| * |
Hawthorn made a swift return to the winner's circle when they
comfortably defeated West Coast in a lacklustre Friday night affair at
the MCG, which drew just 29,138 spectators.
Len Johnson noted in The Age: Apart from a brief recovery
by West Coast in the third quarter, which at its high point narrowed the
lead to 19 points, the result was fairly predictable. A game on which
third was matched against 15th, with a cross-continent flight involved
for the underdog ranker, was unexciting in prospect and largely lived
down to expectations.
Hawthorn's injury woes continued as Jordan Lewis and Shane
Crawford were forced from the field, while Luke Hodge also
came off but was able to return. Lewis left the game for good in the
second quarter with an apparent hip injury. Crawford, returning from a
knee injury, was high among Hawthorn's best until he pulled up in the
third stanza and left the ground. Hodge was also forced to the bench but
after strapping to his calf he returned and kicked two last-term goals.
The brown and gold will be grateful for the split-round break to mend
their wounded.
Not for the first time this year, Jarryd Roughead and Lance
Franklin punished the opposition, the pair combining for 11 goals.
Andrew Wu commented for Sportal: Hawthorn's appetite for
the contest at times appeared dulled by their glut of wins this year and
they made errors more synonymous with a battler rather than one at the
top of the ladder. It was not until the last quarter that the Hawks,
lifted by the return of Hodge, playing with the sort of aggression and
fluency its fans had been anticipating.
To their credit, the Eagles hung on, due to the mainly stellar
performances from Dean Cox, Daniel Kerr and Ashley
Hansen who played a lone hand in attack. Matt Priddis finished the
game with a massive 45-possession haul but sadly for the Eagles they
were largely meaningless. |
| 2008
— ROUND 14 — GAME 1 |
| Hawthorn v West
Coast |
Friday (n),
June 27, 2008
MCG, 7.40pm AEST; crowd: 29,138
Conditions: Fair, following showers
Weather: 15C, mostly fine |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| HAW |
4.8-32 (28) |
10.8-68 (36) |
11.15-81 (28) |
18.18-126
(57) |
|
WCE |
0.4-4 |
4.8-32 |
7.11-53 |
9.15-69 |
Goals:
Hawthorn: Jarryd Roughead 6.4, Lance Franklin 5.2, Luke Hodge 3,
Michael Osborne, Shane Crawford, Mark Williams, Grant Birchall. West
Coast: Ashley Hansen 4, Ben McKinley 2, Adam Hunter, Brent Staker,
Dean Cox.
Best: Hawthorn: Jarryd Roughead, Shane Crawford, Lance Franklin,
Luke Hodge, Trent Croad, Sam Mitchell. West Coast: Dean Cox,
Daniel Kerr, Matt Priddis, Ryan Davis, Ashley Hansen, Tim Houlihan.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Luke Farmer, Shaun Ryan.
Reports:
l
Brent Renouf (Haw) was reported by umpire Chris Donlon
with striking Adam Selwood (WCE) in Q3. The MRP noted the charge
as drawing 325 demerit points and a three-game suspension for an
incident assessed as reckless, of high impact and high contact. The MRP
offered a two-match suspension with an early plea. Renouf admitted guilt
and accept the MRP suspension of two matches,
l
Lance Franklin (Haw), Mark Williams (Haw), Trent
Croad (Haw), Darren Glass (WCE) and Adam Hunter (WCE)
were cited for engaging in a melee in Q2. The five players admitted
guilt and each accepted fines of $1200 imposed by the MRP. |
A big MCG turnout of 73,503 on Saturday afternoon before the match saw a
motorcade of past Richmond champions to celebrate the centenary of the
Tigers in VFL-AFL competition. On the anniversary Richmond played
their 2019th League match in a guernsey
of black and yellow stripes from the Edwardian era.
The match hung in the balance for three quarters. Then Carlton, trailing
by one point at the last change, seized the initiative by kicking seven
goals to two in the final quarter to plunge a knife into Richmond's
celebratory mood. Not only did the Blues revive their flagging finals
prospects they did so without the services of injured skipper
Chris Judd.
