by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
GEEL 7.0 11.6 17.7 19.13 (127) NM 3.2 10.4 15.7 17.12 (114)
GOALS: GEEL - Mooney 7, S Johnson 3, Lonergan 2, Varcoe 2, Ablett 2, Byrnes, Ottens, Enright; NM - Hale 4, Campbell 3, Harvey 2, Petrie 2, Thomas 2, Harding, Harris, Brown, Lower
BEST: GEEL - Ablett, S Johnson, Mooney, Ling, Kelly, Enright; NM - Harvey, Simpson, Gibson, Hale, Petrie, Harris
INJURY: GEEL - Selwood (virus) replaced in selected side by Prismall, Scarlett (hamstring); NM - Pratt (shoulder)
UMPIRES: Wenn, Ryan, McInerney
CROWD: 38,373 at Telstra Dome
If there is any one truism in football, it is that you underestimate the Kangaroos at your own peril. Certainly the Cats didn't underestimate them, but Geelong was made to work overtime for the win as the Kangaroos simply refused to give in. The early stages of the opening term was goal for goal. Then, with Ablett starring in the middle, the Cats kicked the next five goals while restricting the Kangaroos to one point and rushing through another to stop a Kangaroo goal. Ottens goal late in the term gave the Cats a 22 point lead at 1/4 time.
Harding and Hale slashed the Cat lead with a goal each at the start of the second term. But Mooney nailed his second a few minutes later. Rawlings was shifted on to Ablett and was able to curtail his influence to a degree while Harvey, Simpson and Harris also lifted to drag the Kangaroos back into the match. Harvey goaled, but Mooney replied soon after. Goals to Harris and Campbell had the Kangaroos within eight points before Ablett and Mooney goaled again. The Kangaroos just kept coming, and seized their advantage when Geelong's best defender Scarlett hobbled off with a hamstring injury. Petrie and Urquhart both missed shots on goal which would have set up the Kangaroos to steal the lead. Petrie redeemed himself a few minutes later with a goal. Harvey booted another late in the term, but the Cats still held a 14 point lead at 1/2 time.
After a few misses by both sides early in the third term, Petrie's goal again reduced Geelong's lead to eight points. Mooney goaled soon after, but Wojcinski gave away a 50 meter penalty (55 yards) and Campbell goaled as a result. The middle of the term saw a burst of goals from both sides. First it was Brown for the Kangaroos, followed by Enright and Varcoe for the Cats. When Thomas and Lower goaled, the Cat lead was just six points. In the dying minutes of the term, Ablett got in front of Brown to gather the ball, slip through a pack of defenders and snap a brilliant goal to give the Cats a 12 point lead at 3/4 time.
The final term became a slog as both sides battled it out. Finally, Johnson goaled for the Cats. The Kangaroos fought on as they constantly pushed forward but could not put the score on the board. The Geelong defense rushed through a point and the off-target Petrie missed another shot on goal as did Harris. Hale marked (caught the ball) and goaled to reduce the Cat lead to 10 points. More points, either rushed or through both sides missing the big sticks, came before another mark and goal to Hale left the Kangaroos just seven points down midway through the term. Some stout defending from Firrito saved another Cat goal when he touched Johnson's kick on the line. Byrnes also missed before Ottens and Mooney goaled late in the term to give the Cats a 14 point lead. The final minutes of the match were frenetic as the Kangaroos tried desperately. Harvey smothered a Cat kick and got the ball to Petrie, but his efforts were wasted as Petrie again missed. The final play of the game might be good for a few laughs from Geelong fans as Johnson's "icing on the cake" goal was denied when his own teammate Byrnes touched the ball as it headed for the goals.
ADE 5.3 7.5 15.11 22.14 (146) RICH 6.2 9.7 11.9 14.12 (96)
GOALS: ADE - Thompson 6, Jericho 5, Porplyzia 3, Vince 3, Edwards 2, Douglas, Knights, Tippett; RICH - Richardson 3, Simmonds 2, Bowden 2, Pettifer, Polak, Deledio, Cotchin, Edwards, Pattison, Foley
BEST: ADE - Thompson, Shirley, Edwards, Jericho, Vince, Porplyzia; RICH - Brown, Cotchin, Deledio, Richardson, Newman
INJURY: RICH - Thursfield (hamstring)
UMPIRES: James, Fila, Ellis
CROWD: 32,767 at the MCG
Adelaide benefited early from several umpiring decisions to kick the opening two goals of the match. Moore was given a 50 meter penalty (55 yards), setting up Vince for the first goal, then Tivendale was penalized for holding the ball and Thompson kicked Adelaide's second. Tivendale had a chance to redeem himself but missed. Then it was Richmond's turn to earn a soft free kick and Richardson made the most of it with the Tigers first goal. From there, the Tigers went on a scoring spree. Cotchin, Deledio and Brown helped spark the Tigers. Simmonds marked and goaled with Cotchin following with one of his own and then setting up Foley. Another 50 meter penalty set up Richardson and when Pattison goaled from another dubious free kick, the Tigers were out to a four goal lead. The Crows stormed back into action, kicking the next three goals to trail by just five points at 1/4 time.
