AFL Round 12 Part 1
by Tim Murphy
At Docklands:
Carlton 4.2 6.5 9.6 12.8.80
Hawthorn 6.4 13.6 18.13 27.18.180
Last week prominent Horforn director Jason Dunstall reckoned finals were “some way off” for the Hawks. They’ll be in ‘em this year. Eight wins from twelve, a healthy percentage, wins against the other top four teams, the Orcs’ll be there in September. The final piece of evidence was this club-record smashing of the Bluies, a bit of a surprise as most expected a close game. But the Bluesers were slaughtered in contested-ball wins and fell apart rapidly as the game progressed. Very disappointing following their last two wins and the big crowd of their supporters who’d turned out. The Carton side coming in wasn’t altered from the one which defeated Pordadelaide, the Hawks seemed crucially weakened by the late withdrawal of Lance Franklin with a calf strain, Xavier Ellis replaced him. Luke Hodge played his 100th game and it was also his 23rd birthday.
A Docklands record of 53,500 turned out on a freezingly cold night. Very dense fog outside, watching the trots at Moonee Valley was a surreal experience. The game was seen as a contrast in styles between the Orcs’ low-scoring, rebound from a packed defence and the Blooze all-out attack. But the Hawks showed they could score heavily given plenty of possession. The Bluesers’ best period was the first few minutes, Jarrad Waite converted from a big grab over a Horforn pair best described as Robert Campbell Brown, then a good build-up ended with Andrew Carrazzo passing to leading Brendan Fevola, he majored with a good kick from the flank. The Bluies led by 10 points. The Horks responded, good battling from Sam Mitchell to win the ball resulted in his mongrelled kick forward, Tim Boyle read it best to mark and boot a goal. The Orcs won the ball from the restart, Hodge passed for leading Jarryd Roughead to mark and convert with a good kick. Unusually so, given his prior record. The Blooze hit back, Matty Lappin’s centering kick was awful but Waite gathered and handballed, Ryan Houlihan tumbled a punt which Marc Murphy grabbed and converted. Blues by 3 points. Another centre-clearance for the Horks followed, Chance Bateman gathered and passed coolly for Mick Osborne to mark and boot truly. Bateman also set up the next goal, a pass for hard-leading Roughead to seize and convert again. He was stepping up in Franklin’s absence, even though Trent Croad was playing in attack also. The Bluies managed another goal, Fevola following a very good mark of Scotland’s floating kick. But the Hawks bagged the last two majors of the quarter, Boyle marked far too easily just 20m out as his opponent Jason Saddington lost his bearings. Boyle goaled, Waite missed a shot for Carton, then hard work from the Horks ended with Brent Guerra’s switching kick for unattended Joel Smith to mark, he played-on in space and slotted. Smith would do that often, as it eventuated. Horforn led by 14 points at the first change.|
After a few tight minutes to start the second korter, the Hawks bolted clear. Key was their dominance at ball-ups and around packs in general as ruckmen Robert Campbell and Simon Taylor, Sewell, Mitchell, Crawford and Hodge took absolute control. The run started as half-back Smith, seemingly without an opponent, passed for leading Boyle to mark and convert. Crawford’s torpedo-shot dropped short and Croad marked at the top o’the ‘square, he majored. A slick rebound move ended with Grant Birchall’s pass for Crawford to mark on-the-run, steam ahead and ram it home. Just like that, the Orcs were 32 points ahead. Hodge punted long from the restart, Croad marked again against befuddled Saddington and booted another. Another Hawk centre-clearance, Sewell this time, sent the ball wide to Hodge, he stabbed a pass for Roughead to mark, play-on and slot through a scarcely believable kick from the boundary-line. You knew it was Horforn’s night then as they led by 44 points. Simon Wiggins had the Bluies’ second shot of the term, it dropped short and was cleared. From a ball-up Campbell tapped to Jordan Lewis, he waltzed through Murphy’s weak tackle to bag a goal. A bit later Hodge’s strong tackle and some tough battling allowed Campbell to handball back to Ellis, he booted a goal. Ten unanswered goals for the Orcs and they led by 56 points. I’ve gotta say Carlton’s ruckmen, Ackland and O’hAilpin, were awful during this period. O’hAilpin is a clueless ruckman and, as my mate Blee would put it, Ackland is a small man trapped in a big man’s body. The game slowed a bit prior to half-time and the Bluesers managed a coupla goals, Murphy was allowed a very late spoil on Clint Young and Wiggins booted a running major. Andrew Walker rode Sewell for a big grab on the wing, initiating a good move which ended with a mark for Brad Fisher, he steered a great kick through from a tight angle. Horforn led by 43 points at the long break.