Angus Morgan wrote for Sportal:
Nick Stevens
filled the leadership vacuum with a best-afield four-quarter
performance, including 26 possessions and a game-high 10 tackles, while
Bryce Gibbs
played one of the best games of his short career in gathering 20
touches, eight marks and three goals.
Brendan Fevola
scored two of his four majors when it mattered most for Carlton, early
in the final term, to help set the tone when the result was still in the
balance, though his opponent
Kelvin Moore
probably took the honours on the day.
For the Tigers,
Joel Bowden
(32 possessions) and
Brett Deledio,
who collected 30 disposals and 11 marks, were busy throughout, though
Nathan Brown
had a horror day in front of the sticks with six behinds from his six
scoring shots.
Richmond went into the last quarter without
Matthew Richardson,
on the bench with a strained hamstring, but it's doubtful that even he
at his best would have been able to turn the tide. |
| 2008
— ROUND 14 — GAME 2 |
| Richmond v
Carlton |
Saturday,
June 28, 2008
MCG, 2.10pm AEST; crowd: 73,503
Conditions: Good
Weather: 14C, cloudy, cool, but fine |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| RCH |
2.7-19 (8) |
7.9-51 (12) |
10.13-73 (1) |
12.16-88 |
|
CAR |
1.5-11 |
5.9-39 |
10.12-72 |
17.16-118 (30) |
Goals:
Richmond: Cleve Hughes 3, Mitch Morton 3, Graham Polak, Simmonds,
Brett Deledio, Matthew Richardson, Kane Johnson, Jack Riewoldt.
Carlton: Brendan Fevola 4, Bryce Gibbs 3, Brad Fisher 2, Eddie Betts
2, Shaun Grigg, Jake Edwards, Nick Stevens, Simon Wiggins, Cameron
Cloke, Marc Murphy.
Best: Richmond: Joel Bowden, Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin, Kelvin
Moore, Chris Newman. Carlton: Nick Stevens, Bryce Gibbs, Heath
Scotland, Jarrad Waite, Brad Fisher, Marc Murphy.
Umpires: Brett Rosebury, Chris Kamolins, Stuart Wenn.
Reports:
l
Bret Thornton (Car) and Jake King (Rch) reported by
emergency umpire Matt Stevic for wrestling in the Q3. The charge
was assessed and withdrawn.
l
Brendan Fevola (Car) was cited for wrestling Kelvin Moore
(Rch) in Q3. The MRP imposed a $3000 fine on Fevola for his actions. The
player admitted guilt and accepted the MRP fine. |
St Kilda overcame a first quarter
as ugly as they come to be surprising 15 point winners over North
Melbourne on Saturday night at Carrara Oval in front of a tiny 9,128
spectators. At nearby Robina, the rival rugby league code drew 26,453
fans.
Andrew Stafford
commented in The Age: Ugly as the Saints' win was it was
meritorious for its persistence and mental steel, especially after the
Kangas were controversially gifted a goal via an interchange
indiscretion. In the 14th minutes of the last quarter,
Luke Ball
was sprung creeping outside the interchange box as
Andrew McQualter
came from the field. The Saints had just hit the front for the first
time in the match and were deep in attack.
Daniel Harris
kicked a goal from the resulting free kick at the other end (50 metres
from the point of the centre) to put North back in front, but the Saints
refused to wilt, with
Leigh Montagna
and
Stephen Milne
eventually getting the Saints home.
Proceedings were summed up for Sportal by
Andrew Wu:
A St Kilda victory was not on the cards for much of the game. The
Saints, hesitant in their ball movement and unable to string together
enough decent passages of play, were appalling in the first quarter and
did not score a goal until nine minutes into the second term. But after
breaking their drought their confidence lifted and a more fluid style of
play prevailed.
Inspired by
Nick Riewoldt,
who had another best-on-ground performance, and four goals from Milne,
the Saints' forward line began to function with more system. Riewoldt,
despite having to repeatedly contend with multiple opponents in the air,
still managed to take 14 marks.
