| *
|
|
The Brisbane Lions held on to top place on the
ladder for the first
time in successive weeks since 2003 after its resounding
52-point win over St Kilda in fine and warm conditions
on Thursday night at the Gabba. The match was preceded
by an emotional motorcade to farewell the 289-game
champion MICHAEL VOSS who retired after the end of last
season.
While Brisbane suffered the late withdrawal of
Nigel Lappin
and
Jason Roe
it had little effect on a workmanlike performance that
may have been a bit of surprise but it was notable by
Jonathan Brown's
game-high five goals. As
The Age
noted, on this
performance, Brisbane will be anything but an easybeat
at its once-feared home this year.
Marc Fox
reported for Sportal: the Saints threatened only
sporadically with
Justin Koschitzke
and
Aaron Fiora
each goaling twice. But Brown was on target every
quarter – despite clearly lacking match fitness after a
long-term injury – and steadily got the better of
Sam Fisher
with the Saints woes worsening when returning defender
Max Hudghton
tore his left quad in the first quarter.
Justin Sherman
helped himself to three goals, while
Michael Rischitelli,
hailed as a potential All-Australian by Lions coach
Leigh Matthews,
finished with 27 possessions as Brisbane ran over the
top of St Kilda's much-touted midfield. The back six was
also hailed, including full-back
Daniel Merrett,
who kept
Fraser Gehrig
goalless.
For St Kilda, co-captain
Luke Ball
was rested as expected
after copping a heavy knock in the opening round while
another co-captain
Nick Riewoldt's
hamstring continues to trouble him and he missed again. |
|
2007
— ROUND 2 — GAME 1 |
|
Brisbane Lions v St Kilda |
Thursday (n),
April 5, 2007
BCG (Gabba), 7.40pm AEST,
crowd: 28,266
Conditions: Good
Weather: 22C,
fine and warm |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
|
BRI |
2.4-16 (1) |
7.7-49 (27) |
11.11-77 (35) |
15.12-102 (52) |
|
STK |
2.3-15 |
3.4-22 |
6.6-42 |
7.8-50 |
Goals:
Brisbane:
Jonathan
Brown 5.0,
Justin
Sherman 3,
Simon
Black 2, Joel
Patfull 2,
Ashley
McGrath, Cheynee
Stiller, Chris
Johnson. St Kilda: Aaron
Fiora 2, Justin
Koschitzke 2,
Stephen
Milne, Leigh
Montagna,
Shane
Birss.
Best: Brisbane: Michael
Rischitelli,
Justin
Sherman,
Cheynee
Stiller, Luke
Power, Simon
Black. St Kilda: Aaron
Fiora, Jason
Gram, Nick
Dal Santo, Sam
Fisher.
Umpires: Michael Vozzo,
Kieron Nicholls,
Scott
Jeffrey.
Reports:
l
Luke
Power (Bri) charged with a first offence that he
wrestled Andrew McQualter (StK) at the quarter
time break. Power accepted guilt and a $900 fine.
l
Andrew
McQualter (StK) charged with a first offence that he
wrestled Luke Power (Bri) at the quarter time
break. McQualter accepted guilt and a $900 fine. |
Sydney had to work hard to get
their first points of the season when Richmond refused
to give in on a near-perfect Saturday afternoon at the
MCG for a crowd of 37,985 which was largely
red-and-white.
Mark Harding noted for the Sunday Herald
Sun: ... the Swans can count themselves lucky to
escape against an opposition who simply didn't have
their experience.
Martin Blake noted in The Age: The
Tigers almost outdid Sydney at its own game; they were
better around the clinches for much of the game, winning
more hard balls and generally competing in a fashion
that would have pleased many. Richmond sent Joel
Bowden back into defence so that it had seven
defenders, and when Sydney employed Nick Malceski
as his marker, it made for seven-on-seven and a crowd.
All day and all over the area you could see 18 sets of
opponents and only rarely did the likes of Tadhg
Kennelly or Adam Goodes or Brett Deledio
get the space they use so well.
Craig Bolton and Matthew Richardson
duelled in the most entertaining battle of the day,
Sydney's All-Australian coming out marginally ahead with
his lunging, late spoils, but Richardson also
contributing to his team's cause. Each time Sydney
threatened to run away with the game, Richmond hit back,
and Barry Hall's knee injury left the Swans
highly exposed.
The difference was in the ruck, where Peter "Spida"
Everitt, in his second game for his new club, played
one of the games of his life, chugging around the ground
picking up kicks and booting two goals. Once, his deft
flick from a ball-up handed Ryan O'Keefe a goal.
