| * |
Essendon unleashed a
stunning second half to overcome a six-goal deficit early in the second
term and defeat reigning premier West Coast at Docklands on Friday night
to a near-capacity 48,913 spectators. For the second week in a row, the
Bombers defeated one of last year's grand finalists by the narrowest of
margins.
Len Johnson reviewed proceedings for The Age: These two
have played many dramatic matches since West Coast came into the then
VFL in 1987. This matches any of therm. Kevin Sheedy, the only
Essendon coach in that period, now has a record of 22 wins from 36
matches against the Eagles.
West Coast exploited Essendon ruthlessly in a high-powered opening –
they kicked the first four goals of the game, then replied with a fifth
after Scott Lucas finally got one for the Dons. Down by as much
as 36 points in the first half and 30 by half-time, the deadly accurate
Dons added 9.3 to 4.2 in the second half.
Guy Hand reported for the AFL website: West Coast looked like
cruising to victory after a brilliant start for which the Bombers
appeared to have no answers.
James Hird, onballer Jason Winderlich, Lucas and skipper
Matthew Lloyd lifted the Bombers in the third, with Lloyd and
Lucas kicking two each in the quarter to bring their side back to within
a goal late in the term.
Essendon started the last quarter with the opening three goals – Lucas'
fourth giving the Bombers the lead for the first time in the match with
six minutes gone. A Chris Judd goal and a Rowan Jones
behind brought the sides level, sparking a desperate few minutes from
both sides. Finally David Hille booted a behind to break a 94-all
deadlock, before the Bombers managed to hang on as the Eagles could not
find a way past.
Andrew Wu noted for Sportal: The Bombers can thank old
heads James Hird, whose clearing kick late in the term wasted precious
seconds and gained valuable metres, and Fletcher for the win after the
Eagles wasted the total control they had early in the game when Matt
Priddis and Matt Rosa reigned supreme in the middle. |
|
2007 — ROUND 11 — GAME
1 |
|
Essendon v West Coast |
Friday (n),
June 8, 2007
Docklands, 7.40pm AEST, Roof: closed, crowd:
48,913
Conditions: Good
Weather: 11C outside, clear and cold |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
|
ESS |
1.0-6 |
6.2-38 |
12.4-76 |
15.5-95 (1) |
| WCE |
5.5-35 (29) |
10.8-68 (30) |
13.9-87 (11) |
14.10-94 |
Goals:
Essendon:
Scott Lucas 5.0, Matthew Lloyd 3, Scott Camporeale 2,
Jason Laycock 2, Alwyn Davey, Angus Monfries, Jason
Winderlich. West Coast: Brent Staker 3,
Quinten Lynch 2, Mitchell Brown, Adam Hunter, Shannon
Hurn, Chris Judd, Mark LeCras, Mitchell Morton, Matt
Priddis, Matt Rosa, Mark Seaby.
Best: Essendon: James Hird, Jason
Winderlich, Damien Peverill, Scott Lucas, Dustin
Fletcher, Henry Slattery. West Coast:
Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Tyson Stenglein, Chris Judd,
Dean Cox, Brett Jones.
Umpires: Michael Vozzo, Hayden Kennedy, Kieron
Nicholls. |
In a form reversal few
would have backed at quarter-time, Sydney put the clamps on Hawthorn to
win by nine points at a sunny but chilly MCG on Saturday afternoon
before 48,398, the second-biggest crowd to watch the Hawks and Swans
play.
Hawthorn's Lance Franklin kicked three goals in the first 20
minutes and the 18-point margin was a credit against the sluggish Swans.
Sydney's stats sheet in the opening quarter had 12 players who had won
two touches or less.
The Swans huddle at the quarter-time break was described by Herald
Sun veteran Scot Palmer who noted that it took an expert
impersonation of mime artist Marcel Marceau from Paul Roos
to draw the best out of Sydney.
Roos took over the team huddle, using elaborate actions but few words to
show the Swans how to defeat the Hawks. What might have looked comical
to onlookers carried a ton of weight – Roos wobbled his head, rolled his
eyes as if star-gazing and lifted his arms slowly as if they were in a
harness. When he swung his leg to imitate a kick, it was in slow motion.
The Swans from the first break became the manipulators – forcing
themselves on the Hawks and quietly making them do things how they
wanted them done. Emma Quayle reported in The Age: Hawk
coach Alastair Clarkson was happy that his side kept taking risks
... it just didn't always work.
Angus Morgan for Sportal identified the star man: Peter
Everitt dished it out and got it back against his former team mates.
