AFL Weekly Review Week 1 Finals 2006

Some news last week, Port’s speedy rover Danyle Pearce won the Rising Star Award, comfortably from Tiger Andrew Raines and Pieman Heath Shaw. The farcical Carlton blundered into all sorts of trouble when they met to sack Denis Pagan and invite former Siddey and Bloo rover Barry Mitchell to become coach. But then they didn’t, for some reason, possibly financial as Pagan faced a huge payout if they did knife him. Stephen Silvagni was involved too, somehow. In a ‘compromise’ Pagan’s long-time assistant Tony Elshaug and the club’s head trainer were sacked and Pagan has to employ Mitchell as an assistant , apparently. Ridiculous. Former player Fraser Brown, now a very wealthy businessman, wants to move in and sack everybody from the president down. A coupla best-and-fairests decided last week, Lance Whitnall won the award at Carlton and Brady Rawlings for the Kangaroos.

At the MCG:

St. Kilda   5.4   6.6   9.8   10.12.72
Melbourne   2.2   3.4   8.5   13.12.90

Melbun ground their way to victory, their first in a final for three years. The Deez were thrashed early but the Saints lost players and the Demuns tackled and forced and willed their way back into it. Bitter disappointment for the Sainters, who’ll blame the series of injuries in this game and through the season in general. They had no luck, but also failed to raise their game when the challenge came. In the immediate post-match coach Grant Thomas said he was “proud of the effort” given their circumstances, losing both Clarkes, Justin Koschitzke and Fraser Gehrig during the night and Lenny Hayes, Matt ‘Goose’ Maguire, Aaron Hamill and, er, Koschitzke and both Clarkes over the course of the season. Thomas also had a dig at Sinkilda’s 6-day breaks and suggested the development of the boys Fisher, Goddard and Montagna as positives from the year. But there’re a few shopworn items, time’s running out for Harvey, Thompson, Peckett, Powell, Gehrig and Hamill. In selection here the Saints reversed their all-tall strategy of last week, dumping ruckmen Cain Ackland, Jason Blake and Barry Brooks for full-back Max Hudghton and experienced midfielders Justin Peckett and Stephen Powell. Three changes for the Dees too, Clint Bartram out with an injured ankle while Shannon Motlop and tagger Simon Godfrey were dropped. Ben Holland, Matthew Whelan and Byron Pickett returned from injury.

The Saints were terrific early, in what was a very good game. They exerted heavy pressure, outnumbered the Demuns at contests and had winning forwards. Typical was the opening goal, Demun Brad Green caught in a tackle, the free-kick sent towards Gehrig who was caught behind opponent Ben Holland but tapped down smartly for roving Stephen Milne to snap it through. Melbun responded quickly, David Neitz led towards a pass which dropped short but his man, Max Hudghton, slipped over and Neita wheeled about and slotted a great goal. Gehrig missed his first shot proper and Xavier Clarke didn’t make the distance from 40m, but a minute later the night was over for ‘X-Factor’ as he dived bravely after the pill and collided with Dee backman Nathan Carroll. Clarke’s back was hurt. The Dees had a kick-in which went quickly downfield, Pickett passed for leading Brad Miller to mark and convert and the Deez led by 4 points. Against the run that, as Richie Benaud might say. A three-goal burst from Gehrig showed the momentum. A great Leigh Fisher-powered rebound led to the first, Fisher ran from the back and passed to Hamill in the centre, ran on to receive Hamill’s handpass and spear neatly onto Gehrig’s chest. Goal. Nick Dal Santo won a free-kick at the restart and punted to leading G-Train, he spun away from Holland and slotted a very good major. The third had a lucky genesis, Nick Riewoldt soccered the ball forward and it went straight to Harvey, he passed for Gehrig etc. The Stainers led by 14 points and missed a coupla shots, including a shocker from Luke Ball, as forecast rain began to fall. Riewoldt postered from a tough angle but a bit later Harvey gathered a throw-in a delivered a classy kick for Milne to mark, he majored. The Stains by 22 points. Melbun went forward from the restart and Pickett found himself with a simple shot but missed awfully, a rushed Dee behind and the Saints were 20 points ahead at the first break. Melbun lost a player early in the rain-soaked second stanza, Matthew Whelan damaged a shoulder as he was crushed under Steven Baker. The wet weather slowed the game and led to some fierce tackling battles. One such ended with a free-kick to Baker, he punted forward where Carroll was penalized for man-handling Riewoldt, a goal for Riewoldt and the Saints led by 26 points. Sinkilda went forward again from the centre-bounce, Gehrig did very well to set up a chance for himself but he missed poorly. There was bit of that from the Saints. About now Koschitzke showed his genius for physical comedy, as he dropped an uncontested mark and clashed heads with Dee rover Brock McLean. Kosi staggered off, a familiar sight. The rarely-sighted Russ Robertson missed with a soft free-kick, the last score for a while as the game became slippery and messy. Slowly, Melbun started to win more of the ball and use it better. Neitz was held off-the-ball by Hudghton and converted the resulting free for a much-needed Melbin goal. But the key act of the second term came late, Gehrig led long to mark in front of Carroll, played on for no obvious reason and was caught and dumped by Carroll’s good tackle. In the process Gehrig hurt an ankle and although he limped back on periodically, his night was effectively over.

