Bluey
27th April 2000, 19:27
AFL Round 7 Part 2
Sorry to drone on about Colonial so much, but after the Melbourne/West
Coast debacle on Sunday there was yet another crisis meeting concerning
the Western White Elephant. Now walk-up punters will be able to sit
anywhere in the top deck for the regular price. Or you can do what a few
have done, pay general admission and sit in any empty seat on the bottom
deck. No-one stops you and why the hell should they?
At the MCG:
Richmond 0.5 5.7 8.9 10.9.69
Carlton 3.1 8.4 15.7 18.12.120
All I can say is the Tiges were outplayed by the Bluebaggers, working
harder and using the ball more effectively then the Tige's simple game
plan, which didn't work too well once Ottens struggled to take a mark.
Just one selection change amongst the two sides, Richmond replacing
suspended rookie Andrew Mills with a first-gamer in Aaron Fiora, their
first-round draft pick last year. He's a tallish, skinny winger from
Port Adelaide. Blue coach David Parkin was in charge of a senior side
for the 500th time, only the fifth man to reach the milestone. An
ornament to the game, Parko. Had a handy 493 games on his Tiger
counterpart.
I arrived right on the bounce and of all the 63,000 present got trapped
between two archetypal Blues, a spotty, smug but brainless student and a
loud, aggressive gent whose parents may have emigrated from southern
Europe. The first ten minutes was a nervy, sloppy affair with some
woeful kicking and a high number of smothers, from both teams.
Richmond's Bourke went down with injury, again, and took no further
part. Carlton got the first goal with Franchina marking over his
assignment for the day, Knights. Ratten created a tap-through for
Camporeale as the Tigers missed a stream of chances, Bowden and Daffy
the worst culprits although the normally reliable Ottens missed his
first shot after a good grab. Running from the Tiger defence Chaffey
spun out of one tackle but was caught in another by Hamill, who
converted the free for bawl. Carlton settled in the second stanza,
running the ball nicely through Camporeale and Ratten while McKay was
very good in defence. Hotton goaled from a strong grab in front of the
pack, another from Fevola and the Easter Monday Massacre threatened. At
last Hilton kicked Richmond's first goal, thanks to a 50m penalty
against Hotton, and they booted another three in four minutes. Knights
found Rogers with a pass and he dobbed it, Bowden marked and goaled from
the pocket. Fiora's first touch was a classy gather, weave away from
tacklers and handpass to Rogers who speared it low from 50m. The Blue
lead was cut to 4 points, but they replied with the next three goals.
Ratten did very well to set up Beaumont, Hamill converted a good lead
and mark, a miskick from Bradley flopped into Whitnall's arms. A late
Richmond mark and goal from Dragicevic promised a good second half.
Indeed, it looked great (from my perspective) after 8 minutes. Fiora led
for a good mark in front of McKay and punted truly with his stick-like
left peg and when Ottens luckily marked Daffy's scrubby kick and
converted, Carlton led by just 3 points. The Blues romped away from
there, too strong and too clever for the game but error-prone Tiges.
Scott Freeborn got the ball rolling, juggling a good mark and kicking
the left-footed goal. Whitnall backpedalled for a good grab and
conversion. Then the defining goal, a rubbish free to Bradley followed
by a mongrel punt, juggled to the ground by Kouta. Of course the mark
was paid, he centered to McKay for an easy slot. Not that I'm bitter.
That put Carlton 20 points up, very good efforts under pressure from
Freeborn and Koutoufides saw the former make it 26. Hotton, playing
well, attacked the ball for Franchina to boot long, Fevola marked in the
goalsquare and converted. Rogers snapped a six-pointer for the Tiges but
immediately Bloo ruckman Allan majored on the run and from a bounce on
the flank Camporeale handballed for Koutoufides to bang a deserved goal.
An insurmountable 40-point Bloo lead at the last change. Richmond did
get the first goal of the last quarter, Knights from King's pass, but it
was six minutes in coming and Carlton scored the next three. Franchina,
Fevola after a gutsy with-the-flight mark and Backwell with Tiger Bowden
handily kicking it straight to him. Off home I trudged as spotty and
loudmouth trumpetted their triumph.
Terrific game from Blue defender Andrew McKay, a tough, straight-ahead
bloke who had 26 disposals, kicked a goal and slaughtered his opponents,
Sampson (why is he there?) and Hilton. Koutoufides played very well,
starting at CHB, then pushing forward for 32 disposals and a goal.
