Round 18 Scores

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Watch video of the top marks of this round:

HAW  6.3   8.8   12.11   17.14 (116)
COL  1.2   3.8    6.13    8.14 (62)

GOALS: HAW - Franklin 8, Roughead 4, Dew, Bateman, Gilham, Williams, Sewell; COL - H. Shaw 2, Pendlebury 2, Medhurst, Didak, Anthony, Davis

BEST: HAW - Franklin, Mitchell, Hodge, Bateman, Ellis, Croad, Brown; COL - Pendlebury, O’Brien, Maxwell, Anthony, Didak, Swan

UMPIRES: James, McLaren, Jeffery

CROWD 58,307 at the MCG

It was another Buddy Franklin special as the Hawks blew the Magpies out of the water. The loss could have really been embarrassing for the Pies had Franklin kicked straighter as he booted six points to go along with his eight goals. Mitchell, Hodge, Bateman, and Sewell ran amok in the midfield with Dew putting through the first goal for the Hawks. Roughead and Franklin added two more a few minutes later to have Collingwood on the back foot early in the match. After almost 10 minutes, Collingwood finally a goal through Pendlebury but the Hawks quickly replied again through Franklin. After a couple of misses from Rioli and Franklin, Bateman and Roughead put through another pair of goals and the Hawk defense stopped the Pies with a rushed point to finish off the term 31 points clear at 1/4 time.

After a miss from Pendlebury at the start of the second term, Franklin booted his second goal of the match and then found himself with a second opponent. O'Brien replaced Maxwell but with no better luck against the Hawk star and Maxwell eventually went back onto Franklin. Inaccuracy from both sides permeated the term with the Hawks kicking four points and Swan missing twice for the Magpies before Medhurst finally kicked a goal for the Magpies. Franklin missed again, but Didak kicked another goal for Collingwood. The Magpies again missed several shots which could have brought the margin down. Franklin finished off the term with another goal to give the Hawks a 30 point lead at 1/2 time.

Collingwood lifted early in the third term and were helped when Guerra turned the over at a kick in after the Hawks rushed a point and Anthony goaled from a free kick. When Pendlebury and Heath Shaw booted a pair, the Magpies were within 10 points. That would be the closest they would get as the Hawks won possession from the bounce and Franklin kicked another goal. Then it was Collingwood's turn to cough up the ball from a kick in after rushing through a point. Franklin won the ball and passed to Roughead for a goal. When Gilham goaled, the margin was back out to 30 points. Several more misses from both sides surrounded a Williams goal and the Hawks were in front by 34 points at 3/4 time.

With Cloke well covered by Croad and Medhurst unable to get away from Murphy and Brown, Heath Shaw and Thomas were shifted forward at the start of the final term. The Collingwood forwards were also hampered by poor delivery from teammates and were forced to roam further afield for possessions. The Hawks had no such trouble with their own midfielders constantly pumping the ball forward and finding their targets in Roughead and Franklin. However, the move of Shaw forward seemed as if it might work with Shaw kicking a great goal from 45 meters (49 yards) on a tight angle. The Hawks virtually sealed the win with three of the next four goals. Franklin finished off the game in a blaze with the last two goals to give him a handy lead in the race for the Coleman Medal.

ADE   1.7   6.11   12.14   13.16 (94)
CARL  4.4   7.6     9.8    12.14 (86)

GOALS: ADE - Moran 4, Maric 2, Shirley 2, Edwards 2, Gill, Mackay, Porplyzia; CARL - Fevola 5, Scotland, Fisher, Walker, Cloke, Wiggins, Stevens, Simpson

BEST: ADE - Shirley, Edwards, van Berlo, Moran, Massie, Doughty, McLeod; CARL - Scotland, Waite, Fevola, Stevens, Carrazzo, Gibbs

INJURY: ADE - Porplyzia (concussion/shoulder), Knights (hamstring); CARL - Betts (hamstring)

UMPIRES: Ryan, Meredith, McInerney

CROWD: 40,730 at AAMI Stadium

Slippery conditions prevailed due to rain and it was Carlton who handled it better as they dominated the first term. Although the underrated Shirley put the clamps of Judd, Walker, Stevens and Scotland filled the breach while Fevola, who just signed a new contract, was again on fire. Adelaide were their own worst enemy in the term with some woeful kicking for goal while the Blues piled on four. The last was a long range gem into the breeze from Fevola. The ball was already sailing for goal when the siren sounded and went through to give the Blues a 15 point lead at 1/4 time.