The Deez crept steadily closer in the early third term. Dal Santo was caught in possession by his minder, James McDonald and ‘Junior’ free-kicked a major. Miller passed wide to find Cameron Bruce, who threaded a great shot through from a tough angle and the Dees were 8 points behind, the Members roaring their approval. Bruce, Green and McLean had carried Melbun through the first half but they were finding more time and space now, players like Pickett and Travis Johnstone were working into it. At a throw-in Melbun ruckman Jeff White tapped superbly to junior Matthew Bate, he sped away and drilled a low pass to Colin Sylvia. Sylvia’s long shot was marked on the goal-line by Robertson who popped it through. The Dees were 2 points behind and Sinkilda lost a fourth player, Raphael Clarke with an apparent hamstring problem. Koschitzke, feeling better now, trotted back on. Riewoldt shanked a shot hopelessly wide and short, confirming the flakiness of his goal-kicking under pressure. Milne marked by the point-post, played on but also scored a behind only as the Stains began to rally. A series of chipped passes ended with Leigh Montagna finding Riewoldt for a good grab, Footballing Barbie produced a much better shot this time for a goal and the Sainters led by 10 points. After some scrappy play Milne hacked the ball off the ground and it fell ideally for Koschitzke to mark, he booted a sausage. Saint veteran Justin Peckett won a free-kick against Johnstone for in-the-back and a 50m penalty when Green kicked the ball away, Peckett goaled and the Stains were 22 points ahead again. But Melbun stuck on doggedly, Neitz majored from another free-kick against grappling Hudghton. From the restart McLean punted the Demuns forward, Pickett roved Neitz’s contest and slammed it home. A minute later commentators were titillated as Pickett and Peckett were involved simultaneously, the former conceding a free to the latter. The Saints clung to a 9-point lead at the last change but the Demuns were favourites, you felt. Sinkilda blew several chances to consolidate their lead early in the final Mario. Harvey and Peckett missed simple shots and Hamill failed to score from a tight angle. Neitz hit the post twice as the tension increased. Hamill wasn’t fit and his chief role had been as stirrer, it paid off when Melbun’s Bruce clattered Baker at a throw-in and after the whistle went, Hamill goaded Aaron Davey into shoving him in the face. A 50m penalty added to Baker’s free-kick, an easy goal resulting. Davey was benched as the Saints led by 15 points. Good work from Johnstone found Bate marking at CHF, the gingernut converted and the Dees were back 9 points down. Neitz missed again but Dee man McLean intercepted the Stinkilda kick-in, the ball went to Bruce, Green and back to McLean who stabbed a close-range sausage. Chastened Davey returned to the fray, he intercepted Sam Fisher’s floated handpass, ran clear and centered the ball for Neitz to hold a strong grab against Hudghton. Neita finally kicked truly and Melbun were ahead, by 4 points. Behinds accumulated as the fresher Dees began to overrun Sinkilda. Bruce had just missed from point-blank prior to McLean free-kicking a major, clouted across the neck by Hudghton’s lazy shepherd. Max didn’t have a good night. From the restart a series of handballs released Daniel Ward, his long kick cleared the pack and Adem Yze ran through to soccer a sausage. Melbun were 19 points ahead and home.

A good team effort from the Demons but the best game-long performances came from Cameron Bruce (29 disposals, a goal) and Brad Green (29 touches). Rover Brock McLean (25 touches, 2 goals) was vital by the end and ruckman Jeff White (20 possies, 30 hit-outs) underlined Thomas’s mistake in leaving his ruckmen out. Byron Pickett (15 handlings, a goal) was part of the second-half surge and James McDonald (20 possies, a goal) did a good stopping job on Dal Santo. Nathan Carroll (10 touches, 5 marks) played well on Riewoldt and probably committed the game’s key acts in crunching Xavier Clarke and tackling Gehrig. In attack David Neitz (3 marks, 11 touches) bagged 4.3, 2 goals from holding frees. No stand-out for the Saints either, hard-working back-flankers Sam Fisher (19 disposals on Robertson) and Brendon Goddard (21 kicks, 7 marks) were good, Luke Ball (25 disposals) battled hard on-the-ball and Steven Baker (19 touches, a goal) did a very good job on Davey. Nick Riewoldt (20 disposals, 8 marks, 2 goals) and Robert Harvey (20 touches) played alright and Fraser Gehrig (5 marks, 5 kicks, 3.2) played a great half. Stephen Milne (16 touches, 2 goals) was okay but made mistakes. "We didn't have enough of a break on them. I thought we could have orchestrated a five or six-goal lead in the game but that wasn't to be and it kept them close enough," Thomas said. “And they didn't have to be Einstein to work out that we were running out of legs and running out of numbers, they just kept persevering and full credit to them." Neale Daniher was pretty happy. "I couldn't have been prouder of the Melbourne Football Club and the team that represented them as a coach. The fightback, the toughness, mentally and physically to fight back and then when times they got 20 points up, to continue. I know our supporters would very, very proud of what the red and blue did tonight. I thought it was more a grinding, grinding back into the game, rather than a magical turning point. I thought the turning point was that we continued to believe in our system, in what we were trying to do, and we continued to have the belief in each other."