Camporeale ran hard for his touches (24 with a goal) and although Ratten
had few touches by his standards (24), his ball use was very good.
Franchina did the job on Knights and had 13 touches himself with 2
goals. Freeborn fired the Blues in the third quarter and finished with 2
goals from 9 handlings, Hotton (8 marks, 15 touches, a goal) played well
up front and as a second ruckman. Hamill was also handy in attack before
injuring his shoulder in the last quarter, he took 8 marks and kicked 2
goals. Fevola booted 3 goals and Whitnall got 2. Richmond had a few
triers, Gaspar was very good in keeping the plodding Whitnall quiet,
Mark Chaffey (25 disposals) played very well in defence again and Bowden
(27 touches, a goal) was good although a few 'clangers' hurt his team.
Jason Torney did the stopping job on Bradley, King (24 touches) did
alright on Camporeale. Both Kellaways (20 touches each, Andy 10 marks)
were serviceable and Rogers was the only effective forward with 3 goals
from 12 kicks. Dragicevic kicked 2 goals. Frawley said "We had an
opportunity to play like we had the last two weeks and it was really
disappointing to go back to some old habits. It was our worst
performance of the season so far. We just have to go back to the drawing
board." Parkin said "The game wasn't pretty, but we scrapped very well
and we got an even spread across the board. I haven't seen us work much
harder than that to dispossess Richmond when they got it."
At the MCG:
Collingwood 3.3 8.4 12.6 15.10.100
Essendon 3.2 6.4 14.10 21.14.140
A bright and sunny Anzac Day for the big clash - I'm sick of that other
B-word - between the Pies and Dons. This year there'd been a special
trophy made, from metal collected from the Dardanelles and inscribed
with the names of all the VFL players known to have died in the various
wars, plus a medal for BOG. Which brings a gripe. It wasn't just
Collingwood and Essendon players who died, or served for that matter, so
why are they the only teams to play for it? The Pies and Dons shouldn't
have a mortgage on Anzac Day. Sure they pull a big crowd (88,390 here)
but so would any of the Melbourne teams on Anzac Day. Anyway, back to
the game. The Magpies gave plenty of cheek for a half before being
overrun by the Bommer machine. In selection the Woods lost full back
Prestigiacomo with an ankle injury and dropped Tyson Lane. James Wasley
and ex-Bomber Andrew Ukovic got a run. Esserdin were strengthened by the
returns of Mick Long, Mark Mercuri and Paul Barnard. Denham, Jacobs and
Prior made room.
Another scrappy, crappy start brought on by nerves. Ten minutes, some
fairly terrible non-umpiring and much fumbling passed before Dons' Scott
Lucas seized a terrific mark from Long's free kick and goaled. A minute
later the Pies were going forward when Josh Fraser applied an
over-vigorous shepherd, with the free Heffernan ran around Buckley too
easily and punted goalwards, Lucas roved and snapped a sausage. Pies got
on the board with a good mark and goal from Gav Brown. Much to his
confusion, Jim Hird was benched for disciplinary reasons following a
dropped mark and wayward kicks. Betheras kicked a good running goal to
put the Pies up by a point. Jason Johnson replied for the Dons after a
goalmouth scramble but late-on a Buckley handpass - his first touch -
sent Paul Williams away for one of those running goals he habitually
swallows. Second quarter was the Maggies' best, Buckley escaped the
close attentions of Heffernan and McKee played a blinder filling in as a
defender. Nice ruckwork from Fraser, too. Firstly Don Lloyd converted a
free after catching Williams in possession and Hird minced on the
fringes of a pack while Hardwick put his body in to win the ball, Hird
got the goal and the glory. Bombers by 12 points. Pie Nick Davis punched
the ball down for Buckley to roost a long goal. Moorcroft re-established
the 2 goal lead with a strong goalsquare mark, but Sav Rocca controlled
the ball and handpassed for a Williams gol. Then Williams was very lucky
when he dropped a pass but pinned the recovering J. Johnson in tackle,
Willo dished the free to Buckley for a goal and a 1-point Magpie lead.
Buckley took Fraser's tap at the restart, punted to CHF, ran down to
receive Brown's handpass and thump the Pies 7 points to the good. McKee
intercepted a Don clearance and passed for Gav Brown to convert after
the siren. Pie supporters very happy.
