Round 2 AFL Review
Thursday
Collingwood 5.6.36 drew with Richmond 5.6.36
In the first game back from an eight-week 'break', Richmond and Collingwood played out their first draw for over one hundred years. The Magpies got off to a much better start than the Tigers, kicking four goals to none in the first quarter, but after that quarter ended, the Tigers seemed to adjust and were the superior team for the rest of the night. After a pretty uninspiring re-start to the season, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the matches go.
Friday
Geelong 17.6.108 defeated Hawthorn 7.5.47
In this game the Cats brought the Hawks back down to earth with an almighty THUD, going on to win by a very solid 61-points. As can often happen in AFL, it was the midfield battle where Geelong very decisively won this game. To highlight how averse the Hawks were to getting the ball, nine of the top ten disposal winners were from Geelong, with just Tom Mitchell cracking the list for the Hawks.
Saturday
Brisbane 12.9.81 defeated Dockers 10.9.69
While Brisbane led by more than four goals during the third quarter, they would have to hold tight against a Fremantle team that wasn't going to let the match slip away that simply; the Lion's inaccuracy in front of goal also didn't help them put the game away when they really should have! In an interesting twist to the game, Brisbane's Charlie Cameron was probably the Lion's best player, while the player switched across to him, Griffin Logue (after the switch, Cameron didn't kick another goal), could have easily be given the best for the Dockers.
Carlton 7.11.53 defeated by Melbourne 8.6.54
In another candidate for the most nail-biting match of Round 2, (after the Magpies let go of a good lead to draw with the Tigers), the Demons managed to snatch a one-point win over the Carlton Blues in the dying moments of Saturday's game. At one stage, the Demons had amassed a 42 point lead over the Blues, only to then watch it get reeled in, and after the Blues managed to get the scores level, it took a Bayley Fritsch rushed shot on goal to get the Demons across the line. On a side note, I wonder how Eddie Betts is feeling being back at his old club?
Gold Coast 14.6.90 defeated West Coast 6.10.46
Who would have thought that the Suns would be matching it with the Eagles throughout the first half of the match up on the Gold Coast Saturday night? Not only is that exactly what they did, but the Gold Coast team then started to put the clamps on in the midfield after half-time, leading the bright Suns to run out victors in the first upset of Round 2. Who would have thought the Eagles would be kept to a lowly one-goal and five-points across two halves of football...? Well done to the Suns, who get a big win to re-boot their season's re-start.
Port Adelaide 17.8.110 defeated Adelaide 5.5.35
Having built up a solid five-goal lead to half-time, it was left to the second half to see if the Power could build on their hard work, or if the Crows would get stuck into the contest and start to reel in their cross-town rivals. Unlike so many Hollywood movies, there was no great comeback in this match; in fact, it was quite the opposite. Port Adelaide went on to lead every stat of consequence in a game of football, on their way to a big 75-point win over Adelaide. Yes, the black, white and teal would have been out in force over the weekend!
Sunday
GWS Giants 8.12.60 defeated by North Melbourne 12.8.80
In a game that was supposed to be a pretty easy fixture for the GWS Giants, the Kangaroos had very different ideas! After a very even first-half, where both teams entered the long break on 2.5 apiece, it was North Melbourne who came out of the break with more run in their legs, and a better plan from the whiteboard. Lead superbly by Shaun Higgins, the Roos ran in ten goals to the Giants 6, resulting in an inspired 20-point win to the visitors. You can tick this match off as 'upset Number 2' for the weekend.
Sydney 11.7.73 defeated by Essendon 12.7.79
At the SCG on Sunday we had two teams meet who looked like having nearly as many players out injured (after not being able to do much for two months) as being able to take the field! Fortunately for both team's fans, a number of them came good in time for the match. After the players started to work back into playing footy, it was the Bombers who managed to keep their noses in front, grabbing a 7-point win. While the game was played in a good spirit, the same can't be said for Essendon's Redman, who should be looked at for dropping the shoulder into Swan, J. Kennedy after he was tackled to the ground!
St. Kilda 14.4.88 defeated the Bulldogs 7.7.49
On Sunday night, the Saints were able to power past the Bulldogs for a 39-point win at Marvel Stadium. After an even first quarter, St Kilda started to gain some dominance through the midfield as well as adding pressure to the Bulldog's forwards, who just weren't allowed to get into the match. While the like of Bontempelli and MacRae looked flat, the St Kilda team was full of run and enthusiasm! Among some other recruits, the Saint’s Paddy Ryder showed his worth as he monstered the Bulldog’s English in the ruck throughout the night.
