The much waited game between the Saints & Geelong did not fail, the game was great and we all look forward until they meet again. However there where some other big games/ results, with Melbourne winning for Stynes & Port coming back into some form with a big win over Brisbane. Carlton also on the back of Judd, stopped Port getting back into the top 8.
Fraser was questioned after the Ansac game, he got his revenge on Friday night
Collingwood defeated Essendon by 35 points
Essendon came out of the blocks and if they have kicked straight they would have added some good pressure on the Pies. However with kicking only 2 goals 6, Collingwood while outplayed were still in the game and in the second qaurter they added 7 goals.
Didak & Swan continued their rich form with over 30 possesions and Fraser dominated the ruck with 45 odd taps while Ryder struggled with only 20 odd. Cloke also found some form with 4 goals.
Lucas is also in form and he is showing people like me wrong that maybe he does have another year left in him with 12 odd goals in the last 3 games.
Melbourne defeated West Coast by 20 points
Sometimes you just know luck is on your side and on the Saturday arvo down at the MCG it was on Melbourne’s side. Greens first goal swung 3-4 metres to just sneak in as a goal and they scored 37 points in the first quarter, Jim Stynes now famous number.
37 was the order of the day, scored 37 in the first quarter and lead by 37 points once.
Even though both teams are sitting in the bottom 4, It was a hard game with hits, fights and effort. West Coast again where inaccurate and struggled for a period of time which allowed the Demons to get away with a 20 point win for Stynes.
Slyvia, Pettered & Davey where all reported.
Port Adelaide defeated Brisbane by 48 points
Port showed that maybe they still have a chance for the top 8 with one of their best wins of the season coming off two big losses. Ports midfield has came back into form which just makes their forward line that much more dangerous.
Voss will not be happy as they seem to be playing a bit with their form and maybe the injuries to their ruck stocks is finally catching up with them. Especially with Brennan expecting to be missing for a few weeks after a headbut on Carr.
Western Bulldogs defeated Hawthorn by 88 points
Ok excusses over Hawks! Lets stop using injuries, turn overs as excusses for your poor form. Its quite simple, you are not working hard enough and it is showing by lacklaster performances against West Coast and now the Dogs.
Buddy has a good record for scoring against the Dogs until Sat night where he was held goaless
As much as Hawthorn where terrible, the Dogs where amazing. Buddy was held goaless for the first time in 70 odd games along with the team goaless for a half of football.
Boyd, Cooney, Morris, Higgins & Lake where all amazing and in any other year they would be sitting top two on the ladder.
Adelaide defeated Richmond by 17 points
Tippett continues to take that next step from potential to star, I wonder how much Adelaide will worry as he stared in front of the Gold Coast. Thompson, McLeod & Edwards got plenty of the ball while Tambling continued his good form while Delido and Cousins also got plenty of the ball.
I wonder what people think of Richmonds new game plan by playing on at all times? Nahas will benefit from this game plan as he like Tippett showed he will be part of his sides future.
Sydney defeated North Melbourne by 15 points
North have been playing much better in the last two weeks once Laidley was pushed/ walked. Laidley rejects in Swallow & C Jones have showed why they must be kept with Swallow being one of the few winners in the middle and Jones kicking 3.
Everytime Hall is out, the question mark on Sydney is who will be the forward target? O’Loughlin? Goodes or Barlow? All 3 kicked 2 each and at times provided the target but I think this question mark will remain as O’Loughlin will retire at season end and Hall is also likely to be moved on.
Gardiner was the difference & it goes to show that a descent ruckmen is needed to win.
St Kilda defeated Geelong by 6 points
This game did not fail, at first we thought it may have with Saints getting a five goal lead after 15 minutes of play but the effort of Geelong meant the game would not be over until the last siren went.
There were three things that helped ST Kilda win the game and if Geelong does not improve in this area they will again fail at the business end of the year.
- ST Kilda started each quarter better. First quarter they kicked 5 goals before Geelong kicked one. Second quarter they kicked 3 & the third quarter they kicked the first goal. This meant the pressure was always on Geelong to keep up.
- The difference between this team and Thomas’ team is the quality of the ruckmen. Gardiner was the difference as Blake again flopped and surely he must now be the 3rd best ruckman behind Ottens & Mumford.
- The forward line, without Stevie Johnson, meant the Cats always struggled to kick a goal. Between the two ruckmen, Mooney & Hawkins they only managed two goals. Between the Saints two ruckmen, Kosi & Riewoldt, they kicked 9 goals.
Carlton defeated Fremantle by 15 points
Fremantle opened up a four goal lead by the first quarter and it took another two quarters for the Blues (or yellow caneries) to get on level pegging. Fremantle always had a big question mark on them with Pavlich missing and it counted as they did not have that edge of class unlike Carlton who had Judd. Without Judd, they would have had no chance at all.
Ballantyne provided a good target for the Dockers.
Up forward for both teams it was the lesser likes that provided a much needed target. Ballantyne in his 2nd game, showed why he was a top 25 pick with 3 goals (had 6 shots at goals). The Blues highlight was the mad Irishman who may have found his position as a forward foil for Fevol, he managed to kick 4.