A bit different after the break, goals arrived regularly and often which
suited the Bummers muchly. Hird lifted notably. Lloyd kicked the first
goal of the half, a free (!) after being shirt-fronted by Richardson.
Ukovic's spilled mark led to Lucas roosting a long goal and the Dons
were in front. Fraser forced the ball forward for the Pies at the
subsequent bounce, Ukovic atoned immediately with a nice snap. Four
consecutive Esserdin goals followed. They went forward from the bounce
after Ukovic's goal, Lloyd gathered, spun, snapped truly. Hird and
Mercuri combined to find Lucas again for the next sausage. Heffernan
kept his head under pressure and handballed for Caracella to volley it
through, Long passed to Misiti for a goal and it were Dons by 21 points,
the biggest lead so far. Magpie Chris Tarrant stemmed the flow with a
goalsquare mark from Williams's kick. But they were looking wobbly.
Emaciated Caracella was allowed to grab a throw-in and snap it clean
through. Malthouse benched Mercuri's effective minder, Freeborn, and saw
the Don kick a goal immediately. Sheedy obliged by resting ruckman
Barnes, Fraser cleared the restart and Tarrant snapped another goal. Sav
Rocca took a mark at last and drilled it from 55m, cutting the Don lead
to 14 points. A couple of Bomber misses before the last break. Handballs
from Lloyd to Mercuri to Hird saw the first goal of the final act. Pies
were within 15 points when Ukovic slotted on the run from the restart,
but Mark Johnson found Lucas with a pass and they stayed 4 goals ahead.
Tiredness was overtaking the Pies, Fraser now having to cope with a
fresh Alessio while Buckley's manic efforts betrayed fatigue. At full
back Richardson delivered a kick-in straight to Lloyd, gol. Excellent
Magpie Tarkyn Lockyer sausaged following a strong mark, but a chain of
Don handpasses was finished with ease by Mark Johnson, then Buckley's
mongrel left-foot attempt to switch flanks was swallowed and converted
by Lloyd. Essad'n by 37 points, that was it. Goals in the fading light
from Lucas, Buckley and Blumfield.
James Hird won the Anzac Day medal, after a slow start he switched onto
the ball and ended with 30 disposals and 2 goals. Many would've given
the medal to either forward Scott Lucas, 6 goals from 8 marks with 23
disposals altogether, or full-back Dustin Fletcher who held Anzac Day
specialist Rocca to 1 goal from 7 marks, most of those well outside even
Sav's range. The tough Damien Hardwick was very good in defence again
with 24 disposals and spindly Caracella floated around half-forward for
29 touches and 2 goals. It says a bit about Lloyd that he seemed quiet
yet kicked 5 goals and had 13 kicks, defender Wellman was handy.
Heffernan played a couple of good quarters on Buckley. Collingwood's
best was probably small defender Lockyer, a sure and steady presence
with 17 disposals and a goal. Shane O'Bree had 34 disposals in the
midfield, 23 before half-time. Buckley had a similarly spasmodic game, 2
touches in the first quarter, 11 in the second with 6 marks and 3 great
goals, 4 disposals in the third and 13 plus another goal in the last (30
and 4 goals, total). Must like the Punt Road end. Paul Licuria (30
handlings) mopped up well from half-back and McKee had a great first
half at CHB, ending with 16 touches and 7 marks. Fraser (22 disposals,
14 hitouts) had his best game yet. Freeborn did a good job on Mercuri
until mysteriously benched. Williams, Tarrant, Brown and Ukovic kicked 2
goals each. "Quite frankly, I was disappointed today," Malthouse began.
"I thought a few of our players didn't hold up as well as they might
have. So let's not get carried away about the heroics...you can call it
pressure, call it what you like but at the end of the day we didn't
finish things off." Said Sheeds "We had the confidence and the courage
to to come out and take on the second half, never lost sight of the fact
that we're a good side and I think that's a confidence thing that sides
have got to have to go anywhere." He tried to pour cold water on much
speculation that the Bommers won't lose a game this season, saying that
Richmond were better than Essendon. Twenty-five years ago.
At Subiaco:
Fremantle 2.2 8.3 11.8 17.9.111
Brisbane 2.5 6.6 9.9 15.10.100
Another traditional Anzac Day clash (where's their special trophy?).