The commentating folk recalled two late goals before half-time preceded the Blooze comeback from 8 goals down against the Bombouts earlier this season. Not this time, though. The Horks missed a coupla shots before Hodge complicated a move with a handpass to outnumbered Boyle, but the Horc forward won the ball and handpassed back for Hodge to snap it through. Carlton turned over with some too-cute passes, Mitchell passed for another mark and goal to leading Roughead. Boyle plucked a strong grab and centered for all-alone Rick Ladson to bag one. Frustrated Fevola decided to wrestle a few Hawks as Smith drifted forward to mark in acres of space again and boot yet another Horforn sausage. The Hawkers led by 69 (fnarr) points now and it was clear the Bluesers wouldn’t be pulling this one out. In a rare highlight their Walker sharked Campbell’s tap at a throw-in and threaded a fantastic left-foot kick through from the impossible angle. The Blooze won the ball at the restart but dithering Jordan Russell’s kick was smothered by Osborne, Smith set up a mark and long major for Roughead. Isn’t he supposed to be pretty ordinary? Smith postered from another forward-lurk and Taylor missed from 10m following a one-handed mark as the Hawks began to lairize. Fisher punted the Blooze forward with a free-kick and Lance Whitnall converted from a goal-square mark, a noice intercept from Fisher also set up the next major, Whitnall passed for leading Fevola to mark and boot truly. Horforn by 61 points at the final change and they went right away in the last quarter as the Bluies gave up. Hodge shifted to a forward-pocket and enjoyed himself, starting with a big grab over the pack and snapped goal. Fisher, playing well for the Blues, goaled following a good grab and 50m penalty against Ladson. A minute later Ackland tried to punch a high Crawford kick through for a rushed point, but it was too weak and anticipating Hodge stabbed a simple goal. Birchall booted a six-pointer, Mitchell cruised away from the restart and set up a shot for Ladson, which he missed. No mind, the Bloo kick-in came to Mitchell and he speared a centering pass to Hodge, mark and goal. Consecutive majors for resting ruckman Campbell extended to Hawk lead to 99 points, but the Bluesers won a centre-clearance and Koutoufides (remember him?) snapped a goal. Hodge and Mitchell were benched but the Horks wouldn’t be denied. Lappin’s awful switching kick in defence was intercepted by Croad, he popped it through and the Horks led by 100 points. Kade Simpson booted a goal for the Bluies but with 4 seconds remaining on the clock Lewis handballed for Ladson to stab it home from the goal-square. The Horks had their 100-point victory.
The Hawks crushed ‘em in the midfield where Sam Mitchell (26 disposals), Brad Sewell (33 touches, 11 marks on Walker), Luke Hodge (29 disposals, 6 marks, 4 goals) and Shane Crawford (23 handlings, a goal) were all excellent. Plenty of kudos to ruck pairing Robert Campbell (8 disposals, 33 hit-outs, 2 goals) and Simon Taylor (21 hit-outs) too. Joel Smith (26 disposals, 13 marks, 2 goals) was allowed to foray forward and do as he liked. Further upfield Jarryd Roughead (9 marks, 17 disposals, 5 goals) played the best game of his career to date, Tim Boyle (8 marks, 11 touches, 3 goals) was important early and Trent Croad (8 marks, 10 possessions, 3 goals) did alright. Rick Ladson (22 handlings, 3 goals) put himself about, too. For the Bluesers Andrew Carrazzo (30 possessions) was the only midfielder to get a bit of the ball, Marc Murphy (17 touches, 8 marks, a goal) started well but faded. Kade Simpson (26 disposals, 9 marks, a goal) had a few touches and Brad Fisher (7 marks, 10 possies, 2 goals) gave a bit of spark in attack. Brendan Fevola bagged 3 goals. Pagan blamed overconfidence. "I think we got a little bit in front of ourselves," he said. "You are horrified to see everybody writing the Blues up. We are a young team; we are growing. It's easy for me to say this, but I genuinely think we got in front of ourselves. You tell me why we go from playing here six days ago to playing like that tonight. Sure, Hawthorn are a very, very good side and are a top-bracket side. But it shouldn't be 100 points . . . I think everyone has steam pouring out of their ears. Our supporters would be bitterly disappointed. We promised but didn't deliver. Some of our flaws that had been covered really opened up again. We need to be quicker and we weren't able to match them in their running tonight and that really stood out. I am not saying for one moment that we were soft, but, gee, they (the Hawks) were really hard and they took it to another level. We haven't played well here. We probably need to pick personnel who will probably handle it a bit better." Al Clarkson called it ‘the spirit of Hodge’. "The guys had a bit to play for, it was Hodgey's 100th game, and I reckon as a group they made a real statement, that they all played a little bit like Hodgey tonight, desperate and hard at the footy. Carlton have been in really good form the last couple of weeks and we genuinely had some concerns about how we were going to stop the fluent movement of the ball that they have had the last few weeks . . . To win a game of footy without (Franklin) is full credit to the group of guys. We had (Ben) Dixon out of the side, (Mark) Williams, Franklin out of the side, they were our three highest goalscorers last year, and to still be able to manufacture goals through a different type of forward structure was really pleasing for us . . . As a football club we have got so much more work to do. It's pleasing that our players are getting the rewards for a lot of hard work over the journey thus far. But from where we have been, it is a week-by-week thing."
At Carrara Stadium:
North Melbourne 1.3 3.7 4.9 7.12.54
Adelaide 5.1 8.4 9.7 15.10.100
The Camrys produced their best performance for a month in squeezing, then devouring a ragged Kangaroo side on the Gold Coast. The Corollas did take a few more attacking risks but their stock-in-trade, smothering defence, was the telling factor here. Also, Mark Ricciuto had a run in midfield and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Kangers’ perceived weakness, lack of a key forward, was obvious as their flanker-types and rovers were swamped by the muscle-bound Camry defenders. The Ruse appeared a bit tired too, failing to produce their familiar terriers-on-speed intensity. They’re in the eight but many folks question their eventual finals participation, until they actually make it. Norf had selected Daniel Wells here but he didn’t play, Eddie Sansbury was called up in place of Kasey Green. The Camrys were without Simon Goodwin, a sprained medial ligament in his knee, he was replaced by Kris Massie.
