by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
The Eagles went into this game without Chris Judd (groin), Ben Cousins (hamstring) and Daniel Kerr (finger). Beau Waters, named as an emergency, was a late withdrawal with a hip complaint. Ashley Hansen returned from a hamstring injury this week.
The Kangaroos lost Corey Jones to a foot injury this week.
The teams:
WEST COAST
B: Brett Jones, Darren Glass, David Wirrpanda
HB: Beau Waters, Adam Hunter, Tyson Stenglein
C: Michael Braun, Adam Selwood, Andrew Embley
HF: Daniel Chick, Ashley Hansen, Mark Nicoski
F: Mark LeCras, Quinten Lynch, Mark Seaby
FOLL: Dean Cox, Chad Fletcher, Shannon Hurn
I/C: Rowan Jones, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa, Brent Staker
EMG: Chad Jones, Beau Waters, Mitch Morton
In: Hansen, Fletcher, McNamara.
Out: Ben Cousins (hamstring), Chris Judd (groin), Kerr (finger) Waters
COLLINGWOOD
B: James Clement, Shane Wakelin, Tarkyn Lockyer
HB: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien, Tyson Goldsack
C: Martin Clarke, Scott Burns, Nathan Buckley
HF: Nick Maxwell, Anthony Rocca, Scott Pendlebury
F: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Sean Rusling
FOLL: Guy Richards, Shane O’Bree, Leon Davis
I/C: Dane Swan, Chris Bryan, Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst
EMG: Paul Licuria, Rhyce Shaw, Josh Fraser
In: Bryan
Out: Fraser (back)
KANGAROOS
B: Daniel Pratt, Michael Firrito, Josh Gibson
HB: Jesse Smith, Shannon Watt, Ed Lower
C: Brent Harvey, Adam Simpson, Brady Rawlings
HF: David Hale, Drew Petrie, Aaron Edwards
F: Glenn Archer, Shannon Grant, Scott McMahon
R: Hamish McIntosh, Daniel Harris, Daniel Wells
I/C: Lachlan Hansen, Jess Sinclair, Andrew Swallow, Eddie Sansbury
EMG: Matt Campbell, Leigh Brown, Leigh Harding
In: Lachlan Hansen, Ed Lower
Out: Corey Jones (foot), Leigh Brown
HAWTHORN
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Campbell Brown
HB: Grant Birchall, Trent Croad, Rick Ladson
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Richie Vandenberg
HF: Chance Bateman, Tim Boyle, Ben Dixon
F: Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Hodge
FOLL: Robert Campbell, Brad Sewell, Shane Crawford
I/C: Michael Osborne, Joel Smith, Simon Taylor, Clinton Young
EMG: Travis Tuck, Ben McGlynn, Tom Murphy
COL 1.5 4.8 7.11 10.12 (72)* 13.15 (93)**
WCE 0.4 5.5 8.9 10.12 (72)* 10.14 (74)**
*Full-time scores
**Scores after extra time
GOALS: COL - Rocca 3, Medhurst 2, Didak 2, Swan 2, Cloke, Thomas, Pendlebury, Bryan; WCE - Wirrpanda 2, LeCras 2, Lynch, Cox, Embley, Fletcher, Priddis, Rosa
BEST: COL - Didak, Davis, Swan, Medhurst, Goldsack, Thomas, O’Bree, Cloke; WCE - Priddis, Cox, LeCras, Glass, Hunter, Chick, Wirrpanda
INJURY: COL - Fraser (back) replaced in selected side by Bryan, Burns (ankle); WCE - Waters (hip) replaced in selected side by McNamara; Hansen (hamstring)
UMPIRES: McBurney, Ryan, McInerney
CROWD: 43,627 at Subiaco Oval
The withdrawal of Fraser left the Magpies with Bryan and the young Richards to do battle with Cox and Seaby in the ruck. Rain earlier in the day made for slippery conditions. Windy conditions would also cause some difficulty for both sides. Although Cox dominated out of the center, Collingwood was also having a good run early. The pressure was intense from both sides with neither able to gain a clear advantage. Midway through the term, no goals had been scored and it was just two points each. Five minutes later, Hansen hobbled off with a recurring hamstring injury. He tried to return late in the game, but to no effect. More points kicked and rushed through kept scores tight until a kick from Cox in defense was picked off by Medhurst for the first goal of the match. It was the only goal of the opening term as Collingwood took a seven point lead at 1/4 time.
