Round 19 Scores

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

GEEL  8.5  12.7  19.10  24.13 (157)
MELB  0.0   1.3   2.6    5.11 (41)

GOALS: GEEL - Lonergan 4, Stokes 4, Prismall 3, Mackie 2, Ablett 2, Ling 2, Bartel 2, Selwood, Blake, Gamble, Mooney, S. Johnson; MELB - Valenti 2, Wonaeamirri, P Johnson, C. Johnson

BEST: GEEL - Mackie, Selwood, Prismall, Lonergan, Scarlett, Harley, Ling, Corey; MELB - Bruce, Whelan, Frawley, Dunn, Maric

INJURY: GEEL - Blake (elbow); MELB - Jamar (ill) replaced in selected side by White

UMPIRES: Donlon, Kennedy, Ryan

CROWD: 34,610 at MCG

Round 19 was designated as the Tom Wills Round to honor one of the game's founders and celebrate the game's 150th anniversary. Wills also played for Melbourne. The very first game was played between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College on a bit parkland that is now part of an MCG parking lot. The two schools played a curtain-raiser ahead of Geelong and Melbourne's match. Melbourne Grammar won the game.

Much of the main game was played in rain but it certainly didn't dampen the skills or spirit of the ruthless Cats. The difference in skill, play and class was all too apparent. Where the Demons failed to man up, the Cats restricted their opponents and danced around and out of attempted tackles. Where the Demons committed appalling errors and failed to score or hit their targets when they did get the ball, the Cats were efficient, precise and scored all too easily. It took several minutes before Selwood scored Geelong's first goal. Once he did, there was nothing to stop the Cats who scored with all too much ease and virtually at will. Surely, it had be quite embarrassing for Melbourne when the Cats took a 53 to nothing lead at 1/4 time.

When Lonergan kicked Geelong's next goal at the start of the second term, the margin was 10 goals to zip and it would only get worse for the hapless Demons. Adding insult to injury, the Demons couldn't even manage their first score on their own. That came as the result of a rushed point by the Cat defense. The first bona fide score came from Green, but it was another point. The Demons blew several chances for goal. Valenti had a free kick but his shot was marked (caught) on the line by Ottens. Green earned a 50 meter (55 yards) penalty but he kicked another point. The Demons finally got their first goal late in the term through Wonaeamirri, but Ablett goaled soon after to push the margin out to 70 points at 1/2 time.

The third term was more of the same with Bartel's goal sparking an avalanche of five for the Cats. The Demons simply has no answers and barely got near the ball. The airtight defense kept the Demons at bay and prevented them from taking possession in their forward line. Late in the term, Valenti swooped on a spilled Cat mark and kicked Melbourne's second goal. Goals to Prismall and Lonergan blew the margin out to 106 points at 3/4 time.

Melbourne's Paul Johnson gave Demon fans a rare highlight when he dribbled through a clever goal early in the final term. Geelong then slammed through three goals of their five for the term in a matter of minutes.

COL  4.4   7.5   11.9   14.13 (97)
STK  2.2   3.5    7.7   12.11 (83)

GOALS: COL - Anthony 3, Swan 3, Davis 2, Dawes 2, Lockyer 2, Cloke, Thomas; STK - Schneider 3, Milne 2, Riewoldt 2, Dal Santo, S. Fisher, Goddard, Jones, Koschitzke

BEST: COL - Burns, Swan, Davis, Lockyer, O'Brien, Fraser, Pendlebury; STK - Hayes, Goddard, Harvey, Gram, Riewoldt, S. Fisher

INJURY: COL - Stanley (back) replaced in selected side by Wellingham

REPORTS: STK - Fiora for allegedly striking McCarthy

UMPIRES: McBurney, Rosebury, Jeffery

Both teams had motivating factors going into this game. For the Saints, it was Robert Harvey's retirement announcement. For Collingwood, it was a club under siege after Heath and Rhyce Shaw and Alan Didak were suspended by the club for incidents involving alcohol. Both are also fighting to stay in the eight for September action.

The start of the game was fast and furious and it was Collingwood who got the early break when debutant Dawes kicked a goal with his first league lick. The Saints not only had trouble with close checking from the Collingwood defense, but also were often second to the ball behind their Magpie opponents and let themselves down with errors. Riewoldt got the Saints on the board soon after Collingwood's opener, but Swan goaled twice and Davis then gave the Pies a handy break. Harvey set up Koschitzke for a late goal, but Collingwood led by 14 points at 1/4 time.

