Fearless 2017 Round 22 – Then There Was 9

 

Many might say it was a Grand Final Preview…but Adelaide hosting Sydney certainly ended up that way. Swans holding on for a 3pt win after Tom Papley’s last goal restored their lead…was enough to silence the Adelaide Oval. The Swans had started well thru Buddy and then the Crows found their mojo thru the high-flying Mitch McGovern. Crows had more of the ball but Sydney away got home.

 

Life on MARS it was, as Ballarat hosted AFL for the first time as Western Bulldogs hosted Port Adelaide at MARS/Eureka Stadium. Whilst only 10000 squeezed in, regional Victoria was the winner as an 8pt game ebbed and flowed until the Power surged away with a 17pt win. In doing so, Port consigned the Dogs’ premiership defence to the scrapheap in 2017. Jack Macrae 41, Boak 33, Dale 4.1, Dixon 4.

 

Collingwood proved the Cats’ nemesis yet again by starting fast at the G on Saturday. 6.1 to 2.2 by the Pies gave them a 22pt lead at the 1st break. From there Collingwood only managed 3.4 for the rest of the game as the Cats dug deep defensively thru its midfield trifecta of Duncan, Menegola and that man Danger. Mason Cox, the lanky yank, kept the Pies well in it but Geelong prevailed by 11pts.

 

Meanwhile in Western Sydney, the Giants took massive steps forward in its finals quest by outlasting West Coast by 21pts. Footy’s most wanted man, GWS’ Josh Kelly, led the charge with 43 stats, whilst Eagle Kennedy kicked 4. Toby Greene proved why he could be a September asset with 3 and not getting reported, as did Brett Deledio with 2. The Giants are getting players back at the right time…

 

At Club Metricon, the Bombers put aside their holiday plans for September to finish off Solly’s Suns by 33pts. Woosha’s mob is well in contention to play in finals but just need to do the job that remains by winning both games. The Gazza-less Suns have improved their hardness but were still outclassed by the inaccurate Bombers. Zaka led the stats count with 38, young Ainsworth kicked 3 for the Suns.

 

Carlton swept aside their Hawk hoodoo by applying Lamb to the Sicilian hothead, causing the fiery James Sicily to give away 7 free kicks. Jed Lamb kicked 2 as Carlton broke thru for their first win by 7pts over the Hawks in 14 starts. T Mitchell continued his stellar year with 44, whilst ruckmen Kreuzer and McEvoy broke even. Oft-maligned Boekhorst helped the Blues as did Murphy and Docherty.

 

Jess Hogan kicked 6 two weeks after breaking a collarbone…that’s some recovery and underlines his importance to Melbourne’s forward 50. Against Brisbane on Sunday, the Demons recovered their mojo just in time after the Lions stormed back into the contest in the last qtr. Melbourne held onto win by 13pts thanks to steadiers from Pedersen, Brayshaw. Lions on the up but no chockies this time.

 

The Saints showed that they have improved in season 2017. Just not quite enough to get a finals berth, but something to build on over the preseason. For North, the season that has tapered off became evident. Smashed after qtr time, the Kangas looked 2nd class. Youngsters get shown up by bigger bodies as per usual. Saints by 49pts in Rooey’s last Etihad game. Steven 40, Ross, Dunstan, Acres 30+

 

Me I think denial is a river in Egypt… but it was all about denial on Sunday out west. Denial that Danyle Pearce was racially vilified (he says he was but nothing happened), denial Freo’s Bennell was playing again, denial Richmond is a genuine top four team and denial that the Dockers are done at Subi. All true…no denial required. Tigers tore Freo a new one by 104pts. Jacob Townsend 6 in 1st 2017 game.