Cornes, Black, and other club games record holders

I’ve played football since I can remember. In my dreams, in the backyard, and on the footy field since I was 10.

I haven’t missed a year since my Under 10s debut at Mt Martha Junior Football Club. The team photo is here on the Round 11 footy graph. I’ve been lucky enough to miss very few games during that time, having only seriously injured myself for about 4 weeks in Under 15s when my cheekbone was broken.

After 90 games at the club, I was ushered along with many of my teammates to the senior club up the road, Mornington. 2013 is my third year here and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. Last Sunday in the reserves side we lost against traditional rival, Mt Eliza. This match marked my 40th game I’ve played with the club. Whilst I haven’t yet played a senior game, I hope I do so in the coming years.

Adding up my stats quickly, I discovered I’ve since played a total of 130 games of Australian football in my lifetime. About 2 fifths the amount of senior games that Simon Black has played with the Brisbane Lions over the past 15 years.

His first was before his 19th birthday. I turned 19, last May.

 

In other news…

The jewel in the crown of the 2nd bye week, Round 12, was the Friday night clash between Hawthorn and Carlton. It was the 160th match between the pair, in which Carlton has won a surprising 63.7% of the time.

However, the latest result bucked this trend, when the Hawks overcame a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to run out 15-point victors against the courageous Blues.

It was the 10th straight game Hawthorn has won this year (their equal 3rd longest, longest: 12 in 1961), and also the 10th consecutive defeat over Carlton since round 17, 2005 (the club record, next best: 7 from 1984-1986).

Another interesting fact, noted from Roger’s Results, was that this game was the only match ever played where the margin in each of the last 3 quarters was 13 points.

Carlton thrashed Hawthorn at the clearances on Friday night, with the final tally finishing 52-30 in the Blues’ favour. Similarly, Mick Malthouse’s men had 3 fewer inside-50s than the Hawks and still lost the match.

The game marked Carlton’s Chris Judd’s 250th AFL game (134 at WCE, 116 at CAR), and also Carlton coach, Mick Malthouse’s 850th match as player and coach (played: 53 at STK, 121 at RICH and coached: 135 at FOOTS, 243 at WCE, 286 at COLL, 12 at CAR).

Much has been made about North Melbourne’s unlucky run of close defeats (see Cobba’s Round 9 Footy Graph) but Carlton too can feel hard-done-by after the loss marked their 6th loss this season by under 3 goals, Bruce Kennedy from FootyStats noted.

Season 2013 Venue Opponent Losing Margin
Round 1 MCG (n) RICH 5
Round 2 MCG COLL 17
Round 3 Etihad (n) GEEL 16
Round 7 Etihad (n) STK 9
Round 11 MCG (n) ESS 5
Round 12 Etihad (n) HAW 15

Carlton now sit dangerously on 8th position on the ladder, with 6 wins and 6 losses, facing the bye next week. Hawthorn continue to lead the competition on top of the ladder, with only 1 loss and a strong percentage of 145.7%.

 

On Saturday afternoon, the MCG saw Richmond (9th) take on Adelaide (10th) for the 31st time since 1991. After Trent Cotchin’s first goal, Richmond never looked like losing, and ran away with a 38 point win.

It was the Tiger’s 2nd biggest win against Adelaide (Best: 46 in R12, 1996, MCG), and the first time Richmond have won all quarters against the Crows.

On the day, Richmond’s Disposal Efficiency was at 72.8%, just under their average for 2013, 73.0%, whilst Adelaide ran at 69.3%, under their average of 69.7%. In 2013 Richmond are ranked as the 2nd most effective ball user (under HAW at 73.6%) and Adelaide are ranked 17th (in front of WCE at 69.6%).

The crowd of 43,615 fell just short of the highest attendance between these two clubs (3rd) (highest: 45,109 in R16, 1993, Football Park), but it was the highest ever attendance recorded in Melbourne.

With the win, Richmond move back into the 8, sitting at 7th with 7 wins and 4 losses. They face the Western Bulldogs (14th) next week who they thrashed by 67 points in round 3. Adelaide must now realise they will need to fight hard to make the finals, as they look forward to the bye next week, and then Gold Coast at Carrara the week after. They sit in 11th place.

