AFL Round 2, Part I
At the MCG:
Essendon 5.4 10.7 15.7 20.10.130
Richmond 1.5 4.10 9.12 12.15.87
The form team of the minute, the Bombers, were too big and too good for
the battling Tiges on another warm March night. Thank Richo these
midweekers are done with now and we can get back to weekend footy. Both
sides had one change from the first round, the Bombers losing Mark
Mercuri due to his brother's tragic death the day before and giving
former Hawthorn big man Jonathon Robran his Esserdin debut. Richmond
were without key forward Matthew Richardson, a hammy, and replaced him
with David Bourke.
The Tigers looked to have a significant height deficit going in and so
it proved. Alessio, playing as a forward, and Lloyd had it over their
opponents as the Tiges sent their best defender, Gaspar, onto Hird. At
the other end one of Ottens, Holland or Gale was up against Fletcher,
Wallis, Wellman, Robran et al. Still, the Tigers didn't help themselves.
Holland took a good grab in the goalsquare early, but missed horribly.
From the kick-in the ball whipped to a leading Hird who picked out
Lloyd, a 50m penalty and goal. Ouch. From the resumption Barnes drifted
forward and marked all alone 30m out. Another goal. Richmond got on the
board with a strong mark and long, accurate shot from Holland, but Long
answered from a set shot and Solomon kicked nicely from 50m as the
Tigers struggled to find a forward target. The busy Alessio missed an
absolute sitter but Campbell muffed the kick-in and Lloyd set up Long's
second goal. In the second stanza the Dons romped clear. Jason Johnson
was very good in the middle. Bewick slotted on the run and Alessio
converted a ruck free from a throw-in, at the next bounce Tiger Duncan
Kellaway fumbled and Johnson pounced, finding Lloyd in front. He punted
the Bommers 40 points clear. Holland and Bowden missed shots for the
Tiges as they stumbled along to 1.9, then Lloyd sent Solomon away for an
easy goal. Lloyd won a softish free and bananaed the ball through, the
Dons were 49 points up, had 10 goals to 1 and a massacre of Port
proportions threatened. On the TV, McAvaney lauded the Dons ad nauseam
while Mal Blight showed his hatred for Richmond hadn't been left in the
coach's box, being particularly severe on young big men Holland and
Ottens. Handily the Tiges managed a couple of centre clearances thanks
to free kicks, Rogers finally got on target and Ottens snapped a good
sausage just after Mal had bagged him, again. Bewick was penalised for
bawwl. I might describe it as a poor decision, but no free against
Bewick can ever be wrong. Knights dobbed the kick and the Tigers had
managed 3 goals in almost as few minutes. They proceeded to stop
Essendon kicking a goal for nearly 7 minutes, the remainder of the half.
Brilliance.
An even third term. Hird snapped coolly after Andy Kellaway spilled a
chest mark, but Richmond answered when Gale plucked a good mark over a
trio of Bombers. Lloyd created a major for Alessio, Richmond replied
again when Andy Kellaway marked on the wing and Lloyd, his direct
opponent, crept over the mark. A 50m penalty and goal. Lloyd atoned a
minute later with a six-pointer from Blumfield's handpass before
Richmond's best spell, three consecutive goals. Cameron picked out
Holland who marked well and roosted straight from 50m, Bowden was shoved
by Solomon and copped extra slapping followed by significant meterage
from the Don dolt. Ottens punted a major from 55m - ruck free - and
Richmond were only (only?) 19 points down. Blight was quiet for a while.
But he sparked up when Richmond copulated up. Bourke's bad pass led to a
Don major for Caracella, then Gaspar took a superb grab 20m out from his
own goal and kicked the ball down Hird's throat, Wallis booting the
inevitable goal. 'Twas ever thus. Early in the last quarter TV's Gerard
Healy likened Lloyd to Royce Hart. When I regained consciousness, Lloyd
had apparently kicked 3 goals in the term. Just like Royce, kicking a
bunch of soft goals long after the game was over. I wonder who
commentators in Gerard's day compared him with...Vin Cattoggio? His
brother Greg? The contents of the septic tank? Why not compare Lloyd
with an appropriate Essendon player, like Geoff Blethyn or Paul Weston?
I'll shut up and get on to the stats.
Matty Lloyd did alright, booting another 7 goals from 8 marks and 23
touches altogether. Very impressed with Jason Johnson in the middle,
particularly in the first three quarters. Strong and aggressive, he had
24 disposals. Barnes had another good game in the ruck with 19 touches
and a goal, in attack Alessio lorded it over a succession of smaller
opponents with 10 marks and 3 goals. Hird was handy again with 23
disposals about the ground and a goal. In defence Fletcher was very good
and he received great support from Wallis and Dean Solomon, who drifted
forward for 2 goals amongst his 18 touches. Mick Long also kicked 2
goals. Richmond’s better contributors included half-forward Matt Rogers,
who booted 2 goals and took 13 marks as he compensated for the lack of
key forward power. Leon Cameron played excellently in defence, his
pinpoint kicking a delight amongst 22 disposals and winger Joel Bowden
was also handy with 29 possessions and a goal. Duncan Kellaway kept
Misiti quiet while having 19 touches himself and Ottens improved as the
match progressed, ending with 15 disposals, 7 marks and 2 goals. Ben
Holland also kicked 2 goals. Ben Harrison played well...for Essendon. No
quote from Frawley in the paper, Sheedy payed tribute to the Mercuri
family and offered them the club's full support. He also pointed out
that Scott Lucas and Gary Moorcroft kicked 10 goals between 'em in the
reserves. Gulp.
Cheers, Tim.