It took five minutes into the second term before the Pies got their next goal through Lockyer. Both Burns and Davis were providing great drive through the middle and successive goals to Dawes and Anthony had Collingwood out to a 31 point lead. Riewoldt was off the ground briefly to have his injured hand looked after and the best the Saints could do was a late goal to Schneider, leaving Collingwood with a 24 point lead at 1/2 time.

The Saints improved in the third term. Riewoldt sported a protective glove on his stitched up hand and the Saints found some run through Goddard, Dal Santo, and Montagna, but Collingwood answered their challenge. The two sides went goal for goal in the term but it was the Pies who prevailed. Collingwood won the term by just two points and led by 26 points at 3/4 time.

The Saints came again in the third term. Goals to Milne, Sam Fisher and Schneider cut Collingwood's lead to just nine points midway through the term. Cook had shot but hit the post before Swan kicked a steadying goal for the Magpies. Goddard goaled a few minutes later to have the Saints within 11 points, but Cloke and Anthony kicked two in just over a minute to put the game beyond St. Kilda's reach, although Riewoldt kicked a late consolation goal.

CARL  4.7   8.16   12.22   18.24 (132)
PA    1.4    2.5    5.8     9.12 (66)

GOALS: CARL - Fevola 4, Walker 3, Fisher 2, Kreuzer 2, Cloke, Gibbs, Grigg, Judd, Simpson, Stevens; PA - White 3, Motlop 2, Brogan, K..Cornes, Salter, J..Westhoff

BEST: CARL - Waite, Judd, Gibbs, Grigg, Murphy, Carrazzo, Walker; PA - Brogan, K. Cornes, White, P. Burgoyne

INJURY: CARL - Betts (hamstring tightness) replaced in selected side by Hampson; PA - Boak replaced in selected side by Williams

UMPIRES: K. Nicholls, McInerney, Mollison

CROWD: 29,696 at Telstra Dome

The Blues dominated Port from the outset. Although Brogan had the better of the ruck duels, the Carlton midfield of Judd, Gibbs, Murphy and Carrazzo had the better of Port's running brigade. The Blues manned up well to prevent Port from finding any space to move the ball. More often than not, Port players were caught holding the ball because they had no teammate in the clear for a pass. That pressure and Carlton's ability to get the forward saw them kick the first three goals of the match. They could easily had the game won in the first term but for inaccuracy in front of goal. Port was equally bad if not worse in front of goal and it wasn't until late in the term that Westhoff kicked Port's first. Rodan had one late kick for goal but sprayed the shot and Carlton was out to a 21 point lead at 1/4 time.

Carlton continued their dominance in the second term. Gibbs was again dominant force through the center to help drive the Blues forward. One telling statistic is the scoring shots. Carlton had nine scoring opportunities to Port's paltry two. However, Carlton's goalkicking woes continued as they kicked six points along with their four goals. Three of their nine points were rushed through by Port's defense. Carlton had raced out to a 37 point lead before Kane Cornes kicked Port's only goal for the term. Fevola replied shortly after before a string of misses plagued the Blues. Stevens broke that run with a late goal to give Carlton a 47 point lead at 1/2 time.

Motlop opened the third term with a goal, only for Carlton to reply at the other end. Port stemmed the tide briefly with several rushed points and then Cloke missed another shot before White goaled for Port midway through the term. The inaccuracy for both sides continued. In between, Carlton added a further three goals to lead by 56 points at 3/4 time.

Port came out determined in the final term to avoid any more humiliation and fired through goals through White and Brogan to cut Carlton's lead to 44 points. Fisher, who was one of the main culprits in front of goal, finally slotted his first for the match. Ebert added another for Port but Carlton, through Fevola twice, Scotland, Simpson and Judd, kicked five of the last six goals. Had they kicked straighter, it would have given them an even better percentage and chance for the finals.

