Round 13 Review: Bye Rd #1 – Friday Night Fight Night…A return to the 70s…by Fearless

Like Geelong in the 1989 Classic Grand Final, North took on the Hawks and got diverted by physicality as a response to last year’s Hawks Hodge and Lewis reports. A fiery encounter ensued with the hunter becoming the hunted. Roos Coach Brad Scott, no stranger to fire within the belly, implored his charges to make a stand and they did. Unfortunately, along with inaccuracy, acts of ill-discipline cost the Roos of their real purpose, a win. The Sicilian stood up with 5.0 whereas Brown 1.3 and Wood 2.3 told the tale of the tape for the Roos. The seasoned Hawks by 9pts in an old-fashioned Friday night scrap.

 

Poor old Leper. His Lions charges are down on confidence and hosted the erratic Eagles at the Gabbatoir on Saturday afternoon. Lions skipper Rockliff tried to inspire teammates as did Irish Hanley and ex-Blue Robinson. West Coast was up to the challenge with the normally prolific Frenchman Mark Le Cras having a down year. A return of 4 goals may kick start the Frenchman’s 2016 and the same goes the acrobatic Jack Darling with 4. The Eagles too polished but the Lions’ effort, whilst there, was let down by skills. SEN’s Nick Maxwell diplomatically wondered how to do special comments as such…

 

Port Adelaide headed to Perth with a mission to push into the top 8 against Fremantle at Domain on Saturday afternoon. Coming off their first two wins of 2016, the Dockers had other ideas. Whilst Port got off to a solid start, the home side soon took charge and the Power displayed a remarkable unwillingness to seize the day. Fremantle’s unsung heroes Barlow, Clarke and Spurr combined with the stars Pav, Neale and the skipper Mundy to take full advantage of Port’s lethargy. Chad Wingard and Brad Ebert led the Power charge but to no avail. Freo now 3 wins on the trot, home by 17pts.

 

Whilst it may not have been raining Cats and Dogs under the Etihad roof on Saturday night, it was certainly raining Bulldog tears…the Cats have had the wood on the doggies for the better part of the last decade and it showed from the first qtr.. Whilst the Dogs might have saved face in the third qtr, the game was done and dusted. Hawkins and Menzel avoided the astroturf and slotted 4 goals each and Dangerwood collected 65 possessions between them. Geelong by 57pts in a slight mismatch.

 

The Swans took to a sodden SCG like Swans should, handling the conditions much better than their Melbourne opponents. Although not a high scoring game for three quarters, the locals did as they pleased in the last, cruising to a 55 pt win. Luke Parker laid a lazy 17 tackles and the Swans topped 155, an extraordinary figure. No wonder the Demons struggled. Buddy made it look like a dry day with 4.2, great agility in unfavourable conditions for big guys. Young Swans Towers and Zac Jones were as effective as their established stars in Kennedy and Hannebery. Melboune tried for 3 qtrs but…

 

Anyone brave enough to tip the Bombers against the raging Giants would have been perceived to have been in Fantasialand. The Giants nearly were too with little Bomber Orazio Fantasia kicking 4.4 and helping the underrated Dons to lead for the first 3 qtrs before being overhauled by their GWS counterparts. First game Giant Matt Kennedy chipped in with 3 to assist Booger Greene who kicked 4. Heath Shaw and Steve Cornholio kickstarted the GWS in the last qtr as the wakeup call had been delivered by GWS coach Leon Cameron. No teepee for Cornholio…but a Giant comeback win by 27pts.

 

 

 

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