Another big crowd for the Kangers at Carrara in their final appearance at the venue this season. Plenty of people - or ‘suckers’ as Leigh Matthews would call them - wearing Roo apparel. The Camrys started with Ricciuto on the bench, but he was on within the first five minutes. Brent Harvey and Aaron Edwards kicked a coupla behinds for North before Ken McGregor showed the Cows’ new attacking intent - he kicked long to a contest, an absolute sin before now. Scott Thompson was spoiled but gathered the ball and snapped it through. A bit later Chris Knights tumbled the ball forward from a throw-in, McGregor was in front to mark and convert. The Coronas led by 10 points. The Ruse constructed a good move, Leigh ‘Leroy’ Brown kicked long and Lindsay Thomas won a free-kick against Stiffy Johncock. As Thomas lined-up, Ten commentator Quartermain reminded us Thomas’s goal-kicking was “as reliable as a Jamaican pathologist.” The first time ‘Quarters’ has ever said anything funny, Thomas converted to Roo relief. They trailed by 4 points but the Camrys booted the next three goals of the term. Ricciuto marked on the boundary-line and hooked a clever pass for Nathan Bock to grab, he majored. Ruckman Jonathan Griffin was very lucky to be awarded a back-pedalling mark as Archer crashed into him with a typically heavy but apparently legal spoil. Then the ump deemed the spoil was ‘late’ and tacked on a 50m penalty, gifting Griffin a goal. Ruckman Ben Hudson’s quick kick to contest saw Bock hold a strong pack-mark, he majored again and the Camrys led by 22 points at the first change. The Ruse dug in a bit in the second term, with Harvey and Adam Simpson lifting a bit. Shannon Grant began to find a bit of the ball but in addition to a goal he also booted two behinds from fairly easy shots. Brown also booted a goal, he’d been restored to the forward-line after being shifted back to stem the early Camry attack. But the Cows stayed ahead with another major from Bock and one each for McGregor and Scott Welsh. Sansbury clattered into umpire Ray Chamberlain, which didn’t impress the official. Big Roo David Hale missed a late shot for the Kangers and they trailed by 27 points at the long break.
The third term was tight, a pack-bound struggle. Ricciuto was shifted forward and booted an early goal from a mark, extending the Camry lead to 33 points. Not much happened for a bit, but the Ruse had nothing happening up forward. Grant was shut out by Massie and Corey Jones had Nathan Bassett all over him, Jones did have a brief moment of joy though when he soccered a goal from about 30m out. Into the final term and Norf hadn’t been put away, still 28 points down. Archer shifted forward for the final term and Lindsay Thomas bagged an early goal to give some hope, the Ruse 23 points down at that stage. A few minutes later Bock bagged his fourth goal and the Camrys were 34 points ahead, six goals effectively. Archer and Thomas missed shots in the Ruse final fling, before Scott Welsh came to the party for the Cows. He booted four goals in the final fifteen minutes, three from marks, the other roving as the Corollas rocketed clear. Edwards bagged a couple of consolation majors for the Kangas.
Rover Scott Thompson (30 disposals, 7 marks, a goal) was very good for the Camrys and they had the better forwards in Nathan Bock (9 marks, 14 possies, 4 goals) and Ken McGregor (5 marks, 9 touches, 2 goals) early, and Scott Welsh (9 marks, 17 disposals, 5 goals) came to the party late as he often does. Mark Ricciuto (11 touches, a goal) enjoyed a run midfield and Andrew McLeod (21 disposals) was too good for Sansbury, Nathan Van Berlo (25 disposals) was handy too. The Camrys’ backline was very good, led by Graham ‘Stiffy’ Johncock (25 possessions) on Thomas and Matt Campbell later, Nathan Bassett (18 touches, 12 marks) on Jones, Ben Rutten and running half-back Martin Mattner (17 handlings, a goal). For the Ruse Brent Harvey (33 disposals, 8 marks) sped about the place again and Adam Simpson (30 touches) battled hard on-the-ball with ruckman Hamish McIntosh (21 possies, 23 hit-outs, 7 marks) alright. Half-back Jess Sinclair (24 disposals) and rover Daniel Harris (23 disposals with 18 handballs) did a bit, Lindsay Thomas (9 touches) tried hard and bagged 2 goals. Aaron Edwards also kicked 2 goals. Dean Laidley saw a drop in standards. "That wasn't good enough. I've made that pretty black and white to the boys and they understand that wasn't acceptable tonight," he said. "I thought we weren't uncompromising tonight. We've been that in a lot of games we've played but tonight unfortunately we had a lot of players that fell short of that benchmark. They're (Adelaide) a much more mature group and we understand that but what we're trying to ingrain in our young players like (Matt) Campbell and (Ed) Lower and Jesse Smith and (David) Hale and (Hamish) McIntosh, those types, is that every time you go out to play you have to be at your very best. If I snapshot the first quarter this week with the first quarter last week it was like chalk and cheese. We've got to make sure it's very clear that every time this football team takes to the park they have to play a particular style of play and anything underneath that is unacceptable." Neil Craig asked for consistency. "We had a bit more flair about us, kicking 100 points is something we've been talking about for a few weeks," Craig said. "It was pleasing to be able to do that tonight while still keeping our defensive action strong. The key for us is not just doing it once. If we can get some consistency I'll be convinced it's cemented in. It's not just what happens in the forward line, it's the midfielders and defenders looking to run. What you see is an end-product in the forward line . . . The actual scoreboard result was pretty important. It's great to be 7-5 with a week of recovery ahead of us, we've got some guys who will use that week." Craigy was also a wrap for the venue. "The facilities are more than adequate, the oval is sensational and the accommodation and the way it's organised is first class. I think the experiment is great and I imagine it would be a pretty pleasant place to live and play footy." Fancy the AFL putting that on their website, eh?
