Round 3
On a wing and a prayer, Collingwood flew to Sydney to open their account against Sydney. Prince Alex of Fasolo started the Pies on their merry way with 4 1st 1 /2 goals, backed up by midfield brilliance to lead by 21pts at the 1st change and 9pts at the main break. Greater effort and reward for Sydney in the 2nd qtr continued into the 3rd but ramped up into the last. Lead changes aside, Pies hold on by 1pt.
Any home ground advantage North had at Blundstone Arena in Hobart was going to help against the flag faves in GWS. Alleged $9m man Josh Kelly gave his potential suitors at Arden St a stunning display of market worth with 31. Big Roo rookie Preuss gave a commanding effort but the GWS are a well-oiled machine. The gulf in class between the two teams evident after the 1 /2 time break. GWS 42pts.
Richmond hosted the high-flying Eagles at the AFL’s home of footy, Lago Jolimonto. From midway thru the 3rd, the heavens opened up at the G and the game was as Paul Simon once sang, Slip Sliding Away. Dusty Neck Tatts had brought his own ball to that stage, further increasing his market value, but the Eagles poor record at the G came back to haunt. Tigers by 11 in the slush. Dusty 40, 2 goals. Cotch 34.
“Where’s the Members?” Overheard in the Medallion Club at Etihad as the game The Coodabeens referred to as the clash of traditional private schools between Geelong and Melbourne took place. Gawn went Max’s hamstring and maybe the Dees year but no they fought back in the 3rd to take a slender lead at the last. Menzel-led cats powered away to a 6 goal last qtr and 29pt win. Hawkins 5.
Port went at Adelaide in Showdown WTFOMGLOL… and despite the AFL industry’s best efforts, racism rears its ugly head yet again. Crows led by Sloane and M Crouch managed to see off the Port in an action-packed affair that squared the ledger between the two clubs at 21:21. Tex Walker kicked 4 but racism towards Port’s Ryder and Crows’ Betts took media spotlight. Will it ever end? Sadly, I doubt it.
Western Australia was the next stop on the “Dogs’ are the Hunted World Tour”. Freo shocked the Dogs in the last, just when the Dogs were rolling to another win. A 5 goal last qtr led by Fyfe and Neale dispelled the rumours circulating that Freo were spiritless and lifeless. Ross Lyon’s brainstrust brought in some new blood after the disaster of last week and bingo. Dockers are back, Dogs down by 16pts.
For some of the 3rd qtr, Brisbane looked like it might cause a boilover at Etihad. The Saints weren’t playing brilliantly, but the Lions had hit some form. Bam Bam Rich led the charge in a welcome sign, ably assisted by new skipper Beams and ruck Martin. 5.7 in the last by the Saints took an 8pt lead into a 31pt win. 37 scoring shots to 21 under the roof… Saints goal kicking practice returns on Monday.
Carlton (Bolton’s Baby Blues complete with Floaties) hosted Bombers at Lago Jolimonto on Sunday as the rain dominated proceedings… Maybe what kids learn playing footy in the wet was at the forefront of the Carlton team effort as they led their more experienced opponents for 80% of the game. Umpires should’ve taken note as James Kelly’s kick was not deliberate. Murphy and Gibbs led well. Blues 15pts.
Gold Coast pantsed the Hawks by 86pts. 1st time ever a win for the red and gold over the brown and gold. Must’ve been a week long good Rocket yeah! Given that’s the Suns were eclipsed at Rooty Hill in rd2, Suns’ hierarchy and coach Rocket Eade must’ve been pleasantly surprised to get that as a response. Suns led from start to finish, led by Gazza with 36 and Matera with 6 goals. Clarko shocked.
Round 4
Shades of 2000s Eagles/Swans era when games were won by a kick on Thursday night…the Sydney Cygnets migrated far west to tackle the high flying Eagles in a game that was as good as any of said era for 3 qtrs. Sydney do have injuries and Buddy getting a headbutt to the rib cage didn’t help BUT as brave as the Swans were, the Eagles better by 26pts. Shuey 30, Swan Kennedy 33. Swans winless.
Bravely going where no one has ventured before, the Roos hosted the Western Premier Dogs at Etihad on Good Friday. With some proceeds going to the Appeal, 42000+ filled the stadium and got a cracking game in Lindsay Thomas 200th. A tight, defensive 1st 1/ 2, North held the Dogs on a leash until midway in the 3rd. The last qtr was a last man standing, seesawing Dogs win by 3pts. Sideshow Ben Brown 4.
David King on Fox referred to Freo as the Muggles (a Harry Potter-ism for not wizards), but when “Sons of Anarchy” McCarthy kicked the winner at the G on Saturday, Melbourne proved themselves to the AFL’s Barry Bigheads! A great 2nd qtr saw Dees 7.2 to 3.2, largely thru Jeffy. 3rd qtr complacency allowed Freo to kick 7.4 to 0.3..why? Not even Jake Chewbacca Spencer could save the Dees. Freo by 2pts.
Port flew to the Nation’s Capital to prove their improvement to the AFL world by taking on GWS at UNSWCANBERRAOVAL in Manuka. For 3 qtrs, Port matched the Giants and the sparse 9000-ish crowd (who really wants to be in Canberra at Easter?) and led at the last break by 3pts when they stop stop stopped. Enter the General, Patton kicked his way to 6 helping the GWS breakaway to a 31pt win.
Tom J. Lynch, Gold Coast co-captain and spearhead had 5 by midway through the 2nd qtr against Carlton at Etihad. Gold Coast had people to aim at and kick goals when 2meter Peter Wright started getting in on the act, as did little son of Wally Matera. Added to this, Suns midfield kept getting the ball – 8/top 10 ballgetters were Suns players. Suns by 29pts. Gazza 34, Fiorini 31, Casboult, JackSOS 3.
Adelaide led from start to finish in front of their adoring fans against Essendon on Saturday night. Pyke’s Crows continued their impressive form, running out 65pt winners with Betts 6, Tex 5 and Don’s Eddy Grant-Tipungwuti 4. Rory (Son of SA legend Roy) Laird continued his ball magnetism with 36 and Rory Sloane 34. Bombers actually had more disposals at same efficiency but Crows better with it.
Back to goalkicking practice for both Collingwood and St.Kilda after the game at Etihad on Easter Sunday. Collingwood 20 shots for 7.13. St.Kilda 24 shots for 9.15 – under the roof so no weather to be considered. If the sports scientists start crapping on about load management for players then tell them to jam it. Goals win games – END OF STORY! Billings 1.4, Fasolo 1.3 – AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION!
Richmond headed to the Gabbatoir to take on the Brisbane Lion Cubs with a view to maintaining their winning streak. The game is played above the shoulders – confidence goes a long way and so for the Tigers they were never headed, running away with a 52pt win. With Dusty Neck Tatts well held, Shaun Grigg became the Tigers key ballwinner. Jack and George Costanza finishing with 4 each. Eat em alive!
Maybe inaccurate kicking was keeping both teams in the game in the first half of the Hawks Cats clash. 5.12 to 2.6 in the Cats favour at the main change, but from there the Hawks found it harder, eventually succumbing to an 11 goal Cat onslaught in the last and another 86pt loss. Ex Skipper Hodge got beaten up twice and Clarko spared the plasterers a Monday night job. Cat Duncan 32, 2.0. Tomahawk 4.
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