- Banned
- #1
A view from the outer: Top-four finish beckons
By Michael Tormey
THE ROOS made it five on the trot, including two wins from their past two games on the road, with a 37-point triumph at Hawthorn's 'fortress' in Launceston. The Kangas were dominant from the opening bounce and the only thing that might disappoint the coach was they let the Hawks score three of the last four goals to make the margin a little more respectable.
The moment
Aaron Edwards' goal-square screamer. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favour and take a look here. It was a hanger of the highest order and an example of how our game is like no other.
Goal of the game
When a bloke like Corey Jones kicks seven goals it's a fair bet at least one of those will be a cracker. Well, this week, he put through two that could have qualifed as the game's best.
The first came in the opening quarter when he gathered a loose ball deep in the forward line in the middle of a big pack of players. Taking possession with his back to goal, he turned into traffic, wrong-footing his opponents (and his teammates, it would seem) in the process. In the end he had a relatively simple snap shot at goal but, as they say, it was all about the journey.
His second was perhaps less spectacular but was a great showcase of his awareness and clever goal sense. Roving a ball off the hands of a pack, with two opponents on either side of him, Jones dribbled a well-directed ball through traffic into a vacant goal square. He gets extra points for the fact that he kicked it on his right (yes, right!) foot.
The move
It's been slowly but surely for David Hale, whose pre-season was interrupted by a hamstring injury just as he was getting accustomed to playing at centre half-forward. Another hamstring injury a few weeks later put him back even further but since returning, he's gradually recovered his touch and has been a key focal point at the heart of the Roos' forward line.
Coaches' award
The game had been over as a contest since about midway through the third quarter but someone obviously forgot to tell Andrew Swallow. Five minutes into the final term, with the Roos leading by almost seven goals, the young midfielder rolled the dice by leaving his man in a bid to create a contest with two Hawthorn players running unopposed towards goal.
His first tackle forced the Hawk ball-carrier to shuffle off a quick handball, placing pressure on the receiver. That enabled him make a second tackle, which caused a spillage that he was eventually able to run on to before delivering a quick kick in the direction of Jones. A couple of handballs later, Jones was again in possession before he calmly slotted through his sixth of the afternoon.
King of the kids
It seems rather odd that a 203cm, 22-year-old with barely 35 games to his name can gather the statistics of a midfielder and still not attract anything more than a passing mention in most media reports of the game. But I suppose when you consider how well Hamish McIntosh has performed in just his second full season of AFL football you could be forgiven for thinking his 26-possession effort was almost par for the course. And it probably is – that's what makes it so impressive.
Syd Barker watch
Brent Harvey just continues to rack up the votes, and in all reality, has probably already tied up the Syd. Seven goals to Corey Jones will no doubt see him feature in the votes, while Hamish McIntosh, David Hale, Daniel Pratt, Jess Sinclair and Shannon Grant were also first rate.
Ladder
Another week, another climb up the ladder, this time to second place. Two games still separate the Roos from the first-placed Cats, so another climb next week is obviously out of the question. Sitting just a game behind the Kangas are Port Adelaide and West Coast, both of whom have a superior percentage, so a win next week is vital if the club is to hang on to second.
Next week
This Saturday's eagerly anticipated clash with the Brisbane Lions marks the first match in a tough three-week spell for the Roos, with games against West Coast and Geelong to follow. The Gabba assignment, the Roos' last road trip during the home-and-away season, will be another huge test given how well the rejuvenated Lions have been travelling over the past month.
By Michael Tormey
THE ROOS made it five on the trot, including two wins from their past two games on the road, with a 37-point triumph at Hawthorn's 'fortress' in Launceston. The Kangas were dominant from the opening bounce and the only thing that might disappoint the coach was they let the Hawks score three of the last four goals to make the margin a little more respectable.
The moment
Aaron Edwards' goal-square screamer. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favour and take a look here. It was a hanger of the highest order and an example of how our game is like no other.
Goal of the game
When a bloke like Corey Jones kicks seven goals it's a fair bet at least one of those will be a cracker. Well, this week, he put through two that could have qualifed as the game's best.
The first came in the opening quarter when he gathered a loose ball deep in the forward line in the middle of a big pack of players. Taking possession with his back to goal, he turned into traffic, wrong-footing his opponents (and his teammates, it would seem) in the process. In the end he had a relatively simple snap shot at goal but, as they say, it was all about the journey.
His second was perhaps less spectacular but was a great showcase of his awareness and clever goal sense. Roving a ball off the hands of a pack, with two opponents on either side of him, Jones dribbled a well-directed ball through traffic into a vacant goal square. He gets extra points for the fact that he kicked it on his right (yes, right!) foot.
The move
It's been slowly but surely for David Hale, whose pre-season was interrupted by a hamstring injury just as he was getting accustomed to playing at centre half-forward. Another hamstring injury a few weeks later put him back even further but since returning, he's gradually recovered his touch and has been a key focal point at the heart of the Roos' forward line.
Coaches' award
The game had been over as a contest since about midway through the third quarter but someone obviously forgot to tell Andrew Swallow. Five minutes into the final term, with the Roos leading by almost seven goals, the young midfielder rolled the dice by leaving his man in a bid to create a contest with two Hawthorn players running unopposed towards goal.
His first tackle forced the Hawk ball-carrier to shuffle off a quick handball, placing pressure on the receiver. That enabled him make a second tackle, which caused a spillage that he was eventually able to run on to before delivering a quick kick in the direction of Jones. A couple of handballs later, Jones was again in possession before he calmly slotted through his sixth of the afternoon.
King of the kids
It seems rather odd that a 203cm, 22-year-old with barely 35 games to his name can gather the statistics of a midfielder and still not attract anything more than a passing mention in most media reports of the game. But I suppose when you consider how well Hamish McIntosh has performed in just his second full season of AFL football you could be forgiven for thinking his 26-possession effort was almost par for the course. And it probably is – that's what makes it so impressive.
Syd Barker watch
Brent Harvey just continues to rack up the votes, and in all reality, has probably already tied up the Syd. Seven goals to Corey Jones will no doubt see him feature in the votes, while Hamish McIntosh, David Hale, Daniel Pratt, Jess Sinclair and Shannon Grant were also first rate.
Ladder
Another week, another climb up the ladder, this time to second place. Two games still separate the Roos from the first-placed Cats, so another climb next week is obviously out of the question. Sitting just a game behind the Kangas are Port Adelaide and West Coast, both of whom have a superior percentage, so a win next week is vital if the club is to hang on to second.
Next week
This Saturday's eagerly anticipated clash with the Brisbane Lions marks the first match in a tough three-week spell for the Roos, with games against West Coast and Geelong to follow. The Gabba assignment, the Roos' last road trip during the home-and-away season, will be another huge test given how well the rejuvenated Lions have been travelling over the past month.
Thanx Zebra for sharing.
make no mistake. Still lots of footy to be played before positions can be determined. I am not believing one iota of a top 4 finish UNLESS North can snare 2 from the next 3 and then determine where it's all at. I can see a "last round" loss to set up a few things RIGHT. 
