by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
Scott Camporeale (knee) returned for the Bombers this week as did James Hird (calf). Heath Hocking debuted this week.
Carlton welcomes back captain Lance Whitnall for his first game since the mid-season break and Matthew Lappin, who missed two weeks with a hamstring strain. Bret Thornton will have surgery on his ankle and miss the rest of the season, while Shaun Grigg (knee soreness) is also out of the side.
Melbourne was boosted by the return of Brock McLean (knee) but lost Brent Moloney (adductor) this week.
Collingwood regained Scott Pendlebury (foot) and Sean Rusling (shoulder) this week.
Sydney lost Tadgh Kennelly (knee) and Leo Barry (hamstring) this week. Kennelly injured his knee at a training session and the club opted to give Barry one more week to recover. Ed Barlow, recently elevated from the rookie list, replaced Kennelly this week.
Hawthorn skipper Richie Vandenberg (knee) missed again this week. The club was hoping he would recover in time to play.
The Eagles lost Chris Judd (groin) and Ben Cousins (hamstring) this week. Judd has been a week-to-week proposition as he has been battling the injury for several months. Cousins re-injured his hamstring at training last week and is also having ankle problems.
Brisbane lost Joel Macdonald to a virus and Troy Selwood (shoulder) is being given another week to recover from a shoulder injury.
Returning for the Bulldogs this week were Brad Johnson (hamstring), Lindsay Gilbee (calf) and Daniel Giansiracusa (shoulder)
A lighter and fitter Lance Whitnall returned for Carlton for the first time since mid-season. Whitnall, recovering from a knee injury, has been training strongly for the past several weeks and has lost almost 15 pounds.
Veteran Matthew Lappin was also back in the side after recovering from a hamstring injury.
COL 6.4 9.8 10.12 11.15 (81)
MELB 3.5 3.9 8.12 9.16 (70)
GOALS: COL - Medhurst 3, Davis, Rusling, Didak, Pendlebury, Burns, Johnson, Cloke, Bryan; MELB - Neitz 3, Pickett 2, McLean, Sylvia, Dunn, Newton
BEST: COL - Burns, Davis, Swan, H. Shaw, O'Brien, Medhurst; MELB - Jones, Johnstone, Neitz, Green, Carroll, McDonald
INJURY: MELB - Holland (shoulder), Bell (head/neck), Davey (hamstring)
Davey and Holland are expected to miss the last two games, while Bell was cleared of any damage and should be able to play next week
REPORTS: COL - Johnson for making forceful contact to Bell
UMPIRES: Donlon, McLaren, Chamberlain
CROWD: 46,277 at the MCG
Collingwood burst out of the blocks with Bryan, Burns and Cloke kicking goals inside the first 10 minutes of the game. Swan and Burns were pivotal in the center, winning plenty of the ball to propel the Pies into attack. Dunn got one back for the Demons but the Pies kicked three of the last five goals to lead by 17 points at 1/4 time.
The Demons suffered the first blow of the game early in the second term. Defender Holland went to ground only to have the 200-plus pound Rocca fall onto his shoulder. Collingwood slacked off a bit but were still kicking long dominating the middle. Although they kicked just three goals for the term, they restricted the Demons to just four points. Late in the term, Johnson flattened Bell with a crude head-high hit while Bell had his head over the ball. Play was held up for about five minutes while Bell was tended to and stretchered off and it was Collingwood by 35 points at 1/2 time.
Pendlebury extended Collingwood's lead to 41 points with the opening goal of the third term. Soon after that, Davey hobbled off with a hamstring injury. The Melbourne bench was reduced to one fit player, but the Demons dug deep, sparked, and played like men possessed in response to the felling of their mate Bell. They began to attack man and ball ferociously and worked their way back into the game. They brought Collingwood's run to a halt and kicked five unanswered goals to cut Collingwood's lead to just 12 points at 3/4 time.
Rocca missed a chance to seal the match for Collingwood early in the final term. Then Newton kicked a goal to have the Demons within seven points. After that, Melbourne wasted some chances to take the lead. Neitz's long kick fell just short of goal, Robertson kicked a pair of points and Johnstone also missed. It was enough to get them within four points of the Pies. That was as close as they would get as Medhurst kicked the final goal of the game and the Pies held off the gallant Demons.
When the siren went, Collingwood had possession of the ball, but it was quickly handed over to Neitz as a memento of his 300th game. Many of the Collingwood players came over to congratulate Neitz on his achievement.
