| * |
The Brisbane Lions
staged a surprising last-quarter turnaround to finish over the top of
Collingwood in wet and slippery conditions on Friday night at the Gabba
before a near-full crowd of 33,867. After a late wet-season downpour in
the afternoon, it was old-fashioned mud from the centre cricket pitch
area which tested players.
Andrew Stafford recorded proceeding for The Age: After two
goals inside the first two minutes Daniel Bradshaw snaring his
first after trapping the ball close to the boundary, followed
immediately by Leon Davis at the other end the game quickly
settled into a muddy slugfest.
And yet, in conditions not made for key forwards, that was where most
early interest lay. With Matthew Pavlich's scalp still warm in
his back pocket, second-gamer Nathan Brown went straight to his
opposite number and namesake, Jonathan. Again, the young full-back
acquitted himself admirably with help from Nick Maxwell,
Harry O'Brien and whoever else was courageous or silly enough to get
in the big man's way.
Early on, however, Jonathan Brown had enough support to ensure
the Lions were not the one-man band they have recently been painted as.
Bradshaw had three goals by half-time, ruckman Jamie Charman had
drifted forward for another two and first-gamer Lachie Henderson was a
handy decoy.
The biggest surprise was Jared Brennan. The Lions' biggest enigma
is not known for his work in close, but in the second quarter he was
thrown into the midfield to telling effect, winning several hardballs of
his own to help his team to an 11-point lead at the main break.
But Collingwood had its share of winners, too. Rhyce Shaw kept
Simon Black to six possessions by half-time while gathering nine of
his own, and the indefatigable Dane Swan, who always looks
stronger the longer a match progresses, had 15. And while Lions
full-back Daniel Merrett limited Anthony Rocca's output,
Travis Cloke's sure hands and speed were too much for Joel
Patfull. He is quickly becoming Collingwood's most important player.
Crucially, the Magpies also looked better at the fall of the ball, with
Alan Didak, Davis and Dale Thomas all creating and
converting their limited opportunities. And in the third quarter,
Collingwood's greater flexibility, fitness and, yes, maturity quite a
call for such a young list began to tell.
Jed Adcock was the hero for the home side, putting the Lions in
front at the 26th minute after late goals from Anthony Corrie and
Jonathan Brown, both scored from free kicks awarded in front of goal,
had dragged the Lions back into the contest. Paul Medhurst lost
one last chance to snatch back the lead for the Magpies, with the Lions
then locking up the game. |
| 2008
— ROUND 2 — GAME 1 |
| Brisbane Lions v
Collingwood |
Friday (n), March
28, 2008
BCG (Gabba), 8.40pm AEDT; crowd: 33,867
Conditions: Fair; muddy in the centre after 6mm of rain during the day
Weather: 17C, rain eased before the match; rain in Q3 |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| BRI |
3.5-23 (2) |
8.10-58 (11) |
9.14-68 |
13.18-96
(2) |
|
COL |
3.3-21 |
7.5-47 |
12.12-84 (16) |
13.16-94 |
Goals:
Brisbane: Daniel Bradshaw 3, Jamie Charman 2, Anthony Corrie 2,
Jonathan Brown 2, Josh Drummond, Simon Black, Luke Power, Jed Adcock.
Collingwood: Travis Cloke 2, Anthony Rocca 2, Alan Didak 2, Leon
Davis, Shane OBree, Dale Thomas, Chris Egan, Dane Swan, Josh Fraser,
Paul Medhurst.
Best: Brisbane: Luke Power, Travis Johnstone, Jed Adcock, Luke
Brennan, Jamie Charman. Collingwood: Dane Swan, Scott Burns, Josh
Fraser, Alan Didak, Leon Davis, Ben Johnson.
Umpires: Michael Vozzo, Dean Meredith, Scott Jeffery.
Report:
Daniel Merrett (Bri) was booked for engaging in rough play
against Anthony Rocca (Col) during Q3. The MRP offered Merrett a
reprimand with an early plea. Merrett accepted the offer and 93.75
points added to his future record. |
The Western
Bulldogs handed Melbourne its second consecutive hiding with a 95-point
win on cool Saturday afternoon at the MCG which was slippery in parts
from early rain. A meagre 27,821 braved the prospect of another reversal
for the Demons.
