Round 1 Scores and Summary

Compiled by Lisa Albergo, reporting from Chicago, for AFANA.

RICH       4.3     8.5    11.5     17.7 (109) 
CARL       4.3     9.6    10.10    11.13 (79)

GOALS: RICH - Richardson 5, Brown 3, Deledio 2, Pettifer, Foley, Tuck, Pattison, Polak, Tambling, Jackson; CARL - Betts 2, Fevola 2, Scotland 2, Stevens, Houlihan, Edwards, S. O'hAilpin, Murphy

BEST: RICH - Richardson, King, Foley, Johnson, Thursfield, Tuck, McMahon; CARL - Murphy, Thornton, Simpson, Stevens, Edwards, Judd

UMPIRES: Margetts, Meredith, McBurney

ATTENDANCE: 72,552 at MCG

The two sides were evenly matched in the opening term. Fevola made amends for his off-field indiscretion with some hard work to help set up three of Carlton's first four goals. The Tigers stayed right with the Blues and scores were level at 1/4 time.

Carlton really fired up in the second term with Judd, Stevens, and Murphy dominating the midfield battle. When Betts kicked two consecutive goals midway through the term, Carlton was out to a 25 point lead. A running goal from Brown began a Richmond surge. Deledio, Pattison and Richardson kicked the last three goals of the term to have the Tigers within seven points at 1/2 time.

The Tiger defence got on top in the third term with Thursfield containing Fevola. The Tigers began to win more of the ball and restricted Carlton to just one goal while slamming through three of their own to take a one point lead at 3/4 time.

Carlton goaled early in the final term to snatch back the lead, but a goal to Jackson soon after restored the Tiger lead. The Tigers iced the win with a further five goals to Carlton's measly three points for a convincing win.

GEEL     6.4    10.8    12.11    15.15 (105)
PA       4.0     6.1    10.5     14.12 (96)

GOALS: GEEL - Chapman 3, Stokes 3, Mooney, 2, Hawkins, Ablett, Ling, S. Johnson, Corey, Gamble, Mackie; PA - Ebert 3, Lade 2, Tredrea 2, Motlop 2, S. Burgoyne, Westhoff, Logan, Boak, C. Cornes

BEST: GEEL - Chapman, Ablett, Corey, Mackie, Selwood, Milburn; PA - Lade, K. Cornes, Thomas, Salopek, Stewart, S. Burgoyne

INJURY: GEEL - Hunt (ankle)

REPORTS: PA - Motlop for allegedly charging Corey

UMPIRES: Donlon, Rosebury, Avon

CROWD: 28,206 at AAMI Stadium

Port may have been humiliated by the Cats in last year's Grand Final, but they managed to atone in a small way with this game. Tredrea combined with Ebert for the first goal of the game and soon after Port was out to an 11 point lead. From there, the Cats went into action, piling on six of the next eight goals against the breeze to grab a 16 point lead at 1/4 time.

A free kick to Mooney early in the second term netted Geelong the next goal. Although Port was outmuscled and outbustled by the stronger and faster Cats, they refused to lie down. Poor ball disposal proved costly for the Power. A number of their errors were caused by the relentless pressure the Cats applied to force turnovers. It all added up to four goals for Geelong and just two for Port in the second term, giving the Cats a hefty 31 point lead at 1/2 time.

Both sides kicked just two goals in the third term. Port could have been dented the Cats' lead more had they not missed a number of shots for goal. they had more scoring shots than Geelong but kicked five points, leaving the Cats with a 22 point lead at 3/4 time.

Port managed to outscore the Cats four goals to three in the final term. They might well have snatched an unlikely victory, but for more wayward kicking for goal.

