| * |
Fans
poured into the G on Thursday night when Carlton and Richmond met for
the 200th time. Though cloudy and 17C, apart from a light shower before
the start, no one complained of the conditions in front of 72,552
spectators. It was a close contest until half-time with the Blues living
up to expectations that the year could be one of improvement for the
recent cellar-dwellers.
Jake Niall in his review of proceedings for The Age noted:
Trailing by 25 points in the middle of the second quarter, the Tigers
just gradually wore Carlton down, running harder late in each quarter.
If the midfield names were less impressive — Nathan Foley,
Shane Tuck, Jake King and Kane Johnson aren't the fab
four – they ran harder. Carlton officials would later mutter that the
Blues had run out of legs. Sometimes, this means you've run out of
players.
Richmond actually won the stoppages, and the hard-balls, more than
neutralising a Carlton strength. But the player who most shaped this
contest was not one of the dozen rotating midfielders or runners.
Richmond has not won often enough during Matthew Richardson's
15-year reign as his club's champion, but what is also beyond dispute is
that Richo, for all his flaws, has been responsible for a sizeable
proportion of those infrequent victories. For the umpteenth time in his
257-game career, Richardson was the central figure in the match. He
finished with 5.2 – including the sealer – having earlier threatened to
finish with a Richoesque 1.6 or 2.5 that would have been Richmond's
ruin, and Wallace bunkering down for the fallout.
Brendan Fevola was unable to get away from Will Thursfield,
who received more support from his defensive teammates than Fev did from
his less-seasoned colleagues in the Carlton forward 50-metre arc.
Fevola's green supporting cast consisted of Setanta O'hAilpin,
who spent last season in defence, Adam Hartlett and Jake
Edwards.
Carlton's second-quarter lead had been built on a quick burst of four
unanswered goals, when Chris Judd, Marc Murphy, Kade
Simpson and co held sway and the Tigers temporarily revisited their
2007, especially with their foot skills. Even in victory, field kicking
remains an issue for Richmond. Effort, though, was not. King and
Richard Tambling personified the Tigers – their run and endeavour
were flawless, and they contributed plenty, despite some shonky ball
use. |
| 2008
— ROUND 1 — GAME 1 |
| Carlton v
Richmond |
Thursday (n), March
20, 2008
MCG, 6.10pm AEDT, crowd: 72,552
Conditions: Good, light shower before start
Weather: 17C, cloudy, possible showers |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| CAR |
4.3-27 (–) |
9.6-60 (7) |
10.10-70 |
11.13-79 |
|
RCH |
4.3-27 (–) |
8.5-53 |
11.5-71 (1) |
17.7-109 (30) |
Goals:
Richmond: Matthew Richardson 5.2, Nathan G Brown 3, Brett Deledio 2,
Kayne Pettifer, Shane Tuck, Adam Pattison, Nathan Foley, Graham Polak,
Daniel Jackson, Richard Tambling. Carlton: Brendan Fevola 2, Eddie Betts 2, Heath Scotland 2, Marc
Murphy, Setanta O'hAilpin, Nick Stevens, Ryan Houlihan, Jake Edwards.
Best: Richmond: Matthew
Richardson, Nathan Foley, Jake King, Kayne Pettifer, Will Thursfield,
Kane Johnson, Daniel Jackson, Nathan G Brown. Carlton: Bret Thornton, Marc Murphy, Nick Stevens, Kade
Simpson, Andrew Carazzo, Ryan Houlihan.
Umpires: Stephen McBurney, Dean Margetts, Simon Meredith.
Reports:
l
Cameron Howat (Rch) was cited with a Level Four striking
offence against Adam Hartlett (Car) during Q3. The MRP offered
Howat a two-match suspension with an early plea. Richmond sought the
adjudication of the Tribunal. The Tribunal found Howat guilty and
suspended him for three matches.
l
Adam Hartlett (Car) was cited with a Level Four striking
offence against Cameron Howat (Rch) during Q3. The MRP offered
Hartlett a two-match suspension with an early plea. Hartlett accepted
the MRP suspension of two matches and 243.75 points added to his future
record. |
Geelong picked up
from where they left off last September when they survived a dogged
fightback by Port Adelaide on Thursday night at Football Park. The Cats
were impressive and were poised to blow Port away again when they led by
six goals late in the first half.