Angus Morgan noted for Sportal: The Bulldogs encountered
negligible opposition in scoring 22 goals to seven after quarter time,
although senior coach Rodney Eade should be pleased with the way
his players kept the foot on the pedal right through to the final siren.
Midfield quartet Daniel Cross, Matthew Boyd, Scott West
and Adam Cooney racked up 111 possessions and 23 marks between
them to guarantee a steady and uninterrupted supply of the ball for the
Dogs' forwards after quarter time.
Robert Murphy was the Bulldogs' top goalscorer with four, but
five team-mates bagged three apiece and the Dogs had 11 goalscorers in
all.
Demons supporters hoping for signs of the passion, enterprise and
aggression that were missing in last week's thumping by Hawthorn or,
better still, a 'line in the sand' would have been desperately
disappointed.
Melbourne was competitive early but never came close to making the kind
of statement required of a club coming off a 104-point humiliation in
the opening round of its landmark 150th year.
The Demons were slow, stop-start and lacking leadership, and one can
only hope they're still coming to terms with Dean Bailey's' new
game plan because if what they displayed on Saturday is the plan in
action, it doesnt work.
Rohan Connolly observed for The Age: Melbourne's issues?
Where do you start? A real lack of run and dash midfield, Aaron Davey,
the Demons' only truly explosive runner, not able to contribute more
than the odd burst in the guts. A defence which needs to be propped up
by better players, whose talents should be utilised elsewhere. And a
disturbing lack of resilience when the tide starts turning, the Demons
simply swept away in the flood. Can it get any worse? Against the Cats,
yes it can next Sunday. |
| 2008
— ROUND 2 — GAME 2 |
| Melbourne v
Western Bulldogs |
Saturday, March 29, 2008
MCG, 2.10pm AEDT; crowd: 27,821
Conditions: Fair; slippery from rain; occasional shower
Weather: 14C, afternoon showers forecast |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| MEL |
2.4-16 |
5.8-38 |
7.9-51 |
9.12-66 |
|
WB |
2.5-17 (1) |
9.9-63 (25) |
18.13-121
(70) |
24.17-161 (95) |
Goals:
West.B'dogs: Robert Murphy 4, Josh Hill 3, Scott Welsh 3, Jason
Akermanis 3, Brad Johnson 3, Daniel Cross 3, Daniel Giansiracusa,
Cameron Wight, Lindsay Gilbee, Mitch Hahn, Ryan Griffen. Melbourne:
Neitz 2, White 2, Robertson 2, Davey, Green, Jones.
Best: West.B'dogs: Daniel Cross, Robert Murphy, Adam Cooney, Josh
Hill, Lindsay Gilbee, Ryan Griffen, Matthew Boyd. Melbourne: Paul
Wheatley, James McDonald, Nathan Jones, Brad Green, Nathan Carroll.
Umpires: Luke Farmer, Chris Kamolins, Shaun Ryan. |
Adelaide soundly
thrashed West Coast in overcast conditions on Saturday afternoon at
Football Park with a new record high score and a new best-winning
margin. It was the first Crow win over the Eagles since 2005-R22 and
broke a run of five West Coast victories, including the preliminary
finals of 2005 and 2006.
Daniel Brettig reported for afl.com.au: Though it was possible to
make a case for every player having a role in the win, Crow captain
Simon Goodwin (career-high 13 marks, seven goals), centre-half back
Nathan Bock and rising centreman Jason Porplyzia were the
chief architects.
Marcus Wilson summarised for Sportal: The Crows got on the front
foot with a six-goal to two first quarter and were in control of the
contest when they held a 37-point lead at half-time. After an even third
term they blew the Eagles away in the fourth eight consecutive majors
saw the home side run out easy winners.
Goodwin was unstoppable as a leading forward, the skipper beating
Mark Nicoski, Adam Hunter, Scott Selwood and
Shannon Hurn. His bag of 7.3 was his best effort in the AFL.
