| * |
In spite of a somewhat patchy
performance, Fremantle kept its season alive with a 37 point win over Essendon on Friday
night at Subiaco Oval ending a three-game losing streak. However, Freo were forced to work
hard as Essendon's willing youth refused to lie down.
It took the Dockers almost three and a half quarters before they eventually prevailed but
the win came at a cost with Josh Carr going off with a suspected calf
strain and Paul Medhurst suffering calf problems.
Sportal noted that Fremantle looked good early after plenty of
niggle from Essendon, but when the Bombers played the ball and not the man, they quickly
found themselves in the game. The Dockers however, blew the game open in the third quarter
kicking five straight (Murphy, Pavlich, Black and two from Crowley) to lead by a game-high
39-points but the Bombers were able to reduce it to 26 going into the last.
Fremantle applied enough pressure in the last quarter when the game was up for the taking,
to runout comfortable winners in the end.
The Dockers were well served by veteran Shaun McManus (26 touches and 10
marks) while Ryan Murphy, was good with four goals, as did Ryan
Crowley (4), Matthew Pavlich was also terrific with 18 touches,
13 marks and four goals.
For the Bombers, Jason Johnson was a good contributor with 26 possessions
and two goals, as well as Scott Camporeale, who collected 27 touches and
tried hard all night. |
| 2006
— ROUND 14 — GAME 1 |
| Fremantle v Essendon |
Friday (n), July 7, 2006
Subiaco Oval, 8.40pm AEST, crowd: 34,608
Conditions: Good
Weather: 14C, fine and clear |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| FRE |
7.3-45 (26) |
8.5-53 (16) |
15.7-97 (26) |
19.11-125 (37) |
| ESS |
3.1-19 |
5.7-37 |
10.11-71 |
12.16-88 |
Goals: Fremantle:
Ryan Murphy 4, Ryan Crowley 4, Matthew Pavlich 4, Justin Longmuir 2, Matthew Carr, Aaron
Sandilands, Peter Bell, Byron Schammer, Heath Black. Essendon: Courtney Johns 3,
Angus Monfries 2, Jason Johnson 2, Mark Johnson, Mark Bolton, Mark McVeigh, Adam McPhee,
Scott Lucas.
Best: Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich, Ryan Crowley, Ryan Murphy, Shaun McManus, Roger
Hayden, Paul Hasleby, Steven Dodd, Troy Cook. Essendon: J Johnson, Camporeale,
Stanton, Welsh, Johns, M Johnson.
Umpires: - Simon Meredith, Derek Woodcock, Darren Goldspink.
Report:
Following the match day report by umpires Derek Woodcock and Simon
Meredith, Nathan Lovett-Murray (Ess) was cited by the MRP with a
Level Five striking offence against Matthew Carr (Fre) during the first
quarter. The MRP offered Lovett-Murray a three-match suspension with an early plea based
on the activation points on record. The player admitted guilt and accepted the three-match
suspension. |
Geelong rebounded from
Adelaide's 92-point belting the previous week with a solid performance against Carlton on
Saturday afternoon in the pristine conditions under the closed roof at Docklands Stadium.
The Cats with deadly accuracy led by 77 points midway through the final term and finished
the game two points short of their greatest score kicked in 1925 versus the Blues.
Martin Boulton observed for The Age: Geelong
brought in four players and the change of personnel paid handsome dividends. Selected in
his first game this year Matthew McCarthy kicked five goals, Andrew
Mackie two and looked dangerous all day, David Johnson chipped
in for a goal as did Brent Prismall.
Gary Ablett, who almost didn't make it to Melbourne in time for the
start, booted three goals in the first term and set up several others throughout the
match. Ablett ran out of petrol on his way to the ground, but never looked like stopping
after beginning the match with a flourish.
Mark Harding noted in the Sunday Herald Sun: As
a contest, the match was worthier than the result indicated – the Blues were never
less than honest in their endeavours and it was only their finishing skills which kept the
two teams apart in the first half.
Eventually Geelong's talent and better structure showed through, but the team had to pull
together to do it and, in the process, coach Mark Thompson walked away
with more positives from one afternoon than he has had for the past three months.