COL     3.3    7.6    10.10    16.15 (111) 
FRE     3.1    7.2    10.4     13.7  (85)

GOALS: COL - Rocca 6, Didak 3, Davis 2, Thomas 2, Cloke, Lockyer, Medhurst; FRE - McPharlin 3, McManus 2, Bell, M. Carr, Crowley, Farmer, Headland, Johnson, Mundy, Pavlich

BEST: COL - Rocca, Didak, Swan, H. Shaw, Davis, R. Shaw; FRE - McPharlin, Mundy, Bell, Headland, Sandilands, Pavlich

INJURY: COL - Rusling (shoulder)

UMPIRES: McLaren, Chamberlain, Kamolins

CROWD: 45,383 at MCG

Collingwood jumped the Dockers early with goals to Didak, Rocca and Medhurst. Rocca and Didak marked (caught) the ball for the first two. Medhurst was the beneficiary of a 50 meter (55 yds) penalty against Black. The Dockers then fought back with three goals, the third right on the siren to trail by just two points at 1/4 time.

That momentum continued into the second term with Crowley bombing a goal from outside 50 meters (55 yds). Pavlich was being well held by young defender Brown and was forced to roam well away from the goalsquare for the ball. He managed to get away for his only goal during the Docker burst. It gave Freo a nine point lead. That lead was short lived as the Pies fired back. Didak began the surge running into an unguarded goalsquare. When he set up Rocca for another, the Pies had kicked four of the last five goals to set up a narrow four point lead at 1/2 time.

Collingwood extended that lead early in the third term before the Dockers again rallied with three of their own midway through the term to steal an eight point lead. Again Collingwood hit back with the last two goals of the term for a six point lead at 3/4 time.

The Pies virtually sealed the match with the first three goals of the final term, two of them coming from Rocca. It gave Collingwood a 24 point lead before McPharlin kicked one for the Dockers. Rocca then kicked his sixth for the game. Fremantle kicked two more for the match, but so did the Pies to take the win.

STK     4.3     4.6      6.10      6.15 (51)
SYD     1.1     4.6      4.10      6.13 (49)

GOALS: STK - Riewoldt 2, Koschitzke 2, Schneider, Milne; SYD - Hall, Davis, Bolton, Buchanan, Goodes, Grundy

BEST: STK - Dal Santo, L. Fisher, X. Clarke, Riewoldt; SYD - Jack, O'Keefe, McVeigh, Kennelly

UMPIRES: Vozzo, Ryan, Jeffery

CROWD: 36,614 at Telstra Dome.

Saints' Coach Ross Lyon served as an assistant at Sydney for several years and he knows the Swans' tactics of locking down a game. He used Sydney's own strategy with constant flooding and hard running attacking moves. The first salvo came in the first half of the first term. Riewoldt goaled one minute after the start. Tem minutes later, Milne pounced on a loose ball, then Riewoldt kicked another. The Swans finally kicked their first goal of the match late in the term. Koschitzke goaled a few minutes later to give the Saints a 20 point lead at 1/4 time.

The Swans regrouped with Craig Bolton keeping Riewoldt under wraps and McVeigh and Jack taking turns to shut down the dangerous Montagna. Jack not only did well to restrict Montagna's freedom, he also helped set up Sydney's three goals. First he passed to Buchanan, then passed to Hall before combining with Jolly to find Jude Bolton. The Saints also had their chances but missed several kicks for goal as did the Swans before JB's goal in the dying seconds leveled the scores at 1/2 time.

The third term started with Koschitzke taking a great mark (catch of the ball) and goaling to give the Saints the lead. The match then deteriorated with constant flooding, disposal of the ball under pressure and wasted scoring chances from both teams. Sydney was the biggest offender kicking just 4 points for the term. Late in the term, young player Jones took a courageous mark when he ran with the flight of the ball knowing he would be crunched by an oncoming Mattner. He shook off the hit to pass the ball to ex-Swan Schneider for a goal. Riewoldt's goal gave the Saints a 12 point lead at 3/4 time.

Goodes cut the Saint lead with the first goal of the final term. Koschitzke and Schneider both missed set shots which would have ensured a win. Davis then got away from a cramping Sam Fisher to close the gap to just two points. He had a chance to give Sydney the lead but missed. The Saints also missed several more chances. With less than a minute remaining the Swans had one more chance but Moore's kick missed and the Saints cleared the ball. Kirk gave away a 50 meter penalty which allowed the Saints to retain possession as the siren sounded to end a thriller in St. Kilda' s favor.