ESS 2.1 5.3 12.6 18.10 (118)
CARL 4.5 8.8 11.11 16.12 (108)
GOALS: ESS - Lloyd 6, McPhee 2, Monfries 2, Lovett, Laycock, Reimers, Lucas,M. Johnson, McVeigh, Hird, Lovett-Murray; CARL - Fisher 4, Lappin 2, Betts 2, Bannister, Whitnall, O'hAilpin, Saddington, Walker, Murphy, Carrazzo, Jackson
BEST: ESS - Lloyd, Hird, Monfries, Laycock, Camporeale, McPhee, Lovett; CARL - Walker, Bentick, Fisher, Waite, Scotland, Houlihan, Simpson
INJURY: ESS - Fletcher (groin); CARL - Fevola (groin), Russell (adductor) replaced in selected side by Bentick
UMPIRES: Farmer, Kennedy, Jeffery
CROWD: 48,638 at the MCG
It was a game befitting a retiring champion and a champion coach. The Blues and Bombers put on another epic battle worthy of their rivalry. It was the Blues who had the better start. Young guns Carrazzo, Bentick, and Murphy played dominant games with young Murphy running with the veteran Hird. McPhee opened the scoring with goal for Essendon. Carlton missed two early shots on goal before Bannister and Whitnall put the Blues in front for the first time with a goal each. Again, Carlton wasted chances with Whitnall and Houlihan missing. Carlton rushed a point before Lloyd kicked Essendon's second goal. O'hAilpin soon replied for the Blues at the other end. Another point to Lappin and a goal to Bannister had the Blues in front by 16 points at 1/4 time.
Carlton continued to dominate although Lucas kicked an early goal in the second term to cut the lead to 10 points. Once more, both sides missed several opportunities to gain a clear advantage. In between, Fisher and Reimers traded goals. Carlton extended their lead with goals to Saddington and Fisher again before Lloyd bagged one for Essendon. Lappin kicked a late goal to give Carlton a 23 point lead at 1/2 time.
Carlton looked on track to give interim coach Brett Ratten his first win when Walker goaled early in the third term to put Carlton 29 points in front. Essendon lifted their workrate and goals to Lloyd, Monfries, and McPhee slashed the deficit to just 11 points. Fisher goaled again to give Carlton some relief but it was a brief respite as goals to Mark Johnson and McVeigh had Essendon within four points. Hope abounded again for Carlton when a Whitnall miss was followed by a goal to Betts. However, a point to McPhee and a goal to Lloyd again cut Carlton's lead to just four points. Betts and Fisher then missed shots which could have given the Blues some breathing room. Lloyd came out of a goalsquare scramble to kick a goal just before the siren to give Essendon a 1 point lead at 3/4 time.
The final term was one of frenetic desperation, periods of dominance by both sides and several controversial umpiring decisions going Carlton's way. Carrazzo goaled early to put the Blues back in front. A miss by Monfries and a goal to Jackson had the Blues up by 10 points. Lloyd goaled again and was followed by Hird, who produced a great around the body snap to restore Essendon's two point lead. Lloyd goaled again and it was the Bombers by eight points. Not for long with goals to Betts and Murphy restoring Carlton's four point lead. Lloyd flew for the ball but was denied a chance under the contentious hands in the back rule. Another free kick went Carlton's way soon after and Fisher goaled to extend the lead. Scotland's point gave the Blues a 11 point lead. Lloyd's next shot on goal was ruled to have been touched by Waite on the line. Bomber fans booed and several Bombers tried to argue it was touched after crossing the line. The decision stood and Carlton led by 10 points. A point to Nash and a goal to Lovett-Murray cut the lead to three points with just a few minutes remaining. Lovett then set up Laycock for the goal which put the Bombers in front by three points. It was four points when Lloyd missed from long range. Carlton had one last roll of the dice when Walker got the ball, but his kick was smothered by Lovett who recovered and ran into an unguarded goal to seal the win.
