| * |
Fremantle with a goal after the
siren beat St Kilda by five points on a chilly Friday night at Subiaco Oval. The victory
enhanced the finals hopes of the Dockers as they went to seventh place while the Saints
slipped back to fourth on the ladder.
The match will also remembered not only for further injuries suffered by St Kilda to
JUSTIN KOSCHITZKE, MATT MAGUIRE and LUKE PENNY but for the fact that Fremantle enjoyed
five goals from free kicks and the investigation of comments overheard late on Friday
night at Perth Airport as people were returning to the east on QF 648. Following a TV
report, a thorough AFL inquiry exonerated all officiating field umpires of any breach of
integrity — also refer Diary week 485 and 486.
Sportal reported proceedings: After four quarters of finals-like
football it took until the dying seconds of the match for the home side to emerge victors.
Ruckman-forward Justin Longmuir marked brilliantly after Luke
McPharlin ran Justin Peckett down with the ball and the big man
converted from 25 metres. Matthew Pavlich was once again the shining
light for Fremantle, kicking four goals while Paul Hasleby bounced back
from last week's shocker. For the Saints veteran Robert Harvey put in a
virtuoso performance in the midfield and was ably assisted by young gun Nick Dal
Santo.
After a slow start in last week's derby disaster Fremantle was keen to get away well
against the Saints and it did, managing four of the first five goals. The visitors kept in
touch through Harvey's two majors and after a tight term the Dockers were up by a goal at
the first break. St Kilda took charge in the second, winning the clearances despite Aaron
Sandilands' ruck dominance. Harvey, Luke Ball and Dal Santo
pumped the ball forward to the dangerous Fraser Gehrig as the Saints put
on five goals to two for the quarter. At the main change the visitors has earned a
13-point break.
The third term saw the St Kilda bench become reminiscent of an emergency ward. In spite of
their woes the visitors extended their advantage to 16 points at the turn for home after a
tight quarter that yielded them two goals to the home side's one.
The final stanza was a classic, with fans on the edge of their seats as Fremantle held the
Saints goalless and won the game by kicking four goals of its own. |
| 2005 — ROUND 21 — GAME 1 |
| Fremantle
v St Kilda |
Friday
(n), August 19, 2005
Subiaco Oval, 8.40pm AEST, crowd: 38,057
Conditions: Good
Weather: 11C, cool and clear, after a morning of 1.4C at 7am |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| FRE |
5.2-32
(6) |
7.2-44 |
8.6-54 |
12.8-80
(5) |
| STK |
4.2-26 |
9.3-57 |
11.4-70
(16) |
11.9-75 |
Goals: Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich 4, Luke McPharlin 4,
Paul Medhurst, Brett Peake, Jeff Farmer, Justin Longmuir. St Kilda: Fraser Gehrig
4, Robert Harvey 3, Nick Dal Santo 2, Justin Peckett, Cain Ackland.
Best: Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich, Paul Hasleby, Justin Longmuir, Antoni Grover,
Brett Peake, Luke McPharlin. St Kilda: Robert Harvey, Nick Dal Santo, Leigh
Montagna, Fraser Gehrig, Luke Ball, Steven Baker.
Umpires (gold): Brett Allen, Matthew Head, Derek Woodcock.
Report:
l Brendon Goddard (StK) was
charged with a Level One striking offence against Steven Dodd (Fre)
during the first quarter. The incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low
impact (one point), in play (one point) and body contact (one point). This is a total of
five activation points, which relates to a Level One offence, drawing 125 demerit points
and a one-game suspension. He has no applicable good or bad record. Goddard accepted guilt
with an early plea, a reprimand from the MRP and 93.75 points towards his future record. |
Geelong gave their finals hopes
a massive boost by smashing top of the table West Coast by 76 points on Saturday afternoon
at Kardinia Park. The Cats broke a four-game losing streak that followed the 79-point win
of premier Port Adelaide in Round 16.