Three times he was put on the deck, initially by Shane Crawford,
then Sam Mitchell, who gave 'Spida's' head a push into the turf
for good measure, and Robert Campbell. But each time he got up
and got on with the game to be close to best-afield.
While a couple of late goals to Campbell and Franklin drew the two
closer, Hawthorn never genuinely challenged the Swans in the last half. |
|
2007 — ROUND 11 — GAME 2 |
| Hawthorn v Sydney |
Saturday,
June 9, 2007
MCG, 2.10pm AEST, crowd: 48,398
Conditions: Good
Weather: 15C, sunny but chilly |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| HAW |
4.3-27 (18) |
5.5-35 (2) |
7.9-51 |
9.12-66 |
| SYD |
1.3-9 |
5.3-33 |
9.6-60 (2) |
11.9-75
(9) |
Goals: Sydney:
Nick Davis 3, Leo Barry 2, Sean Dempster, Tim Schmidt, Adam
Schneider, Ted Richards, Michael O'Loughlin, Amon Buchanan.
Hawthorn: Lance Franklin 6.2, Rick Ladson, Chance Bateman,
Robert Campbell.
Best: Sydney: Brett Kirk, Nic Fosdike, Leo Barry, Nick
Malceski, Jude Bolton. Hawthorn: Brad Sewell, Campbell
Brown, Sam Mitchell, Lance Franklin, Shane Crawford.
Umpires: Stephen McBurney, Mathew James, Brett
Rosebury. |
The Western Bulldogs
posted its sixth win of the premiership season but suffered more
important knee injuries to key players on Saturday night in cool
conditions at the Gabba. Goals were hard to come by and many of the
spectators may give the Lions a rest for the next few weeks.
The four goals to Brad Johnson were like gold as the Bulldogs
snapped a worrying two-game losing streak. The win however came at a
cost with knee injuries suffered by Daniel Cross then to Ryan
Griffen both during the second quarter, with each likely to be
missing for up to two months.
Media hype for the match concentrated on the first match in Bulldog
colours at the Gabba by Jason Akermanis after his acrimonious
departure from Brisbane last year. He kicked two goals in the first
quarter and had a serviceable 23 disposals.
Luke Buttigieg noted for Sportal: The Lions started
brilliantly with two goals in the first three minutes but the Bulldogs
responded with the next eight goals, six of them to quarter time. After
reaching the first break 29 points in front the Bulldogs added the only
goal of the second term to stretch their lead to six goals and turned
for home 43 points ahead before the Lions added three goals to none in
the final stanza.
The final minutes of the third quarter brought an absolute shocker as
the Bulldogs played keepings off. With Brisbane players refusing to man
up, Brian Harris had five kicks and Dale Harris four in
succession as the pair kept kicking the ball to each other. The Dogs
eventually took 27 uncontested marks in a row to wind down the clock in
a forgettable finish to the term. |
|
2007 — ROUND 11 — GAME 3 |
| Brisbane Lions v
Western Bulldogs |
Saturday (n),
June 9, 2007
BCG (Gabba), 7.15pm AEST, crowd: 29,873
Conditions: Good
Weather: 15C, fine and cool |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| BRI |
2.3-15 |
2.6-18 |
7.8-50 |
10.12-72 |
| WB |
6.8-44 (29) |
7.12-54 (36) |
13.15-93 (43) |
13.17-95
(23) |
Goals: West.B'dogs: Brad Johnson 4, Nathan Eagleton 2,
Jason Akermanis 2, Matthew Boyd, Adam Cooney, Mitch Hahn, Shaun Higgins,
Farren Ray. Brisbane: Jared Brennan 3, Tim Notting 3, Jonathan
Brown 2, Marcus Allan, Nigel Lappin.
Best: West.B'dogs: Lindsay Gilbee, Nathan Eagleton, Daniel
Harris, Adam Cooney, Matthew Boyd, Brad Johnson. Brisbane: Jed
Adcock, Jamie Charman, Richard Hadley, Jared Brennan, Tim Notting.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Ray Chamberlain, Stuart Wenn. |
Carlton derived pleasure
in handing out a 39-point thrashing to Port Adelaide on Saturday night under the
closed roof at Docklands. After sitting on top of the ladder just four
weeks ago, Port Adelaide is now 6+5 and has slumped to 10th place.
Michael Horan reported in the Herald-Sun: Make no mistake,
Carlton smashed its opponent with a superior brand of football that was
as rewarded for its efficiency as Port wasn't. Carlton's run and direct
game was rewarded with an eight-goals-to-four first term as the onball
unit, led by Andrew Walker and Andrew Carrazzo, created
fast, direct supply to the forwards. In contrast, Port's sideways
possession game struggled against the Blues' defensive pressure.
