FEARLESS 2021 – Rounds 17 and 18 Double Header

Round 17: An Ugle debut, number one draft pick starts a great career.

 

 

The Dees got to work in Adelaide with the aim of restoring their reputation as the team to beat against Port on Thursday Night. It was a classic eight point game, Port were yet to prove their credentials against the top four teams. After an even first quarter, the Dees slowly applied the collective chokehold. Defence through midfield and into attack, stifling Port’s strengths and winning by 31. Petracca 33 touches, three goals – stellar.

 

Essendon hosted Adelaide at Marvel on the Friday Night. Not sure that Adelaide showed up. Credit where it’s due the Bombers did what they needed to. 11.18 to 2.9 equalled 29 scoring shots to 11. Crows were 1.3 at the half time and typical of their night was the rather solid concussion to star defender Tom Doedee. The Crows only win was Schoenberg’s tagging of Darcy Parish. Dons by 63 points.

 

Fremantle have played enough at Aurora/York Park/U-Tas Stadium in Launceston to not be intimidated in Nat Fyfe’s 200th. Against the Hawks, Freo showed why they have been in contention for a finals berth. A 62 point win by the Dockers led by Lobb with four and Banfield with three in only his second game. Evergreen David Mundy had a solid day with 30 and two goals. Mitchell’s 39 the lone Hawk hand.

 

At some point in history, the Carlton and Geelong game at the MCG will be remembered as where Covid hit the footy. Everything since is farcical, as was the climate for the game, bordering on skiing conditions. Tier 2, 3, 1 – take your pick…or just let them allocate randomly. For what it’s worth, Geelong was too good for Carlton..another ‘respectable Blues loss?’ by 26 points. Cats are the real deal.

 

Lucky Brisbane got to host StKilda at Metricon on Saturday night, as BrisVegas was deemed Covid unsafe in the CBD and surrounds. Great for the Saints as the Lions aren’t so fearsome on the Gold Coast. Then early loss of Leaping Eric ‘Rafa’ Hipwood became a game changer. Saints turned beneficiaries as they blasted the Lions off the park with 5.2 to 1.7 in the last to win by 32. Jack Steele 32 touches, two goals – a captain’s game.

 

GWS got to host Gold Coast in Ballarat thanks to Covid chaos in NSW. Does the sun even shine in Ballarat mid-winter? A crowd of nearly 3,000 got to find out as the Suns had a crack. Hopper for GWS and Ellis for the Suns got 41 each and GWS looked home before ‘Shoulders’ Rowell kicked a beauty and captain Dave Swallow got a dubious ankle tap free to kick the Suns to a fine one point win.

 

Western Bulldogs got to play the Sydney Swans at Marvel and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan made his long- awaited debut as Number 1 Draft Pick. Not that his seven stats made for a debut of note, but his teammates probably let themselves down as the Swans led from the 20min mark of the first to record a solid 19 point win. Swans Mills and Lloyd led the stats as did Jordan Dawson with 26 and three goals. Swans are finals bound…

 

Richmond appeared to have Collingwood on toast at the ‘G on Sunday, leading for three and a half quarters and looking to break a four-week losing habit. Coach Harvey had other ideas, engineering the moves to get the Magpies rolling in the last, 7.2 to 1.2 on their way to a 16 point win of note. Jamie Elliott and Jack Crisp led the Magpie charge, ably assisted by Taylor Adams in the middle. Harvey’s Hot Pies at the ‘G

 

Why not put the bottom side at Optus Stadium against West Coast who need a win in front of a home crowd to bolster stocks? Enter monsoonal rain to reduce crowd noise and size. Then let’s assume what happens…but doesn’t. North showed the Eagles how to do wet weather footy with spirit to record an upset 10 point win. Ex-Pie Stephenson had 38 stats! Goldstein broke the AFL’s hitouts record, Larkey kicked three.

 

 

 

2021 FEARLESS Round 18: Here comes Covid again…even Delta wants to change her name…

 

Fremantle at Optus Stadium got the opportunity to test their finals mettle against an ultra-consistent Geelong. Good in theory! However the 69 point win gets interpreted, Geelong was too good and Freo were off the pace by a fair way. Tomahawk kicked four, once he removed the oil from his arms and was assisted by Danger and Menegola, showing Freo what they had once! Dockers will be better for this.

 

Still stinging from its loss to Collingwood, Richmond played a home game against Brisbane at Metricon thanks to Covid. Motivated by Riewoldt’s 300th game, the Tigers reversed their poor form to record a solid 20 point win. Riewoldt six goals, Mabior Chol with four and relief ruck duties. Big Nank on return stole the show with the menace and sincerity of Darth Vader! But Dusty’s kidney is done!

 

St.Kilda hosted Port Adelaide at Marvel on Saturday in a game to see who could master their demons better. Both shared the lead at times and both challenged. Port won by 13 points with enough composure to see off a serious threat. Saints skipper Steele dominated as did Port’s Brownlow fave Ollie Wines. Brad Crouch played his best game for the Saints, whereas Mitch Georgiades kicked four. Port into top four.

 

Gold Coast actually hosted the Western Bulldogs at Metricon, rather than an away ground. The Suns had picked up some consistency over the last month and that was to be tested by the ladder leading Dogs. Touk Miller and the Bont led the stats count, but the grand entrance of ‘Buddy Jnr’, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was the individual highlight with three goals. Typically Dogs polished, Suns competitive. Dogs 11 points.

 

Something happens to Melbourne when they’re fixtured against lower clubs on the AFL ladder. Against Hawthorn at MCG Saturday Night, the Dees seem to revert back into second gear and just cruise. Ability is there but mentally the collective foot goes off the gas. A one point three quarter time Demons lead should’ve been stretched as the Dees are good in the last. Credit where due, the Hawks forced a draw.

 

North Melbourne’s coffers suffered due to the Essendon home game being moved to Metricon from Marvel. The playing temp changes from 13 to 21 and so it became a different game before starting. Despite last week’s heroics, the Roos couldn’t hold down the Bombers for a win, rather Bombers’ sluggishness allowed the Roos to look better. Enter Stringer with four and two-metre Peter’s three to set up a Dons 18 point win.

 

It’s been a while since Collingwood and Carlton played at an empty MCG. Maybe never before. Probably a good thing for Blues supporters for the first three qtrs, as the Pies maintained their jinx, before the Walsh and Silvagni inspired Blues went up a cog and Harry McKay broke free of the Roughead shackles to kick four in the last. An eight point deficit became a 29 point win. Ollie Henry kicked three for the Pies.

 

West Coast returned to some semblance of form against the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon. A sluggish start soon saw the Eagles go up a notch after the main break, despite the Crows keeping pace in the 1st half. The battle of footy’s conglomerates became a West Coast street party 10.8 to 4.4 leading to a 42 point win. Eagle Jamie Cripps kicked five to step from his Blues cousin’s shadow.

 

The Battle of the Bridge was not the Harbour Bridge. Initially it was the Nimmins Bridge in Smythesdale, but then the game was moved from Ballarat to Metricon. GWS hosted crosstown rivals Sydney Swans on the Gold Coast, it was the battle of the Tallebudgera Creek Bridge. The Giants got off to a flyer, before the Swans composed totally through Buddy and Papley with four and Lloyd’s 25 touches to win by 26 points.

 

 

 

The Tigers (Covid) Almanac 2020 will be published in 2021. It will have all the usual features – a game by game account of the Tigers season – and will also include some of the best Almanac writing from the Covid winter.  Pre-order HERE

 

 

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