal didn't improve much in the second term. Whitnall was one of the worst offenders, kicking four behinds for the half. At the other end Robertson was too good for the inexperienced Jamison and Newton was also proving a danger in attack. The Demons were well in control with five goals to three for the term and a 41 point lead at 1/2 time.

Carlton rallied in the third term, kicking five of the first six goals to get within 19 points. Melbourne hit back with five to Carlton's one for a 32 point lead at 3/4 time.

Carlton added two quick goals at the start of the final term to once more be within two goals. Melbourne again saw off the challenge with a further three goals midway through the term to ensure the win. Carlton kicked the last two goals to at least gain a bit of scoreboard respectability.

STANDINGS 
       W    L   D   FOR    AGST     %     PTS
GEEL  18    4   0   2542   1664   152.8   72
PA    15    7   0   2314   2038   113.5   60
WCE   15    7   0   2162   1935   111.7   60
KANG  14    8   0   2183   1998   109.3   56
HAW   13    9   0   2097   1855   113.0   52
COL   13    9   0   2011   1992   101.0   52
SYD   12    9   1   2031   1698   119.6   50
ADE   12   10   0   1881   1712   109.9   48

STK   11   10   1   1874   1941    96.5   46
BRIS   9   11   2   1986   1885   105.4   40
FRE   10   12   0   2254   2198   102.5   40
ESS   10   12   0   2184   2394    91.2   40
WB     9   12   1   2111   2469    85.5   38
MELB   5   17   0   1890   2418    78.2   20
CARL   4   18   0   2167   2911    74.4   16
RICH   3   18   1   1958   2537    77.2   14

GOALS
Brown (BRIS)   77 (2007 Coleman Medal winner) 
Pavlich (FRE)  72
Franklin (HAW) 63
Lloyd (ESS)    62
Lucas (ESS)    61
Fevola (CARL)  59
Johnson (WB)   59
Gehrig (STK)   59

Next week will be the Qualifying Finals and Elimination Finals. The matches will be:

Geelong vs. the Kangaroos - Qualifying Final at Skilled Stadium
Port Adelaide vs. West Coast - Qualifying Final at AAMI Stadium

Sydney vs. Collingwood - Elimination Final at the MCG
Hawthorn vs. Adelaide - Elimination Final at the Telstra Dome

The winners of the Qualifying Finals will advance to the Preliminary Finals and the losers will play off in the Semi-Finals the following week. The winners of the Elimination Finals will go into the Semi-Finals while the losers are eliminated.

Source: Melbourne Age, Herald Sun, & AFL Record Season Guide 2007

Collingwood’s Tyson Goldsack is the Round 21 Rising Star nominee. He was listed as one of the best on ground in the Magpie win over Sydney last week. He had a game-high 25 possessions, took eight marks and laid four tackles.

Tyson debuted in Round Eight and has now played 13 AFL matches.

Standing 191 cm (6'2 1/2"), Tyson’s speed and athleticism allows him to fill most positions on the ground. Last year he twice kicked five goals playing in the forward line for the Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup. He also spent time in the midfield. He surely is right at home at Collingwood as fellow Magpies Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury also played for Gippsland.

Tyson is Collingwood’s third Rising Star nominee following Scott Pendlebury (Round Four) and Martin Clarke (Round 13).

Source: Michele Clyne, AFL Media Release