At Football Park:

Adelaide   1.3   3.8   5.12   10.16.76
Fremantle  4.2   5.2   7.4      7.4.46

Freo defeated by bad case of wind. It’s all them larrtays they drink over there. It was blowin’ a gale at Foopall Park and the Camrys managed to do more against it, while exerting some tough, physical pressure to stop the Dockerater’s running game. Freo, the only side in the leeg never to have won a final go home to play the Deez next week while the Camrys advance to a home prelim final against the Weegs or Doggies. They might have Ricciuto, Burton and McLeod back, apparently. The Corolla side here was unchanged from the one which beat Melbun, the Dokkers called up struggling Paul Hasleby to replace Graeme Polak.

Dry but a strong, blustery wind blew down the ground. Freo had first use and did reasonably well, but probably not enough as subsequent events showed. The Cressidas flooded a lot and debuting finals umpire Ray Chamberlin was unhealthily obsessed with ruck contests. He gave Freo monolith Aaron Sandilands a ridiculous free for the first shot, Sandilands missed. But it was all Freo early as the Camrys set out a defensive structure, Sandilands’s handpass to Roger Hayden led to the opening goal. Hayden spun through 360 and stabbed a cool pass for Ryan Crowley to mark and convert. The Dokkers rebounded fast and direct from occasional Camry attacks, from one such Luke McPharlin kicked long and Jeff Farmer held a strong back-pedalling grab, Wiz punted a major. The Shockers led by 12 points. The local crowd wasn’t happy with the umpiring, with a little justification (usually they don’t need any). Camry man Michael Doughty postered with a set shot, from the kick-in the Dockers were quick and long again and Matty Pavlich held a good grab over opponent Scott Stevens, from Des Headland’s wind-assisted punt. Pav converted. A bit later a complex handballing move, twice featuring Peter Bell, ended with Heath Black mongrelling a low, driven kick home from 50m and the Dokkers led by 24 points. The Cows’d been all about damage-limitation so far but they had launched the odd thrust, late in the term Kris Massie managed a long kick to the ‘square. The ball spilled out to the pocket, Camry ruckman Rhett Biglands finessed and dummied ‘round Shane Parker and banana-ed a major from close range. Emboldened, the Cows attacked again and Brent Reilly found Ian Perrie on-the-lead. Perrie’s shot hit the post, Freo led by 17 points at the first break. The Coronas’ turn with the wind in the second term but they appeared to ‘blow’ it with wayward kicking - see what I did there? Reilly started the misses but umpire Chamberlin helped ‘em out with another mystery rucking free, Matty Clarke booted a goal from it. A bit later a string of running handballs ended with Brent Reilly slotting and Freo’s lead was down to 4 points. Freo were having a lot of trouble advancing beyond the centre, being forced wide. The Camrys were awake to their running, handball game and surrounded the Dokker men quickly, tackling hard and often. But the Cows themselves weren’t converting the pressure. Biglands missed another banana-shot, the kick-in ended with Camry Jason Porplyzia but he didn’t make the distance from 40m, strangely. Porplyzia soon hooked another chance poorly and after Jason Torney held a great grab and released Scott Thompson, Thommo sliced on-the-full. Matthew Bode missed a long shot and commentator Mal Blight praised the Freo defenders, noting the Camrys were being forced into long shots from the flanks. Sure enough the Dokkers managed a goal with almost their only attack of the quarter, the ball emerged from a pack and as Cow full-back Ben Rutten lumbered away he was caught by Farmer’s terrific tackle, ‘bawl’ and Wiz majored. Parker rushed a behind to have the sandgropers exactly a goal in front at half-time, they’d done well.