He was well supported by
Justin Koschitzke
in the second half. Koschitzke kicked two goals, including one which put
the Saints within a kick in the last term.
For the Kangaroos, it was a match they threw away and could be the
difference between them playing in finals or bowing out before
September. They will head into their week off in 10th position. Despite
another strong performance from
Brent Harvey,
the Kangaroos' forward line was impotent after quarter-time.
Matt Campbell,
with three goals, was dangerous at ground level but
Nathan Thompson
and
Corey Jones
had little influence on the match.
|
| 2008
— ROUND 14 — GAME 3 |
| North Melb v
St Kilda |
Saturday
(n),
June 28, 2008
Carrara Oval, 7.10pm AEST, crowd: 9,128
Conditions: Fair, slippery from humidity
Weather:
16C, fine |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| NM |
4.4-28
(25) |
6.7-43
(16) |
8.11-59
(16) |
9.15-69 |
|
STK |
0.3-3 |
4.3-27 |
6.7-43 |
12.12-84 (15) |
Goals: St Kilda:
Stephen Milne 4, Justin Koschitzke 2, David Armitage, Robert Eddy,
Sam Fisher, Steven King, Leigh Montagna, Nick Riewoldt. North
Melb: Matt Campbell 3, David Hale, Leigh Harding, Daniel Harris,
Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Daniel Wells.
Best: St Kilda: Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne, Luke Ball,
Justin Koschitzke, Nick Dal Santo, Sam Fisher. North Melb:
Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Adam Simpson, Matt Campbell, Josh Gibson.
Umpires: Mathew James, Damien Sully, Shane McInerney. |
The Western Bulldogs with their
fifth-straight win claimed top place on the premiership ladder (albeit
temporarily) with a 54-point win over a depleted Port Adelaide in hot
and steamy tropical conditions of Marrara Oval in Darwin on Saturday
night.
The Bulldogs had little difficulty in adapting to the slippery
conditions and their equally hot kicking skills enabled
Jason Akermanis to
kick three gems in a haul of four goals, while Ryan
Griffen ran amok in the first
half and also booted two wonderful goals. Dale Morris
was also under notice, leading a great defensive effort by doing a job
on Port star Daniel Motlop,
whose return to his home town was a disappointment.
Ronny Lerner
commented on the match for Sportal: Although the Power were right
in the contest for the first quarter-and-a-half, they simply made too
many skill errors going forward when the game was up for grabs and the
Bulldogs made them pay with superior ball use.
Port Adelaide's inability to make the most of its attacking forays was
highlighted by the fact that it led the inside-50 count 29-28 at
half-time yet trailed by 45 points and eventually had one less inside 50
for the match (57-56).
There were also moments where the Power were totally bereft of
organisation. One such incident saw Brad Johnson
spot up Nathan Eagleton
all by himself 40m out from goal late in the second term despite as many
as 14 predominately teal guernseys occupying the Bulldogs' forward 50.
Eagleton duly slotted the ball through the big sticks.
Adam Cooney
(33 touches) and Daniel Cross
(34) were other dominant players for the victors while Eagleton (23, 10
marks, 1.1) put in a very impressive showing and supplied his side with
plenty of valuable run. |
| 2008
— ROUND 14 — GAME 4 |
| Western Bulldogs
v Port Adelaide |
Saturday
(n), June 28, 2008
Marrara Ova, Darwin, 7.40pm AEST; crowd: 11,373
Conditions: Good, but slippery from humidity
Weather: 27C, fine |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
WB |
3.4-22 (8) |
11.9-75 (45) |
16.12-108
(44) |
20.15-135 (54) |
| PA |
2.2-14 |
4.6-30 |
9.10-64 |
11.15-81 |
Goals:
West.B'dogs: Jason Akermanis 4, Brad Johnson 3, Scott Welsh 3,
Ryan Griffen 2, Josh Hill 2, Farren Ray, Nathan Eagleton, Mitch Hahn,
Daniel Giansiracusa, Lindsay Gilbee, Matthew Boyd. Port: Justin
Westhoff 2, Robert Gray 2, Warren Tredrea 2, David Rodan, Adam Thomson,
Michael Pettigrew, Dean Brogan, Nathan Lonie.