HAW   1.3   3.7   7.11   16.14 (110)
BRIS  1.2   1.5   2.10    5.11 (41)

GOALS: HAW - Franklin 6, Rioli 3, Lewis 2, Stokes 2, Crawford, Dew, Roughead; BRIS - Bradshaw 2, Brennan, Brown, Sherman

BEST: HAW - Hodge, Franklin, Mitchell, Gilham, Crawford, Dew; BRIS - Rischitelli, Johnstone, Charman, Black, Brennan

INJURY: BRIS - Drummond (quad)

UMPIRES: Chamberlain, McLaren, Meredith

CROWD: 19,929 at Aurora Stadium

When these sides met earlier in the season, it was shootout in front of goal. Not so this time around as Brisbane took a leaf from Hawthorn's book. Both sides played a defensive game, flooding each other's forward zones to restrict the likes of Roughead, Franklin and Brown. As such, it took nearly 10 minutes for the first goal which went Hawthorn's way through Franklin. The next goal went Brisbane's way but didn't come until late in the term to Brown and the Hawks held a narrow one point lead at 1/4 time.

Hawthorn continued to double-team Bradshaw and Brown in the second term which continued to be an arm wrestle. The defensive game by both sides resulted in a series of misses and rushed points by both before Franklin set up Rioli for a goal. Franklin then kicked a late goal himself to give the Hawks a 14 point lead at 1/2 time.

The stalemate continued for much of the third term with play mostly locked up in the midfield. When the ball did go forward, neither team could put the score on the board. Finally, from a kick in after a rushed point, the Hawks were able to push forward and Stokes kicked the goal.The floodgates opened as the Hawks finally worked their way on top of Brisbane and slammed through four goals without reply to storm to a 38 point lead. A free kick to Brennan gave Brisbane their only goal for the term and they trailed by 31 points at 3/4 time.

Sherman opened the final term with a goal for Brisbane to push their score above the lowest they recorded in their history (2.5.17 against Hawthorn in 1988 as Fitzroy). The match was as good as over when Franklin and Rioli kicked the next two. Bradshaw added a pair but the Hawks were still 26 points clear. They proceeded to finish off the game with the next seven goals. Crawford, in his 300th game, capped a brilliant 28-possession game with the final goal after which he was mobbed by teammates.

SYD  2.4   7.6   13.8   17.10 (112)
FRE  3.5   8.8   10.13  15.18 (108)

GOALS: SYD - Goodes 8, Hall 4, J. Bolton 2, Veszpremi 2, O’Keefe; FRE - Bradley 3, Campbell 2, Crowley 2, Duffield 2, Tarrant, Palmer, Mayne, Michael Johnson, Pavlich, Peake

BEST: SYD - Goodes, J. Bolton, Hall, Kennelly, Mattner; FRE - Pavlich, Palmer, Sandilands, Crowley, Hayden, Tarrant

INJURY: SYD - Barry (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Ablett; FRE - Grover replaced in selected side by Drum

UMPIRES: Sully, Schmitt, Avon

CROWD: 20,846 at the SCG

Goodes, having missed last week due to a groin injury, was stationed at full forward. He and Hall proved to be a deadly combination. The Swans tried to dictate terms with their usual hard-nosed style, but Fremantle refused and the opening term was a scrap. After a series of misses and rushed points, Bradley got Freo on the board midway through the term. But Goodes and Hall replied with their first goals soon after. Bradley and Tarrant added a pair of late goals to give Fremantle a seven point lead at 1/4 time.

Goals to Veszpremi, Hall and Goodes early in the second term saw the Swans shoot out to an 11 point lead. However, Fremantle was just as tenacious and retook the lead with goals to young guns Palmer, Mayne and Duffield. Hall missed midway through the term to reduce the margin to one straight kick. McPharlin twice missed opportunities to give the Dockers a handy buffer. In between, Goodes kicked two goals with his second giving the Swans a four point lead. The Dockers wrested back the lead with goals to Campbell and Bradley and were eight points clear at 1/2 time.

Goals to Jude Bolton and Goodes and a point to crouch early in the third term gave the Swans a five point lead, but the Dockers refused to go away. From Sydney's rushed point, the Dockers took the ball away and found Tarrant for a long range goal to give the Dockers a two point lead. Then it was Sydney's turn to benefit from a rushed point when the took the ball to the other end for Goodes. His goal gave the Swans a four point lead. Jude Bolton goaled again and it was the Swans by 10 points. Campbell added a goal for the Dockers, but the Swans kicked two more to finish out the term with a 13 point lead at 3/4 time.