The breeze backed the Freo men for the third term but the Camrys seemed to have a made a conscious decision to be more attacking. Blokes like Johncock and Mattner ran aggressively from the back. Farmer missed badly early-on and a coupla Crobot attacks saw Perrie hit the post again and Scott Welsh boot a behind following a pack-mark. Fifteen minutes in tough play and some sharp handpassing from Black and Matthew Carr allowed Troy Cook to boot a goal for the Dockulaters and they were 10 points ahead. Shaun McManus punted ‘em forward, as Pavlich crouched over the ball he was kneed in the heed by Robert ‘Don’t Call Me’ Shirley. A free-kick and goal to Pav and Freo were going alright, leading by 16 points. But Camry Nathan Bock got a coupla against-the-wind goals which were crucial in context. The first was literally impossible, Bock steering a shot from deep in the Tony Hall pocket, from where goals simply cannot be scored even when the wind isn’t blowing out from behind the sticks. A bit later Bode tumbled a mongrel forward, experienced Dokka hands Parker and Bell appeared to have snuffed out the danger but Parker’s fumble allowed Bock to soccer the Sherrin for a sausage. Replays showed diving Dokker David Mundy had touched the ball off Bock’s boot, but none of the officials had spotted it. Typical. Freo led by just 4 points at the final change and now the Camrys appeared a big show, coming home wind-assisted and all. That’s the way it proved. Freo hung on in the early minutes but again were playing exclusively in their defensive half. Eventually the dam broke and the end came quickly. Simon Goodwin kicked long, Welsh held a too-easy goal-square grab as Shockers McPharlin, Crowley and Mundy stood watching. Welsh stabbed it through to put the Camrys ahead, by 3 points. Bode spoiled a telegraphed Freo kick from defence and handballed to Torney, he slotted a superb and frankly ar5ey goal from 50m. Jason Porplyzia marked deep in defence, passed off, ran right up to the wing to win the ball again and pass for leading Perrie to mark and kick straight. Unusual for Perrie to be accurate but Porplyzia’s superb, gut-busting running deserved reward. Sure enough Perrie missed an easier shot a few minutes later. The game was certainly over after Freo man Michael Johnson lobbed a lazy kick from the back-pocket, allowing Torney to intercept and slot an easy major. The Camrys led by 24 points and Biglands added icing by plucking a good grab and thumping it through.

As in the previous night’s contest, no real stand-out but the hard work of Crobot runners like Brent Reilly (23 disposals, a goal), Michael Doughty (22 possies, 8 marks), Scott Thompson (30 touches, 9 marks) and Marty Mattner (15 possies) was the key factor. Graham ‘Stiffy’ Johncock (25 touches, 8 marks) did very well and probably prevailed over Farmer, although opportunities for Wiz dried up after quarter-time. Scott Stevens (20 possies, 7 grabs) had the better of Pavlich and supporting backman Nathan Bassett (25 handlings, 11 marks) played well too. Jason Torney (22 disposals, 2 goals) and CHF Nathan Bock (17 touches, 7 marks, 2 goals) made some handy interventions. Rhett Biglands kicked 2 goals. For the Dockers Heath Black (32 disposals, 12 marks, a goal) was very good, not just in winning the ball but doing something useful with it. Peter Bell (24 touches) scurried about and Michael Johnson (10 marks, 26 disposals) was good at the back, slipped forward a bit too but couldn’t make an impact. Luke McPharlin (9 marks, 15 handlings) did some reboundin’. Josh Carr (20 possies with 15 handballs) and Shaun McManus (17 touches) hit in. Jeff Farmer and Matty Pavlich kicked 2 goals each. Connolly summed it up. "The third quarter was going to be very important for us and we probably didn't get the scoreboard pressure on we would have liked, then we were overtaken in the last quarter. The crowd (very loud) played its part and to Adelaide's credit - you can't take any credit away from them particularly considering they've got some senior leaders out - they grabbed the game." Neil Craig said "We've said pretty much all year that we have played our best footy when we have a nice, even contribution from everyone. To the playing group's credit, that's been a very strong characteristic of everyone really contributing over the board, and we need to do that - we have no other choice and we wouldn't want any other choice. It was a good win for us, absolutely. The opportunity it now gives us - a prelim on our home ground - is enormous for us. But the ultimate wins are the ones in '97-'98 (grand finals) for our footy club. I guess we've got an opportunity to keep progressing towards that."

At Subiaco:

West Coast  2.3   4.6    9.9   12.12.84
Sydney      3.2   7.3   10.6    13.7.85

Another in the series of modern classics. If the Weegs and Swans end up in the GF again I’ll not complain, it’ll guarantee a fantastic contest at least, if not high scoring. This time the game wasn’t decided by a dubious Tyson Stenglein goal but by a great Swan rebound, lucky bounce and Mick O’Loughlin slamming it through from point-blank, then following through to triumph in the faces of the Wiggle cheer-squad. Classic. O’Loughlin and Barry Hall bagged nine of the Bloods’ goals between ‘em and commentator Robert Walls was very agitated by the Weeg tactic of leaving the two Swans one-out against their men. John Worsfold should’ve dropped extra men back, he reckoned. Maybe next time. In selection here the Weegs made one change, of the missing injured only David Wirrpanda returned - they lied last week - and ruckman Mark Seaby was out for reasons unknown. No change for the Swans although they had a fright last week, when Brett Kirk rolled an ankle at training and Darren Jolly dislocated a finger, badly. Both played here.