Lyall Johnson reported for The Age: In a game that was done and dusted
by the long break, and deteriorated into a scrappy, mistake-riddled affair in the second
half, the Eagles belied their premiership favourite status and put in their worst
performance of the year. The Cats destroyed West Coast at its own game – winning the
contests around the ground and being able to run with numbers – leaving the hapless
Eagles to seemingly wonder what was going on. Not one Geelong player was a passenger. The
Cats had 80 more kicks, split the difference with handballs but led the tackle count 65 to
46.
Jimmy Bartel led the way, and showed why the Cats were so eager to get
his signature again. Normally reliable stopper Tyson Stenglein could do
little more than just follow in Bartel's wake. Steve Johnson repaid the
faith of his teammates with a best-on-ground performance. His hard running and skills were
on full display, and he really is one of the most unsung players in the competition. It
was a welcome return for skipper Steven King from a finger injury. King
dominated the ruck, and was a good tall presence around the ground, but the show-stealer
was Nathan Ablett, who gave the Cats the presence they have been craving
in the forward line.
Nathan was used as Geelong's primary leading forward and had three goals by quarter-time.
With his father Gary exploding out of his seat in the Hickey Stand with every touch, the
19-year-old could have had another, but for an unnecessary handball to Peter
Riccardi just 15 metres out, who scored. Nathan might lack the freakish spring of
his famous father, but he took a leaf out of his dad's book, crashing over the top of a
pack to take a strong overhead grab, which resulted in his second major. By the end of the
first he was on to his third defender and he finished the day with four goals as coach Mark
Thompson decided to move him out of the goal square.
When a team smashes another by 76 points two weeks from the finals, it is usually a case
of confirming what we already know. That the winner is superior, has momentum and deserves
its place ahead of the other on the ladder. But, apart from a confidence boost, the return
of Tom Harley and some encouraging individual efforts from key players,
can Geelong get a true indication of where it is at from a match in which the opposition
played so poorly? And why couldn't the Cats put the Eagles away even more convincingly?
Question marks hang over whether the Eagles can win a flag with their forward structure.
With Phil Matera and Michael Gardiner out, the midfield
does not have the confidence to go long to a contest. The Eagles' form on the road is also
a worry – this was their fourth loss away from home. |
| 2005 — ROUND 21 — GAME 2 |
| Geelong
v West Coast |
Saturday,
August 20, 2005
Kardinia Park, 2.10pm AEST, crowd: 20,372
Conditions: Good
Weather: 15C, cool, windy, mostly sunshine |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| GEE |
5.4-34
(26) |
10.7-67
(46) |
12.12-84
(63) |
16.13-109
(76) |
| WCE |
1.2-8 |
3.3-21 |
3.3-21 |
5.3-33 |
Goals: Geelong: Nathan Ablett 4, Steve Johnson 3, Peter
Riccardi 2, Kent Kingsley 2, Steven King, Kane Tenace, Andrew Mackie, Cameron Ling, Gary
Ablett. West Coast: Brent Staker 2, Ben Cousins, Mark Seaby, Mark Nicoski.
Best: Geelong: Steve Johnson, Jimmy Bartel, Nathan Ablett, Steven King, Jared
Rooke, Joel Corey, Matthew Scarlett, Cameron Mooney. West Coast: Michael Braun,
Chad Fletcher, Mark Nicoski.
Umpires (red): Hayden Kennedy, Scott Jeffery, Shane McInerney. |
Adelaide recorded its highest
score and biggest winning margin against Collingwood with a crushing victory on Saturday
afternoon at Football Park. The aimless Magpies were never in the game, handing the Crows
their ninth straight win. Only wayward kicking in the first term – 4.9 – saved
Collingwood from greater humiliation.
Alan Shiell observed for afl.com.au: The Crows' running, play-on style,
complemented by the constant use of handball, contrasted starkly with Collingwood's
stop-start tactics. Rarely did the Magpies develop any fluency in their game. Tall
forwards Trent Hentschel (five goals), Ken McGregor
(three), Ian Perrie (three) and Scott Welsh (three)
cashed in on Adelaide's dominance by sharing 14 of the 22 goals.
