Round 15 Review: Bye Rd #3 – Bye Byes Byes – Who is Ron Paolillo*? See Below…by Fearless

Despite arguments over its 2006 Premiership and whether or not it was tainted, West Coast Eagles hosted its Premiership heroes of that year bar some notable absentees, followed by hosting the Bombers, now coached by 2006 Eagles Premiership Coach and dual Eagles Premiership skipper Woosha. Notably Daniel Chick was one attendee, hopefully ending an impasse. West Coast led the patchwork Bombers by 3 goals at the main break before turning on a clinic in the 2nd half. Eagles by 13 goals, led by Gaff and Masten, inspired by past glories. Pat McGinnity, in 1st 2016 game, kicked 4.

 

Vintage Grange Port hosted the Tigers in the 2016 yoyo challenge between two sides who show glimpses of very good, very bad and much of somewhere inbetween. A tipsters’ nightmare for some, most leant towards home ground advantage. Port still smarting from Dockers deflating two weeks ago were on and showed as much with a 7 goal 2nd qtr which effectively won the game. Port handled the slippery conditions better with Energizer bunny Kane Mitchell blanketing Tiger Skipper Cotchin and kicking 1 of 2 sealers, the other from young gun Amon and amen to the Tigers. Port by 38! Boak 26.

 

St.Kilda didn’t actually have the bye and went to Club Metricon. From there it was all downhill and all the good work from defeating the Cats was undone. Gold Coast however took full advantage with 12 soring shots in the 1st qtr. Inaccuracy was contagious, ultimately 33 scoring shots to 28, yielding to a 40pt win for the Sunnyboys, their 1st in 10 weeks. Young Saint McCartin got concussed again but Prestia, Ablett and Rischitelli led the Sunyboys helped by 2metre Peter Wright up forward. And to think young rolls Royces O’Meara and Swallow aren’t too far away from rejoining the Suns lineup.

 

For a bloke who’s missed 10 weeks, Jason Johannisen had the opportunity with 30 seconds to make himself a hero and he saluted. For the 2nd year in a row, the Dogs had their day at the SCG against the Swans, a 4pt win a signal that they’re not to be taken lightly as September approaches. Ably assisted by the veteran Boyd and young gun Hunter, Marcus The Bont set the tone for a ferocious attack on Sydney. Same goes for Little Libba who’s looking alarmingly like Arnold Horshack* from “Welcome Back Kotter”. Kennedy Parker and Hannebery led the Swans charge but it was Buddy with 5 that shone.

 

Veteran footy media icon and former Geelong Flyer Bobby Davis called it a fair dinkum monument to disinterest – any game that was below par. I wonder if he’d have said that about Saturday night’s Carlton vs Collingwod clash? The only point of interest was whether Jack Silvagni would debut and how he would go, being third generation Bluebagger. Both sides showed glimpses of ok form but as an advert for our great game, it was so-so. Pendles and the Magpies defence, led by Ben Reid, won the day as Collingwood saluted by 12pts. Scott Pendlebury is a legitimate champion and proved it.

 

With 5 wins on the trot, Adelaide flew east to play at the home of footy, the MCG against the improving Demons. An 8 goal 2nd qtr by the Demons had the visitors on the ropes, after the Crows started well, no doubt inspired by the memory of slain coach Phil Walsh, exactly 1 year on. After the main break, the Crows hit back to turn an 11pt deficit into a 9pt lead at the last change. Crows Sloane, Brad Crouch and Laird led the charge whilst Watts and Garlett kept the Demons on target. Gawn v Jacobs was an epic tussle with Gawn getting 40 hitouts. Nathan Jones led from the front but the Crows home by 22.

 

****BYE rounds now over, we commence our run into September with 8 weeks to go and plenty of interest in the composition of the top 8. Given Hawthorn is on 11 wins and on top and West Coast is on 9 wins in 8th, there are 6 teams on 10 wins and an indicator of the value of %. Port Adelaide in 9th is probably the only chance of working into the 8 and with a reasonable %, but at the expense of whom??? Stay tuned…

 

 

 

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