In the build-up the Swans pointed out the free-kick ratio in their three previous games with the Weegs - decided by 4, 4 and 2 points respectively - favoured the West Ghost 52-36. With 10 frees to 2 inside the attacking 50. That trend continued here, too. The other pattern has been for the Swans to start the better and for the Wiggles to come back after half-time. That at least appeared different as the Weegs came steaming out, led by the usual suspects and an unusual one in Beau Waters, who started in attack. Waters free-kicked the game’s first goal after being ridden into the ground by Kennelly, Waters also booted the second from a tough angle after Brent Staker marked Lynch’s kick by the point-post and passed it back to him. The Weegs were very excited with Cousins, Judd et al. running about a lot, Dan Chick clouting people and Adam Hunter roughing-up O’Loughlin. But after Cousins postered with a shot, Lynch hooked dreadfully on-the-full and Staker missed a snap, the Swans got down to business with West Ghost leading by 14 points. Hall marked on a long lead, turned quickly and kicked smartly for O’Loughlin to mark and boot a goal. At the restart Swan ruckman Stephen Doyle won a free, the ball went wide to Nick Malceski and he speared a pass for leading O’Loughlin to mark and bag a second. O’Loughlin hurt a groin muscle taking the grab and the cameras showed him stretching it afterwards, while being bumped by Hunter. Eventually Hunter knocked him over, O’Loughlin remonstrated and Hunter won a free, despite the ump having seen it all. Poor officiating. Big Swan ruckman Jolly gathered a loose ball and hooked a clever pass for Brett ‘Captain’ Kirk to mark, Kirk majored and the Bloods were in front. Hall missed a shot late in the term as the Bloods led by 5 points at the first break. Brownlow fave Adam Goodes sped onto a loose ball from the opening bounce of quartier du and speared a shot which shaved the inside of the post. A minute later Jarrad McVeigh spun neatly out of trouble and chipped a pass for O’Loughlin to mark again, he was clattered by late-arriving Wirrpanda, adding a 50m penalty. Easy major for Mick. Wirrpanda was kinda over-excited, he blundered into Hall a minute later and coughed up another free-kick, which Hall converted into a goal and the Swans led by 18 points. Athletic Weevil ruckman Dean ‘Big’ Cox (crowd sign - ‘We’ve Got Big Cox’) thought he’d kicked a running goal but the ball’d clipped the padding on the post. Lynch hooked a long shot on-the-full again. Soon Cousins intervened, winning the ball from a throw-in, weaving clear and kicking for Staker to hold a smart goal-square grab, Staker poked it through. The Swans replied thanks to some Wiggle mistakes, the home side were quite nervous. Weeg defender Brett Jones dropped a mark and gave a bad handball, leading to a ball-up in Siddey’s forward-line. From it Malceski punted the Bloods forward, Weeg Jaymie Graham couldn’t hold a diving mark under pressure from Goodes, the Swan man leaped up to snaggle a goal. Swans by 16 points. A bit later came the traditional, rubbish Stenglein free-kick for a goal, O’Keefe penalized for ‘holding’ despite being in front of Stengers. Tough, scoreless play for a few minutes and Barry Hall aggravated his injured back in the aftermath of a marking contest. Late in the stanza Swan Ted Richards found Doyle with a good pass, Doyle kicked for wide-leading Hall to grab. The siren sounded and Hall booted a superb kick for a goal, from the boundary-line in the right-hand pocket. Siddey by 15 points at half-time.