Michael Johnson cut Sydney's lead early in the final term but the Swans were quick to reply through O'Keefe. Crowley snapped a clever tight angle goal and was followed by a goal to Pavlich to level the scores midway through the term. Duffield and Peake goaled to give the Dockers a 13 point lead. Pavlich had a chance to seal the game but his kick for goal missed. From the kick in, the Swans took the ball to the other end where Goodes reduced the margin to just eight points. Goodes then snapped a gem from a tight angle on the boundary. It was a one point margin in favor of the Dockers with less than five minutes on the clock. Hall kicked another a few minutes later to put the Swans back in front and their fans into raptures. Fremantle tried again but a goal square scramble resulted in McPharlin hitting the post. The Dockers regained possession and headed for goal, but Bevan pulled off a Leo Barry style heroic with a strong diving catch to save the game for Sydney.

NM  6.5   11.6   15.7   21.10 (136)
WB  2.3    5.4   11.7   18.8 (116)

GOALS: NM - Campbell 3, Harding 3, Grant 3, Harvey 3, Thompson 2, Hale, Sinclair, Wells, Jones, Lower, McMahon, Thomas; WB - Johnson 5, Harbrow 3, Giansiracusa 3, Murphy 2, Hahn 2, Welsh, Cooney, Griffen

BEST: NM - Harvey, Campbell, Rawlings, Wells, Grant, Harding; WB - Johnson, Murphy, Harbrow, Giansiracusa, Cross, Cooney

INJURY: NM - Simpson (hip) replaced in selected side by Watt; WB - Hudson (back) replaced in selected side by Street

UMPIRES: Vozzo, Stevic, Hendrie

CROWD: 31,957 at Telstra Dome

The Kangaroos jumped a sluggish and listless looking Bulldog outfit early. Had it not been for a string of misses early, the Roos could have had the game wrapped up by quarter time. When Hale kicked the first goal, the Kangaroos had an 11 point lead. The Bulldogs first score was a point to Johnson. After that, the Kangaroos piled on five goals before Murphy kicked one for the Bulldogs late in the term, leaving the Kangaroos with a 26 point lead at 1/4 time.

Johnson goaled early in the second term to cut North's lead, but North continued to dominate. Goals to Wells, Jones and Grant gave the Kangaroos a 38 point lead. Harbrow's goal for the Bulldogs was answered with two from the Kangaroos. The Bulldogs again ended the term with a goal, this time to Johnson. However, it was North Melbourne by 38 points at 1/2 time.

The lead blew out to 50 points with early third term goals to Campbell and Lower. The Bulldogs lifted and rallied with the next three goals to cut the margin to 30 points. Their run was interrupted with a goal to Harvey, but they weren't done yet. Goals to Hahn, Cooney and Harbrow had the Bulldogs within 18 points before a goal after the siren to Thompson gave the Kangaroos a 24 point lead at 3/4 time.

Murphy cut the margin back to 18 points with the opening goal of the final term. McMahon, Thomas and Harvey kicked successive goals for the Kangaroos to ease the scoreboard pressure. Johnson goaled and the margin was back to 30 points, and the next few minutes was a shootout. It was goal for goal until late in the term when two goals to Giansiracusa and one to Hahn had the Bulldogs within 14 points. Consecutive goals to Grant, his second coming with less than three minutes to play, sealed the win. Johnson kicked one final goal for the Bulldogs as time ran out.

ADE   3.2   10.4   15.6   16.12 (108)
RICH  1.3    1.4    4.6    6.9 (45)

GOALS: ADE - Stevens, Gill, Goodwin, Thompson 2, Douglas, Moran, Massie, Mackay, Edwards, McLeod, van Berlo, Vince; RICH - Deledio, Simmonds, Pattison, Bowden, Riewoldt

BEST: ADE - Stevens, Symes, van Berlo, Bock, Rutten, McLeod, Edwards, Doughty, Vince; RICH - Tuck, Deledio, Johnson, McMahon

INJURY: ADE - Vince (hamstring); RICH - Foley (hip), Schulz replaced in selected side by Morton

UMPIRES: Farmer, James, Head

CROWD: 37,562 at AAMI Stadium

Rain and wind made the conditions difficult, but it was the Crows who handled them better. A dominant midfield chipped in with goals while the defense of Bassett, Bock and Rutten were at their stingiest best. Stevens kicked the opening goal for Adelaide. Bowden goaled for the Tigers to level the scores and Jackson actually gave the Tigers the lead with a point. But that would be the best the Tigers could do. Stevens put the Crows back in front midway through the term. Both teams then kicked a handful of points in the windy conditions before a late goal to Goodwin gave the Crows an 11 point lead at 1/4 time.

