Round 3 AFL Review
The Essendon vs Melbourne game scheduled for Sunday afternoon was
postponed as a medical precaution, after Essendon player Connor McKenna
tested positive for Covid-19. It will be interesting to follow what happens
next, though as far as tipping goes the game has been removed from round 3,
which has been scored on the basis of eight
games.
Thursday
Richmond 5.9.39 defeated by Hawthorn 11.5.71
After their poor showing against the Magpies last weekend, most expected the Tigers to bounce back and make some inroads into their 2019 form. Nope! Hawthorn took control of this game right from the get-go, leading by 32-points at the first break after keeping Richmond to just 1 point for the quarter, and kicking five goals themselves. While the game never hit any great heights, especially with the shortened quarters, the Hawks were a class above the Tigers, and came away with a deserved win.
Friday
Bulldogs 7.8.50 defeated GWS Giants 4.6.30
Before the ball had even bounced for the Friday night match at Marvel Stadium, the Giants had the bad news that star midfielder, Kelly would miss the match due to calf tightness. With the Doggies midfield always having been their strength, this loss would have been a plus for canine ears. In another low scoring match, the Bulldogs were able to assert dominance through the midfield, leading to more inside 50's and shots on goal. While the Giant's Perryman was the leading goal scorer for the match, with two, the Doggies shared the ball around to end with seven individual goal kickers.
Saturday
North Melbourne 8.12.60 defeated by Sydney 10.11.71
With Ben Cunnington ruled out of the Kangaroo's match against the Swans on Saturday, things weren't off to a great start for the North Melbourne team, and by the final siren blew, things had gotten worse as the Sydney-siders headed off the home-team for an 11-point win in Melbourne. This was a close match until the Swans put on a 5-goal third-quarter, blowing the home-team out of the water while building a lead that was too much for the North players to peg back, even when keeping the visitors goalless in the last.
Collingwood 12.9.81 defeated St. Kilda 5.7.37
In a match that actually went the way it was expected, the Magpies came onto the MCG and showed some glimpses of why people had them pegged as a Top 2 to 4 team in Season 2020. By half-time Collingwood already had a 5-goal lead over St. Kilda, and the signs weren't looking good for the men in red, white and black! The Saints did a much better job in the second-half, restricting the Pies to just two goals, but they never looked a chance of being able to score enough to make inroads on the home-team's lead.
Geelong 11.11.77 defeated by Carlton 12.7.79
At GMHBA Stadium on Saturday evening, a seven goal to three second-half wasn't enough for the Cats to get past an improved Carlton Blues. I don't know if the Carlton players were feeling super-impressed with their first three quarters, where they built up a 42-point lead, or it took that long for the Geelong players to wake up, but whatever it was, this one was a very mixed around match! Surprisingly, Geelong really should have won this one (Ablett and Miers say hi), but well done to the Blues for getting their first win of the season after a great first three-quarters.
Brisbane 10.14.74 defeated West Coast 6.8.44
The Brisbane Lions have handing the Eagles their second loss to Queensland teams in successive weeks, as they powered up to pull away from a really lathargic looking West Coast outfit, to win by 30-points at the Gabba. Without their No1 Ruck, and top ball winner, the Lions got smashed in the ruck by Natanui, but were able to clean up across the ground. Not only did Berry get a Logie for his post-tackle dramatisation, but the resulting goal put the Lions in front and the four points for the win.
Sunday
Gold Coast 12.10.82 defeated Adelaide 4.5.29
While they had a slightly worse 'disposal efficiency' than the Crows, the Suns smashed the visitors in pretty much every other area of the game. Sun, Matthew Rowell showed why Gold Coast was so happy to grab him with their first selection in last year's AFL draft; he ended the game with 20 disposals, 3 clearances and a game-leading 10-tackles. The Suns are doing everything right during this period of playing in QLD, and may even get an exciting derby happening against Brisbane this season through greatly improved play.
Fremantle 6.5.41 defeated by Port Adelaide 10.10.70
In another low scoring contest, the Fremantle Dockers went down to another quality performance from the Port Adelaide Power. Through the first quarter and a bit these two teams were pretty even, both on the field and on the scoreboard, but by the end of the match, it was only the Power's inaccuracy in front of goal, and a large downpour, that kept this from being a fair blowout. Once the cobwebs had been dusted off, the Power was too classy, and strong, for their Fremantle opposition.