Ashley Porter noted for The Age that in the early stages
Geelong was simply far too physically, and maybe mentally, strong for
Port. As gallant as it was, the Power was outmuscled, even by the
midfielders. Port's skills were questionable at times too, including
poor displays from its more experienced players. In contrast, Geelong
worked hard and slowly ironed out its new-season flaws.
Marcus Whelan reported for Sportal that Port rallied after
the break with Chad and Kane Cornes leading the home team
revival. The Power played with freedom and instinct in the second half;
the change in mindset bringing some of the club's struggling players
back into the contest. They kicked the last two majors of the game but
eventually went down down by nine points following a string of missed
shots at goal deep in the final quarter.
For the Cats, James Kelly had 31 possessions while Joel Corey
and Corey Enright were strong performers too. Kane Cornes also
collected 31 touches while his brother Chad's second half was important
as was Peter Burgoyne's 22 disposals.
The Age concluded: As the scoreboard suggested, Geelong had
numerous reasons to be pleased about this win. Tom Hawkins has
retained his brilliance, including the ability to pluck unlikely goals –
as he did on the run from the right boundary 10 metres from the behind
post – and mark strongly.
Joel Selwood, who seems to have played more than 22 games, was
superb. The long-time regulars such as Matthew Scarlett, who gave
second-year full-forward Justin Westhoff a lesson, and James
Kelly merely added to the strength. Westhoff was later sent to the
back line.
Geelong obviously had the manpower, but it was the emphatic manner in
which it moved the ball – clean, precise and with authority – that made
it so impressive. |
| 2008
— ROUND 1 — GAME 2 |
| Port Adelaide v
Geelong |
Thursday
(n), March 20, 2008
Football Park, 8.45pm AEDT, crowd: 28,206
Conditions: Good
Weather: 16C, cloudy |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| PA |
4.0-24 |
6.1-37 |
10.5-65 |
14.12-96 |
|
GEE |
6.4-40 (16) |
10.8-68 (31) |
12.11-83 (18) |
15.15-105 (9) |
Goals:
Geelong: Paul Chapman 3, Mathew Stokes 3, Cameron Mooney 2, Steve
Johnson, Ryan Gamble, Cameron Ling, Tom Hawkins, Joel Corey, Gary
Ablett, Andrew Mackie. Port: Brett Ebert 3, Brendon Lade 2,
Warren Tredrea 2, Daniel Motlop 2, Tom Logan, Travis Boak, Shaun
Burgoyne, Chad Cornes, Matthew Westhoff.
Best: Geelong: James Kelly, Joel Corey, Corey Enright, Cameron
Ling, Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood, Darren Milburn, Paul Chapman. Port:
Brendon Lade, Kane Cornes, K.Cornes, Matt Thomas, Steven Salopek, Paul
Stewart, Shaun Burgoyne.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Brett Rosebury, Michael Avon.
Report:
Daniel Motlop (PA) reported by field umpire Michael Avon for allegedly
charging Joel Corey (Gee) during Q3. This charge was withdrawn. |
Collingwood's
youthful line-up – 10 of the Pies' 22 were aged 21 or less – were
convincing winners over Fremantle by more than four goals on a
picture-perfect Saturday afternoon at the MCG for 45,383 fans. The
Dockers with the oldest squad in the AFL, made but one change, with
former Essendon defender Mark Johnson, at 30, playing his first
game for the club.
There was little between the pair for the first three quarters. But, in
a decisive burst, the Magpies scored the last two goals of the third
quarter and the first three of the fourth to open a match-winning
27-point break as Fremantle wilted in the warm conditions.
