| * |
St Kilda returned to the winner's list after resisting an outstanding
third-quarter surge from Essendon to win by six goals on Friday night
under the closed roof of Docklands Stadium. The attendance of 46,792
fans witnessed an entertaining match which produced 21 goalscorers. The
Saints led by as much as 51 points two minutes into the third quarter
which the Bombers cut to 16 with six unanswered goals.
The Saints dominated the first half, with Nick Dal Santo,
Robert Harvey and Lenny Hayes starring in the midfield,
Sam Fisher rebounding beautifully off half-back, Max Hudghton
all over the disappointing Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd and
enough forward options to adequately cover the dropped Fraser Gehrig.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon's only gripe at half-time with his
side 44 points up would have been bad finishing, as the match should
have been over. But Essendon came good by backing themselves to run with
the ball and Andrew Lovett again ignited his side with a goal
from a tight angle at full pace. Patrick Ryder's major 15 minutes
later had Essendon eyeing off what would have been a remarkable
comeback.
Nick Riewoldt finished with three goals, and their prime movers a
stack of the ball between them, while Hudghton kept Lloyd to seven
touches and no goals.
Essendon can thank their young midfielders for their fightback, as
Bachar Houli was busy and booted two goals, Jobe Watson
gathered 28 disposals, while Kyle Reimers did well off half-back
and Brent Stanton played well across half-forward.
Martin Boulton noted in The Age: The Saints showed they
are a better team than they have been playing like in he past few weeks,
seemingly benefiting from more space in the forward line in Fraser
Gehrig's absence following his omission from the team. |
| 2008
— ROUND 5 — GAME 1 |
| St
Kilda v Essendon |
Friday (n),
April 18, 2008
Docklands, 7.40pm AEST; Roof: closed; crowd: 46,792
Conditions: Surface dew from humidity, otherwise good
Weather: 18C; outside fine, light wind |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| STK |
5.3-33 (15) |
12.9-81 (44) |
14.12-96 (23) |
18.15-123
(36) |
|
ESS |
3.0-18 |
6.1-37 |
12.1-73 |
14.3-87 |
Goals:
St Kilda: Nick Riewoldt 3, David Armitage 2, Luke Ball 2, Charlie
Gardiner 2, Justin Koschitzke 2, Stephen Milne 2, Xavier Clarke, Sean
Dempster, Lenny Hayes, Steven King, Leigh Montagna. Essendon:
Bacher Houli 2, Andrew Lovett 2, Adam McPhee 2, Brent Stanton 2, Jason
Laycock, Jay Nash, Tayte Pears, Adam Ramanauskas, Patrick Ryder, Andrew
Welsh.
Best: St Kilda: Lenny Hayes, Robert Harvey, Nick Riewoldt, Max
Hudghton, Stephen Milne, Nick Dal Santo. Essendon: Bachar Houli,
David Hille, Henry Slattery, Dustin Fletcher.
Umpires: Michael Vozzo, Kieron Nicholls, Scott Jeffery.
Report:
Leigh Montagna (StK) and Andrew Lovett (Ess) were cited for
wrestling each other during the three quarter-time break. The players
admitted guilt and accepted the MRP imposition of $900 fines upon both. |
While the record books show the reigning premier Geelong beat Sydney by
seven goals in near perfect conditions at Kardinia Park on Saturday
afternoon, it fails to reflect the closeness of the arm-wrestle when the
seemingly unflappable, unstoppable Cats led the Swans by a mere three
points, 61-58, 2½
minutes into the last quarter.
Peter Hanlon noted in his review in The Age: But there are
so many magical parts to the Geelong machine, and when arguably the most
bewitching, Gary Ablett, pointed his wand towards the city end
goal, the Swans' charge was held back as if by force-field.
The Cats kicked five goals in the game's last 11 minutes, Ablett three
in the last quarter to put the icing on a sweet, 35-possession
performance that sent Kieren Jack back to school after the young
Swan's blanketing of Daniel Kerr in Sydney last weekend.
Geelong had been roundly beaten at the stoppages all day, but a 28-16
clearance deficit at the last change ended at 33 apiece as Jimmy
Bartel, Joel Selwood and Joel Corey joined Ablett in
turning around an advantage hitherto enjoyed by Brett Kirk,
Jarrad McVeigh, Jude Bolton and their mobile provider
Darren Jolly.