At Marrara Oval:
Footscray 5.3 10.5 15.6 22.9.141
Fremantle 7.4 10.10 13.17 16.19.115
The Shockers are right in the gun now, losing this eight-pointer left ‘em two games outta the eight with ten to play. Freo won nine in-a-row after the mid-season break last year and six of the last nine in 2005, they’ll need a repeat at least. But wait, there’s more. After the game they found more trouble as Chris Tarrant allegedly dropped his trousers in a nightclub to ‘moon’ a politician’s wife, then king-hit the man when he complained. Later, assistant coach Mark Harvey was punched unconscious outside the club. Harvey’s alright, apparently. But I digress. Freo had plenty of possession and enough attacking to win this game, but the ball was butchered going forward. Not so much missed shots this time (although there were enough of those), but very poor usage and delivery. Puppy full-back Brian Harris took a stack of marks again, not keepings-off ones but pack-marks in the last term as the Dockers bombed it aimlessly long. Praise to the Dogs though, who out-ran Freo in the end, used the ball better and had some smart forwards like yer Johnnos, Akers and Murphys. They clambered into the top eight while finals seem a long, long way off for the Shockers. In pickin’ the Dogs were forced to replace knee-victims Daniel Cross and Ryan Griffen, both have medial ligament strains and are expected to miss about 8 weeks. Replacements were Jordan McMahon and a debutant in small forward Malcolm Lynch from the Tiwi Islands, making him a sorta-local for this game in Darwin. Freo had Ryan Crowley return from suspension but full-back Luke McPharlin (hamstring) was a late withdrawal, Garrick Ibbotson was dropped and Troy Cook returned.
The game was a sell-out in the traditionally humid, steamy conditions. No rain, thankfully. Early goal fusillade, six in the first five minutes. Bully rover Scott West won the ball at the opening bounce, his quick kick was gathered and slotted through by Farren Ray. West kicked forward from the restart too, Brad Johnson chest-marked in a pack and booted another, the Dogs led by 12 points after 50 seconds. Freo scored the next goal within a minute from skyscraping ruckman Aaron Sandilands, I think. Sandilands fisted the ball 40m from the next centre-bounce, Crowley gathered and handballed for David Mundy to slot a running goal and Freo led by a point. On they went, good pressure forced a Puppy turnover in defence and Paul Hasleby handballed for Des Headland to snap truly, Steven Dodd capped a long, two-bounce run with a pass to leading Chris Tarrant, he converted. Pavlich missed a set-shot (!) and the Dokkers led by 14 points. The pace of scoring slowed, inevitably, in a goal-for-goal period. Bully Mitch Hahn milked a free for in-the-back, his long kick was marked by Luke Darcy who goaled from the pocket. Freo’s other enormous ruckman, Robert Warnock, won a free at the restart and kicked long, Pup Dale Morris spoiled Pavlich but roving Peter Bell snapped a sausage. Doggy Adam Cooney roved Darcy’s contest and snapped a tight-angle major, Josh Carr won another centre-clearance for Freo and kicked wide to Headland, he centered for Warnock to mark and major. Bulldog Rob Murphy did coolly to set up a running goal for Shaun Higgins, but yet another centre-clearance for Freo followed and Dean Solomon kicked to Pavlich’s wide lead, his lobbed kick saw Tarrant ride Harris for a big grab. Tazza converted and after all that, Freo led by 13 points at the first break. There was a slower start to the second term, the main incident being Docker Matthew Carr being knocked unconscious in McMahon’s tackle, Carr’s arms were pinned and his head hit the ground nastily. Carr was stretchered off. Footscray’s Johnson won a free on a tight angle for being held in a contest, he passed backwards to Hahn for a goal and the Shockers led by 6 points. Freo responded with the next two majors, Pavlich passed for Solomon on-the-lead, Solly was shoved over by Hargrave and free-punted a sausage. The Dockers were dominating centre-clearances, another win there and Heath Black sped clear to spear an impressive goal. The Dockulaters led by 18 points. They got out to a 20-point lead - misses from Tarrant and Pavlich - before the Dogs lifted their game. Nathan Eagleton’s pass was collected by Murphy, he played-on and had a coupla bounces before slotting it through in his casual manner. Jason Akermanis passed for Johnson to take a diving grab, he converted and the Dokker lead was cut to 9 points. A poor Doggy clearance led to a runnin’ goal for Dockerator James Walker, but the Pups kept coming. Higgins’s poor kick was scooped up by Danny Giansiracusa, he wheeled about and punted a good goal. Matthew Boyd kicked smartly for Murphy to mark, he converted and the Freo lead was reduced to 4 points at the long break.
