FEARLESS 2023: Round 14 – 15 Reviews
FEARLESS 2023 Rd 14 – Bye Round #3 – a salute to Trent Cotchin, Tiger warrior
BYES: Camry Crows, Kiss Army, Is Don Is Good, Don Scott’s Lovechild, The Cheese Platters, The Not So Flying High Eagles
Hi all, gradually we return to normality and weekly routine. Hope everyone is well and everything is in good order.
Trent Cotchin didn’t really look like a footballer when he started but then there have been plenty who have been rated similarly. 300+ games and three Richmond Premierships as Captain…It is surely a record to be proud of upon retirement and into the future.
We cast our mind back through the wilderness of the 37 years between the 1980 and 2017 Premierships. One loyal Tiger said I’m gonna watch the DVD of the 2017 Premiership 37 times for a reminder of all the years that we were crap.
Then there’s the promise of three successive elimination finals for three losses through 2013, 2014 and 2015. The thrill of making the finals sours through the losses. So close but yet so far…
The last of those elimination final defeats, Trent Cotchin got 9 disposals..well tagged by North tagger Ben Jacobs, whose sheer discipline and willpower, shaped the environment of a dark day for the Richmond skipper, in ironically one of Jacobs’ last games at AFL.
2016 saw the catcalls for Hardwick’s head as the Tigers struggled to maintain heights of performance that suggested finals were a possibility. Maybe the weight of 3 elimination finals had taken its toll on the Tiger army.
We all know what happened from 2017 onwards…
Much of the internal change and external performance can be attributed to Cotchin the captain, Brendan Gale the CEO and Peggy O’Neil as President. The marvel of the era was that the dormant Tiger army had been culturally transformed and any mention of coups and sacking coaches was silenced.
Trent Cotchin, leader, footballer, teammate, revolutionary! The Tiger army and the footy world salutes the career of a Tiger great.
The Cats laid down the challenge in the 1st half at the Adelaide Oval. A 7pt lead by the Cats at the half wilted under the Power 7 goal 3rd qtr to assert authority. The Cats simply had no answers. Finlayson 4, Marshall 3, Houston 31 stats. Ken’s troops are playing like a well-oiled machine. Rohan 3, provided the only Cats spark up forward. Power charged to a 38pt win!
Wayward forward kicking probably hindered the Lions beating the Swans by a bigger margin on Friday Night at theGababatoir. Not that the Swans were uncompetitive..actually far from it. But 13.19 not the greatest return. Neale and Dunkley led the Lions charge, whilst Gulden and Parker ditto for the Swans. A 16pt win for the Lions…better but for a good Swans effort.
Fortunately for Freo Coach Justin Longmuir he was already grey. Coaching does that to hair! Ask Adam Kingsley! Against GWS at Homebush, a Docker Shocker, engulfed by the Orange Tsunami. Giants Riccardi 5, Greene 4, Josh Kelly 3 and 33 and Irish Brown 2. Docker Serong a lone hand, swimming upstream in the sea of mango and charcoal..Giants e-e-easy by 70pts.
Richmond played St.Kilda at the G on Saturday Night with the theme of: Let’s do it for Trent! Tigers ex-skipper playing his 300th game. The Tigers solid all night, a resurgence under Mini McQ. A 20pt win in the wet like the Tigers of recent years. The Saints couldn’t match. Trent and 3 kids each get the chairlift and even Dusty spoke to the cameras! Amazing!
The 2nd qtr for Carlton against the Gold Coast at the MCG was like constipation, it came in with a flurry! 9.3 in the 2nd, bettering most of their previous weekly totals. The Suns had no answers, as the Blues ran away to a 59pt win. Cripps, shrugged off the criticism and led well, supported by Walsh, Docherty. McKay 3. Ain’t no sunshine at the MCG, after a solid month.
North hosted Western Bulldogs and for a half the Roo Joeys were competitive and combative before the Bont and Weightman show swung the game into the Dogs’ favour. Bont 32, 3 goals. Weightman 6, always loves playing North, aided by Treloar 34. Roos Larkey and Thomas flew the flag. The gulf in class was to be apparent at some stage. Dogs won by 21pts.
FEARLESS 2023 Rd 15 – Bye Round #4 – the last and Spud’s game for Danny Frawley
BYES: The Bluebaggers, The Big Big Sound, Norda Melbun, Power from Port, Punt Rd Disco and Foot-es-cray! (Thanks Franco!)
Hi all, hope you’re all well
Condolences to the Rendell family on the passing of Matt Rendell. I have read many tributes over the last few days. Amazingly all focused on what a good bloke he was, regardless of his talent as a footballer. And Matt Rendell was a star and former Fitzroy captain. It would provide comfort to the many who knew him that he will be remembered in such a manner.
At the other end of the spectrum, the saying goes never meet your heroes. Given the turn of events over the last week, I’m now glad I never met Barry Cable. Great player and a childhood idol of mine. Now an old man whose crimes against young girls have been broadcast and publicised and judged in a court of law.
It seems a truism, but everyone finds their level in due course.
Sad but true. Your actions in life often determine how you’re remembered.
Cheers PT
5 degrees, driving rain.. another night at the Cattery! Collared Retro Cats hosting Demons and what was a true test went sour when Gary Rohan cleaned up Jezza early in and out came the medi-vac stretcher! Beit that or the conditions, Rohan served penance by delivering 3 goals and helping the Cats win a vital 4pts, that was looking unlikely at 3 /4 time. Cats 15pts.
Spuds game Saints v Lions in honour of Danny Frawley and to raise funds for mental health research.
This game was a test of anyone’s mental health, and hard to believe it was 4th v 5th! The Collared Retro Saints were always facing an uphill battle as the Lions seemed to always have the answers! Eric the Hipster with 4, the main forward target – Lions 28pts.
50 scoring shots to 9. A 171 point loss. A 9 goal to 1 opening qtr. An 11 goal to 0.2 3rd qtr…this was not a lopsided country footy game. This is an AFL game between Sydney and West Coast Eagles. Yet only half the Swans players kicked the goals…the rest should be delisted! Onus on McLean to kick the score over 200pts..he did…1st time in ages in the AFL.
A quality game ensued between the Dockers 14th and Essendon in 5th. The Dons had won 4 on the trot but the Dockers were pumped to rectify the week before! A 2nd qtr effort proved to Dockers coach Longmire that they had ability, a 22pt lead at the half. Bombers were unable to get up, despite some last qtr heoics from The Package. Luke Jackson 3. Liam Henry 32.
Another Collingwood Adelaide heartstarter! Pies 2pt winners at the G. Shame the AFL came out and said the free kick should’ve been paid to Crows skipper Dawson 30m out in the dying minutes. Yowzer!! The Pies were cruising, until the Crows applied their A-game and surged to a 13pt lead at 3 /4 time, thanks largely to Tex with 5. The last qtr was pure AFL theatre!
Redemption! The theme of Suns coach Dew as he marshalled his Gold Coast charges after their poor last start. Against Hawthorn at Heritage Bank Stadium, the Suns could endeavour to regain momentum towards a potential maiden finals berth! A 10 goal to 2 2nd half saw exactly that. A 10pt lead became a 67pt win. The game looked like snooker – reds v browns!
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