Geelong defeated Collingwood by 36 points
This game was talked up as the pre courser for this years premiership, well if its the case, they may as well hand Geelong the premiership as Collingwood are still a long way off. This game was a blockbuster game and like usual, Geelong stepped up while the usual suspects for Collingwood did not in Didak, Davis, Coke & Swan all had games to forget on the big stage.
Barry Hall got a little angry under the collar on the weekend, will it mean he will miss a game after wrestling half the Kangaroos team?
After having 10+ goal kickers in each game for the last few games they all suddenly disappeared and Collingwood could only manage 3 for the night. Collingwood kicked ahead to a 10 point lead half way through the third quarter and then Geelong kicked 5 goals in 5 minutes to open up a handy lead.
Collingwood again failed to kick straight with 2 goals and 12 behinds in the last half and some of the shots were quiet laughable!
Western Bulldogs defeated Kangaroos by 70 points
Does Barry Hall deserve some protection when he does up his shoe laces or should he just toughen up and take the attention like every one else ? I guess it was all the Roos could do as the Dogs kicked away with a brilliant 6 goal opening quarter and with some bad goal kicking by the Roos, all was left was the bet on what team could get Hall suspended first.
Lake/ Harris or whatever his name is, shinned with a huge 22 marks and 35 kicks, oh aint all the Dreamteamers happy with his day? Hill for the Dogs kicked 4 goals and Hall kicked three in between his wrestles with a host of other goal kickers (13 in total). The midfield of Cross, Griffen, Cooney and Boyd all gathered plenty of the ball to dominate the midfield battle.
Fremantle defeated Sydney by 37 points
Mark Harvey ate all his ‘grumpy pills’ this week with not showing up to a press conference and then walking out on one half way through. He should be a happy man though, with his team playing solid consistent football unlike their previous history and now being one of the most wanted coaches with Essendon apparently having a bite at him also.
I thought Sydney would fire up for Kirk as he announced his retirement this week but not so and for the second time this year Fremantle won at a ground they have always struggled at.
This may not be the week to say this but Goodes really needs to lift as he is letting his team down with several soft efforts against Fremantle.
Melbourne defeated Port Adelaide by 1 point
Port can get the ball into their 50m arch but they cannot do anything with it once it gets there, until they learn how to kick a winning score they will always be a 50/50 team and never move into a proper final contention team. Port struggled to kick 8 goals in three quarters and then they kicked 8 in the last to get within a point of pulling of a miracle come back.
Brad Miller kicked a bag up in the Territory in his second match of the year along with Watts kicking 2 and Bennell kicking four. Trengrove again showed why he was a touted youngster with 24 touches and Davey bounced back after a quiet game last week with 26 quality touches.
Essendon defeated Richmond by 35 points
Why would Hardwich continue to play Deledio in the backline instead of the midfield? He was finally moved into the midfield after the game was lost and his 22 disposals where all class. After Essendons quick start to the game, Richmond matched Essendon with 12 goals each after the first quarter but it was all too late.
Hille has been in some great recent form for the Bombers as he and Ryder swap between ruck and full forward and in the last two rounds they have kicked an average of 6 goals and 35 hit outs a game.
Adelaide defeated Brisbane by 12 points
Brown needs a rest, Fevola managed to run out the game with five goals from limited opportunities but Brown is a liability for his team at the moment. Although Brisbane lost, the shinning light was their smaller forwards in Banfield, Rocklift and Buchanan who kept their side in the game.
Reilly after a shaky start of the game was one of Adelaide’s best with 6 odd inside 50m and 20+ possessions, Petrenko playing midfield was solid and clean when the ball was slippy in the wet. At three quarter time the margin was less than a goal and Walker shinned with two game breaking last quarter goals and Dangerfield kicked three for the game.
Hawthorn defeated Carlton by 50 points
I had the feeling the Hawks would come out with a bang and they sure did with a nine goal first half while restricting Carlton to just three goals. All the big guns are finding form with Franklin 9 shoots at goal and Hodge getting 29 possessions but have the Hawks left their run too late?