STK 4.3 10.5 16.10 19.12 (126)
FRE 4.4 7.9 10.11 14.12 (96)
GOALS: STK - Gehrig 8, Milne 2, Voss 2, X. Clarke, Montagna, Riewoldt, Fiora, Dal Santo, Blake, Baker; FRE - Pavlich 3, Bell 2, Crowley 2, Farmer 2,J. Carr 2, Cook, Mundy, McPharlin
BEST: STK - Gehrig, Hayes, X. Clarke, Montagna, S. Fisher, Blake; FRE - J. Carr, Bell, Farmer, Pavlich, McManus
INJURY: STK - Koschitzke (soreness) replaced in selected side by M. Clarke, Harvey (quad), Hudghton (quad), Ball (corked thigh); FRE - Farmer (severe concussion and facial bruising)
UMPIRES: Vozzo, McBurney, Ellis
CROWD: 24,041 at Telstra Dome
Fremantle started strongly,kicking four goals to none to have the better of the Saints in the first term. During the Docker surge, the Saints lost Hudghton to injury. The Saints then kicked the next four. They pressured the Dockers to cut Freo's lead to seven points. They pressured the Dockers, but couldn't seize the advantage. A series of points left them one point in arrears at 1/4 time.
Mundy kicked a goal for the Dockers at the start of the second term, but it all St. Kilda afterward. The Saints powered away with the next six goals, including a contender for goal of the year to Milne. Milne had the ball and was being chased in a forward pocket. He threw the ball onto his boot and somehow angled through the goal. The Dockers fired back with the last three goals of the term, two of them to Farmer, leaving the Saints with a 14 point lead at 1/2 time.
The Saints lost Harvey early in the third term, leaving them with a depleted interchange bench. Ball also appeared to be struggling with an injury. Hayes filled the breach in the midfield as the Saints, in spite of the injury toll, piled on six goals to three. It was also during the third term that saw Farmer off. No one saw what happened, so it will be up to the Match Review Panel. Farmer was on the ground holding his face and Saint Baker was the only player in the vicinity. St, Kilda led by 35 points at 3/4 time.
The Dockers outscored the Saints four goals to three in the final term. However, the Saints' third term blitz had effectively sealed the result.
BRIS 1.0 4.1 4.7 9.9 (63)
SYD 2.4 3.7 6.12 8.15 (63)
GOALS: BRIS - Brown 4, Johnson 2, Hadley, Brennan, Copeland; SYD - Schneider 2, Davis, Hall, O'Keefe, Mathews, Fosdike, Kirk
BEST: BRIS - Adcock, Lappin, Brown, Notting, Stiller, Leuenberger; SYD - Goodes, C Bolton, Buchanan, Kirk, Fosdike, Richards
INJURY: BRIS - Macdonald (virus), Selwood (shoulder) replaced in selected side by Sherman, Moody. Charman (calf), Harding (knee); SYD - Kennelly (knee) replaced in selected side by Barlow.
REPORTS: BRIS - Roe for alleged rough conduct against Brennan, Power for allegedly charging C. Bolton
UMPIRES: James, Rosebury, Ryan
CROWD: 33,077 at the Gabba
The crowd was the largest of the season for Brisbane and they witnessed a scrappy opening term. In typical Sydney fashion, the Swans got off to a slow start with Schneider kicking two points early in the term. In between, Hadley kicked Brisbane's only goal for the term. Davis finally got the Swans in on the board 20 minutes into the term and his goal was followed by one to Schneider. Merrett was running Hall ragged and kept him well in check. However, the Swans were also keeping a tight reign on key Lions' Black and Power. Adcock was shifted to midfield and provided some spark. However, the Lions suffered a huge blow when Charman limped off, not to return. It left teen ruck giant Leuenberger to shoulder the ruck duties against the more experienced Everitt and Jolly. Hall kicked a point and the Lions rushed one late in the term, leaving Sydney with a 10 point lead at 1/4 time.
Another rushed point and a point to McVeigh made the difference two straight goals early in the second term. Hall finally broke clear of Merrett for a rare touch and goal but Johnson soon replied for the Lions at the other end. Sydney was smashing the Lions around the ground at the stoppages but just couldn't put the score on the board. Hall kicked a point to make the margin 13 points but Brennan's goal cut the lead to seven points. Brown, who was made to earn every kick and possession of the ball by Craig Bolton, kicked the final scores of the term. A point and a goal leveled the scores at 1/2 time.
Both sides would certainly be ruing their inaccuracy early in the third term. Instead of a goal for goal shootout, it was point for point as the scores continued to change hands and were level midway through the term. O'Loughlin finally broke the deadlock with a goal. Hadley's point made it a five point difference before points to Hall and Kirk put the lead back out to just beyond a goal. Moody and Mathews continued the inaccuracy for the Lions. Goals to Mathews late in the term and one to Fosdike after the siren put Sydney in front by 17 points at 3/4 time.