The Crows continued to outmuscle and outplay the Tigers in the second term. Goodwin's kick for goal fell short but was marked (caught) by Stevens whose goal put the Crows 17 points clear. Crow midfielders van Berlo, Doughty, Symes and Thompson constantly won the ball and the Crows blasted the Tigers with the next six goals. One came through some vintage play from 300-gamer McLeod. Symes won a tap out, sending it straight to McLeod who then took off for a run and finished with a long range goal, sending the home crowd into thunderous cheers. Richmond's only scoring shot fell Richardson's way, but he missed from close range and the Crows held a 54 point lead at 1/2 time.

The Tigers tried in the third term, but the Crows were simply too good. After three misses, Thompson goaled and the margin was more than 10 goals. The Tigers finally got their second goal of the match through Deledio. The Crows quickly replied with goals to van Berlo and Douglas. Pattison goaled midway through the term for the Tigers but the procession of Adelaide goals continued through Moran and Vince. Simmonds kicked a late goal for the Tigers but the Crows were still very much in control with a 66 point lead at 3/4 time.

The final term, played in persistent rain, was slow and scrappy with just three goals scored. The best than can be said for Richmond is that they won the term two goals to one.

WCE  6.3  10.6   12.9   17.11 (113)
ESS  3.2   4.4    9.7   16.7 (103)

GOALS: WCE - McKinley 7, Wirrpanda 3, Selwood 2, Davis, LeCras, Lynch, Braun, Fletcher; ESS - Lloyd 3, Laycock 3, Jetta 2, Dyson, Ramanauskas, McPhee, Hille, Monfries, Lovett, Slattery, Dempsey

BEST: McKinley, Lynch, Braun, Selwood, Priddis, Fletcher, Dean Cox; ESS - Watson, Lovett, Welsh, Dyson, Dempsey, Lonergan

INJURY: WCE - Wirrpanda (hamstring), McNamara (corked thigh), Hansen (ankle)

UMPIRES: M. Nicholls, Wenn, Keating

CROWD: 35,288 at Subiaco Oval

The Eagles were back to somewhere near their best with Cox dominating Hille in the ruck and Lynch and McKinley up forward giving Essendon's defense plenty of headaches. The Eagles were kicking into a stiff breeze in the first term, but it didn't faze them. A goal and a point each had the scores level before McKinley and Davis goaled to give the Eagles a two goal lead midway through the term. The Eagles kicked three goals to one for the remainder of the term to lead by 19 points at 1/4 time.

Selwood again opened the goal scoring for the Eagles in the second term. Cox was still having the better of Hille and the likes of Fletcher and Michael were made to look second rate by Lynch, Wirrpanda and McKinley. McPhee goaled midway through the term to have the Bombers within 20 points. Another goal to Wirrpanda and two more to McKinley gave the Eagles a comfortable 38 point lead at 1/2 time.

The Bombers rallied early in the third term with goals to Lloyd and Monfries. Fletcher began to get the better of McKinley and Lovett lifted through the middle. LeCras and McKinley goaled for the Eagles, pushing the margin out to 33 points. Lloyd and Laycock kicked late goals for the Bombers and Essendon was still a chance, trailing by just 20 points at 3/4 time.

When Lynch kicked a magnificent goal from 60 yards out, the task looked as if it would be beyond Bombers. Slattery goaled to bring the deficit back to 20 points, but McKinley replied for the Eagles a few minutes later. Essendon was right back in it with goals to Lovett and Dempsey. Eagle veteran Braun then bobbed up with a great goal on the run and the Eagles were in front by 21 points. The Bombers came again with goals to Jetta and Lloyd cutting the Eagle lead to 10 points. An Essendon error allowed Fletcher to goal for the Eagles. Laycock goaled and it was a 10 point difference once again. Laycock booted another but not before McKinley's goal sealed the match for West Coast and ending Essendon's finals hopes.

GOALS
Lance Franklin (HAW)   91
Brendan Fevola (CARL)  84
Daniel Bradshaw (BRIS) 65
Matthew Pavlich (FRE)  64
Jonathan Brown (BRIS)  63
Jarryd Roughead (HAW)  59 

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