They were well serviced by wingmen Brett Burton and Martin
Mattner and busy midfielders Scott Thompson, Mark
Ricciuto, Tyson Edwards and Simon Goodwin, who
were backed by the competition's meanest defence, in which Nathan Bock, Ben
Hart, Ben Rutten, Andrew McLeod, Nathan
Bassett and Graham Johncock took turns to shine – when
McLeod wasn't having a run on the ball.
Ashley Porter noted in The Age: Adelaide's depth of quality
players has never been deeper, and this was emphasised when, after losing ruckman Ben
Hudson the previous week with a knee injury, Matthew Clarke came
into the side for the first time this season. He was a valuable contributor against his
younger and inexperienced opponents, including Guy Richards, who showed
he might be a top player of the future.
Shane O'Bree, Brodie Holland and Paul Licuria
were among those to amass the stats for the Magpies and provide meaningful opposition, as
did Nathan Buckley when the ball got near him, but too many of their
teammates played too much kick-and-hope football. This was Adelaide at its defensive and
attacking best, and Collingwood at its lowest ebb. It was an opportunity for the
lesser-light Magpies to shrug their inexperienced tag and strut their stuff, but sadly
they weren't up to the task. |
| 2005 — ROUND 21 — GAME 3 |
| Adelaide
v Collingwood |
Saturday,
August 20, 2005
Football Park, 2.40pm AEST, crowd: 40,372
Conditions: Fair to good, soft in patches
Weather: 12C, cool and sunny |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| ADE |
4.9-33
(20) |
10.12-72
(56) |
17.15-117
(80) |
22.19-151
(110) |
| COL |
2.1-13 |
2.4-16 |
5.7-37 |
5.11-41 |
Goals: Adelaide: Trent Hentschel 5.5, Ken McGregor 3, Ian
Perrie 3, Scott Welsh 3, Mark Ricciuto 2, Scott Thompson 2, Robert Shirley, Nathan Bock,
Tyson Edwards, Brett Burton. Collingwood: Tarkyn Lockyer, Jason Cloke, Blake
Caracella, Heath Shaw, Matthew Lokan.
Best: Adelaide: Trent Hentschel, Brett Burton, Scott Thompson, Nathan Bock, Mark
Ricciuto, Tyson Edwards. Collingwood: James Clement, Brodie Holland, Shane O'Bree,
Ben Davies, Paul Licuria, Tarkyn Lockyer.
Umpires (red): Corin Rowe, Stefan Grun, Michael Avon. |
Port Adelaide moved closer to
defending its premiership with a five-goal win over Brisbane in fine and mild conditions
on Saturday night at the Gabba. Port's high-possession, highly efficient football proved
too much for the often wasteful Lions who threw everything at Port but couldn't produce
enough fit players. Port are now half-a-game outside of the eight, while Brisbane slumped
from 7th to 10th on the ladder.
Peter Blucher reviewed the match for The Age: Port should have won by
more. It had 26 scoring shots to 16, and 378 possessions to 263. It always looked the
better and more efficient side, but it wasn't until late in the third quarter that it took
control on the scoreboard. Brothers Chad (26 possessions) and Kane
Cornes (25) joined Warren Tredrea and Shaun Burgoyne
in a comprehensive demolition of a Brisbane side that had too many players who were not
fit enough to play at maximum capacity. Jonathan Brown, resuming after a
two-week lay-off with osteitis pubis, was a shadow of his match-winning best. He wasn't
helped by poor delivery into the forward line, but he could barely run and didn't have the
body strength to match his opponent. He had just four touches and, when coach Leigh
Matthews mercifully took the big-hearted key forward from the ground 10 minutes
from the end, it was almost a symbolic confirmation of the end of an era.Jason Akermanis, carrying an adductor-hamstring
problem for several weeks, didn't stretch out, and Simon Black, who
missed last week with a calf worry, couldn't cover the ground as normal. For the second
week in a row Michael Voss, who had 35 possessions, was magnificent. He
played every minute of the game, but not even a superhuman effort from the skipper could
get the Lions home. Port just had too many good players. The visitors had lost five of
their previous six visits to the Gabba, but won two key midfield match-ups. Not for the
first time, Kane Cornes had the better of Black, while Dominic Cassisi
beat Akermanis.