It all changed and came undone for Sydney at the start of the final term. Leuenberger began to have an influence and the Lions slammed through three goals in three minutes to Brown, Johnson, and Copeland to take a one point lead. Schneider goaled and it was Sydney by five points. Brown took a strong mark in a pack of players and gave the lead back to Brisbane. Power made it two points with yet one more behind. O'Keefe leveled the scores when he missed. Schneider won the ball in the middle and tried, but his kick from 50 meters (55 yards) was off target. Scores level. From the kick in, Roe kicked the ball out on the full, giving Sydney a free kick and another chance as the clock ticked down. The Swans kicked long to Goodes but his shot on goal hit the post. Sydney by a point. The Lions won went into attack but the Sydney defense conceded a point rather than give up a goal. Scores level. From the next bounce, Sydney won the ball, Everitt got it on a wing and kicked it to O'Loughlin. He won a free a kick and fired the ball into Captain Kirk. Kirk did not disappoint and kicked what seemed to be the winning goal with just a minute remaining on the clock. Brisbane was not done with yet. From the bounce, the Lions won the ball out of the center and found Brown who had run up the ground to receive the ball. He was almost 60 yards out (55 meters). He took his time, lined up the shot and let loose with monster kick. It sailed through to level the scores again. The ball came back out the center and the siren went just after the ball was bounced to end the game in the third tie of the season.
WCE 4.5 9.8 13.8 18.9 (117)
RICH 3.3 6.6 10.11 12.14 (86)
GOALS: WCE - Lynch 7, LeCras 4, Hunter 3, Staker 2, Braun, Seaby; RICH - Brown 3, Richardson 3, Deledio 2, Edwards, Tambling, Pattison, Riewoldt
BEST: Lynch, Kerr, LeCras, Cox, Hunter, Hansen, Priddis;
RICH - Brown, Richardson, Tuck, Deledio, Pattison, Johnson
REPORTS: WCE - Staker for striking Pattison
UMPIRES: Allen, Woodcock, Fila
CROWD: 39,752 at Subiaco Oval, Perth
The Eagles loaded up their forward line with a rotation of tall players, including ruckman Cox. Cox started forward alongside Lynch, Staker and Hansen with Seaby starting in the center. The duo rotated between the two positions. Kerr and Priddis drove the midfield with Kerr too quick and skilled for Tambling. The Tigers showed plenty of spirit at the start, but it was the Eagles who scored first through Lynch. Richardson kicked the next for the Tigers. The two sides traded goals for the remainder of the term. Braun kicked the Eagles' fourth to give them an eight point lead at 1/4 time.
Brown ran into an open goal, reducing the Eagle lead to tow points within 30 seconds of start of the second term. The Eagles hit back hard through a goal to Seaby and two apiece to Lynch and LeCras for a 32 point lead. Richardson marked (caught the ball) and goaled as did Brown to cut the Eagle lead to 20 points at 1/2 time.
At the start of the third term, Jackson replaced Tambling on Kerr. Kerr continued to carve up the Tiger midfield with his speed. Kane Johnson went onto Priddis, but the duo continued to do plenty of damage. Hunter was also moved forward to stretch the Tiger defense and the move paid off with the Eagles kicking three goals of the next four goals. The Tigers fought back late in the term with three successive goals to cut the lead to nine points. Lynch kicked a late goal to give the Eagles a 15 point lead at 3/4 time.
Ten minutes into the final term, Hunter flew for the ball in spectacular fashion and goaled to put the game beyond Richmond's reach. Although the Tigers kicked four goals for the term, so did the Eagles.
GEEL 5.6 6.10 13.12 17.16 (118)
KANG 2.8 4.10 7.11 13.13 (91)
GOALS: GEEL - Mooney 5, S. Johnson 4, G. Ablett 2, Chapman 2, Bartel, Ottens, Corey, Stokes; KANG - Grant 3, Petrie 3, McIntosh, Harris, Brown, Jones, Harvey, Sansbury, Campbell
BEST: GEEL - G. Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Mooney, Ling, Harley; KANG - Archer, Harris, Grant, Wells, Swallow, McIntosh
UMPIRES: Grun, K. Nicholls, McInerney
CROWD: 48,501 at Telstra Dome
The Kangaroos were the last team this season to defeat Geelong. That was way back in Round Five. Now the Cats have forgotten how to lose. The Kangaroos, on the other hand, have never known how to give up. The Cats, win or lose this game, still will finish in first place. The Kangaroos needed the win to challenge for a top four spot come finals. In a way, both teams had a lot to play for.
