FEARLESS 2019 Round 21: If we got no place to go, let it snow let it snow let it snow
The Hawks showed the benefits of training at Arctic Park and playing games in Tassie when they placed GWS in Canberra. History was made the first AFL game whilst it snowed. The Hawks’ debutant CJ fresh from Ethiopia had a doubly surreal debut game.
For the Giants, a chance for top 4 goes begging…maybe needed Mr Plow. Hawks easy.
Melbourne hosted Collingwood at the G on Saturday and it was not quite the fixture the AFL had expected back in Nov18. Crap weather and injuries conspired to take the gloss off for 3 and a half quarters with the Dees adding some much-needed scoreboard pressure in the last qtr. Last 4 goals added some face, but Pies by 17pts. Mihocek 4.
Port’s 2019 renaissance continued against Sydney at the Adelaide Oval. Gone are the yoyos…for now. Longmire’s Swans are in foreign territory on the ladder, clearly outside the finals’ logjam. Port solidified on a big win by following it up with another big win. Port’s young guns driving improvement. Swans’ blood young too. Port 47pts.
Tropic Thunder 18 featured Brisbane hosting the Gold Coast at the Gabba. Crowds are coming back to the Gabbatoir, reminiscent of the early 2000s. However, Stewart Dew’s Suns are grist for the mill at present. The Lions duly tore them a new one, winning by 91pts. Credit to Dew, dropping stars is tough but sends the message. Cameron 6 majors.
When Dylan Shiel kicked the Bombers’ 1st goal at the 21sec mark of the 1st, few would’ve thought that the 2nd goal would be kicked at the 21min mark of the 4th. In between then the Dogs kicked 21 goals. The Bombers kicked 4 under the Marvel roof and got walloped by 104pts. Not ideal finals preparation but not worth sacking Woosha.
About the only highlight for North supporters at the Cattery was watching Cat Quinton Narkle run around looking like a young Barry Cable. Apart from that, it was a rather rude shock as the Cats reminded everyone that Premierships are won on defence and it helps to have Patty Dangerfield. Cats sleeperhold kept North’s attack to 1.8. Cats 55pts.
Saints supporters love to beat Ross Lyon’s Freo. In the manner that it transpired, the Saints supporters would’ve been overjoyed. Josh Bruce kicks the winner with 39secs remaining. Freo had looked the goods in the 2nd half and the finals beckoned. Saints by 3pts and the pleasing sight for Saints supporters was the rare Steven/Hannebery combo.
Richmond hosted the ever-improving Teague Train Blues. Jack Graham came good for the first time since 3 goals in the 2017GF. Great depth at Tigerland, even allowing Dusty to miss (muscular awareness/general soreness/complete disregard/all of three above perhaps?). The Blues had 1.6 to the 1 /2, 5.3 for both after…Tigers by 28pts.
West Coast and Adelaide played a game worthy of a final, a game where big names were upstaged by young Crows forward Darcy Fogerty who kicked 5 in his 1st game of 2019. Up the other end, the Eagles forward 50 featured Darling Allen and Waterman kicking 3 each. The Eagles led for most, but the Crows were valiant and not at all flaky.
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About Paul Thomson
Tropic Thunder 18 – much better than Q Clash. :)
Re the Dogs v Bombers, I think there was a considerable amount of Package payback involved in the frenzied way the Dogs went at Essendon. It had the scent of old accounts being settled.
Cheers