Adelaide had winners all over the park with its defenders providing
plenty of rebound. Bock collected 32 touches and shutdown Ashley
Hansen, Ben Rutten kept Quinten Lynch to a goal while
Andrew McLeod and Graham Johncock were busy too. For West
Coast Matt Priddis had 29 possessions, while Dean Cox was
outstanding in the first half.
Ashley Porter in The Age noted: Pre-match, much attention
focussed on Brad Ebert, who was overlooked by the Crows at the
draft, and despite the pressure of making his AFL debut in his home
town, he did very well. His competitiveness, and fine kicking, justified
the Eagles' faith in him. Chris Masten, who also made his AFL
debut, also produced glimpses of class, and stood up in difficult
circumstances. |
| 2008
— ROUND 2 — GAME 3 |
| Adelaide v
West Coast |
Saturday, March
29, 2008
Football Park, 3.10pm AEDT, crowd: 38,162
Conditions:
Good
Weather:
18C, overcast; showers forecast |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| ADE |
6.4-40
(27) |
10.5-65
(37) |
13.6-84
(37) |
21.7-133 (76) |
|
WCE |
2.1-13 |
4.4-28 |
7.5-47 |
8.9-57 |
Goals: Adelaide:
Simon Goodwin 7.3, Brett Burton 3, Kurt Tippett 2, Jason Porplyzia
2, Bernie Vince 2, Tyson Edwards, Scott Thompson, Luke Jericho,
Nathan van Berlo, Ken McGregor. West Coast: David Wirrpanda
2, Dean Cox, Quinten Lynch, Adam Hunter, Daniel Kerr, Ashley Hansen,
Brent Staker.
Best: Adelaide: Simon Goodwin, Nathan Bock, Andrew McLeod,
Scott Thompson, Graham Johncock, Jason Porplyzia, Ben Rutten.
West Coast: Matt Priddis, Andrew Embley, Dean Cox, Michael
Braun, Chad Fletcher.
Umpires: Damien Sully, Kieron Nicholls, Shane McInerney. |
After a slow start
St Kilda swept to a record 10th successive victory over Carlton in their
Saturday night clash at Docklands Stadium under the closed roof. The run
dates back to 2001-Round 20 and the Saints notched another in their
100th appearance at the Dome.
The Blues burst out of the blocks, kicking the first four goals of the
game to open up a 23-point lead midway through the first term. But the
Saints led by the burly (and now bearded) forward Fraser Gehrig's
four goals in his first game for the year seized control from that
point to run away to win by 40 points.
Although still short of their best, the Saints booted 17 goals to eight
after quarter-time despite low contributions from key forwards Nick
Riewoldt (two goals) and Justin Koschitzke (none) who were
well held. Although the Saints conjured enough goalkickers, led by
Gehrig and Stephen Milne (both four) and Xavier Clarke
(three), their defence deserved much of the credit for the win.
Sam Fisher marshalled the backline superbly, Max Hudghton
broke even with Brendan Fevola (two goals) and Jason Gram
and Clarke set up countless attacks with their run and good kicking from
half back.
Brendon Cohen reported for Sportal: For the Blues, Bryce Gibbs
and Marc Murphy both No.1 draft picks were the standouts with
26 and 23 disposals respectively, while Bret Thornton did an
excellent job holding Koschitzke to just five possessions.
Chris Judd still looked underdone in his second match as Carlton
captain, but still managed 19 touches. |
| 2008
— ROUND 2 — GAME 4 |
| St Kilda v
Carlton |
Saturday
(n), March 29, 2008
Docklands, 7.10pm AEDT; Roof: closed, crowd: 43,396
Conditions: Good
Weather: 14C, showers |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
STK |
2.5-17 |
8.7-55 (13) |
12.9-81 (35) |
19.11-125 (40) |
| CAR |
4.4-28 (11) |
6.6-42 |
6.10-42 |
12.13-85 |
Goals:
St Kilda: Fraser Gehrig 4, Stephen Milne 4,
Xavier Clarke 3, Steven King 2, Nick Riewoldt 2, Adam Schneider 2, Jason
Gram, Jason Blake. Carlton: Brendan Fevola 2, Brad Fisher 2, Marc
Murphy, Shaun Hampson, Jake Edwards, Darren Pfeiffer, Ryan Houlihan,
Jordan Bannister, Nick Stevens, Eddie Betts.