Brandon Cohen observed for Sportal: Port added some
respectability to the scoreboard with five goals to two in the final
quarter but coach Mark Williams will be left scratching his head
after a dismal display earlier in the game.
Jarrad Waite was sensational for the Blues with four goals, while
Ryan Houlihan (26 disposals, 3 goals) and Walker (26 touches)
were outstanding through the middle. Carrazzo continued his fine season
with 28 touches, while Heath Scotland (23) and Simon Wiggins
(23) all got plenty of the leather.
Kane Cornes, (30 disposals), Danyle Pearce (28) and
Steven Salopek (27) all racked up big numbers for Port but had
minimal influence on the outcome. |
|
2007 — ROUND 11 — GAME 4 |
| Carlton v Port
Adelaide |
Saturday
(n),
June 9, 2007
Docklands, 7.15pm AEST,
Roof: closed; crowd: 29,678
Conditions: Good
Weather: 13C outside, clear and cold |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| CAR |
8.3-51 (24) |
11.5-71 (33) |
20.5-125 (59) |
22.9-141
(39) |
| PA |
4.3-27 |
5.8-38 |
9.12-66 |
14.18-102 |
Goals: Carlton: Jarrad Waite 4, Ryan Houlihan 3, Brad
Fisher 3, Brendan Fevola 2, Lance Whitnall 2, Setanta O'hAilpin 2,
Jordan Bannister 2, Marc Murphy, Andrew Walker, Kade Simpson, Carrazzo.
Port: Justin Westhoff 4, David Rodan 2, Robert Gray 2, Shaun
Burgoyne, Chad Cornes, Brendon Lade, Peter Burgoyne, Warren Tredrea,
Domenic Cassisi.
Best: Carlton: Ryan Houlihan, Andrew Carrazzo, Andrew Walker,
Jarrad Waite, Heath Scotland, Simon Wiggins, Lance Whitnall, Matthew
Lappin. Port: Justin Westhoff, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce, Steven
Salopek, Shaun Burgoyne, Peter Burgoyne.
Umpires: Craig Hendrie, Derek Woodcock, Darren Goldspink. |
Geelong climbed to
the top of the premiership ladder after its gritty win over Adelaide at
Football Park on Sunday afternoon. The Crows led by eight points at
quarter-time, scores were level at half-time and the Cats were a point
ahead at three-quarter time before winning by seven points – their 6th
successive win for an 8+3 record and a percentage lead over West Coast.
Ashley Porter reported for The Age: A week ago the Cats
played their renowned run-and-gun game and beat St Kilda by 10 goals. On
Sunday they responded magnificently to the hard-at-the-ball defensive
style of game, where every possession was precious. They withstood
tremendous pressure, and forced Adelaide into mistakes. Surprisingly,
this was Geelong's lowest score for the season, but one of its best
wins.
While some may argue it was nothing but the new-age negative game, it
was clearly the best indication that Geelong has the talent, depth, and
certainly the character to adapt to the circumstances that may be
presented come the finals.
There was a 12-minute patch early in the last quarter where neither side
scored, but it was some of the best pressure football you will see.
Maybe not fashionable to everyone, but gutsy, determined stuff that
tough men play, and Geelong proved beyond doubt that it not only has the
class to play "flashy" football, but the grit to beat the master of
shutting the scoreboard down.
Alan Shiell noted for Sportal: Overall, Geelong thrived on
the brilliance of Gary Ablett (first half), and Jimmy Bartel,
and received other strong contributions from, among others, Joel
Corey, Andrew Mackie, Corey Enright and Tom Harley.
Adelaide was wounded by the loss of in-form midfielder Simon Goodwin,
who limped off 17-minutes into the first quarter and returned only
briefly early in the second term before sitting out the rest of the
match. Defender Graham Johncock also limped off in the second
term before playing an influential role as a crumbing forward in the
second half. |
|
2007 — ROUND 11 — GAME 5 |
| Adelaide v
Geelong |
Sunday,
June 10, 2007
Football Park, 1.10pm AEST, crowd: 43,108
Conditions: Good
Weather: 14C, overcast, some sunshine, possible showers |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| ADE |
3.4-22 (8) |
5.5-35 (–) |
8.6-54 |
9.8-62 |
| GEE |
2.2-14 |
4.11-35 (–) |
7.13-55 (1) |
9.15-69
(7) |
Goals: Geelong: Cameron Mooney 3, Cameron Ling 2, Gary
Ablett, James Kelly, Brad Ottens, Steve Johnson. Adelaide: Ken
McGregor 3, Nathan van Berlo 2, Scott Stevens, Scott Thompson, Nathan
Bock, Graham Johncock.