Ablett had nine clearances alone, his bald head a burrowing, baulking,
bewildering force among an ever-present mass of bodies. He was clearly
the game's standout player.
Yet it was the day's next-highest dead-ball winner, Adam Goodes
with six, who had an afternoon that, with the gods in a different mood
or the moon another quadrant, could have similarly influenced the result
for his team.
It can't be pleasant for any of the game's playmakers to look up and see
Cameron Ling's beady eyes drilling into them from under his dirty
red mane. Yesterday, the experience was positively frightening for
Goodes.
To begin with, the dual Brownlow medallist couldn't get his hands on the
ball, Ling outgunning him by eight possessions to one in the first
quarter. When eventually he found it, he also found no end of ways to
misuse it.
Even in the last quarter, McVeigh hit Goodes lace-out, and he dropped
it. And even when it bounced straight up into his lap, and the seas
parted before him, the teasing second chance was shanked wide for his
fourth behind.
That the Cats will take some beating as their premiership defence
unfolds is news to no one, and the Swans' brand of invention married to
conservation served them well for 3½ quarters of an absorbing contest.
|
| 2008
— ROUND 5 — GAME 2 |
| Geelong v Sydney |
Saturday,
April 19, 2008
Kardinia Park, 2.10pm AEST; crowd: 24,368
Conditions: Good
Weather: 22C, fine and sunny after morning fog |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| GEE |
6.2-38 (30) |
7.8-50 (7) |
8.13-61 (10) |
16.18-114
(42) |
|
SYD |
1.2-8 |
6.7-43 |
7.9-51 |
10.12-72 |
Goals:
Geelong: Steve Johnson 4, Mathew Stokes 4, Gary Ablett 3, Jimmy
Bartel 2, David Wojcinski, Josh Hunt, Cameron Mooney. Sydney: Ed
Barlow 2, Jarred Moore 2, Nick Davis, Jude Bolton, Ryan O'Keefe,
Darren Jolly, Paul Bevan, Luke Ablett.
Best: Geelong: Gary Ablett, Steve Johnson, Cameron Ling, Jimmy
Bartel, Joel Selwood, Paul Chapman. Sydney: Darren Jolly, Brett
Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh, Martin Mattner, Leo Barry.
Umpires: Stephen McBurney, Brett Rosebury, Martin Ellis. |
On a brilliant, sunny Saturday afternoon, Adelaide in their 400th AFL
match made all the early running and eventually prevailed over Fremantle
at Football Park to win narrowly by 17 points before a crowd of 39,554.
Ashley Porter observed for The Age: For four minutes, the
Crows clung to an 11-point lead they won by 17 by kicking the ball
backwards and sideways reminiscent of their negative worst frustrating
the Dockers and even their own fans who finished up booing them.
Marcus Wilson reviewed the match for Sportal: The Crows
led by 32 points early in the third quarter but the Dockers kicked six
of the next seven majors to narrow the margin to just four points in the
final stanza. However the home side responded to the pressure with
best-on-ground performer Andrew McLeod bobbing up for two
opportunistic majors.
McLeod's gave his side a great contribution and the two-time premiership
player was in vintage form picking up 34 disposals in a variety of
positions across the ground. Michael Doughty and Brad Symes
were also productive with 28 touches each.
Young midfielder Rhys Palmer was the Dockers' best with 29
disposals while Michael Johnson was another strong competitor.
Ashley Porter concluded: Perhaps the most remarkable aspect was
that Adelaide almost blew a game it should have won convincingly given
its opportunities, and there was no threat from its long-time bogy
player, Mathew Pavlich, who was held to only 11 disposals and
three behinds by Ben Rutten.
Conversely, it was McLeod, who always produces his best against
Fremantle, who starred for Adelaide and ultimately sank the Dockers with
two remarkable goals. Adelaide's game plan came unstuck by its
persistence to run and handball to players already covered. This poor
vision created many turnovers, but Fremantle, especially in the first
half, wasn't good enough to capitalise.
