Cousins mania has hit Victoria as he played his first serious match for nearly 18 months and while it showed as he was blowing heavily and even had to visit the hospital he will be good for Richmond. However 7 other games were played over the extended weekend of AFL.
Collingwood defeated Richmond by 48 points
Ben Cousins looks the part in his new Richmond guernsey and showed he still has all the old moves in his comeback match against Collingwood.
While all the news is on Cousins, it deflects attention away from the fact that Collingwood are looking very complete at the moment. Surely they must be worth a top 4 in season 2009. Richmond promised heaps but failed in delivering. Their poor kicking in the two games must be a worry. If you cannot kick the ball, you cannot play the game.
The young guns Beams, Vickery & Raines all look promising along with the old timer in Cousins.
We also saw the first rushed behind decision and guess what it was the wrong call..
Essendon defeated Brisbane by 2 points
Brisbane almost snatched an unlikely win with a shot at goals in the last 30 seconds but for most of the match they missed easy shots and this was no difference.
Essendon would be happy with the game especially with Lucas and Lloyd not doing much as some of the younger guns lead from the front. Hille looks dangerous and the pickup of Skipworth looks like a stroke of genius.
Geelong defeated Port Adelaide by 18 points
The normal suspects of Chapman, Bartell & Kelly shined through the Cats forward line while Stockes kicked four as he put his terrible last years Grand Final behind him. More exciting for the Cats officials was that Corey, Ling, Ablett & Scarlett did not play and their youngsters of Djerrkura, McKenna and Scotty Simpson picked up the slack.
Port Power seemed to have their bite back with fierce tackling however it meant that the free kick count was lopsided 15-5 at half time. The Burgoyne brothers and Tredrea did not play however K Cornes, Carr & Nathan Krakouer’s game at half-back would be encouraging.
Carlton defeated Hawthorn by 24 points
While Hawthorn did have several stars out of this game Carlton would be happy as the Blues were down at stages and showed great spirit to come back. Carlton and other clubs like Collingwood have shown this NAB cup so far that they will challenge last years top two. Fevola also seems to have some help with Cloke, Betts & Robinson which will make their forward line even more dangerous.
While the Hawks are out, the emergence of their young guns in Tuck, Kennedy, McGlynn, Moss & Thorp will ensure they remain a force for much longer and keep a smile on their coach. Injuries also seem to be a bit of worry at the moment, injuries can be the one thing that can quickly ruin a dynasty (just ask West Coast).
Regional Challenge Matches Round Up
West Coast defeated Adelaide by 10 points
Cox suffered a hit to the face, while no injury was likely I am sure Worsfold’s heart fluttered. Good news for both teams was the fact that potential forwards stood up with Lynch & Hansen kicking 6 between them and Steven’s & Hentschel kicking 6 between them.
St Kilda defeated Bulldogs by 26 points
While its only practice matches, Eade would not be happy with the Dogs loosing both of their matches so far. Gilbert showed plenty along with Koschitzke up forward with Riewoldt still to come.
Ziebell & Petrie are two players who could help lift the Roos into finals this year.
Kangaroos defeated Fremantle by 97 points
I originally thought Freo would be a smokie but with their turnout against an average Richmond & now North, Harvey must be wondering if getting rid of all the senior players last season was smart. I like Petrie up forward.
Sydney defeated Melbourne by 8 points
Melbourne again got close but simply cannot win, maybe they’ve forgotten how to. The brightest news coming from the Swans is the performance from their Irish and Canadian rookies, they have two vacancies on the list with early retirements and expect all the Sydney rookies eyeing it off.
This Weeks Talking Points
Again I have listed some talking points from the weekends games, please add your views and also any other talking points in the comments section below.
- Is this rushed behind rule finished after the bad call on Friday night? I would like to say so but I doubt it. I do not think it will however be introduced into the regular season.
- What did you think of Cousins return? Can he save Richmond from disappointing their fans again? I doubt it, think Wallace is a tool and it must be time Richmond get a serious coach who can introduce toughness and stop using excuses.
- Can any of the non-Victorian teams make the finals this year? Maybe Port Adelaide & Brisbane but I think the other four (West Coast, Freo, Adelaide & Sydney) are in for tough seasons.
- Are Collingwood & Carlton the real deal? Yes, think Collingwoods midfield can be exposed and Carltons backline is their weakness but are definitely the challengers imo.
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March 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 am
Several stars? By half time they had half the GF side out!
Phillip Molly Malones last blog post..Podcast – Maxwell Appeals, Young/Motlop bump and Mike Sheahan prefers a broken jaw!