Best: Geelong: Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett, Corey Enright, Joel
Corey, Andrew Mackie, Tom Harley, Darren Milburn. Adelaide: Scott
Thompson, Nathan van Berlo, Nathan Bassett, Tyson Edwards, Andrew
McLeod, Chris Knights, Robert Shirley.
Umpires: Matthew Head, Shaun Ryan, Shane McInerney. |
St Kilda seem certain
to miss the finals for the first time in three years after they
capitulated to the Kangaroos in sunny but cool weather under the open
roof at Docklands on Sunday. The Kangas looked to have the upper hand
for most of the contest but the Saints somehow managed to stick with
them and looked set to snatch a come-from-behind victory with a late
surge before the Shinboners snuffed the challenge.
Lyall Johnson reflected in The Age: The Saints tried hard,
but for the most part seemed dazed and confused about the game plan they
were being asked to play. Not that it is a particularly difficulty one
to grasp it's just that for an attacking side used to playing a more
individual, free-flowing game, the type of sacrifice to the essentially
"team at all costs" plan is going to take a fair amount of adjusting to.
Added to this, St Kilda had too many players who were simply
ineffective. Nick Dal Santo, Lenny Hayes, Leigh
Montagna and Sam Fisher stood up but were sadly lacking
support from a list of passengers too long to mention.
Brent Harvey was in fine touch for the Kangas with 26
possessions, Daniel Pratt (24 touches) was also influential and
Glenn Archer's hardness proved pivotal on several occasions.
Mark Robinson observed in the Herald Sun: The Kangaroos
stifled St Kilda from go to whoa. Michael Firrito took Nick
Riewoldt, who still utilised his power running, but seemed to stay
at home more than in previous weeks. Just the one goal and a couple of
misses says Firrito won the contest.
Drew Petrie took Fraser Gehrig. Two goals, five marks from
the G-train continues his lean patch, but it wasn't all his fault. The
Saints butchered the ball (Ross Lyon's word). |
|
2007 — ROUND 11 — GAME 6 |
| St Kilda v
Kangaroos |
Sunday,
June 10, 2007
Docklands, 2.10pm AEST, Roof: open; crowd: 34,569
Conditions: Good
Weather: 16C, sunny and cool |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| STK |
1.3-9 |
4.5-29 |
5.7-37 |
8.10-58 |
| KAN |
4.2-26 (17) |
7.8-50 (21) |
8.11-59 (22) |
11.14-80
(22) |
Goals: Kangaroos: Corey Jones 4, Adam
Simpson, Glenn Archer, David Hale, Jess Sinclair, Andrew Swallow, Ed Lower, Hamish McIntosh. St Kilda:
Fraser Gehrig 2, Nick Riewoldt, Sam Gilbert, Jason Gram, Jayden Attard, Justin Koschitzke, James Gwilt.
Best: Kangaroos: Corey Jones, Glenn
Archer, Daniel Pratt, Brent Harvey, Jess Sinclair, Michael Firrito.
St Kilda:
Nick Dal Santo, Sam Fisher, Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball.
Umpires:
Dean
Margetts, Brett Allen, Damien Sully. |
Fremantle kept its
shaky season alive, albeit in unconvincing fashion, by beating a
hard-working Richmond by 21 points in mainly sunny conditions at Subiaco
Oval on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers were fast out of the blocks and
still led by five points two minutes into the final term as twin
performances saved the Dockers.
Des Headland produced of the best displays of his Freo career,
kicking five goals, including three in a pivotal third term. It was then
Matthew Pavlich's turn as he responded to the cutting criticism
from former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas that he was a selfish
player and an ordinary leader.
Jay Clark in the Herald Sun reported: Pavlich was
sensational, breathing fresh life into the Dockers' fading finals hopes
as he led his side through an eight-goal final quarter, kicking three
goals and setting up at least four others.
It was a great captain's game – a 24-possession, 15-mark, three goal
showpiece.
