Williams leaves his club and will this see an exodus of coaches with other clubs in West Coast and Essendon also struggling? I think Williams would enjoy coaching at a big Victorian club like Essendon.

Goodes played a match winning match against the Kangaroos with 11 marks, 33 possessions and 3 goals.

Collingwood defeated Port Adelaide by 26 points

Port kicked 5 first quarter goals to bounce out of the blocks as there coach coached his last game, maybe he needs to walk away every week as for the first time in weeks they showed effort. However Collingwood are an experienced side and they soaked up the pressure and kicked 7 goals in the second quarter as the brilliant clearance work of Swan helped switch the tide of the game on his way to 39 possessions.

Port managed to stay in the game but you always felt it was only a matter of time before the Magpies shake off the determined inspired Power. In the last quarter Collingwood kicked 6 goals and ran off to an easy four goal win with Dawes kicking 3 goals and Didak, Brown and Thomas kicking 2 each.

Ebert had a brilliant first half with four goals and Rodan kicked 3 goals and had 26 possessions to be among Ports favourites.

Geelong defeated Hawthorn by 2 points

Hawthorn won the 2008 Grand Final but Geelong have won every game since by less than 8 points and this was no different. However it could have been much different if the Hawks could kick straight. In the last quarter they had 3-4 shots at goals which could have changed the result.

Geelong did not play at their best and Hawks were in front for most of the day but the final term saw goals to jPod, Chapman and Stokes kicking his fourth to kick to a 2 point win.

Adelaide defeated West Coast Eagles by 22 points

The margin was blown out in the end with Adelaide kicking 7 goals in the final quarter but the match was set up with West Coasts early mistakes that saw Adelaides first four goals all from turn overs. I heard a joke in the week that West Coast mixed the sleeping tablets up with the Caffeine tablets…

While West Coast tackled hard the established players in Goodwin and Thompson dominated the clearances and coaches Craigs move off Dangerfield to the midfield was an match inspiring move. Tippett was held quiet by Mackenzie but then he popped up with 3 critical goals in the last quarter. Walker looked dangerous but could not find the goals, so it was left for the unknown youngsters in Henderson (3 goals and 22 possessions), Sloane (19 possessions and a goal) and Jaensch (3 goals) to kick the winning score.

LeCras continues to show why he is the best small forward of the competition with four second quarter goals and then moved in the midfield and had 18 possessions. While it was a promising game for the Eagles, the fans are sick of seeing it one week and then four crap games following it.

St Kilda defeated Brisbane by 14 points

Saturday night was the Riewoldt night with Nick making his return up at Brisbane and Jack jumping his way to five goals as both teams came from behind to win important games that will shape the top four. Anyway we will touch upon the Richmond win next, lets focus on the Saints win first.

After a tight quarter of 3.1 each, Brisbane kicked 3 second quarter goals while St Kilda could only manage 2 points and I thought it might be upset Saturday night but in the third quarter St Kilda kicked four goals to get to a 4 point lead at 3/4 time. St Kilda dominated the fourth quarter and even Riewoldt got into the act with an important goal.

Milne and Schneider kicked 2 goals each while Montagna (33 possessions), Hayes (28 possessions) and Gilbert (27) had plenty of the of ball for the Saints. For Brisbane Fevola had an indifferent game with posters and dropped marks but he did kick four important goals while Black (29 possessions) and Rischitelli (27) continue their solid years.

Richmond defeated Fremantle by 19 points

I hate games where umpire decisions change or direct the flow of the result, this is just one example from the weekend where those coloured idiots continue to try and ruin the game we love. I do not care if Ballantyne took a step outside the box, a free shot at goal 10m out is just too much of a penalty. Surely a free kick where the ball is would be a better option.

This result does follow our discussion last week as we wondered if Fremantle would slip outside the top four and are now just a game ahead of the Dogs. Richmond overcome a slow start with some lucky free kicks resulting into goals and not too mention Pavlichs comical slip on the shifty crap surface to get within four points at quarter time. Even though Fremantle at times got out to few goal lead, Richmonds work ethic was solid and you always gave them a chance especially with their simple game plan that surprisingly works. Kick it long to a key forward who can mark and provide a contest and allow your small men feed of him, amazing how simple the game can be.

Sydney defeated North Melbourne by 30 points

If Sydney are to stay in the top 8 they need their A grade footballers to step up and play match winning footy, this weekend while O’Keefe was quiet, Goodes had a brilliant game with 11 marks, 33 possessions and kicked 3 goals. Kennelly and Malceski also had 34 possessions as Mumford continues his good seasons form giving his team mates first use of the ball.