Most times, Adelaide's forwards were out of sync, especially when they
tried to make things a lot harder than they actually were. Brett
Burton, despite his bursts of lairising, battled well. His second
and third efforts were terrific, and when he dived in to get the ball
off Roger Hayden who had fallen to the ground at the 22-minute
mark of the last to feed McLeod for his second match-saving goal, we
were reminded why he can be so good.
Doughty, whose strength around the ball and sheer persistence is often
overlooked, also contributed well, as did Bernie Vince, whose
progress as a quality AFL player has been one of the Crows' highlights
this season.
Fremantle's woes are deep, and as much as coach Mark Harvey tried
to look on the positive side especially the performances of his kids,
namely Rhys Palmer, who was sensational in the last quarter the fact
is the Dockers have consistently started poorly this season and have yet
to play enough quality quarters. He said he was disappointed because his
team lost, but happy for the way it persisted. Admirable stuff, but
nothing new from the Dockers. |
| 2008
— ROUND 5 — GAME 3 |
| Adelaide v
Fremantle |
Saturday,
April 19, 2008
Football Park, 3.10pm AEST, crowd: 39,545
Conditions: Good
Weather:
27C, fine, sunny and warm |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| ADE |
3.4-22
(8) |
6.6-42
(25) |
8.13-61
(16) |
12.16-88 (17) |
|
FRE |
2.2-14 |
2.5-17 |
6.9-45 |
10.11-71 |
Goals: Adelaide:
Simon Goodwin 3, Brett Burton 3, Jason Porplyzia 2, Andrew McLeod 2,
Tippett, Thompson. Fremantle: Jeff Farmer 3, Michael Johnson
2, Luke McPharlin 2, Clayton Hinkley, Scott Thornton, Dean Solomon.
Best: Adelaide: Andrew McLeod, Brad Symes, Michael Doughty,
Nathan Bassett, Nathan Bock, Simon Goodwin, Brett Burton.
Fremantle: Rhys Palmer, Michael Johnson, Peter Bell, Roger
Hayden, Marcus Drum, Byron Schammer.
Umpires: Scott McLaren, Matthew Head, Michael Avon. |
Hawthorn extended its perfect start to the season with a two-goal win in
over Brisbane in good conditions at the Gabba on Saturday night before
30,019 supporters. It brought Hawthorn's first win in Brisbane for eight
years.
Lance Franklin's eight-goal haul (8.6) led the way for the victors,
with superb supply from a midfield led by Brad Sewell (27 disposals),
veteran Shane Crawford (28) and skipper Sam Mitchell (32).
In the end, Hawthorn simply had too much fire power Franklin clearly
was the difference between the two sides.
It takes a lot to steal the limelight from the seven goal effort by
Lions forward Daniel Bradshaw, on the comeback from a knee
reconstruction. But Franklin's heroics ensured Bradshaw was merely a sub
plot.
Andrew Stafford noted for The Age: The Lions deserve great credit,
however, for continuing to challenge a side that appeared to have their
measure, running the match down to the last few minutes until a raking
long shot from Luke Hodge sealed the game for the visitors.
Jonathan Brown was
reported for a late charge on Sam Mitchell in the second quarter,
although it didn't look worth more than the 50-metre penalty that gifted
Mitchell a goal.
It was easy to see what had occupied most of the Lions' thinking in the
lead-up to this match. Full-back Daniel Merrett didn't have the
athleticism to counter Franklin; his fellow defender Joel Patfull lacked
the height. What to do?
Matthews' solution was to send Jared Brennan to the back line to rotate
with Merrett. When Franklin played deep, Merrett took the job; whenever
he ranged further upfield, Brennan followed.
It looked good on paper; the problem was that Franklin was too good. The
Lions took the game to Hawthorn from the start, going to quarter-time
with a four-point lead, but every time they looked like they might be
getting the better of the contest, Buddy intervened.
There are moments when a player looks to be performing on another field
to the 35 around him. Franklin produced several such moments in the
first half alone: a one-handed mark pushing off Merrett; a goal from 60
metres loping through the middle.
The last, Franklin's third goal for the half, took the Hawks eight
points clear at the break. And while it was close, Hawthorn seemed to
have silk in reserve, not least a rejuvenated Mark Williams and the
absurdly gifted Cyril Rioli. Franklin picked up in the third
quarter where he left off in the first half, threading the ball through
the posts from the left forward pocket to seal his fourth and give
Hawthorn their biggest lead of the match 14 points. Franklin's fifth
in the same term came much easier after Merrett conceded a free kick
right in front of the posts.