WCE      6.2      7.5     10.7      14.8   (92)
BRIS     1.2      4.4      9.6      11.10  (76)

GOALS: WCE - Waters 2, Wirrpanda 2, Seaby 2, LeCras 2, Braun, Cox, Hunter, Fletcher, Lynch, Staker; BRIS - Brown 6, Bradshaw 3, Charman, Drummond

BEST: WCE - Cox, Waters, Kerr, Seaby, Priddis; BRIS - Brown, Black, Bradshaw, Power, Drummond

UMPIRES: Head, Ellis, Hendrie

CROWD: 39,591 at Subiaco Oval

Over the past few seasons when the Eagles started with a six goal to one first term, they usually went unchallenged with the likes of Judd and Cousins. The star duo are gone with young gun Priddis teamed with a rampant Kerr. Cox dominated the ruck duels while Wirrpanda, Seaby, LeCras and did the damage up forward to give the Eagles a 30 point lead at 1/4 time.

Power was assigned to Kerr in the second term while Johnstone and Black began to assert themselves in the midfield. With better delivery to the forward line, Brown snagged three goals against Glass to keep the Lions in the game. Brisbane's defense held the Eagles to just one goal for the term to be within 19 points at 1/2 time.

Brisbane continued to press in the third term. Both midfields battled hard while Bradshaw picked up where Brown left off. He kicked three of Brisbane's four goals for the term. Hunter had been shifted forward where he kicked a goal for the term. Cox and Seaby chimed in to give the Eagles a seven point lead at 3/4 time.

Charman missed a chance to put the Lions in front early in the last term. Then the Eagles lifted with a goal to Fletcher. Lynch goaled from a free kick and LeCras added another to put West Coast 23 points clear. Brown and Drummond both added goals for the Lions to give Brisbane a chance but Staker kicked a long range goal to put the game safely in West Coast's keeping.

HAW     5.5    7.10    15.12    23.16 (154)
MELB    1.1    1.5      2.10     6.14  (50)

GOALS: HAW - Franklin 6, Osborne 3, Roughead 3, Dew 2, Boyle 2, Stokes 2, Campbell 2, Young, Taylor, Rioli; MELB - Robertson 3, Green 2, Newton

BEST: HAW - Franklin, Bateman, Osborne, Mitchell, Dew, Birchall, Boyle, Rioli, Young; MELB - Jones, Buckley, Green, Robertson

UMPIRES Farmer, Kennedy, M. Nicholls

CROWD 40,141 at the MCG

The Hawks were missing several key players, including Shane Crawford, through injury and suspension, but were still too good for a disappointing Melbourne. The Demons showed no improvement from last season while the Hawks look set for another big season. Mitchell out of the midfield and Franklin up forward were two of the prime movers. The Hawks began the demolition with five goals to one in the first term. Melbourne's solitary goal came late in the term and the Hawks led by 28 points at 1/4 time.

Only some missed shots on goal kept the margin from becoming an embarrassment in the second term. Melbourne just could not put the score on the board, kicking just 4 points to Hawthorn's 2 goals. Although the Hawks were also wayward in front of goal, kicking 5 points, they still held a commanding 41 point lead at 1/2 time.

It only got worse for the Demons in the third term as the Hawks continued the barrage. This time, they kicked straighter, adding seven goals to Melbourne's one. Again, Melbourne wasted a number of shots on goal. It mattered little, as Hawthorn's dominance gave them an 80 point lead at 3/4 time.

The Demons mustered enough resistance to kick 4 goals, including two to Robertson, in the final term. However, it was nowhere near enough to challenge the Hawks who added another seven to romp home.

