AFL Round 21 Review
Western Bulldogs 7.15- 57 (Dickson 2; Dahlhaus, Murphy, Redpath, Cloke, Dale 1) lost to GWS 16.9- 105 (Patton 4; Greene, De Boer, Whitfield, Kelly 2; Coniglio, Hopper, Ward, Lobb 1).
Friday 7.50pm, Etihad Stadium.
The Giants practically guaranteed themselves a top four berth as they left Melbourne with an impressive 48 point win over the reigning premiers, the Bulldogs, on Friday night. Despite being -31 on the Inside 50 count, the consistency and tenacity of the Giants midfield engine won out in the end. They topped the contested possession count by 138-116 against a Bulldogs side previously known for its hunt on the ball, thanks mainly to Dylan Shiel (30 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five inside 50’s) and Stephen Coniglio (25d., 12 c.p., eight clearances, one goal). Despite the best efforts of Marcus Bontempelli (20d., four cl., seven tack., eight i.50’s) Lachie Hunter (26 d., seven marks) and the ever-improving Toby Maclean (23 d., seven i.50’s), the Bulldogs were too wasteful going forward (33% efficiency), and lacked a imposing spearhead who could capitalise on the significant momentum they gained, unlike the Giants who looked dangerous every time they ventured forward (an astonishing 73% efficiency).
Patton (four goals, eight marks- four inside 50) will be a dangerous proposition as he relishes having some continuity in his game this season.
Sydney 22.11- 143 (Franklin 4; Parker 3; Tippett, Papley, Rohan, Hayward, Reid 2; Jack, Heeney, McVeigh, Sinclair, Jones 1) defeated Fremantle 5.9- 39 (McCarthy 2; Deluca-Cardillo, Mundy, Taberner 1).
Saturday 1.45pm, SCG.
Not much to say about the Swans 104 point drubbing of the Dockers, is there?! As expected, Buddy roared back to form (though he was never really out of it, and is far more than the sum of his goals) with four goals and 10 inside 50’s. The dynamic combination of Dan Hannebery and Luke Parker were scintillating with the latter (29 d.,6 i.50’s) kicking three goals and effecting seven clearances while Hannebery accumulated 29 touches, seven inside 50’s and claiming five tackles. The Crows against this rampaging Sydney side on Friday is shaping up to be one of the games of the year.
Geelong 11.14- 80 (Taylor 4; Menzel 2; Simpson, Guthrie, Mackie, Stanley, Motlop 1) defeated Richmond 9.12- 66 (Martin 2; Edwards, Rioli, Butler, Cotchin, Houli, Caddy, Reiwoldt 1).
Saturday 2.10pm, Simonds Stadium.
As soon as you feel like you can trust the Tigers again, they pull off something like this- and then have their coach blame it on the fact the home crowd led to biased umpiring. Oh dear. Harry Taylor (four goals, six marks inside 50, four 1%ers) played a sterling game in keeping Alex Rance accountable, and it was essentially the evenness of contributors from the Cats that led to the reasonably comfortable 14 point win. Dangerfield (30d., 21 c.p., 11 cl., 8 i.50’s, 10 tack.) and Sam Menegola (23d., 10 tack., 7 i.50’s)- who has come of age this season- were the most impressive but there were plenty of solid performances. The Tigers just didn’t look threatening going forward, and clearly need a lift from their midfield if they are to figure prominently in September.
Brisbane 22.10- 142 (D. Beams 4; Rockliff, Barrett 3; Taylor, Walker, Lester 2; Close, Hipwood, Bastinac, Mathieson, C. Beams, Zorko 1) defeated Gold Coast 12.12- 84 (Martin 4; Miller, Lemmens, Hall, Wright, Schoenfeld, Currie, May, Swallow 1).
Saturday 4.35pm, Gabba.
It was an emotional night for former captain Tom Rockliff (3 goals, 24 d., 6 cl., 5 i.50’s) as his Lions comfortably accounted for a disappointing, albeit gallant, Suns side. After the traumatic passing of his cousin, ‘Rocky’ finally returned to AFL ‘pig’ form with 123 Fantasy points- although this was clearly topped by the best player on the ground- new captain Dayne Beams with 143 AFP, 32 disposals, four goals and four goal assists. The Lions are always a bit of a surprise packet, regardless of odds, at home, but even heading down to the MCG this weekend to take on the Demons- an upset isn’t completely out of the question!
Essendon 12.8- 80 (Hooker 4; Daniher 3; Stewart 2; Colyer, McKenna, Watson 1) lost to Adelaide 18.15- 123 (Jenkins, McGovern 3; Walker, Smith, Douglas 2; Knight, Mackay, Greenwood, Crouch, Lynch, Atkins 1).
Saturday 7.25pm, Etihad Stadium.
The Crows appear assured of a hosting a qualifying final this year after a painless 43 point win over a thoroughly outclassed Bombers side who were playing at their home deck. The visitors just kept pressing forward (+15 on inside 50’s) and were threatening through several channels- with four Crows registering at least three marks inside 50 (compared to only eight for the entire Bombers team).