Best: West.B'dogs: Ryan Griffen, Jason Akermanis, Brad Johnson,
Adam Cooney, Daniel Cross, Nathan Eagleton, Ryan Hargrave. Port:
Kane Cornes, Nathan Lonie, Robert Gray, Domenic Cassisi, David Rodan,
Danyle Pearce.
Umpires: Shaun Ryan, Justin Schmitt, Martin Ellis. |
The prospect of the Brisbane Lions
finishing in the top four took a battering when they lost to bottom side
Melbourne by one point in a match noted by controversial umpiring
decisions. Only 23,378 were at the MCG on a gloomy and overcast Sunday
afternoon.
The Lions were hampered by three unusual incidents, although coach
Leigh Matthews
refused to blame them for the defeat.
The Age reported: In the second quarter, Melbourne were awarded a
free kick and 50m penalty after Luke Power
came off the interchange bench too quickly to replace
Simon Black.
In the third term, a curling shot for goal from Brisbane spearhead
Daniel Bradshaw
was ruled to have gone out of bounds on the full, even though it was
clearly a point.
And in the final quarter, Melbourne won another 50m penalty when the
Lions physiotherapist (Nathan Carloss)
inadvertently ran across the mark as Lynden Dunn
was about to take his kick.
Each of the three incidents effectively cost Brisbane a point
significant in a match decided by just one.
Sportal's Paul Gough
noted in summary: The heroes for Melbourne was their new look key
forward pairing of Brad Miller
and Colin Sylvia,
who kicked eight goals between them to all but match the efforts of
Brisbane's star pair Jonathan Brown
and Daniel Bradshaw at the other end.
Bradshaw and Brown kicked nine goals between them but were well held by
the Demons' young pair of Colin Garland
and Matthew Warnock
respectively until cutting loose in the final term with five goals
between them.
But it was Miller who had set up the Demons' early lead with three
first term goals who was to have the last say when his towering mark
and goal in the goalsquare at the 33 minute mark of the final term and
with just over a minute remaining gave the Demons a thoroughly
deserved victory on a day when the officiating is certain to come under
strong scrutiny. |
| 2008
— ROUND 14 — GAME 5 |
| Melbourne v
Brisbane |
Sunday, June
29, 2008
MCG, 1.10pm AEST, crowd: 23,278
Conditions: Fair; lights on in Q2
Weather: 13C; overcast; ominous clouds; possible rain |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| MEL |
5.4-34 (19) |
6.6-42 (19) |
9.8-62 (8) |
14.9-93
(1) |
|
BRI |
2.3-15 |
5.9-39 |
7.12-54 |
13.14-92 |
Goals:
Melbourne: Colin Sylvia 4, Brad Miller 4, Austin Wonaeamirri 2,
Cameron Bruce 2, Matthew Bate, Brad Green. Brisbane: Jonathan
Brown 5.3, Daniel Bradshaw 4, Rhan Hooper 2, Joel Patfull, Michael
Rischitelli.
Best: Melbourne: Brad Miller, Chris Johnson, Colin Sylvia, Brad
Green, Paul Wheatley, Nathan Jones, Colin Garland. Brisbane: Luke
Power, Jonathan Brown, Michael Rischitelli, Simon Black, Rhan Hooper,
Ashley McGrath.
Umpires: Matthew Head, Jason Armstrong, Scott Jeffery. |
Essendon won its third game in a row
when it excitingly held on in face of a fast-finishing Fremantle on a
fine and sunny afternoon at Subiaco Oval. The Dockers will again rue
their inability to capitalise on a 20-point lead held in the second
term.
Essendon looked on course for a comfortable victory when they shot out
to a 24-point lead early in the final quarter, but a
Matthew Pavlich-inspired
comeback, during which the Dockers skipper booted three goals, saw the
home side close the gap to four points with 83 seconds remaining on the
clock.