E-mail: t.murphy@rmit.edu.au
At the MCG:
Essendon 5.4 10.7 15.7 20.10.130
Richmond 1.5 4.10 9.12 12.15.87
The form team of the minute, the Bombers, were too big and too good for
the battling Tiges on another warm March night. Thank Richo these
midweekers are done with now and we can get back to weekend footy. Both
sides had one change from the first round, the Bombers losing Mark
Mercuri due to his brother's tragic death the day before and giving
former Hawthorn big man Jonathon Robran his Esserdin debut. Richmond
were without key forward Matthew Richardson, a hammy, and replaced him
with David Bourke.
The Tigers looked to have a significant height deficit going in and so
it proved. Alessio, playing as a forward, and Lloyd had it over their
opponents as the Tiges sent their best defender, Gaspar, onto Hird. At
the other end one of Ottens, Holland or Gale was up against Fletcher,
Wallis, Wellman, Robran et al. Still, the Tigers didn't help themselves.
Holland took a good grab in the goalsquare early, but missed horribly.
From the kick-in the ball whipped to a leading Hird who picked out
Lloyd, a 50m penalty and goal. Ouch. From the resumption Barnes drifted
forward and marked all alone 30m out. Another goal. Richmond got on the
board with a strong mark and long, accurate shot from Holland, but Long
answered from a set shot and Solomon kicked nicely from 50m as the
Tigers struggled to find a forward target. The busy Alessio missed an
absolute sitter but Campbell muffed the kick-in and Lloyd set up Long's
second goal. In the second stanza the Dons romped clear. Jason Johnson
was very good in the middle. Bewick slotted on the run and Alessio
converted a ruck free from a throw-in, at the next bounce Tiger Duncan
Kellaway fumbled and Johnson pounced, finding Lloyd in front. He punted
the Bommers 40 points clear. Holland and Bowden missed shots for the
Tiges as they stumbled along to 1.9, then Lloyd sent Solomon away for an
easy goal. Lloyd won a softish free and bananaed the ball through, the
Dons were 49 points up, had 10 goals to 1 and a massacre of Port
proportions threatened. On the TV, McAvaney lauded the Dons ad nauseam
while Mal Blight showed his hatred for Richmond hadn't been left in the
coach's box, being particularly severe on young big men Holland and
Ottens. Handily the Tiges managed a couple of centre clearances thanks
to free kicks, Rogers finally got on target and Ottens snapped a good
sausage just after Mal had bagged him, again. Bewick was penalised for
bawwl. I might describe it as a poor decision, but no free against
Bewick can ever be wrong. Knights dobbed the kick and the Tigers had
managed 3 goals in almost as few minutes. They proceeded to stop
Essendon kicking a goal for nearly 7 minutes, the remainder of the half.
Brilliance.
An even third term. Hird snapped coolly after Andy Kellaway spilled a
chest mark, but Richmond answered when Gale plucked a good mark over a
trio of Bombers. Lloyd created a major for Alessio, Richmond replied
again when Andy Kellaway marked on the wing and Lloyd, his direct
opponent, crept over the mark. A 50m penalty and goal. Lloyd atoned a
minute later with a six-pointer from Blumfield's handpass before
Richmond's best spell, three consecutive goals. Cameron picked out
Holland who marked well and roosted straight from 50m, Bowden was shoved
by Solomon and copped extra slapping followed by significant meterage
from the Don dolt. Ottens punted a major from 55m - ruck free - and
Richmond were only (only?) 19 points down. Blight was quiet for a while.
But he sparked up when Richmond copulated up. Bourke's bad pass led to a
Don major for Caracella, then Gaspar took a superb grab 20m out from his
own goal and kicked the ball down Hird's throat, Wallis booting the
inevitable goal. 'Twas ever thus. Early in the last quarter TV's Gerard
Healy likened Lloyd to Royce Hart. When I regained consciousness, Lloyd
had apparently kicked 3 goals in the term. Just like Royce, kicking a
bunch of soft goals long after the game was over. I wonder who
commentators in Gerard's day compared him with...Vin Cattoggio? His
brother Greg? The contents of the septic tank? Why not compare Lloyd
with an appropriate Essendon player, like Geoff Blethyn or Paul Weston?
I'll shut up and get on to the stats.
Matty Lloyd did alright, booting another 7 goals from 8 marks and 23
touches altogether. Very impressed with Jason Johnson in the middle,
particularly in the first three quarters. Strong and aggressive, he had
24 disposals. Barnes had another good game in the ruck with 19 touches
and a goal, in attack Alessio lorded it over a succession of smaller
opponents with 10 marks and 3 goals. Hird was handy again with 23
disposals about the ground and a goal. In defence Fletcher was very good
and he received great support from Wallis and Dean Solomon, who drifted
forward for 2 goals amongst his 18 touches. Mick Long also kicked 2
goals. Richmond’s better contributors included half-forward Matt Rogers,
who booted 2 goals and took 13 marks as he compensated for the lack of
key forward power. Leon Cameron played excellently in defence, his
pinpoint kicking a delight amongst 22 disposals and winger Joel Bowden
was also handy with 29 possessions and a goal. Duncan Kellaway kept
Misiti quiet while having 19 touches himself and Ottens improved as the
match progressed, ending with 15 disposals, 7 marks and 2 goals. Ben
Holland also kicked 2 goals. Ben Harrison played well...for Essendon. No
quote from Frawley in the paper, Sheedy payed tribute to the Mercuri
family and offered them the club's full support. He also pointed out
that Scott Lucas and Gary Moorcroft kicked 10 goals between 'em in the
reserves. Gulp.
Cheers, Tim.
E-mail: t.murphy@rmit.edu.au