A floating fixture for the final round saw the game times not determined until late in the season. The game that
was selected for the blockbuster Friday night timeslot saw a home final up for grabs when Fremantle hosted
Carlton at Subiaco. And the game turned out to be a thriller, with Fremantle holding on against a late Carlton
surge to take the game by just six points.
Seven goals were kicked in the first quarter, and all seven of them caused the lead to change hands. The see-
sawing opening term finished with the Blues having the advantage, leading by four points at quarter time. And the
massive crowd of nearly 40,000 found their voice in the second term, as the lead again changed hands with the
Dockers kicking five goals to two for the quarter to take a 16-point lead into half time.
The third term was a defensive struggle, an arm wrestle, as the two sides moved numbers back and defended
grimly. It wasn’t pretty football, but it was an enthralling struggle between two sides with high stakes. But time on
in the premiership quarter was critical, with the Dockers kicking two late goals to bring their total return for the
quarter to three goals to one; and the home side was leading by 29 points at three quarter time.
But the game was far from over, as the Blues surged into action in the final quarter. The first three goals came in
just 10 minutes, cutting the margin to 11 points. The Dockers steadied with two goals, and again looked safe. But
the determined Blues made one last surge, three goals in five minutes seeing the margin cut to just six points at
the 25 minute mark. The Blues kept the ball on their forward line in the final minutes of the game, looking to
snatch a late winner, but it wasn’t to be; and the final siren was one of relief for the Dockers as they ensured a
final at Subiaco next week. But there’s a nervous wait ahead for Carlton, who will make the finals but run the risk
of having a second week in a row on the road next weekend, possibly a second trip across the Nullabor back to
back, with Fremantle locked into fifth place.
Fremantle 3.4 8.6 11.11 13.15 (93)
Carlton 4.2 6.2 7.6 13.9 (87)
Goals : Fremantle - S Hill 2, C Mayne 2, M Pavlich 2, M Walters 2, M Johnson 2, H Ballantyne, M
De Boer, A Morabito. Carlton – J Garlett 3, L Henderson 2, K Simpson 2, J Waite 2, E Betts, D
Ellard, M Murphy, H Scotland.
Best : Fremantle – M Pavlich, M Johnson, A Sandilands, D Mundy, S Hill, A McPhee. Carlton – C
Judd, M Murphy, B Gibbs, D Ellard, K Simpson, S Grigg.
Injuries : Fremantle – Nil. Carlton – A Carrazzo (hamstring strain).
Reports – Nil. Umpires - McBurney, Chamberlain, Ryan.
Crowd - 39,376 at Subiaco Oval.
With Geelong heading for the finals and West Coast having the wooden spoon, an easy win was predicted for the
Cats. But they didn’t have everything their own way in the first half as the Eagles put up a determined performance;
before the Cats ran away in the second half to record a 44-point win.
The Cats lost Corey Enright, Shannon Byrnes and Joel Selwood before the game, to a combination of injury and
the need for a rest before the finals. The Cats were making plenty of chances, but some poor finishing would cost
them. The Eagles, looking to make a statement in their final game for the season, made better use of their
chances; and despite the Cats having twice as many scoring shots as the Eagles, the Eagles led by a point at
quarter time.
The Eagles threatened to get on top early in the second term, with the first two goals taking them to a 13-point
lead. But the Cats, with the next four goals, regained the ascendancy to lead by four points at half time. But the
Eagles again were quicker to start in the third term, with the first goal to put them back in front and raise hopes of
an upset.
But no sooner were Eagle hopes raised when they were dashed. Hopes dashed by “Dasher” Colin
Milburn, with 12 touches for the quarter as they kicked the next five goals; and some inaccurate finishing
preventing them from leading by even more. But with a 33-point lead at the last change, the danger for the
Cats had passed.