The momentum continued with the Scraggers into the third term, they were running harder and using the ball better in the sapping humidity. Good work from Darcy and Cooney set up a close-range goal for Boyd to give the Doggies the lead. Headland missed a shot and from the kick-in Bulldog Ray embarked on a long run, his kick spilled from the goal-square pack and Jarrod Harbrow snaggled a goal. Dogs by 6. A few misses from Freo - what’s up with that Pavlich? - before good battling from Troy Cook allowed Pavlich to snap a very good goal from the flank. Perhaps he prefers the quick snap. From a defensive rebound Solomon passed for leading Pavlich again to mark and boot a long goal - huzzah! - and the Shockers led by 8 points. The Dogs lost the fragile Murphy now, hamstring trouble. But they fought back as Brad Johnson stepped up, a move from their own defence and McMahon passed for leading Johnson to mark and convert. Young first-gamer Malcolm Lynch turned over with a pass to a contest but his hard tackle retrieved possession for the Dogs, leading to a long, running goal for Boyd. Lynch’s kick forward led to the next major, Freo’s Hayden spilled a difficult marking chance and Higgins handballed for a Johnson tap-through. The Pups led by 10 points but Freo ground closer. A few rushed behinds for them, before Bulldog McMahon committed two terrible clangers in his own backline. Headland missed poorly from the first but Pavlich booted a goal (after the siren) from the next and Freo had cut the gap to a point at the final change. Eade gave McMahon a fair blast before the Bulldog huddle formed. West soccered the ball forward from the opening bounce of the final stanza, Johnson marked it, stood about and then chipped a pass back to West, the Bully rover helicoptered his first goal of the season. A moment later some fairly lazy play from tired-looking Dokker Brett Peake coughed up possession, Higgins passed for leading Darcy to mark and convert. The Dogs led by 13 points. During this period Harris plucked a series of pack-marks in the last line of defence, third man up as the Dockers bombed it long. Eventually Hayden produced an actual pass to leading Solomon, he booted a goal to reduce the Pup lead to 8 points. Bully Johnson replied with a goal after he seized a good grab of Lynch’s lobbed kick, but Freo stayed close as Michael Johnson’s long kick cleared the pack and Headland lurked behind to stab it through. The Dogs led by 9 points but kicked clear now. They cleared the restart and Johnson led for a mark, he switched flanks with a smart kick to Akermanis and Aker thumped it home from 50m. A bit later Hahn was awarded a rubbish free-kick for in-the-back, he booted a long sausage, then Akermanis bagged another after grabbing McMahon’s pass. The Dogs led by 27 points now and it was over. Freo defender Dodd booted a rare and quite good sausage but Hahn had the final say, a goal from a legitimate free-kick this time.
Top effort from the Bullies, led by the estimable Brad Johnson (5 goals from 10 marks and 23 disposals) up forward. In the middle Scott West (25 touches, a goal) and Matthew Boyd (23 handlings, 2 goals) were very good and Adam Cooney (23 possies, a goal) did a lot of running, as did rebounding Jordan McMahon (22 possies, 12 marks) who was pretty good despite his clangers. Lindsay Gilbee (19 touches) was prominent again and Brian Harris (19 disposals, 10 marks) a rock at full-back. Mitch Hahn lurked for 3 goals, Robert Murphy, Jason Akermanis and Luke Darcy (17 disposals, 5 marks) kicked 2 goals each - better form from Darcy this week. As usual Peter Bell (34 disposals, 9 marks, a goal) and Paul Hasleby (26 possessions) worked very hard for Freo and Josh Carr (27 handlings) wasn’t bad either. Matthew Pavlich (15 possies, 6 marks, 3.3) played well across half-forward and rebounding backmen Michael Johnson and Roger Hayden (17 disposals) were good. Aaron Sandilands dominated hit-outs (25 of ‘em, plus 14 possessions and a goal). Chris Tarrant (7 marks, 14 disposals, 2 goals) took a great speccie but again roamed far for the ball, Des Headland and Dean Solomon kicked 2 goals each. Brief quote from Connolly. "We had our chances. We have gone inside 50 deep enough, had enough scoring shots," he said. "We were up by two and a half goals at times, but just didn’t kick the next goal. It is very disappointing." Indeed. ‘Rocket’ rated the win very highly. “[Because] of the conditions and the fact that Fremantle said publicly they had their season on the line, and probably like us, everyone thought they were a top four side. They've got some really talented players up forward, and then those trying conditions . . . both teams were really out on their feet in the end. For us to find a way to win . . . It was just a gutsy win. I think from quarter time, or probably from about five minutes into the second quarter, our work rate just lifted. It's easy in hindsight, but from that stage, for the next one and three-quarter quarters, we really set up the win. Our pressure was better than theirs, I think we worked harder both ways, and we started to run and carry the ball. First up, we tried to kick, and I think our willingness to work harder really set it up in the last quarter. The last quarter really opened up for us, and we were able to get players on the end of it.”
At Kardinia Park:
Geelong 1.4 4.8 6.12 12.13.85
Brisbane 0.2 0.4 4.5 5.5.35
Halfway through the last quarter commentator Gerard Healy said “I passed an eighteen- wheeler on the highway down here. It was the Geelong bandwagon.” Boom boom, but this easy enough win over the battlin’ Lyin’s was the Cats’ seventh in a row and propelled them a game clear on top, with the Weegles to play next weekend. The Lyin’s haven’t won in seven now (draw included), they weren’t too bad here but never looked like winning in very ordinary conditions at Kardinia Park. The Catter side was missing Max Rooke from last week, he accepted a one-game suspension for clattering Ricciuto. Joel Selwood replaced him. Club stalwart Darren Milburn played his 200th game, a great achievement, while Tom Lonergan played his first game (in the VFL) since losing a kidney in a heavy clash last year. The Lisbon Brians made multiple changes again, Ashley McGrath returned from injury and Jason Roe, ruckman Cameron Wood, Joel Macdonald and first gamer Albert Proud were called up, Proud’s an athletic half-forward from local club Mt. Gravatt. Outgoing were spearhead Mitch Clark (thigh strain) and dropped men Chris Schmidt, Marcus Allan, Beau McDonald and Rhan Hooper.