Top 8 After Round 14
- St Kilda
- Geelong
- Western Bulldogs
- Collingwood
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Carlton
- Essendon
Round 14 Talking Points
Please give us your thoughts in the comments section below or add your own round 14 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..
- Why is it that coaches take their players off straight after kicking a goal?
- They spent more energy running off the ground than they would staying on the field.
- Is it time for the Hawks to put their cue in the rack, get their Hodges, Birchall’s etc in the operation room and get them fit for next year?
- I think so as they will struggle to get back into the top 8, they are a game and percentage out with 6 tough games to go (Collingwood, Geelong, Port, St Kilda, Adelaide & Essendon) in the next 8 rounds.
- So which team is Premiership favourites now? St Kilda? Geelong? or the Bulldogs?
- I still am leaning towards Geelong but they need Ottens back and maybe its time for Lonergan to be given another chance down forward.
- How is your team going? Are they still in the fight for a top 8 spot or you looking forward to next year?
- I go for West Coast, no chance but next year is looking good if they can learn to kick the ball instead of handballing it.
- After 13 rounds who will win the Brownlow? Swan? Ablett? Judd? Or someone else?
- I doubt Ablett will get it, he does not kick it enough and I think he has been a bit soft with his handball recieves. Im thinking Judd again.
Loading ...
July 9th, 2009 at 9:45 am
What a weekend of football. The mega clash between st kilda and geelong did not disappoint, with st kilda maybe convincing me that they really can win the flag this year. but the huge suprise did not come on sunday. oh no, saturday night delivered an amazing result. the bulldogs crushed the hawks and big buddy franklin did not score a goal. i find it disappointing that out of the game the focus was too much on the hawks and their fall from grace. yes it is a big story but how about the fact that the bulldogs destroyed them all over the field. and the reason franklin didn’t score? ok he missed a shot or two but he was severly outplayed by Lake who had a stellar performance and showed why he is a premier defender in the league.
Round 17, and 21 hold Alot of interest now for many fans. st kilda face the dogs in 17, and then a replay of the round 9 game where geelong almost conceded a last gasp defeat against a charging bulldogs side. i think its safe to say that the two grand finalists will probably emerge from these three top quality sides. i can not wait. Here come the dogs
Mike´s last blog ..WS: Trip to FeilongShan
July 9th, 2009 at 9:47 am
by the way a real contender for the brownlow this year could be shaun higgins. doubtful because of the games missed but he could be a wildcard. i hope ablett never wins the brownlow. over rated and not a true workhorse or star like judd
Mike´s last blog ..WS: Trip to FeilongShan
July 9th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Higgins??? Definitely one of the most improved players but Brownlow?? Not this year but he is becoming an elite player. He tackles, kicks goals and runs…
I also agree that we should be talking about the form of the Dogs instead of the Hawks as they where indeed very very impressive. I still do not rate them as a premiership chance but if they can beat St Kilda or Geelong in their two clashes, you may be right!!
So what do you think about them going after Hall??
Jermayn´s last blog ..Kevin Sheedy your not the Coach Richmond Needs
July 10th, 2009 at 9:20 am
note i said he could be a wildcard to win. he has done alot of iimpressive things the last few weeks and could well have earned a few votes. my point is you never know, he has had some stellar performances and you never know, like i said very doubtful, but he’ll poll a few votes
how can you not rate them as a premiership chance? they almost made the grand final last year, and probably should have. and they only lost to geelong because Johnson missed the goal, and they didnt play that badly against st kilda either. i reckon if they beat collingwood tonight they would easliy be a favorite behind geelong and st kilda, and i reckon thay can beat them both later in the year.
by the way, it seems west coast have done a fremantle, they can win at home and play well, but as soon as they travel they seem to fail quite alot
Mike´s last blog ..WS: Trip to FeilongShan
July 10th, 2009 at 9:38 am
I agree that the Dogs are behind St Kilda & Geelong in premiership odds but again the lack of a key forward in tough tight matches will be the main reason they will yet again fail. The St Kilda/ Geelong game was a perfect example of how important it is to have KPP who can take a mark & provide a contest. Geelong had to try and manufacture a goal where the Saints always looked dangerous with Kosi, Riewoldt & Gardiner (kicked 9 between them)…
and in regards to the Eagles, I agree their away losses is a HUGE worry but like Fremantle, the problem is between their head.
July 10th, 2009 at 9:59 am
yes i agree for the millionth time that a key forward would be helpful but i still think that you can win a flag without a key forward.
it is no mistake that the bulldogs are the second highest scorers in the league, and hawthorns performance shows that a key forward is not the key to winning games. they had two and still got destroyed by a team without a key forward and they outscored the hawks by 13 goals and probably should have kicked more if they hadn’t wasted a few shots.
btw, the dogs have revealed they will not be going after hall, and i really hope we dont go after her at all.
Mike´s last blog ..WS: Trip to FeilongShan