During the week Docker coach Drum took "flogging on the track" to new
heights, ordering a 4:30 AM training session last Monday after the
thumping in the derby. A midnight session followed later in the week,
apparently at the instigation of the players. Not to be left behind,
Brisbane have taken to breathalysing players upon arrival at training.
Clearly the Docker tactics worked. In selection the Dockers lost Modra
for two months with his shoulder injury and Prescott also missed with a
hammy, Wira and Clement were dropped. Replacements were Michael and
Kickett, back from injury, Koops returning after suspension and Andrew
Shipp. The Lions lost Leppitsch suspended 2 weeks for biffing Everitt
last week. He also got 3 for whacking Mitchell, but they were scrapped
on appeal. McKinnon was dropped, in came ruckman Beau McDonald and
backman Marcus Picken.
Little vision of the game here, apart from the last two Docker goals. By
all accounts the aggressive, attacking play of Freo CHB Daniel Bandy and
ruck-rover Shaun McManus were the keys. The Dockers hurled themselves
after the ball in the first half, Luke Toia important as he nullified
Brisbane stat machine Simon Black. Brisbane got a fair bit of the ball
in the first quarter but had trouble scoring. Freo lost Modra's
nominated replacement, Brendan Fewster, KO'd when kneed in the head by
teammate Waterhouse. Dockers much better in the second stanza, McManus
and Troy Longmuir prominent and Shipp got involved. Brisbane were
getting a big game from rookie Craig Bolton. Early Docker goals were
negated by a late Lion surge before the main break. Stalemate third
quarter but all through the last half the Dockulators answered every
challenge, Waterhouse and Pavlich with the last two goals (I saw them)
to seal the victory.
Bandy finished with 19 disposals, 10 strong marks and drifted forward
for 2 goals. McManus battled hard for 33 touches and fellow midfielders
Troy Cook (31 touches, 2 goals) and Toia (20 touches, 2 goals) were also
very good. Young forward Matthew Pavlich impressed again, booting 3
goals from 5 kicks and flanker Troy Longmuir had 22 disposals with 10
marks. Key forwards Waterhouse and Fewster kicked 2 goals each.
Brisbane's best was Craig Bolton, a solid winger who had 30 touches and
kicked 3 goals. Black was down on his regular form but still handy with
22 disposals and a goal, Mick Voss had 29 touches before being injured
late in a collision with Fewster, who was allowed back on. Adam Heuskes
had 16 possessions in the rebound role and small men Shaun Hart (22
disposals, 2 goals) and Luke Power (11, a goal) played well. Molloy
kicked 4 goals but missed a number of shots (a point, two on the full),
Chris Scott kicked 2 goals. Matthews criticised the Leppitschless and
Akermanisless defence. "They seemed to score a little too easily. They
went inside their 50m forty-two times and they kicked seventeen goals
from those chances, that was a concern for us." Last years' prelim
finalists not going so well, although with just one home fixture from
seven so far, they'll look forward to consecutive Gabba games now. Drum
reckoned "I think all twenty-two players will wake up tomorrow and
realise they contributed to the win in a significant way. I don't think
the team aspect will be lost on anyone." He singled out Bandy for
especial praise.
Ladder after Round Seven:
Pts. % Next week
Essendon 28 157.2 Brisbane (Gabba, Mon. night)
Geelong 24 127.2 Richmond (Colonial, Sunday)
Collingwood 20 110.8 Fremantle (Colonial, Mon. night)
North Melbourne 20 102.9 Hawthorn (MCG, Fri. night)
Melbourne 16 124.9 Port Adelaide (Football Park, Sunday)
Carlton 16 111.7 Sydney (Princes Park, Sunday)
West Coast 14 116.2 Footscray (WACA, Sat. night)
Sydney 12 104.1 Carlton (Princes Park, Sunday)
-------------------------------------
Brisbane 12 99.6 Essendon (Gabba, Mon. night)
Footscray 12 97.2 West Coast (WACA, Sat. night)
Richmond 12 87.7 Geelong (Colonial, Sunday)
Hawthorn 12 82.0 North Melbourne (MCG, Fri. night)
Fremantle 12 80.8 Collingwood (Colonial, Mon. night)
Adelaide 8 88.0 St. Kilda (Colonial, Saturday)
Port Adelaide 4 69.9 Melbourne (Football Park, Saturday)
St. Kilda 2 73.2 Adelaide (Colonial, Saturday)
Cheers, Tim
e-mail: t.murphy@rmit.edu.au
Sorry to drone on about Colonial so much, but after the Melbourne/West
Coast debacle on Sunday there was yet another crisis meeting concerning
the Western White Elephant. Now walk-up punters will be able to sit
anywhere in the top deck for the regular price. Or you can do what a few
have done, pay general admission and sit in any empty seat on the bottom
deck. No-one stops you and why the hell should they?