For all the changes to the way footy is played, it was a win for old-fashioned football
structure. Kick the ball to a couple of committed targets and stick a couple of livewire
opportunists at their feet. The result was 23.4 – accuracy which caused their
opponents to fall away on the scoreboard long before they fell away in general play.
While the Cats had their two key targets and the likes of Ablett, Paul Chapman
and the lively young talent Mathew Stokes as options when the ball hit
the ground, the Blues had only limited avenues to goal. Their reliance on Brendan
Fevola was unhealthy and while he struggled manfully and kicked a goal in each
term, there was no way the Blues could win without more of a contribution from those
around him. |
| 2006
— ROUND 14 — GAME 2 |
| Carlton v Geelong |
Saturday, July 8, 2006
Docklands, 2.10pm AEST, Roof: closed, crowd: 32,096
Conditions: Fair to good
Weather: 14C, overcast |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| CAR |
2.5-17 |
4.7-31 |
7.10-52 |
11.11-77 |
| GEE |
5.0-30 (13) |
11.1-67 (36) |
17.2-104 (52) |
23.4-142 (65) |
Goals: Geelong:
Matthew McCarthy 5.0, Gary Ablett 4, Cameron Mooney 2, Andrew Mackie 2, Paul Chapman 2,
Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright, Jimmy Bartel, Brent Prismall, Cameron Ling, Steve
Johnson, Brad Ottens, Mathew Stokes. Carlton: Brendan Fevola 4, Josh Kennedy 2,
Kade Simpson, Ryan Houlihan, Andrew Carrazzo, Barnaby French, Lance Whitnall.
Best: Geelong: Cameron Ling, Paul Chapman, Gary Ablett, Brad Ottens, Steven King,
Corey Enright, Joel Corey. Carlton: Brendan Fevola, Heath Scotland, Kade Simpson,
Cory McGrath, Lance Whitnall.
Umpires: Brett Rosebury, Matthew Nicholls, Martin Ellis.
Report:
Simon Wiggins (Car) was cited with a second offence for making contact with
umpire Martin Ellis during the third quarter. The MRP offered Wiggins a
$3300 fine with an early plea. The player admitted guilt and accepted the $3300 fine. |
West Coast returned to the MCG
for the first time since last year's grand final and narrowly avoided another defeat when
it held off a gallant Hawthorn under grey skies on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles beat the
Hawks by 10 points in a highly-entertaining, free-flowing contest that produced 12 lead
changes.
Lyall Johnson reported in The Age: The Hawks
had many reasons to be proud of their performance. They played in a manner that not only
gladdened the hearts of fans but would have given the players themselves a massive
confidence boost, especially after the 70-point thumping they suffered last week against
St Kilda.
Indeed, it was that loss which seemingly inspired the accountable style so rarely seen
played in recent years by blokes wearing the brown and gold jumpers. The direct orders
from coach Alastair Clarkson were to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with
their opponents from the opening bounce and they followed instructions to the letter all
afternoon.
In the midfield, the Hawks did not take a backward step and took it up to the highly rated
Eagles all day. Sam Mitchell was in everything and Luke Hodge,
getting the better of both Adam Selwood and Tyson Stenglein,
was almost the match winner. It was Stenglein's tackle on Hodge late in the last quarter
that saw the ball find its way to Michael Gardiner, who put the margin
out to eight points and out of reach deep in time on.Chance
Bateman was also busy and, with Mark Williams starting on a
half-forward flank before eventually going forward to kick five goals, the Hawks time and
again rebounded off half-back and drove through the middle of the ground. Celebrating his
250th game in fine style, Peter Everitt put on a clinic in the ruck and
in the third quarter proved his brilliance as a follower when he tapped down to Harry
Miller at a half-forward stoppage, then charged forward to grab a brilliant
contested mark and goal from Miller's lofted clearance.
Hawthorn led at every change and went into the last quarter
with a five-point break. But seven minutes in, a brilliant goal by Ben Cousins
from the boundary put the Eagles in front and the momentum seemed to have shifted. Yet
minutes later, after Daniel Kerr had been reported for punching Mitchell
in the groin, Williams got on the end of a pass from Richie Vandenberg
and drilled a goal from 40 metres to put the Hawks back out by three points.