Geelong matched and beat the Kangaroo midfield with Ling shutting down Simpson and Enright doing the same to Harvey. Bartel continued his excellent season in winning plenty of the ball while Scarlett and Harley shut down the Kangaroo attack for much of the game. Mooney was a menace up forward as was Steve Johnson. Mooney kicked three of Geelong's first term goals while the Kangaroos were restricted to just two for the term, leaving the Cats 16 points clear at 1/4 time.
While the Kangaroos were wayward in front of goal in the first, it was Geelong who suffered the same in the second. The Kangaroos put plenty of pressure on the Cats, holding them to just one goal for the term and kicking two themselves. It kept them right in the game as they trailed by just two goals at 1/2 time.
The Roos challenged the Cats early in the third term with three of the first four goals to be within two points of the Cats. Geelong then blitzed the Kangaroos with a six goal burst. Gary Ablett kicked a pair from 50 meters (55 yards). Mooney kicked his fourth for the game as well as setting up Ablett and Corey for goals. Johnson kicked the last two for the term to give the Cats a 37 point lead at 3/4 time.
When Mooney took a strong pack mark and goaled from close range early in the final term, the game looked over with the Cats in front by 42 points. The Kangaroos came to life and startled the Cats with goal spree of their own. They kicked six of the next seven goals in the space of 18 minutes to close within 15 points. The Cats regained their composure and held their nerve to kick the final two goals to extend their winning streak to 15 games, the longest in club history.
ADE 2.5 7.9 10.14 15.17 (107)
WB 2.2 7.3 8.5 11.7 (73)
GOALS: ADE - Welsh 4, Thompson 3, Gill 2, Shirley 2, Bock 2, Reilly, Porplyzia; WB - Darcy 3, Tiller 2, Akermanis 2, Eagleton, Johnson, Higgins, Giansiracusa
BEST: ADE - Welsh, Reilly, van Berlo, Thompson, Knights, Shirley, Hudson; WB - Boyd, Gilbee, Cooney, Eagleton, West
CHANGES: WB - Grant (knee) replaced in selected side by Tiller
UMPIRES: Sully, Head, Wenn
CROWD: 41,437 at AAMI Stadium
Retiring captain Mark Ricciuto was driven around the ground in a twenty five minute lap of honor to the strains of Rocky. After that, the Crows and Bulldogs got down to business. The business was a scrappy defensive game which saw both sides guilty of poor kicking and turnovers. Darcy kicked the opening goal for the Bulldogs but Welsh snagged a pair for the Crows. In a low scoring term, Tiller booted the only other goal as the Crows took a three point lead at 1/4 time.
Standards improved in the second. Goals to Reilly and Shirley gave them the lead, but Akermanis, who was relatively quiet, kicked one of his trademark long goals from the midfield. The Crows failed to capitalize on their chances while the Dogs improved their accuracy. Eagleton and Giansiracusa booted two of the Bulldogs' five for the term. The Crows managed three more as well to stay one goal in front at 1/2 time.
The Crows began to get on top in the midfield early in the third term, but again were wasteful in front of goal. Thompson and Bock goaled to give the Crows an 18 point lead. Darcy then laid a bone-crunching bump on Massie His goal was the only Bulldog goal for the term. Massie bounced back to set up Welsh for a goal midway through the term. The Crows again missed three easy shots to bury the Dogs and led by just 21 points at 3/4 time.
It was more of the same early in the final term as the Crows just could not put the score on the board. Midway through the term, Johnson took a sensational grab over two Crow defenders and goaled to cut Adelaide's lead to 16 points. Minutes later, Thompson somehow escaped the clutches of two opponents, turned and goaled from 50 meters. The Bulldogs again booted a pair to reduce the Crow lead but late goals to Thompson, Bock and Porplyzia sealed it.
