Some big games with the top 8 taking shape with Essendon taking the 8th spot with a classic 2 point win over the previous undefeated St Kilda and the top 4 looks like it wont change.

McLeod was back to his best on the MCG

Adelaide defeated Hawthorn by 27 points

I tipped the Hawks as I thought they seriously could not continue on their poor form (Why Hawthorn are Struggling) for the year but they could not, not even with the first 5 goals of the game. It saw them only score 4 for the rest of the game.

It was a feel good game with Hentschel kicking 4 to be the best forward of the game. McLeod loves the MCG as he wound back the clock with a BOG performance. The win sees Adelaide get within 2% of Carlton and Hawks their 4th straight loss and out of the finals race.

Adelaide’s run home: West Coast (home) & Carlton (Dome).

West Coast defeated Kangaroos by 38 points

West Coast is finishing with a wet sail with 3 straight wins and are now just one game behind reigning premiers in Hawthorn on the ladder. While the game was nothing special with the weather making it a very scrappy game there where a few highlights.

The Grima & Kennedy contest was a flash back to the Carey/ Jakovich contests and Nit Nat being the best tap ruckman on the ground beating McIntosh & Goldstein in the contests. A Selwood (33 possessions) was also good along with Houlihan (27) having his best game of his career.

Injuries to Masten (knee) & Brown (foot) is a worry.

Collingwood defeated Richmond by 93 points

Bowden got his farewell game but it was a game not he nor any Richmond supporter will remember except the fight. While the fight was even the game was not and it gave Collingwood a much needed percentage booster, so much so that they now have a healthy percentage of 123.37 which gives them a win and 1% advantage over the Bulldogs sitting in 3rd.

The game was set up with a 7 goal opening term and it was the usual suspects with Cloke (2 goals, 10 marks & 6 tackles), Swan (34 possessions), Davis (4 goals) & Beams (30 possessions) continuing to impress.

6 good games saw Rawlings look like we was waiting for the announcement but after some terrible games (Sydney & Collingwood), I think Richmond may need to rethink him as a coach. Deledio (31 possessions) & Nehas where the Tigers best but with Cousins doing another hammy and many other passengers, Its another long year for Richmond.

Collingwoods run home: Sydney (MCG) & Bulldogs (Dome).

Gary Ablett was BOG with 44 possessions and spending time up forward to provide another goal kicking target

Geelong defeated Sydney by 5 points

Important game for the Cats as they try and run into some form come finals and while the game did not, a win is a win and better for the moral than a loss. It was a great tight game to watch and we even got to see 9 goals (yes 9) in a great final term.

The signs where there with Ablett gave a BOG performance with 44 touches (8 clearances, 4 tackles & 1 goal), what was best about his game was that he rested up forward and gave a great target instead of getting splinters sitting on the bench. Mooney & Hawkins kicked 5 between them with some good strong marks.

Sydney was not embarrassed and with Goodes at CHF it will ensure they have a strong forward line next year along with the promising young kids of Hannebery, White, Barlow & O’Dwyer.

Geelong run home: Swans (away), Bulldogs (Dome) & Fremantle (home)

Western Bulldogs defeated Brisbane by 18 points

This was not the result Brisbane wanted but exactly what the Dogs needed after a few bad weeks, their bit was back and Aker was the difference with him being fantastic against his old side.

Murphy (21 & 11 marks) was great along with Eagleton (3 goals) and Lake and Boyd down back. Black was great with 37 possessions but again Brisbane had too many passengers with them quite in to large periods of the game. They kicked 4 goals in a half to 10 which is where the game was lost.

Western Bulldogs run home: Geelong (Dome) & Collingwood (Dome).
Brisbane’s run home: Port (home) & Swans (away)

Melbourne defeated Fremantle by 63 points

We all know Melbourne is looking for that priority draft pick and in looking at the ladder, they were allowed to win one more game without affecting it and they did with a spanking over the hapless Dockers.

With a 7 goal last quarter it saw them get 20 goals in a game the first time for a while I would say with Jurrah (4 goals & goal of the year), Bate (3) & Robertson (3). The midfield was amazing with Davey getting his own ball (31 possessions & 2 goals), Moloney (30), McLean (26) & Valenti (30).

We will refrain from commenting about Fremantle hear.

Carlton defeated Port Adelaide by 54 points

I think we can agree with Mark Williams that his side is average and do not deserve to be in the top 8. Just as well Essendon won, so now they are not in the top 8 after their poor performance against an inspired Carlton side.

The best thing for Carlton was that it was not left up to Chris Judd to drag the team for the win after Port opened up a 16 point lead with the wind in the first quarter. Instead it was the much maligned Walker, Gibbs (33 possession & 2 goals) & Murphy (32 possessions & 3 goals) along with Fevola (5 goals) to provide the needed spark.

While only 2 points out of the top 8, it would be a miss justice if Port made it.

Carlton run home: Melbourne (home) & Adelaide (home).
Ports run home: Brisbane (away) & North (home).

Essendon defeated St Kilda by 2 points

Essendon has done what no one else has done so far and this is win against the Saints. Rarely has St Kilda been challenged like this and Essendon must be happy with the win. They opened up a 5 goal lead at 3/4 time and it took a 5.2 last quarter by St Kilda to Essendon’s 5 behinds for the game to be close.

Again injuries will hamper Essendon’s race home to the finals with Reimers, Fletcher (hamstring), Dempsey (hamstring), Stanton (quad), Ryder (knee) & Watson (leg) all in some doubt for their trip to Perth next week.

Some will argue that this was the loss St Kilda needed, at the end of the day they where not as hungry as Essendon and hopefully a kick up the backside will bring them back to earth.

St Kilda’s run home: North (Dome) & Melbourne (MCG)
Essendon run home: Fremantle (away) & Hawks (MCG)

Finals Contenders after Round 19

Have been forced to include Sydney due to Port, Hawks & Essendon poor form.

1. St Kilda – 76 points, 158.12%
2. Geelong – 68 points, 128.53%
3. Collingwood – 56 points, 123.37%
4. Western Bulldogs – 52 points, 122.62%
5. Carlton – 48 points, 112.90%
6. Adelaide – 48 points, 110.32%
7. Brisbane – 46 points, 106.10%
8. Essendon – 38 points, 99.47%
9. Port Adelaide – 36 points, 88.63%
   

Round 20 Talking Points

Please give us your thoughts in the comments section below or add your own round 20 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, so please express your opinions.

1. Will the top 8 change?
   • I hope not as Essendon deserve 8th spot more than Port Power but the injuries and their run home is a worry to me.
2. Did you enjoy the melay/ fight of the Richmond v Collingwood game?
   • I loved it! It was great, I think the AFL showed give the boys who participated in the fight money instead of taking it away from them.
3. Was the St Kilda loss what they needed?
   • Yes & No! No one likes loosing and you do not need to loose to remind why you prefer winning but Yes in the fact that it will give them the kick up the bottom to work harder.
4. Will Fevola hang on to win the Coleman Medal with 74 goals and Brown on 71?
   • I would say so as Carlton does have a better run home than Brisbane
     
5. Why do Fremantle suck so much?
   • How long do you have? For me to answer that, we will be hear all day! What gets me is their coaching staff is Scott, Harvey & Wallis who were all hard nuts yet they are so soft and the club has no natural leaders.

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