The lead changed three more times as the sides frantically
arm-wrestled to the finish, Williams goaling again at the 22-minute mark to put Hawthorn
back in front, only to have Andrew Embley and then Gardiner ruin the day.
In the end, as is so often the case, it was the cream that rose to the top and Hawthorn
ran out of answers.
When the game was there to be won Chris Judd
stepped up a gear, playing on with advantage after a Stenglein's magnificent tackle on
Hodge and drove the ball long to Gardiner who goaled after a strong contested mark. A
minute later Judd, who finished the game best on ground with 33 possessions, burst through
the middle with yet another centre clearance to prevent any chance of a quick Hawthorn
response.
It was a testament to its class that West Coast was able to
hang in the game all afternoon despite early on not getting enough from its famed midfield
and being restricted on the bench by injuries to Daniel Chick
(hamstring), David Wirrpanda (quad), Adam Hunter (virus)
and Mark Nicoski, who may have torn his right Achilles tendon.
Full-forward Quinten Lynch, commonly
derided for having hands of concrete, refused to drop even the most difficult of marks and
dominated the Eagles' forward line. Jarryd Roughead, his opponent all
day, conceded height and weight to Lynch and simply had no answers. Why he was kept there
all day baffled many observers. But it was a minor query in a game that had as much as any
football fan could want, except, of course, the four points if you barrack for Hawthorn. |
| 2006
— ROUND 14 — GAME 3 |
| Hawthorn v West Coast |
Saturday, July 8, 2006
MCG, 2.10pm AEST, crowd: 21,989
Conditions: Generally good
Weather: 14C, overcast |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| HAW |
5.3-33 (2) |
10.4-64 (7) |
14.6-90 (5) |
16.8-104 |
| WCE |
5.1-31 |
9.3-57 |
13.7-85 |
17.12-114 (10) |
Goals: West
Coast: Quinten Lynch 5.4, Ben Cousins 2, Andrew Embley 2, Michael Braun, Michael
Gardiner, Jaymie Graham, Ashley Hansen, Chris Judd, Adam Selwood, Beau Waters, David
Wirrpanda. Hawthorn: Mark Williams 5.1, Trent Croad 3, Ben Dixon 2, Robert
Campbell, Tim Clarke, Peter Everitt, Lance Franklin, Luke Hodge, Harry Miller.
Best: West Coast: Chris Judd, Quinten Lynch, Andrew Embley, Ben Cousins, Michael
Braun, Adam Selwood. Hawthorn: Peter Everitt, Mark Williams, Sam Mitchell, Luke
Hodge, Trent Croad, Grant Birchall.
Umpires: Matthew Head, Justin Schmitt, Michael Avon.
Report:
Daniel Kerr (WC) was cited with a Level Three striking offence against Sam
Mitchell (Haw) during the fourth quarter. The MRP offered Kerr a two-match
suspension with an early plea based on his residual record. West Coast sought adjudication
of the Tribunal. On Tuesday before the Tribunal Kerr pleaded guilty to striking. However,
Kerr's defence successfully argued his conduct to the Tribunal in striking Mitchell in the
groin was intentional and the level of his conduct was downgraded to reckless. The
Tribunal suspended Kerr for one match. |
Melbourne played its annual
"home" game at the Gabba in good conditions on Saturday night and found
themselves up against a determined Brisbane outfit. The Lions were sparked by an
outstanding performance from DANIEL BRADSHAW who kicked 8.3 for the night – just one
shy of his club record against the Demons last season.
Both Bradshaw and Simon Black were heavy contributors in a first
quarter in which Brisbane jumped out of the blocks, the forward booting four goals and
Black racking up 13 possessions as the Lions led by 18 points at the first change.
Andrew Stafford reviewed the match for The Age: Melbourne
started to work its way back into the match in the second quarter, as Brad Green
and Travis Johnstone began to find and distribute the ball with exquisite
efficiency. Johnstone set up Colin Sylvia for goal with a pinpoint pass,
and when Green received the ball in the goalsquare midway through the quarter, the scores
were level. The inexperience of the Lions was telling with gifted opportunities given to
opponents before Matthew Moody and Bradshaw restored the Lions' lead at
halftime. But the quarter was memorable for a bizarre incident when veteran defender Mal
Michael kicked a behind for the Demons through the opposition goal from 20
metres.
