IllBeTheJudge
Premiership Player
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2008
- Posts
- 3,396
- Reaction score
- 1,587
- Location
- Insert witty location here
- AFL Club
- St Kilda
- Other Teams
- New Orleans Saints, Sth Dragons
Bulldogs v Pies
A wise man once said something that I couldn't understand at all, as it was waaaayyy over my head and upon reflection I figured he mustn't have been too wise at all and really he should have "dumbed it down" for me.
Perhaps the Doggies received a similarly disjointed message before running out in front of a huge crowd at Docklands to face the Pies, both teams in exceptional form and yet Footersgray looked a little lost and without urgency. Collingwood on the other hand were running hard and getting first, second, and third use of the ball on their way to piling on 7 goals for the quarter. Didak and Swan racked up tonnes of possessions and generally used the ball well, while it was only Boyd and Cooney really that were giving a yelp for the home side. Collingwood applied tremendous pressure and forced several turnovers, and it just seemed that every time the Dogs tried to get the pill forward the Pies defense was all over the Doggie forwards, contested ball, spoil, mop up, run out of defense. O'Brien and Maxwell were completely in control back there.
The second quarter was much the same without extending the Pies advantage too much. It was only in this quarter that I realised Robert Murphy was playing, so quiet had he been to this point. A couple of bursts of good play from the Dogs kind of kept them in it but each time the Maggies found a way to keep them at bay, Davis and Medhurst starting to find the goals whilst both still managing to keep themselves in that group of players known as the Eminently Punchable. Shaun Higgins didn't exactly force the stats collectors to go hunting for "world records", but every time he touched the ball he seemed to do something good.
Some exceptional displays of skill were sometimes put into perspective by some woeful passages of play. On one hand we had Daisy shoot out a 20m handball into the path of a running teammate, who then slotted the goal from just inside 50. Highlights reel. But the bit of play that stood out for me in this match was when, I think Robert Murphy, kicked out on the full, Heath Shaw took the resultant free kick and kicked it out on the full, the Doggies now had possession back and whoever took that kick tried to pinpoint a pass to a defender under no pressure, missed him by 5 metres, Collingwood swooped, I think it was Swan who picked it up had a soaring shot on goal ..... out on the full. Highlights reel.
I think this little gem actually contributed to the general entertainment of the match though, as well as the fact that the Dogs oh so nearly came home with a wet tail to pinch this match, making it even harder to tell where these teams are at. The Pies should not have let them get so close, leading by about 40 points close to 3/4 time. The Dogs should not have let the Pies get out to a 40 point lead, especially when Cloke and Anthony were both so ineffective. A final quarter burst is always fun to see though, and made for far better viewing than had Collingwood pulled further away. A late fumble by Mitch Hahn saw the ball land in Beams inked up arms (or arm, but that sounds like he only took the ball in one arm .. I guess really it was his hands), whacked it on the boot and it was Daisy again who was playing in front, took the mark, and slotted through what was ultimately the match winner. Toothless grins all round.
Pois by 1
Brisbane v Geelong
Welcome to the Woolloongabba sandpit.
Geelong had a horde of Cats out of their starting 22, who would have been mighty jealous to see the giant litter tray that everyone got to play on. Whether the Cats were resting players or fixing up niggling injuries or whether some just couldn't be bothered getting to Brisbane, is all rather irrelevant. What matters is that one coach knows his team can take their chances when they come about, and the other knows that his fringe players probably aren't as good or ready to step up as he would have liked.
Geelong started off well and kicked 3 of the first 4 goals. After taking a mark in the forward 50, Mooney handballed to a mate in the square rather than taking a shot, which is his "Modus of Operation", as commentator Anthony Hudson so eloquently put it.
But the Lions soon realised that they were up against a bunch of Christians without any son of God to back them up, and mauled them appropriately. Through the middle of the ground especially, Brisbane took control with Power, Black and the mighty impressive Daniel Rich tearing it up. I've said it before, this kid will win the Rising Star. Some of his passes were just superb. He's strong, and breaks tackles already.
Geelong's undermanned defense struggled against the twin Bs, and at the other end Drummond and Pixie McGrath were in complete control. Hawkins snagged a very clever goal from an extremely tight angle, amazing he went for the drop punt really. John Malkevich was Geelong's best which I'm thankful for as without him, I may have just lost my Dream Team match. Joel Corey tried hard, but Selwood struggled a little, and all in all Geelong looked like they were beaten before they even got off the plane. They probably were. Kicked their lowest score for some time. I think.
Brisbane did what they needed to do, and consolidated their spot in the top 8 along the way.