Thursday
Richmond 5.9.39 defeated by Hawthorn 11.5.71
After their poor showing against the Magpies last weekend, most expected the Tigers to bounce back and make some inroads into their 2019 form. Nope! Hawthorn took control of this game right from the get-go, leading by 32-points at the first break after keeping Richmond to just 1 point for the quarter, and kicking five goals themselves. While the game never hit any great heights, especially with the shortened quarters, the Hawks were a class above the Tigers, and came away with a deserved win.
Friday
Bulldogs 7.8.50 defeated GWS Giants 4.6.30
Before the ball had even bounced for the Friday night match at Marvel Stadium, the Giants had the bad news that star midfielder, Kelly would miss the match due to calf tightness. With the Doggies midfield always having been their strength, this loss would have been a plus for canine ears. In another low scoring match, the Bulldogs were able to assert dominance through the midfield, leading to more inside 50's and shots on goal. While the Giant's Perryman was the leading goal scorer for the match, with two, the Doggies shared the ball around to end with seven individual goal kickers.
Saturday
North Melbourne 8.12.60 defeated by Sydney 10.11.71
With Ben Cunnington ruled out of the Kangaroo's match against the Swans on Saturday, things weren't off to a great start for the North Melbourne team, and by the final siren blew, things had gotten worse as the Sydney-siders headed off the home-team for an 11-point win in Melbourne. This was a close match until the Swans put on a 5-goal third-quarter, blowing the home-team out of the water while building a lead that was too much for the North players to peg back, even when keeping the visitors goalless in the last.
Collingwood 12.9.81 defeated St. Kilda 5.7.37
In a match that actually went the way it was expected, the Magpies came onto the MCG and showed some glimpses of why people had them pegged as a Top 2 to 4 team in Season 2020. By half-time Collingwood already had a 5-goal lead over St. Kilda, and the signs weren't looking good for the men in red, white and black! The Saints did a much better job in the second-half, restricting the Pies to just two goals, but they never looked a chance of being able to score enough to make inroads on the home-team's lead.
Geelong 11.11.77 defeated by Carlton 12.7.79
At GMHBA Stadium on Saturday evening, a seven goal to three second-half wasn't enough for the Cats to get past an improved Carlton Blues. I don't know if the Carlton players were feeling super-impressed with their first three quarters, where they built up a 42-point lead, or it took that long for the Geelong players to wake up, but whatever it was, this one was a very mixed around match! Surprisingly, Geelong really should have won this one (Ablett and Miers say hi), but well done to the Blues for getting their first win of the season after a great first three-quarters.
Brisbane 10.14.74 defeated West Coast 6.8.44
The Brisbane Lions have handing the Eagles their second loss to Queensland teams in successive weeks, as they powered up to pull away from a really lathargic looking West Coast outfit, to win by 30-points at the Gabba. Without their No1 Ruck, and top ball winner, the Lions got smashed in the ruck by Natanui, but were able to clean up across the ground. Not only did Berry get a Logie for his post-tackle dramatisation, but the resulting goal put the Lions in front and the four points for the win.
Sunday
Gold Coast 12.10.82 defeated Adelaide 4.5.29
While they had a slightly worse 'disposal efficiency' than the Crows, the Suns smashed the visitors in pretty much every other area of the game. Sun, Matthew Rowell showed why Gold Coast was so happy to grab him with their first selection in last year's AFL draft; he ended the game with 20 disposals, 3 clearances and a game-leading 10-tackles. The Suns are doing everything right during this period of playing in QLD, and may even get an exciting derby happening against Brisbane this season through greatly improved play.
Fremantle 6.5.41 defeated by Port Adelaide 10.10.70
In another low scoring contest, the Fremantle Dockers went down to another quality performance from the Port Adelaide Power. Through the first quarter and a bit these two teams were pretty even, both on the field and on the scoreboard, but by the end of the match, it was only the Power's inaccuracy in front of goal, and a large downpour, that kept this from being a fair blowout. Once the cobwebs had been dusted off, the Power was too classy, and strong, for their Fremantle opposition.
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