Matthews, renowned for his quiet demeanour during his years in Brisbane, let fly with a
Barassi-style outburst at quarter-time – finger-pointing and all. It worked, but only
briefly. The Lions, 16 points down at the first change, kicked three goals in four minutes
to grab the lead. But the Power, dynamite on the rebound and more precise in its delivery
to the forwards, steadied and by half-time the visitors led by 16 points. Matthews threw Daniel
Bradshaw and Chris Johnson forward in the third quarter, leaving
Mal Michael – six days after a compound finger dislocation – to
pick up Tredrea.
It could have been decisive at either end. Johnson had the
Lions' first three shots at goal in the third term but kicked 1.2. Tredrea followed with
three behinds in a row. Chad Cornes became the wildcard. Mark Williams
threw him forward and, when he became the game's first multiple goal-kicker midway through
the term, the lead was back to 16 points – again. Brisbane, which had kicked 12 goals
in its last seven quarters of football, was going to have to find something special in the
last. It was never going to happen. |
| 2005 — ROUND 21 — GAME 4 |
| Brisbane
Lions v Port Adelaide |
Saturday
(n), August 20, 2005
BCG (Gabba), 7.10pm AEST, crowd: 35,221
Conditions: Good
Weather: 20C, fine and mild |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| BRI |
2.0-12 |
5.2-32 |
6.7-43 |
7.9-51 |
| PA |
4.4-28
(16) |
7.6-48
(16) |
9.12-66
(23) |
11.15-81
(30) |
Goals: Port: Chad Cornes 2, Warren Tredrea 2, Adam
Kingsley, Josh Mahoney, Dean Brogan, Stuart Dew, Michael Pettigrew, Kane Cornes, Brett
Montgomery. Brisbane: Justin Sherman, Michael Voss, Ash McGrath, Simon Black, Tim
Notting, Chris Johnson, Josh Drummond.
Best: Port: Shaun Burgoyne, Chad Cornes, Josh Mahoney, Kane Cornes, Domenic
Cassisi, Stuart Dew. Brisbane: Michael Voss, Josh Drummond, Jed Adcock, Luke Power,
Tim Notting.
Umpires (gold): Mathew James, Matt Stevic, Darren Goldspink. |
In a season of thrilling
finishes (31 single-digit margins), none has been finer than Melbourne's effort on
Saturday night at MCG when they swamped the Western Bulldogs in the final five minutes to
secure a gutsy four-point win.
Mark Harding for the Sunday Herald Sun reported: Jeff White
was the Demon hero and, despite his wonderful four quarters, it is amazing that the best
thing he did all night was to fall to the ground after the most minimal contact from Wayde
Skipper at a boundary throw-in inside the final minute. He goaled – his
second for the term – and for the second week in a row the Demons came back from the
dead.
Karen Lyon noted for The Age: When Bulldogs forward Brad
Johnson bobbed and weaved to kick his third goal at the 14-minute mark of the
final quarter he extended his team's lead to 22 points. It appeared the Dogs were on their
way to the finals. It didn't look a pivotal moment when, just seconds later, Adam
Cooney ran into an open goal and shanked the kick for a behind. But it is a
moment that will be combed over for months by the youngster.
As seems the rule in 2005, there was of course to be one more twist in what was already
and absorbing match that had ebbed and flowed all night. The rush of four Melbourne goals
started at the 20-minute mark, with a simple mark 15 metres from goal by ruckman Jeff
White. When he calmly cut the lead to 15 points, the alarm bells didn't really start
ringing for the Dogs. But things became uncomfortable when two minutes later Adem
Yze – released out of defence and into the forward line only in the final
quarter – marked an errant kick-in and kicked the second of his last-term goals to
cut the lead to nine points. All of a sudden, the Demons had options in the forward line.