But the Lions refused to be intimidated by the Hawks giant, whittling
away the lead to just two points by the final interval as Bradshaw also
helped himself to five majors.
Franklin's two goals in as many minutes at the start of the fourth,
followed closely by Mark Williams' early nomination for mark of the
year, and resulting major, appeared to seal the result. Still buzzing
from last round's 67-point turnaround against Port, the Lions threatened
a repeat but failed to convert pressure into points in front a whopping
Gabba crowd. |
| 2008
— ROUND 5 — GAME 4 |
| Brisbane Lions v
Hawthorn |
Saturday
(n), April 19, 2008
BCG (Gabba), 7.10pm AEST; crowd: 30,019
Conditions: Good
Weather: 19C, generally clear; showers forecast |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
BRI |
5.3-33 (4) |
9.7-61 |
14.11-95 |
17.16-118 |
| HAW |
4.5-29 |
10.9-69 (8) |
14.13-97 (2) |
19.16-130
(12) |
Goals:
Hawthorn: Lance Franklin 8.6, Mark Williams 2, Cyril Rioli 2,
Xavier Ellis, Luke Hodge, Luke Mitchell, Michael Osborne, Jarryd
Roughead, Brad Sewell, Clinton Young. Brisbane: Daniel Bradshaw
7.4, Travis Johnstone 2, Ashley McGrath 2, Jed Adcock, Colm Begley,
Jamie Charman, Anthony Corrie, Rhan Hooper, Matthew Leuenberger.
Best: Hawthorn: Lance Franklin, Brad Sewell, Shane Crawford, Sam
Mitchell, Grant Birchall, Rick Ladson. Brisbane: Bradshaw, Black,
Power, Selwood, Johnstone, Sherman.
Umpires: Luke Farmer, Ray Chamberlain, Shane McInerney.
Report:
Jonathan Brown (Bri) for charging Sam Mitchell (Haw) in
Q2. Charge withdrawn. |
In a great revival, North Melbourne came back from 21 points down midway
through the final term to boot six of the last seven goals to snatch
victory away from Collingwood in an entertaining match for 51,990
spectators in good conditions on Saturday night at the MCG.
In an agonising last quarter which lasted almost 35 minutes, both sides
missed numerous scoring chances, with the Kangaroos in particular
botching some straight forward shots to seemingly sabotage their hopes
of a comeback.
But in the end they prevailed through weight of ball into their attack
in the final quarter, as well as some clever goals from crumbing
forwards Lindsay Thomas, Matt Campbell and Ed Lower.
Jonathan Healy reported for Sportal that it could have
easily been a different result had Collingwood goal sneak Alan Didak
not missed a simple shot on the run from 25 metres out with just two
minutes remaining.
Didak sprayed his shot wide and North took the ball up the other end and
Campbell iced the game for the Roos with a snap from the top of the goal
square.
It was the experienced heads of Brent Harvey and Shannon Grant
that kept North Melbourne in the game early, with Harvey notching a
game-high 34 possessions and Grant kicking three goals up forward in a
polished performance.
With Anthony Rocca well held up forward by Drew Petrie, it
was the enigmatic Paul Medhurst who looked set to spark the
Magpies into action. Medhurst kicked five goals, clearly winning his
duel with the inexperienced Lower early, but Rocca and Travis Cloke
gave the former Docker little support up forward.
Josh Fraser chipped in with four majors for the Pies and took the
honours in an absorbing ruck duel with Hamish McIntosh.
Medhurst proved too strong and far too smart for Lower during the second
quarter as the Pies slammed home six goals to two to take a 15-point
lead into the main break. But some smart play from Adam Simpson,
Grant and Harvey ensured North reclaimed the lead during the third
quarter.