West Coast 15.10- 100 (Kennedy 6; Cripps 3; Redden, Darling 2; Hutchings, Partington 1) defeated Carlton 12.11- 83 (Murphy, J. Silvagni, Casboult 2; Boekhorst, Gibbs, C. Curnow, Lamb, Pickett, Fisher 1).
Saturday 5.40pm (AWST), Domain Stadium.
A six goal haul to star full-forward Josh Kennedy led the Eagles to a hard fought win over the Blues in the West last Saturday. Kennedy is now top of the Coleman tally (by one, over Daniher); a somewhat remarkable feat given the Eagles have continually been on the wrong end of the Inside 50 count, as they were in this game (46-54). The Carlton midfield was on top for the majority of the game, starting with Matthew Kreuzer (33 hit-outs, 15 c.p., 5 cl.) easily out-pointing his rival, Nathan Vardy, as he has done for much of the season. This allowed the classy combination of Marc Murphy (2 goals, 29d., 716m, 6 cl., 10 i. 50’s) and Bryce Gibbs (1 g., 26 d., 7 cl.) to get over the top of an Eagles lacking speed and genuine A-graders. No Eagles midfielder gained over 500m or had more than six inside 50’s, highlighting the aforementioned troubles in quality supply; but Kennedy, Cripps and Darling were miles ahead of their Carlton opponents at the opposite end- and this showed on the scoreboard.
Melbourne 14.12- 96 (Harmes 3; Pedersen, Melksham, Hannan 2; Neal-Bullen, Gawn, Viney, Garlett, Tyson 1) defeated St. Kilda 10.12- 72 (Sinclair, Dunstan, Membrey 2; Billings, Weller, Webster, Bruce 1).
Sunday 1.10pm, MCG.
The Saints have virtually kissed their finals chances goodbye after losing to the Demons in a game they never really looked like winning. It was the Dees who stood up to the finals-like heat, leading as much as 40 points at one stage, before easily accounting for a Saints comeback in the third quarter. One again, it was poor kicking for goal that prevented the Saints from taking advantage of their momentum, booting 4.7 when the game was on the line in the third term. For the Demons, veteran Cam Pedersen continues to play an admirable role as the jack-of-all-trades with two goals and 26 touches. The return of fellow veteran, co-captain Nathan Jones, has been a terrific boost in the march to finals, with the skipper’s 35 possessions, six marks, four inside 50’s and 118 Fantasy points crucial to victory.
Hawthorn 18.8- 116 (Breust 4; Roughead 3; Henderson, Smith, Burgoyne 2; Miles, Hartung, Gunston, Howe, McEvoy 1) defeated North Melbourne 14.5- 89 (Brown 3; Preuss, Garner, Zurhaar 2; Atley, Higgins, Turner, McDonald, Mountford 1).
Sunday 3.30pm, UTAS Stadium.
Outgoing veteran Luke Hodge played a big hand in a Hawks victory over the Roos, in what will be his final game in Tasmania. The former skipper had 29 touches, nine marks, five 1%ers and four rebounds- and is someone with plenty of value for exotics over the final two rounds of the season. Small forward Luke Breust also played his best game in an otherwise modest season by his standards, contributing six inside 50’s, three goal assists and seven tackles to go with his four goals, while Isaac Smith and Tom Mitchell were typically industrious through the midfield, racking up 29 and 35 disposals respectively. ‘Titch’ has also broken a record for the most EVER 30+ disposal games, and has certainly shown no signs of slowing down, with games against Carlton and the Bulldogs to come. Can you sense the smell of exotics money?
The Roos? Same old mediocrity. Minus the star that is Ben Brown.
Port Adelaide 14.14- 98 (Boak, S. Gray, R. Gray 2; Neade, Howard, Houston, Wines, Ryder, Dixon, Impey, Ah Chee 1) defeated Collingwood 10.11- 71 (Reid 4; Elliot, Blair, Sidebottom, Moore, Hoskin-Elliott, Phillips 1).
Sunday, 4.10pm (ACST), Adelaide Oval.
It certainly wasn’t pretty as the Power accounted for the Magpies in the Sunday twilight fixture. The Pies came into the game in some reasonable form, having been unbeaten in their last four, but you sensed the desperate nature of a home side eager to bounce back- and that told in the end. Some extra class from Chad Wingard (32 d., 8 m., 6 cl., 8 i.50’s, 601m and 121 AFP) and Robbie Gray (6 i.50 marks, 3 cl., 2 Goal assists), players who often pull off the unthinkable that doesn’t equate into stats, was perhaps the difference against the seemingly blue collar Pies. Taylor Adams was bullish on Wednesday in explaining his disappointment at his side missing finals, and he does continue to deliver after another +30 possession performance from the back half and it certainly will be an intriguing clash between this dogged Collingwood side and the champagne Demons next round.