Melbourne looked a different side as it began the third quarter, with David Neitz
kicking three goals in five minutes after being unsighted in the first half. Johnstone and
Green were again prominent in driving the Demons forward, while livewire Aaron
Davey contributed the night's highlight when he soccered an extraordinary goal on
his left foot from 25m.
But Bradshaw could not be contained, kicking his sixth and setting up a quiet Jason
Akermanis for his first. However, Bradshaw blotted his copybook with three
behinds as the lead repeatedly changed hands. Akermanis chipped in again late in the term
when Brad Miller failed to take possession and inexplicably tapped the
ball straight to Aker in front of goal, ensuring the Lions carried a one-point lead into
the final break.
The Demons looked to have the match sewn up when Russell Robertson goaled
with his second kick of the match midway through the last quarter. But the Lions were
still in it when ruckman Jamie Charman was paid a controversial mark on
the goal line, and there was only a kick in the match with three minutes to play. In the
end though, Melbourne found a way to close the game out and behinds to Byron
Pickett and Cameron Bruce sealed the win. |
| 2006
— ROUND 14 — GAME 4 |
| Melbourne v Brisbane Lions |
Saturday (n), July 8, 2006
BCG (Gabba), 7.10pm AEST, crowd: 25,541
Conditions: Good
Weather: 12C, fine, clear and cool |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| MEL |
2.2-14 |
5.6-36 |
10.9-69 |
14.14-98 (8) |
| BRI |
5.2-32 (18) |
7.5-47 (11) |
10.10-70 (1) |
13.12-90 |
Goals: Melbourne:
David Neitz 4, Brad Green 2, Colin Sylvia 2, Aaron Davey, Brock McLean, Russell Robertson,
Matthew Whelan, Jeff White, Adem Yze. Brisbane: Daniel Bradshaw 8.3, Jason
Akermanis 2, Justin Sherman, Jamie Charman, Matthew Moody.
Best: Melbourne: Cameron Bruce, Travis Johnstone, Colin Sylvia, Jared Rivers, Brock
McLean, Daniel Ward, David Neitz. Brisbane: Daniel Bradshaw, Simon Black, Luke
Power, Cheynee Stiller, Jamie Charman.
Umpires: Hayden Kennedy, Jason Quigley, Chris Kamolins. |
Richmond held on to its place in
the top eight with a slick showing against Port Adelaide in chilly and dewy conditions on
Saturday night at Football Park. The margin of 38 points put to rest the eight successive
failures the Tigers had suffered to the Power in Adelaide.
Alan Shiell noted for Sportal that Richmond were
hungrier and more organised against a surprisingly listless Port which was hurt by the
loss of midfielder Peter Burgoyne midway through the first quarter. From
there Port lost its potency from the middle and they missed crucial shots on goal when the
game was still up for grabs.
Andrew Cappel for his review in the Herald Sun
observed: Kane Johnson blanketed Shaun Burgoyne – who
had been the Powers' main man in the past five matches – so comprehensively that he
had just three disposals, no clearances and no effect on the match. Port was beaten 30-24
in clearances and had limited drive through the middle of the ground, allowing a resilient
Richmond to dictate terms.
Richmond's Andrew Krakouer kicked two goals in a dominant display, while
elusive forward Nathan Brown snared three majors and teammates Troy
Simmonds, Shane Tuck and Jay Schulz also each
booted two goals. Port was unable to provide a multiple goalscorer and will rue a lengthy
period in the middle of the match when Richmond skipped away with six unanswered goals.
Richmond led by 34 points at the last break, its dominance built on a platform provided by
Krakouer and a support cast of unheralded youngsters featuring Dean Polo,
Nathan Foley, Richard Tambling and Brett
Deledio. The Bowden brothers, Joel and Patrick,
gathered plenty of possessions while Simmonds eclipsed his highly-rated ruck opponent Brendan
Lade.