A late goal from Fraser gave the Pies a five-point lead at
three-quarter-time, but it only set the scene for an arm wrestle of a
final quarter. First Fraser gave the Pies the edge, but Thomas, Campbell
and Grant ensured North picked up the four points and consolidated their
spot in the top eight. |
| 2008
— ROUND 5 — GAME 5 |
| Collingwood v
North Melb |
Saturday
(n), April 19, 2008
MCG, 7.10pm AEST, crowd: 51,990
Conditions: Good
Weather: 20C, fine and clear |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| COL |
2.4-16 |
8.6-54 (17) |
10.11-71 (5) |
15.15-105 |
|
NM |
3.4-22 (6) |
5.9-39 |
9.12-66 |
16.16-112 (7) |
Goals:
North Melb: Lindsay Thomas 3, Matt Campbell 3, Shannon Grant 3,
Nathan Thompson 2, Ed Lower 2, Adam Simpson, Corey Jones, David Hale.
Collingwood: Paul Medhurst 5.2, Josh Fraser 4, Leon Davis 2, Scott
Pendlebury, Alan Didak, Anthony Rocca, Rhyce Shaw
Best: North Melb: Brent Harvey, Shannon Grant, Leigh Harding, Sam
Power, Hamish McIntosh, Jesse Smith. Collingwood: Tarkyn Lockyer,
Paul Medhurst, Rhyce Shaw, Josh Fraser, Scott Pendlebury, Alan Didak.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Hayden Kennedy, Damien Sully.
Report:
Daniel Pratt (NM) charged with a Level Two rough conduct offence
against Josh Fraser in Q1. The MRP offered Pratt a one-match
suspension with an early plea. North Melbourne sought the adjudication
of the Tribunal. On Tuesday an effort to have the charge downgraded from
minimal to low was unsuccessful. Pratt was suspended for one match. |
Carlton posted rare back-to-back success on Sunday when it continued
Melbourne's winless start to the season. A crowd of 51,990 were on hand
at the MCG on a pleasant afternoon and while the Blues were far from
convincing, any win since it entered the dark ages in 2002 is welcomed
by the faithful.
The problems for Melbourne continue to be exhibited. Nick Sheridan
reported in The Age: It took Melbourne more than 15 minutes to
get their first major on the board, through James McDonald,
though by that time Brendan Fevola had slotted another one.
Two minutes into the second quarter it looked as though the Demons found
some spark. Melbourne strung together three goals in seven minutes to
draw level with the Blues.
The heat in the game became glaringly evident after Brent Moloney
went in too hard on Darren Pfeiffer in a contest that generated a
spirited round of remonstrations between the teams. But the show of
intensity went against the Dees, and a 50-metre penalty was awarded to
Pfeiffer who duly goaled. At the next centre bounce Judd turned it on
again, streaming out of the contest to goal from just inside the centre
square for the second of a nine-goal avalanche that lasted until the
seventh minute of the final quarter to bury the Demons' chances.
The day went from bad to worse when Melbourne skipper David Neitz,
who waited until the sixth minute of the second quarter to get his first
touch of the ball, was wrapped up heavily in a Jarrad Waite
tackle.
Neitz went off with a stiff neck and dead arm and did not return after
half-time, prompting Demons coach Dean Bailey to rejig the
forward line. It remains to be seen what effect the injury will have on
the tailend of his career.
Fevola was making a mockery of the Demons attempts to double-team him at
the other end of the ground. His seven goals came from seven kicks. He
was also gifted a goal from a strike by Matthew Whelan in the
third term which came immediately after Judd had goaled, giving the
Blues a rare double-goal play. The hit was duly noted by umpire
Justin Schmitt and will be assessed by the match review panel.
And then there was Fevola's last goal after marking the ball on the
final siren from a pass from Judd and he threaded it through on the
boundary line outside the 50-metre arc.
Melbourne's inability to adapt to Bailey's run-and-carry game plan was
glaringly obvious. Too often a Demon in possession would turn to
handball, only to find that a teammate was flat-footed, covered by an
opponent, or overshot the mark.