Blions by 43
Adelaide v Fremantle
I don't normally write anything about Fremental, but it must be said that they were lucky to get away with only a 117 point loss. Even with the players that were missing, to kick a solitary point to 1/2 time is pathetic by anyone's standards, but considering it was performed by the Dockers, got off reasonably lightly in the media I thought.
The Crows weren't sure why they were having another training drill with players in opposition jumpers, but that Neil Craig is a wily one. A perfect warm up for a game against the real opposition, which somehow never eventuated.
After spending his first 12 months or so with the media and Adelaide public alike questioning exactly why they took him, Patrick Dangerfield is showing what everyone at the Camry Crows saw in the first place. Could challenge Rich for the Rising Star.
The Porpoise continues to have a splendid year, and Tippett is finding some nice form also. The Dockers were horrid. I'm off to read some more Enid Blyton now. Come along Timmy.
Dockers murdered by 117
Hawthorn v North Melbourne
Rain, hail, lightning, gale force winds. Not it's not summer come early in Launceston, but that's what faced the boys in the first half of this match and the match suffered somewhat for it. Slipperier than a barrel full of slippery eels the ball became, highlighted by the fact only 6 goals for the match had been kicked to half time. Fremental looked on in awe.
Didn't see a lot of this, but saw enough to see the Roos blow a chance to beat the reigning premiers, leading by 14 points at 3/4 time and in the context of the match, was more like 45.
Not sure how many games he's played, but saw Xavier Ellis play for the first time this season. Can't say he's spent his time sunning himself. He's almost translucent. With a few more games Dawks fans will be hoping he can get back to last season's form, though it may still be too little too late for Hawthorn. Do Dawkers care though? I mean, if my team won a premiership, would I care about the following season? Quite possibly not.
Anyway, the Kangaroos are playing with spirit and determination, just not a whole lot of skill, which is not something you can necessarily coach. They will get better, as I still see players such as Grima, Thompson, Urquhart and Hansen with improvement to come, but although Campbell is yet to return it's their forward line that poses most issues I think. The middle needs revamping also, lacking pace and the jury is still out on Wells effectiveness in there.
Lance Franklin stepped up in the last quarter along with Hodge, finally getting thrown into the middle, Sewell and Mitchell deciding enough was about enough and stamping their collective authority on the game, Buddy booting 4 I think. Still a chance to make the 8, but meeting 3 of the top 4 teams in the next month will make or break them for 2009.
Dawks by 9
Melbourne v Port Adelaide
Yay for Melbourne and yay for Liam Jurrah. Certainly giving Dees fans something to cheer about.
Port Adelaide are on a slippery slope to nowhere at the moment. The only consistent thing about their season being their inconsistency, I think they'll struggle to make the finals.
I wasn't one of about 15,000 to see this match, so ....
Dees by 11
West Coast v St Kilda
Was it just me or after the massive clash the week before, this entire game seemed something of a let down? Young Adam Cockie had barely made it out of the tanning salon before Riewoldt had his first and only goal for the match, but from then on everyone looked a little flat. The Weagles took it up to the unbeaten Saints though, and their midfield of Masten, Selwood and Lynch put on fine performances, with Shirley Temple quite effective also despite the close attention of Clint Jones.
Gardiner was again terrific in the ruck and around the ground, playing on his old patch for maybe only his second time since crossing over to St Kilda, but a word of advise to West Coast supporters; you're supposed to boo the players that leave your club, not the ones that you sacked.
A glorious day for footy did not mean the skills reached any great heights. Plenty of missed passes, loose handballs, dropped marks and kicks that didn't go the distance, and no that's not a direct reference to Raph Clarke. There were a few moments where I couldn't bare to watch. Cockie's hairdresser clearly had her eyes shut most of the time also.
West Coast took the lead in the third but didn't really take control of the game at any stage, although the scores were all tied up at the last change and it was anyone's game.
LeCras was kept fairly quiet but still should have had more than 2 goals, whoever was on Kosi did a great job, and if not for a fumble or two at the start of the last quarter and some supreme efforts from Montagna and Dal Santo, the Weagles could have come away with a win. With 2 goals to Milne in the last though, St Kilda were able to hold West Coast at bay but from as Weagles supporter point of view, I hope you have blonde tips as pretty much everyone in your team does and you'd just look out of place otherwise. You would also have to take some pride in the fact that your team showed some heart. A 20 point margin not a true indication of the match.
Note to Foxtel: Please keep Jakovich away from the commentary box. I don't think he knows the other team's names, let alone the players. It's not that he is always saying how great West Coast are (though this does come up a bit), but he can only ever refer to anyone else with a direct reference to West Coast. West Coast didn't get beaten by St Kilda, they got beaten by the team West Coast were playing thanks largely to the guy that Nicoski was minding, kicking 4. I think he even refers to Fremental as "the other Perth team, you know, the one that isn't West Coast". Gerard Healy did so much better, and almost formed a sentence on the first attempt.