At the MCG:
Richmond 0.5 5.7 8.9 10.9.69
Carlton 3.1 8.4 15.7 18.12.120
All I can say is the Tiges were outplayed by the Bluebaggers, working
harder and using the ball more effectively then the Tige's simple game
plan, which didn't work too well once Ottens struggled to take a mark.
Just one selection change amongst the two sides, Richmond replacing
suspended rookie Andrew Mills with a first-gamer in Aaron Fiora, their
first-round draft pick last year. He's a tallish, skinny winger from
Port Adelaide. Blue coach David Parkin was in charge of a senior side
for the 500th time, only the fifth man to reach the milestone. An
ornament to the game, Parko. Had a handy 493 games on his Tiger
counterpart.
I arrived right on the bounce and of all the 63,000 present got trapped
between two archetypal Blues, a spotty, smug but brainless student and a
loud, aggressive gent whose parents may have emigrated from southern
Europe. The first ten minutes was a nervy, sloppy affair with some
woeful kicking and a high number of smothers, from both teams.
Richmond's Bourke went down with injury, again, and took no further
part. Carlton got the first goal with Franchina marking over his
assignment for the day, Knights. Ratten created a tap-through for
Camporeale as the Tigers missed a stream of chances, Bowden and Daffy
the worst culprits although the normally reliable Ottens missed his
first shot after a good grab. Running from the Tiger defence Chaffey
spun out of one tackle but was caught in another by Hamill, who
converted the free for bawl. Carlton settled in the second stanza,
running the ball nicely through Camporeale and Ratten while McKay was
very good in defence. Hotton goaled from a strong grab in front of the
pack, another from Fevola and the Easter Monday Massacre threatened. At
last Hilton kicked Richmond's first goal, thanks to a 50m penalty
against Hotton, and they booted another three in four minutes. Knights
found Rogers with a pass and he dobbed it, Bowden marked and goaled from
the pocket. Fiora's first touch was a classy gather, weave away from
tacklers and handpass to Rogers who speared it low from 50m. The Blue
lead was cut to 4 points, but they replied with the next three goals.
Ratten did very well to set up Beaumont, Hamill converted a good lead
and mark, a miskick from Bradley flopped into Whitnall's arms. A late
Richmond mark and goal from Dragicevic promised a good second half.
Indeed, it looked great (from my perspective) after 8 minutes. Fiora led
for a good mark in front of McKay and punted truly with his stick-like
left peg and when Ottens luckily marked Daffy's scrubby kick and
converted, Carlton led by just 3 points. The Blues romped away from
there, too strong and too clever for the game but error-prone Tiges.
Scott Freeborn got the ball rolling, juggling a good mark and kicking
the left-footed goal. Whitnall backpedalled for a good grab and
conversion. Then the defining goal, a rubbish free to Bradley followed
by a mongrel punt, juggled to the ground by Kouta. Of course the mark
was paid, he centered to McKay for an easy slot. Not that I'm bitter.
That put Carlton 20 points up, very good efforts under pressure from
Freeborn and Koutoufides saw the former make it 26. Hotton, playing
well, attacked the ball for Franchina to boot long, Fevola marked in the
goalsquare and converted. Rogers snapped a six-pointer for the Tiges but
immediately Bloo ruckman Allan majored on the run and from a bounce on
the flank Camporeale handballed for Koutoufides to bang a deserved goal.
An insurmountable 40-point Bloo lead at the last change. Richmond did
get the first goal of the last quarter, Knights from King's pass, but it
was six minutes in coming and Carlton scored the next three. Franchina,
Fevola after a gutsy with-the-flight mark and Backwell with Tiger Bowden
handily kicking it straight to him. Off home I trudged as spotty and
loudmouth trumpetted their triumph.
Terrific game from Blue defender Andrew McKay, a tough, straight-ahead
bloke who had 26 disposals, kicked a goal and slaughtered his opponents,
Sampson (why is he there?) and Hilton. Koutoufides played very well,
starting at CHB, then pushing forward for 32 disposals and a goal.