Typical Geelong winter day, cold, windy and wet. Milburn broke the banner with his kids. That doesn’t read well. Anyway. Captain for the day, Milburn won the toss and elected to kick against the breeze. Canny local knowledge. Nothing much happened for a while on the windswept, slippery surface, but the Cats tended to control the ball. Their Nathan Ablett missed after a mark for the first score and a few minutes later Lyin’ Jason Roe snapped a point. Twenty minutes in the Catters managed a goal, Lyin’ backman Josh Drummond was tackled firmly by Steve Johnson and the ball spilled loose for Andrew Mackie to bag a goal. Brisbun youngster Proud missed with his first shot and the Cats led by 8 points at the first break, a reasonable result against the wind. The Cats had dominated possession in the first term and the Brians made a clearly greater effort in the second. But early on their Joel Patfull dropped an uncontested mark 20m out. Noooo! The Cats adopted a plan of clearing out the forward-line and kicking wind-assisted torpedoes in, for the likes of Travis Varcoe, Paul Chapman and Gary Ablett to run onto. Lyin’ defender Robert Copeland was done for ‘deliberate’ but Cameron Mooney missed from just-about point-blank. A bit later Jimmy Bartel booted a long torp, the ball spilled from the backward-running pack and Chapman had an easy tap-through. Jeelong led by 16 points and, thankfully, the rain stopped shortly afterwards. Lyin’ Jared Brennan is a frustrating character, very talented but he doesn’t seem to think about it too much. He leaped high over the ruckmen at a ball-up but punched the ball into the path of Cat Mathew Stokes, his long kick into space was collected by Steve Johnson and dribbly-snapped for a goal. A minute later Brennan’s pointless stabby-kick was gathered by Cameron Ling, he lobbed a punt forward. Varcoe spilled a chest-mark but roving Johnson kicked to Bartel in the goal-square, he thumped it through. The Cats led by 29 points, very healthy in the conditions. Lyin’ forward Jonathan Brown marked on a wide lead but missed his shot, prior to half-time.
As you may have noticed the Lyin’s didn’t score a goal in the first half, but with the wind again in the third term they bagged two in the first coupla minutes. Some rugged, rugby-type mauling followed the opening bounce, the ball emerged to Richard Hadley and his high snap was pushed home by the breeze. A minute later Brown held a strong mark in the centre and chipped a wide pass to Proud, he played-on and handballed for Joel Macdonald to drill a running goal. The Brians were back in it, 16 points behind. Their Simon Black had been dominated by Cameron Ling in the first half, so Black went to a forward-pocket for the third korter. The brothers Ablett missed shots for the Cats before Brad Ottens held a good grab on the wing, he handballed to Johnson from whose long kick Nathan Ablett held a strong grab against Brennan and a rather weak Copeland. Nablett goaled. Cat runner David Wojcinski sped clear and his long kick set up the next goal, Mooney and Varcoe over-ran the ball but Gary Ablett collected, his tumbled kick was poked through from point-blank by opportunist Johnson. The Cats led by 31 points now. Mark Blake threatened to kick a goal but of course he missed. Brisbun, who were having a decent crack, drew closer again prior to the final break. Brennan collected Rischitelli’s long kick and handballed to Brown, he wheeled away from Matthew Egan and curled a fantastic wind-assisted snap for full points. Soon Rischitelli punted the Brians forward again, Brown roved his own pack and handballed into the path of Patfull, who gathered and bounced a shot home. Cats Scarlett and Bartel engaged in some kick-to-kick to run the clock down, Geelong led by 19 points at the last change. Gary Ablett missed woefully in the early final Mario. A minute later Lyin’ defender Drummond just failed to hold a back-pedalling grab and Steve Johnson pounced to gather and slot a goal. At the restart Brisbun’s Nigel Lappin handballed to Black, his kick bounced off a pack and Brown soccered it through. The Lyin’s were thereabouts, 20 points down. The Cats knuckled down against the tiring bananabenders, Lyin’ Copeland was caught in possession, twice, and penalized the second time. Joel Selwood chipped the free-kick to Mooney, he converted. A minute later Mackie’s kick was well-placed for Steve Johnson to mark behind Drummond, he handballed for Stokes to stab it home from the goal-square. The Cwats led by 32 points now. Quiet for a bit as both sides appeared to accept the result. But the Cats added percentage late, Mooney held a good mark and handballed to running Milburn, the locals anticipated a milestone-capping major but Milburn gave the ball to Wojcinski who stabbed it through. Varcoe bagged a major and Gary Ablett snapped a terrific goal, wheeling away from Lappin after collecting Stokes’s handpass. Milburn was chaired off, another celebratory day at the Cattery.
Gary Ablett Jnr. (35 disposals, a goal) reveled in the wet conditions, as did Bendigo boy Joel Selwood (27 possessions). Steve Johnson (23 touches, 3 goals) lurked about the forward-line, he’s one of those players who raises expectations every time he touches it. Cameron Ling (15 possies) did a great job early, silencing Black. Matthew Egan (18 disposals) battled well on Brown, he and Matty Scarlett (22 handlings, 10 marks) form a useful duo with Tom Harley working his way back. Jimmy Bartel (21 touches, 12 tackles, a goal) and James Kelly (19 possies) made solid contributions. Darren Milburn (17 possessions) was useful enough on his milestone. The Lyin’s had good efforts from defender Josh Drummond (28 disposals), hard-workin’ back-pocket Jed Adcock (15 touches) and wingman Nigel Lappin (25 possies). Jared Brennan (16 disposals) did alright I ‘spose and Jonathan Brown (4 marks, 13 possies, 2 goals) made what he could of limited opportunities. Michael Rischitelli (19 possies, 11 tackles) wasn’t bad. Lethal wished for another Brown. “I wish I was a magician with a little genie bottle and we could produce one. But we can only keep going with the players available any week. We got smashed on the scoreboard but the intent was good and the desperate effort was very good. They beat us down here in the first game last year . . . by 80 points when we felt we had an old team going nowhere. This year we have a young team that might have some improvement in them. But right now Geelong are better than us in the areas that tend to make you a good team. They’re top of the ladder so they’ve obviously proved their consistency this year. It wasn’t going to be a high-scoring game with the conditions the way they were. But there’s always something about getting that first goal on the scoreboard, and if you haven’t got that first goal up to half time . . . the game was always going to be hard to salvage from that point.” ‘Bomber’ Thompson said “We hadn’t played in conditions like that for a while. It was just constant drizzly rain and the track was quite wet. It was good to play that direct, low-possession style game where you just get it and kick it and rush it forward. It was really basic footy. We played really smart wet weather football for most of the day with our set-ups . . . (The nine wins) have all been different games. We’ve had some big wins, we’ve had some tight games, defensive games, we’ve had windy games and we’ve had rainy days. It’s good to win games in all conditions and that’s what they’ve done. We couldn’t really ask any more at the moment. I think [the break has] come at a good time for all of us. The whole football club’s worked fairly hard. We didn’t talk about the break, we just really wanted to get on and finish this two hours that we’ve just done and now I think we can just have a bit of a mental break and a bit of a physical break.”