In summary, Angus Morgan reported for Sportal: Alan
Didak scored three and Leon Davis two while Dane Swan
was the Magpies' leading ball-winner with a game-high 27 touches and
Chris Egan maintained the pre-season form which earned him a start
with 21 possessions and nine marks.
Switched forward in the second-half, Luke McPharlin was
Fremantle's leading goalscorer with three. David Mundy (26
disposals) and veteran Peter Bell were among the best for the
visitors.
The Pies trailed by eight points deep into time on in the third quarter
before goals to Davis, a miracle snap from the boundary, and Tarkyn
Lockyer earned the hosts a six-point break.
Anthony Rocca scored the all-important first goal of the final
term and it was an inspirational tackle from Thomas on Daniel Gilmore
minutes later which earned the mercurial Magpie his second goal for the
match which signalled it would be Collingwood's day.
Rohan Connolly noted in The Age – "no fewer than 10 of the Pies'
22 were aged 21 or less" – Nathan J Brown, Marty Clarke,
Travis Cloke, Chris Egan, Tyson Goldsack, Harry
O'Brien, Scott Pendlebury, Sean Rusling, Dale
Thomas and Cameron Wood ... |
| 2008
— ROUND 1 — GAME 3 |
| Collingwood v
Fremantle |
Saturday, March
22, 2008
MCG, 2.10pm AEDT, crowd: 45,383
Conditions: Very good
Weather:
22C, fine, warm, blue skies |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| COL |
3.3-21
(2) |
7.6-48
(4) |
10.10-70
(6) |
16.15-111 (26) |
|
FRE |
3.1-19 |
7.2-44 |
10.4-64 |
13.7-85 |
Goals: Collingwood:
Anthony Rocca 6.1, Alan Didak 3, Dale Thomas 2, Leon Davis 2, Paul
Medhurst, Travis Cloke, Tarkyn Lockyer. Fremantle: Luke
McPharlin 3, Shaun McManus 2, Matthew Pavlich, Peter Bell, Mark
Johnson, Matthew Carr, David Mundy, Ryan Crowley, Jeff Farmer,
Des Headland.
Best: Collingwood: Anthony Rocca, Rhyce Shaw, Leon Davis,
Chris Egan, Dane Swan, Alan Didak, Scott Pendlebury. Fremantle:
David Mundy, Peter Bell, Roger Hayden, Luke McPharlin, Byron
Schammer, Des Headland, Steven Dodd, Jeff Farmer.
Umpires: Scott McLaren, Ray Chamberlain, Chris Kamolins.
Report:
l
Dean Solomon (Fre) was cited with a Level One rough conduct
offence against Shane Wakelin (Col) during Q??(unreported). The MRP found
the offence was classified as 125 points but because of Solomon's
past record his tally was increased to 232.81 points which means
that even by pleading guilty he will still have a tally of 174.61
points – well over the 100 point cut-off for a one match suspension.
Fremantle sought the adjudication of the Tribunal. The Tribunal
found Solomon guilty and suspended him for two matches. |
St Kilda held on
grimly to beat Sydney by two points under the closed roof at Docklands
Stadium on Saturday night. The match was a gruelling test for players
and spectators alike. The Saints held the lead all night but never
looked safe, even in the dying seconds when Jared Moore could have won
for the Swans – but like many others of the night, the shot was sprayed
and left the Saints' lead intact.
Karen Lyon covered the match for The Age: The match was
full of flooding, turnovers and 110 errors. Most telling was the lack of
contested marks across the night, the two teams combined managed just 12
contested marks for the evening and 213 uncontested marks.
It was a night, where every player was expected to and needed to run the
length of the field. In the end the Saints used the Sydney game plan to
beat the Swans.
In a match where there were so few highlights, one moment stood out like
a beacon, and it was the moment the match so desperately needed.
With less than two minutes left on the clock to end the third quarter
and with the ball high over his head, young Saint Clinton Jones
had eyes only for the footy.