Porplyzia and Fevola goaled at the start of the second term to maintain the status quo. Simpson kicked a point and the Crows rushed a point and then cut the Carlton lead with goals to Mackay and Maric. When Gill goaled, Adelaide was in front by 3 points. Fevola goaled to extend Carlton's lead. Soon after, Porplyzia and young Blue Browne collided, leaving Porplyzia unconscious and with his wonky shoulder dislocated again. The loss of Porplyzia seemed to spark the Crows and a goal to Moran after he and Symes kicked a couple of points gave Adelaide a 5 point lead. Wiggins goaled late in the term and it was Carlton by a solitary point at 1/2 time.

By the start of the third term, the Crows were down to just 20 players with Porplyzia off and Knights sidelined as well. Carlton also lost Betts in the second term. After Cloke goaled to give the Blues a seven point lead at the start of the term, Adelaide blew the game open as they peppered the goals. Moran, dangerous up forward throughout kicked a par of goals with Shirley and Maric chipping in as well. Walker broke the Adelaide run for a badly needed goal for the Blues, but the Crows kicked another two and took a 24 point lead at 3/4 time.

Thompson and Douglas missed their chances to put the game beyond Carlton's reach before Edwards goaled for what appeared a match winning lead. But the Blues fought back with goals to Simpson, Fevola and Stevens getting them within range. Carlton's rally continued as they stopped the Crows from scoring but they just could not put the score on the board. The best they could manage was seven points. The Blues kicked six on their own and had one rushed through by the Crow defense. Had any two of those points gone through for goals, Carlton would have pinched the game instead of falling agonizingly short.

ESS   3.1   9.6   14.8   19.10 (124)
MELB  2.2   7.3   11.5   17.6 (108)

GOALS: ESS - Lloyd 8, Monfries 3, McPhee 2, Lovett 2, Atkinson, Reimers, Slattery, Jetta;
MELB - Morton 3, Sylvia 3, Maric 2, Bate 2, Bartram, Green, Buckley, Davey, P. Johnson, Jamar, Wonaeamirri

BEST: ESS - Lloyd, Hille, Monfries, Fletcher, McPhee, Peverill, Lovett-Murray, Nash; MELB - McDonald, Sylvia, Morton, Garland, Dunn, Bate, Bruce

INJURY: ESS - Reimers (hamstring); MELB - Garland (hamstring), Davey (bruised heel)

UMPIRES: Kennedy, Sully, Fila

CROWD: 46,334 at the MCG

The Essendon players sported yellow armbands for cancer awareness in the third annual Clash for Cancer game. Lloyd, in fine fettle, kicked two goals in the first few minutes of the game. Young Demon defender Martin was shifted off of Lloyd and onto McPhee with Warnock going onto Lloyd. Maric finally kicked Melbourne's first only for McPhee to reply before Bartram kicked Melbourne's second goal. In a low scoring term, it was Essendon by five points at 1/4 time.

Lloyd's first goal of the second term and third for the game not only stretched Essendon's lead, but took him past former Collingwood ace Peter McKenna (874 career goals) to eighth position on the all-time list of goalkickers. Goals to Morton, Sylvia and Buckley gave Melbourne the lead but it didn't last long as goals to Lovett and Monfries restored Essendon's ascendancy. Essendon kicked three straight goals before Davey snagged one back late in the term, leaving the Bombers with a 15 point lead at 1/2 time.

The Dees showed some spark to take control early in the third term with goals to Sylvia and Johnson slashing Essendon's lead. After misses from Monfries for Essendon and Jamar for Melbourne, it was Lloyd again with a goal and point. The Demons kept coming with goals to Sylvia and Wonaeamirri stealing back the lead. The Bombers then fired with the next four goals to take a 21 point lead at 3/4 time.

Slattery goaled at the start of the final term to give Essendon their biggest lead of the match before Green kept the Dees in it with a goal soon after. McPhee added another for the Bombers, but Melbourne came again with goals to Jamar and Morton reducing Essendon's lead to just 15 points. When Morton goaled again a few minutes later, the difference was just nine points. From there, it was goal for goal until the final siren, with the Bombers responding each time the Demons challenged to take the win.