Camporeale ran hard for his touches (24 with a goal) and although Ratten
had few touches by his standards (24), his ball use was very good.
Franchina did the job on Knights and had 13 touches himself with 2
goals. Freeborn fired the Blues in the third quarter and finished with 2
goals from 9 handlings, Hotton (8 marks, 15 touches, a goal) played well
up front and as a second ruckman. Hamill was also handy in attack before
injuring his shoulder in the last quarter, he took 8 marks and kicked 2
goals. Fevola booted 3 goals and Whitnall got 2. Richmond had a few
triers, Gaspar was very good in keeping the plodding Whitnall quiet,
Mark Chaffey (25 disposals) played very well in defence again and Bowden
(27 touches, a goal) was good although a few 'clangers' hurt his team.
Jason Torney did the stopping job on Bradley, King (24 touches) did
alright on Camporeale. Both Kellaways (20 touches each, Andy 10 marks)
were serviceable and Rogers was the only effective forward with 3 goals
from 12 kicks. Dragicevic kicked 2 goals. Frawley said "We had an
opportunity to play like we had the last two weeks and it was really
disappointing to go back to some old habits. It was our worst
performance of the season so far. We just have to go back to the drawing
board." Parkin said "The game wasn't pretty, but we scrapped very well
and we got an even spread across the board. I haven't seen us work much
harder than that to dispossess Richmond when they got it."
At the MCG:
Collingwood 3.3 8.4 12.6 15.10.100
Essendon 3.2 6.4 14.10 21.14.140
A bright and sunny Anzac Day for the big clash - I'm sick of that other
B-word - between the Pies and Dons. This year there'd been a special
trophy made, from metal collected from the Dardanelles and inscribed
with the names of all the VFL players known to have died in the various
wars, plus a medal for BOG. Which brings a gripe. It wasn't just
Collingwood and Essendon players who died, or served for that matter, so
why are they the only teams to play for it? The Pies and Dons shouldn't
have a mortgage on Anzac Day. Sure they pull a big crowd (88,390 here)
but so would any of the Melbourne teams on Anzac Day. Anyway, back to
the game. The Magpies gave plenty of cheek for a half before being
overrun by the Bommer machine. In selection the Woods lost full back
Prestigiacomo with an ankle injury and dropped Tyson Lane. James Wasley
and ex-Bomber Andrew Ukovic got a run. Esserdin were strengthened by the
returns of Mick Long, Mark Mercuri and Paul Barnard. Denham, Jacobs and
Prior made room.
Another scrappy, crappy start brought on by nerves. Ten minutes, some
fairly terrible non-umpiring and much fumbling passed before Dons' Scott
Lucas seized a terrific mark from Long's free kick and goaled. A minute
later the Pies were going forward when Josh Fraser applied an
over-vigorous shepherd, with the free Heffernan ran around Buckley too
easily and punted goalwards, Lucas roved and snapped a sausage. Pies got
on the board with a good mark and goal from Gav Brown. Much to his
confusion, Jim Hird was benched for disciplinary reasons following a
dropped mark and wayward kicks. Betheras kicked a good running goal to
put the Pies up by a point. Jason Johnson replied for the Dons after a
goalmouth scramble but late-on a Buckley handpass - his first touch -
sent Paul Williams away for one of those running goals he habitually
swallows. Second quarter was the Maggies' best, Buckley escaped the
close attentions of Heffernan and McKee played a blinder filling in as a
defender. Nice ruckwork from Fraser, too. Firstly Don Lloyd converted a
free after catching Williams in possession and Hird minced on the
fringes of a pack while Hardwick put his body in to win the ball, Hird
got the goal and the glory. Bombers by 12 points. Pie Nick Davis punched
the ball down for Buckley to roost a long goal. Moorcroft re-established
the 2 goal lead with a strong goalsquare mark, but Sav Rocca controlled
the ball and handpassed for a Williams gol. Then Williams was very lucky
when he dropped a pass but pinned the recovering J. Johnson in tackle,
Willo dished the free to Buckley for a goal and a 1-point Magpie lead.
Buckley took Fraser's tap at the restart, punted to CHF, ran down to
receive Brown's handpass and thump the Pies 7 points to the good. McKee
intercepted a Don clearance and passed for Gav Brown to convert after
the siren. Pie supporters very happy.
