Round 12 was an interesting round as it helped see were certain teams are and how they will go in the up and coming weeks. Brisbane have a long way to go with a poor game against the Bulldogs and Adelaide/ Neil Craig again failed in a high pressure game.
Essendon defeated West Coast by 22 points
Essendon won every quarter which has been a problem for both of these teams this year. Many Bombers fans would be happy with a much more even game by captain Mathew Lloyd who was risking being dropped and David Hille would be the most under rated ruckman in the comp.
West Coast were disappointing and it does not get any easier with Geelong next round. I think its time to bring Hansen back in the side as Lynch again failed to kick goals.
Bulldogs defeated Brisbane by 63 points
I for one has talked up Brisbane chances but was along with Brisbane embarrassed with their performance as it was insipid and weak. They really missed Bradshaw and their midfield lacks some hardness which is what the Bulldogs has added this year. The Bulldogs were amazing, clean and are definitely looking like the only team to challenge the top 2.
Fremantle defeated Kangaroos by 53 points
Yes you read right, Fremantle won and after leading at 3/4 time last week, they managed to lead at 3/4 time and most importantly win. Pavlich again the one man team kicked 8 goals and it was again down to the young stars (Mayne, Palmer, Ibbotsom etc) to lead the way.
McManus was dropped and they win a game, yes you are a great Dockers man but lead by example and realise that your far from AFL level at the moment and retire. Your only taking up someones spot.
Sydney defeated St Kilda by 35 points
St Kilda again struggled against a top 8 side and surely why do we keep letting them off the hook. We say Riewoldt stared but he kicked 1.3 and if you wont proof that missed shots by your captain is bad for moral, just ask Fremantle.
Barry Hall went about his return game well and he and Sydney will be better for the run.
Hawthorn defeated Adelaide by 4 points
This game was a classic but two things will be the talk about this game. The first is Buddys bump and will he get suspended or be out of the running for the Brownlow? Personally if Goodes can get off which was more reckless, Buddy will have no worries.
The second thing that got my attention was Neil Craigs poor coaching. Yes he got close to Hawthorn but seriously they should have won that game, they had only 40 odd bench rotations and in the last quarter it showed that they were run off their feat. Also Bock who was winning the Buddy contest did not follow Buddy onto the wing. That position change won Hawthorn the game! Neil Craig cannot and will not react when needed, he cannot think outside the box.
Geelong defeated Port Adelaide by 59 points
Port Adelaide was the last team to beat Geelong at home and boy did Geelong remember that? Geelong has a weaken backline at the moment with Scarlett out and Harley out of form however Port could not challenge Geelong with their key forwards out of form. Gary Ablett jnr would strengthen his brownlow chances with his recent rich vein of form.
Carlton defeated Collingwood by 30 points
Collingwood were really disappointing, they were after a top 4 spot but failed to a Fevola inspired win with 8 goals but should have kicked another 3 or 4. Collingwood looked slow and with Medhurst missing easy shots and with Didak and Cloke having average games up forward, Collingwood could not kick enough goals.
Richmond defeated Melbourne by 22 points
Could Richo win the brownlow medal and become one of the oldest ever players to win? With 5 goals and 18 odd marks it would be hard not to see why. Terry Wallace should really be dropping of a box of flowers and chocolates to Richo otherwise Wallace would be out of a job.
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June 16th, 2008 at 9:50 am
The hawks really had no right winning that game. With the plays we had out and then to lose Bateman through the game, that is our best win for the year. Buddy should get a repremand but the thing that will be interesting is the way that the panel considers the fact the play was being tackled at the time of the bump. Could go either way. There is an argument that it might get him off but you could argue the player had less protection.
Molly
Phillip Molly Malones last blog post..Dream Team and SuperCoach live scores for round 12
June 16th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Yes Hawks had no right in winning the game but it just shows how ready Hawthorn are to win the Grand Final this year.
Surely the AFL will realise just how inconsistent they are and will not suspend Buddy. The player bumped was dragged/ slipped down and so while a free kick would be right I doubt he should get suspended or even reported. Its not like the guy was bending down to pick up the ball and Buddy went over and clipped him like Waters, Goodes, Burgoyne and Burton.
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June 16th, 2008 at 10:17 am
I can’t see Richo winning the Brownllow for the simple reason that the Tigers aren’t winning enough games. Gone are the days when players in ordinary sides got their reward for being the best player in the losing side – Richmond just haven’t won enough games. Good to see the Tigers winning, but hardly convincing enough to make any grand plans for the rest of the season.
The Wounded Tigers last blog post..Round 11 vs Adelaide – Defenceless
June 16th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Buddy Franklin will more than likely get suspended in my opinion. although the player wasn’t picking up the ball, it was a negligent hit, and the fact that he got him right on the top of the head means that he’s in a lot more trouble. Adam Goodes shouldn’t have gotten off, but the constellaion is that he is ineligible for the Brownlow nonetheless.
and the more damning thing for buddy is that he was in no way going for the ball, or even the tackle, the hit was a deliberate action even if the intent was not high. i think anyone and everyone should be suspended for that kind of hit.
@germ…have the bulldogs done enough for you and the other critics out there yet? before the season 99% of critics had written them off, and i wasnt sure how they would go myself. but 12 games in, 10 wins and firmly in 3rd position, i think if the finals started next week, they could well take the flag.
however the finals are still 10 weeks away and they have a few challenges ahead, but if they play the way they did against Brisbane, then they should have no problems come september. one thing they need to work on a bit is there accuracy on goal…
another point on Buddy Franklin. i do not think he is the best forward in the competition. i think he is one of the best, and possibly the most talented, however too often do we see him kick bags of 8 or 9, and then the following week kick a pathetic 1.6 or 1.7
if he wants to be the best, he needs to be consistent.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Good point that lower teams do not have as much chance to have a brownlow winner like before (Why Sydney had so many winners). I have listed the last 10 years with the position their team finished and your onto something as only Judd and Crawford won the brownlow with their teams finishing 7th or below.
2007 – Bartel (1st)
2006 – Goodes (2nd)
2005 – Cousins (2nd)
2004 – Judd (8th)
2003 – Buckley (2nd), Goodes (3rd), Ricciuto (6th)
2002 – Black (1st)
2001 – Akermanis (1st)
2000 – Woewodin (2nd)
1999 – Crawford (9th)
1998 – Harvey (6th)
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June 16th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
@SunCity_Royal – yes the Bulldogs keep winning but I would say most of their challenges are coming up as their run home is a little harder with games against Collingwood, Geelong (away), Brisbane (away), Port (Darwin), Sydney (Canberra) and Adelaide (away).
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June 16th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
yes true they have most of their challenges ahead,
but forget not that out of those 6 teams they have to face, they have already beaten Sydney at the SCG, Adelaide in a close one, and slaughtered Brisbane. they also play reasonably well at Darwin, and port are struggling so out of those 6 games, they well could win 4 going off the past 12 rounds.
plus the Dogs have beaten the Lions the last 5 times, Brisbane hasn’t beaten us since 2004, and 3 of those wins by the Dogs were at the Gabba, so we do quite well up there…
and to do with Collingwood…how well will Collingwood play after two marquee matches which were close and most likely taxing on the players…
challenges indeed but i think we will face them quite confidently and should be able to beat every one of those teams