The Tigers hit back early in the second term with a pair of goals, but after that the scoring dried up as Richmond seemed to have found the answers to stop Adelaide's run. It wasn't until late in the term that the Crows made some inroads with two of the last three goals of the term. However, it was still Richmond by 14 points at 1/2 time.
After the Tigers kicked two of the first five goals, the Crows mounted the pressure and the Tigers wilted. McLeod was moved from defense to the half-forward line with telling effect. The turning point came after Bowden's goal had given the Tigers a six point lead. Deledio won the ball and kicked for goal only to have it marked (caught) on the line by Bassett. Bassett kicked long to Reilly who kicked long to Jericho for an Adelaide goal. It was his first of four for the term and Knights and Thompson added two more to snuff out any hope of a Tiger rally and give Adelaide a 26 point lead at 3/4 time.
The Crows continued the barrage in the final term, by which time Richardson had been relegated to defense. His presence in the back line didn't help as the Crows slammed on a further seven goals to three for an emphatic win.
SYD 0.4 2.7 6.9 12.11 (83) WCE 6.1 8.7 8.11 11.12 (78)
GOALS: SYD - J. Bolton 2, Malceski 2, Bevan 2, McVeigh 2, Kirk 2, Buchanan, O'Loughlin; WCE - Staker 2, Wirrpanda 2, Kerr 2, Lynch, Hunter, Seaby, Selwood, Nicoski
BEST: SYD - Goodes, Kirk, Malceski, Kennelly, J. Bolton; WCE - Kerr, Embley, Lynch, Staker, Wirrpanda, Cox
REPORTS: SYD - Goodes for rough conduct on Selwood
UMPIRES: Donlon, Kennedy, Head
CROWD: 38,802 at Subiaco Oval
The Swans and Eagles have done it again. After looking dead and buried at half time, the Swans stormed home to produce yet another thriller between these two sides. The Eagles were all over the Swans in the first term. Cox dominated the ruck duels against Jolly and Everitt while Kerr and Fletcher were busy in the middle and Sydney defender Roberts-Thompson was having a nightmare game against Lynch, Hunter and Staker. Nicoski and Kerr had the first two goals within the first minute of the game. Soon after, Selwood was the beneficiary of Cox's center dominance as well as a free kick against Goodes, who found himself reported as well. Wirrpanda goaled next, then Kerr won the ball and kicked a gem from 60 yards. The Swans tried, but the few times they did go forward, their kicks went astray. Of the four points they had on the board, only was rushed by the Eagle defense. When Staker goaled late in the term, the Eagles were out to a 33 point lead at 1/4 time.
The Swans manned up better in the second term to stop the Eagles as both sides missed early kicks on goal. The Eagles were also keeping the Swans in check. It took until midway through the term before Jude Bolton finally nailed Sydney's first goal. The Swans had the next several attacks foiled as the Eagle defense rushed through several points. Seaby and McVeigh traded goals and the damage could have been worse but some good defensive work by the Swans as they rushed through several more points. The Eagles surged again with goals to Staker and Hunter giving West Coast a six goal lead at 1/2 time.
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The Swans fired in the third term with Goodes and Kirk instrumental in the comeback. Malceski put faith in his reconstructed knee, to fly for the ball and drill a goal from 55 yards. O'Loughlin followed his missed shot with a goal. Sydney worked hard to stymie the Eagles with Kirk adding two goals surrounded by misses from Lynch for the Eagles and teammate Buchanan. His last, which came late in the term and had the Swans right back in the contest. Sydney's rally and West Coast's inability to score had the Swans within 14 points at 3/4 time.
