The end of the second weekend of the infamous split round. While its great for the players its hell for the spectators who get bored. Wonder what they will do when the new team(s) come in? Surely there is a better solution.
Also note that the rest of the clubs mid season reviews will be up by Wednesday.
Mark McVeigh & Essendon will be a little worried about his strike on Melbourne's Rivers
Essendon defeated Melbourne by 48 points
This game was a non event with the Bombers looking for a top 8 spot while the Demons look for respect and the umpires did not help who payed silly soft free kicks all night which saw the first three goals by the Dons all by free kicks. Umpires what happened to the consistency?
While Essendon won and even had the better forward line, to me the forward line off the Demons was more promising than Essendons forward line. Its like coach Knights has put aside his plan for the future by playing old hacks in Lucas & Lloyd at the same time. We for the first time saw the talent of Watts & LJ who both could be anything.
Collingwood defeated Sydney by 23 points
This was a season defying game. Sydney win and their season is still alive, Collingwood win and the fourth spot dream is alive. Collingwood won so Sydney are gone this year and all of a sudden Collingwood look likely of playing finals after a month ago they where sitting outside the top 8 and unable to kick a goal.
Again this game was riddled with poor umpire decisions including a super bad call which saw Davis get an oscar for the act of his life which then turned into a 50m penatly that saw Collingwood skip to a 2 goal lead and break the dead lock.
Geelong defeated Fremantle by 19 points
Many tipped Geelong where going to blow Fremantle out of the water but in a closer look, many Kick2Kick writers had a sneaky feeling that it would not be the case. Geelong had to travel twice in 3 weeks to Perth and only defeated Fremantle at Subiaco last year by one point after a Pavlich’s poster in the dieing moments of the game.
Travis Varcoe and Shannon Byrnes ran riot across half forward for Geelong.
Ablett & Bartel where kept quite but this just allowed Shannon Byrnes (five goals and 26 possessions) to be the best player to help the clawless Cats over the line. This game saw the best from Fremantle’s de Beor, Broughton, Schammer & one of Pavlichs best game of the year. Again the inaccuracy issues of Geelong almost cost them another game.
Top 8 After Round 12 pt2
- St Kilda
- Geelong
- Western Bulldogs
- Collingwood
- Brisbane
- Adelaide
- Carlton
- Essendon
Round 12 pt2 Talking Points
Please give us your thoughts in the comments section below or add your own round 12 talking points. The questions will asked in bold and my response will be un-bold under them.
Your input and comments help us make Kick2Kick a better website..
- Seeing Geelong struggle to win against bottom four Perth teams and Bulldogs also struggling when they also had to travel to Perth twice in 3 weeks. Does something need to be done about the amount of travel the Perth teams do?
- I think watching both the Dogs & Geelong (who have good records traveling) struggle goes to show that the issue of traveling and the un-evenness of who travels and who does not is still a big thorn in the side of the AFL.
- Is it time for Sydney to rebuild and do they do that by recruiting kids or trading?
- While I rate Roos as a coach, he cannot develop the future kids. Kirk, Hall, Bolton etc where already established players and none of the kids he has brought in so far has taken the next level (except maybe McVeigh). I think Sydney need a coach who can rebuild the club to become a force and Roos is not the answer.
- Was the reason Geelong struggled against West Coast & Fremantle due to the travel or the fact that they are not as unbeatable as we all thought?
- Yes travel has a lot to do with it (see above) but I also think they are not going as well as their 12-0 win/loss record shows. They really need Ottens back in the ruck and Mooney/ Hawkins are struggling down forward.
- Will McVeigh be suspended for his jumper punch without the jumper?
- He should be but due to him not having any carry over points, it being in a melay & their was no injury to Rivers, he will most probably get off by a reprimand.
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June 23rd, 2009 at 9:41 am
is this the beginning of a potential crumble from Geelong? they are not impressing me much at all. the bulldogs almost beat them, and probably should have. and then West Coast and Fremantle took Geelong the distance in games where the “superior” cats should have destroyed them.
The AFL needs to make this competition an even one. having two teams make 2 road trips to perth within 3 weeks is a problem when some clubs don’t even have to travel to perth at all. it’s time for the AFL to stop giving special treatment to certain clubs (we all know who they are…) and make it even for the lesser fortunate clubs.
it’s interesting that you think roos should go, i don’t disagree but really agree either
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:10 am
I think the trip to Perth is still a big thing especially with coming twice in 3 weeks. Essendon have it twice in four weeks in a few weeks, so will be interesting to see how they go! Some credit must go to West Coast & Freo for taking them to the distance though, both teams played well and at times dominated through the midfield (Freo had 7 more clearances). Maybe a good ruckman (ie: Cox & Sandilands) is the answer? Geelongs are not the best! Blake is a hack & Ottens average at best!
We all know Roos, is only a short term coach and after his contract at Sydney will likely retire. However like Worsfold he inherited a list that was able to take him to a premiership. Who under 25 that they have recruited and developed could they build the side around? Ed Barlow?
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Neagle has been running ’round like a headless chook and has been sent back to the magoos to get some confidence and learn more about playing key forward, Gumbleton is gone for the year, so just who are the future plans that Lloyd and Lucas are blocking?
aussierulesblog´s last blog ..Please explain!
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Yes agree that Neagle has shown some very indifferent form but surely he is a better ‘long term’ project than Lucas?? Also with Fletcher coming back maybe you could have one of the impressive Pears etc to play up forward along with McPhee? I think even with Gumble’s out, you have more long term kids who would be better than Lucas.
Now if we had a mid season trade period. You could see Seaby go to Essendon (back up ruck & forward option), Lucas to the Bulldogs (to sit in the goal square) & a quick Dog to give the Eagles some much needed pace in the midfield. All three teams would be a win/ win imo.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Not if he’s not getting the ball! Promising means nothing. He (Neagle) needs to deliver, but it’s not going to happen overnight (and the Bombers know that). In the meantime, you go with what you’ve got while the young pup gets his game together again.