The bone-rattling crunch from Sydney defender and former Adelaide player
Martin Mattner was inevitable and, when it came, put Jones to the
ground and finally brought the crowd to its feet.
Obviously still dazed from the hit, Jones handballed off to former Swan
Adam Schneider who ran through and kicked what turned out to be a
game-breaking goal.
It gave the Saints a 10-point lead and, in the context of a match, felt
like a major moment. Despite the slight difference in the scores, the
Swans never bridged the narrow gap.
When everything old is new again. The Herald Sun noted on Monday
that Sydney's coach Paul Roos has taken to coaching from the
interchange bench at ground level in tandem with assistant coach John
Longmire in the elevated coaches box. |
| 2008
— ROUND 1 — GAME 4 |
| St Kilda v Sydney |
Saturday
(n), March 22, 2008
Docklands, 7.10pm AEDT; Roof: closed, crowd: 36,614
Conditions: Good
Weather: 24C, warm |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
STK |
4.3-27 (2) |
4.6-30 (–) |
6.10-46 (12) |
6.15-51 (2) |
| SYD |
1.1-7 |
4.6-30 (–) |
4.10-34 |
6.13-49 |
Goals: St Kilda: Nick Riewoldt 2, Justin Koschitzke 2, Stephen
Milne, Adam Schneider. Sydney: Heath Grundy, Hall, J Bolton,
Buchanan, Goodes, Davis.
Best: St Kilda: Nick Riewoldt, Sam Fisher, Nick Dal Santo, Jarryn
Geary, Robert Harvey. Sydney: Tadhg Kennelly, Amon Buchanan,
Craig Bolton, Jarrad McVeigh.
Umpires: Michael Vozzo, Shaun Ryan, Scott Jeffrey. |
Saturday night's
match in fine and clear conditions at Subiaco Oval had a remarkable
range of highs-and-lows. The Eagles kicked the first six goals, then
Brisbane's Jonathan Brown lived up to his billing as the AFL's
most influential player by hauling back a 38-1 deficit with six goals
off his own boot.
Tim Clarke detailed the highlights for Fox Sports: With
Daniel Kerr roaming free without an opponent early, the Eagles' new
No.1 on-baller ran riot, picking up 11 first-quarter possessions. And
with Cox dominating, Beau Waters and David Wirrpanda both
kicked doubles, with Mark Seaby and Mark Le Cras also
chipping in.
Lion spearhead Brown tried everything to get himself into the contest,
but despite his solitary goal, the statistics – 128 Eagles possessions
in the first term to 71, and 14 hitouts to seven – told the early story.
With a 30-point gap to make up, the Lions needed to find some claws –
and the Lions senior men began to deliver.
Luke Power was posted on Kerr to shut down his influence, with
Simon Black beginning to exert his own, finding a torrent of
football to finish with 30 possessions. The Eagles could not find a way
to subdue Brown either, with three majors in the second term reducing
the Eagles' lead, despite being hampered with a jarred knee late.
If Brisbane were to continue their comeback, Brown needed some
assistance and he got it from the returning Daniel Bradshaw,
whose comeback from a knee reconstruction exploded with three goals in
the third term. Jamie Charman briefly gave the Lions the lead
after a pack mark, but Cox and then Adam Hunter restored the
Eagles advantage going into the last quarter.