Midway through the final quarter, with the game over and the Blues
packed up and ready to go home, the Demons found their way into attack
for a result five more times, but by then it was over. There would be
little reason for any Demon to have found heart from those late efforts. |
| 2008
— ROUND 5 — GAME 6 |
| Melbourne v
Carlton |
Sunday,
April 20, 2008
MCG, 1.10pm AEST; crowd: 44,759
Conditions: Good
Weather: 21C, fine and sunny |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| MEL |
1.3-9 |
4.5-29 |
4.9-33 |
9.14-68 |
|
CAR |
3.3-21 (12) |
10.6-66 (37) |
12.10-82 (49) |
15.11-101 (33) |
Goals:
Carlton: Brendan Fevola 7.0, Chris Judd 3, Brad Fisher, Matthew
Kreuzer, Marc Murphy, Setanta O'hAilpin, Darren Pfeiffer. Melbourne:
Green 4, Russell Robertson 2, Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, James McDonald.
Best: Carlton: Brendan Fevola, Heath Scotland, Chris Judd, Andrew
Carrazzo, Jarrad Waite, Marc Murphy. Melbourne: Brad Green,
Russell Robertson, Cameron Bruce, Austin Wonaeamirri, Matthew Whelan.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Shane Stewart, Justin Schmitt.
Reports:
Matthew Whelan (Mel) was cited for striking Brendan Fevola
(Car) during Q3. The MRP offered Whelan a one-match suspension with an
early plea. The player admitted guilt and accepted the MRP suspension. |
The Western Bulldogs and Richmond suffered the first draw of the season
on Sunday afternoon under the open roof at Docklands Stadium 37,767
attended. It was Richmond that would have felt like the bigger losers,
after they led by as much as 25 points 12 minutes into the final
quarter.
Paul Gough noted for Sportal: The Dogs were aiming to win
their first five games in a season for the first time since 1946 but did
their best to lose the game on a day when spearhead Scott Welsh
kicked five behinds without kicking a goal as the Bulldogs wasted chance
after chance to bury the Tigers in the first half.
Richmond were aiming for successive wins for the first time since 2006
and looked home when they led by 19 points with just over three minutes
remaining.
The tide started to turn when Tiger defender Jake King rushed a
behind, then failed to clear the ball from defence with a short kick-in,
Bulldogs midfielder Daniel Cross pouncing on Richmond's Nathan
Foley to win a free kick and close the gap to 12 points.
Bulldogs half-forward Robert Murphy kicked the next with a clever
checkside snap. The levelling goal was kicked by Will Minson, the
ball handed to him after defender Brian Lake took a strong pack
mark about 40m out, but hobbled off the ground and failed to take his
kick.
Gough noted: Lake was only down in attack following his opponent
Matthew Richardson who again played on the wing and spent time both
in defence and attack, but after his spectacular mark he went down
injured and did not take his kick.
A cynic would say the fact that Harris is one of the least reliable
kicks for goal in the Dogs side may have had something to do with his
sudden injury after he appeared fine as he completed the mark.
The Bulldogs' attempted to have their best kick in the side Lindsay
Gilbee take the shot at goal but he was waved away by the umpires
with ruckman Will Minson stepping up to coolly convert from 35 metres
with just 14 seconds left leaving no time for either side to force the
winning behind.
The result means the Bulldogs are still unbeaten but are now half a game
behind Geelong and Hawthorn while the draw puts the Tigers, last year's
wooden spooners, in the eight after five rounds but with Hawthorn, St
Kilda and Geelong to come in the next three weeks this was definitely
two points thrown away by the Tigers. |
| 2008
— ROUND 5 — GAME 7 |
| Western Bulldogs
v Richmond |
Sunday,
April 20, 2008
Docklands, 2.10pm AEST; Roof: open; crowd: 37,767
Conditions: Good
Weather: 21C, fine and sunny |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
WB |
4.10-34 (8) |
9.11-65 (8) |
12.14-86 |
19.16-130 () |
| RCH |
4.2-26 |
9.3-57 |
15.8-98 (12) |
20.10-130 () |
Goals:
Bulldogs: Lindsay Gilbee 3, Will Minson 3, Brad Johnson 2, Jason
Akermanis, Mitch Hahn, Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Josh Hill, Ryan
Hargrave, Brian Lake, Daniel Giansiracusa, Ryan Griffen, Daniel Cross,
Ryan Murphy. Richmond: Matthew Richardson 3, Nathan G Brown 3,
Jack Riewoldt 3, Brett Deledio 2, Shane Edwards 2, Mitch Morton 2,
Graham Polak, Jay Schulz, Chris Hyde, Matt White, Troy Simmonds.
