| * |
The Eagles and Magpies
produced an epic semi-final on Friday night at Subiaco Oval which was
bursting at the seams with 43,627 admissions. The match went into
extra-time for only the second time in finals history. Subiaco played
remarkably well considering the heavy rain it withstood over three days.
Chris Paine for ABC News reported: Nothing could separate
the sides with scores locked at 10.12 apiece at the final siren, but
Collingwood's young brigade served them well during 10 minutes of
extra-time as they edged out the reigning premiers.
Collingwood never truly looked capable of winning the match until it
went into extra-time, when a tiring West Coast began to falter against a
younger and quicker Magpies outfit.
Justin Chadwick observed for Sportal: The Eagles struggled
to match Collingwood's midfield intensity throughout the night, and with
gun on-ballers Judd, Cousins and Kerr sidelined through injury, were
comprehensively smashed 53-34 at the stoppages despite Dean Cox's
dominance in the ruck and 37 disposals from Matthew Priddis.
Collingwood suffered a major blow before the match with ruckman Josh
Fraser ruled out due to back tightness, while West Coast lost
defender Beau Waters to a hip complaint.
It was a war of attrition in an error-riddled opening term as both sides
threw everything at the contest. Tyson Goldsack was concussed
after copping a heavy hit from team-mate Nathan Buckley, while
returning West Coast forward Ashley Hansen lasted just 14 minutes
before a dodgy hamstring ended his night.
Greg Baum noted for The Age: Fleeting glimpses of the
wounded on the scoreboard prompted wistful cheers from the zealots of
Subiaco. Ultimately, the Eagles personnel crisis told as the Magpies of
the second half dominated centre clearances, typically, Eagles'
strength. But one of the peculiarities of finals football is that it is
often contested by pounded and patched-up teams. Collingwood was dealt a
three-in-one blow two hours before the game when Fraser was ruled out.
The Magpies were left to face indomitable Dean Cox with little-performed
Guy Richards and Chris Bryan, ever willing, but none the
less a Carlton cast-off, There was no place on Subiaco Oval for the
meek. West Coast appeared to have beaten Collingwood into submission
when it kicked three goals in a row in the third quarter to lead by 23
points. Then, the Magpies' much-vaunted forward line appeared to have
broken down irreparably. But, unannounced, Collingwood kicked three in
the last three minutes, setting up the nail-biting, heart-in-the-mouth
denouement.
Last-minute inclusion Bryan, emerging teenage star Scott Pendlebury
and stalwart Dane Swan were the heroes, kicking the extra period
goals that won the game after the two teams had played each to a
leg-weary standstill.
Collingwood had to shed a great weight of history to win. The Magpies
had beaten the Eagles in Perth only twice in 14 previous visits. The
finals was like a heavyweight boxing match, each party swinging mighty
blow, some connecting, some not. West Coast had its changes, Collingwood
took its. |
|
2007 — 2nd SEMI-FINAL — GAME
1 |
|
West Coast v Collingwood |
Friday (n),
September 14, 2007
Subiaco Oval, 8.45pm AEST, crowd:
43,627
Conditions: Holding well, after three days of
rain
Weather: 14C, 10mm of rain during the day, clearing
later |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final after ET |
| WCE |
0.4-4 |
5.5-35 (3) |
8.9-57 (4) |
10.14-74 |
| COL |
1.5-11 (7) |
4.8-32 |
7.11-53 |
13.15-93 (19) |
Extra time was played to
achieve a result after both sides were locked on
10.12-72 at the siren. Under the rules two five-minute
periods were then played.
At the end of 1ET the scores were WCE 10.13-73, Col
11.13-79.
Collingwood won when at the end of 2ET scores were
13.15-93 to 10.14-74. |
Goals:
Collingwood: Anthony
Rocca 3, Paul Medhurst 2, Alan Didak 2, Dane Swan 2,
Chris Bryan, Travis Cloke, Scott Pendlebury, Dale
Thomas. West Coast: David Wirrpanda 2, Mark
LeCras 2, Matt Rosa, Quinten Lynch, Matt Priddis, Dean
Cox, Andrew Embley, Chad Fletcher.
Best: Collingwood: Dane Swan, Nathan Buckley,
Anthony Rocca, Alan Didak, Scott Pendlebury, Paul
Medhurst, Travis Cloke. West Coast: Matt Priddis,
Dean Cox, Darren Glass, Brett Jones, David Wirrpanda,
Adam Selwood.
Umpires: Stephen McBurney, Shaun Ryan, Shane
McInerney. |
The Kangaroos again
dipped into their seemingly never-ending supply of resilience by
bouncing back from the 106-point mauling from Geelong the previous week
to eliminate hot favourites Hawthorn in Saturday night's First
Semi-Final in fine and clear conditions in front of almost 75,000 at the
MCG.