Port was well served by Kane Cornes and Steven Salopek
while Nathan Lonie also gamely tried to stem the losing tide. |
| 2006
— ROUND 14 — GAME 5 |
| Port Adelaide v Richmond |
Saturday (n), July 8, 2006
Football Park, 7.40pm AEST, crowd: 25,067
Conditions: Good
Weather: 12C, fine, clear and cool |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| PA |
4.3-27 |
5.8-38 |
5.14-44 |
6.18-54 |
| RCH |
5.3-33 (6) |
8.5-53 (15) |
12.6-78 (34) |
14.8-92 (38) |
Goals: Richmond:
Nathan G Brown 3, Jay Schulz 2, Andrew Krakouer 2, Troy Simmonds 2, Shane Tuck 2, Chris
Hyde, Dean Polo, Patrick Bowden. Port: Brendon Lade, Steven Salopek, Warren
Tredrea, Matt Thomas, Nathan Lonie, Adam Thompson.
Best: Richmond: Kane Johnson, Troy Simmonds, Patrick Bowden, Joel Bowden, Shane
Tuck, Andrew Krakouer, Greg Tivendale. Port Adelaide: Kane Cornes, Peter Walsh,
Nathan Lonie, Steven Salopek, Stuart Dew, Troy Chaplin.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Shaun Ryan, Troy Pannell.
Reports:
l
Michael Wilson (PA) was cited with a Level Two offence for engaging in rough
conduct against Chris Hyde (Rch) during the first quarter. The MRP
offered a reprimand to the player on an early plea based on his five-year good record.
Port Adelaide sought the adjudication of the Tribunal. Wilson's defence successfully
argued the contact with Hyde was not high and therefore did not constitute rough contact.
The Tribunal dismissed the charge.
l Stuart Dew (PA) was cited with a Level Five striking offence against Dean
Polo (Rch) during the first quarter. The MRP offered Dew a two-match suspension
with an early plea based on an existing five-year good record. Port Adelaide sought
adjudication of the Tribunal. It was successfully argued that Dew had struck Polo in play
rather than behind play. The Tribunal agreed and the resulting points deduction, together
with a 25 per cent early plea discount reduced Dew's suspension to one match. |
The raging premiership
favourites Adelaide easily accounted for Sydney in picture-perfect conditions on Sunday
afternoon in front of 36,104 – the best attendance this season at the SCG. The Crows
sent the Swans crashing to their biggest defeat of the year, 39 points.
Ben Broad noted for Sportal: Adelaide, which
has looked a class above the rest of the competition in recent weeks, was again in supreme
touch after having to overcome a dogged Sydney outfit in the opening term. But once they
found their feet, there was no stopping Neil Craig's men who made it six
wins from the last seven starts against the Swans under Paul Roos.
It was another even team performance from Adelaide, although Simon Goodwin (27
possessions), Mark Ricciuto (16 touches and two goals), Trent
Hentschel (three goals and Graham Johncock were all outstanding.
Tim Morrissey observed for The Daily Telegraph: The
Crows were clinical, ruthless and simply a lot tougher, smashing the Swans in hardball
gets 54-42 and inside 50s 50-39. Sydney's forwards were dysfunctional, kicking 3.13 as a
group. Barry Hall was kept goalless for the second game in a row,
finishing with four behinds, while the team's accuracy a dismal 38 per cent.
Sydney started well against the Crows, who remain Roos' hoodoo team with his record now
1-6, but unravelled badly in the second term. The loss eclipsed Sydney's 27-point defeat
against Essendon as its heaviest of the season.
Michael O'Loughlin's goal at the 16-minute mark gave the Swans a
four-point quarter-time lead after keeping Adelaide to its second lowest opening quarter
this season.