With Charman missing a great chance to put the Lions back in the lead
early in the last term, the Eagles lifted – with Chad Fletcher
putting an ordinary kicking performance behind him to slot from the
pocket. When Quinten Lynch goaled from a free kick and Le Cras
kicked a second, the Eagles lead was back out to 23, and the home fans
believed their side had done enough. But Josh Drummond's goal on
the run and Brown's best of the night kept the contest alive, until
Brent Staker's long distance sealer clinched the win for the Eagles. |
| 2008
— ROUND 1 — GAME 5 |
| West Coast
v Brisbane Lions |
Saturday
(n), March 22, 2008
Subiaco Oval, 7.40pm AEDT, crowd: 39,591
Conditions: Good
Weather: 27C, fine and clear |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| WCE |
6.2-38 (30) |
7.5-47 (19) |
10.7-67 (6) |
14.8-92
(16) |
|
BRI |
1.2-8 |
4.4-28 |
9.7-61 |
11.10-76 |
Goals:
West Coast: David Wirrpanda 2, Beau Waters 2, Mark Seaby 2, Mark
LeCras 2, Adam Hunter, Dean Cox, Michael Braun, Chad Fletcher, Quinten
Lynch, Brent Staker. Brisbane: Jonathan Brown 6.0, Daniel
Bradshaw 3, Jamie Charman, Josh Drummond.
Best: West Coast: Dean Cox, Daniel Kerr, Mark Seaby, Matt
Priddis, David Wirrpanda, Michael Braun, Brett Jones. Brisbane:
Jonathan Brown, Simon Black, Daniel Bradshaw, Travis Johnstone, Josh
Drummond, Luke Power.
Umpires: Matthew Head, Martin Ellis, Craig Hendrie. |
It's a pity only
24,835 were at Docklands on a fine and sunny Sunday afternoon as many
more should have experienced the fairytale end to Brad Johnson's 300th
game for the Bulldogs.
But, who wrote the script? Johnson, after a poor first half, revived
dramatically to boot the last three goals within the final 3½
minutes. Then with the last kick of the day Nathan Bock had the
chance to steal victory for Adelaide but he pulled his shot and the
siren sounded seconds later.
Andrew Wu reported for Sportal: Bock's behind came after
Scott Stevens put the Crows back within a kick after Johnson had
seemingly put the game beyond reach of the visitors with the Bulldogs 10
points up with just on a minute remaining.
The Bulldogs themselves had fought back from the brink of defeat after
Simon Goodwin put the Crows eight points in front at the
26-minute mark of the last term.
Apart from the first quarter when a rampant Bulldogs side kicked five
goals to one, it looked as if Johnson's 300th game would be soured by a
loss. The Bulldogs, unable to deal with the Crows' tactic of putting
numbers behind the ball, made too many skill errors which allowed
Adelaide to grind its way into the game.
They hit the front two minutes prior to half-time when Richard
Douglas kicked their fourth unanswered goal then blew the lead out
to 19 points early in the third.
The Bulldogs, with Scott Welsh being subdued and no other big
bodies in attack to aim at, now looked nothing like the side which
dominated early, the difference highlighted by inexplicable kicks out on
the full by Johnson and Ryan Griffen.
Just when the Crows appeared the run away with the game, the Bulldogs
awoke from their slumber. Moved into the middle, Jason Akermanis
provided a spark; Adam Cooney rediscovered his early form and
Johnson, hitherto quiet, started to influence the match.
Suddenly, the Bulldogs were full of run, their extra carry allowing them
to kick over centre half-forward to an open forward 50, while the Crows
were left flat-footed. The final quarter, which saw four lead changes,
became a battle of attrition, fatigue causing players from both sides to
make seemingly inexplicable mistakes.
But with his side searching for a hero, Johnson stepped up to the stage
to sink the Crows. In a gracious moment of sportsmanship Adelaide
players remained on field to join a guard of honour from both sides,
as Johnson was carried off by Scott West and Lindsay
Gilbee to the adulation of the fans. |
| 2008
— ROUND 1 — GAME 6 |
| Western Bulldogs
v Adelaide |
Sunday,
March 23, 2008
Docklands, 1.10pm AEDT; Roof: open; crowd: 24,835
Conditions: Good
Weather: 28C, fine and sunny |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| WB |
5.4-34 (21) |
6.9-45 |
13.9-87 (2) |
19.12-126
(3) |
|
ADE |
2.1-13 |
7.8-50 (5) |
12.13-85 |
18.15-123 |
Goals:
WB'dogs: Brad Johnson 5.3, Scott Welsh 4,
Daniel Giansiracusa 3, Jason Akermanis, Nathan Eagleton, Lindsay Gilbee,
Mitch Hahn, Josh Hill, Robert Murphy, Cameron Wight. Adelaide:
Brett Burton 5.0, Richard Douglas 2, Tyson Edwards 2, Simon Goodwin 2,
Ken McGregor 2, Kurt Tippett 2, Andrew McLeod, Brent Reilly, Scott
Stevens.