But the Dockers, reduced to just one fit man on the bench, couldn't find
the winning goal despite launching countless attacks.
Yahoo! Sport noted: It was a gutsy performance by Fremantle, who
lost Roger Hayden
and Ryley Dunn
to first-half hamstring injuries and were dealt a further blow when
Ryan Crowley
was rushed to hospital during the third quarter with a suspected
punctured lung.
Essendon were also hit by injury, defender Dustin
Fletcher suffering a suspected
broken hand in the second quarter.
Bombers midfielder Mark McVeigh
finished with 36 possessions and a goal, while Brent
Stanton (two goals),
Jobe Watson,
Nathan Lovett-Murray
and Leroy Jetta
were also crucial in Essendon's third win on the trot, lifting the club
to within two wins of the top eight.
Pavlich was superb for the Dockers with a six-goal haul, taking his
season tally to 53, while Aaron Sandilands
(45 hit-outs) was unstoppable in the ruck.
But their fine contributions couldn't save Fremantle from their 12th
loss of the season, six of them by fewer than ten points. |
| 2008
— ROUND 14 — GAME 6 |
| Fremantle v
Essendon |
Sunday,
June 29, 2008
Subiaco Oval, 4.40pm AEST; crowd: 34,239
Conditions: Generally good following showers
Weather: 16C, sunny throughout |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
| FRE |
2.5-17 |
7.6-48 (1) |
8.9-57 |
13.13-91 |
|
ESS |
3.2-20 (3) |
7.5-47 |
11.9-75 (18) |
14.11-95 (4) |
Goals:
Essendon: David Hille 2, Brent Stanton 2, Adam Ramanauskas 2,
Scott Lucas 2, Mark McVeigh, Matthew Lloyd, Adam McPhee, Sam Lonergan,
Kyle Reimers, Andrew Lovett. Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich 6.1,
Chris Mayne 2, Chris Tarrant 2, Clayton Hinkley, Dean Solomon, Josh
Carr.
Best: Essendon: Jobe Watson, Mark McVeigh, David Hille, Leroy
Jetta, Adam McPhee. Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands,
Peter Bell, Antoni Grover, Rhys Palmer, Chris Mayne, Dean Solomon, Josh
Carr.
Umpires: Stephen McBurney, Shane Stewart, Kieron Nicholls. |
Geelong returned to the top of the premiership table with a 68-point
demolition of Adelaide which stunned the 44,377 at Football Park on
Friday night. It was a clear, crisp and chilly night with dew becoming a
factor but that failed to fault the crisp efficiency of the Cats.
Marcus Wilson noted in his Sportal review: Jimmy Bartel,
Corey Enright, Joel Selwood and Joel Corey
collected 144 possessions between them while nine other team-mates pick
up 20 possessions or more.
Geelong's use of long handball was particularly effective and left their
opposition looking flat-footed as the ball moved from one end of the
ground to other in the blink of an eye.
In contrast it was hard to find a winner among the home side who have
now lost three games in a row after making an impressive 8-3 start to
the season.
Ashley Porter in The Age reported: While Geelong continued
to move the ball quickly and precisely, Adelaide also moved it at a fast
rate but failed to deliver it to teammates. The Cats were calculating;
the Crows impatient. Nothing was wrong with Adelaide's endeavour, just
its inability to handle the pressure.
It was the Crows' worst opening term since round 15, 1998, against
Hawthorn, and surprisingly they won on that occasion but, they never
looked like recovering this time. |
| 2008
— ROUND 14 — GAME 7 |
| Adelaide v
Geelong |
Friday
(n),
July 4, 2008
Football Park, 7.40pm AEST, crowd: 44,377
Conditions: Some slip from dew
Weather: 9C, fine, clear, chilly |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
ADE |
0.1-1 |
2.5-17 |
4.8-32 |
8.8-56 |
| GEE |
4.6-30 (29) |
9.8-62 (45) |
12.10-82 (50) |
18.16-124
(68) |
Goals: Geelong: Tom Lonergan 4, Mathew Stokes 3, Joel
Corey 2, Steve Johnson 2, Cameron Mooney, 2 Mark Blake, Paul Chapman,
Cameron Ling, Andrew Mackie, Travis Varcoe. Adelaide: Richard
Douglas 2, Brett Burton, Tyson Edwards, Graham Johncock, Ivan Maric,
Kris Massie, Jason Porplyzia.