It was a comfortable win for Sydney and with results going there way they climbed two spots on the ladder and with their next three matches against Carlton, Melbourne and Geelong it was an important win as they look to see off coach Roos with a finals appearance.

Melbourne defeated Essendon by 19 points

This game was so frustrating to watch, I do not even go for any of the two teams but I felt sorry for Essendon as they where robbed by those coloured idiots. I counted 7 50m penalty’s, 6 resulted in goals and I would say at least 5 were totally rubbish and not to mention that holding the ball decision when Essendon were only 13 points down and had the ball in the center about to surge forward again…

Green was awesome up forward and was a real headache providing a great main target so Watts and Jurrah could float in and be the wild cards. The margin got up to almost 10 goals but Essendon kicked 5 of the last 6 goals and you think that if those 50m penalty’s did not happen, maybe the result could have been different even with Essendon playing poorly.

Questions must be raised at coach Knights as why are not players like Prismall or Houli playing when they have green players like Quinn who are not up to AFL standard.

Western Bulldogs defeated Carlton by 68 points

This was an important game and one of those famous 8 point matches everyone talks about with the Dogs now a top four chance and Carlton will now have to battle it out with the others for positions in the bottom four of the top 8. Carlton will battle against Sydney next week in another 8 point match.

Carlton were woeful and apart from the first 5 minutes they never looked like a top 8 side and questions again must be asked about their forward line. Yes Betts, Yarren and Gartlett look dangerous but I think the key to their forward line is O’hAlipin, Henderson and Waite (when he finally gets on the field) as if one of those dont provide a target for the smalls to feed off, its hard for them to kick a winning score.

Boyd had 33 possessions, 8 marks and 2 goals to Judds 27 possessions, 5 marks and 2 goals, who won the contest? Well I would say Boyd seeing his team won. Cooney had a great match with 33 possessions in his 150th match along with Griffen and it was their disposal efficiency that proved to be the real difference along with Hall being the one main target in the whole game up forward  with 6 goals.

The battle for the finals after Round 15

Doing something different from now on as we list the teams who are within a chance of making the finals.

1. Geelong: 48 points – 146.35%
2. St Kilda: 48 points – 128.12%
3. Collingwood: 46 points – 132.59%
4. Fremantle: 40 points – 119.05%
5. Western Bulldogs: 36 points – 131.69%
6. Sydney: 32 points – 108.70%
7. Carlton: 32 points – 107.80%
8. Hawthorn: 32 points – 102.65%
9. North Melbourne: 28 points – 81.31%
10. Adelaide: 24 points – 92.48%

Round 15 Talking points

1. Will Travis Cloak get suspended for his elbow whack behind the play? And what about Franklin’s whack on Lonergan?
   • Both where sloppy whacks and it may be the only way Fraser gets another game for Collingwood and Hawthorn stopping to be a top four side. Hawthorn must have sold their soul to win the 2008 grand final following their luck with injury and suspension  in the two years after wards.
2. What do you think of the growing trend of coaches coaching on the boundary line? It started with Paul Roos and now more seem to do it with Craig, Bailey, Clarkson, Malthouse, Hardwick etc.
   • I like it as it gives the chance for them to have more of an impact with the players and especially with young guys you can coach them when they come off the ground. Also these days the main coaches have assistants who should be able to coach from above. Interesting that AFL is one of the only sports where the coaches do not coach from the boundary line.
3. Are these soft 50m penalty’s ruining our game?
   • Totally, especially when the player plays on but the umpire is to slow to call play on and then the opposition standing the mark does the right thing and gets pinged for reading the play.
4. And while we are bagging those multiple coloured idiots called umpires, lets turn our attention to the rule committee and this stupid free goal for the interchange rule. Please let us know how you would change this rule for the better?
   • Quiet easy, play a free kick from where the ball is at.
5. What do you think of Matthew Primus taking over as coach for Port Adelaide?
   • If it is just as an intern coach, good move as he is a Power man and could help bring some solidarity to the club which has one of the worst culture’s in the AFL. However when your looking for a new coach, they need a Victorian man to help change the culture.
6. What about the Dogs planning to rest Hall and Johnson after their 6 day break and going to Darwin for a match? Clever planning or playing with form?
   • Johnson yes as a 6 day break will be hard for his aging body but Hall I think is playing with form. However it could be a good opportunity for them to try Grant, Roughead, Everitt or Williams down forward instead.
7. After their lost will it harm Fremantle’s chances of a top four spot?
   • Yes with them playing the Dogs in two weeks time at the Dome and the winner will see them in fourth spot.

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