Collingwood 5.6.36 drew with Richmond 5.6.36
In the first game back from an eight-week 'break', Richmond and Collingwood played out their first draw for over one hundred years. The Magpies got off to a much better start than the Tigers, kicking four goals to none in the first quarter, but after that quarter ended, the Tigers seemed to adjust and were the superior team for the rest of the night. After a pretty uninspiring re-start to the season, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the matches go.
Friday
Geelong 17.6.108 defeated Hawthorn 7.5.47
In this game the Cats brought the Hawks back down to earth with an almighty THUD, going on to win by a very solid 61-points. As can often happen in AFL, it was the midfield battle where Geelong very decisively won this game. To highlight how averse the Hawks were to getting the ball, nine of the top ten disposal winners were from Geelong, with just Tom Mitchell cracking the list for the Hawks.
Saturday
Brisbane 12.9.81 defeated Dockers 10.9.69
While Brisbane led by more than four goals during the third quarter, they would have to hold tight against a Fremantle team that wasn't going to let the match slip away that simply; the Lion's inaccuracy in front of goal also didn't help them put the game away when they really should have! In an interesting twist to the game, Brisbane's Charlie Cameron was probably the Lion's best player, while the player switched across to him, Griffin Logue (after the switch, Cameron didn't kick another goal), could have easily be given the best for the Dockers.
Carlton 7.11.53 defeated by Melbourne 8.6.54
In another candidate for the most nail-biting match of Round 2, (after the Magpies let go of a good lead to draw with the Tigers), the Demons managed to snatch a one-point win over the Carlton Blues in the dying moments of Saturday's game. At one stage, the Demons had amassed a 42 point lead over the Blues, only to then watch it get reeled in, and after the Blues managed to get the scores level, it took a Bayley Fritsch rushed shot on goal to get the Demons across the line. On a side note, I wonder how Eddie Betts is feeling being back at his old club?
Gold Coast 14.6.90 defeated West Coast 6.10.46
Who would have thought that the Suns would be matching it with the Eagles throughout the first half of the match up on the Gold Coast Saturday night? Not only is that exactly what they did, but the Gold Coast team then started to put the clamps on in the midfield after half-time, leading the bright Suns to run out victors in the first upset of Round 2. Who would have thought the Eagles would be kept to a lowly one-goal and five-points across two halves of football...? Well done to the Suns, who get a big win to re-boot their season's re-start.
Port Adelaide 17.8.110 defeated Adelaide 5.5.35
Having built up a solid five-goal lead to half-time, it was left to the second half to see if the Power could build on their hard work, or if the Crows would get stuck into the contest and start to reel in their cross-town rivals. Unlike so many Hollywood movies, there was no great comeback in this match; in fact, it was quite the opposite. Port Adelaide went on to lead every stat of consequence in a game of football, on their way to a big 75-point win over Adelaide. Yes, the black, white and teal would have been out in force over the weekend!
Sunday
GWS Giants 8.12.60 defeated by North Melbourne 12.8.80
In a game that was supposed to be a pretty easy fixture for the GWS Giants, the Kangaroos had very different ideas! After a very even first-half, where both teams entered the long break on 2.5 apiece, it was North Melbourne who came out of the break with more run in their legs, and a better plan from the whiteboard. Lead superbly by Shaun Higgins, the Roos ran in ten goals to the Giants 6, resulting in an inspired 20-point win to the visitors. You can tick this match off as 'upset Number 2' for the weekend.
Sydney 11.7.73 defeated by Essendon 12.7.79
At the SCG on Sunday we had two teams meet who looked like having nearly as many players out injured (after not being able to do much for two months) as being able to take the field! Fortunately for both team's fans, a number of them came good in time for the match. After the players started to work back into playing footy, it was the Bombers who managed to keep their noses in front, grabbing a 7-point win. While the game was played in a good spirit, the same can't be said for Essendon's Redman, who should be looked at for dropping the shoulder into Swan, J. Kennedy after he was tackled to the ground!
St. Kilda 14.4.88 defeated the Bulldogs 7.7.49
On Sunday night, the Saints were able to power past the Bulldogs for a 39-point win at Marvel Stadium. After an even first quarter, St Kilda started to gain some dominance through the midfield as well as adding pressure to the Bulldog's forwards, who just weren't allowed to get into the match. While the like of Bontempelli and MacRae looked flat, the St Kilda team was full of run and enthusiasm! Among some other recruits, the Saint’s Paddy Ryder showed his worth as he monstered the Bulldog’s English in the ruck throughout the night.
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