A bit different after the break, goals arrived regularly and often which
suited the Bummers muchly. Hird lifted notably. Lloyd kicked the first
goal of the half, a free (!) after being shirt-fronted by Richardson.
Ukovic's spilled mark led to Lucas roosting a long goal and the Dons
were in front. Fraser forced the ball forward for the Pies at the
subsequent bounce, Ukovic atoned immediately with a nice snap. Four
consecutive Esserdin goals followed. They went forward from the bounce
after Ukovic's goal, Lloyd gathered, spun, snapped truly. Hird and
Mercuri combined to find Lucas again for the next sausage. Heffernan
kept his head under pressure and handballed for Caracella to volley it
through, Long passed to Misiti for a goal and it were Dons by 21 points,
the biggest lead so far. Magpie Chris Tarrant stemmed the flow with a
goalsquare mark from Williams's kick. But they were looking wobbly.
Emaciated Caracella was allowed to grab a throw-in and snap it clean
through. Malthouse benched Mercuri's effective minder, Freeborn, and saw
the Don kick a goal immediately. Sheedy obliged by resting ruckman
Barnes, Fraser cleared the restart and Tarrant snapped another goal. Sav
Rocca took a mark at last and drilled it from 55m, cutting the Don lead
to 14 points. A couple of Bomber misses before the last break. Handballs
from Lloyd to Mercuri to Hird saw the first goal of the final act. Pies
were within 15 points when Ukovic slotted on the run from the restart,
but Mark Johnson found Lucas with a pass and they stayed 4 goals ahead.
Tiredness was overtaking the Pies, Fraser now having to cope with a
fresh Alessio while Buckley's manic efforts betrayed fatigue. At full
back Richardson delivered a kick-in straight to Lloyd, gol. Excellent
Magpie Tarkyn Lockyer sausaged following a strong mark, but a chain of
Don handpasses was finished with ease by Mark Johnson, then Buckley's
mongrel left-foot attempt to switch flanks was swallowed and converted
by Lloyd. Essad'n by 37 points, that was it. Goals in the fading light
from Lucas, Buckley and Blumfield.
James Hird won the Anzac Day medal, after a slow start he switched onto
the ball and ended with 30 disposals and 2 goals. Many would've given
the medal to either forward Scott Lucas, 6 goals from 8 marks with 23
disposals altogether, or full-back Dustin Fletcher who held Anzac Day
specialist Rocca to 1 goal from 7 marks, most of those well outside even
Sav's range. The tough Damien Hardwick was very good in defence again
with 24 disposals and spindly Caracella floated around half-forward for
29 touches and 2 goals. It says a bit about Lloyd that he seemed quiet
yet kicked 5 goals and had 13 kicks, defender Wellman was handy.
Heffernan played a couple of good quarters on Buckley. Collingwood's
best was probably small defender Lockyer, a sure and steady presence
with 17 disposals and a goal. Shane O'Bree had 34 disposals in the
midfield, 23 before half-time. Buckley had a similarly spasmodic game, 2
touches in the first quarter, 11 in the second with 6 marks and 3 great
goals, 4 disposals in the third and 13 plus another goal in the last (30
and 4 goals, total). Must like the Punt Road end. Paul Licuria (30
handlings) mopped up well from half-back and McKee had a great first
half at CHB, ending with 16 touches and 7 marks. Fraser (22 disposals,
14 hitouts) had his best game yet. Freeborn did a good job on Mercuri
until mysteriously benched. Williams, Tarrant, Brown and Ukovic kicked 2
goals each. "Quite frankly, I was disappointed today," Malthouse began.
"I thought a few of our players didn't hold up as well as they might
have. So let's not get carried away about the heroics...you can call it
pressure, call it what you like but at the end of the day we didn't
finish things off." Said Sheeds "We had the confidence and the courage
to to come out and take on the second half, never lost sight of the fact
that we're a good side and I think that's a confidence thing that sides
have got to have to go anywhere." He tried to pour cold water on much
speculation that the Bommers won't lose a game this season, saying that
Richmond were better than Essendon. Twenty-five years ago.
At Subiaco:
Fremantle 2.2 8.3 11.8 17.9.111
Brisbane 2.5 6.6 9.9 15.10.100
Another traditional Anzac Day clash (where's their special trophy?).