Ok injuries did not help Carlton but lets face it they missed a great opportunity to be equal fourth and cement their position as a finalist contender. You know what you get with Henderson and Robinson but Betts, Yarren & Gartlett? They are fast becoming labeled as downhill skiers like some of their other unnamed team mates.
St Kilda defeated West Coast by 35 points
St Kilda got a get out of jail card with a disappointing first half against West Coast who manged to kick to a 3 goal lead and then St Kilda bounced back and kicked 9 of the next 10 goals to kick away to a handy win.
McKinley kicked four in his best game for the year but it simply was not enough with LeCras and Kennedy failing to kick a goal between them and West Coast cannot win without them kicking at least 6-8 goals each week.
Milne is best known for being a flat track bully but his three goals helped spark his side to stay in the game and then a 10 possession third quarter by Lenny Hayes was the catalyst and then everyone joined in with McEvoy kicking two resting forward and Clarke playing a solid game running from defense.
Top Ladder after Round 9
- Geelong: 28 points – 153.78%
- Collingwood: 28 points – 134.87%
- Fremantle: 28 points – 122.90%
- Western Bulldogs: 28 points – 128.10%
- St Kilda: 24 points – 117.21%
- Carlton: 20 points – 110.44%
- Sydney: 20 points – 107.85%
- Port Adelaide: 20 points – 89.19%
Talking Points from Round 9
- What did you think of Mark Harvey walking out on the post match media interview after being asked about Michael Johnson’s drug charge.
- Good on him! He stood by his player and I like the fact that he did allow the media to dictate the direction of the interviews.
- What did you think of the “Dreamtime at the G” pre match entertainment?
- I know it sounds bad but that pre match entertainment was rubbish! Surely the AFL could come up with some better indigenous entertainment that represents the culture we all should learn more about. I liked the lantern animals but the rest was average.
- Are Collingwood contenders or pretenders?
- pretenders, have failed against St Kilda when they were in form and Geelong who are the bench sides.
- Will Barry Hall get suspended?
- No maybe fined for wrestling but you should not be suspended for wrestling.
- Are the Kangroos players in the wrong with their tactics on Barry Hall?
- nope!
- Are the Hawks back?
- Nope but they are looking more dangerous and will only get better with players getting back from injury, like Hooper & Burgoyne.
- Can any of the sides outside the top 8 make the top 8? If so, who will miss out?
- No, maybe Brisbane but they need Merrett and Brown back to full fitness soon…
May 24th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Some surprising results. Interesting to note that apart from Freo, the non-Victorian teams are struggling.
Sorry did not get too see a lot, but as a self-appointed expert i will give my 10c
1.Smart move, whatever he said was going to be used against him.
2.Didn’t see it.
3.Still contenders. Had a bad match- interesting to see if Lockyer, Presti, Fraser come back. Looking forward to WB/Coll match in 2 weeks.
4. Unfortunately yes. As a dogs fan may be good to keep the aura going- imagine playing on him in the GF, knowing it may be his lats game?
5. Thompson was an idiot, the ones who rushed in probably helped. Did you notice no. 30 give Barry a kidney punch when he was going off?
6.Think they will make the eight (if nothing happens to Buddy, Hodge or Mitchell). Problem is lack of depth though.
7.Definitely Ess and Haw. Syd and PA are very vulnerable.
May 24th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Collingwood’s performance was even worse if you take Beames’ three opportunistic goals away.
Hall is no angel, but he’s surely entitled to tie his boot laces without someone kneeing him.
Sydney’s lack of ruckmen was surely the major factor in this game? Even with ruckmen we expect Sandilands to dominate. The best the Swans could muster was a Canadian rugby player.
Most commentators agree that the better sides in the competition generate their run from half-back. Why then is it so mysterious for Hardwick to place his best ball user at half-back to try to generate some run and carry? The Tigers’ recent form entitled Hardwick to have a crack at winning the game.
Perhaps in his early years this may have been true, but no longer.