The last quarter was higher scoring, six goals to four, as the pressure was off and the Cats were counting
down to the finals. James Kelly finished with 33 touches in a best on ground performance. It had been a
solid workout for the Cats, perhaps tougher than they had anticipated; but the second half left them in good
shape for the finals. For the Eagles, the final siren came as a relief that their disastrous wooden spoon
season was finally over.
Geelong 1.7 5.8 10.14 16.16 (112)
West Coast 2.2 5.4 6.5 10.8 (68)
Goals : Geelong – G Ablett 4, C Mooney 3, S Johnson 3, T Hawkins 2, C Ling 2, T Varcoe, B
Ottens. West Coast – C Wilson 3, A Hams 2, L Shuey, M LeCras, C Masten, K Stevens, J
Kennedy.
Best : Geelong – D Milburn, G Ablett, J Kelly, A Mackie, C Ling, J Bartel. West Coast – L
Shuey, B Waters, N Naitanui, M Rosa, C Wilson, A Hams.
Injuries : Geelong – C Enright (foot) replaced in selected side by S Hunt, S Byrnes (virus)
replaced in selected side by D Menzel, J Selwood (buttock) replaced in selected side by M
Hogan. West Coast – Nil.
Reports – Nil. Umpires - Farmer, Stewart, Pannell.
Crowd - 24,099 at Skilled Stadium.
A massive crowd at the MCG on Saturday afternoon saw Hawthorn bring Collingwood’s 9-game winning
streak to an end, when the Hawks came from behind to get up in a thriller.
It was an arm wrestle through the first half, low scoring with both sides defending well and choking each
other out of scoring opportunities. Around the ground, the Magpies were getting slightly more of the ball,
and creating more chances; but some poor finishing by the Magpies contributed to keeping the scores low.
Collingwood were leading by four points at quarter time, and extended the lead to 11 points at half time.
After the break, the two sides emerged more inclined to attack and run, and the scoreboard began to tick
over. With Lance Franklin up forward, the Hawks took the lead during the third quarter before the Magpies
rallied, kicking the last three goals of the quarter to find themselves seven points in front at the last change.
And with the first two goals of the final term coming within three minutes, the Magpies led by 19 points and
looked headed for victory.
But the Hawks weren’t going away, and slowly but surely worked their way back, regaining the lead at the
25 minute mark and hanging on to prevent the Magpies from snatching a late winner. Lance Franklin
finished with six goals for the Magpies, while Sam Mitchell was a ball magnet, finishing with 31 touches.
The win, although not enough to prevent the Hawks from travelling interstate for their elimination final next
week, means that at least the Hawks will go into the match in winning form. Collingwood will still finish
minor premiers despite the loss, but it’s a result that gives them a reminder of what they need to work on
before the start of the finals next week.
Hawthorn 1.1 3.5 9.7 15.8 (98)
Collingwood 1.5 4.10 10.12 13.17 (95)
Goals : Hawthorn – L Franklin 6, C Rioli 2, Peterson, Ellis, Lewis, Whitecross, Roughead,
Hooper, Young. Collingwood - Blair 2, Jolly 2, Davis 2, Beams, Sidebottom, Cloke, Ball,
Shaw, Dawes, Swan.
Best : Hawthorn – S Mitchell, L Franklin, C Rioli, X Ellis, J Lewis, S Burgoyne. Collingwood –
D Swan, N Maxwell, D Beams, D Jolly, L Ball, S Pendlebury.
Injuries : Hawthorn – B Renouf (corked thigh). Collingwood – B Johnson (illness) replaced
in selected side by L Davis, S Wellingham (ankle), D Jolly (nose).
Reports – Nil. Umpires - Vozzo, Rosebury, Nicholls.
Crowd - 76,218 at MCG.
It hasn’t been the greatest of seasons for Adelaide. But the Crows at least finished the season on a
positive note, with the Crows sending out retiring stars Andrew McLeod, Brett Burton, Simon Goodwin and
Brett Henschell on a high; with the Crows upsetting St Kilda by 28 points at AAMI Stadium.