It had not been that way earlier in the night, with Russell Robertson
playing a lone hand. After Robertson's fourth goal midway through the second quarter,
coach Rodney Eade was forced to switch Dale Morris on to
Robertson and send Brian Harris to full-forward. Robertson would end the
night with six goals and was clearly the most dangerous forward on the ground, but
remarkably he did not kick a goal in the last quarter.With five minutes left to play, Daniel Giansiracusa won a free
kick in his forward pocket but he sprayed the shot that would have given the Dogs
breathing space. Melbourne quickly transferred play to its end, where Ben Holland
took a strong pack mark. He kicked the goal and reduced the margin to four points.
A rushed behind to the Demons cut the margin to three
points, but the real drama came at the 30-minute mark, when White was awarded a free kick
at a boundary throw-in. White held his nerve and drilled the goal from close to 50 metres,
putting the Demons in front for the first time since the third quarter. For the second
week in a row, Melbourne had won at the last gasp. |
| 2005 — ROUND 21 — GAME 5 |
| Melbourne
v Western Bulldogs |
Saturday
(n), August 20, 2005
MCG, 7.10pm AEST, crowd: 32,621
Conditions: Good
Weather: 14C, cool, possible showers |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| MEL |
4.2-26 |
8.5-53 |
11.8-74 |
16.13-109
(4) |
| WB |
7.2-44
(18) |
9.6-60
(7) |
13.7-85
(11) |
16.9-105 |
Goals: Melbourne: Russell Robertson 6.1, Adem Yze 2, Jeff
White 2, David Neitz, Ben Holland, Guy Rigoni, Brad Green, Steven Armstrong, Aaron Davey. West.B'dogs:
Robert Murphy 3, Brad Johnson 3, Rohan Smith 2, Mitch Hahn 2, Chris Grant 2, Matthew
Robbins, Farren Ray, Daniel Giansiracusa, Nathan Eagleton.
Best: Melbourne: Guy Rigoni, Russell Robertson, Nathan Brown, Jeff White, Travis
Johnstone, Brad Green. West.B'dogs: Rohan Smith, Scott West, Robert Murphy, Ryan
Griffen, Jordan McMahon, Adam Cooney, Daniel Cross.
Umpires (gold): Michael Vozzo, Justin Schmitt, Stephen McBurney. |
Sydney's prospects for the
finals brightened considerably when they comprehensively beat the Kangaroos in fine and
sunny conditions at the SCG on Sunday afternoon. The Swans didn't disappoint the big
hometown crowd of 35,975 as they rattled off their best first quarter of the season to
lead by 37 points at the first break.
The Age noted: Mercurial Sydney sharpshooter Nick Davis looms
at the Swans' X-factor for the finals, following his best-on-ground performance. The
25-year-old is one of the least predictable weapons in Sydney's potent forward line but
was pivotal in his team's win when he booted five goals, including four in the first half.
Sydney's forward line was in devastating form contributing 12 of the goals – Davis
(5), Barry Hall (3), Michael O'Loughlin (2) and Ryan
O'Keefe (2) – while their midfielders racked up the possessions. The Swans
were sensational in the opening term dominating with deft efficiency around the ground and
not giving their opponents a sniff. Sydney had 15 inside-50s to nine in the first term but
more importantly 14 disposals per goal to the Roos' 58 as they took an unassailable
six-goal lead at the first change.
The forward line continued to fire in the second quarter but despite the margin they
showed enormous desperation. Lewis Roberts-Thomson smothered Callum
Urch twice in a minute, Luke Ablett stripped Glenn
Archer of the ball leading to a goal, and Jude Bolton dived for
a loose ball with no consideration for his head.