Talking points
2. It worked quite well live at the ground (rather than watching on TV). What do you want them to do? They’re really on a hiding to nothing with this.
3. Pretenders
4. That headlock was a bit more than wrestling and was maintained for far too long. Probably a week or two.
5. Absolutely. The bloke’s tying his boot laces for goodness sake. If he’s leading for the ball, go for it. Off the ball niggle should be eradicated.
6. It’s only one game. When they string five or six together you can start with the Lazarus analogies.
7. Sydney and Port are vulnerable. Carlton and St Kilda not sure things. The Bombers are a possibility to get in, and Brisbane if Brown/Fevola are fit and going for the second half. Melbourne will fall away a little as the year progresses.
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May 24th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
@aussierulesblog, All Hall needed to do was fall over and do a Riewoldt and then he would have gotten a soft free kick…
Yes you have some merit in your explanation, but surely when talent is already thin, it is mad to put him in the backline. If I was a forward for Richmond I would rather Deledio kicking the ball to me. Putting him in the backline will only make him a Joel Bowden when they need a Bartel (similar type of player).
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May 24th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
@Jermayn, Well to start with Hall did fall over. But the difference was is he didn’t dive like Reiwoldt, he jumped straight up and began wrestling with Thompson.
I just finished reading Brad Scott’s response to the claims his players gave cheap shots, and now that i think back to the game North Melbourne didn’t exactly go for the ball a lot of the time. There were a number of late hits on Bulldogs after they got rid of the ball, Thompson continuously harassing Hall and a few other instances where their intent was clearly to annoy, harass and put of the Bulldogs. My advice to Brad Scott and his players is that the way they are playing maybe they should focus a little more on actually winning, and if that’s the way they want to play games then its no wonder their supporters don’t show up
May 24th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
@Mike – I will admit I did not see all the game but from what I saw his team did not do anything out of the rules. You also have to remember that this is Brad Scott the Brisbane Lions player who was one of the many of that team that enjoyed inflicting and annoying their opposition.
I do not think this style is what is turning their supporters away, its more to do with the history of the club like Melbourne and your doggies…
May 25th, 2010 at 9:04 am
@Jermayn, ok well “dropping a player” by kneeing him while he’s tying up his shoelaces is technically outside the rules as we consistently see players awarded free kicks when they are put down behind the ball.
Firitto laid a few late hits on bulldogs players after they disposed of the ball which resulted in free kicks.
Another Kangaroos player (his name escapes me) dropped his knee onto Liam Picken’s head while Picken was on the ground which while the contact wasn’t huge it was still there.
And even though it was a reaction to a reaction Thompson dropped his head onto Hall’s head after being held in a headlock which was reported.
So to say that North did nothing outside of the rules and the spirit of the game is wrong.
And what I meant is, if the Kangaroos put as much focus on scoring and winning as they did bending/breaking the rules, and annoying/harassing the Dogs players then maybe the scoreline wouldn’t have been so embarrassing, and their supporters would be a little more loyal.
May 24th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
@Jermayn,
For reasons that are mostly his own fault, there’s no guarantee a free kick would have been paid to Hall had he limply collapsed. I don’t condone the intensity of his reactions, but I reiterate that he’s entitled to retie his boot laces without being attacked.
Regarding Deledio, it’s a “glass half-full” or “glass half-empty” argument. An optimist plays him at half-back, hoping to generate run and carry and build confidence throughout the team. A pessimist plays him in the midfield.
.-= aussierulesblog´s last blog ..All is not fair. . . =-.