After Moore missed at the start of the final term, Wirrpanda goaled on the run. Sydney continued to play their tough uncompromising game to stop the Eagles in their tracks. McVeigh goaled to have the Swans within reach, but Staker goaled again. Bevan kicked consecutive goals midway through the term and the Swans were within seven points. Both sides went in hard and furious as Lynch kicked a goal and a point only for Buchanan to reply for the Swans. Moore kicked a crucial point and when Malceski goaled, it was a one point ball game with just over five minutes on the clock. It was the battle of the midfields as the Swans foiled attempted attacks by the Eagles. Finally, with just a few minutes remaining, the Swans raced the ball forward and Jude Bolton caught high tackle from Hunter. He was on a slight angle and less than 40 yards out. He lined up and put through the sealing goal to break Eagle hearts and end another classic battle.
HAW 4.3 9.5 15.11 19.16 (130) ESS 3.3 8.4 10.7 12.7 (79)
GOALS: ESS - Lucas 4, Lloyd 2, Winderlich 2, McPhee, Monfries, Pears, Reimers; HAW - Franklin 9, Hodge 3, Roughead 3, Clarke, Boyle, Osborne, Young
BEST: ESS - Lovett-Murray, McVeigh, Fletcher, Houli, Welsh, Stanton, Winderlich; HAW - Franklin, Hodge, Bateman, Osborne, Lewis, Campbell, Clarke
INJURY: ESS - Laycock (ankle) replaced in selected side by Bellchambers, Nash (concussion); HAW - Bateman (corked thigh), Taylor (gashed knee)
UMPIRES: McBurney, Avon, Mollison
Official crowd: 46,377 at Telstra Dome
Essendon looked sharper through much of the first term. Welsh followed the dangerous Mitchell and tagged him right out of the match. The most important match up was who would take on red-hot forward Hawk forward Franklin. That job fell to young Essendon defender Ryder. The Bombers took advantage of Hawthorn's sometimes sloppy work and ran hard to create opportunities for themselves and deny the Hawks. Goals to Lonergan and Lloyd gave them a quick 12 point lead before Fletcher conceded a 50 meter penalty and goal to Boyle. Now it was Essendon's turn to get sloppy and make mistakes, mistakes which Hawthorn pounced upon. They kicked three of the last four goals of the term to lead by six points at 1/4 time.
Franklin cut loose in the second term, proving too quick, strong and skilled for Ryder. Essendon stayed right with the Hawks for most of the term, matching the Hawks's five goals. Franklin kicked four of his side's five for the term. The Bombers went forward once more late in the term and got the ball to McVeigh just before the siren. He goaled after the siren to have Essendon within seven points at 1/2 time.
Monfries had Essendon within a point at the start of the third term, but the Hawks pulled away with two goals to Franklin and another to Roughead. With Campbell and Brown working well in tandem in the ruck and Hodge, Mitchell and Bateman providing plenty of drive through the middle, the Hawks kicked another three goals to Essendon's one for a 34 point lead at 3/4 time.
Much of the focus in the final term was on Franklin and how many goals he would kick for the game. He managed just two more to equal his best ever haul. It was enough as the Hawks added two more while Essendon just two goals for the term.
CARL 1.4 2.9 3.12 10.15 (75) PA 3.5 6.8 8.12 8.15 (63)
GOALS: CARL - Kreuzer 3, Fevola 2, Gibbs, Armfield, Waite, Betts, Simpson; PA - Rodan 2, Salopek, Motlop, Gray, Boak, Westhoff, Tredrea
BEST: CARL - Murphy, Judd, Kreuzer, O'hAilpin, Bentick; PA - K. Cornes, Rodan, Salopek, Carlile, Westhoff
INJURY: CARL - Betts (ankle); PA - Stewart (knock to head/neck), Toby Thurstans (medial ligament/knee)
REPORTS: CARL - Russell for forceful contact with Stewart
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Stevic, Keating
CROWD: 29,240 at AAMI Stadium
Rain, sloppy work by the Blues, and Port's intention of playing harder conspired against Carlton. The Blues had no problem winning the ball early but let themselves down with skill errors, turnovers in the midfield and woeful kicking for goal. A 50 meter penalty (55 yards) handed Rodan the opening goal. A few minutes later, Motlop was in the clear for another. Port's next goal came when Murphy's kick was picked off by Boak. Gibbs kicked Carlton's only goal in the term, leaving Port with a 13 point lead at 1/4 time.
Carlton was no better in the second term with bad mistakes costing them three goals. Salopek intercepted a handball from Russell and goaled. Rodan also goaled from a Carlton turnover in defense and Port was out to a 25 point lead. Again, Carlton didn't lack for ball possessions, but constant turnovers were proving costly. Boak passed the ball to Gray for Port's third goal of the term before Carlton finally scored their only goal through first year player Armfield. Things looked grim for the Blues with Port leading by 23 points at 1/2 time.