NM    5.6   6.9   10.10   13.14 (92)
BRIS  3.3   8.7   10.13   11.18 (84) 

GOALS: NM - Hale 3, L. Brown 2, Campbell 2, Hansen 2, Pratt, Gibson, McMahon, Power;
BRIS - J. Brown 5, Bradshaw 5, Corrie

BEST: NM - Wells, Harris, Hale, Urquhart, Rawlings, Petrie; BRIS - Rischitelli, Dalziell, J. Brown, Bradshaw, Proud, Brennan

INJURY: NM - Simpson (hip) replaced in selected side by White, Wells (knee, head)

UMPIRES: Rosebury, Schmitt, Armstrong

CROWD: 10,037 at Gold Coast Stadium

It was the Kangaroos' last game on the Gold Coast and they put on quite a show, including an excellent game from the hometown boy in Hale and former QLD player Pratt. Both were instrumental to the Kangaroos in the opening term. The Kangaroos were in control and Hale kicked three of their five goals, helping them to a 28 point lead before late goals to Bradshaw and Corrie reduced the Kangaroo lead to 16 points at 1/4 time.

The second term belonged to the Lions with Brown dominating the forward line and Rischitelli finding plenty of the ball. Brown barely got near the ball in the opening term, but exploded with four goals for the Lions in the term. The Kangaroos kicked just one for the term and Brown's fourth for the term put the Lions in front. Bradshaw's goal late in the term gave the Lions a 10 point lead at 1/2 time.

That lead could have been more at the start of the final term but Johnstone and Power sprayed their kicks on goal and the Kangaroos hit back hard with goals from Gibson and Hansen. When Campbell kicked a pair, the Kangaroos were in front again late in the term. Brisbane would not be denied as Jonathan Brown slammed through a late goal as did Bradshaw to put Brisbane three points in front at 3/4 time.

Bradshaw and Brown were in the thick of it again at the start of the final term with Brown getting the ball and passing it on to Bradshaw for another Lion goal. Both sides were then guilty of a number of missed opportunities in front of goal before former Bulldog Sam Power (brother to Brisbane's Luke) slotted a goal to have the Kangaroos within three points. Johnstone had a chance to seal the game but his running kick for goal went wide of the mark and the Kangaroos were off with two goals to Hansen for the lead. With just a few minutes remaining on the clock, McMahon took a strong mark (catch of the ball) and goaled to seal the win for the tenacious Kangaroos.

GEEL  2.6   8.8   15.13   20.14 (134)
RICH  2.2   4.6    6.9    10.11 (71)

GOALS: GEEL - Lonergan 3, Gamble 3, Bartel 2, Mackie 2, Mooney 2, Stokes 2, Johnson, Milburn, Selwood, Rooke, Ling, Kelly; RICH - Richardson 3, White 2, Bowden 2, Morton, Schulz, Riewoldt.

BEST: GEEL - Bartel, Corey, Selwood, Milburn, Ling, Stokes, Harley; RICH - Tuck, Deledio, Newman, Tambling, Bowden, Richardson

INJURY: RICH - Edwards (head knock)

UMPIRES: Stevic, Stewart, Wenn

CROWD: 42,238 at Telstra Dome

Geelong got off to an uncharacteristic slow start while the Tigers jumped to an early lead with the first two goals of the game. Although the Cats had plenty of shots on goal, they were off target until late in the term. Kelly and Lonergan finally found the big sticks with Lonergan kicking a goal right on the siren to give the Cats a five point lead at 1/4 time.

The Cats took over in the second term with the likes of Ling restricting Foley while Bartel, Corey, Selwood and company applied plenty of defensive pressure. That pressure prevented the Tigers from moving the ball with any sort of structure. The Tigers were further hampered when Richardson limped off with a knee injury. He remained on the bench until the second half. The Cats won plenty of the ball early in the second term and moved it quickly to their forwards for the first three goals of the term to stretch their lead. Geelong also forced the Tigers into numerous turnovers and then punished them on the scoreboard. King finally got Richmond's first score midway through the term, but it was only a point. Bowden and White kicked a pair of goals to have the Tigers within 11 points, but the Cats kicked the next goal through Mooney. Edwards missed and, from the kick in, the Cats again raced the ball away for a goal to Bartel. The next passage of play was almost a replica of the previous one. This time, it was Schulz who missed and again it was a goal to Bartel for a 26 point lead to the Cats at 1/2 time.

White goaled for the Tigers a few minutes into the third term to cut the gap to 20 points. For much of the rest of the term, it was all Geelong with 2 goals to Mackie and another to Lonergan. The Tigers had several chances in between, but missed. It wasn't until late in the term that the Tigers finally snagged a goal through
Richardson. The Cats continued the barrage with four of the next five goals to lead by 58 points at 3/4 time.