Best: WB'dogs: Adam Cooney, Brad Johnson, Jason Akermanis, Scott
West, Lindsay Gilbee, Dale Morris. Adelaide: Brett Burton, Brent
Reilly, Simon Goodwin, Brent Reilly, Jason Porplyzia.
Umpires: Damien Sully, Justin Schmitt, Stuart Wenn. |
Hawthorn went into
the late Sunday clash at the MCG without five of its best 18 sidelined
either through injury or suspension. It mattered little as Melbourne
were given a 104-point thrashing – which for the debutant coach,
Dean Bailey, is the second-heaviest defeat suffered by a new coach.
Paul Gough for Sportal recorded that the Demons produced
one of the most spiritless, embarrassing performances witnessed in the
opening match of the season for years. For a club already suffering the
lowest membership and badly needing an on-field boost, the result was a
disaster.
Bruce Matthews noted in the Herald Sun: What must not be
overlooked amid Melbourne's embarrassment were signs the 2007
preliminary finalists are better prepared this season.
Talls Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Tim Boyle
shared 11 goals during the rout. But the infusion of speed and skill,
with Cyril Rioli and Cameron Stokes inside the forward 50,
and a stunning comeback by Port Adelaide premiership forward Stuart
Dew, added to the package.
And to think Mark Williams is not far away from returning as a
direct-leading, sharpshooter – another foil for Buddy-boy, Roughead and
Boyle.
Chance Bateman ran relentlessly through the midfield; skipper
Sam Mitchell and the fellow on-baller never game their Melbourne
counterparts a look-in, controlling the ground-level duels and
rebounding down the corridor. Hawthorn players never let up.
Elsewhere in the Herald Sun, Michael Horan noted: It
proved a nightmare debut for coach Dean Bailey and a shameful day for a
bedraggled bunch of Demons who were, to be brutally direct,
fundamentally shocking.
Asked if you felt humiliated, Bailey dodged, settling for disappointed.
"Humiliated? I feel very sorry for our Melbourne members who came along
today." |
| 2008
— ROUND 1 — GAME 7 |
| Hawthorn v
Melbourne |
Sunday,
March 23, 2008
MCG, 4.40pm AEDT, crowd: 40,141
Conditions: Good (lights on from start)
Weather: 24C, light shower before start |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
HAW |
5.5-35 (28) |
7.10-52 (41) |
15.12-102
(80) |
23.16-154 (104) |
| MEL |
1.1-7 |
1.5-11 |
2.10-22 |
6.14-50 |
Goals:
Hawthorn: Lance Franklin 6.3, Jarryd Roughead 3, Michael Osborne
3, Tim Boyle 2, Stuart Dew 2, Cameron Stokes 2, Robert Campbell 2,
Clinton Young, Simon Taylor, Cyril Rioli. Melbourne: Russell
Robertson 3, Brad Green 2, Michael Newton.
Best: Hawthorn: Chance Bateman, Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell,
Grant Birchall, Michael Osborne, Clinton Young, Stuart Dew.
Melbourne: Brad Green, Nathan Jones, Simon Buckley.
Umpires: Luke Farmer, Hayden Kennedy, Matthew Nicholls. |
Essendon staged a
stunning turnaround to smash North Melbourne by 55 points on Easter
Monday, in humid conditions under the closed roof at Docklands. It was
the first time the Bombers had beaten the Kangas since 2001 and they
also notched their first win over the Roos at Docklands.