The first half was a low-scoring arm wrestle, in which the defences of both sides were on top, flooding
each other’s forward line and making life difficult for the forwards. Goals were hard to come by, just three
apiece for the half; with the Crows leading by a point at quarter time and maintaining that margin at half
time.
Forwards on both sides had struggled to create scoring chances in the first half. But in the third quarter,
Taylor Walker finally managed to escape the attentions of the St Kilda defence, kicking three goals for the
quarter. At three quarter time, the Crows were 10 points ahead, and although the game was still up for
grabs, the Crows had a sniff of an upset.
And in the last quarter, the Crows took control. Four unanswered goals blew the final margin out to 28
points; as the Crows completed a disappointing season on a positive note with the scalp of the third-
placed Saints.
Scott Thompson accumulated 37 possessions in a best on ground performance for the Crows; while Nick
Dal Santo picked up 32 for the Saints. Adelaide’s season is over, but finishing with some momentum that
they’ll be hoping to build on next season. For the Saints, it was a disappointing result on the eve of the
finals; and although the result doesn’t affect their ladder position, they’ll have some work to do to get
themselves ready for their finals clash against Geelong next week.
Adelaide 2.3 3.4 6.9 9.11 (65)
St Kilda 2.2 3.3 5.5 5.7 (37)
Goals : Adelaide – T Walker 3, K Tippett 2, J Porplyzia, R Douglas, R Sloane, M Jaensch. St
Kilda – N Dal Santo, M Gardiner, S Dempster, J Koschitzke, J Geary.
Best : Adelaide – S Thompson, R Douglas, B Martin, M Doughty, B Reilly, K Tippett. St Kilda
– J Blake, N Dal Santo, L Montagna, L Hayes, B Goddard, J Gram.
Injuries : Adelaide – G Johncock (ankle), B Symes (cut head/concussion). St Kilda – S Milne
(ankle) replaced in selected side by S Dempster, S Fisher (hamstring).
Reports – Nil. Umpires - Kennedy, Meredith, McInerney.
Crowd - 38,121 at AAMI Stadium.
On the eve of the finals, the Western Bulldogs re-discovered their form and got their preparations for the
finals back on track when they overcome Essendon by 29 points at Docklands on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs went into the match on a two-game losing streak, and five minutes into the game were in
stunned disbelief as Pat Ryder scored twice for the Bombers to put the struggling Essendon side 12
points ahead. But the Bulldogs then turned on a match-winning break, with the remaining six goals of the
quarter to lead by 22 points at quarter time; and after the Bulldogs then added the first three goals of the
third term, the lead was out to 41 points.
The margin was 30 points at the long break, enough for the Bulldogs to cruise through the second half.
Although the Bombers won the last quarter, and cut one point off the half-time margin; there was no
suggestion at any stage that the Bombers were getting back into the contest. The Bulldogs, with the win,
snap a two-game losing streak to retain their position in the top four and the double chance.
Of more concern for the Bulldogs, already ravaged by injury, was Ryan Griffen going down with a knee
injury in the third quarter. After being stretchered off, Griffen went down to the rooms and did not return.
There will be nervous moments over the next week, with Griffen’s ability to play in the finals far from
assured. But that was the only downside for the Bulldogs, who otherwise had a comfortable win.
But the news wasn’t so good for the Bombers; who played much of the game seemingly without spirit or
any form of desperation. With just seven wins for the season, the Bombers finish in 14th place, the lowest
finish in the club’s history. The Bombers’ dismal season, and the coaching career of Matthew Knights, are
over.
Western Bulldogs 6.2 11.4 15.5 17.5 (107)
Essendon 2.4 6.4 9.6 11.12 (78)
Goals : Bulldogs – J Grant 6, B Hall 4, N Eagleton 3, D Giansiracusa 2, B Moles 2. Essendon
– T Colyer 2, H Hocking 2, P Ryder 2, D Hille, B Howlett, M Marigliani, B Prismall, H Slattery.
