Fearless 2018 Round 17 – Nic Nat Noo knee – can an injury derail a season?

The Cats might’ve used one of their nine lives against Adelaide on Thursday Night at the Adelaide Oval. Inconsistency of youth becomes a curse. Adelaide say they’re not done just yet. They’d be right. Heralding Crows fave Vic Rory Sloane’s new contract, Crows saluted and kept their finals hopes alive by 15pts. Tex’s “Tuohys New” Headache.

 

Despite the prophets of doom, Carlton kept pace with the Saints for two and a half quarters and then fell away. The Saints got on top and kept going to a 64pt win, continuing their late season blossoming. Kreuzer heartbeat curse exposed a Baby Blue ruck trio. Cripps v good but needs more help. Membrey and Newnes 3 each. Steele 33.

 

Hawks wore their Breast Cancer jumper and Brisbane wore their “Bears” jumper in Launceston for the return bout of the Luke Hodge Cup, minus only Luke Hodge. Different place, same result. Brisbane basically invoked the spirit of Bastille Day and stormed the Hawks Bastille in Tassie. Clarko WAS not happy. Hipwood 3, Rayner 3.

 

The Bulldogs and the Demons squared off at the G on Saturday twilight and an even first half gave no indication of what was to follow. The Dogs Achilles Heel – 3rd qtrs – got exposed by the big hipster Gawn and the Dees kicked 8 goals to 3 on their way to a 50pt win. Angus Brayshaw showed the solid way back from concussions – 38 stats.

 

Essendon headed to Club Metricon to take on the Suns on Saturday night. Suns’ coach Dew had a team depleted by injuries and a lack of home ground. Dew would’ve been happy with the Suns start, a 5pt lead at the half cursed by inaccuracy. The Bombers got going after the 1/2 time break, a win by 44pts. Merrett, Heppell 30+, ex-Blue Holman 3 for Suns.

 

The Giants juggernaut got going on Saturday night at Spotless. GWS resident goalsneak Toby Greene made a timely return with 2 and unheralded ex-Cat Dawson Simpson led the rucks over Tiger Nankervis. Richmond had their chances late in the last but misses from Bolton and Castagna costly. Giants by 2pts, an ominous warning. Whitfield 35.

 

Billed as the game of the round, Collingwood took on the Eagles at the MCG on Sunday with 2 big outs…Cox, the lanky yank and Bucks’ beard, fallen by the razor. Eagles made a statement after 1/2 time, 7.11 to 3.4. The Pies winning form escaped them, despite de Goey’s 4. Nic Nat Noo’s knee sent shockwaves…but Eagles home by 35pts.

 

Not billed as game of the round, but a good one anyway was North and the Swans. Scores level with 1 minute to go, teams train scenarios like this over summer. Roos failed to guard the goalsquare. Costly as Aliir Aliir ran in to kick the winner. Swans by 6pts. Ziebell and Ronke 5. Swans brave. Kennedy sore back. Daw on Aliir – great stuff.

 

You’d have thought with a 1/2 time scoreline of 13 to 15 that maybe Freo and Port were playing off for the World Cup. Not so, drizzle affected maybe, but Freo did well to suppress the normally free-wheeling Port attack. Lachie Neale was leading Freo’s onball division as the Dockers held sway by 9pts, severely denting Port’s top 4 hopes.