At the MCG:
Collingwood 6.4 9.8 10.12 11.15.81
Melbourne 3.5 3.9 8.12 9.16.70
An unconvincing win from the Poise should confirm their finals participation, Nathan Buckley's 25-touch, 4 goal return in the VFL was the other good news for Poise. This win wasn't the best though as the Poise clung on with 2 goals in the second half, the crucial one coming from Paul Medhurst, who finished their leading goal-kicker with 3. Unconvincing. The Deez had a second-half go in David Neitz's 300th game, the first man to play 300 for the Demons. But it were the Scragpies who started very well, three goals on the board before a Dee had touched the ball. Their much-maligned midfield, led by Scott Burns, Shane O'Bree and restored Scott Pendlebury, went very well. Sean Rusling played his first game of the season and bagged a goal too, Leon Davis was busy kickin' and creatin'. Meanwhile the Dees gifted goals with telegraphed kicks which were intercepted, and they lost Ben Holland (dislocated shoulder) and Aaron Davey (hammy) virtually before half-time, with Russ Robertson limping about. But things changed early in the third Mario when Pie wingman Ben Johnson nearly decapitated accident-prone Dee Daniel Bell with a stupid and dangerous 'bump'. Johnson's since accepted a six-game suspension, that's his season. Just after Bell was stretchered off, Pendlebury majored to give the Poise a 41-point lead. Now the Dees came to life, aided by Neitz (3 goals), Colin Sylvia, Nathan Jones, Travis Johnstone and some panicky, whistle-happy umps. Melbun kicked the next six goals of the game, the first of the final quarter from Michael Newton cut the Poi lead to a goal and the Pies appeared to be overrun. But they hung tough and Medhurst saved 'em. Heath Shaw, Harry O'Brien and Tarkyn Lockyer played well for the Pies (in addition to those mentioned), for the Demuns James McDonald and Ryan Ferguson were good and Byron Pickett kicked 2 goals.
At the MCG:
Essendon 2.1 5.3 12.6 18.10.118
Carlton 4.5 8.8 11.11 16.12.108
"You can't tell blokes not to try and win. You can't coach teams to lose." These are the most often used statements to counter allegations of tanking. But in the Bloozers' case, you don't have to tell 'em anything. They manage it all by themselves. I listened to the closing minutes of this one over the web and the Bluies seemed certain to record fateful win no. 5, leading by 10 points as the 30-minute mark of the final term approached. In quick succession Bommer Angus Monfries converted from a mark, Andrew Lovett sped through the centre and found Lloyd, he handballed over the top for a Jason Laycock tap-through and the Dons were in front. Lovett then banana-snapped another, after he'd smothered Andrew Walker's kick and the Dons were home. In that spell the Dons kicked 3.2 to nowt and folks 'wondered' how the Bluesers could be overrun by a side coming off a Perth trip and six-day break. But the Bombers have produced these late, intense bursts for narrow wins several times this season. Usually against the bottom sides, but still. The Bluies actually led by 5 goals early in third Mario, with Andrew Carrazzo, Kade Simpson, Marc Murphy, Heath Scotland and Walker playing all over the lethargic, error-prone Dons. Brad Fisher (4 goals) was very good in attack and Ryan Houlihan mopped up off half-back. At that point lame duck Sheeds switched Adam McPhee (2 goals), Monfries (2 goals) and Andrew Welsh forward and got a big lift from Laycock in the ruck. Matthew Lloyd (6 goals) kicked goals all day while Fevola (1) spent the day whingeing to the umps. Ex-Bloo Scott Camporeale, restored James Hird, Lovett and Brent Stanton also played well for the winners, backman Jarrad Waite was also good for Carlton. The Blues are so happy about all this losing-with-honour they've given interim coach Brett Ratten a 2-year contract. Welcome aboard Rats.
At Docklands:
St. Kilda 4.3 10.5 16.10 19.12.126
Fremantle 4.4 7.9 10.11 14.12.96
The Saints clambered into the eight thanks to this win and the Lyin's drawing with the Bloods. That makes this more than an 8-pointer, a 10-pointer technically or maybe 12. The Saints began well but coughed up some late first-term goals with some mistakes, and Max Hudghton strained a leg muscle. How unusual. After that the Dokkers fiddled about with the ball appallingly and the Saints tackled 'em out of it, Fraser 'G-Train' Gehrig booted 5 goals in the first half. Nick Riewoldt cleared outta the forward-line to give G-Nut some space, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo and the improved Aaron Fiora all did well in the Stainer midfield. The Stains led by 35-points at the final change and won easily. Gehrig finished with 8 goals despite having extra opponents and a Shocker 'in the hole', Brett Voss and Stephen Milne kicked a couple each, the Clarke brothers played well too. But there were negatives for the Stains, Dokka lightening-rod Jeff 'Wizard' Farmer went down behind play in an incident involving Steven Baker, the Sainter man since suspended for 7 weeks. Rob Harvey and Luke Ball picked up injuries, in addition to Hudghton. For Freo Josh Carr ( 2 goals), who's lifted since Mark Harvey took over, Peter Bell ( 2 goals), Farmer (2 goals), Matty Pavlich (3 goals) and Shaun McManus were all reasonable. But their teasing is over, now we just wait for Harvey to be appointed.