Saints by 20
A wise man once said something that I couldn't understand at all, as it was waaaayyy over my head and upon reflection I figured he mustn't have been too wise at all and really he should have "dumbed it down" for me.
Perhaps the Doggies received a similarly disjointed message before running out in front of a huge crowd at Docklands to face the Pies, both teams in exceptional form and yet Footersgray looked a little lost and without urgency. Collingwood on the other hand were running hard and getting first, second, and third use of the ball on their way to piling on 7 goals for the quarter. Didak and Swan racked up tonnes of possessions and generally used the ball well, while it was only Boyd and Cooney really that were giving a yelp for the home side. Collingwood applied tremendous pressure and forced several turnovers, and it just seemed that every time the Dogs tried to get the pill forward the Pies defense was all over the Doggie forwards, contested ball, spoil, mop up, run out of defense. O'Brien and Maxwell were completely in control back there.
The second quarter was much the same without extending the Pies advantage too much. It was only in this quarter that I realised Robert Murphy was playing, so quiet had he been to this point. A couple of bursts of good play from the Dogs kind of kept them in it but each time the Maggies found a way to keep them at bay, Davis and Medhurst starting to find the goals whilst both still managing to keep themselves in that group of players known as the Eminently Punchable. Shaun Higgins didn't exactly force the stats collectors to go hunting for "world records", but every time he touched the ball he seemed to do something good.
Some exceptional displays of skill were sometimes put into perspective by some woeful passages of play. On one hand we had Daisy shoot out a 20m handball into the path of a running teammate, who then slotted the goal from just inside 50. Highlights reel. But the bit of play that stood out for me in this match was when, I think Robert Murphy, kicked out on the full, Heath Shaw took the resultant free kick and kicked it out on the full, the Doggies now had possession back and whoever took that kick tried to pinpoint a pass to a defender under no pressure, missed him by 5 metres, Collingwood swooped, I think it was Swan who picked it up had a soaring shot on goal ..... out on the full. Highlights reel.
I think this little gem actually contributed to the general entertainment of the match though, as well as the fact that the Dogs oh so nearly came home with a wet tail to pinch this match, making it even harder to tell where these teams are at. The Pies should not have let them get so close, leading by about 40 points close to 3/4 time. The Dogs should not have let the Pies get out to a 40 point lead, especially when Cloke and Anthony were both so ineffective. A final quarter burst is always fun to see though, and made for far better viewing than had Collingwood pulled further away. A late fumble by Mitch Hahn saw the ball land in Beams inked up arms (or arm, but that sounds like he only took the ball in one arm .. I guess really it was his hands), whacked it on the boot and it was Daisy again who was playing in front, took the mark, and slotted through what was ultimately the match winner. Toothless grins all round.
Pois by 1
Brisbane v Geelong
Welcome to the Woolloongabba sandpit.
Geelong had a horde of Cats out of their starting 22, who would have been mighty jealous to see the giant litter tray that everyone got to play on. Whether the Cats were resting players or fixing up niggling injuries or whether some just couldn't be bothered getting to Brisbane, is all rather irrelevant. What matters is that one coach knows his team can take their chances when they come about, and the other knows that his fringe players probably aren't as good or ready to step up as he would have liked.
Geelong started off well and kicked 3 of the first 4 goals. After taking a mark in the forward 50, Mooney handballed to a mate in the square rather than taking a shot, which is his "Modus of Operation", as commentator Anthony Hudson so eloquently put it.
But the Lions soon realised that they were up against a bunch of Christians without any son of God to back them up, and mauled them appropriately. Through the middle of the ground especially, Brisbane took control with Power, Black and the mighty impressive Daniel Rich tearing it up. I've said it before, this kid will win the Rising Star. Some of his passes were just superb. He's strong, and breaks tackles already.
Geelong's undermanned defense struggled against the twin Bs, and at the other end Drummond and Pixie McGrath were in complete control. Hawkins snagged a very clever goal from an extremely tight angle, amazing he went for the drop punt really. John Malkevich was Geelong's best which I'm thankful for as without him, I may have just lost my Dream Team match. Joel Corey tried hard, but Selwood struggled a little, and all in all Geelong looked like they were beaten before they even got off the plane. They probably were. Kicked their lowest score for some time. I think.
Brisbane did what they needed to do, and consolidated their spot in the top 8 along the way.
Blions by 43
Adelaide v Fremantle
I don't normally write anything about Fremental, but it must be said that they were lucky to get away with only a 117 point loss. Even with the players that were missing, to kick a solitary point to 1/2 time is pathetic by anyone's standards, but considering it was performed by the Dockers, got off reasonably lightly in the media I thought.