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 am
@Phillip – Thing is though, yes they were missing half the Grand Final side but only a few of the missing premiership players are actually real deal AFL stars…
@Geoff – But after 5 years, picking up first round draft picks (Cotchin, Vickary etc) and picking up key players from other clubs to fill the holes (Morton, Cousins, Symonds, McMahan & Polak) imo the team may look like likely to play finals (and I think personally they should be) but will they actually get pass the 9th spot?? I guess a few more games into the season will tell but surely you must be a bit worried after their average display in both games…
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:00 pm
At some stage, we’ll all work out that the pre-season doesn’t mean jack about regular season form. So in the same way as I wasn’t jumping for joy at rolling the Dockers last week, I’ll keep my membership intact this week. Wallace is no hack – at times he make poor decisions, and at times his excuses wear a little thin. But the whole time he’s remained consistent that he was building up to this season: that’s why there was a big 5 year plan.
Geoffs last blog post..Puntroad.com Player Previews – Very Funny
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:06 am
Are you yanking my chain? 3 All Australians didn’t play (including a Norm Smith medalist and a Coleman Medalist). 1 AA didn’t play after half time (Brown). Lewis is a very good midfielder B+/A quality. Ladson and Ellis are very high quality and would walk into any side (including Geelong. Ladson way underrated). Osbourne would walk into most sides. Gilham missed at about/after Halftime. Kept Fev goalless and is one of the most effective uses of the ball (top 5 last year for kicking effectiveness for players with more then like 10 kicks).
So to say they had “only a few of the missing premiership players are actually real deal AFL stars” sets the bar enormously high!
Phillip Molly Malones last blog post..Podcast – Maxwell Appeals, Young/Motlop bump and Mike Sheahan prefers a broken jaw!
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am
Do not get me wrong, they are VERY good players but naming Brown, Lewis, Ladson, Gilham & Ellis stars is a bit much imo.
Just because your an AA (All Australian) does not make you a star. Fletcher for the Eagles was an AA but he is no star. In the GF years (05-06) it was said he would also get into any other side of the competition but now a short year or two later, he will be lucky to get into the Eagles best 22.
I have written two articles before about a similar convo (Are Premiership Players Over Rated & What Makes a Good Player into a Star) and hopefully that will explain what I mean more…
btw Phillip, I wouldnt yank your chain…
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:34 am
Ladson, Gilham and Ellis I will give you (well I give that today on Ellis, talk to me in a year or two!)
Lewis is only not a star today because he is sitting behind Mitchell, Hodge, Sewell and Bateman.
Brown, I am sorry, he is a star. AA in the backline. On his way to going back to back and moves forward and still plays excellent (and that was playing on a dodgy ankle)!
If Brown isn’t a star, can you name the Cats stars or the Tigers or some of the other teams.
Phillip Molly Malones last blog post..Podcast – Maxwell Appeals, Young/Motlop bump and Mike Sheahan prefers a broken jaw!
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 am
I will do one better Phillip and name all the stars for each club (as I see it).
Adelaide – McLeod (fading fast star)
Brisbane – Brown & Black
Carlton – Fev & Judd
Essendon –
Fremantle – Pavlich
Geelong – Ablett
Hawthorn – Hodge & Buddy (almost a star)
Melbourne –
Kangaroos – Harvey
Port Power –
Richmond – Richo
St Kilda – Riewoldt
Sydney – Goodes
West Coast – Cox & Kerr (almost a star)
Bulldogs – Cooney (almost a star)
As you see I did not name half the Hawks side like you did, maybe we see stars as something different but personally just because you play in a great squad which allows you to get under the attention of the opposition doesnt make you a star. Hence for example Kerr, looked good when Judd and Cousins was around him but last year he looked very average when he was the main man.
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:03 am
Okay, see now I would say your list is the Super Stars! Fair point then. Are you saying (in your rating) Hodge and Buddy are almost stars or just Buddy? I personally think backing up 70 odd goals (130 odd attempts) with 100+ goals (200+ attempts) should be your definition for star! Fev for example has only passed 70 goals twice in 9 years. Buddy twice in 4!
Phillip Molly Malones last blog post..Podcast – Maxwell Appeals, Young/Motlop bump and Mike Sheahan prefers a broken jaw!
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 am
You raise a good point about Buddy and Fev and maybe they should both be ‘almost a star’.
I think for a player to be a star, they have to be a star (no matter how bad or good the club is) for a few years. You cannot be a star after one or two good seasons…