The Kangaroos tried to get some run back in the third quarter, but wayward kicking let
both sides down as the Roos out-scored the Swans 3.4 to 2.5 to still trail by 43-points at
the last change. Unlike the corresponding game last year – when the Roos came back
from a 40-point three-quarter deficit – there were no heroics this time. |
| 2005 — ROUND 21 — GAME 6 |
| Sydney
v Kangaroos |
Sunday,
August 21, 2005
SCG, 1.10pm AEST, crowd: 34,975
Conditions: Good
Weather: 20C, fine and sunny |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| SYD |
7.2-44
(37) |
12.3-75
(48) |
14.8-92
(43) |
15.11-101
(37) |
| KAN |
1.1-7 |
4.3-27 |
7.7-49 |
9.10-64 |
Goals: Sydney: Nick Davis 5.0, Barry Hall 3, Michael
O'Loughlin 2, Ryan O'Keefe 2, Adam Goodes, Nic Fosdike, Adam Schneider. Kangaroos:
Shannon Grant 4, Corey Jones 3, Troy Makepeace, Leigh Harding.
Best: Sydney: Nick Davis, Brett Kirk, Michael O'Loughlin, Leo Barry, Tadhg
Kennelly, Barry Hall. Kangaroos: Shannon Grant, Adam Simpson, Corey Jones, Brady
Rawlings.
Umpires (gold): Adam Davis, Scott McLaren, Shaun Ryan.
Reports:
l Ryan O'Keefe (Syd) for striking Jess
Sinclair (Kan) was reviewed. The MRP said O'Keefe pushed his arm back to break
contact with Sinclair after marking the ball. The contact was minimal and to the chest. No
further action was required.
l Corey Jones (Kan) was charged
with a first offence for abusive language towards emergency umpire Troy Pannell
during the second quarter. A first offence for abusive language towards an umpire is a
$1200 fine. Jones accepted guilt through an early plea which reduced the penalty by 25 per
cent to a $900 fine. |
Essendon at its rampant best
kicked its highest score of 222 contests against Carlton since 1897 when they destroyed a
sad-and-sorry Blues outfit by 99 points on an overcast Sunday afternoon at the MCG. Only
37,481 attended – the smallest to watch the pair in 26 home-and-away fixtures since
1993 when they started to play regularly at headquarters.
The Blues jumped out of the box with the first three goals to which the Bombers replied
with 10 unanswered goals. At one point late in the first half Essendon had kicked 17 of
the last 18 goals scored.
Jason Phelan reported for afl.com.au: Matthew Lloyd
and Mark Johnson were the chief destroyers with seven and six goals
respectively, with Johnson also gathering 26 possessions. James Hird was
outstanding for the Bombers with 29 touches and three goals as was Scott Lucas
with 27 disposals and a goal. Lance Whitnall was the best for Carlton
with 10 marks and 22 possessions, while Heath Scotland also gathered 26
touches and took 11 marks. It didn't look like it was going to be the Dons' day as both Ricky
Dyson and Kepler Bradley missed golden opportunities to register
their side's first goal, but Jobe Watson sparked the amazing scoring
avalanche when he goaled at the 12-minute mark – there would be 12 different
goal-scorers by the end.
Stephen Rielly observed in The Age: It was no surprise that
Essendon's record score against Carlton, 27.14, set by the great side of 1985, was later
eclipsed by a goal. A further 10 goals to five in the second half saw Essendon's
percentage improve by more than five per cent although the record winning margin over
Carlton of 109 points did not topple, perhaps the only opportunity missed by the Dons.