And another heart-breaker for the Tigers, who fell to their 10th loss
despite leading by as much as 26 points well into the third term and
another game that slipped through their fingers after a harrowing month
that has included two narrow losses and a draw.. |
|
2007 — ROUND 11 — GAME 7 |
| Fremantle v
Richmond |
Sunday,
June 10, 2007
Subiaco Oval, 4.40pm AEST, crowd: 37,177
Conditions: Good after light morning showers
Weather: 18C, mainly sunny; lights on for second half |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| FRE |
1.3-9 |
4.8-32 |
10.10-70 (1) |
18.15-123
(21) |
| RCH |
4.5-29 (20) |
6.9-45 (13) |
10.9-69 |
15.12-102 |
Goals: Fremantle: Des Headland 5.1, Matthew Pavlich 3,
Brett Peake 2, Chris Tarrant 2, Heath Black, Antoni Grover, Garrick
Ibbotson, David Mundy, Scott Thornton, Robert Warnock. Richmond:
Kayne Pettifer 3, Richard Tambling 3, Shane Edwards 2, Matthew
Richardson 2, Brett Deledio, Cameron Howat, Chris Hyde, Kent Kingsley,
Chris Newman.
Best: Fremantle: Des Headland, Matthew Pavlich, Peter Bell,
Michael Johnson, Antoni Grover, Josh Carr. Richmond: Brett
Deledio, Nathan Foley, Graham Polak, Jake King, Andrew Raines, Kayne
Pettifer.
Umpires: Chris Kamolins, Martin Ellis, Michael Avon. |
For a second week
15th-placed Melbourne have come out on top with a win after knocking off
pre-match certainty Collingwood in the traditional Queen's Birthday
Monday afternoon match before 70,660 people at the MCG.
Rohan Connolly wrote in The Age: There had been a feeling
all week that Melbourne was a chance of pulling off an upset. It wasn't
like the Magpies hadn't expected a fired-up opponent or were even caught
napping. They just didn't have the answers.
The tone was set as early as 13 seconds into the match, when Brock
McLean's first clearing kick went straight to Matthew Bate.
His shot missed, but James McDonald posted Melbourne's first only
a couple of minutes later. Collingwood's answer was impressive enough,
Ben Johnson capitalising on a bump and handball from Brodie
Holland. But by the time the Pies got to fire another shot, the
damage had been done. Melbourne's burst of five goals in eight minutes
was breathtaking stuff, which left Collingwood playing catch-up for the
rest of the afternoon.
Paul Gough observed for Sportal: When Rhyce Shaw
was a late withdrawal with a groin injury and then Harry O'Brien
dislocated his shoulder after only 14 minutes, the Pies simply ran out
of defenders. And it was O'Brien's direct opponent Russell Robertson
who was the biggest beneficiary. Robertson, who was playing just his
fifth game of the season after injuring a knee earlier in the season,
booted seven goals in a match-winning display as the Magpies were forced
to play a first gamer Danny Stanley on him and then later another
first year player in Alan Toovey.
But while Robertson was unstoppable, the Pies' great hope in attack at
the other end in Anthony Rocca endured one of the most
humiliating days of his career. Rocca was thrashed by underrated Demons'
big man Ben Holland for the second successive year in this
fixture and ironically Holland was only in the side as a late inclusion
for the injured Adem Yze.
Up until the last quarter Rocca had managed just one handball and the
Pies' fans gave him the 'Bronx cheers' when he finally managed a kick in
the final term. And even worse Rocca gave away six free-kicks on a day
when several umpiring decisions were simply unfathomable.
Robertson's seventh goal after the final siren capped a famous 13-point
victory over Collingwood. |
|
2007 — ROUND 11 — GAME 8 |
| Melbourne v
Collingwood |
Monday,
June 11, 2007
MCG, 2.15pm AEST, crowd: 70,660
Conditions: Good; slippery from light showers; swirling breeze
Weather: 13C, cold; threatening weather; lights on
from start |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| MEL |
6.6-42 (27) |
8.9-57 (16) |
9.14-68 (3) |
13.16-94
(13) |
| COL |
2.3-15 |
6.5-41 |
9.11-65 |
11.15-81 |
Goals: Melbourne: Russell Robertson 7.3, Matthew Bate 2, Aaron
Davey, Simon Godfrey, Travis Johnstone, James McDonald.
Collingwood: Ben Johnson 3, Travis Cloke 3, Leon Davis 2, Josh
Fraser, Tarkyn Lockyer, Paul Medhurst.
Best: Melbourne: Russell Robertson, Brock McLean, Matthew Bate,
Nathan Jones, James McDonald, Paul Wheatley, Daniel Ward.
Collingwood: Brodie Holland, Scott Burns, Travis Cloke, Ben
Johnson, Tarkyn Lockyer, Dane Swan, Heath Shaw.
Umpires: Stefan Grun, Scott Jeffery, Scott McLaren. |
|
|