The Tigers fought back well in the final term with four of the first five goals, but the Cats finished them off with the last four goals of the game. Although the Tigers had some fine performers in Deledio, Edwards, Richardson and Newman, the Cats were simply a cut above in class and talent.

STK  4.1   7.5    9.10   14.17 (101)
PA   4.1   8.3   12.5    14.9 (93)

GOALS: STK - Riewoldt 3, Fiora 2, Gwilt 2, Gram 2, Harvey, Milne, Schneider, Koschitzke, Ball;
PA - J. Westhoff 3, Salter 2, Motlop 2, Surjan, Brogan, Rodan, Bentley, Ebert, Boak. S. Burgoyne

BEST: STK - Ball, Gram, Montagna, Harvey, McQualter, Riewoldt, Dal Santo, S. Fisher;
PA - Boak, K. Cornes, Thurstans, Brogan, J. Westhoff, Thurstans, Lower

UMPIRES: Head, Keating, Vozzo

CROWD: 22,878 at Telstra Dome

Port was without key playmakers Chad Cornes, Warren Tredrea and Dom Cassisi, but still got off to a better start with goals to Ebert and Bentley. Milne booted St. Kilda's first goal two minutes later before a McQualter tackle forced a Port turnover. The resultant goal by Gwilt leveled the score. Riewoldt and Motlop traded goals before a point to Ebert gave Port the lead. It went back St. Kilda's way with a goal to Gram. Salter's first AFL goal again gave Port the lead, but a point to Schneider again leveled the scores at 1/4 time.

The second term was much like the first with several lead changes and scored tied on several occasions. When Surjan goaled late in the term, the 12 point margin was Port's biggest lead to that stage of the game. Goals to Fiora and Harvey goaled to tie up the scores once more. Rodan goaled before the Saints kicked a couple of points to trail by four points at 1/2 time.

Port raced out to a 21 point lead with the first three goals of the third term. Shortly after Fiora got one back for the Saints, Harvey was crunched in a Surjan tackle and had to come off the field. A groggy Harvey remained on the bench until well into the final term. Westhoff goaled late in the term to put Port 18 points clear but the Saints, after several misses, cut the margin again with a fine running goal to Gwilt. It had the Saints within 13 points at 3/4 time.

Ball had Saints within seven points with a goal in the opening minute of the final term. Two points to Schneider and one to Surjan made the difference just one goal. Goals to Boak for Port and Schneider and Koschitzke for the Saints leveled the scores midway through the term. By this time, Harvey was back on the ground, much to the delight of Saint fans. The game continued to see-saw with a point to Ball giving the Saints the lead. Port's defense, who had been double-teaming Riewoldt for much of the game, rushed two points. Ebert had a chance to put Port in front, but missed. The Saints surged into attack once more and Riewoldt took a courageous mark (catch of the ball) amid a pack of players and goaled to give the Saints an eight point lead. A point to Bentley and rushed points by both sides had Port within seven points with plenty of time left on the clock. Gram goaled to give the Saints a 13 point lead but Shaun Burgoyne goaled again with three minutes remaining to give Port a chance. It was not be with a late point to Gram putting the game out Port' reach in a thriller.

FRE  9.2   13.5   17.10   17.14 (116)
WCE  4.1    6.6   10.7    12.11 (83)

GOALS: FRE - McPharlin 5, Pavlich 4, Carr 2, Bradley 2, Mundy 2, Mark Johnson, Farmer;
WCE - LeCras 4, McKinley 2, Hansen 2, Seaby, Wirrpanda, Lynch, Selwood

BEST: FRE - Pavlich (Glendinning (Medal), McPharlin, Schammer, Palmer, Crowley, Carr, McManus; WCE - LeCras, Cox, Armstrong, McKinley, Ebert, Wirrpanda

INJURY: FRE - Head replaced in selected side by Bradley, Hayden replaced in selected side by Murphy

UMPIRES: Donlon, Hendrie, Ryan

CROWD: 42,096 at Subiaco Oval

Last week, club stalwart Shaun McManus announced this western derby would be his final game. Their was no way the Dockers were going to let this one get away. Fremantle, with Sandilands more than holding his own against Cox in the ruck and around the ground, dominated the stoppages and it was the Dockers who posted the first goal through Josh Carr (whose brother Matt retired earlier this season). The Eagles settled quickly and slammed on three goals to take an early lead. McPharlin got the first his first three goals for the term. A point to McKinley and Pavlich's first of three goals for the term leveled the scores. Pavlich goaled again a few minutes later to give the Dockers the lead. A goal to Seaby had the Eagles within one point but the Dockers took over with a five goal burst to post their best ever first term score against the Eagles and a 31 point lead at 1/4 time.