Paul Gough reporting for Sportal noted: The Kangaroos,
despite finishing in the top four at the end of the home and away
season, were all but written off going into this game. But just as they
did in this corresponding game seven years ago – when they also beat the
Hawks in a semi-final after suffering a 125 point loss to Essendon – the
Kangaroos again showed they are at their best when their backs are
against the wall.
ABC News reported: The Kangaroos led at every change and looked
in control for the majority of the match, kicking away in the dying
stages for a 33 point victory. Hawthorn battled hard but their night was
riddled with half chances and poor goal kicking while the Kangas' solid
defence shut down a dangerous, tall Hawks forward line.
It was the Kangaroos youngsters in Aaron Edwards up front and
backman Jesse Smith who took the limelight away from the likes of
gun Hawk Lance Franklin, who struggled to regain the heroic form
that sent Hawthorn into week two of the finals.
Gough further observed: By half-time Edwards had booted three goals and
taken a contender for mark of the year and the Roos' dominance deserved
more than an eight-point lead. When the Hawks got the first goal of the
second half to cut the margin to two points, the Roos again showed their
character by immediately responding through goals from the most unlikely
of sources in ruckman Hamish McIntosh and youngster Scott
McMahon.The Roos, aided by a
goal to Brent Harvey following a soft 50-metre penalty just
before the last change, stretched their lead to 17 points at
three-quarter-time and the frustration began to show for the Hawks as
former skipper Shane Crawford was reported for striking Daniel
Harris.
In the final term the Hawks offered
nothing as their forward line continued to struggle with Jarryd
Roughead and Tim Boyle thrashed by Michael Firrito and
Shannon Watt and, while Franklin kicked three, he was well held
by Josh Gibson.
In contrast the Roos' key players all
fired with Brady Rawlings totally shutting down the Hawks' prime
mover Luke Hodge while after a slow start Harvey kicked three
goals in the final term to seal yet another memorable Kangaroos' victory
against the odds. |
|
2007 — 1st SEMI-FINAL — GAME 2 |
| Kangaroos v
Hawthorn |
Saturday (n),
September 15, 2007
MCG, 7.30pm AEST, crowd: 74,981
Conditions: Very good
Weather: 14.5C, fine and clear |
| |
1/4 time |
1/2 time |
3/4 time |
Final |
| KAN |
3.3-21 (8) |
5.5-35 (8) |
9.7-61 (17) |
14.9-93
(33) |
| HAW |
2.1-13 |
4.3-27 |
6.8-44 |
8.12-60 |
Goals: Kangaroos:
Aaron Edwards 4, Brent Harvey 4, Andrew Swallow, Drew Petrie, Hamish
McIntosh, Scott McMahon, Shannon Grant, Daniel Wells. Hawthorn:
Lance Franklin 3, Jarryd Roughead, Tim Boyle, Chance Bateman, Brent
Guerra, Jordan Lewis.
Best: Kangaroos: Jesse Smith, Daniel Harris, Brady Rawlings, Adam
Simpson, Aaron Edwards, Jess Sinclair, Shannon Grant. Hawthorn:
Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell, Brent Guerra, Lance Franklin, Shane Crawford,
Rick Ladson.
Umpires: Michael Vozzo, Brett Rosebury, Scott McLaren.
Reports:
n
Shane Crawford (Haw) reported by field umpire Michael Vozzo for
striking Daniel Harris (Kan) during the third quarter. The MRP
assessed the act as reckless conduct (two points), high impact (three
points) and high contact (two points) equating to 357.5 points to which
was added 96.87 carry-over points totalling 454.37 points, constituting
a four-match ban. Crawford on an early plea would reduce the penalty to
three matches. Crawford admitted guilt and was suspended for three
matches.
n
Jordan Lewis (Haw) was cited for striking Brent Harvey
(Kan) during the second quarter. His contact was assessed as intentional
(three points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points).
Sixty carry-over points took Lewis's penalty to 285 points, which cannot
be reduced below a two-match suspension. Hodge admitted guilt and was
suspended for two matches.
n
Luke Hodge (Haw) was cited with striking Brady Rawlings
(Kan) during the fourth quarter. The MRP assessed the incident: reckless
conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one
point). Although not enough to constitute a suspension, his 66 carryover
points exceeded the 100-point mark. An early guilty plea would only
reduce the 146 total down to 109.50 points. Hawthorn sought the
adjudication of the tribunal. The Tribunal upheld the MRP penalty of a
one-match suspension. |
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