During the week Docker coach Drum took "flogging on the track" to new
heights, ordering a 4:30 AM training session last Monday after the
thumping in the derby. A midnight session followed later in the week,
apparently at the instigation of the players. Not to be left behind,
Brisbane have taken to breathalysing players upon arrival at training.
Clearly the Docker tactics worked. In selection the Dockers lost Modra
for two months with his shoulder injury and Prescott also missed with a
hammy, Wira and Clement were dropped. Replacements were Michael and
Kickett, back from injury, Koops returning after suspension and Andrew
Shipp. The Lions lost Leppitsch suspended 2 weeks for biffing Everitt
last week. He also got 3 for whacking Mitchell, but they were scrapped
on appeal. McKinnon was dropped, in came ruckman Beau McDonald and
backman Marcus Picken.
Little vision of the game here, apart from the last two Docker goals. By
all accounts the aggressive, attacking play of Freo CHB Daniel Bandy and
ruck-rover Shaun McManus were the keys. The Dockers hurled themselves
after the ball in the first half, Luke Toia important as he nullified
Brisbane stat machine Simon Black. Brisbane got a fair bit of the ball
in the first quarter but had trouble scoring. Freo lost Modra's
nominated replacement, Brendan Fewster, KO'd when kneed in the head by
teammate Waterhouse. Dockers much better in the second stanza, McManus
and Troy Longmuir prominent and Shipp got involved. Brisbane were
getting a big game from rookie Craig Bolton. Early Docker goals were
negated by a late Lion surge before the main break. Stalemate third
quarter but all through the last half the Dockulators answered every
challenge, Waterhouse and Pavlich with the last two goals (I saw them)
to seal the victory.
Bandy finished with 19 disposals, 10 strong marks and drifted forward
for 2 goals. McManus battled hard for 33 touches and fellow midfielders
Troy Cook (31 touches, 2 goals) and Toia (20 touches, 2 goals) were also
very good. Young forward Matthew Pavlich impressed again, booting 3
goals from 5 kicks and flanker Troy Longmuir had 22 disposals with 10
marks. Key forwards Waterhouse and Fewster kicked 2 goals each.
Brisbane's best was Craig Bolton, a solid winger who had 30 touches and
kicked 3 goals. Black was down on his regular form but still handy with
22 disposals and a goal, Mick Voss had 29 touches before being injured
late in a collision with Fewster, who was allowed back on. Adam Heuskes
had 16 possessions in the rebound role and small men Shaun Hart (22
disposals, 2 goals) and Luke Power (11, a goal) played well. Molloy
kicked 4 goals but missed a number of shots (a point, two on the full),
Chris Scott kicked 2 goals. Matthews criticised the Leppitschless and
Akermanisless defence. "They seemed to score a little too easily. They
went inside their 50m forty-two times and they kicked seventeen goals
from those chances, that was a concern for us." Last years' prelim
finalists not going so well, although with just one home fixture from
seven so far, they'll look forward to consecutive Gabba games now. Drum
reckoned "I think all twenty-two players will wake up tomorrow and
realise they contributed to the win in a significant way. I don't think
the team aspect will be lost on anyone." He singled out Bandy for
especial praise.
Ladder after Round Seven:
Pts. % Next week
Essendon 28 157.2 Brisbane (Gabba, Mon. night)
Geelong 24 127.2 Richmond (Colonial, Sunday)
Collingwood 20 110.8 Fremantle (Colonial, Mon. night)
North Melbourne 20 102.9 Hawthorn (MCG, Fri. night)
Melbourne 16 124.9 Port Adelaide (Football Park, Sunday)
Carlton 16 111.7 Sydney (Princes Park, Sunday)
West Coast 14 116.2 Footscray (WACA, Sat. night)
Sydney 12 104.1 Carlton (Princes Park, Sunday)
-------------------------------------
Brisbane 12 99.6 Essendon (Gabba, Mon. night)
Footscray 12 97.2 West Coast (WACA, Sat. night)
Richmond 12 87.7 Geelong (Colonial, Sunday)
Hawthorn 12 82.0 North Melbourne (MCG, Fri. night)
Fremantle 12 80.8 Collingwood (Colonial, Mon. night)
Adelaide 8 88.0 St. Kilda (Colonial, Saturday)
Port Adelaide 4 69.9 Melbourne (Football Park, Saturday)
St. Kilda 2 73.2 Adelaide (Colonial, Saturday)
Cheers, Tim
e-mail: t.murphy@rmit.edu.au