WB     5.4     6.9     13.9     19.12 (126)
ADE    2.1     7.8     12.13    18.15 (123)

GOALS: WB - Johnson 5, Welsh 4, Giansiracusa 3, Hill, Wight, Hahn, Eagleton, Murphy, Akermanis, Gilbee; ADE - Burton 5, Edwards 2, Douglas 2, Tippett 2, McGregor 2, Goodwin 2, McLeod, Reilly, Stevens

BEST: WB - Cooney, Eagleton, Akermanis, Johnson, Welsh, Hill, West; ADE - Porplyzia, Burton, Goodwin, Reilly, Griffin, Stevens

INJURY: WB - Eagleton (ankle); ADE - Reilly (wrist)

UMPIRES: Schmitt, Sully, Wenn

CROWD: 24,835 at Telstra Dome

The Bulldogs had the better start to the game, although Bock kept Johnson goalless in the first half. The Dogs still had plenty of options while shutting down the Crows. The Dogs looked set for a big win with a four goal to two opening term and a 21 point lead at 1/4 time.

The Crows had other ideas and rallied in the second term. Burton was fire up forward and finished with five goals for the game. Edwards also spent some time in the forward line. The Bulldogs stayed with the Crows throughout the term, but it was Adelaide by five points at 1/2 time.

The third term saw the two teams go goal for goal. Akermanis, Cooney, West and Eagleton provided great drive through the middle for the Bulldogs. The Crows could have gained a handy lead but were inaccurate in front of goal. The Bulldogs's straight kicking saw them take a narrow two point lead at 3/4 time.

The start of final term also went almost goal for goal as neither side could gain a clear advantage. It wasn't until near the end that the Dogs finally snatched victory. The hero of the hour was Brad Johnson in his 300th game. The Crows had gained a narrow lead but Johnson kicked 3 goals in a matter of minutes, the last with under 2 minutes remaining on the clock. Stevens kicked a goal for the Crows to have them within a kick. As the seconds ticked away, Bock got the ball and the Crows had one last chance to steal the win but Bock's kick missed as the Dogs hung on to give themselves and Johnno a memorable win.

ESS       2.0    8.2    15.5    19.8 (122) 
KANG      4.3    6.7     7.9     9.13 (67)

GOALS: ESS - Lloyd 6, Lovett-Murray 4, Watson, Ramanauskas, McVeigh, Johnson, Hille, Lucas, Laycock, Davey, Fletcher; KANG - Thompson 4, Thomas 3, Petrie, Edwards

BEST: ESS - McVeigh, Lloyd, Ramanauskas, Watson, Houli, Fletcher, Jetta, McPhee; KANG - Grant, Rawlings, Thompson

INJURY: ESS - Lucas (knee); KANG - Jones (concussion)

Lucas will miss 6-8 weeks with the knee injury

UMPIRES: Stevic, K .Nicholls, McInerney

CROWD: 48,100 at Telstra Dome

There were preseason reports of Essendon's revamped midfield with speed through the middle the focus. It was not evident at first as the Kangaroos had the better of the Bombers with the first three goals. Essendon suffered a major blow late in the term when Lucas seriously injured his knee. The Bombers still managed two of the next three goals, but the Kangaroos still held a 15 point lead at 1/4 time.

The Kangaroos still looked the better team in the early part of the second term. They kicked two more goals to open up a 27-point lead. They squandered several chances to really put the game away and Essendon hit back hard. The Bombers booted the next six goals, including two to Lloyd, in a stunning turnaround to lead by seven points at 1/2 time.

The Bombers displayed their hard running in the third term. Ruckman Hille was having an impact as were his teammates. They stunned the Kangaroos with three goals early. The Kangaroos kicked one for the term while the Bombers piled on four more to lead by 44 points at 3/4 time.

Essendon continued to run the ball well in the final term. The Bombers kicked four goals to two for the term. Even Fletcher got in on the action. He took time out from defense to run up the ground and kick a goal from outside 50 meters (55 yds). This was the first time the Bombers had beaten the Kangaroos since 2001, when they staged the biggest comeback in league history. 

GOALS
Rocca (COL)         6
Lloyd (ESS)         6
Franklin (HAW)      6  
Brown (BRIS)        6
Richardson (RICH)   5

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