 

Coming off their 83-point Queen’s Birthday win over Melbourne, Collingwood hosted a refreshed Western Bulldogs side at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. Without much huff, the Magpies dismantled the Dogs by a convincing 34 points.

Collingwood easily outscored the frantic Dogs in the first half, their 53-point lead was the biggest against the team since 57 points in R2 in 1981 at Vic Park.

Most impressive was their 41-point margin in the 2nd quarter, the biggest against the Bulldogs since 43 in R6, 1952 at Vic Park.

Western Bulldogs steadied the ship after half time, winning both the 3rd and final quarters by 2 and 17 points respectively.

It was the Pie’s 6th straight win over the Bulldogs, equalling their 1991-1994 effort.

Travis Cloke’s 5 goals notches his 2013 haul to 34 over 11 games. He now sits equal 2nd with Jack Riewoldt (3) (RICH) and Josh Kennedy (Bye) (WCE), trailing Lindsey Thomas (Bye) (NTH) on 35 goals. Despite big hauls of 7 (R4 v RICH, 2013) and 6 (R18 v GWS and QF v HAW, 2012) in recent times, Cloke has never won the Coleman Medal, falling short by  2 (71) to Lance Franklin in 2011 and 6 (65) to Jack Riewoldt in 2012. After 11 rounds, 2013 is his best goalkicking season to date (previous: 2011 at 29).

Interestingly, the Magpies have already used 36 players this season, more than any other top eight team. The Magpies had 10 players with fewer than 50 games’ experience in the team on Sunday and 8 with fewer than 25 games’ experience.

On the other hand, Western Bulldog’s 1st quarter effort, 0.2-2, was the 26th goalless quarter recorded across the competition this year. It was their 2nd contribution. (Melbourne lead the way with 5.)

Having won their last 3 games, Collingwood are now 6th on the ladder, well in front of Western Bulldogs who’ve won only 3 games, and are placed 14th.

 

But it was in the other games, Brisbane 6.10-46 def by Fremantle 12.14-86, and GWS 6.14-50 def by Port Adelaide 19.11-125, where the competition’s veterans stole the spotlight.

As Simon Black played his 319th game on the weekend, he became Brisbane’s (Lions and Bears) games record holder. Likewise did Kane Cornes, playing his 256th, for the Port Adelaide Football Club.

Black (1998-2013) surpassed Marcus Ashcroft (1989-2003), whilst Cornes (2001-2013) overtook former teammate Warren Tredrea (1997-2010).

Kane’s contribution to the Port Adelaide Football Club has been outstanding. Originally from Glenelg, Kane, with his outspoken brother, Chad, shared Premiership glory in 2004. (Before last week, they both shared 255 games exactly!) Twice he was named All Australian, and was the recipient of the John Cahill Medal (Port Adelaide’s Best and Fairest) in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012. He continues his great form in 2013 as well. On the weekend, he collected a game-high 34 disposals and adding 6 marks, 5 clearances and 1 goal. The 30-year-old hasn’t missed a game this season and is still producing outstanding football.

There isn’t a man in football who can say a bad word about Simon Black. There also isn’t an award that Black hasn’t had his hands on. Triple Premiership player, Norm Smith Medallist in 2003, All Australian in 2001, 2002, 2004, 3 Club Best and Fairests and the 2002 Brownlow Medal.

No other player in VFL/AFL history has won a Premiership, Brownlow, Norm Smith and played 300 games.
His silky skills, leadership, durability and ball winning abilities have kept Black as one of the elite midfielders in the competition for a long time. His 319th game on the weekend was a relatively quiet game, disposing of the ball 13 times. His game high possessions this year was 33 against Collingwood at the Gabba in round 10.

 

I find it incredible that two of the same milestones were broken in the same round. I doubt that’s ever happened before…

 

Below you’ll find Cobba’s Round 12 Footy Graph…

 

Games Record Holders

 

Whilst my football career has been far less decorated, and over a much shorter time-span, I’m still quite proud of my efforts and all the fun I’ve had over the years…

Long may they continue!

Long time,

Cobba (MMJFC 90, MFC 40)

About Jake "Cobba" Stevens

Cobba Stevens works in sports social media and content. A keen middle-distance runner in both the ammos and the pros, he's also one of the youngest 'old bloods' supporters in Melbourne.

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