At Subiaco:
West Coast 4.5 9.8 13.8 18.9.117
Richmond 3.3 6.6 10.11 12.14.86
The Weevils were sufficiently confident against the two-time Tigers to rest Chris Judd and Ben Cousins, and justified they were as the Weegs won easily enough. Despite missing them two champs, Weeg followers Dean 'Big' Cox and Daniel Kerr destroyed the Tiges around packs, providing plenty of chances for forwards Quinten Lynch, who finished with 7 goals, and Mark LeCras (4 goals). Them two Eegs booted most of their score in the first half. With their own ball-winning dynamo, Nathan Foley, shut out by Tyson Stenglein the Tiges dined on scraps but had very good efficiency up forward with the class of Nathan Brown and ol' Richo (3 goals each). The Tiggers are in more ruck trouble too, Troy 'Snake' Simmonds is in hospital with a pulmonary blood clot and rookie Angus Graham broke an ankle in the win over Collywood. Trent Knobel, three years with the Tiges now, has played about three games I think. None this year. But I digress. After half-time the Tiges won a bit of ball through Brett Deledio (2 goals), Kane Johnson and Shane Tuck as Daniel Jackson slowed Kerr. They got within 9 points in the third stanza and 15 in the last. In the first case Lynch and big-leapin' Adam Hunter (3 goals) steadied the Weegs, in the latter Richo managed to miss a few times when he could've put the acid on. The Weegs endured. 'Cause they're all on EPO, according to Jason Akermanis. Ashley Hansen was also good for the Eegs, in addition to those mentioned, while ruckman Adam Pattison plugged away for the Tiges. Big game for the Weegs next week, away to the Stainers.
At the Gabba:
Brisbane 1.0 4.1 4.7 9.9.63
Sydney 2.4 3.7 6.12 8.15.63
Second draw of the season for the Brians was effectively a loss as they dropped outta the eight. Lyin' juggernaut Jonathan Brown thundered a major from 50m in the dying seconds to level the scores. The Swans seemed home in their usual dour slogging style, leading by 17 points at the final change. But the Lyin's kicked three quick ones to open the final term. Two minutes to go when Swan icon Brett Kirk forced an all-too-familiar, scrappy goal to have the Bloods 6 points up, before Brown answered. Back at the start it was messy, the Swans took a number of marks inside 50 in the first term but kept missing. Lyin' ruckman Jamie Charman limped off with an ankle but junior ruck Matthew Leuenberger stepped up in the second stanza, aided by form man Jed Adcock. Brown bagged a coupla goals. The third term was a shocker with both sides piling on the behinds, Barry Hall (1.5) the worst culprit. Late in the korter the Swans led 4.12 to 4.7 before Ben Mathews and Nic Fosdike snaggled sausages give the Bloods a hefty lead (in context) at the last turnabout. Brown finished with 4 goals for the home side, Adcock, Nigel Lappin, Tim Notting and Cheynee Stiller were handy too for the Brians, returning Chris Johnson kicked 2 goals. Adam Goodes was very good for the Swans, Craig Bolton, Amon Buchanan, Fosdike and Ted Richards were also handy for the Bloods. Adam Schneider kicked 2 goals. In a round with a coupla heavily punished head-high clashes, Lyin' Jason Roe got one game for clattering Sinney's Luke Brennan.
At York Park:
Hawthorn 4.0 8.4 10.9 12.10.82
Port Adelaide 6.4 6.8 7.11 12.15.87
Runnin' outta time again, sorry. All I'll say is sport is brilliant at offering second chances and redemption as Port's Daniel Motlop kicked the winning goal here, a year after missing an after-the-siren chance at the same venue.
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, Chapman.
Haw: Bateman, Young, Croad, Crawford, Mitchell, Gilham.
At Docklands:
North Melbourne 2.8 4.10 7.11 13.13.91
Geelong 5.6 6.10 13.12 17.16.118
Goals: Geel: Mooney 5, S. Johnson 4, G. Ablett 2, Chapman 2, Bartel, Ottens,
Corey,Stokes.
NM: Grant 3, Petrie 3, McIntosh, Harris, Brown, Jones,Harvey,
Sansbury,Campbell.
Best: Geel: G. Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Mooney, Ling, Harley.
NM: Archer, Harris, Grant, Wells, Swallow, McIntosh.
At Football Park:
Adelaide 2.5 7.9 10.14 15.17.107
Footscray 2.2 7.3 8.5 11.7.73
Goals: Adel: Welsh 4, Thompson 3, Gill 2, Shirley 2, Bock 2, Reilly, Porplyzia.
Foot: Darcy 3, Tiller 2, Akermanis 2, Eagleton, Johnson, Higgins, Giansiracusa.
Best: Adel: Welsh, Reilly, Van Berlo, Thompson, Knights, Shirley, Hudson.
Foot: Boyd, Gilbee, Cooney, Eagleton, West.
Ladder after Round Twenty
Pts. % Next Week
Geelong 68 157.8 Port Adelaide (Kardinia Park, Sunday)
Port Adelaide 52 112.9 Geelong (Kardinia Park, Sunday)
West Coast 52 112.3 St. Kilda (Docklands, Fri. night)
Hawthorn 48 113.9 Footscray (Docklands, Sunday)
North Melbourne 48 102.1 Carlton (Docklands, Saturday)
Collingwood 48 100.7 Sydney (MCG, Sat. night)
Sydney 46 118.7 Collingwood (MCG, Sat. night)
St. Kilda 42 96.0 West Coast (Docklands, Fri. night)
---------------------------
Brisbane 40 110.2 Adelaide (Football Park, Sat. night)
Adelaide 40 107.8 Brisbane (Football Park, Sat. night)
Essendon 40 91.8 Richmond (MCG, Sunday)
Footscray 38 90.2 Hawthorn (Docklands, Sunday)
Fremantle 36 101.4 Melbourne (Subiaco, Saturday)
Melbourne 16 76.9 Fremantle (Subiaco, Saturday)
Carlton 16 75.8 North Melbourne (Docklands, Saturday)
Richmond 10 74.5 Essendon (MCG, Sunday)
Cheers, Tim.
Article last changed on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 5:30 PM EDT