Best: Bulldogs: Jason Akermanis, Matthew Boyd, Daniel
Giansiracusa, Adam Cooney, Lindsay Gilbee, Will Minson. Richmond:
Kane Johnson, Brett Deledio, Matthew Richardson, Jay Schulz, Jake King,
Will Thursfield, Matt White.
Umpires: Dean Meredith, Shaun Ryan, Jason Armstrong. |
Port Adelaide broke through for their first win of the season in fine
and warm conditions at Subiaco Oval on Sunday afternoon. The Power
kicked eight goals to two in the second quarter to set up Port's 12th
win from the past 14 clashes against West Coast.
While the Eagles with purpose slashed the final margin from what was a
68 point difference during the match their season is in tatters and the
equal of their 1+4 worse starts in 1989 and 1996.
Ray Wilson observed for The Age: Port was relentless,
committed, talented and cohesive in its victory. Apart from two rallies,
West Coast played without confidence, lacked speed, made poor decisions
and struggled around the stoppages.
The second term highlighted Port's dominance in the centre square, with
the forwards enjoying the benefits of the hard labours of their
midfielders. Port's swift movement of the ball put enormous pressure on
West Coast's defence, which struggled against the variety offered by
Power's personnel in attack. Daniel Motlop led Port's
goal-scoring spree, kicking two of his four goals in the term. He may
look nonchalant at times and does his best work heading towards his own
goal, but the mercurial forward was lethal yesterday.
Warren Tredrea and Shaun Burgoyne both kicked two goals
for the term while Adam Thomson joined in with one. The game was
shot at half-time, with Port leading by 37 points as West Coast panicked
when the heat was on.
West Coast's flame was all but extinguished at the big break before a
third-term flicker when Andrew Embley and David Wirrpanda
inspired a revival.
After Port cleared away to a 49-point lead, goals to Matthew Spangher,
Chad Jones and Quinten Lynch trimmed the margin to 31
points as the supporters dared to dream. They needn't have bothered.
Port settled with goals to Brett Ebert and Dominic Cassisi
to provide a 42-point buffer at three-quarter-time. West Coast came
again in the final term, one more flicker, but as Elton John would say,
it was only a candle in the wind.
The Eagles' periods of dominance came when victory was beyond their
grasp, for a period in the third term and for a large part of the fourth
term when they booted seven goals. But that will count little for the
Eagles coaching staff because when the game was on the line, West Coast
players were second to the ball and offered only meagre resistance.
Ben McKinley (five goals) gave the supporters a memory to take
home while the return to form of players such as Embley and the midfield
run of Chris Masten in the final term will also buoy the
faithful. |
| 2008
— ROUND 5 — GAME 8 |
| West Coast v Port
Adelaide |
Sunday,
April 20, 2008
Subiaco, 4.40pm AEST; crowd: 38,302
Conditions: Fair to good lights on in Q4
Weather: 18C, mainly sunny; shower activity |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
WCE |
3.3-21 (2) |
5.4-34 |
9.5-59 |
16.8-104 |
| PA |
2.7-19 |
10.11-71
|
15.11-101
(42) |
19.14-128
(24) |
Goals:
Port Adelaide: Brett Ebert 4, Daniel Motlop 4, Shaun Burgoyne 3,
Adam Thomson 2, Warren Tredrea 2, Brendon Lade, Matthew Westhoff, David
Rodan, Domenic Cassisi. West Coast: Ben McKinley 5, Quinten Lynch
2, David Wirrpanda 2, Scott Selwood 2, Dean Cox, Steven Armstrong,
Matthew Spangher, Chad Jones, Daniel Kerr.
Best: Port Adelaide: Kane Cornes, Daniel Motlop, David Rodan,
Chad Cornes, Domenic Cassisi, Shaun Burgoyne, Peter Burgoyne, Brett
Ebert. West Coast: Ben McKinley, David Wirrpanda, Scott Selwood,
Andrew Embley.
Umpires: Shaun Ryan, Stuart Wenn, Matthew Nicholls.
Report:
Chad Fletcher (WCE) was cited for making negligent contact with
umpire Hayden Ryan in Q3. The MRP imposed a fine of $1,950 on
Fletcher. The player admitted guilt and accepted the fine imposed by the
MRP. |
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