Best : Western Bulldogs – J Grant, D Cross, M Boyd, R Murphy, B Lake, C Ward. Essendon
– D Myers, L Jetta, B Howlett, D Hille, H Hocking, B Prismall.
Injuries : Bulldogs – R Griffen (knee). Essendon – C Hooker (hamstring), S Lonergan
(knee).
Reports – Nil. Umpires - Schmitt, Armstrong, Mollison.
Crowd - 26,776 at Etihad Stadium
Sydney booked themselves a home final when the Swans accounted for Brisbane by 38 points at the
Gabba on Saturday night.
The Lions, in their last game for the season, looked to fly the flag early and with the first three goals of the
game, the home side were looking to finish their season on a positive note. But the Swans hit back to hit
the lead late in the quarter and lead by five points at the first change. And the honours were shared during a
see-sawing second term, with Brisbane leading by a point at half time.
With the lure of a home final on the line, the Swans lifted their intensity in the third term, setting up a match-
winning break. The Lions struggled to create attacking chances against the lifted Swans, and the Swans
would score the only five goals of the quarter, extending their margin to 32 points at three quarter time. And
although the Lions broke the goal drought in the last quarter, the Swans had done enough to establish a
match-winning break; and with a reply to every challenge the Lions could muster, the four points were on
their way to the Swans.
Kieran Jack, Mike Pyke and Nick Malceski were among Sydney’s best; while the Lions were well served by
Jared Brennan, Tom Rockliff and Luke Power. The win ensures the Swans will have their elimination final
in Sydney next weekend; and brought the Lions’ season to an end. A season that had been widely
antipated after a finals appearance last year and wins in the first four rounds this year. But from there, it
was all downhill as the season that had promised so much delivered so little but heartbreak and
disappointment.
Sydney 4.1 6.4 11.9 16.10 (106)
Brisbane 3.2 6.5 6.7 10.8 (68)
Goals : Sydney – T Dennis-Lane 3, K Jack 3, J Bolton, L Jetta, J Kennedy, N Malceski, J
McVeigh, N Meredith, R O’Keefe, R Shaw, S Reid, A Goodes. Brisbane – J Brennan 2, T
Banfield, A Proud, L Power, J Adcock, T Collier, J Polkinghorne, B Staker, P Hanley.
Best : Sydney – K Jack, M Pyke, N Malceski, J Bolton, J McVeigh, H Grundy. Brisbane – J
Brennan, T Rockliff, L Power, J Adcock, M Leuenberger, B Staker.
Injuries : Sydney – Nil. Brisbane – Nil.
Reports – Nil. Umpires - Donlon, Stevic, Jeffery.
Crowd - 24,789 at Gabba.
There were no finals aspirations on the line at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon as Richmond hosted
Port Adelaide. But with both sides looking to finish the season on a positive note, it was a dramatic and
high-scoring clash; with Port Adelaide getting out to a big lead but having to hang on in the final minutes to
record a hard-earned 10-point win.
Scores were level after an evenly-contested and inaccurate first quarter. But the Power took the upper hand
in the second quarter, with a run of ten goals to one setting up an imposing 53-point half time lead. Early in
the third term, the lead was out to 60 points; and it was looking like a blowout.
But the Tigers came surging back into the contest, with a six goal run reducing the margin to 28 points at
three quarter time. And the Tiger revival continued in the last term, and as the clock ticked into time-on there
was only a kick in it. But the Tigers were unable to snatch the lead; with the Power steadying in the final
stages of a high-scoring final term that was played at breakneck speed to record the win and end their
season on a high.
For Port Adelaide, the win gave them a return of five wins from seven games since Matthew Primus took
over as coach; and although it was too much ground for the Power to make up to be finals contenders, they
finished only one win short. Finishing the year with a wet sail, the Power look to have built some
momentum that they’ll be keen to build on in 2011.