Best: St Kilda: Leigh Montagna, Xavier Clarke, Jason Gram, Lenny
Hayes, Luke Ball, Sam Fisher. Carlton: Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs,
Brett Thornton, Eddie Betts, Ryan Houlihan.
Umpires: Matthew Head, Martin Ellis, Todd Keating. |
Hawthorn continued
their impressive start to the season with a 15-point win over Fremantle
in high-20's Saturday night heat at Subiaco Oval for 38,022 fans.
Backing up from their 104-point demolition of Melbourne the previous
week, the Hawks had to work infinitely harder to take the points off the
Dockers.
The Hawks raced out to a 34-point lead early in the second half before
the Dockers piled on six of the next seven goals to storm back within
three points late in the third quarter. But Freo's challenge ran out of
steam, with the classy Lance Franklin, Cameron Stokes,
Campbell Brown and Jarryd Roughead converting goals early in
the final quarter to help seal the triumph.
Justin Chadwick recorded for Sportal: But the win came at
a cost for the Hawks, who lost Rick Ladson (shoulder), Stuart
Dew (left hamstring) and Clinton Young (soreness) to injury.
Quite simply, the Hawks were hungrier at the contests when the match was
on the line, plus the visitors had the forward line to back up their
good work in the middle. Fremantle is such a contrast, whose second
defeat leaves them languishing down at 13th place. Despite injecting
pacy trio Rhys Palmer, Garrick Ibbotson and Chris Mayne,
Fremantle still lack run through the middle as the likes of Sam
Mitchell, Young and Travis Tuck ran amok. Palmer collected 22
possessions on debut while Mayne kicked two goals. |
| 2008
— ROUND 2 — GAME 5 |
| Fremantle v
Hawthorn |
Saturday
(n), March 22, 2008
Subiaco Oval, 7.40pm AEDT, crowd: 38,022
Conditions: Good
Weather: 28C, hot |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| FRE |
3.2-20 |
4.4-28 |
10.7-67 |
14.13-97 |
|
HAW |
3.4-22 (2) |
8.7-55 (27) |
11.11-77 (10) |
16.16-112 (15) |
Goals:
Hawthorn: Lance Franklin 4, Jarryd Roughead 4, Tim Boyle 2, Cyril
Rioli 2, Michael Osborne, Travis Tuck, Robert Campbell, Cameron Stokes.
Fremantle: Pavlich 3, McPharlin 2, Mayne 2, J.Carr 2, Farmer,
Crowley, Sandilands, Bell, Palmer.
Best: Hawthorn: Jarryd Roughead, Lance Franklin, Clinton Young,
Cyril Rioli, Travis Tuck, Brad Sewell. Fremantle: Matthew
Pavlich, Des Headland, Luke McPharlin, Peter Bell, Josh Carr, Jeff
Farmer.
Umpires: Stephen McBurney, Dean Margetts, Matthew Nicholls. |
Sydney responded to
their critics in a perfect manner on a fine and sunny Sunday afternoon,
producing mainly free-flowing football to thrash Port Adelaide by 68
points at the SCG. It was in stark contrast to their dour two-point loss to St
Kilda the previous week when both sides produced only a dozen goals for
the match at Docklands.
The Swans kicked a new record high score and a new best-winning margin
against Port with Barry Hall leading the charge with five goals
and veteran Michael O'Loughlin contributing four majors among 12
Sydney players on the goal card. Already the club's games record-holder,
O'Loughlin became the second greatest goalkicker of the Swans. His 465
goals trails only the legendary Bob Pratt who kicked 681 goals
(1930-39; 1946).
Steve Orme noted in his report for Sportal: Having led by
22 points at the long break Sydney piled on the pain outscoring the
Power seven goals to one in the third term to put their first win of the
season beyond doubt.