Another time he reversed the roles, roving a boundary
throw-in tap from Goodes to boot a major of his own. It
was vintage Everitt.
Though the Tigers hit the front early in the last term
the Swans were cool and efficient, winning the key duels
and controlling the tempo as goals came from Kennelly,
Darren Jolly and finally Everitt to seal the win
for Sydney by 16 points. |
|
2007
— ROUND 2 — GAME 2 |
|
Richmond v Sydney |
Saturday, April 7,
2007
MCG, 2.10pm AEST, crowd: 37,985
Conditions: Very good
Weather: 21C, clear blue skies; no
breeze |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| RCH |
1.1-7 |
5.2-32 |
10.3-63 |
11.6-72 |
|
SYD |
4.0-24
(17) |
6.6-42
(10) |
10.7-67
(4) |
13.10-88 (16) |
Goals:
Sydney:
Michael O'Loughlin 2,
Peter Everitt 2,
Nick Malceski 2,
Barry Hall,
Ryan O'Keefe, Amon
Buchanan, Craig Bolton,
Tadhg Kennelly,
Tim Schmidt,
Darren Jolly.
Richmond: Matthew
Richardson 2, Jay
Schulz 2, Richard Tambling 2,
Chris Hyde 2,
Greg Tivendale,
Joel Bowden, Nathan Foley.
Best: Sydney:
Peter Everitt,
Nick Malceski,
Adam Goodes,
Amon Buchanan,
Tadhg Kennelly,
Craig
Bolton.
Richmond:
Brett Deledio,
Patrick
Bowden, Joel Bowden,
Nathan Foley,
Kane Johnson,
Darren Gaspar.
Umpires:
Simon Meredith,
Stuart Wenn,
Troy Panell. |
Geelong lived up to the
reputation expected by most of their faithful when they
smashed Carlton by 78 points on Saturday night at
Docklands. The Cats were brimming with youth and promise
and a healthy smattering of father-son talent. The gains
made by Carlton during the off season were nowhere in
evidence as the Cats outpointed them in every facet of
the game.
Martin Boulton noted for The Age: Nathan
Ablett's development took a quantum leap, as he finished
with five goals from a superb performance in attack. He
was fed regularly by brother Gary, who finished with two
goals from 31 touches and was the dominant player in the
second half. But it was far from the Ablett show, with
newly appointed deputy vice-captain Cameron Mooney
also booting five goals and a support cast of young Cats
taking control of the game from the opening bounce.
Jason Phelan reported for Sportal: The
Blues were in all sorts of trouble early with the Cats'
dominance around the stoppages seeing them leap out to a
19-point lead with 14 minutes played. The goals dried up
for Geelong, however, and Carlton capitalised on some
poor kicking by the Cats to fight back into the contest,
with a brilliant snapped goal from Andrew Carrazzo
in traffic a highlight.
Geelong led by 10 points at the first break and quickly
went about extending the lead with goals to Mooney and
first-gamer Travis Varcoe (with his first kick).
Brad Fisher managed to stem the tide with two
goals midway through the term, but the Cats accelerated
away with the last three goals of the half. The decisive
break came in the third quarter when Gary Ablett did as
he pleased as he Cats put on an exhibition.
The margin was 76 points at three-quarter time and the
result could have been much worse for the Blues if
Geelong hadn't taken their foot off the pedal in the
last term. |
|
2007
— ROUND 2 — GAME 3 |
|
Geelong v Carlton |
Saturday (n),
April 7, 2007
Docklands,
7.10pm AEST, Roof: closed,
crowd: 41,113
Conditions: Good
Weather: 17C, cool and clear |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
|
GEE |
4.6-30
(10) |
10.8-68
(32) |
19.13-127
(76) |
24.18-162 (78) |
|
CAR |
3.2-20 |
5.6-36 |
7.9-51 |
12.12-84 |
Goals:
Geelong: Cameron Mooney 5.0,
Nathan Ablett 5.3,
Tom Hawkins 3,
Gary
Ablett 2, Travis Varcoe 2,
Cameron Ling 2,
Josh Hunt,
Joel Selwood, Brad
Ottens, David Wojcinski,
Shannon Byrnes.
Carlton: Eddie Betts 3,
Brad Fisher 2,
Andrew Carrazzo 2,
Cain Ackland,
Nick Stevens,
Lance Whitnall,
Andrew Walker,
Marc Murphy.
Best: Geelong: Gary
Ablett, David Wojcinski, Nathan
Ablett, Matthew Scarlett,
Cameron Mooney,
Joel Corey,
Cameron Ling.