But for Richmond, the main positive about the game is that their season is over. An injury-plagued season
that was over before it started with a devastating losing streak to start the year. Again the Tigers miss the
finals, the 26th season of the last 28 in which they will not feature in the business end of the season.
Port Adelaide 2.6 12.8 14.11 18.14 (122)
Richmond 2.6 3.9 9.13 16.16 (112)
Goals : Port Adelaide - D Stewart 4, T Boak 3, T Logan 2, P Stewart 2, R Gray 2, J Westhoff,
D Brogan, D Cassisi, D Rodan, J Davenport. Richmond – M Morton 3, J King 3, M White 2, J
Post 2, T Cotchin 2, J Riewoldt 2, R Nahas, A Collins.
Best : Port Adelaide – T Boak, D Brogan, J Westhoff, D Rodan, D Cassisi, K Cornes.
Richmond – M Morton, T Cotchin, C Newman, D Martin, R Nahas, B Cousins.
Injuries : Port Adelaide – N Salter and C Hitchcock replaced in the selected side by M
Pettigrew and J Davenport. Richmond – Nil.
Reports – Nil. Umpires - Margetts, Findlay, Bowen.
Crowd - 37,674 at Etihad Stadium.
The curtain was lowered on the home and away season at the MCG on Sunday evening, with North
Melbourne taking the four last premiership points of the season with a 10-point result over Melbourne.
The Kangaroos suffered a blow early, with Leigh Harding departing with cracked ribs and playing no further
part in the game. But, putting the injury worries behind them, the Kangaroos took the lead and maintained
a two-goal lead throughout the first half.
The Demons got on top around the ground in the third term, holding the Kangaroos to two goals as they
took the lead and led by two points at the last change. But the Kangaroos restored the initiative with a five
goals to three run in the last quarter to record a 10-point win.
Levi Greenwood was easily best on ground with 39 possessions, while Brent Harvey was also prominent
for the Kangaroos. For the Demons, Brad Green and Aboriginal dynamo Liam Jurrah proved handy targets
on the forward line to finish with five goals apiece.
North Melbourne, with a two-match winning run, finish the 2010 season on a positive note. Narrowly
missing the finals, and building some momentum in the second half of the year, the Kangaroos have
plenty to build on in 2011. And for the Demons, despite losing their last three games, their performance in
2010 was vastly improved on recent seasons and at least gives them something to work on when 2011
comes around. The season is over for both clubs, but although neither made the finals, it has been a
relatively positive year for both.
North Melbourne 5.4 10.7 12.8 17.11 (113)
Melbourne 3.3 8.7 12.10 15.13 (103)
Goals : North Melbourne – B Harvey 3, C Jones 3, A Swallow 2, M Campbell 2, S Wright 2, A
Edwards, B Warren, J MacMillan, L Greenwood, T Goldstein. Melbourne – B Green 5, L
Jurrah 5, L Dunn 3, C Morton, M Bate.
Best : North Melbourne – L Greenwood, B Rawlings, S Thompson, B Harvey, A Swallow, C
Jones. Melbourne – B Green, J McDonald, L Dunn, C Morton, T Scully, C Bruce.
Injuries : North Melbourne – L Harding (cracked ribs). Melbourne - N Jones (back).
Reports – Nil. Umpires - Keating, McLaren, Ryan.
Crowd - 31,064 at MCG.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Collingwood
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Geelong
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
St Kilda
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Western Bulldogs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sydney
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fremantle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hawthorn
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carlton
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North Melbourne
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Port Adelaide
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adelaide
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Melbourne
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brisbane
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Essendon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richmond
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
West Coast
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HARBOURSPORT PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Fremantle v Carlton – C Judd (Carl 6, M Pavlich (Freo) 4, M Murphy (Carl) 4, M Johnson (Freo) 3, B Gibbs (Carl) 3, A Sandilands (Freo) 2, D
Mundy (Freo) 1, D Ellard (Carl) 1.