A few behinds were scored in the rugged opening to third stanza, before Goodes and O’Keefe combined noicely at a throw-in for Adam Schneider to snap a very good goal with his right (wrong) foot. The Bloods led by 22 points and were going well, achieving the important task of silencing the local crowd. The Weegs needed a lift and may’ve been fired by Chick running through Malceski, after the latter gave off a handpass. A pretty weak effort from Chick against an unprotected opponent, Chick was reported. About the same time the Weegs made their standard move, Adam Hunter shifted forward (and off O’Loughlin). Very quickly Hunter kicked a goal, a weak free-kick against Richards for in-the-back as both dived for the ball. Chris Judd began to assert himself, he collected Cox’s tap at a throw-in and kicked to Lynch’s lead, Lynch couldn’t hold the grab but Chick tapped-on and there was speeding Juddy running by to blast a major. The crowd were excited now as the Swan lead was cut to 10 points. From the centre-bounce after that Judd major the Swans went forward, two Weeg defenders collided allowing Hall to collect the loose ball, sell a dummy and slot it home. But the Weegirls had their tails up now, Judd turned ruckman to fist the ball forward and Brett Jones gathered, his kick went towards Lynch who finally dobbed a goal as Leo Barry slipped over. Judd won the ball away from the restart, Lynch marked wide, played-on and rammed anuge kick home from 60m. Sandgropers screaming as their mob trailed by 4 points now. Lynch was awarded a mysterious free-kick and drove the Weegs forward again, Hunter climbed over Barry for a terrific mark and majored to put the Ghosters in front, by 2 points. Waters postered with a free-kick before the Bloods reversed the momentum, O’Loughlin led long and placed his kick cleverly for Hall to out-bustle Graham for a mark - Glass was off with sore legs, or something. Bazza converted and the Swarns were in front again. Great play from Hall and O’Keefe led to a terrific mark from O’Loughlin, but Mick’s shot from a very tight angle only hit the post. Swans by 3 points at the final change and we were all set for another Wiggle/Siddey tradition, the tense, tight final quarter. Schneider missed an early shot before Weeg man Ben Cousins collected Staker’s handpass and slotted a terrific running goal, sending the Wiggles 4 points ahead. Chick hurt a knee or ankle in a pack and limped off. The Swans hit back, O’Keefe held a good grab under pressure and kicked long for Schneider to mark behind Wirrpanda, Schneider converted and the Bloods were ahead again, by 3. A quick snap from Hunter was off-target before Judd jenius put the Coasters ahead again, Judd collected a throw-in and whipped it through superbly off the left boot. Weegs by 4. Swan Jude Bolton had a free-kick at the restart, he kicked to O’Keefe and ‘Rhino’ found Hall who was inexplicably all alone. Hall booted a sausage and Synney were in front again, by 2 points. The Wiggles grabbed the lead again, Cox tapping perfectly at a throw-in for Steven Armstrong to gather the pill and boot a very good major. The Weegs were 5 points ahead in time-on and the Bloods were under pressure, but they manufactured a very good running move from defence which led to Malceski kicking towards O’Keefe and opponent Drew Banfield. Banfield got a spoil in but the ball flew from his fist towards goal, over Brett Jones’s head and perfectly for O’Loughlin to collect and slam through from point-blank. ‘Molly’ ran through and gave the Weegle crowd some as the Swans grabbed a one-point lead. Slightly anti-climactic final minute as Eeg Adam Selwood kicked on-the-full, but from the resulting free-kick Nick Davis also booted the ball into the crowd. Swan triumph!

The Swans’ two-man forward-line of Barry Hall (12 marks, 15 kicks, 5 goals) and Michael O’Loughlin (9 marks, 15 disposals, 4 goals) was mightily effective. Upfield Brett Kirk (20 touches, a goal) and Adam Schneider (15 handlings, 2 goals) worked hard and Jarrad McVeigh did a solid job in running with Cousins. Ryan O’Keefe (16 touches, 9 marks) and Adam Goodes (20 possies, a goal) galloped about to reasonable effect and Tadhg Kennelly (22 disposals) did some rebounding stuff. Ted Richards, playing off half-back in the Bloods’ eight-man backline, acquitted himself decently in his first final. Chris Judd (34 disposals, 2 goals) fired the Eegs into action after half-time and Rowan Jones (28 touches) played well, Adam Hunter (12 handlings, 4 marks, 2 goals) almost proved the match-winner again. Ruckman Dean Cox (18 disposals, 39 hit-outs) was excellent and Adam Selwood (22 possessions) won his battle with Buchanan, although subdued Ben Cousins (19 touches, a goal) still did a bit. Quinten Lynch (13 touches, 5 marks) and Beau Waters kicked 2 goals each. Hard to pinpoint the faults in a one-point loss, although you could point out the Weegs had 24 shots to 20. The Weegs did appear the more nervous, though. Why was that, John Worsfold? "The pressure (in finals) is greater, but good players still cope. Some players do struggle. Not every player out on the field is as good as Adam Goodes or Chris Judd, so some struggle more so with the pressures of finals footy. If we had won the game I would have been satisfied with our performance so we're are just disappointed. Certainly in that first half I though we gave away some bad free kicks.” Paul Roos ran us through the Swans’ situation, in case we weren’t clear. "(The win is) significant because we are already in the preliminary final, that is the only difference between this year and last year. It means you only have to win one game rather than two to make a grand final but the same thing happened in 2003 and we got beaten by Brisbane when we had the weekend off so it doesn't guarantee you anything. However I must admit I am sitting here a lot more comfortably now than I was after the game last year (when the Swans lost to the Eagles by four points in the qualifying final).” And facing Freo or the Deez.

At the MCG:

Collingwood  5.6   6.9    6.13   11.14.80
Footscray    4.2   8.7   14.10   18.13.121

Scanning the paper Sunday morning, it mentioned the Poise ranked last in the AFL for contested ball wins and second-last for tackles. That didn’t seem correct but was easier to believe after watching this, as the Doggies (#1 for bounces and #2 for handballs) overran and outplayed the very poor Maggies. Last week Bulldog Rohan Smith announced his retirement at the season’s end. This game was Smith’s 299th, so he and the Doggies had extra incentive to prolong the season by a game. Next weekend Smith and Scott West will play their 300th games together at Subiaco, where the Bulldogs have already beaten the Weegs this year. A very poor end for the uninspired Magpies, their lack of leg-speed glaring here although most sides appear slow against the Dogs. The Pies are difficult to fathom. When the game is played on their terms, a one-on-one battle at a moderate speed, the Maggies look terrific. In contrast to them earlier stats the Poise did rank no. 1 for goals scored. But they are erratic and the pace issue is being addressed, I think. Fifteenth to fifth is a fair jump and afterwards Malthouse said the aim of the season was to make the eight and blood more young players, which they’ve done. This poor effort probably isn’t indicative, young talent’s there in the form of Rusling, Egan, Trav Cloke, Heath Shaw and others, there’s some decisions to made over older men like Wakelin. And watch for Tarrant to be traded . . . In selection the Maggies made one change, junior Dale Thomas in for Shane Wakelin. The Bullies had Nathan Eagleton return at the expense of junior Dylan Addison.

