Round 16 Review: As we enter the home straight, it’s neck and neck x8 or 9 or 10…by Fearless

Port hosted Hawthorn and the Hawks gave the Power a lesson in finals’ readiness. Port was ready and willing thru Broadbent, Gray and Wines but the Hawks relied on their general in skipper Hodge to rally the troops and that he did. Combative coach Clarko set the tone by stating that Port needed to be consistently good to get to the deep end of September and he’s right. Hawks by 22 at Adelaide Oval.

 

Buddy Franklin ventured onto the Cattery for the first time in his illustrious career as a player. His teammates were ready and from the start skipper Jack seemed to want to remove himself from the wrong types of news. The Cats didn’t seem to play anything other than catchup. Apart from hitting the front in the 2nd qtr, the Cats chased red and white all night. Hannebery, Rampe, Kennedy best.

 

It was a regular David and Goliath tale in Western Sydney on Saturday. The Pies got off to a flyer. Travis Cloke made a welcome return to AFL as a Collingwood spearhead with 4.1, ably assisted by a functioning forward spread of White, Fasolo and Blair. GWS’ form perplexed the coach by flattening after the bye. Collingwood took the axe to the beanstalk and down it came. Cameron 5. Pies by 32pts.

 

Tropic Thunder came to Club Metricon and the home side unleashed 2m Peter Wright with 5. His cohort Lynch also got 5, whilst losing veterans Ablett and Rischitelli to injury. A sign of the Suns forward future matched with young Lion Hipwood kicking 4, ably assisted by Jansen, McStay and Andrews. Signs of life for Leper’s Lion cubs…but Suns Prestia, Hall and young Martin steered them to a 26pt win.

 

Richmond nearly pulled off a heist against the Bulldogs. Jake the Package kicked 2 goals to seal the outcome, but not after a kick in the pants from the coach for lack of effort. Tiger fans would’ve been impressed by the collective effort. New-ish Tigers McBean, George Costanza, Markov (SOD – son of Dmitri) and Short all looked at home. Bulldogs as expected by 10pts but not without a big scare.

 

After several attempts, the Demons exorcised their NT demons with a win at Marrara in Darwin against Freo. Young Demon Hogan with 4 and Jack Watts led the attack and pleased coach Roos. Freo coach Lyon must be content to blood the young guns and raw recruits as finals gets further out of reach. Dees skipper Jones led the charge with help from Tyson, ex-skipper Grimes and Jetta. Dees 32pts.

 

The Custard Crows took on Carlton at the G on Sunday amid worrying weather patterns which didn’t eventuate, neither did much of a contest. From about midway thru the 3rd qtr, the gap in class was obvious. Carlton fans witnessed the first career goal of SoJo but apart from that, Crows players raffled goals at will. Dennis Armfield continued his rebirth with 4. Gibbs led Blues charge but Crows by 60.

 

An 8pt game if ever there was one at Subiaco when West Coast hosted North with both teams apparently enroute to the finals. Random acts of ill discipline cost the Roos 4 goals which must’ve annoyed Roos coach Brad Scott particularly when perpetrators were in the leadership group. Eagles by 32pts. Priddis, Kennedy dominated and Big Ben Brown kicked 4 for the Roos. North stocks flaky..

 

St Kilda hosted the Bombers at Etihad, odd when both teams regard it as a home ground. Woosha must love glimpses of effort that last for four quarters and that’s what he got. It wasn’t Fantasialand even though Orazio kicked 3. Tim Membrey kicked 5 as he continues to shine as a Swan-turned-Saint. Jack Steven led the Saints midfield with 41, Zach Merrett 36 for Essendon likewise. Saints by 11pts.

 

 

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