Fearless – Round 16: Judd on report? Like a school captain doing detention

I don’t know quite how to say this but tonight at the AFL Tribunal, Chris Judd is up on a charge. To be honest, it’s a bit like the school captain doing a detention. The club and supporters may suffer as a result of Juddy’s brainfade…time will tell…but it’d be fair to say that if there’s a specialist teaching them the “art” of tackling tricks, as rumoured, then said specialist has not helped the Navy Blue cause in 2012. However the Blues still have a chance to regroup, a potential finals appearance rests on their ability to do just that.

On a lighter note, having read Blighty’s autobiography as I did earlier in the year, and having grown up with no. 15 on my back (Malcolm’s number at North), I was rapt to see the Gold Coast snap him up as part of the coaching panel from last week. He is one of the foremost and experienced brains in the game, along with Parkin, Hafey, Matthews, Malthouse et al.. and is well qualified to help Guy McKenna and Ken Hinkley in the red and gold. In turn, it might help Blighty come to terms with the horrors of his last coaching appointment at Moorabbin. His influence at the Gold Coast is already noticeable. As the siren sounded on the day he coached Adelaide to its first flag, Blighty reverted to his playing days and took a speccy over the group of celebrating players. One can only see Blighty’s influence on Liam Patrick, the Suns youngster, who jumped over the pack of celebrating players surrounding Karmichael Hunt after he kicked the winner on Saturday Night in Cairns. Patrick, a cousin of Melbourne’s spring-heeled Liam Jurrah, almost reverted the clock to that fateful day in 1997 when Blighty soared at the G for the final time. Had Bruce McAvaney been there, it would have been special! For most others it illustrated pure joy after a tough year. Understandably the Tiger faithful were shattered. But the Tigers have more to live for in 2012, a potential finals appearance, as this most even of seasons continues.

Denis Cometti: “He’s the oldest he’s ever been tonight!” Friday night footy hits new heights of insight. Is that the same for all players?

It’s a reunion when North Melbourne hosts on Friday night. Carlton has been the traditional opponent over the last few and welcomed back Murphy and Henderson, but lost Walker and Joseph before the ½. North took advantage, exploiting a lack of height and manpower to win by 53. Juddy 36stats, 3 goals and a WWE audition?

Melbourne supporters had to work their way to Etihad for a home game against Freo. The Demons have a shocking record there and would loathe being fixtured to host. Having said that, the Demons were competitive for most of the day, leading into the last, despite more injuries. Pavlich and ‘Skinfolds’ Walters to the rescue. Freo by 34.

It is hard to believe that Port led Essendon by 5pts with only minutes to go in the third quarter. Given that the Bombers won by 50pts, Hirdy must have fired up the afterburners during ¾ time. Port’s effort dissipated as Jetta, Hille and others started goaling. Even Bombers’ Dr Frankenstein, Gumbleton, got thru unscathed, kicking 3.

The Tigers returned to their other “home” at Cazaly Stadium in Cairns to erase the horror of 2011. 30 seconds to go, the Tigers held a solid? lead of 10 points. Enter Harbrow to break thru traffic to goal. Karmichael Hunt knows a thing or two about sport and pressure. Chest Mark, BANG! Goal after siren. Ouch Tigers! Suns by 2pts.

Graft was all the Saints required to overcome an improving Brisbane at a rain-soaked Gabba on Saturday night. Nothing pretty but effective grunt to complement the effort. Saad Wonder Soap continuing his role as Milney’s understudy with 4, Milne 3. The Saints led by a point at the last change. Experience got the Saints home by 23pts.

Geelong hosted Collingwood at the G and the Pies got off to a flyer. Leaving aside last week’s poor form, the Pies were 8.2 to 2.4 at the first change. Pendlebury collected 36 possessions as if he’d never broken his leg, topped only by Swan who got 40. The Cats tried to claw it back but couldn’t. Stevie J got 36 also, but the Pies by 31.

Adelaide flew to Sydney to take on GWS at Skoda. Three hours later they left with a healthy % boost c/- 119pt win. 8 Crows kicked 2 or more goals, led by The Porpoise and ‘Prince Charles’ Callinan each with 4 (hey, check out his ears!). For GWS, Toby Greene showed real promise with 30 touches as did skipper Ward. Spin hard Sheeds!

The Dogs defenders would’ve loved to play a Buddy-less Hawks team in Skipper Boyd’s 200th. A reasonably even 1st half saw the Hawks lead by 19pts. In the third, it was a case of Buddy-who? The Hawks piled on 6.5 to 1pt to lead by 59pts at the last change. Norman Gunston kicked 4 and it was really keepings-off. Hawks by 12 goals.

As rivalries go the Swans-Eagles rivalry dates back thru a decade of close games and two Grand Finals. Both teams in 2012 were near the top and this game in Perth had the footy world licking its lips. A see-sawing first half had multiple lead changes. As for the 2nd half, the Eagles fortress got Bastilled albeit a day late! Swans by 52pts.

Comments

  1. Mulcaster says

    Had Chris Judd appeared before a criminal court charged with assault occassioning bodily harm, a plea that “I didn’t mean to hurt him” would carry little weight. The Magistrate would have found that he had deliberately attacked a man pinned to the ground, that the victim was unable to defend himself and that the victim sustained an injury. Doubtless the prosecution would have submitted that the magistrate could infer from the fact that Judd wears heavy strapping on his own shoulders, that Judd would or should have been aware of the risk of injury. Chris Judd is an absolute disgrace and a four week suspension is a very light penalty. In a criminal court Judd would have been in strife.

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