Adelaide hit the front two minutes into the second period, after a turnover by Swans
skipper Brett Kirk set up Mark Ricciuto, and the Crows never looked back. |
| 2006
— ROUND 14 — GAME 6 |
| Sydney v Adelaide |
Sunday, July 9, 2006
SCG, 1.10pm AEST, crowd: 36,104
Conditions: Very good
Weather: 16C, fine and sunny |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| SYD |
2.2-14 (4) |
3.5-23 |
4.10-34 |
8.14-62 |
| ADE |
1.4-10 |
7.7-49 (26) |
9.8-62 (28) |
15.11-101 (39) |
Goals: Adelaide:
Trent Hentschel 3, Graham Johncock 2, Mark Ricciuto 2, Ken McGregor 2, Rhett Biglands,
Simon Goodwin, Matthew Bode, Scott Thompson, Tyson Edwards, Brett Burton. Sydney:
Jarrad McVeigh 2, Ryan O'Keefe, Michael O'Loughlin, Nick Davis, Amon Buchanan, Paul
Williams, Adam Goodes.
Best: Adelaide: Simon Goodwin, Mark Ricciuto, Trent Hentschel, Graham Johncock,
Martin Mattner. Sydney: Jarrad McVeigh, Luke Vogels, Sean Dempster, Adam Goodes,
Michael O'Loughlin.
Umpires: Stephen McBurney, Scott Jeffery, Shane McInerney. |
St Kilda strengthened it
position in top eight with a commanding 59-point thrashing of Collingwood in front of a
sold-out crowd at Docklands Stadium on Sunday afternoon – the roof was open. The
Magpies crashed to their third humiliating loss in the space of four matches and are in
the middle of a worrying form slump.
In spite of kicking the opening three goals of the match inside the first six minutes
Collingwood added just six more as St Kilda pounded in with a reply of 19 – Stephen
Rielly noted in The Age – collectively, Anthony
Rocca, Chris Tarrant, who has now been held goalless in three
consecutive matches, and Alan Didak managed 0.3.
Michael Horan's review in the Herald Sun
observed that after those initial three goals the Saints squeezed the life out of the
Magpies. Collingwood were kept goalless for 41 minutes as St Kilda set about erasing the
deficit and then stamping their authority over an, at times, inept opponent. The Saints
extended their one-goal lead at quarter-time to 22 points at halftime and the margin
grew to 43 points at the final change.
St Kilda planned well and executed perfectly. In defence, Matt Maguire
was given the job of blanketing Magpie playmaker Shane O'Bree, a
challenge he relished as he held his man to 11 possessions. Steven Baker
proved just as effective on the Pies' hottest small forward Alan Didak.
With no effective forward and a floundering engine room, Collingwood broke down completely
against the slick Saints who relentless pressure was reflected in their dominance of
hardball gets, 39 to 22. Defensive talls Maguire, Max Hudghton and Brendon
Goddard fed the likes of Nick Dal Santo, Jason Gram,
Luke Ball, Sam Fisher and Leigh Montagna
– and a forward half led by Nick Riewoldt lapped up the steady
supply of ball.
The Magpie faithful have become used to the exciting rise up the ladder this season but on
Sunday there was a real whiff about 2005 about effort – or the lack of it. Suddenly
the "real deal" tag the Pies worked hard to earn is looking the same as their
game – tired and tattered. |
| 2006
— ROUND 14 — GAME 7 |
| St Kilda v Collingwood |
Sunday, July 9, 2006
Docklands, 2.10pm AEST, Roof: open, crowd: 48,564
Conditions: Fair to good
Weather: 12C, overcast, cool |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| STK |
4.3-27 (6) |
9.4-58 (22) |
15.8-98 (43) |
19.8-122 (59) |
| COL |
3.3-21 |
5.6-36 |
8.7-55 |
9.9-63 |
Goals: St
Kilda: Stephen Milne 3, Nick Riewoldt 3, Fraser Gehrig 2, Leigh Montagna 2, Jason Gram
2, Brett Voss 2, Xavier Clarke, Brendon Goddard, Aaron Fiora, Robert Harvey, Matt Maguire.
Collingwood: Nathan Buckley 2, Scott Burns 2, James Clement, Dale Thomas, Tarkyn
Lockyer, Josh Fraser, Heath Shaw.
Best: St Kilda: Matt Maguire, Leigh Montagna, Steven Baker, Max Hudghton, Brendon
Goddard, Luke Ball, Nick Riewoldt. Collingwood: Nathan Buckley, Scott Burns, Josh
Fraser, Heath Shaw.