Westhoff goaled at the start of the third term, pushing Port further in front. Another Carlton turnover allowed Tredrea to goal, giving Port a 37 point lead. Only poor kicking for goal by Port kept the game from turning into a blowout. Fevola snagged the Blues' only goal for the term. Rodan had a late shot on goal which could have pushed the margin out even further, but the ball was touched on the line, leaving Port with a 30 point lead at 3/4 time.
Carlton saved their best for last. They tackled better and began getting the ball to teammates instead kicking and handballing to the oppostion. Kreuzer bagged an early goal, followed by Waite from 50 meters (55 yards). It put the Blues within 17 points. Judd led the midfield charge with plenty of support from Murphy, Simpson and Kreuzer. Betts swooped in for an opportunistic goal which cut Port's lead to 11 points. The game was briefly delayed midway through the term as Stewart was stretchered off. It didn't slow down Carlton as Kreuzer goaled again to have the Blues within seven points. He added a third a few minutes later to have Carlton within one point. When Simpson goaled late in the term, the Blues were in front for the first time. Fevola sweetened the win with a goal after the siren.
The win is Carlton's first over Port since 2001. They played to a draw in 2005.
WB 2.0 7.5 11.13 15.16 (106) STK 3.6 4.7 5.9 11.13 (79)
GOALS: WB - Akermanis 6, Giansiracusa 4, Ray, Welsh, Ward, Williams, Griffen; STK - Gram 2, Riewoldt 2, Jones 2, Hayes, Birss, Milne, Dal Santo, Blake
BEST: WB - Akermanis, Lake, Cross, Giansiracusa, Gilbee, Boyd, Hargrave, Welsh; STK - Gram, Ball, Birss, S. Fisher, Goddard, Dal Santo
INJURY: STK - Koschitzke (knee), Harvey (calf) replaced in selected side by L. Fisher, King (back) replaced in selected side by Gwilt
REPORTS: WB - Hudson reported for striking Montagna
UMPIRES: McLaren, Schmitt, Chamberlain
CROWD: 38,914 at Telstra Dome
The Saints had the better of the slow-starting Bulldogs early in the game. Dal Santo, Montagna, Ball, and Goddard were winning plenty of the ball in the middle while Fisher, Gram and Hudghton repelled the Bulldog attack. All their hard work went to waste due to poor kicking for goal. Riewoldt was again one of the prime offenders as he sprayed a number of shots on goal in the first term alone. It was goal for goal early in the term and the Saints could have had a greater lead than just 12 points at 1/4 time.
The Bulldogs got their running game gong in the second term with Cooney and Boyd providing plenty of run through the center and Akermanis lifting his game to kick three of the Dogs's five goals for the term. Koschitzke also came off injured in the term and although he returned in the second half, he was on and off the bench. The Saints' inaccuracy continued in front of goal as they added just one goal for the term, leaving the Bulldogs with a 16 point lead at 1/2 time.
The Bulldogs carried their momentum into the third term, kicking four goals to one for the term. Young Bulldog Ward kicked his first league goal and Akermanis closed out the term with another. This time it was the Bulldogs who had a few forward problems, and could have had a much bigger lead at the last break. As it was, they still held a commanding 40 point lead at 3/4 time.
The Saints finally fired in the final term and managed to outscore the Bulldogs six goals to four. They can only rue their early wastefulness as all they did was add a bit of respectability to the scoreboard.
BRIS 2.1 8.5 11.10 14.12 (96) FRE 2.3 3.7 7.9 10.14 (74)
GOALS: BRIS - Brown 3, Johnstone 3, Black, Notting, Rischitelli, Notting, Corrie, Sherman, Charman, Leuenberger, Harding; FRE - Pavlich 3, Farmer 2, Palmer, Mayne, Carr, Tarrant, Sandilands
BEST: BRIS - Black, Macdonald, Brown, Johnstone, Rischitelli, Brennan; FRE - Palmer, Johnson, Pavlich, McPharlin, Bell, Mundy
INJURY: BRIS - Drummond (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Leuenberger, Bradshaw (hamstring), Harding (knee); FRE - Drum replaced in selected side by Thornton
REPORTS: BRIS - Selwood for wrestling H. Black; FRE - H. Black for wrestling & striking Selwood
UMPIRES: Stewart, Ellis, Jeffery
CROWD: 24,506 at Gabba
It was a low scoring and scrappy opening as the Lions and Dockers matched each other early and neither side could gain a clear advantage over the other. Both were also guilty of poor ball use and disposal. Midfield and defensive pressure from both sides kept scoring to a minimum as both sides found it difficult getting the ball to their forwards with any sort of efficiency. The Dockers at least found enough to lead by two points at 1/4 time.