Carlton: Heath Scotland,
Marc Murphy,
Ryan Houlihan,
Andrew Walker.
UMPIRES: Luke Farmer,
Hayden Kennedy,
Craig Hendrie. |
West Coast held its nerve to
shake off a plucky Collingwood outfit and post a
hard-fought 12-point victory under threatening skies on
Saturday night at Subiaco Oval. The Eagles unfurled
their 2006 premiership flag before the match.
After three-and-a-half quarters of having a red-hot go
Collingwood fans had a lot to be encouraged with but
nothing to be overjoyed about, Mark Duffield
reported in The Age.
It took West Coast all four quarters, but they were
finally able to shrug off a dogged Collingwood.
Sportal noted in its match report: Leading by
just three points at the final change, West Coast could
have gone behind to an errant Travis Cloke set
shot in the last term before finally breaking the
shackles through back-to-back majors from Brent
Staker and Matt Rosa. Until the honours had
been even, with Daniel Kerr and Chris Judd
inevitably outstanding for the Eagles, and Heath
Shaw's industry and Anthony Rocca's four
goals the main highlights for the Pies.
But as they have done for three seasons, West Coast's
all-round quality eventually shone through, with
Tyson Stenglein brilliant in his 50th game for the
club, and Beau Waters, Brett and Rowan
Jones all influential. Coach John Worsfold
said despite Collingwood stying with them, he had an
inkling the Eagles would eventually making a decisive
break.
Judd was his usual prolific self with 29 possessions and
two goals in a match-winning performance, while Kerr (37
touches), David Wirrpanda (three goals), and
Stenglein were also important. Mark Seaby (24
hit-outs) held his own after Dean Cox was a late
withdrawal.
For the Pies, Heath Shaw (27 touches), Dane
Swan (21) and Scott Pendlebury (21) were
prominent, while goalkickers Rocca (4) and Leon Davis
(3) were valuable. |
|
2007
— ROUND 2 — GAME 4 |
|
West Coast v Collingwood |
Saturday (n), April 7,
2007
Subiaco Oval, 7.40pm
AEST, crowd: 40,413
Conditions: Good
Weather: 21C, showers forecast,
but held off |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
|
WCE |
3.2-20 |
7.6-48 |
10.11-71
(3) |
12.15-87 (12) |
|
COL |
4.3-27
(7) |
8.4-52
(4) |
10.8-68 |
11.9-75 |
Goals:
West Coast: David
Wirrpanda 3, Chris Judd 2,
Quinten Lynch,
Daniel Kerr,
Michael Braun,
Steven Armstrong,
Tyson Stenglein,
Brent Staker,
Matt Rosa.
Collingwood: Anthony
Rocca 4, Leon Davis 3,
Ben Johnson,
Shane O'Bree, Rhyce
Shaw, Scott Burns.
Best: West Coast:
Chris Judd,
Daniel Kerr, Mark
Seaby, Michael Braun,
David Wirrpanda,
Tyson Stenglein,
Beau Waters.
Collingwood: Heath
Shaw, Anthony Rocca,
Dane Swan,
Leon Davis, Guy
Richards, Scott Pendlebury.
Umpires:
Margetts, Stevic, Avon.
Report:
Anthony Rocca
(Col) for charging
Jaymie Graham (West
Coast) by umpire Matt Stevic
during the second quarter. The
charge was withdrawn following the MRP review. |
Port made it two wins from
two starts in a perfect opening to the season when they
outlasted the Kangaroos in a hard-fought contest played
on a clear and hot Sunday afternoon at Football Park.
With Shaun and Peter Burgoyne
starring with two goals each, Brett Ebert kicking
five goals, while teammates Danyle Pearce,
David Rodan and Josh Mahoney each bagging a
couple, Port is making a fast recovery from two poor
seasons. The Kangaroos relied heavily on the efforts of
Corey Jones and Brent Harvey, who each
kicked two majors. Jones' four came in the second
quarter to keep the Roos within striking distance at
half-time. Port sizzled in the second quarter, courtesy
of four-straight in 12 minutes, to lead by 10 points at
the long break.
Peter Burgoyne made a brilliant return from a hamstring
surgery – he last played in R14 last July – and starred
in the midfield providing a plethora of opportunities
for their forwards who were inaccurate in front of goal,
booting 8.12 to the Kangas' 7.8 in the first half.
Port's midfield dominance was more obvious on the third
quarter scoreboard as the home side skipped to a
33-point lead in the 15th minute.
With ruckman Dean Brogan influential, the result
appeared certain but Kangaroo veteran Harvey spoiled any
early celebrations by snaring two late goals to reduce
the difference to only 15 points at the last change.