PA 6.4 6.8 7.11 12.15 (87)
HAW 4.0 8.4 10.9 12.10 (82)
GOALS: PA - K. Cornes 3, Motlop 3, S. Burgoyne, Ebert, Lade, Pearce, Salopek, Westhoff; HAW - Dixon 3, Roughead 3, Franklin 2, Hodge, Lewis, McGlynn, Young
BEST: PA - K. Cornes, Pearce, C. Cornes, P. Burgoyne, Thomson, Chaplin; HAW - Bateman, Young, Croad, Crawford, Mitchell, Gilham
REPORTS: Motlop (PA) and Hodge (HAW) for wrestling
UMPIRES: Goldspink, Meredith, Stevic
CROWD: 15,264 at Aurora Stadium, Tasmania
Port stunned the Hawks at their home away from home. Midfielder Kane Cornes was outstanding throughout the game as were Chad Cornes in defense and Pearce in the midfield. Kane kept key Hawk Mitchell quiet while finding plenty of the ball himself. Pearce was a danger, constantly driving Port in to attack. While Tredrea was quiet, Ebert was a target up forward and Kane also chimed in with goals. Port jumped the Hawks with a six goal to four opening term to lead by 16 points at 1/4 time.
The Hawks stormed back in the second term. They broke the shackles to kick four goals and worked hard to restrict Port to just a handful of points. The tables were turned for the moment as they took an eight point lead at 1/2 time.
Both sides tightened up in a low-scoring third term. Port peppered the goals but could manage just one for the term. The Hawks were even more wasteful, kicking just two goals from seven scoring shots. It left the door open for Port as they trailed by just 16 points at 3/4 time.
The Hawks appeared to have the game in hand with a goal early in the final term. The Power then kicked two goals from 50 meter penalties but the Hawks took a 13 point lead with a goal to Dixon midway through the term. Port then missed several chances to hit the front. Late in the term, they still managed two creep within a goal of Hawthorn. Lewis won the ball with just minutes remaining and had a chance to kick the sealer, but scored only a point to leave the Hawks just seven points in front. That started the Hawk nightmare. It also brought up unwanted memories for Motlop. Wilson won ball and kicked long to the goalsquare to a waiting Motlop. However, he was in almost the same position as he was last season. Then, Motlop had the chance to kick the winning goal against St. Kilda in the dying seconds. The miss left him shattered. He shook off the mental ghosts of the past as well as jibes from Hawk players telling him he would miss. This time, there was no mistake as the ball sailed through for a goal to put Port within a point with 47 seconds on the clock. From the bounce, Port attacked again with defender Chaplin winning the ball upfield and kicking it long to the forward line. This time, Ebert was there to take the catch. He was on an angle and 25 meters (30 yards) out, but kicked the winning goal with three seconds remaining. There was just time enough for the ball to be bounced one last time in the center before the siren blew.
STANDINGS
W L D FOR AGST % PTS
GEEL 17 3 0 2296 1455 157.8 68
PA 13 7 0 2091 1852 112.9 52
WCE 13 7 0 1924 1713 112.3 52
HAW 12 8 0 1877 1647 113.9 48
KANG 12 8 0 1865 1826 102.1 48
COL 12 8 0 1835 1822 100.7 48
SYD 11 8 1 1814 1528 118.7 46
STK 10 9 1 1674 1743 96.0 42
BRIS 9 9 2 1823 1654 110.2 40
ADE 10 10 0 1701 1577 107.8 40
ESS 10 10 0 1968 2143 91.8 40
WB 9 10 1 1951 2161 90.2 38
FRE 9 11 0 2025 1996 101.5 36
MELB 4 16 0 1666 2166 76.9 16
CARL 4 16 0 1980 2611 75.8 16
RICH 2 17 1 1747 2343 74.6 10
GOALS
Brown (BRIS) 69
Pavlich (FRE) 65
Franklin (HAW) 60
Fevola (CARL) 59
Lloyd (ESS) 57
Johnson (WB) 54
Lucas (ESS) 53
Source: Melbourne Age & Herald Sun
Port Adelaide's Travis Boak is the Round 19 Rising Star nominee.
The 19-year-old midfielder was best on ground in Port's win over Carlton, showing great maturity playing on a wing. He kicked two goals and had 28 possessions opposed to Blues Ryan Houlihan, Kade Simpson and Andrew Walker. Coach Mark Williams was full of praise for Boak, saying he had progressed very well to become a more consistent and confident player.
A talented junior cricketer, Travis was Port Adelaide’s first selection and in the 2006 draft. He represented Vic Country in the 2006 Under 18 Championships and played for TAC team the Geelong Falcons. Travis played the first half of the season with SANFL side Glenelg before becoming the fifth Port Adelaide player to make his AFL debut this season, in Round 12. He has played every game since.
Travis is Port's third Rising Star nominee this season following Robbie Gray in Round 12 and Justin Westhoff in Round 15.
Source: Michelle Clyne, AFL Media Release
Article last changed on Friday, September 07, 2007 - 1:04 AM EDT