May 24th, 2010 at 9:36 pm
@ARB – I cannot agree with you regarding Deledio, the perfect example of playing a player like Deledio down back would be Hodge but its interesting they only play him in defense when they have Mitchell and others to play midfield. When they were injured or out, Hodge played more midfield. I would also say that playing Hodge down back is a purely defensive move and not an attacking one…
May 24th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Geelong – are still premiership favourites
Collingwood – pretenders who will probably struggle later in the year
Bulldogs – have found some form and are starting to look dangerous
Kangaroos – were rubbish after half time and need to address key issues
Sydney – are ok but don’t have a lot of depth
Fremantle – are very much final four contenders, not so for the flag
Melbourne – great game and are continuing to improve
Port – Are no different than the last two years, very inconsistent
Essendon – are beginning their finals charge
Richmond – not sure they will win a game this year
Adelaide – were good but still think their year is done
Brisbane – have a lot of injuries and will continue to struggle
Carlton – are far too inconsistent to be a genuine chance
Hawthorn – who knows what they are up to…
Saints – are a much better side than the eagles but it seems that no Reiwoldt, no Saints
West Coast – are done and dusted for the year, i expect them to probably lose 6 of their next 7.
talking points:
1. Fair enough
2. Didn’t see it
3. Pretenders. Come finals time they will fail miserably i would think
4. Probably will get one week, doesn’t really matter because the Dogs were going to rest him any ways.
5. Yes and no. But I think Hall had every right to react. Thompson is an idiot and deserved what he got. Should probably get a lengthier suspension too for head butting Barry.
6. Who knows with Hawthorn
7. Hawthorn, Essendon and Brisbane are all a chance to still make it. Sydney and Port will probably drop out
May 24th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
@Mike, Fair enough about the Eagles, I think they will push the top sides for a half but then fall away like they did against St Kilda.
.-= Jermayn´s last blog ..2010 Round 9 Wrapup =-.
May 25th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
@Mike – The Kangaroos supporters not showing up has nothing to do with the way they play the game. Its a deaper ingrain issue…
If that was the case:
1) Kangaroos would have had a bigger membership in the mid & late 90s when they where in 5-6 consective preliminary’s..
2) When teams such as Collingwood & Essendon struggle, they would also struggle with membership.
Its simply not the case.
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May 25th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
@Jermayn,
North Melbourne joined the VFL in 1925, along with Footscray and Hawthorn. Until the 1970s, when Hawthorn emerged as a powerful team, all three had relatively small support bases.
Hawthorn won their first premiership in 1961, but their extraordinary run of success through the 1980s virtually guaranteed them of a significant support base in the modern era (although their published membership figures are quite rubbery according to some).
Footscray did not win a final until 1953 and won their only Premiership, to date, the following year.
North Melbourne were cellar-dwellers for their first twenty-five years in the VFL, reached their first Grand Final in 1950 and were cellar-dwellers again for most of the 1950s and 1960s. Their first premiership was won in 1975 (six consecutive Grand Finals. 1974–1978 incl.)
With these backgrounds, it’s hardly surprising that the Bulldogs and North struggle to garner support.
The other point to consider is that so much of Melbourne’s football support is familial. Parents pass on the ‘tradition’ of supporting a certain club to their sons and daughters, who pass on the same tradition. Occasionally, mixed marriages result in some wavering supporters cleaving to the team of their beloved, but, more often,supporting a particular team is ‘in the blood’.
Keeping this in mind, with their late starts in the VFL, the three newer teams struggled to match the levels of support, both crowd and financial, of the older clubs.
So, yes Jermayn, North’s low levels of support don’t have much to do with their game style.
.-= aussierulesblog´s last blog ..All is not fair. . . =-.
May 26th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
@aussierulesblog, Thanks for that information. Definitely worth investigating why some clubs have more fans than others.
Does it come down success?
May 26th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
@aussierulesblog, this is the last time I’m weighing into this argument. Arguing with you and Jermayn is like banging my head against a wall…its painful and pointless.
I understand your points and I completely agree, but I’m not sure if what I was trying to say was said right.
I think at this time, this year, this season the Kangaroos are struggling. They are playing average football and are very disappointing on the whole, which would make their fans less likely to attend games. However what I was trying to say was, if they focused more on trying to win, or at least not being embarrassed so often, and focused less on playing the way they did on the weekend ie. playing the man rather than the ball and focusing on destroying other people’s games rather than their own, then maybe just maybe more fans would show up