Young guns Kieren Jack and Craig Bird continued their fine
play for the red and white while the usual suspects Craig and
Jude Bolton also leading the way.
Shaun Burgoyne was the shining light for Port with four goals
while Brendon Lade also gave a good account of himself on a
forgettable day for the visitors.
Twenty of Sydney's 22 had double-digit possessions, led by Craig
Bolton and Martin Mattner 23, Jude Bolton 22 and
Ryan O'Keefe 20. Port's leading lights: Chad Cornes and
Kane Cornes 20 each, Shaun Burgoyne 19, Steven Salopek
19, Travis Boak 17. |
| 2008
— ROUND 2 — GAME 6 |
| Sydney v Port
Adelaide |
Sunday,
March 30, 2008
SCG, 1.10pm AEDT; crowd: 24,761
Conditions: Good; though firm in the cricket pitch area
Weather: 25C, fine, sunny and warm |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| SYD |
6.2-38 (13) |
10.5-65 (22) |
17.10-112
(62) |
22,14-146
(68) |
|
PA |
4.1-25 |
6.7-43 |
7.8-50 |
11.12-78 |
Goals: Sydney: Barry Hall 5.4, Michael O'Loughlin 4, Jarrad
McVeigh 2, Brett Kirk 2, Ed Barlow, Kieren Jack, Leo Barry, Jude Bolton,
Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Adam Goodes, Heath Grundy, Paul Bevan. Port
Adelaide: Shaun Burgoyne 4, Warren Tredrea 2, Daniel Motlop 2, David
Rodan, K.Cornes, Michael Pettigrew.
Best: Sydney: Martin Mattner, Craig Bolton, Leo Barry, Barry
Hall, Kieren Jack. Port Adelaide: Shaun Burgoyne, Brendon Lade,
Justin Westhoff.
Umpires: Brett Rosebury, Matt Stevic, Scott McLaren.
Report:
Adam Goodes (Syd) charged with striking Matt Thomas (PA)
in Q1. The MRP with an early plea offered Goodes a one-match. Sydney
sought the adjudication of the Tribunal. The Tribunal found Goodes not
guilty of striking. |
On Sunday afternoon
at Docklands in front of a packed 50,636 fans, Geelong handed Essendon a
cruel lesson as to where it stands in the AFL pecking order when the
reigning premier inflicted the equal-10th worst defeat suffered by the
Bombers in their 2,212 VFL-AFL matches 99 points is equal to the 1988
loss to West Coast at the WACA.
Paul Gough detailed the game for Sportal: The Cats
recorded their 21st win in their past 22 matches. The Bombers had gone
into this game on a high after an impressive pre-season and a nine goal
first-up win over last year's preliminary finalists North Melbourne.
Buoyed by a new found sense of optimism in a season which was supposed
to yield doom and gloom following the retirement of James Hird
and the end of coach Kevin Sheedy's 27 year reign most of the
crowd were anticipating the Bombers taking it right up to the Cats.
Instead what they got was a 'Harlem Globetrotters' type display from the
premiers.
The Bombers appeared competitive in the first term yet already trailed
by 20 points at quarter-time before the Cats ended the match as a
contest with four goals in the first six minutes of the second term.
Such was the Cats' dominance during this period they wracked up 20 kicks
to four and 22 marks to five as the young Bombers were brutally pushed
off the ball at will.
By the third term the Cats were taking the 'mickey' out of the
outclassed Bombers with Jimmy Bartel virtually having time to
stop to a walk before lining up and goaling on the run from 50 metres in
acres of space before Cam Mooney ran into an open goal moments
later after the Cats had feasted on yet another Essendon turnover.
Yet again it was the Cats' champion midfield which caused the damage
with Gary Ablett, Joel Corey and Bartel all unstoppable
while Cameron Ling and Joel Selwood never stopped
harassing the Bombers, which caused their game-plan to disintegrate.