At Football Park:
Port Adelaide 7.4 13.6 19.10 19.12.126
Essendon 1.3 5.8 7.13 13.17.95
If, like me, you thought the Dons were a pretty ordinary bunch and you couldn’t work out how they’d beaten the Swans or Wiggles, this game might’ve given you comfort. Port belted the Dons for three quarters, although credit to the Bombouts for lifting themselves to score six unanswered goals in the last korter and save some percentage. Don’t reckon they can make the eight, but every bit will help. The Powder were fired-up for various reasons, their four-game losing streak, the coach calling ‘em soft last week and the occasion of captain Warren Tredrea’s 200th game, the first man to play 200 for the Port Adelaide Power. A proud moment to be sure but such has been Tredrea’s poo-house form of late, Tredders used the preceding press-conference to defend his presence in the side. Coach Mark Williams resorted to cliches - “creates space . . . gives a contest . . . takes a good opponent.” Port made one change after losing to Carlton last week, Nathan Krakouer dropped for debutant Travis Boak, a speedy midfielder from down Geelong way. Two changes for the Bommers, Brent Stanton missed with ankle trouble and Scott Camporeale was dropped, in came Chris Heffernan and Jay Nash.
Port’s crowds have been down this season, in a year when there’s been an increase throughout the league. One report has it the decision to allow Foxtel to show Port’s games live in Adelaide, combined with a ban on full-strength beer inside Foopall Park, has driven the Power supporters into the pub to watch their home games. This game started perfectly for Port and Tredrea as Tredders led strongly for a grab and rammed it through from 50m in the first minute. From a ball-up following the subsequent centre-bounce Kane Cornes released Shaun Burgoyne with a handpass, Burgoyne’s long kick bounced through for a goal. Them two Port players plus ruckman Dean Brogan and Dom Cassisi absolutely controlled the ball from stoppages, no fightback this week for the Dons as James Hird was followed very closely by Chad Cornes. Or they were tagging each other or something, it was hard to tell. Young Power spearhead Justin Westhoff missed a shot before some chipped passes ended with Brogan passing to leading Brett Ebert, he thumped it home from 55m. Port led by 19 points, 3.1 to nought. The Dons managed a rapid transition from a kick-in and Jason Winderlich found Damien Peverill alone, Pev booted the Dons’ first goal. Don full-back Mal Michael clangered a kick straight to Kane Cornes, he passed to Steven Salopek who placed a noice kick for Westhoff to mark and convert. Don Jason Johnson hooked a set-shot on-the-full before another Pord goal. Robert Gray roved a contest, shrugged one tackle and ducked another, then slotted. Port were very good at racing downfield from kick-ins, after Don Davey postered they went afield and had a throw-in in the forward-pocket, Tredrea handballed for David Rodan to snap a goal. Port were 32 points ahead. Coupla points for the Dons, including a strange one where Monfries marked 20m out, on an angle, and played-on to try and snap over his shoulder. Eh? Port sped downfield from the kick-in and Peter Burgoyne passed for leading Gray to mark and major. The Flowers led by 37 points at the first break. The Bummers had an early goal in the second stanza, Scott Lucas held a terrific back-pedalling mark in the goal-square under pressure from Port’s Toby Thurstans and team-mate Peverill. Lucas majored, but Port went on. Michael Pettigrew played-on smartly and kicked long, Gray bagged a classy roving goal. A minute later Ebert roved a pack and snapped another, the Power led by 42 points. Some respite for the Bommers as Heffernan roved a throw-in and snapped it through, but Lucas postered following another tough back-pedalling grab. Good play from Port saw Rodan take a mark on-the-lead, he chipped a kick for leading Tredrea to grab and convert. Hurray! Ebert roved his own contest to snaggle a sausage and Port’d galloped 47 points ahead. The Dons forced a turnover as Port’s Jacob Surjan was caught by McPhee, Matty Lloyd kicked long and Jason Laycock held a good grab, he majored. A minute later Essadun’s runner, former Bulldog wingman Paul Dimattina, was penalised for mouthing off at the umpire. The free-kick resulted in a lead, mark and goal for Robert Gray, a kid with some ability. Jim Hird kicked a point after marking, his second disposal, but Mark Bolton soon booted a goal thanks to a very soft free-kick against Kane Cornes. Hand-on-the-back, apparently. Port led by 40 points but at the restart Hille handballed to Surjan, from his punt forward Michael Wilson bagged a major. Port by 46 points at half-time.