Big crowd of 84,300 turned out, a record for an elimination final. The Maggies tried a traditional approach to a final against a supposedly junior, overwhelmed opponent and hit them. At the opening bounce Brodie Holland ‘came off the line’ and ab-ser-loot-lee hammered Brett Montgomery, earning Holland a report. Montgomery staggered to his feet and continued. Anthony Rocca followed through on a lead and kneed Dale Morris in the back, various wrestling went on. But the Dogs’ biggest early problem was Lindsay Gilbee rolling an ankle, he limped off. Despite all that the Dogs began well, Matty Robbins missed the game’s first shot but a bit later Robbins tapped on Sam Power’s high kick and Montgomery soccered a karmeric (is that a word?) goal. Daniel Cross won the ball at the restart for the Dogs and Brad Johnson sped out to mark the pass, his quick, long shot bounced through with Robbins’s shepherding. Poi Simon Prestigiacomo was on Johnson and James Clement picked up Robbins. Dogs by 12 points but the Poise cleared the next centre-bounce and Rhyce Shaw hit Chris Tarrant on-the-lead, Tarrant chipped a pass for Josh Fraser, who’d run down from the bounce, to mark and goal. This started the Maggies’ best period of the game. Sean Rusling behinded with a free-kick, the Poise won the ball from the kick-in but Tarrant missed too. With their kick-in specialist Gilbee off the ground, the Dogs had trouble. Bully Daniel Giansiracusa spilled a tough mark, Poi Shane O’Bree scooped the ball and found Rocca, he kicked smartly for Paul Licuria to mark alone, 20m out, and pop it through. The Bullies messed up another kick-in and Chris Egan bagged a sausage, the Pies won the ball at the restart and Holland found Rusling on-the-lead, he converted. Rocca hooked a set shot on-the-full but within moments a very good handpass from ‘Pebbles’ sent Ben Johnson clear, Tarkyn Lockyer lurked behind Jordan McMahon to mark and boot a major. The Magpiss had booted 5 goals in about as many minutes and led by 21 points. The Dogs steadied with the introduction of Eagleton. His run and pass to Ryan Griffen led to a mark and major for Adam Cooney. Buckley missed a shot and the Dogs rebounded from the kick-in, Rocca flattened Ryan Hargrave after the latter kicked downfield and advantage was allowed for Farren Ray to dob a goal, although he probably woulda kicked it anyway - as commentator Mal Blight said “Rocca could’ve peeled an apple and Ray would’ve kicked it.” Um, yes. Fraser missed a late shot to kinda waste much of the Poise work, them two Puppy majors reduced the lead to 10 points at the first change.

The ball rebounded end-to-end in the early second stanza as both sides bombed it in or kicked points, in addition to a Cross snap which bounced on the goal-line and back into play - Montgomery could’ve marked it but opted to let it bounce, er, back over his head. Gilbee was back for the Dogs and a goal came eventually as prone Cooney was kneed in the head by Heath Shaw, Cooney free-kicked a major. A bit later Giansiracusa floated a great handpass for Cross to run onto, he passed for leading Robbins to mark and thump it home from 50m. The Bullies had reclaimed the lead, by 3 points. The Pies hit back with Fraser’s good gather and kick, Rocca marked over back-pedalling Chris Grant and booted a major. The Dogs were starting to look good though, winning contested ball, running harder, showing more skill. Robbins missed from another mark on-the-lead and the Pies rushed a behind. A good handball from Robbins released Giansiracusa, his kick landed in the goal-mouth and pinged about before Montgomery gathered smartly and snapped a sausage. The Dogs led by 4 points and were going well but struggled to score before, late in the term, Matthew Boyd tumbled the ball forward from a throw-in and Montgomery was in place to mark and convert. Dogs by 10 points at the long break.