And while Mooney and Tom Hawkins struggled to escape the
close-checking of Paddy Ryder and Dustin Fletcher
respectively it scarcely mattered as the Cats had 14 individual
goalkickers while at the other end Essendon skipper Matthew Lloyd
was so badly beaten by Matthew Scarlett that Bombers' fans
gave him the bronx cheers when he finally took a mark in the third term. |
| 2008
— ROUND 2 — GAME 7 |
| Geelong v
Essendon |
Sunday,
March 30, 2008
Docklands, 2.10pm AEDT; Roof: closed; crowd: 50,636
Conditions: Good
Weather: 18C, showers forecast, windy |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
GEE |
4.4-28 (20) |
11.9-75 (51) |
17.13-115
(81) |
22.18-150 (99) |
| ESS |
1.2-8 |
3.6-24 |
4.10-34 |
6.15-51 |
Goals:
Geelong: Ryan Gamble 3, Mark Blake 2, Mathew Stokes 2, Jimmy
Bartel 2, Joel Corey 2, Cameron Mooney 2, Gary Ablett 2, Joel Selwood,
Trent West, David Wojcinski, Corey Enright, Cameron Ling, James Kelly,
Steve Johnson.
Essendon: Bachar Houli, Brent Stanton, Alwyn Davey, Adam McPhee,
David Hille, Jason Laycock.
Best: Geelong: Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett, Joel Corey, Joel
Selwood, Matthew Scarlett, Cameron Ling, Mathew Stokes, Paul Chapman.
Essendon: Dustin Fletcher, Patrick Ryder, David Hille, Brent
Stanton.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Hayden Kennedy, Ray Chamberlain.
Report:
Josh Hunt (Gee) was cited for tripping Brent Stanton (Ess)
during Q3. The MRP offered Stanton a reprimand with an early plea. The
player accepted the MRP penalty. |
North Melbourne were
confident victors over Richmond in the late Sunday afternoon match at
the MCG. Corey Jones, concussed the week before against the Dons,
showed how important he is to the North set-up, bagging seven goals in a
best-on-ground performance.
Andrew Wu observed the game for Sportal: The Kangas led at
every change and put the result beyond doubt in the third term when they
kicked four of the first five goals of the quarter to blow their lead
out to seven goals. Richmond gave their fans a glimmer of hope with the
first three goals of the last quarter but as usual didn't go on with the
job.
Jones, who kicked four goals in the first quarter, was the game's
dominant forward, troubling a string of Tiger defenders both in the air
and at ground level. Daniel Wells and Hamish McIntosh,
rarely sighted the week before, bounced back and were prominent Wells
24 possessions, McIntosh 19.
Brett Deledio was the stats leader for Richmond with 27 touches,
while Chris Newman with 24 and Joel Bowden having 22
possessions were active and did their best. However, the Tigers with a
noticeable lack of skills seem certain to occupy the bottom places of
the table for some time to come. |
| 2008
— ROUND 2 — GAME 8 |
| Richmond v North Melb |
Sunday,
March 30, 2008
MCG, 4.40pm AEDT; crowd: 39,292
Conditions: Good
Weather: 20C, showers forecast but held off |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
RCH |
3.1-19 |
7.4-46 |
10.7-67 |
13.8-86 |
| NM |
7.4-46 (27) |
11.4-70 (24) |
18.5-113 (46) |
20.7-127
(41) |
Goals:
North Melb: Corey Jones 7.2, Shannon Grant 4, Matt Campbell 3,
Aaron Edwards 2, Nathan Thompson 2, Adam Simpson, Lindsay Thomas.
Richmond: Jay Schulz 3, Matthew Richardson 2, Nathan G Brown, Brett
Deledio, Nathan Foley, Cleve Hughes, Chris Hyde, Jake King, Troy
Simmonds, Shane Tuck.
Best: North Melb: Corey Jones, Daniel Wells, Hamish McIntosh,
Shannon Grant, Brady Rawlings, Daniel Harris. Richmond: Brett
Deledio, Chris Hyde, Chris Newman, Jay Schulz.
Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Gary Fila, Stuart Wenn.
Report:
Aaron Edwards (NM) by umpire Gary Fila for charging
Andrew Raines (Rch) in Q2. Following a review the MRP did not
proceed with the charge. |
|
|