Cox was shifted forward at the start of the second term and it wasn't long before his presence was felt. Less than two minutes into the term, Cox marked (caught the ball) in front of Clement and goaled to have the Eagles within one point. Two minutes later, Embley got hold of the ball and slotted a great running goal from 55 yards (50 meters). The lead continued to change hands with goals to Swan, Fletcher, Didak and LeCras. The Eagles gained the biggest break of the game when Clement's kick in after a point went straight to Wirrpanda. His goal gave the Eagles a 18 point lead late in the term. The door opened for the Pies when Glass, who had kept Rocca quiet for the half, came off for a rest. Collingwood seized their opportunities in the last few minutes of the half. First Cloke goaled to narrow the gap. Then Rocca marked and goaled. The Pies attacked again, the ball went to ground, and somehow Rocca found the ball with his heel and back-kicked it through for a goal to cut the Eagle lead to just three points at 1/2 time.
Most of the third term belonged to West Coast as they threatened to blow the game apart. The opening minutes featured more hard-running, tackling, and intense pressure which kept goals at a premium. Finally, Lynch took a strong grab and kicked his first goal of the game. The pressure continued and it was Priddis who finally emerged from a spillage with ball and kicked the next goal for the Eagles. Minutes later, another errant kick from Clement was smothered by LeCras. Staker swooped on the loose ball and found Wirrpanda again. His goal put the Eagles 22 points clear. Collingwood would not roll over. Instead they clawed their way back again through Cloke and Rocca. In almost a repeat of the second term, Cloke goaled and was followed by two from Rocca which had Collingwood within four points at 3/4 time.
Weary legs and bodies went at hammer and tong in the final term, knowing for the loser there would be no next week. Kicks were made under enormous pressure as neither side conceded an inch. It was the Eagles who nailed the first goal through LeCras from a soft free kick. Even the radio commentators had a say on it, admitting that while it was warranted, the new in the back interpretation needed to be scrapped. Collingwood again pounced on an Eagle error when Wirrpanda, now in defense, dropped an easy catch. Medhurst grabbed the loose ball and goaled. A few minutes later, Didak won a contest against Embley and slammed through a long goal from the boundary to put Collingwood two points in front. Four minutes later, Buckley tried to kick the ball long out of defense, only for Rosa to catch it and put the Eagles back in front by four points. The lead goes back to Collingwood when Medhurst wins the ball and spots Thomas who kicks from dead in front. In the dying minutes of the term, the Eagles missed two chances to seal the game. First, Glass tried a long kick from 50 meters (55 yards), then Embley's point leveled the scores with less than two minutes remaining. The Pies attacked relentlessly only to be repelled by the Eagles. Precious seconds were eaten on the clock as stoppages were forced and ball-ups required. The final play of the term came with Clement kicking long only for the ball to be intercepted by Lynch after the siren.
Ten minutes of extra time was added for the tie-breaker, with the sides changing ends after five minutes of play. Collingwood dug deep to hold off the Eagles. West Coast again missed a chance to take the lead, managing just a point in the first five minutes while some good work by Bryan was finished off with a goal to Thomas. It gave Collingwood a five point lead at the extra-time break. In the next five minutes, West Coast again failed to kick a goal, kicking just one point while goals to Pendlebury and Swan right at the siren gave Collingwood a memorable win a classic epic.
This was the first final since 1994 which has required extra time. In 1994, the Kangaroos defeated Hawthorn by 23 points in a Qualifying Final in extra time.
Discounting Adelaide in 1999, who failed to make the top eight, West Coast is the first defending premier not to win a final since Carlton in 1996. It is also the first time Collingwood has defeated the Eagles in Perth since 1992. Collingwood and the Eagles also played to a tie in 1990. Then, there was no extra time. Instead, the teams played off again the following week. The Pies defeated the Eagles in the replay.