Cross, who played very well, won a soft free-kick at the opening bounce of the third term and handballed to Cooney, his pass was collected low-down by Giansiracusa. ‘Guido’ goaled. A bit later West, who was also pretty good, won the ball at a ball-up and handballed for Cooney to boot a running major. Now the acid was on the Poise as they trailed by 22 points. Tarrant missed a vital set-shot and there was some more open, end-to-end play without goals. The Maggie forward-line was struggling as the Dogs worked hard in defence, Grant playing a loose man but staying nearby Rocca. Robbins missed a long shot following a great tackle on Ryan Lonie before the goal-less period was broken, McMahon drove a long, low kick of which Montgomery took a very good, diving mark. Monty majored again and the Pups led by 27 points. Cross set up another attack, Brad Johnson marked and kicked long for big Will Minson to grab in the goal-square, he punted truly. The Bulldogs led by 34 points now. Scott Burns cleared the restart for the Maggies, Tarrant was allowed to shove Grant meatily in the back to take a grab but failed to kick a vital goal again, his reasonable effort struck the post. A bit later Ray’s long punt was marked by Gilbee on the point-line, Gilbee played-on to open the angle and snap it through. When Gilbee hammered a running blast through from 50m the Dogs led by 45 points and it was veritable party-time for their supporters. Pie fans stuck around to see if some sort of miracle could unfold in the final Mario, but Malthouse made few major changes. In the early minutes Farren Ray exchanged handpasses with Robbins and slotted a classy running sausage. Footyscray led by 51 points. Rocca juggled a mark, greeted by one of the sweetest sounds in football - the ironic ‘cheering’ of Magpoi fans. Pebbles missed the shot. A bit of skill from Peter Street allowed Hargrave to run clear and pass to Robbins, he punted a major and it was all over now as the Pups led by 56 points. More schadenfreude for Dog fans as Fraser kicked into the point-post from a set-shot, before Buckley’s good handpass allowed Holland to bend a banana-kick for a goal, the Poise first of the second half. They scored a few now as the game wound down. Licuria snapped one from close-range following a scrappy build-up. Rohan Smith snapped a very popular goal, set up by West’s great tackle on Holland. Tarrant kicked a major after being found by Rhyce Shaw’s good pass. In time-on Montgomery and Robbins combined for a goal to the latter, Pie rookie Dale Thomas soared over Smith for a speccie and while Channel Ten were replaying the grab, Tarrant kicked a goal. Holland got a late one. Smith was the man everyone sought after the final siren, as the Dogs celebrated heartily.

Many good players for the Dogs, but Daniel Cross (32 disposals) and Scott West (36 possies) won all the hard ball around packs (with a healthy acknowledgement to Matthew Boyd, (29 touches)) and the speed was provided by Farren Ray (27 disposals, 2 goals), Adam Cooney (15 touches, 3 goals) and Ryan Griffen (18 handlings). The move to clobber Brett Montgomery (11 touches, 4 goals) backfired spectacularly on the Poise, although I doubt he was targeted deliberately. Holland was out to hit anyone in his path. Chris Grant (13 touches) and Dale Morris (16 possies), the latter very good on Didak, were solid at the back and Daniel Giansiracusa (23 touches, 8 marks, a goal) was good. Brad Johnson (25 touches, a goal) was probably beaten by Prestigiacomo but was still an effective contributor. Matty Robbins (5 marks, 14 disposals) bagged 3 goals, Lindsay Gilbee kicked 2. No surprise to note the better Magpies were the quicker ones, wingmen Rhyce Shaw (25 disposals) and Ben Johnson (25 possessions). Josh Fraser (15 touches, 7 marks, a goal) was alright and James Clement (19 touches, 6 marks) solid as usual at the back, after he was moved away from the speedier Robbins. As mentioned Simon Prestigiacomo (12 possies, 5 marks) had the better of Johnson. But yer Hollands, Burnses, O’Brees et al. were blown away. Nathan Buckley (23 disposals, 9 marks) collected his usual stats without being especially damaging. Heath Shaw was alright. Chris Tarrant kicked 3 goals and Brodie Holland 2. "We played a very good football side . . . they run well, we didn't," Mick Malthouse said. "I didn't think we worked hard enough together, didn't make enough of opportunities early and as a consequence let them back in the game and that was it. We are a hard-ball-get side, and at the end of the day they may have even beaten us at that so that is even more disappointing. They did take the game over during the second quarter. I don't reckon we made the most of opportunities then those opportunities dried up. Did we have the intensity? Clearly not." Tarrant’s three third-term behinds, Mick? "It was no more frustrating to me than the supporters or Chris Tarrant. No one goes out there to miss. Is this another 'bash Chris Tarrant?' Chris was our most productive forward. I would like him to kick goals, if that is the headline, let's follow it up by saying Chris Tarrant was clearly our most productive forward." ‘Rocket’ Eade said "I was pleased our structure held up, we thought would our small backline hold up in finals, could we kick enough goals if Johnno only kicks one and Granty plays down back, all that sort of stuff so I’m really pleased the structure held up as we’d hoped.” On facing the Eagles: “They finished on top of the ladder, so technically they've been the best team in the competition. They're playing on their home ground. It's a big task, it's a huge task. But by the same token I think we can play without any expectation, play without any fear, and we'll just see what happens.”

Next week, Semi-Finals:

Fremantle v Melbourne, Subiaco, Fri. night. Winner plays Sydney in Sydney (not sure of venue).

West Coast v Footscray, Subiaco, Sat. night. Winner plays Adelaide at Football Park.

Cheers, Tim.