The Crows weren't sure why they were having another training drill with players in opposition jumpers, but that Neil Craig is a wily one. A perfect warm up for a game against the real opposition, which somehow never eventuated.
After spending his first 12 months or so with the media and Adelaide public alike questioning exactly why they took him, Patrick Dangerfield is showing what everyone at the Camry Crows saw in the first place. Could challenge Rich for the Rising Star.
The Porpoise continues to have a splendid year, and Tippett is finding some nice form also. The Dockers were horrid. I'm off to read some more Enid Blyton now. Come along Timmy.
Dockers murdered by 117
Hawthorn v North Melbourne
Rain, hail, lightning, gale force winds. Not it's not summer come early in Launceston, but that's what faced the boys in the first half of this match and the match suffered somewhat for it. Slipperier than a barrel full of slippery eels the ball became, highlighted by the fact only 6 goals for the match had been kicked to half time. Fremental looked on in awe.
Didn't see a lot of this, but saw enough to see the Roos blow a chance to beat the reigning premiers, leading by 14 points at 3/4 time and in the context of the match, was more like 45.
Not sure how many games he's played, but saw Xavier Ellis play for the first time this season. Can't say he's spent his time sunning himself. He's almost translucent. With a few more games Dawks fans will be hoping he can get back to last season's form, though it may still be too little too late for Hawthorn. Do Dawkers care though? I mean, if my team won a premiership, would I care about the following season? Quite possibly not.
Anyway, the Kangaroos are playing with spirit and determination, just not a whole lot of skill, which is not something you can necessarily coach. They will get better, as I still see players such as Grima, Thompson, Urquhart and Hansen with improvement to come, but although Campbell is yet to return it's their forward line that poses most issues I think. The middle needs revamping also, lacking pace and the jury is still out on Wells effectiveness in there.
Lance Franklin stepped up in the last quarter along with Hodge, finally getting thrown into the middle, Sewell and Mitchell deciding enough was about enough and stamping their collective authority on the game, Buddy booting 4 I think. Still a chance to make the 8, but meeting 3 of the top 4 teams in the next month will make or break them for 2009.
Dawks by 9
Melbourne v Port Adelaide
Yay for Melbourne and yay for Liam Jurrah. Certainly giving Dees fans something to cheer about.
Port Adelaide are on a slippery slope to nowhere at the moment. The only consistent thing about their season being their inconsistency, I think they'll struggle to make the finals.
I wasn't one of about 15,000 to see this match, so ....
Dees by 11
West Coast v St Kilda
Was it just me or after the massive clash the week before, this entire game seemed something of a let down? Young Adam Cockie had barely made it out of the tanning salon before Riewoldt had his first and only goal for the match, but from then on everyone looked a little flat. The Weagles took it up to the unbeaten Saints though, and their midfield of Masten, Selwood and Lynch put on fine performances, with Shirley Temple quite effective also despite the close attention of Clint Jones.
Gardiner was again terrific in the ruck and around the ground, playing on his old patch for maybe only his second time since crossing over to St Kilda, but a word of advise to West Coast supporters; you're supposed to boo the players that leave your club, not the ones that you sacked.
A glorious day for footy did not mean the skills reached any great heights. Plenty of missed passes, loose handballs, dropped marks and kicks that didn't go the distance, and no that's not a direct reference to Raph Clarke. There were a few moments where I couldn't bare to watch. Cockie's hairdresser clearly had her eyes shut most of the time also.
West Coast took the lead in the third but didn't really take control of the game at any stage, although the scores were all tied up at the last change and it was anyone's game.
LeCras was kept fairly quiet but still should have had more than 2 goals, whoever was on Kosi did a great job, and if not for a fumble or two at the start of the last quarter and some supreme efforts from Montagna and Dal Santo, the Weagles could have come away with a win. With 2 goals to Milne in the last though, St Kilda were able to hold West Coast at bay but from as Weagles supporter point of view, I hope you have blonde tips as pretty much everyone in your team does and you'd just look out of place otherwise. You would also have to take some pride in the fact that your team showed some heart. A 20 point margin not a true indication of the match.
Note to Foxtel: Please keep Jakovich away from the commentary box. I don't think he knows the other team's names, let alone the players. It's not that he is always saying how great West Coast are (though this does come up a bit), but he can only ever refer to anyone else with a direct reference to West Coast. West Coast didn't get beaten by St Kilda, they got beaten by the team West Coast were playing thanks largely to the guy that Nicoski was minding, kicking 4. I think he even refers to Fremental as "the other Perth team, you know, the one that isn't West Coast". Gerard Healy did so much better, and almost formed a sentence on the first attempt.
Saints by 20