Best: Geelong: Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright, Joel Selwood, Darren
Milburn, Cameron Ling, Gary Ablett, Cameron Mooney, Tom Lonergan.
Adelaide: Simon Goodwin, Graham Johncock, Kris Massie, Tyson
Edwards, Scott Stevens.
Umpires: Brett Rosebury, Matt Stevic, Ray Chamberlain. |
Mick Malthouse celebrated his 200th game as Collingwood coach by
guiding the highly disciplined Magpies to an upset 29-point win over the
more-fancied fourth-placed Sydney Swans at the Olympic Stadium at
Homebush on Saturday night before a crowd of 59,202.
Collingwood's fifth successive win halted the Swans' six-game winning
streak, with the Pies jumping two places on the ladder. It was the
third-straight year Collingwood has beaten Sydney in the split-round
clash at the venue, with the Magpies clearly having the measure of the
Swans. Collingwood's pressure and harassment of the ball-carrier was too
much for a surprisingly error-riddled Sydney.
Brandon Cohen in summary for Sportal observed: Dale
Thomas kick-started the Magpies charge with three goals in the first
half while Travis Cloke snared two, but it was Dane Swan
(30 possessions) and forwards Alan Didak (28) and Paul
Medhurst (21) who were four-quarter contributors.
The Age reported: The match opened with Collingwood playing an
aggressive defensive style, crowding Sydney's star-studded forward line
led by Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin, who were well
held by Shane Wakelin and Harry O'Brien in his 50th game.
Hall was dragged from the ground early in the second quarter after
conceding his fifth free kick of the half. Hall soon returned but was
involved in a fiery clash behind play with Wakelin, with Hall's swinging
elbow appearing to just miss Wakelin's jaw.
Collingwood stretched their lead to 41 points at three-quarter time but
Sydney staged a late rally with goals to Hall, O'Loughlin and Henry
Playfair in the last quarter. However a second free kick at
full-back against Leo Barry for incorrect disposal handed
Cameron Wood an easy goal and Collingwood fans started celebrating,
with Didak revving up the crowd after a neat goal on the run on his
non-preferred right foot.
Collingwood's win came without injured big men Josh Fraser and
Anthony Rocca while the Swans were missing dual Brownlow Medallist
Adam Goodes, who was serving a one-match suspension after 204
consecutive matches.
Co-captain Brett Kirk (29 possessions) was a key contributor for
the Swans in midfield in a typically determined display and Barry was
also among the home side's better players. |
| 2008
— ROUND 14 — GAME 8 |
| Sydney v
Collingwood |
Saturday
(n), July 5, 2008
Stadium Australia, Homebush, 7.10pm AEST; crowd: 59,266
Conditions: Fair; slippery in patches of re-laid turf
Weather: 13.5C, fine, cloudy |
| |
1/4
time |
1/2
time |
3/4
time |
Final |
|
SYD |
1.3-9 |
1.5-11 |
2.7-19 |
6.14-50 |
| COL |
1.5-11 (2) |
5.7-37 (26) |
8.12-60 (41) |
11.13-79
(29) |
Goals:
Collingwood: Dale Thomas 3, Travis Cloke 3, Paul Medhurst 2,
Cameron Wood, Alan Didak, John Anthony. Sydney: Craig Bird,
Jarred Moore, Barry Hall, Michael O'Loughlin, Henry Playfair, Ryan
O'Keefe.
Best: Collingwood: Dane Swan, Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst, Shane
Wakelin, Scott Pendlebury. Sydney: Brett Kirk, Darren Jolly,
Tadhg Kennelly, Jude Bolton, Leo Barry.
Umpires: Michael Vozzo, Hayden Kennedy, Simon Meredith. |
|
|