Harvey struck again in the opening minute of the final
quarter, goaling from 50m to bring the Roos within 10
points of the Power. A tense ending ensued, the Kangas
creeping within six points before Port steadied with
late goals to Peter Burgoyne and Nathan Krakouer
to seal its second win. |
|
2007
— ROUND 2 — GAME 5 |
|
Port Adelaide v Kangaroos |
Sunday,
April 8, 2007
Football Park,
1.10pm AEST, crowd:
25,054
Conditions: Good
Weather: 29C, clear and hot |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
|
PA |
2.7-19 |
8.12-60
(10) |
13.18-96
(20) |
17.20-122 (18) |
|
KAN |
3.5-23
(4) |
7.8-50 |
11.10-76 |
15.14-104 |
Goals:
Port:
Brett Ebert 5.2,
Josh Mahoney 2, Shaun
Burgoyne 2, Danyle Pearce 2,
David Rodan 2, Peter
Burgoyne 2, Nathan Lonie,
Nathan Krakouer.
Kangaroos: Corey
Jones 4, Brent Harvey 4,
David Hale 2,
Adam Simpson,
Daniel Wells,
Jess Sinclair,
Lindsay Thomas,
Aaron Edwards.
Best: Port: Peter
Burgoyne, Brett Ebert, Shaun
Burgoyne, Chad Cornes,
Steven Salopek, Kane
Cornes, Jacob Surjan,
Danyle Pearce,
Michael Wilson.
Kangaroos: Brent
Harvey, Adam Simpson,
Daniel Wells,
Jess Sinclair,
Corey Jones.
Umpires:
Matthew Nicholls,
Chris Kamolins,
Martin Ellis.
Report:
Tom Logan (PA) charged with a first offence that he
wrestled Andrew Swallow (Kan) during the second
quarter. Logan accepted guilt and a $900 fine. |
Essendon loom as one of the
big improvers when they took a second scalp on Sunday
afternoon under the open roof at Docklands in hot
conditions. In successive weeks the Bombers (who
finished 15th last year) have beaten Adelaide (who were
3rd) and Fremantle (4th).
Five goals to Scott Lucas and four to skipper
Matthew Lloyd powered the Bombers to a 10-point win
over the highly-rated Dockers. Guy Hand noted for
Sportal: While the Bombers led and played
the better football for much of the match, they were
challenged all the way by the Dockers, with skipper
Matthew Pavlich and new recruit Chris Tarrant
threatening to break the game open in the third term.
The Dockers fought back from 22 points down to take the
lead midway through the term with four unanswered goals
as Tarrant and Pavlich seemed ready to run riot in the
forward line. But any question marks hovering over the
Bombers were answered from that point on.
The Dons kicked five of the next six goals, with coach
Kevin Sheedy suggesting his young side was now
developing the right type of footy smarts to compete
with the AFL's better teams. Not even eight goals
between Pavlich and Tarrant could save the Dockers who
trailed, except for a brief period in the third term
when they led by seven points.
Fremantle is now 0-2, after starting the season as
second favourites for the flag, and while Pavlich (four
goals, 19 disposals) and Tarrant (four goals, 18
disposals) starred for the Dockers, their efforts were
matched by the Lucas-Lloyd pairing. The Fremantle
defence has conceded 38 goals in its two matches and
clearly misses the suspended Michael Johnson who
will not be available until Round 5.
Essendon has now won all seven matches against Fremantle
at Docklands while it has won 14 of 19 meetings against
the Dockers since they joined the competition in 1995. |
|
2007
— ROUND 2 — GAME 6 |
|
Essendon v Fremantle |
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Docklands,
2.10pm AEST, Roof: open,
crowd: 32,623
Conditions: Good
Weather: 27C, clear and hot |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
|
ESS |
5.2-32
(17) |
8.5-53
(12) |
15.6-96
(16) |
19.8-122 (10) |
|
FRE |
2.3-15 |
6.5-41 |
12.8-80 |
17.10-112 |
Goals:
Essendon: Scott Lucas 5.0,
Matthew Lloyd 4,
Mark McVeigh 2,
James Hird,
Angus Monfries, Andrew
Lovett, Henry Slattery,
Brent Stanton,
Jason Laycock,
Alwyn Davey,
Leroy Jetta.
Fremantle: Matthew
Pavlich 4, Chris
Tarrant 4, Peter Bell 2,
Dean Solomon,
Brett Peake,
Ryan Crowley,
Daniel Gilmore, Josh
Carr, Matthew Carr,
Paul Hasleby.