Geelong v West Coast – D Milburn (Geel) 8, G Ablett (Geel) 6, J Kelly (Geel) 5, L Shuey (WCE) 3, A Mackie (Geel) 3, B Waters (WCE) 2, N
Naitanui (WCE) 1.
Hawthorn v Collingwood – D Swan (Coll) 7, S Mitchell (Haw) 6, L Franklin (Haw) 4, N Maxwell (Coll) 3, C Rioli (Haw) 2, D Beams (Coll) 2, X
Ellis (Haw) 1, D Jolly (Coll) 1.
Adelaide v St Kilda – J Blake (St K) 5, S Thompson (Adel) 5, R Douglas (Adel) 4, N Dal Santo (St K) 4, B Martin (Adel) 2, L Montagna (St K)
2, M Doughty (Adel) 1, L Hayes (St K) 1.
Western Bulldogs v Essendon – J Grant (WBul) 8, D Cross (WBul) 6, D Myers (Ess) 4, L Jetta (Ess) 3, M Boyd (WBul) 3, R Murphy (WBul)
2, B Howlett (Ess) 1, B Lake (WBul) 1.
Brisbane v Sydney – K Jack (Syd) 7, J Redden (Bris) 5, M Pyke (Syd) 5, N Malceski (Syd) 3, T Rockliff (Bris) 2, L Power (Bris) 1, J Bolton
(Syd) 1.
Richmond v Port Adelaide – T Boak (Port) 8, M Morton (Rich) 6, D Brogan (Port) 5, T Cotchin (Rich) 4, C Newman (Rich) 2, J Westhoff
(Port) 2, D Martin (Rich) 1, D Rodan (Port) 1.
Melbourne v North Melbourne – L Greenwood (NthM) 7, B Green (Melb) 7, J McDonald (Melb) 5, B Rawlings (NthM) 4, S Thompson (NthM)
3, L Dunn (Melb) 3, B Harvey (NthM) 1, C Morton (Melb) 1.
LEADING GOALKICKERS :
78 - Jack Riewoldt (Rich)
73 - Barry Hall (WBul)
63 - Mark LeCras (WCE)
62 - Lance Franklin (Haw)
57 - Steven Johnson (Geel)
55 - Brad Green (Melb)
54 - Matthew Pavlich (Freo)
53 - Jonathan Brown (Bris)
49 - Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
48 - Brendan Fevola (Bris)
48 - Stephen Milne (St K)
46 - Kurt Tippett (Adel)
45 - James Podsiadly (Geel)
44 - Gary Ablett (Geel)
42 - Eddie Betts (Carl)
41 - Adam Gooes (Syd)
FINALS WEEK 1 FIXTURES Michael Shillito's tips in bold (119/176 to Date)
Friday 3rd September Second Qualifying Final Geelong v St Kilda (MCG, 7:45pm)
Saturday 4th September First Elimination Final Fremantle v Hawthorn (Subiaco Oval, 3:20pm)
First Qualifying Final Collingwood v Western Bulldogs (MCG, 7:20pm)
Sunday 5th September Second Elimination Final Sydney v Carlton (ANZ Stadium, 2:40pm)
|
HARBOURSPORT PLAYER OF THE YEAR - FINAL Dane Swan (Coll) - 132 Gary Ablett (Geel) - 90 Matthew Boyd (WBul) - 79 Leigh Montagna (St K) - 78 Paul Chapman (Geel) - 71 Brendan Goddard (St K) - 71 Luke Hodge (Haw) - 68 Scott Pendlebury (Coll) - 63 Nick Dal Santo (St K) - 61 Brent Harvey (NthM) - 59 Michael Barlow (Freo) - 57 Scott Thompson (Adel) - 56 Jimmy Bartel (Geel) - 56 Kane Cornes (Port) - 54 Brian Lake (WBul) - 52
|