North had six-straight wins over the Dons and for a tick over a quarter,
it appeared the plot and the players remained essentially the same. But
then, Rohan Connolly reported in The Age, with Essendon
being smashed for contested possession, key forward Scott Lucas
was off the ground with a serious knee injury, and its overexuberance in
the tackling department was being suitably punished with some costly
free kicks.
Then it happened. Not so much a subtle shift in the balance of power in
this game as a raging tide that rendered the first 30-odd minutes all
but irrelevant. The Bombers would kick the final six goals of the second
term to take a seven-point lead into half-time. Then seven of the eight
scored in the third. And when Nathan Lovett-Murray booted his
fourth to make the margin 55 points, Essendon had kicked 15 of the
previous 16 goals.
Essendon tightened up significantly on those North troublemakers.
Henry Slattery locked on to Shannon Grant, while Matthew
Knights and the Bomber coaching panel kept faith with Mark
McVeigh's capacity to handle Brent Harvey in the middle and
his teammates' ability to curb the champion little Kangaroo when he went
forward.
McVeigh had kept the Bombers in it early, but rose to a higher level
again as they took control, finishing with 31 disposals, five clearances
and the inaugural Archer-Hird Medal for his efforts. Jobe Watson was
almost as prolific with 30, but more damaging by foot than has often
been the case.
When the ball did find its way into the North forward line, Mal
Michael and Dustin Fletcher were there to bring it to ground,
where an inspired Adam Ramanauskas and the likes of Bachar
Houli and Courtenay Dempsey swept up the crumbs.
And far from hobble its forward set-up, Lucas' absence seemed only to
spur it to greater deeds. Skipper Matthew Lloyd was having
trouble with Michael Firrito early, but had it over Josh
Gibson in the second quarter with three goals, kick-starting an
eventual haul of half-a-dozen. Adam McPhee proved an athletic and
hard-working replacement for Lucas, and Lovett-Murray a real surprise
packet.
Eleven players shared the Dons' 19 goals. North, in contrast, had only
four goalkickers – Nathan Thompson, Lindsay Thomas,
Aaron Edwards and Drew Petrie.
This was a desperately disappointing afternoon for the Kangaroos, who
had built so much momentum off the field over the summer with their
successful campaign to stave off relocation to the Gold Coast, then
quickly built a record membership.
Thompson's successful return from a year out with a knee injury,
finishing with four goals, was about the only positive coach Dean
Laidley or Kanga fans could take from the afternoon. North managed
only three goals in the second half, and by the end of the game appeared
to have lost all confidence in the fast-running and long-kicking game
that had delivered such handsome rewards in 2007. |
| 2008
— ROUND 1 — GAME 8 |
| North Melb v
Essendon |
Monday,
March 24, 2008
Docklands, 2.10pm AEDT; Roof: closed, crowd: 48,100
Conditions: Good, but humid indoors
Weather: 28C, showers forecast |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
NM |
4.3-27 (15) |
6.7-43 |
7.9-51 |
9.13-67 |
| ESS |
2.0-12 |
8.2-50 (7) |
15.5-95 (44) |
19.8-122
(55) |
Goals:
Essendon: Matthew Lloyd 6.1, Nathan Lovett-Murray 4, Jobe Watson,
Adam Ramanauskas, Mark McVeigh, Jason Johnson, David Hille, Jason
Laycock, Scott Lucas, Aaron Davey, Dustin Fletcher. North: Nathan
Thompson 4, Lindsay Thomas 3, Aaron Edwards, Drew Petrie.
Best: Essendon: Matthew Lloyd, Adam Ramanauskas, Mark McVeigh,
Mal Michael, Jobe Watson, Bachar Houli, Nathan Lovett-Murray, David
Hille, Adam McPhee. North: Brent Harvey, Nathan Thompson, Lindsay
Thomas, Matt Campbell, Sam Power, Andrew Swallow.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Kieron Nicholls, Shane McInerney. |
|
|