West Coast tried to rally in the second term, but costly misses, turnovers and skill errors let them down badly. McPharlin kicked Freo's 10th goal of the match before Lynch gave Eagle fans a rare highlight. Hard against the boundary, Lynch unleashed a massive 65 kick which sailed through for the first of West Coast's two goals for the term. The Dockers kicked another three for the term to lead by 41 points at 1/2 time.

The Eagles fired early in the third term with Cox, Armstrong and LeCras giving them some spark. LeCras kicked consecutive goals and McKinley followed with another to cut Freo's lead to 25 points. It was back out to 30 points when McPharlin goaled midway through the term. The Dockers finished off the term with three of the last four goals to lead by 45 points at 3/4 time.

The Eagles won the final term, kicking two goals to four points, but the Freo faithful didn't care as they were more interested in cheering McManus. McManus finished off the game with 21 possessions, 10 marks (catch of the ball) and six tackles. After the siren, Docker and Eagle players formed a guard of honor. Also in that honor guard were Fremantle officials and former players, among them Peter Mann, James Walker, Troy Cook and Justin Longmuir. Before taking a lap of honor, McManus thanked his teammates and supporters and said the effort put in by his teammates would be something he would never forget. He also urged fans to stick with Fremantle and continue their support.

McManus leaves the game as the longest-serving Docker, having played 228 matches. He is the last of the inaugural Dockers, having joined the club in their maiden 1995 season. At the time of his announcement,


WB 3.2 11.4 13.7 17.11 (113)
SYD 5.3 6.6 9.11 14.13 (97)

GOALS: WB - Welsh 5, Johnson 4, Boyd, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Gilbee, Hahn, Harbrow, Hargrave, Hill; SYD - McVeigh 6, Hall 3, J. Bolton, Brennan, Jack, Richards, Veszpremi

BEST: WB - Welsh, Hahn, Minson, Johnson, Gilbee, Cross, Hargrave; SYD - McVeigh, Richards, O'Keefe, Hall, Veszpremi

UMPIRES: McBurney, M. Nicholls, Chamberlain, Avon (emergency)

CROWD: 13,551 at Manuka Oval

In the Round 18 game last year, the Bulldogs managed a draw with St. Kilda Prior to that, they had lost two games and would go on to lose the last four games of the year. Some experts believed the free-flowing and hard running game style had taken its toll on the players. Going into this match, the Dogs were coming off consecutive losses to Geelong and Carlton and it looked as if history would repeat itself when the Swans jumped the Bulldogs with the first four goals of the game. The Bulldogs finally got goals on the board, first from a clever Johnson kick off the ground amid a goal square scramble, the next through Hargrave. Jack and Giansiracusa each kicked a goal for their respective sides, but it was the Swans by 13 points at 1/4 time.

The Bulldogs lifted in the second term and got their running game going. They stunned the Swans and kept them under pressure to force errors. Without the experience of Goodes, Barry and O'Loughlin, the Bulldogs outran, out possessed and outplayed the Swans with eight goals to nil. Play was halted briefly midway through the term when Craig Bolton collided with umpire Matthew Nicholls and Nicholls had to helped from the ground. It didn't dampen the Bulldog surge as they slammed on eight goals to nil for a commanding lead. Hall kicked Sydney's only goal late in the term, leaving the Swans 28 points down at 1/2 time.

The third term opened with a point to Hill. The Swans began to win more of the ball and got it forward but managed just four points from four straight shots on goal. Hill goaled to give the Dogs a 31 point lead before the Swans kicked consecutive goals for the first time since the start of the game. Welsh and Veszpremi each goaled, but Hall missed another shot late in the term, leaving the Dogs with a 20 point lead at 3/4 time..

The margin blew out to 31 points early in the final term with goals to Welsh and Hahn. Although the Swans won the term with five goals to four, including the last two, it was too little, too late.

GOALS
Lance Franklin (HAW)   85 
Brendan Fevola (CARL)  80 
Daniel Bradshaw (BRIS) 63 
Matthew Pavlich (FRE)  63 
Jonathan Brown (BRIS)  62 
Jarryd Roughead (HAW)  58

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Source: Melbourne Age, Herald Sun, afl.com.au, AFL 2008 Season Guide, Luke Morfesse, Fremantle Media Release & author hotes from live broadcasts