KANG 3.3 5.5 9.7 14.9 (93)
HAW 2.1 4.3 6.8 8.12 (60)
GOALS: KANG - Edwards 4, Harvey 4, McIntosh, Grant, Wells, Swallow, Petrie, McMahon; HAW - Franklin 3, Roughead, Lewis, Bateman, Guerra, Boyle
BEST: KANG - Rawlings, Harris, Gibson, Edwards, McIntosh, Harvey; HAW - Sewell, Lewis, Guerra, Croad, Bateman, Crawford
REPORTS: HAW - Crawford for allegedly striking Harris
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Rosebury, McLaren
CROWD: 74,981 at the MCG
Coach Dean Laidley had a surprise for his players before the game. He invited former coach Denis Pagan to address the group before the match. Reportedly, Pagan told them to forget about the humiliating loss of the previous week and concentrate on the task at hand. The speech worked as did Gibson minding dangerous forward Franklin. The Kangaroos also had other players dropping into defense to block Franklin from running out to lead for the ball. The ploy worked with Franklin giving away undisciplined free kicks in frustration and having no impact. At the other end, young Edwards was filling in at full forward for the injured Corey Jones. He kicked the first two goals of the game and the Kangaroos never relinquished the lead. Franklin got one for the Hawks late in the term, followed by Bateman. The Hawks had their chances to steal the lead but Guerra, Dixon and Franklin all missed late shots. The Kangaroos added another goal to give themselves an eight point lead at 1/4 time.
The second term was a low scoring one as the Kangaroos kept up the defensive pressure and the Hawks fought to get back into the game. Vandenberg was shifted forward in an effort by the Hawks to lure Archer away from his job of double-teaming Franklin. The tactic was moderately successful as the Hawks challenged with two goals for the term. However, the Kangaroos also kicked two goals to keep their eight point lead at 1/2 time.
Hawthorn cannot be faulted for going in hard in the second half. They tried to pressure the Kangaroos who were doing the same to the Hawks. It only served to create some appalling errors from both teams, especially the Kangaroo defenders. Those errors proved costly as it allowed the Hawks to get within a goal of the Roos on several occasions. However, the Kangaroos steadied through Hawk errors. Edwards goaled from a free kick, then Smith gave away a 50 meter penalty (55 yards) which took Harvey within goal range. His goal gave the Roos a 17 point lead at 3/4 time.
Franklin gave the Hawks some hope with the first goal of the final term. However, another free gave Harvey another goal. Grant goaled midway through the term and the Kangaroo lead was out to 27 points, their biggest of the match. The Kangaroos finished off with three of the last four goals of the game to keep their season alive at least for one more week.
Next week it will be Geelong vs. Collingwood on Friday night at the MCG and Port Adelaide vs. Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon at AAMI Stadium.
Source: Melbourne Age, Herald Sun, and author notes from match broadcasts
The Eagles went into this game without Chris Judd (groin), Ben Cousins (hamstring) and Daniel Kerr (finger). Beau Waters, named as an emergency, was a late withdrawal with a hip complaint. Ashley Hansen returned from a hamstring injury this week.
The Kangaroos lost Corey Jones to a foot injury this week.
The teams:
WEST COAST
B: Brett Jones, Darren Glass, David Wirrpanda
HB: Beau Waters, Adam Hunter, Tyson Stenglein
C: Michael Braun, Adam Selwood, Andrew Embley
HF: Daniel Chick, Ashley Hansen, Mark Nicoski
F: Mark LeCras, Quinten Lynch, Mark Seaby
FOLL: Dean Cox, Chad Fletcher, Shannon Hurn
I/C: Rowan Jones, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa, Brent Staker
EMG: Chad Jones, Beau Waters, Mitch Morton
In: Hansen, Fletcher, McNamara.
Out: Ben Cousins (hamstring), Chris Judd (groin), Kerr (finger) Waters
COLLINGWOOD
B: James Clement, Shane Wakelin, Tarkyn Lockyer
HB: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien, Tyson Goldsack
C: Martin Clarke, Scott Burns, Nathan Buckley
HF: Nick Maxwell, Anthony Rocca, Scott Pendlebury
F: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Sean Rusling
FOLL: Guy Richards, Shane O’Bree, Leon Davis
I/C: Dane Swan, Chris Bryan, Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst
EMG: Paul Licuria, Rhyce Shaw, Josh Fraser
In: Bryan
Out: Fraser (back)
KANGAROOS
B: Daniel Pratt, Michael Firrito, Josh Gibson
HB: Jesse Smith, Shannon Watt, Ed Lower
C: Brent Harvey, Adam Simpson, Brady Rawlings
HF: David Hale, Drew Petrie, Aaron Edwards
F: Glenn Archer, Shannon Grant, Scott McMahon
R: Hamish McIntosh, Daniel Harris, Daniel Wells
I/C: Lachlan Hansen, Jess Sinclair, Andrew Swallow, Eddie Sansbury
EMG: Matt Campbell, Leigh Brown, Leigh Harding
In: Lachlan Hansen, Ed Lower
Out: Corey Jones (foot), Leigh Brown
HAWTHORN
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Campbell Brown
HB: Grant Birchall, Trent Croad, Rick Ladson
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Richie Vandenberg