Umpires: Mathew James, Brett Allen, Ray Chamberlain. |
The Kangaroos won their third
in-a-row when they upset the Western Bulldogs in cool and grey conditions at the MCG on
Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs missed a golden opportunity to move into the top four at
the expense of Collingwood. The Kangas dominated for most of the afternoon, and were able
to withstand a late charge by the pacy Dogs, despite being a man down.
Lyall Johnson reported the match for The Age: It
was difficult even for Rodney Eade to find a winner in his side, such was
the Bulldogs' collective malaise, but the Kangaroos had few passengers as they took on and
beat the Bullies at their own game of running the lines and pushing forward with confident
rebounding football.With Nathan Thompson
as a target and the forward line left invitingly open in front of him, the Kangaroos'
midfield of Shannon Grant, Daniel Harris, Brent
Harvey, Jess Sinclair and Daniel Wells time and
again won the clearances and shot the ball in fast to the in-form spearhead. He more often
than not rewarded their efforts by gloving the ball cleanly and kicking truly. Thompson's
form this year has been exceptional and on Sunday he was unstoppable.
Yet, while Thompson's effort up forward in kicking five
goals was impressive, Drew Petrie, Shannon Watt and Daniel
Pratt's work in stemming the tide at the other end was equally important. Bulldog
forwards Brad Johnson, Rohan Smith and Chris
Grant were effectively shut out of the game.
Eade mused after the match he did not want to call it just "one of those days".
But it was; the Bulldogs simply could do very little right. That should not take anything
away from the Kangaroos, who by midway through the second had really begun to dominate and
kicked away to a 23-point lead. However, their poor kicking – 6.11 in the second and
third quarters – allowed the Bulldogs to wriggle free of the choker hold and get back
into the game without really playing well.
When Glenn Archer left the ground with a
dislocated shoulder late in the second term, there was every chance the spark of the side
could have gone with him.
But the Roos came out after the break and despite their
poor kicking at goal continued their pressure on the Bulldogs, whose capacity to turn the
ball over at times bordered on the comic.
Early in the third quarter, the usually reliable Rohan
Smith tried a handball deep in the back line, changed his mind halfway through, changed it
again, then finally missed his target. Troy Makepeace intercepted the
ball and threaded through an easy close-range goal. Yet the momentum had indeed shifted
and the Bulldogs inched back and went into the last quarter only five points in arrears.
The first half of the last was a tight tussle, the Bulldogs
hitting the front for the first time courtesy of Matthew Robbin's fourth.
Robbins was one of the Bulldogs' few good players and looked like he could be the
match-winner before Dean Laidley made yet another telling tactical move
on a day when all his match-ups seemed to fall into place, by shifting Michael
Firrito on to him.
His match-ups of Brady Rawlings on Scott
West (who had one kick to half-time and ended a bleak day with three kicks and 19
handballs) Watt on Johnson and Petrie on Chris Grant were all key factors in the result. |
| 2006
— ROUND 14 — GAME 8 |
| Western Bulldogs v
Kangaroos |
Sunday, July 9, 2006
MCG, 2.10pm AEST, crowd: 28,173
Conditions: Good
Weather: 12C, overcast, cool |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| WB |
2.3-15 |
4.7-31 |
10.8-68 |
12.10-82 |
| KAN |
4.2-26 (11) |
7.7-49 (18) |
10.13-73 (5) |
13.16-94 (12) |
Goals: Kangaroos:
Nathan Thompson 5.1, Leigh Harding 2, Hamish McIntosh, David Hale, Leigh Brown, Daniel
Harris, Troy Makepeace, Kasey Green. West.B'dogs: Matthew Robbins 4, Rohan Smith 3,
Chris Grant 2, Nathan Eagleton, Lindsay Gilbee, Peter Street.
Best: Kangaroos: Drew Petrie, Nathan Thompson, Troy Makepeace, David Hale, Jess
Sinclair, Corey Jones, Ben Schwarze. West.B'dogs: Matthew Robbins, Ryan Griffen,
Daniel Cross, Rohan Smith, Scott West.
Umpires: Michael Vozzo, Damien Sully, Stefan Grun. |
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