Kevin Sheedy used the second half to experiment – the tall backs in
the last term were Ted Richards, (who had earlier embarrassed Brendan
Fevola), Nathan Lovett-Murray and Jobe Watson – but was
only ensuring the spoils were shared and some of his younger players were able to take
something meaningful from the match. |
| 2005 — ROUND 21 — GAME 7 |
| Essendon
v Carlton |
Sunday,
August 21, 2005
MCG, 2.10pm AEST, crowd: 37,481
Conditions: Good
Weather: 15C, overcast, showers forecast, rain in Q4 |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| ESS |
9.4-58
(38) |
18.6-114
(70) |
23.10-148
(88) |
28.14-182
(99) |
| CAR |
3.2-20 |
6.8-44 |
8.12-60 |
11.17-83 |
Goals: Essendon: Matthew Lloyd 7.2, Mark Johnson 6.0,
Ricky Dyson 3, James Hird 3, Jason Johnson 2, Andrew Lovett, Scott Lucas, Angus Monfries,
Jay Nash, Brent Stanton, Paul Thomas, Jobe Watson. Carlton: Digby Morrell 3,
Matthew Lappin 2, Jarrad Waite 2, Scott Camporeale, Andrew Carrazzo, Sam Fisher, Lance
Whitnall.
Best: Essendon: Matthew Lloyd, Mark Johnson, James Hird, Jason Johnson, Scott
Lucas, Richard Dyson. Carlton: Scott Camporeale, Lance Whitnall, Heath Scotland,
Digby Morrell.
Umpires (gold): Chris Donlan, Jason Quigley, Dean Margetts. |
Richmond staged a remarkable
comeback to pinch victory from Hawthorn in the final minute under the closed roof at
Docklands on Sunday afternoon. Twice during the match, the Hawks led by 41 points, as late
the 20th minute of the third quarter. Richmond's thrilling victory appeared on the surface
to be ammunition for the cynics, who believe "tanking" matches to earn the right
to an end-of-season priority draft pick is rife.
Though Hawthorn kicked 13 goals in the first half, it's highest first-half score for more
than three years, it wasn't enough, Sportal noted. Whilst the Tigers' finals
hopes had all-but disappeared before this game, it was a display of courage which shows
just how much last year's wooden spooners have improved this season. And it was a great
way for former Hawk veteran Mark Graham to farewell his career while
former skipper Wayne Campbell will cherish this win in what was his
second last game.
However it was a moment of brilliance from the player who is the future of Richmond that
proved the difference in a thrilling finish. The Tigers' number one draft pick Brett
Deledio showed why he is one of the favourites for this year's Rising Star award
when his devastating run down the wing in the final minute enabled the Tigers to get the
ball forward for Kayne Pettifer to kick the winning goal.
It was one of three goals for Pettifer while Matthew Richardson kicked
four and Ray Hall in one of his best game for the Tigers kicked three. The Hawks were well
served by Peter Everitt while Ben Dixon and Harry
Miller kicked nine goals between them and although the Hawks are still eligible
for a priority draft pick after this result, there could be no doubt about their
commitment on Sunday. |
| 2005 — ROUND 21 — GAME 8 |
| Richmond
v Hawthorn |
Sunday,
August 21, 2005
Docklands, 2.10pm AEST, Roof: closed; crowd: 30,906
Conditions: tba
Weather: 15C, overcast, showers forecast |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| RCH |
3.2-20 |
7.7-49 |
14.11-95 |
20.17-137
(4) |
| HAW |
6.2-38
(18) |
13.2-80
(31) |
17.5-107
(12) |
21.7-133 |
Goals: Richmond: Matthew Richardson 4, Kayne Pettifer 3,
Ray Hall 3, Greg Stafford 2, Richard Tambling 2, Troy Simmonds 2, Rory Hilton, Brett
Deledio, Shane Tuck, Kane Johnson. Hawthorn: Ben Dixon 5.1, Harry Miller 4, Peter
Everitt 2, Angelo Lekkas 2, Trent Croad 2, Lance Franklin 2, Luke Hodge, Tim Clarke,
Clinton Young, Nick Ries.
Best: Richmond: Brett Deledio, Shane Tuck, Ray Hall, Kayne Pettifer, Joel Bowden,
Matthew Richardson. Hawthorn: Peter Everitt, Luke Hodge, Richard Vandenberg, Shane
Crawford, Harry Miller, Ben Dixon.
Umpires (red): Kieron Nicholls, Ray Chamberlain, Martin Ellis. |
|
|