More of the same in the third Mario Lanza. Ah, some Port player booted an early goal. The Cornes brothers combined to clear the restart, Westhoff gathered the loose ball, tip-toed along the boundary and point-lines and popped it through. Port led by 58 points now. A lucky bounce set up a shot for Lloyd, but he missed. Port fans enjoyed that almost as much as their own team’s goals. Port had their first real set-back now as Wilson was reported for a crude elbow to Henry Slattery’s head. Should go. Port raced afield from a kick-in and Surjan set Chad Cornes running, his long punt bounced through with shepherding from Ebert. Port by 64 points now. Essington managed a goal, Lloyd won a free-kick for arm-chopping by Darryl Wakelin and a 50m penalty when Wakelin whinged about it. Port supporters didn’t enjoy that. But their team scored the next three goals, Shaun Burgoyne sped clear of a pack and kicked for Ebert to mark over Mark Johnson, Ebert converted. Peter Burgoyne’s pass found Damon White alone, he managed to kick straight for a change and after Lloyd missed a shot (cheering), Wakelin embarked on a long run from the kick-in and punted forward. Tredrea was tripped and then karate-chopped in the neck by Fletcher, a free and goal for Tredders. Port led by 75 points and the Dons appeared headed for a real hiding. Mark McVeigh booted a goal for the Bombers and Rodan postered before the final break, at which Port led by 69 points. But the Bommers pulled their collective fingers out for the final term as Port eased the intensity. McVeigh roved a pack and snapped a good left-footed goal to start the stanza. A bit later Surjan’s poor handpass turned over possession and Lucas set up a major for Peverill. Then the most amazing thing happened, the Bommers won a centre-clearance. Lucas marked but missed. The Dons trailed by 56 points after that. Not much occurred for a bit, before Bomma Alwyn Davey raced away from a throw-in and handballed for Andrew Welsh to dob a goal. Port led by 51 points as time-on approached, they hadn’t seemed too interested in kicking more goals. The Dons bagged three more in the final six minutes, Adam McPhee started and completed a move for a running sausage roll, Davey’s good tackle loosed the ball and allowed Jay Nash a major. Good play from Davey and Jobe Watson, both handy in the final term, led to a mark and/or free-kick for McPhee and he punted truly. Port’s lead had been reduced to 32 points and a flattering four-goal loss loomed for the Dons, but the siren sounded with Port 31 points ahead.
Chad Cornes (21 touches, 6 marks, a goal) was instrumental in cancelling out Hird’s influence in the first half, then going on to play well in the second. On-ball men Shaun Burgoyne (20 touches, a goal), Peter Burgoyne (25 possessions) and Dom Cassisi (32 touches, 11 marks) were all important winners, propelled along by Dean Brogan (11 disposals, 22 hit-outs). Robert Gray (11 possies, 4 marks, 4 goals) was terrific in his third game, I think it was and half-back Michael Wilson (22 touches, 11 marks, a goal) was handy. Warren Tredrea (6 marks, 15 handlings, 4 goals) timed a return to form and there were pretty good efforts from Kane Cornes (27 disposals) and forward Brett Ebert (6 marks,. 11 possies, 4 goals). Justin Westhoff booted 2 goals. The Dons had midfield triers in Jobe Watson (27 disposals) and Jason Johnson (28 touches), Mark McVeigh (22 possies, 2 goals) started in defence, went forward and wasn’t bad. Adam McPhee (27 handlings, 8 marks, 2 goals) put himself about as usual, Jason Winderlich (24 possies, 10 marks) and Damien Peverill (24 disposals, 2 goals) were alright and Jay Nash (22 touches, a goal) saw a bit of it. Sheeds blamed tiredness. “I’m not here to beat up my players over winning four of the last five weeks. The season is pretty tight. We were hoping, naturally, to win, but how many teams have won five in a row this season? And that’s what we were going for. And they were going for their first win in five weeks. We’ve had some pretty tight, tough games over the last month. We’ve got up and won three games by a kick and I think that the break is coming at the right time for us. (The last quarter comeback) was a pleasing side of the game. Our best players didn’t play that well tonight. It was a good effort by Port to shut them down. But we actually never gave up. And that’s a very important spirit in a team that I’m looking for, as compared to what we had last year.” Mark Williams individualized. "There was a lot of belief there and it was fantastic to see Justin Westhoff, Robbie Gray and Travis Boak all in amongst it and some of the stuff they were doing was really exciting for the future of our club. But then you go to the oldest player on the list Darryl Wakelin and I thought he did a fantastic job on Matthew Lloyd. Toby Thurstans also did well on Scott Lucas. Our training during the week was terrific and I think Dean Brogan had a lot to do with that. Broges is a leader and he was fed up with our side playing like it was and he told a few players. He produced some terrific, aggressive stuff on the track on Wednesday. He probably had a crack at a couple (of players) and had a crack at training hard. He even pulled up sore from it but I think it went a long way to shaking the attitude of the group." Choco went on the demand a finals appearances from his blokes.
Ladder after part Round Twelve
Pts. % Next Week
Geelong 36 155.4 Bye
West Coast 32 125.9 St. Kilda (Subiaco, Sunday)
Hawthorn 32 122.4 Bye
Adelaide 28 111.7 Bye
Collingwood 28 105.9 Sydney (Stadium Australia, Sat. night)
Essendon 28 103.4 Bye
Footscray 28 100.1 Bye
Port Adelaide 28 99.7 Bye
---------------------------
North Melbourne 28 96.8 Bye
Sydney 24 113.8 Collingwood (Stadium Australia, Sat. night)
Fremantle 20 97.2 Bye
Brisbane 18 89.0 Bye
St. Kilda 16 85.1 West Coast (Subiaco, Sunday)
Carlton 16 81.3 Bye
Melbourne 8 77.0 Richmond (MCG, Fri. night)
Richmond 2 72.7 Melbourne (MCG, Fri. night)
Cheers, Tim.
Article last changed on Thursday, June 21, 2007 - 10:13 PM EDT