Best: Essendon:
Scott Lucas,
Mark McVeigh,
Andrew Lovett,
Brent Stanton,
Adam McPhee,
Jason Winderlich.
Fremantle: Matthew
Pavlich, Chris Tarrant,
Peter Bell,
Aaron Sandilands, Paul
Hasleby.
Umpires:
Chris Donlon,
Stephen McBurney,
Shane McInerney.
Report:
Dean Solomon (Fre)
reported for striking Angus
Monfries during the third quarter.
The charge was withdrawn following the MRP review. |
Adelaide bounced back and
dismissed rumours of its demise with a thumping 38-point
win over the Western Bulldogs in the Sunday night match
at the MCG – one commentator suggested 10 goals would
have been a truer margin.
Roger Vaughan reported for Sportal:
While Bulldog coach Rodney Eade kept his usual
calm demeanour in the post-match media conference, his
comments were scathing and he readily "named and shamed"
top players Brad Johnson, Lindsay Gilbee,
Daniel Giansiracusa, Jason Akermanis,
Robert Murphy and Ryan Griffen as among the
Bulldogs' worst.
Adelaide shut down the Bulldogs' superb running game and
the Crows' much-maligned forwards feasted on the
rewards, with Scott Welsh and Nathan Bock
kicking four goals apiece. Tyson Edwards was
outstanding in the midfield and Andrew McLeod (35
touches) destroyed the Bulldogs off half-back as the
Dogs could manage only one goal apiece in the second and
third quarters.
While Scott West with 30 touches and Daniel
Cross (29) and Gilbee (26) were prolific, the home
side lacked touch in an unusually error-riddled
performance as the Crows pressured them out of the game. |
|
2007
— ROUND 2 — GAME 7 |
|
Western Bulldogs v Adelaide |
Sunday, April 8, 2007
MCG,
5.10pm AEST,
crowd: 27,199
Conditions: Good
Weather: 23C. clear and warm |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
|
WB |
4.1-25 |
5.2-32 |
6.5-41 |
11.6-72 |
|
ADE |
4.5-29
(4) |
8.10-58
(26) |
14.12-96
(55) |
16.14-110 (38) |
Goals:
Adelaide:
Nathan Bock
4, Scott Welsh 4,
Scott Stevens 3,
Ian Perrie 2,
Nathan van Berlo,
Brent Reilly,
Nathan Bode.
Bulldogs: Shaun
Higgins 3, Brad Johnson
2, Adam Cooney 2,
Robert Murphy,
Andrew McDougall,
Matthew Boyd,
Ryan Griffen.
Best: Adelaide:
Andrew McLeod,
Simon Goodwin,
Tyson Edwards,
Nathan Bock,
Scott Welsh,
Scott Stevens,
Nathan Bassett.
Bulldogs: Daniel
Cross, Scott West,
Lindsay Gilbee,
Nathan Eagleton,
Shaun Higgins.
Umpires: Stefan Grun,
Matthew Head,
Ray Chamberlain.
Report:
Nathan Bock (Ade) cited with bumping or making
forceful contact from front-on against Luke Darcy
(WB) during the fourth quarter. Bock accepted guilt and
a reprimand from the MRP. He also carries 93.75 demerit
points towards his future record. |
|
2007
— ROUND 2 — GAME 8 |
|
Hawthorn v Melbourne |
Monday,
April 9, 2006
MCG, 2.10pm AEST, crowd:
43,197
Conditions: Good
Weather: 27C, clear and hot |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| HAW |
2.4-16 |
7.8-50 |
15.9-99 |
17.14-116 (22) |
|
MEL |
4.5-29 |
5.7-37 |
10.10-70 |
14.10-94 |
Goals:
Hawthorn: Mark Williams
6.2, Tim
Boyle 3, Ben Dixon 2,
Trent Croad 2,
Shane Crawford,
Ben McGlynn,
Lance Franklin,
Clinton Young.
Melbourne: Brad
Miller 3, Brent Moloney 2,
Simon Godfrey 2,
Mark Jamar 2,
Jeff White,
Russell Robertson, Matthew
Bate, David Neitz,
Daniel Ward.
Best: Hawthorn:
Rick Ladson,
Sam Mitchell,
Mark Williams,
Ben McGlynn,
Brad Sewell,
Jordan Lewis,
Tim Boyle.
Melbourne: Brad
Miller, James McDonald,
Matthew Bate,
Simon Godfrey,
Cameron Bruce,
Nathan D Brown.
Umpires:
Brett Rosebury,
Damien Sully,
Shaun Ryan. |
|
|