HF: Chance Bateman, Tim Boyle, Ben Dixon
F: Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Hodge
FOLL: Robert Campbell, Brad Sewell, Shane Crawford
I/C: Michael Osborne, Joel Smith, Simon Taylor, Clinton Young
EMG: Travis Tuck, Ben McGlynn, Tom Murphy
COL 1.5 4.8 7.11 10.12 (72)* 13.15 (93)**
WCE 0.4 5.5 8.9 10.12 (72)* 10.14 (74)**
*Full-time scores
**Scores after extra time
GOALS: COL - Rocca 3, Medhurst 2, Didak 2, Swan 2, Cloke, Thomas, Pendlebury, Bryan; WCE - Wirrpanda 2, LeCras 2, Lynch, Cox, Embley, Fletcher, Priddis, Rosa
BEST: COL - Didak, Davis, Swan, Medhurst, Goldsack, Thomas, O’Bree, Cloke; WCE - Priddis, Cox, LeCras, Glass, Hunter, Chick, Wirrpanda
INJURY: COL - Fraser (back) replaced in selected side by Bryan, Burns (ankle); WCE - Waters (hip) replaced in selected side by McNamara; Hansen (hamstring)
UMPIRES: McBurney, Ryan, McInerney
CROWD: 43,627 at Subiaco Oval
The withdrawal of Fraser left the Magpies with Bryan and the young Richards to do battle with Cox and Seaby in the ruck. Rain earlier in the day made for slippery conditions. Windy conditions would also cause some difficulty for both sides. Although Cox dominated out of the center, Collingwood was also having a good run early. The pressure was intense from both sides with neither able to gain a clear advantage. Midway through the term, no goals had been scored and it was just two points each. Five minutes later, Hansen hobbled off with a recurring hamstring injury. He tried to return late in the game, but to no effect. More points kicked and rushed through kept scores tight until a kick from Cox in defense was picked off by Medhurst for the first goal of the match. It was the only goal of the opening term as Collingwood took a seven point lead at 1/4 time.
Cox was shifted forward at the start of the second term and it wasn't long before his presence was felt. Less than two minutes into the term, Cox marked (caught the ball) in front of Clement and goaled to have the Eagles within one point. Two minutes later, Embley got hold of the ball and slotted a great running goal from 55 yards (50 meters). The lead continued to change hands with goals to Swan, Fletcher, Didak and LeCras. The Eagles gained the biggest break of the game when Clement's kick in after a point went straight to Wirrpanda. His goal gave the Eagles a 18 point lead late in the term. The door opened for the Pies when Glass, who had kept Rocca quiet for the half, came off for a rest. Collingwood seized their opportunities in the last few minutes of the half. First Cloke goaled to narrow the gap. Then Rocca marked and goaled. The Pies attacked again, the ball went to ground, and somehow Rocca found the ball with his heel and back-kicked it through for a goal to cut the Eagle lead to just three points at 1/2 time.
Most of the third term belonged to West Coast as they threatened to blow the game apart. The opening minutes featured more hard-running, tackling, and intense pressure which kept goals at a premium. Finally, Lynch took a strong grab and kicked his first goal of the game. The pressure continued and it was Priddis who finally emerged from a spillage with ball and kicked the next goal for the Eagles. Minutes later, another errant kick from Clement was smothered by LeCras. Staker swooped on the loose ball and found Wirrpanda again. His goal put the Eagles 22 points clear. Collingwood would not roll over. Instead they clawed their way back again through Cloke and Rocca. In almost a repeat of the second term, Cloke goaled and was followed by two from Rocca which had Collingwood within four points at 3/4 time.
Weary legs and bodies went at hammer and tong in the final term, knowing for the loser there would be no next week. Kicks were made under enormous pressure as neither side conceded an inch. It was the Eagles who nailed the first goal through LeCras from a soft free kick. Even the radio commentators had a say on it, admitting that while it was warranted, the new in the back interpretation needed to be scrapped. Collingwood again pounced on an Eagle error when Wirrpanda, now in defense, dropped an easy catch. Medhurst grabbed the loose ball and goaled. A few minutes later, Didak won a contest against Embley and slammed through a long goal from the boundary to put Collingwood two points in front. Four minutes later, Buckley tried to kick the ball long out of defense, only for Rosa to catch it and put the Eagles back in front by four points. The lead goes back to Collingwood when Medhurst wins the ball and spots Thomas who kicks from dead in front. In the dying minutes of the term, the Eagles missed two chances to seal the game. First, Glass tried a long kick from 50 meters (55 yards), then Embley's point leveled the scores with less than two minutes remaining. The Pies attacked relentlessly only to be repelled by the Eagles. Precious seconds were eaten on the clock as stoppages were forced and ball-ups required. The final play of the term came with Clement kicking long only for the ball to be intercepted by Lynch after the siren.