Brisbane lifted in the second term with Black, Rischitelli and Johnstone dictating terms through the midfield and MacDonald launching plenty of attacks from defense. The Lions booted three of the first four goals of the term. The Dockers hung tough until late in the term when Solomon gave away a 50 meter penalty (55 yards) and Brown goaled from close range. It sparked a three goal run with another to Brown and one to Rischitelli and the Lions were out to a 28 point lead at 1/2 time.
Johnstone continued his hard work in the third term and kicked a great running goal before setting up Harding for another. Soon after, Harding was off and didn't return. Bradshaw also had to come off in the term but it didn't faze the Lions who plenty of other options up forward. The Dockers rallied to kick three of the next four to cut Brisbane's lead. Young gun Palmer, who already is a Rising Star nominee, marked (caught the ball) and goaled after the siren to have Fremantle within 25 points at 3/4 time.
The Dockers reduced Brisbane's lead to 19 points with an early goal in the final term, but the Lions kept them at bay. Both sides kicked three goals for the term, but the Dockers also missed a number of shots on goal which could have given them the lead. Instead, it was the Lions who prevailed.
COL 3.2 8.5 15.8 17.14 (116) MELB 4.1 7.4 11.9 13.17 (95)
GOALS: COL - Didak 2, H. Shaw 2, Lockyer 2, Davis 2, Fraser, Johnson, Medhurst, Brown, Swan, Wellingham, O'Brien, Cox, Thomas; MELB - Wonaeamirri 3, Sylvia 3, Yze 2, Green 2, Dunn, Jones, McLean
BEST: COL - Burns, Didak, Lockyer, Maxwell, O'Brien, Bryan; MELB - McLean, Jones, Bruce, Yze, Warnock, Dunn
INJURY: COL - Rocca (ankle), Pendlebury (back) replaced in selected side by Cox, Cook; MELB - Rivers (groin), Moloney (shoulder)
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Farmer, Meredith
CROWD: 59,548 at the MCG
It was an emotional lead up to this match for the Demons. Their chairman, Paul Gardner, announced he would be stepping down. AFL boss Andrew Demetriou and even Collingwood Coach Mick Malthouse urged Demon fans to come out and show their support for the struggling club. There was even talk of Melbourne losing the lucrative Queen's Birthday blockbuster if crowd figures dwindled.
As a result, Melbourne started the game in a blaze with Moloney giving several Collingwood players some very physical attention before the first bounce. It was Collingwood who got the better start with Heath Shaw and Didak putting through the first two goals. The Demons stayed right in the game with three of the next four goals. When Sylvia kicked a late goal for the term, Melbourne led by four points at 1/4 time.
Collingwood gained the lead early in the second term with goals to Fraser and Lockyer, but another goal to young Wonaemirri cut the Magpie lead to one point. Another goal to Collingwood and one to Yze kept the margin close until Medhurst and Heath Shaw again goaled to restore Collingwood's 13 point lead. Jones, who also spent time in defense, kicked a goal on the run right on the siren, cutting Collingwood's lead to seven points at 1/2 time.
The Magpies stretched their lead to 20 early in the third term with goals to Brown and Davis, but Melbourne fought back to again be within a kick midway through the term. Collingwood then put on a show midway through the term. First up was Swan, whose 65 meter kick (70 yards) bounced its way through for a goal. Wellingham and O'Brien also kicked goals from 50 meters (55 yards). The real highlight came from Lockyer. He swooped on a loose ball close to goal but was tackled. Somehow, while still on the ground with his back to the goals, he kicked the ball over his head for a miracle goal which put the Pies 31 points clear. Green missed twice for the Demons but finally kicked a late goal, leaving the Pies with a 23 point lead at 3/4 time.
By the final term, Melbourne was down to two fit players on the bench with Rivers and Moloney both coming off early with injury. The game could have turned either way if both sides had kicked straighter in the term. The Demons still managed to be within 15 points with a goal. The Pies kicked two of the last three, the final goal another fine running and bouncing effort from Thomas to seal the win.
GOALS Franklin (HAW) 59 Bradshaw (BRIS) 43 Fevola (CARL) 42 Brown (BRIS) 36 Roughead (HAW) 35 Pavlich (FRE) 34
Source: Melbourne Age, Herald Sun, afl.com.au, author notes from live broadcasts
Article last changed on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 3:11 AM EDT