Ten minutes of extra time was added for the tie-breaker, with the sides changing ends after five minutes of play. Collingwood dug deep to hold off the Eagles. West Coast again missed a chance to take the lead, managing just a point in the first five minutes while some good work by Bryan was finished off with a goal to Thomas. It gave Collingwood a five point lead at the extra-time break. In the next five minutes, West Coast again failed to kick a goal, kicking just one point while goals to Pendlebury and Swan right at the siren gave Collingwood a memorable win a classic epic.
This was the first final since 1994 which has required extra time. In 1994, the Kangaroos defeated Hawthorn by 23 points in a Qualifying Final in extra time.
Discounting Adelaide in 1999, who failed to make the top eight, West Coast is the first defending premier not to win a final since Carlton in 1996. It is also the first time Collingwood has defeated the Eagles in Perth since 1992. Collingwood and the Eagles also played to a tie in 1990. Then, there was no extra time. Instead, the teams played off again the following week. The Pies defeated the Eagles in the replay.
KANG 3.3 5.5 9.7 14.9 (93)
HAW 2.1 4.3 6.8 8.12 (60)
GOALS: KANG - Edwards 4, Harvey 4, McIntosh, Grant, Wells, Swallow, Petrie, McMahon; HAW - Franklin 3, Roughead, Lewis, Bateman, Guerra, Boyle
BEST: KANG - Rawlings, Harris, Gibson, Edwards, McIntosh, Harvey; HAW - Sewell, Lewis, Guerra, Croad, Bateman, Crawford
REPORTS: HAW - Crawford for allegedly striking Harris
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Rosebury, McLaren
CROWD: 74,981 at the MCG
Coach Dean Laidley had a surprise for his players before the game. He invited former coach Denis Pagan to address the group before the match. Reportedly, Pagan told them to forget about the humiliating loss of the previous week and concentrate on the task at hand. The speech worked as did Gibson minding dangerous forward Franklin. The Kangaroos also had other players dropping into defense to block Franklin from running out to lead for the ball. The ploy worked with Franklin giving away undisciplined free kicks in frustration and having no impact. At the other end, young Edwards was filling in at full forward for the injured Corey Jones. He kicked the first two goals of the game and the Kangaroos never relinquished the lead. Franklin got one for the Hawks late in the term, followed by Bateman. The Hawks had their chances to steal the lead but Guerra, Dixon and Franklin all missed late shots. The Kangaroos added another goal to give themselves an eight point lead at 1/4 time.
The second term was a low scoring one as the Kangaroos kept up the defensive pressure and the Hawks fought to get back into the game. Vandenberg was shifted forward in an effort by the Hawks to lure Archer away from his job of double-teaming Franklin. The tactic was moderately successful as the Hawks challenged with two goals for the term. However, the Kangaroos also kicked two goals to keep their eight point lead at 1/2 time.
Hawthorn cannot be faulted for going in hard in the second half. They tried to pressure the Kangaroos who were doing the same to the Hawks. It only served to create some appalling errors from both teams, especially the Kangaroo defenders. Those errors proved costly as it allowed the Hawks to get within a goal of the Roos on several occasions. However, the Kangaroos steadied through Hawk errors. Edwards goaled from a free kick, then Smith gave away a 50 meter penalty (55 yards) which took Harvey within goal range. His goal gave the Roos a 17 point lead at 3/4 time.
Franklin gave the Hawks some hope with the first goal of the final term. However, another free gave Harvey another goal. Grant goaled midway through the term and the Kangaroo lead was out to 27 points, their biggest of the match. The Kangaroos finished off with three of the last four goals of the game to keep their season alive at least for one more week.
Next week it will be Geelong vs. Collingwood on Friday night at the MCG and Port Adelaide vs. Hawthorn on Saturday afternoon at AAMI Stadium.
Source: Melbourne Age, Herald Sun, and author notes from match broadcasts
Article last changed on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 7:28 PM EDT
